UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 7, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 519 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• Kosovo applies to obtain COVID-19 vaccine (media)
• Kosovo Government allocates €200,000 for KLA war associations (media)
• Working group to lay foundation for war crimes research institute (media)
• Trade unions claim economic recovery law is discriminatory for certain sectors (Koha)
• Constitutional Court to meet in coming days to deliberate on Arifi case (Kosovapress)
• Kosovo's foreign ministry not informed of Petkovic's visit to north (Zeri)
• ECAP fines Serbian List for electoral silence violation (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 15 new cases of Covid-19, two recoveries and one death registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM Director visits North Kosovo, sends message of Serbia’s support and peace with Albanian neighbors (KoSSev)
• Despite about a hundred infected health workers, there is plenty of us, we are motivated to work, says Dr Elek (KoSSev)
• Trendafilova: The court’s mandate to provide justice; we do not deal with politics (Kontakt plus radio, Politika, N1)
• CPT: Gazeta Metro and RTK published inaccurate and dangerous information about our work (Radio KIM)
• Kosovo embassies get a shipment of KLA flags (KoSSev, N1)
• EUCO unlikely to adopt EU ministers’ conclusions on Western Balkans enlargement? (N1)

Opinion:

• How do we judge women who kill their abusive partners? (Kosovo 2.0)

Humanitarian/Develiopment

• Behind bars in the home (Prishtina Insight)
• Kon: It is unlikely there won't be any measures for New Year holidays (B92)

• COVID – 19: 468 new cases, 19 deaths (media)
• “No ‘hybrid’ solutions in Kosovo’s anti-corruption fight” (Balkan Insight)
• Osmani decrees law on economic recovery (media)
• Hoxhaj: Adoption of economic recovery package, a merit of PDK (media)
• Is it time to rethink Kosovo’s political system? (Prishtina Insight)
• Havolli: More than 65 senior officials are investigated for corruption (RFE)
• EP study on fake news and disinformation in the Western Balkans (media)
• U.S. Embassy: Domestic violence is a crime, don’t endure it, report it (media)

• COVID – 19: 478 new cases, 11 deaths (media)
• Hoti: We are not going to Brussels to do favors to Serbia (Oranews, media)
• Palmer: The U.S. will continue to support Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (VoA, media)
• Economic recovery package passes at Kosovo Assembly (Prishtina Insight)
• Nasim Haradinaj’s and Hysni Gucati’s indictments, to be confirmed on 11 December (media)
• Kosovo’s government missing persons commission visits mass grave site in Serbia (Express)
• Serbia unearths mass grave from Kosovo war (Reuters)
• Serbian Mine Gives up Dark Secret of Kosovo War (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 478 new cases, 11 deaths (media)
• “Kosovo and Albania, stability factor in the region” (RTK)
• Kosovo-Serbia dialogue in Brussels planned to continue next week (RFE, media)
• Kosovo Assembly adopts draft law on economic recovery (media)
• Increased focus on Balkans under Biden’s administration (VoA, RTK)
• Simmons to report to the Legislation Committee on 18 January (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: 77 new cases, 18 cures (Kontakt plus radio)
• Stano: Belgrade and Pristina negotiators on Thursday in Brussels (RTS, Tanjug)
• Vucic on coronavirus measures, vaccines (B92)
• Kon: Situation extremely difficult, but system has not collapsed (B92, RTS)
• Will KOSTT take over energy supply management in the north as of December 14th? (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM: Disinformation campaign, electricity supply in north from EPS system will not be endangered (Kosovo-online)
• EU’s sources: Serbia stands no chance of opening accession chapter in 2020 (Beta, N1)
• Merkel to Vucic: Kosovo dialogue, rule of law of crucial importance (N1)
• Preparatory hearing in Ivanovic’s murder case interrupted, new hearing in seven days (KoSSev)
• Lawyer Vasic: I am angry as never before, the trial was postponed for no reason, while people are in detention for two years (Kosovo Online)
• “Recent incidents show how sensitive situation is” (Kontakt plus radio, RTK2)
• “In last two decades, Serbian religious and cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija has often been target of destructive attacks” (Office for KIM, media)

Opinion:

• Why is Kosovo cautious about joining the 'mini-Schengen'? (Daily Sabah)

International:

• Albania’s Parliament to Probe Allegations of KLA Crimes (Balkan Insight)
• UN Chief: Global COVID-19 Recovery Will Take Years (VoA)

• COVID – 19: 709 new cases, 22 deaths (media)
• “Hospitals will be overloaded as a result of carelessness” (media)
• UN chief: Pandemic hit poorest and most vulnerable the hardest (media)
• PM Hoti: Roundtable of political parties on President post soon (media)
• Kosovo Assembly to meet today, expected to adopt economic recovery bill (media)
• PDK won’t support Haradinaj or Mustafa for President (media)
• Kosovo signs economic cooperation framework with UN agencies (media)
• Merkel, Vucic discuss dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Vucic implies continuation of dialogue with Kosovo (media)
• Albanian Foreign Minister to visit Kosovo today (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 3, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 627 new cases, 22 deaths (media)
• Hoti: Political parties to be invited to discuss president's post (media)
• CEC announces final results of Podujeve, Mitrovica North elections (media)
• Ruge: Vucic’s statement is a dangerous rhetoric that leads to tensions (Kosovapress)
• Kosovo FM Haradinaj-Stublla meets EULEX chief Wigemark (media)
• Kosovo seeks to establish cooperation with Eurojust (Koha)
• Protests held after Tasic sentenced halved (Prishtina Insight)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Serbian communities in Kosovo 78 new cases of Covid-19, 12 cured (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: Serbia will win over coronavirus pandemic (N1)
• Odalovic: Belgrade and Pristina working group resolved more than 1.700 missing persons cases (Kosovo-online, Radio KIM)
• Lajcak: Situation in Bosnia, Belgrade-Pristina, among EU's top priorities (N1, FoNet)
• Eviction of Pavilion “E” residents postponed (Radio KIM)
• Rakic asks for efficient work of KFOR and institutions on prevention of attacks against Serbian population (Kontakt plus radio)
• CEC confirmed the victory of Bulliqi in Podujevo and Radojevic in North Mitrovica (Kosovo Online)
• Responsible policy needed to assist employed and unemployed women during pandemic (Kontakt plus radio)

International:

• Borell: Solution for normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo is within the EU (EWB, RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Leaders call for equal inclusion and opportunities of persons with disabilities (media)
• Hamze Bytyçi: I hope one day the Romani artist can be just the artist without the need of an appendix (Kosovo 2.0)

• COVID – 19: 634 new cases, 15 deaths (media)
• Government secures votes to pass economic recovery bill (media)
• Hoxhaj: Candidate for Kosovo President must come from PDK (media)
• LDK’s Veliu doesn’t say if they will accept PDK candidate for President (media)
• Mustafa ends speculation: I have no ambitions for President post (Indeksonline)
• Gashi: PDK will remain in opposition (media)
• EU: We’re working on next meeting between Kosovo and Serbia (Express)
• Gashi offers €10,000 to any MP that brings him Williamson report (Telegrafi)
• Hamiti: Special court came after EULEX and UNMIK justice failed (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 634 new cases, 15 deaths (media)
• Kosovo’s government future is decided today (Express)
• Government considers declaring Arifi’s vote invalid would be unacceptable (RTK)
• LVV: Arifi’s vote and election of the government should be ruled invalid (RTK)
• Kosovo and Saudi Arabia, global partners in war against DAESH/ISIS (RTK)
• Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, part of EU’s strategy for relations with the U.S. (RFE, Koha)
• PDK requests extraordinary session on economic recovery (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Serbian communities in Kosovo 79 new cases of Covid-19, one death and 16 cures (Kontakt plus radio)
• Stricter anti-epidemic measures in Serbia on Friday, pending Government approval (Nova.rs, N1)
• Blakaj: Next few years we will be preoccupied with trials before Specialist Court (Kosovo-online)
• Holliday: Remains of between seven to 20 people in an unexplored tomb at Kizevak site (RFE)
• Serbian List: Double-standards policy to the detriment of Serbian people unacceptable (Kontakt plus radio)
• MCR: Returnee from Drenovac attacked in his yard; No reaction from KP (KoSSev)
• No complaints submitted regarding elections in Mitrovica North and Podujevo (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Rakic and Szunyog met, discussed current issues (Radio Mitrovica sever)

Opinion:

• Citizens’ attitudes about the army are a reflection of media manipulation (EWB)

International:

• Kosovo ethnic divide eases as Muslim cares for elderly Serb (AP)
• Kosovo Court Cuts Prison Sentence for Serb Convicted of Wartime Massacre (Balkan Insight)
• US ContourGlobal sues Kosovo over failed coal-fired power plant project (intellinews.com)
• Russia donates tanks to Serbia, NATO does not see it as a problem (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Interpol warns that COVID-19 vaccines could be targeted by criminals (Reuters)
• Tourist Organization of Serbia: 75 pct foreign tourists less in Serbia (FoNet, N1)

• COVID – 19: 623 new cases, 12 deaths (media)
• Restrictive measures against COVID – 19 remain in force (media)
• Borrell: We cannot be global actors if we don’t solve problems in Balkans (media)
• US criticises EU for not speaking in one voice on Kosovo–Serbia dialogue (Koha)
• Fate of Hoti-led government to be decided today (Gazeta Express)
• Hoxhaj: PDK to propose candidate for President; won’t join government (media)
• Vetevendosje MP Aliu calls on PDK to bring down government (media)
• Hoxhaj: Without KLA’s pure fight, NATO wouldn’t intervene (RTK)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 1, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 521 new cases, ten deaths (media)
• UK to support Kosovo in dialogue with Serbia (RTK/Klan)
• Varhelyi: EU remains committed to Western Balkans (Klan)
• MP Demiri joins AAK parliamentary group (media)
• Daka: Final results for Podujeva, Mitrovica North elections to be announced Thursday (media)
• "ContourGlobal" takes Kosovo to court over power plant (media)
• Appeals court reduces war crimes sentence to former member of Serb forces (media)
• Journalist association condemns language of LDK member, Termkolli (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 102 new cases of Covid-19, two deaths and 15 cures in Serbian communities in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Montenegro is not withdrawing its decision to expel the Serbian Ambassador (B92)
• BCBP: Serbia’s people don’t give up Kosovo (N1, FoNet)
• Exhumation of mortal remains found in mine near Raska started (Kontakt plus radio)
• Criminal report filed against Popovic over statements regarding billboard “Freedom has a name – KLA” (KoSSev)
• Spahiu: After winning against PDK and LDK, what remains for Vetevendosje is to defeat Haradinaj in Decani (TV Most, Kosovo-online)
• Pristina arming KSF? (B92, BETA)
• Fabrizi, Popovic: Rule of Law central point in accession talks with EU (BETA, N1)

Opinion:

• Kosovo is Crimea: Pro-Russian narratives in Serbia driven by domestic politics? (EWB)

International:

• Kosovo Local Election Sends Ruling Party a Warning Shot (Balkan Insight)
• EU Ambassadors agree to delay EU talks with Albania and North Macedonia (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Remittance flow to Kosovo increases during pandemic (Klan)
• WHO: Worsening of the epidemic situation in Serbia decreasing (Beta, N1)
• Kosovo has not been carrying out HIV tests during the pandemic (RFE)
• PM: Serbia negotiates production of anti-coronavirus vaccines (BETA, N1)
• UNDP: More women in Serbia report domestic violence, trust institutions (N1)
• Schools close in defiance of government decision (Prishtina Insight)