UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 22, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 66 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Hoti: We’re all working to reduce cases, doctors are on the front line (media)
• “No preparations in education system for second wave of virus” (Telegrafi)
• Grenell calls on Kosovars to back Washington agreements (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo, US pledge for ‘investment incentive agreement’ (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo, Serbia commerce chambers to set up working group (RFE)
• Who is Richard Grenell (Kosovotwopointzero.com)
• KLA War Veterans say they have received more SPO files (Koha)
• Proposed indictment against Thaci and names of other accused (arbresh.info)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic and Brnabic sign a joint statement with DFC and Grenell (B92)
• Grenell: Realization of agreements means massive employment opportunities (RTS)
• Rukiqi: After a long time, we can talk about business (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: Serbia's in favor of a compromise solution for Kosovo (B92)
• Mihajlovic: Infrastructural projects with DFC worth $ 3.7 billion (N1)
• “Efficiency synonym for American diplomacy” (Radio KIM)
• Everyone talks about it, yet no one has seen it: Israel’s recognition of Kosovo (B92, Vecernje Novosti, KiM radio)

Opinion:

• Western Balkans: The West meets East with its values and interests (EWB)
• Serbia’s 5G deal with Washington: The art of muddling through (ECFR)

Humanitarian/Development:

• UN Urged to Finally Compensate Lead-Poisoned Kosovo Refugees (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Lead Poisoning Victims Still Awaiting Justice (HRW)

• COVID-19: 79 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Team of German epidemiology expert to visit Kosovo (media)
• US delegation visits Kosovo to invest in infrastructure (AP)
• U.S. Ambassador To Kosovo Says Balkan Economic Rise A 'High Policy Priority' For Trump (RFE)
• After visit to Kosovo, Grenell arrives in Belgrade (media)
• Thaci awards Presidential Medal of Merit to Ambassador Grenell (media)
• Assembly fails to pass economic recovery law (media)
• Lajcak on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue with C5 Ministers (RTK)
• Vucic complains to UN about Kosovo (media)
• Surroi: Kosovo responsible for Serbia's doors to U.S. opening up (Telegrafi)
• Bildt: Serbia will have to recognise Kosovo eventually (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 79 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Governments of Kosovo and Albania to meet on Friday in Shkoder (RTK)
• LVV reacts to Trump, says his approach rehabilitating of war criminals (media)
• Tahiri: Grenell in Kosovo to finalise agreements, they are historic (EO)
• Hyseni to receive salary equivalent to deputy minister (Prishtina Insight)
• PDK leader Veseli meets heads of chambers of commerce (media)
• Japan donates €800,000 to help Kosovo combat COVID – 19 (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• One new case of Covid-19 registered in Serb areas in Kosovo, six people recovered (KoSSev)
• Vucic to address UN General Assembly meeting on the occasion of the anniversary (RTS)
• Serbia joins UN call for global ceasefire during COVID-19 epidemic, FM Dacic says (Beta, N1)
• Kurti doesn’t know the way the SFRY functioned or how Gazivode was built, said Fatherland Movement (KoSSev)
• “If Bosniaks and Croats in B&H are for independent Kosovo, how they will prevent independence of RS” (BETA)
• Jevtic: Demolition of school in Drajcice impermissible (Radio KIM)
• Stoltenberg: NATO has no problem with Serbia's weapon procurements (FoNet, N1)
• Israeli envoy to Serbia: We recognized Kosovo on September 4 (N1)
• Odalovic: Opening the archives of international forces would shed light on the fate of the missing (Kontakt plus radio, RTS)
• Djuric: EU to do its job and influence Pristina establish ZSO (Tanjug)
• US to abolish visas, Grenell on September 20 in Pristina (Danas, Index Online, Kosovo online)
• "If the USA abolishes visas for Kosovo citizens, it's a slap in face of EU" (B92, Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: The dialogue can enter an almost infinite process (Koha)
• Freund: Israel’s decision to recognize Kosovo is a major mistake (KoSSev, RTS)

International:

• Kosovo Lawmakers Play Politics with Personal Data (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: Two deaths, 61 new cases (media)
• Zemaj: We will soon have a 500-bed hospital for COVID-19 patients (media)
• Trump: We are stopping mass killings between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Grenell: Implementing Kosovo-Serbia agreement, top priority (media)
• U.S. government delegation to travel to Greece, Kosovo, Serbia, Israel (media)
• Thaci: Kosovo, Turkey to strengthen strategic partnership (media)
• Pacolli welcomes Grenell’s visit, “strong proof of engagement” (media)
• Zogiani: Hoti helped Serbia to not recognise Kosovo (media)
• Abazi: Hoti-led government, a threat to national security (media)
• Haradinaj: Developments on the “Files” case do not help Kosovo (media)

• COVID - 19: 57 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Thaci honors Trump highest state order, invites him to visit Kosovo (media)
• Quint calls on Kosovo authorities not to discredit Specialist Chambers (media)
• Stano: EU has no interest in delays (Lajmi)
• Police crack-down on organised crime activities near Kamenica (media)
• Kusari - Lila: Hoti will soon lose PM post (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 18, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 57 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Quint countries call on Kosovo not to discredit Specialist Chambers (media)
• Kosovo Assembly fails to pass resolution on dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Schütz: Unimaginable for two EU members not to recognise one another (Koha)
• EU has not set timeline for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue but is against delays (Koha)
• Osmani asks Specialist Chambers to assess Thaci's proposed amendment (media)
• Abrashi: Trump himself demanded mini-Schengen (Prishtina Insight)
• AAK insists Haradinaj becomes future president of Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Court finds former Lipjan mayor guilty of abusing power (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Six new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serb areas in Kosovo, three persons recovered (KoSSev)
• Drecun: Pristina wants to play us false, Lajcak succumbs under pressure (RTS)
• Beqaj: The formation of the ZSO is an obligation that needs to be implemented, Hashim Thaci more dangerous for Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Belgrade & Pristina clash over the Community of Serbian municipalities in Brussels (Beta, N1)
• Palestine won't change policy towards Serbia – yet, envoy tells N1 (N1)
• Djuric: Viola von Cramon false fighter for democracy, blames Serbia without arguments (Kosovo-online)
• Cramon: What was signed in Washington is hard to call an agreement; and it is "not historical" (KoSSev, Danas)
• Petkovic instead of Djuric at helm of Office for KiM? (Danas)

International:

• Spain to recognise Kosovo if it gets Serbia deal (euobserver.com)
• Serbia vows to deepen telecommunication cooperation with China despite agreement signed in Washington (globaltimes.cn)
• Kosovo veterans handed more 'leaked witness files' from Hague court (AFP)

Humanitarian/Development:

• A year of big losses (Prishtina Insight)
• Southeast Europe’s Schools Face COVID-19 Challenge as Pupils Return (Balkan Insight)

• COVID – 19 report: Three deaths, 43 new cases (media)
• Kosovo awarding Trump highest honor after Serb economic deal (Reuters)
• Opposition criticises PM Hoti for “concessions” in Washington (RFE)
• Krasniqi to Hoti: You signed an A4 letter with yourself (media)
• EU: Kosovo must propose way to implement Association (media)
• Tahiri: Kosovo, Serbia were equal before most powerful president (media)
• “Merkel, Macron told us to conclude dialogue by year’s end” (media)
• Abrashi: Ujman is politicised like demarcation with Montenegro (Kallxo)

Albanian Language Media:
• COVID – 19 report: Three deaths, 43 new cases (media)
• EU: Kosovo must propose way to implement Association (media)
• War Veterans hand over files to Specialist Chambers officials (Indeksonline)
• Gashi: Indictment shouldn’t be confirmed; it would damage Kosovo! (media)
• Limaj: EU must keep its word on visa liberalisation for Kosovo (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Komsic and Dzaferovic voted for BiH to recognize Kosovo, Dodik was, as expected, against (Tanjug, B92, Klix.ba)
• Stano: Kosovo has international obligation to implement CSM (Tanjug)
• EP Rapporteur Viola von Cramon: Serbia should show more commitment to EU (N1)
• Bilcik: Serbia didn't open any chapter with EU in 2020 - that speaks for itself (N1)
• Fr. Sava: It is deplorable that media are still spreading rabid nationalism and ethnic and religious hatred (KoSSev)
• Polish Ambassador: Serbia and region should quickly enter European family (N1)
• Trial of Krstic and Shabani continues (Radio KIM)
• Trajkovic: Djuric to lobby for Vucic in Washington (Danas)
• Schools in Serb areas in Kosovo to commence work on Monday (KoSSev)
Opinion:
• Where are the women? (EWB)
• How Trump’s Balkan Deal Might Harm Israel (algemeiner.com)
International:
• Will Kosovo and Serbia establish embassies in Jerusalem? Not if the EU has its way (jns.org)
• What did Serbia and Kosovo sign in Washington? (EWB)
• Kosovo President Savages Govt’s ‘Grave Mistakes’ in Serbia Talks (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Kosovo’s Human Capital Index Lower Than Regional Average, but Higher Than Average for Its Income Group (miragenews.com)
• Ditching Dinars: Will the Balkans Take to Cryptocurrency? (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 76 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Kosovo, Serbia to hold new meeting in Brussels today (media)
• Lajcak: We will discuss mutual financial claims on Thursday (media)
• “Thaci trying to block Brussels dialogue through opposing Association” (Koha)
• Selmanaj: We are obliged to form the Association (T7)
• LVV calls Thaci's position on Association 'hypocrisy' (Koha)
• Djuric rebuts Hoti: Association will be discussed tomorrow (RTK)
• Mustafa: If AAK conditions President post, we’ll go to elections (media)
• Krasniqi: PDK backed Hoti in U.S., hoping he’ll bring mutual recognition (media)
• Trajkovic: Washington agreement, a political earthquake for Vucic (N1, RTK)
• KLA associations claim they received more documents (media)
• Israel’s deal with Kosovo and Serbia is window-dressing by Trump and Netanyahu (Times Now)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 16, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 76 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Hoti: There will never be an association with executive competencies (media)
• Thaci: no one has mandate to speak on behalf of Kosovo on already closed topics (media)
• Pacolli: Thaci should call on PDK to bring down Hoti’s government (RTK)
• GLPS: Hoti’s government failed to create unity of political spectrum (media)
• Minister Haradinaj to visit Netherlands, skeptical state on visa liberalization (RTK)
• “Kosovo is not a Muslim country, but a country with Muslim majority” (Alsat)
• Violence against women: Political activists disrupt Kosovo PM Hoti’s speech (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Two newly infected with Covid-19 in Serb areas, eight people recovered (Kontakt plus radio)
• US DFC, EXIM Bank express interest in financing Nis-Pristina highway (N1)
• Von der Leyen: Future of Western Balkans in European Union (N1)
• Marko Djuric to take over as Serbia’s ambassador in Washington (N1, nova.rs)
• Vucic: Serbs, united and unanimous, can overcome all adversities (B92)
• Djuric tomorrow in Brussels on ZSO and property (Kosovo-online)
• UNS: Kosovo police banned journalists to report on desecration of church in Babin Most (Danas)
• New Israeli Ambassador to Serbia welcomes White House Agreements (N1)

Opinion:

• "America made a time bomb on European soil," and it's in Serbia (B92, Sputnik)
• Diplomacy is not “The Apprentice”. Serbia-Kosovo issue requires A long-term commitment (neweasterneurope.eu)

International:

• The Western Balkans: Between the EU and a hard place (balkancrossroads.com)
• Kosovo President Thaci Hires US Diplomat as Consultant (Balkan Insight)
• US Signs Pledges on Building Serbia-Kosovo ‘Peace Highway’ (Balkan Insight)
• Israel’s deal with Kosovo, Serbia is diplomatic charade (Asia Times)

Humanitarian/Development:

• International Democracy Day: UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations recalls ''OpisMEDIJavanje'' campaign and fight against misinformation (KoSSev)
• Serbian citizens still not allowed free entry into EU (B92, Tanjug)