UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 28, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 48 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Assembly fails to pass economic recovery law, yet again (media)
• North Macedonian health authorities recommend easing border restrictions (Koha)
• Hoti: If dialogue stalls, it means Serbia is not ready for final agreement (media)
• Kosovo Assembly elects new Ombudsperson (media)
• Kosovo to open support office for Presevo Valley residents (media)
• Agim Ceku concludes interview with specialist prosecutor (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: Hoti can lie the public, but he will not escape the creation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities (Kosovo Online)
• Milivojevic: Dialogue under question mark again, EU on test (Kosovo-online)
• Kandic: The goal of the campaign against the court met – there are no witnesses (KoSSev)
• Mihajlovic: Analysts think Ceku is first one Thaci “let go off” (N1)
• Vucic on Kosovo: We are ready for difficult solutions, as there are no easy ones (media)
• SDP: Someone wants to prolong and cover-up Ivanovic’s murder case (Radio kontakt plus)
• Vucic on the ''Trump Lake'' banner: Kosovo Serbs love Trump, they made and hung the banner themselves (KoSSev)
• Trump on Serb & Kosovo leaders: They hugged in the Oval Office, it was a beautiful thing to see (KoSSev)
• Serbs and Albanians from Decani are jointly erecting a monument to Bosko Ciric (direktno.rs, KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Trump’s Kosovo-Serbia normalisation deal is all about Israel (Aljazeera)

International:

• Access Denied: Most Balkan War Crimes Case Files Not Public (Balkan Insight)
• Middle East’s troubles spill over to the Balkans (arabnews.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo's adoption of Istanbul Convention hailed by international community (social media)
• Balkan Insight’s Week in Pictures (Balkan Insight)
• N. Macedonia Minister: Balkan states considering simultaneous opening of borders (N1, Beta)

• COVID-19: Three deaths, 47 new cases (media)
• Salih Mustafa to appear before Specialist Chambers courtroom today (media)
• Hoti: KSC activity part of legal and constitutional responsibilities (media)
• Kurti: VV would’ve protected KLA members from specialist chambers (media)
• “Serbia, Specialist Chambers fabricating evidence against KLA” (media)
• LDK’s Mustafa: We have removed red lines for PDK (media)
• Osmani: Justice has not been served (media)
• Vucic: Prishtina must understand that compromise is only solution (media)
• Etno Fest celebrates women and the sun in its 10thyear (Prishtina Insight)

• COVID-19: 49 new cases, one death (media)
• EU Police Raid Kosovo War Veterans’ HQ, Arrest Leader (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo War Cimes Court publishes details after Gucati’s detention at The Hague (media)
• Specialist Chambers to start with hearings on Monday (RTK)
• Thaci: Kosovo has always been on the side of justice (media)
• PDK MP: Friday’s arrests, a humiliating scene (RTK)
• Lajcak: Belgrade – Pristina expert teams meeting postponed (N1)
• Israeli Ambassador to Belgrade: Recognition of Kosovo is a fact (media)
• Kuci and Abrashi meet DFC delegation, discuss projects (media)
• Kosovo veterans leader arrested on witness intimidation charges – tribunal (Reuters)
• EU police arrest Kosovo war veterans’ leader, raid offices (AP)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 49 new cases, one death (media)
• EULEX raids KLA war veterans’ offices (media)
• Head of KLA war veterans, Hysni Gucati, arrested by EULEX (media)
• Specialist Chambers do not comment on today's operation (Kallxo)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo has always stood on the side of justice (media)
• EU confirms: Next meeting in Brussels on 28 September (Klan)
• Assembly fails to pass law on economic recovery (media)
• PDK pushes for approval of its version of economic recovery plan (media)
• No quorum to vote draft law on KLA values (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Four infected with Covid-19, five cured in Serbian communities in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic ahead of meeting Erdoğan: Turkey is one of most significant power in world (media)
• Drecun: First arrest of Court for KLA crimes crucial step, new indictments underway (RTS)
• “EU not responsible for agenda of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue” (Tanjug, Radio KIM)
• Dacic to Lajcak: When would Brussels deal with ZSO? (NMagazin, TV Prva, Beta)
• Djuric: On Monday talks at technical level only (Radio kontakt plus)
• Vucic: "They will prepare a new March 17th and they'll finish the job" (B92)
• “Trump Bridge“ over Gazivode: Serbs grateful to Trump for “bringing peace“ (KoSSev)
• KEK violated Law on use of languages (Radio KIM)
• Trial of Nenad Arsic continues (Radio KIM)
Opinion:
• Israel in the Balkans: Why did Serbia and Kosovo sign up to Trump's deal? (middleeasteye.net)
• Russia and Serbia: A Partnership Past its Prime (RUSI, media)
• Next year in Jerusalem: The Serbian Embassy and Kosovo go on pilgrimage with Trump (diem25.0rg)
International:
• Week in Review: The Possible and the Impossible (Balkan Insight)
• Adam Boehler On New Era Of Serbia-US Relations (The Pavlovic Today)
• Undermining EU enlargement: The destructive effects of state capture in the Wester Balkans (N1, clingendael.org)
• Hague Prosecutors Publish Kosovo Guerrilla’s War Crimes Indictment (Balkan Insight)
• Ex-army leader is first suspect arrested by Kosovo war crimes tribunal (The Guardian)
• PM’s Welcome For ‘Lake Trump’ Proposal Baffles Kosovo Officials (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Gracanica municipality donates computers, UNMIK tablet devices to primary and secondary schools (Radio kontakt plus)

• COVID-19: 63 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Specialist Chambers publish indictment against Salih Mustafa (media)
• KSC calls on victims to apply for participation in proceedings (media)
• KLA war veterans: Salih Mustafa’s arrest, a sad day for Kosovo (media)
• Thaci tells T7: Mistake to discuss Association now; was not asked about ‘Yellow House’ (media)
• Abazi: Security institutions know where 'SPO files' are coming from (media)
• Kastrati: Specialist Chambers must be stopped (RTK)
• Hoti: We will use Ujman Lake as we did in the past (RTK)
• Lajcak: Dialogue to continue Monday, Association not on agenda (media)
• Grenell says parties agreed to rename disputed lake to Lake Trump (media)
• Abbott: We don't encourage Kosovo to open embassy in Jerusalem (Klan)
• Haradinaj requests UK’s active involvement in dialogue (media)
• Von Cramon: Kosovo and Serbia to engage on hard topics (media)
• Meta: International community would also benefit from Kosovo's UN seat (Koha)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 24, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 63 new cases, no fatal cases (media)
• Kosovo war crimes court at The Hague confirms first arrest (media)
• EULEX: We provided operational and logistic support to the SPO (RTK)
• Hoti does not know if Kosovo-Serbia meeting will take place (Koha)
• Osmani writes to her Israeli counterpart about start of cooperation (RTK)
• Hoti: President to be discussed in February 2021 (RTK)
• Hoti: Railway also to be discussed at the meeting of two governments (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• SPO arrests Salih Mustafa (media)
• Witnesses in proceedings relating to war crimes in former Yugoslavia must be effectively protected and supported (Council of Europe, media)
• EC: We never announced that a meeting in Brussels would be held on September 28 (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: Ready for talks, ZSO inevitable topic (Kosovo-online)
• Second round of dialogue in Brussels canceled due to Pristina? (Tanjug, B92)
• Vucic: For the first time division of Gazivode is talked about, which is good for Serbia (Kosovo-online)
• The head of the DFC Belgrade office in Pristina today (Kosovo Online, RTV Puls)
• Ellis: Leak of confidential documents from The Hague could jeopardize the work of the court (Kontakt plus radio, RFE)
• Vucic tells UN GA Serbia won’t accept humiliating solution for Kosovo (Beta, N1)
• Spanish MFA: We will not change stance on Kosovo (N1)
• Belgrade daily: Proposal to pull out of peace operations to Serbian Foreign Ministry (N1)

Opinion:

• Serwer and Bieber: Washington Agreement not a major step towards normalization, will be forgotten in US soon (EWB)

International:

• Kosovo President Warns Leaked Hague Court Files Harm Indictees (Balkan Insight)
• Ukraine accepts Kosovo passports – Deputy FM Bodnar (unian.info)

• COVID-19: 62 new cases, one death (media)
• Thaci warns publication of "SPO files" could harm possible indictees’ case (media)
• "Information leak could undermine the work of Specialist Chambers" (RFE)
• Gashi: Communication of Specialist Chambers with Serbia can be published (T7/RTK)
• Opposition, EU undermine Serbia-Kosovo Washington deal (Balkan Insight)
• Meeting between Hoti and Vucic could be postponed (Radio Free Europe)
• Meeting of Kosovo, Albania governments postponed (media)
• Ukrainian diplomat signals possible recognition of Kosovo (Koha/Telegrafi)
• PM Hoti holds virtual meeting with EU ambassadors (media)
• Tahiri: Hoti is not concerned at all if we leave the coalition (Kanal 10/RTK)
• Ruling coalition MP admits they don't have majority of votes in Assembly (Koha)
• Ymeri: Trump holding same line as Serbia (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 62 new cases, one death (media)
• Hoti: Washington Agreement heralds new momentum in political developments (Koha)
• Head of Kosovo's commerce chamber reveals topics discussed in Belgrade (Indeksonline)
• Lajcak continues discussions on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• Greece reconfirms support for visa liberalisation for Kosovo (media)
• Osmani calls for removal of barriers in the Balkans (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• “Wherever Americans come to invest, that place has a future” (B92)
• Serbia's PM Brnabic: New era in economic and political relationship with US (Beta, N1, RTS)
• Dacic on Kosovo: Economy drives but ... (Blic, RTS)
• DFC on Boehler’s visit to Serbia (B92)
• Mladjan Djordjevic from the Oslobodjenje movement: Vucic sold Kosovo for American loans (Danas)
• SSP: There are no American investments, only loans so Albanian can connect with Europe (Danas)
• SPO praises journalists who refuse to publish allegedly leaked documents (KoSSev)
• Demolition of school in Drajcici village halted (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• The Gazivode/Ujmani issue and a part of the solution (KoSSev)
• Bosnian Serb Leader’s Croatia Visit Highlights Region’s Shifting Geopolitics (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Hague Prosecutors Criticise Kosovo War Veterans over Document Leaks (Balkan Insight)
• Next year in Jerusalem: the Serbian Embassy and Kosovo go on a pilgrimage with Trump (opendemocracy.net)
• A high-level conference about the Balkan Euro-Atlantic integration will be held in Rome (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• COVID-19 Puts Balkan Winemakers Over a Barrel (Balkan Insight)
• Environment minister ‘ashamed’ of river degradation (Prishtina Insight)
• Bregu says region could save millions with integrated border crossings (N1)
• Activists on bikes protest against gender-based violence (media)

• COVID-19: 66 new cases, no fatal cases (media)
• SPO says war veterans undermining justice (media)
• Kosovo veterans say they’ve been sent war crime files, again (AP)
• Gucati: If we could, we would dismantle Specialist Chambers in five minutes (Koha)
• Albania's media publish files received by KLA organisations (media)
• Grenell: Amazing progress this week in Prishtina and Belgrade! (media)
• Visiting Trump envoy vows US investment in Serbia, Kosovo (BIRN)
• Serbia's Vucic plays down hopes for quick political deal with Kosovo (Reuters)
• Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti interview to KTV
• Haradinaj: Ujman hasn’t been saved yet (Klan Kosova)
• Musliu: Washington agreement can open dangerous topics (RTK)
• Tim Judah on construction of Nis – Prishtina highway (media)
• EU recalls that projects pledged in Washington are already being implemented (Koha)
• Six new judges join Specialist Chambers (media)

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)