UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 3, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Prosecutor says KLA not on trial: Only what four defendants have done (media)
• Rohde: It is not the KLA which is on trial (media)
• Abbott: Neither KLA nor Kosovo struggle for freedom is on trial (media)
• Rama on trial of KLA leaders: They fought against ethnic cleansing (media)
• PDK’s Hoxhaj certain of innocence of former KLA leaders (EO)
• AAK’s Tahiri: Two years of Kurti government most difficult for the country (EO)
• President Osmani appoints Donika Kadaj-Bujupi as advisor (media)
• UN Rapporteur: More progress needed; Assembly should adopt code of ethics (EO)

Serbian Language Media:

• Prosecutor: We will prove that Thaci and others are guilty of crimes in Kosovo and Albania (KiM radio, Beta, media)
• Tensions in the north of Kosovo should not affect the continuation of the dialogue, according to Stano (Radio Free Europe)
• Who threw an explosive device at Kosovo police and set fire to cars of Serbs who re-registered vehicles from Serbian to Kosovo plates? (Danas)
• Serbian officials’ reactions to arrest of M.B. in Zubin Potok (RTS, KoSSev, media)
• People’s Party started collecting signatures for referendum on Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Vucic to Milatovic: Serbia a reliable partner to Montenegro (FoNet, N1)

Opinion:

• Vasic: There is a matrix in Kosovo that usurpers of Serb properties report owners for war crimes (KoSSev, Radio KIM)
• Janjic: Possible demonstrations, barricades, and even armed conflicts in the north of Kosovo (Beta, N1)

International:

• Former Kosovar President Thaci Opens War Crimes Trial With Plea Of Not Guilty (RFE)
• Milatovic claims victory in Montenegro as longtime leader Djukanovic concedes (BIRN)
• Views of Kosovo Women Often Unheard on TV, Attacked Online (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

The Presidency and the Assembly lit up in blue on World Autism Day (media)

• Protesters come out in support of Thaci, others on eve of war crimes trial (RFE)
• Thousands rally in support of ex-Kosovo leader before war crimes trial (France24)
• Thaci was a freedom fighter, not a war criminal: Defence Lawyer (BIRN)
• U.S. and Germany condemn burning cars in the north (media)
• Vela: Serbia, Serbian List will be responsible for any escalation (Reporteri)
• Svecla: Serbia protects criminals who commit terrorist acts (media)
• Stun grenade thrown at Kosovo police in the north (media)
• Kosovo-Serbia tensions spike significantly over weekend (Euractiv)
• Rama: We have major disagreements with Serbia over Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo denied participation in Balkan Mathematical Olympiad, Serbia violates Ohrid agreement (media)
• The importance of fact-checking and maintaining credibility in a world of virtual truths (Prishtina Insight)
• Novice politician Jakov Milatovic wins Montenegro presidency (AP)

Albanian Language Media:

• Another three vehicles of Serbs with RKS plates burnt in the north (media)
• Vela: Serbia’s illegal structures continue campaign of intimidation (media)
• Szunyog: We condemn the act, those responsible should be identified (media)
• Von Cramon: Both Kosovo and Serbia guilty for lack of progress in dialogue (Klan)
• KFOR ready to deal with any scenario during the elections in the north (Express)
• Haradinaj: The Brussels agreement reflects the return of normality in the north (media)
• PDK invites citizens to join the "March for Justice" (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: Kurti's senseless statement that the Open Balkans is not according to EU rules (Kosovo Online)
• Odalovic: The indictment against Thaci mentions 445 imprisoned, tortured and killed persons (NMagazin, RTS, Beta)
• Petkovic: “Kurti cannot forbid Vucic from visiting Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, he is not asked anything” (NMagazin, Beta)
• Bregu thanks Serbian gov't for supporting RCC (Tanjug)
• Pisonero: Serbia’s EU accession depends on judiciary, relations with Pristina (N1, EWB)
• Kurti on Klan Kosovo: I won’t give Vucic permission to come to Kosovo (KoSSev)
• “KM remains“: Deadline for (re)registration expires today? Queues in front of AMSS (KoSSev)
• Last night, three more vehicles with RKS license plates burned in the north (KoSSev)
• Stano: The agreement on plates has no deadline or expiration date (N1)
• The Milic family in Plemetina robbed (KiM radio, Medija Centar Caglavica)

International:

• Fake News ‘Virus’ Needs ‘Vaccine’, BIRN Media Conference Concludes (BIRN)
• Kosovo: War Crimes Trial to Begin in The Hague (hrw.org)
• Witnesses Claim Kosovo’s ‘Commander Wolf’ Tortured Their Relatives (Balkan Insight)
• Report Warns of Challenges in Western Balkans’ Energy Transition (Balkan Insight)

• Kurti: Self-management will not be self-government (TV Klan)
• Osmani: Integrated Kosovo, stability for the region (media)
• Hovenier: Part of agreement has already started to be implemented (Reporteri)
• Vela: Serbia is violating the Brussels agreement (Reporteri)
• US ambassador to Serbia pushes for Ohrid Agreement (Albanian Daily News)
• Spain welcomes Kosovo-Serbia agreement; “don’t miss opportunity” (Telegrafi)
• Krasniqi: This is not about Association at all, but about autonomy (KTV)
• Haradinaj: Ohrid agreement paves way to Kosovo’s NATO membership (media)
• Time for Kosovo to Show Its Full Potential (The Geopolitics)
• Kosovo Albanians skeptical about Hague trial of liberation fighters (BIRN)
• Hate speech and disinformation fuel digital rights abuses in Balkans (BIRN)
• BIRN, NGOs, win court battle against ministry on power plant construction (BIRN)
• Over 65% Serbs don’t believe Kosovo can return under Serbian rule (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Konjufca at Summit for Democracy: Kosovo has made extraordinary progress (media)
• Vela on reports that Constitutional Court "will bring down" Osmani: attempted coup against institutions (Klan)
• KSF will have a military airport (media)
• Two vehicles with RKS license plates burned in Zubin Potok (media)
• Vela reacts to vehicles of Kosovo Serbs set on fire in Zubin Potok (RTK)
• Haradinaj after meeting Szunyog: Parties should fulfill obligations arising from Ohrid agreement (Klan)
• GLPS with a report on achievements and setbacks in second year of Kurti government (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• ''If the Constitutional Court accepts the request of the former MP Berisha, it may lead to the dismissal of the President of Kosovo'' (NMagazin, Beta)
• Hopes and fears of families regarding the Declaration on Missing Persons in Kosovo (RFE)
• Dveri: Serbs in the north left to themselves, they are re-registering their cars massively (NMagazin, Beta)
• Pantovic: Every Serb accused of a war crime in Kosovo accused in advance (KoSSev)
• Serbian Chamber of Commerce chief says EU needs stable Western Balkans (N1)
• Petkovic: Pristina has no intention of allowing the CSM (ZSO), it wants to deceive Brussels again (Blic, Tanjug)

International:

• Kosovo Guerrilla Chiefs’ Landmark Trial: What are the Charges? (Balkan Insight)
• Four Western Balkan countries launched “100% Alignment with CFSP” platform (EWB)

Kurti: Agreement is de facto recognition, that’s why Serbia is not signing (media) 
EU doesn’t talk about Kurti’s offer for Association, mentions consequences in case of non-implementation of agreement (Koha) 
Osmani calls on non-recognising countries to recognise Kosovo (media) 
Government: Term “forcibly disappeared persons” will be part of Kosovo-Serbia Declaration (Koha) 
Elections in north, KFOR: No indicators of security threats (Gazeta Express) 
Kurti: Government made concrete steps for gender equality (EO) 
Rafuna: We will meet the Serbian Chamber of Commerce tomorrow (Klan)
Bashkim Nurboja takes post of Central Bank temporarily (Kallxo) 
Rakic meets UNMIK chief, calls for formation of Association (media) 
 

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We need accurate and swift implementation of the agreement (Koha)
• Dialogue continues: Bislimi, Lajcak and Petkovic to meet in Brussels on April 4 (RTK)
• Osmani: Democracy is more than a mere system of governance (media)
• OSCE: SL decision regrettable, communities should take part in elections (Express)
• Elections in north, fear of tensions and low turnout (Lajmi)
• Konjufca meets Torres; discuss close cooperation between Kosovo and U.S. (media)
• Arifi: Agreement avoided legitimate requests of Albanians from the Valley (Indeksonline)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic: In Brussels on concrete steps to implement the agreement from Ohrid (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo online)
• Skopje: Meeting of Chambers of Commerce of Serbia and Kosovo on removing obstacles in economic cooperation (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Rakic met UNMIK head: Necessary to form the CSM ( ZSO) as soon as possible, withdraw special units from the north and stop political arrests (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• The former police officer arrested at Jarinje released from custody (RTS)
• Former Serb Kosovo police officer arrested at Jarinje checkpoint (N1, KoSSev, FoNet, Kosovo Online)
• Hill in Presevo: It was not easy for Albin Kurti or Aleksandar Vucic, but I feel progress (FoNet, Danas)
• Does the Serbian List violate the Agreement on Normalization if it does not participate in the Kosovo elections and are new barricades possible? (Danas)

• Kosovo-Serbia dialogue to continue next week at level of chief negotiators (RFE)
• Kurti: There cannot be a super minority in Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo gets assurances from U.S. that there will be no association that threatens sovereignty (Koha Ditore)
• Police stations in north to be used as premises for election officers (Dukagjini)
• Wigemark meets Viehe, discuss security ahead of elections in north (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Konjufca meets Escobar; “no association that threatens Kosovo’s sovereignty” (media)
• Kosovo-Serbia dialogue to continue next week at level of chief negotiators (RFE)
• Kurti: EU and U.S. to apply more pressure on Belgrade (media)
• LDK leader calls for resignation of Justice Minister (media)
• Osmani and Kurti: Serbia committed genocide in Kosovo (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Stano: The main negotiators of Belgrade and Pristina next week in Brussels (Blic, RFE, Kosovo Online, N1)
• Greek President Sakellaropoulou on two-day visit to Serbia, stance on Kosovo remains unchanged (Tanjug, RTS)
• Petkovic: Pristina stages political process against Todosijevic (Kosovo Online)
• Stano: The EU institutions with Belgrade and Pristina starting to implement the Ohrid agreement (Beta, NMagazin, N1, KiM radio)
• Dacic, Botsan-Kharchenko discuss situation in region, bilateral ties (Tanjug)
• Djilas: Topic of Kosovo UN membership depends on Russia, China (Beta, N1)
• House of Zikica Stevic in Laplje Selo broken into (RTS)
• Serbia committed to its European path, Vucic tells Giaufret (media)

International:

• EU history offers a model for Kosovo-Serbia reconciliation (Euractive)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbian climbers rescued by Albanian military (N1)

• Government’s two approaches on footnote, for EU it remains in power (Koha)
• Haxhiu: Constitutional Court slammed reforms in judiciary (Telegrafi)
• Haliti: Due to violations of Constitution, two Presidents resigned (media)
• Daka: Elections in the north can happen; legitimacy under question (Koha)
• Two years of Kurti’s government: How is it going? (Kosovo 2.0)
• “Non-majority communities, crucial role in Kosovo integration path” (media)
• Begaj: Albania will not accept a Republika Srpska in Kosovo (Zeri)
• Witness claims Kosovo’s ‘Commander Wolf’ tortured his father (BIRN)