UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 19, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 828 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Abdixhiku and Shala meet Kurti and Osmani (media)
• Vucic publishes the map of Kosovo immersed in Serbian flag, US embassy reacts (euronews.al)
• EU comments on Vucic’s photo with the map of Kosovo (Express, media)
• Swedish MEP says EU should not threaten Kosovo for its Embassy in Jerusalem (Express)
• Majko to Vucic: Serbia should not capitulate in face of its inabilities (RTK)
• LDK to elect new chairmanship on Saturday (RTK)
• Osmani holds a virtual meeting with USAID Director (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 36 new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian areas (KoSSev)
• Vucic: We are looking for a compromise, but I am not sure that Albanians are ready (media)
• Petkovic: Hysterical assaults by Albanian politicians the only answer to Vucic’s peaceful policy (Kosovo-online)
• EU: Serbia and Kosovo to refrain from statements that do not serve normalization of relations (Kosovo Online)
• More than two million people in Serbia received first dose of vaccine (Danas)
• North Mitrovica Hospital Center sends staff to help the Batajnica Covid hospital (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM demands a higher level of security for the religious heritage in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Church in Silovo village broken into (RTV Puls, Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)
• Protests of a group of people in Gracanica continue over hiring in the Clinical Hospital Center (KiM radio)
• Minister tells German Ambassador thousands leaving Serbia every year (N1)
• CRTA: Citizens of Serbia moderately interested in politics, mostly in Kosovo (KoSSev, N1)
• Croatia establishes contact with Chinese COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers (N1)

Opinion:

• What are the new Kosovo government biggest priorities? (euractiv.com)
• Serbia’s vaccine diplomacy in China’s shadow (Al Jazeera)

International:

• EU agency: AstraZeneca vaccine safe, will add clot warning (AP)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Between life and death, artists articulate the pandemic (Kosovo 2.0)
• No more! Kosovars hold vigils for latest femicide victim (Prishtina Insight)

• COVID-19: 747 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Fist Covid vaccines set for Kosovo from India (Koha)
• Syla: Albania has secured 500 vaccines for healthcare staff in Kosovo (media)
• Kosnett urges opposition to put needs of people above political partisanship (media)
• Haziri: LDK should have a vote for Vjosa Osmani president (RTV21/Telegrafi)
• Haradinaj: AAK will not vote for Osmani nor will it make necessary quorum (Telegrafi)
• Vucic's post of Serbian flag on Kosovo map backdrop sparks reactions (media)
• Russia says Kosovo has no right to open a mission in Jerusalem (EO)
• SGG condemns the killing of Sebahate Sopi, calls for concrete actions to protect women (Klan)
• Kosovo’s Kurti Urges Albanians Abroad to Join North Macedonia Census (Balkan Insight)
• 'I want to live not just survive': Kosovo and its chronic brain drain problem (euronews)
• Kosovo Police probe threat to BIRN team filming disputed property (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 704 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Kosnett meets Kurti: U.S. committed to helping new government succeed (media)
• Nagavci confirms Konjufca's nomination for Assembly Speaker (Koha)
• Hoxhaj: PDK will not take part in voting Osmani for president (media)
• Abdixhiku: LDK's position on Osmani's candidacy to be taken by chairmanship (media)
• Hoti: We will vote for no president, we are an opposition party (Koha)
• PDK and LDK MPs to register today (RTK)
• Italian ambassador calls Abdixhiku, talk about creation of institutions (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• 43 new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian communities (KoSSev)
• RTK2 : Serbian List can influence election of Kosovo President
• United Balkans for Clean Air: Shut down coal-fired power plants as soon as possible (Danas)
• 'Sporazoom' TV Show: Ten years of negotiations (RTV Puls)
• Serbia signed agreement to purchase additional two million doses of Sinopharm vaccine (Tanjug)
• Serbian Crisis Team doctor says partial lockdown will be extended (N1)
• Serbian ministers welcome EU coronavirus certificates (N1)

Opinion:

• No internal dialogue is possible without the Serb List (d4d-ks.org)

International:

• WHO European Region: COVID-19 case incidence on the rise as deaths edge towards 1 million (euro.who.int)
• EU plans to have vaccine certificates ready by summer (DW)
• As Vaccinations Speed Along in Serbia, the Country Basks in the Glow of a Successful Campaign (The New York Times)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The Security and Gender Group condemns the killing of Sebahate Sopi and calls for concrete actions to protect women
• Transforming the thrift shop (Prishtina Insight)

• COVID-19: 709 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Kurti: First task of new government will be securing COVID-19 vaccines (media)
• Zemaj discusses Covid situation with Israeli counterpart (media)
• Lul Raka: The pandemic exposed Kosovo’s weak healthcare system (Prishtina Insight)
• Koha, Indeksonline reveal who they say will be members of new government
• PDK will not support Osmani for president (media)
• Abdixhiku: Osmani to clarify her position on LDK (Telegrafi)
• Abbott: Kosovo needs greater public debate on dialogue (Koha)
• Lajcak briefs EU ambassadors on Western Balkans visit (media)
• Serwer: U.S. to convince Russia on Kosovo joining UN (Klan)
• “Turkey's reaction over Kosovo's embassy, attempt to expand influence” (VOA/media)
• Hasani: Konjufca cannot mandate Kurti for Prime Minister (media)
• In addition to the Assembly, the government is expected to be voted on Monday (Koha)
• High number of deaths during the pandemic year in Kosovo (Koha)
• Kosovo, EU discuss energy, environment and other issues (Gazeta Express)
• Serbs Commemorate Dead on Anniversary of Kosovo Unrest (Balkan Insight)
• In Latest Award-Winning Kosovo Film, a Coming-of-Age Story (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 17, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 709 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Osmani on national unity: Kosovo is here to stay (BBC, media)
• Kosovo discusses securing of anti-COVID-19 vaccine with Israel (media)
• Abbott meets Abdixhiku, discuss LDK and its role as opposition (media)
• Kurti and Osmani meet representatives of Gorani and Roma entities (media)
• Next status conference in Thaci et al. case on 24 March (Express)
• Abdixhiku accuses Kurti ahead of negotiations for Kosovo’s new president (euronews.al)
• Chairman of LDK in Kllokot resigns (media)
• Kosovo paralyzed, public transportation on strike asking subsidies for the pandemic (euronews.al)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Serbian areas 29 new cases of Covid-19 (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• 17th anniversary of March pogrom commemorated (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
• Patriarch Porfirije: Prayer for peace for all people in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic says Serbia won’t allow repeat of Kosovo violence (N1)
• Serbian Foreign Affairs Ministry on March 2004 pogrom (Kosovo-online)
• Remembering victims of March pogrom in Mitrovica North (Radio Mitrovica sever, TV Most)
• Even after 17 years, the images of the pogrom still live (KiM radio)
• Ratovac Siamasvili: UNESCO aware of the peculiarities and significance of the Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• CI SDP: Pogrom is a crime no one was held responsible for (Radio kontakt plus)
• COM KFOR: Security situation stabilized after 2004 (RTS, Kosovo-online)
• Four principles of the new methodology of EU for Serbia's accession (media)
• Raska-Prizren Eparchy requests those in charge to prevent attacks against religious objects (Radio KIM)
• Office for KiM: Continuous endangerment of Serbian heritage (Radio KIM)
• Vucic met Chen Bo, focus on Sinopharm factory construction (RTS)
• Montenegro PM tells N1 he wants better relations with Serbia (N1)

International:

• EU regulator ‘convinced’ AstraZeneca benefit outweighs risk (AP)
• Belgium Arrests Kosovo Ex-Guerrilla on War Crime Charges (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 608 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
• Education deputy minister says schools will be off for one week (Kallxo)
• Social networks flooded with appeals for convalescent plasma donations (Koha)
• Kurti, Osmani meet leaders of communities, discuss formation of new institutions (media)
• VV's Konjufca, candidate for Kosovo Assembly Speaker (media)
• Osmani's list aims to get two ministerial posts and deputy prime ministry (Koha)
• Abdixhiku on Osmani's election: We do not want instability (T7/media)
• Haradinaj: LVV does not have AAK’s support to govern on its own (RTK)
• Haxhiu announces review of all Hoti-led government's decisions (Koha)
• Citaku: Opening of Embassy in Jerusalem should not be part of political debate (media)
• Former KLA fighter arrested on Specialist Chambers warrant (media)
• Dissatisfaction of Kosovo Serbs about party employments (RFE/media)
• Kosovo’s Kurti Seeks to Form ‘No Compromise’ Government Quickly (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 553 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Hoti: No new anti-Covid measures, stable trend of cases (media)
• Rohde: New elections are the last thing Kosovo needs (Koha)
• Turkish community leaders join discussions on formation of new government (media)
• Rexhepi: We will vote for Kurti government, Osmani president (media)
• Krasniqi: Our vote will be in support of Kurti, Osmani (media)
• VAKAT: Our position on new government to be clarified later (media)
• Petkovic granted permission to visit Kosovo (Koha/Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian communities: 55 new Covid-19 cases, two deaths (KoSSev)
• Church in Donja Gusterica broken into last night (KiM radio)
• US’s Palmer & Godfrey worried about journalists’ safety in Serbia (Beta, N1)
• Manaj: The identification of remains found in nine sites in Kosovo and Kizevak is underway (KoSSev)
• Daimel: Hard times could come for Vucic soon (Danas, FoNet, VoA)
• Hungarian FM says Belgrade, Budapest did not allow vaccine to become political (N1, Beta)
• Protest due to the outcome of the competition for the admission of medical staff in Gracanica (RTV Puls, KiM radio, RTK2)

Opinion:

• Central Europe’s Media-Capture Epidemic (Balkan Insight)

International:

• WHO meets to discuss AstraZeneca vaccine as more EU countries halt rollout (CNN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Bosnian Film “Quo Vadis, Aida?” officially nominated for the Oscar (N1, KoSSev)

• COVID-19: 574 new cases, 13 deaths (media)
• Zemaj: Vaccines dedicated to Kosovo to be available from 17 March (Klan)
• Assembly's constitutive session called for 22 March (media)
• Kurti: Missing persons did not get due attention in dialogue with Serbia (media)
• "Opening of embassy in Jerusalem decreed by former President Thaci" (media)
• EU, Palestinians, Jordan condemn opening of Kosovo’s embassy in Jerusalem (media)
• Abdixhiku sends letter to Kurti, Osmani asking to meet Friday (media)
• Analysts: Kurti to hope on LDK for Osmani's election (Telegrafi)
• Serwer: Vucic is trying to create Milosevis’s Greater Serbia (VoA, RTK)
• Hoxhaj denies that PDK leadership will be dismissed (Kanal10, media)
• Daut Haradinaj gives up MP mandate (media)
• Presidency secretary dismissed in light of misuse of authorities charges (media)
• Haxhiu on the murdered woman case: Those who neglected the case, to leave (media)
• Kosovo Seeks ‘Reset’ of Decade-Old Dialogue with Serbia (BIRN)
• Kosovo’s Thaci Challenges War Crime Indictment at Hague Court (BIRN)
• US’ Palmer and Serbia’s Vucic discuss main topics and mutual differences (N1)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 574 new cases, 13 deaths (media)
• Kurti and Osmani kick off talks on forming new government (Express)
• Hoxhaj requests more clarity on new government approach (Express)
• Haradianj withdraws from running for president: we do not have majority (RTK)
• Hamas denounces opening of Kosovo embassy in Jerusalem (Express)
• Abdixhiku: We are waiting for LVV’s response for Friday’s meeting (media)
• Edi Rama invites Kosovo doctors to get Covid-19 vaccine in Kukes (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• 28 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio kontakt plus)
• Palestinian Ambassador to Belgrade: By opening an embassy in Jerusalem, Kosovo violates our rights (Kosovo Online)
• Mavric and Qerkini called on the institutions to shed light on the fate of 1,640 missing persons (KiM radio, Kosovo Online)
• Two churches broken into in the Strpce municipality (RTV Puls)
• Serbian List: Disgraceful decision to extend detention of the Mayor of Klokot (Kosovo Online)
• Hodzic: Minority communities that don’t want to be assimilated are not welcome in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Decision on the replacement of car plates is a violation of the Brussels Agreement (KIM radio)
• Selakovic: Serbia strongly committed to development of relations with Russia (N1)
• SOC Patriarch Porfirije in three day stay in Kosovo (Radio Kontakt plus)

Opinion:

• Football match lays bare Spain’s disastrous policy towards Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• The EU Is a Dishonest Broker on Western Balkan Demographics (carnegieeurope.eu)
• Osmani: “The goal is to see the Republic of Kosovo as a vibrant democracy!” (Faces of Democracy)
• Western Balkan Civil Society Avoiding Fight Against Corruption, Crime: Report (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo’s Thaci Challenges War Crime Indictment at Hague Court (Balkan Insight)
• Montenegrin President’s Party Defeated in his Hometown Niksic (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Single mothers unsupported in the pandemic (Kosovo 2.0)
• EU ‘green pass’ fuels the fire in Balkans (euractive.com)

• COVID-19: 597 new cases, nine deaths (media)
• Kosovo opens embassy in Jerusalem (media)
• Turkey condemns opening of Kosovo's embassy in Jerusalem (media)
• Lumir Abdixhiku elected new leader of LDK (media)
• Abdixhiku receives congratulations on his election (media)
• Abdixhiku will not be attending Kurti, Osmani's meeting today (media)
• EP report identifies obstacles to a Kosovo-Serbia agreement (RTK/Zeri)
• COVID-19: Kosovo remains without any printed newspaper (RFE)
• At Kosovo Monastery, Nationalist Clamor Disturbs the Peace (NYT)
• In Mitrovica, a bridge that separates Kosovo's Albanians and Serbs (euronews)
• Balkan States Under Pressure to Prosecute Financiers of Terrorism (BIRN)