UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 16, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Bislimi denies agreement on licence plates has been reached (Koha)
• Source: Agreement on licence plates must be reached before Nov 21 (Indeksonline)
• Serbs in north different positions on elections; don’t take resistance calls seriously (KP)
• The EU is waiting for Kosovo's response about new proposal on license plates (RFE, media)
• EULEX chief: Situation in the North fragile, citizens afraid (media)
• Trajkovic: Unlikely there will be elections in north on December 18 (RTK)
• “Serbia threatening Serbs they’ll suffer if they cooperate with Kosovo govt” (EO)
• Budget for KSF next year expected to be €123 million (RTK)
• Hoti: Visit of LDK leadership in U.S., sign they see us as partners (T7)
• LDK spokeswoman slams FM Gervalla for being “so undiplomatic” (media)
• Vetevendosje MP indicates he could leave the party (media)
• Szunyog: I believe decision on liberalization will be made before the end of this year (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: Brussels agreement cannot be transferred onto some other agreements (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Kurti attempts to destabilise situation with unilateral decisions (Radio KIM)
• Rakic and Simic meet EULEX Head, discuss security situation in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: China has always demonstrated its sincere friendship (Tanjug)
• Another Serbian cemetery renamed on Google maps, this one to Illyrian (Kosovo Online)
• Three prosecutors from other areas temporarily transferred to Basic Prosecution in Mitrovica North (KoSSev)
• Investigation into mistreatment of Miodrag Milicevic, NGO Aktiv Director initiated (Kosovo Online)
• Serbia to get honorary consul in Singapore (Tanjug)
• RTS: 100,000 Russians and 18,000 Ukrainians in Serbia (N1)
• RFE: Elections in the north of Kosovo between law and politics (RFE)
• Danas daily on the elections in northern Kosovo: There would be new conflicts on ground
• Vucic met Greek Ambassador, thanked him for Greek support to territorial integrity of Serbia (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Disinformation everywhere (Kosovo 2.0)
• BIRN Launches Interactive Map of Far-Right and Extremist Groups (BIRN)

• Kurti: With Association, Belgrade wants compensation for lost war (media)
• Leaders condemn killing of civilians near Polish-Ukrainian border (media)
• Dialogue, licence plates discussed at meeting between Bislimi and Lajcak (media)
• Sources: Deal reached on licence plates, return of Serbs to institutions (Paparaci)
• Osmani hosts meeting with U.S. officials (media)
• Belgrade-Backed Kosovo Serb Party to Boycott Local Elections (BIRN)
• Kraut: Kosovo-Germany relations are strong, to be deepened even more (media)
• LDK leader Abdixhiku meets Escobar in Washington (media)
• Berlin Process agreements cannot enter into force before two years (RTK)
• Kosovo, Serbia NGOs Condemn Police 'Attack' on Serb Activist (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 15, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Prime Minister Kurti travels to Germany (RTK)
• Konjufca meets the U.S. Congress delegation (RTK)
• Common language found in Brussels, solution to be presented by Friday (AP)
• Seven Serb candidates expected to join Assembly after SL resignations (Gazeta Blic)
• The EU ready to host Kurti and Vucic at the meeting (Koha)
• German Embassy: Escalation between Kosovo and Serbia, worrying (Express)
• Hoti: U.S. asked govt to postpone decision, but they are meeting with Petkovic (media)
• Bytyci: I expect agreement on licence plates this week (Koha)
• AAK calls for 30% increase in public sector wages until wages law adopted (Telegrafi)
• AAK’s Tahiri to Borrell: Your messages are not balanced (Klan)
• Retired U.S. General: Kosovo Army can coexist with a force like KFOR in future (media)
• Kosovo denies reports that agreement with Denmark on prison cells suspended (Klan)
• MP denounces Gracanica police station chief for harassing police officer (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic: Elections in northern Kosovo doomed to fail (N1)
• Serbian List to boycott elections in northern Kosovo (N1)
• Serbian and Kosovo NGOs: The attack on Milicevic is a reflection of the deteriorating atmosphere in Kosovo (Beta, N1)
• Milicevic for N1 on details of his mistreatment by Kosovo police special unit (N1)
• KoSSev on police rebuttal of Milicevic’s mistreatment, Svecla’s statement (KoSSev)
• OPEN Initiative: Perpetrators from ranks of Kosovo police to be punished (KoSSev)
• Visoki Decani Monastery on Milicevic’s case (social media)
• Serbian cemetery in Vitina renamed to Albanian, Petkovic's reaction on Twitter (Kosovo Online, medijacentar.info)
• Brnabic: Serbs in Kosovo request only adherence to agreements (RTS)
• Elections for mayors in the north of Kosovo and questions unanswered (RTS, Kontakt plus radio)
• UN GA adopts resolution on Russian war reparations, Serbia abstains (N1)
• Stano: EU ready for Vucic-Kurti meeting as soon it is possible (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Kosovo Albanian, Serb Journalists Trained in Fact-Checking, Media Literacy (BIRN)

Borrell: We’re facing most serious Kosovo-Serbia crisis in last 10 years (media)
Osmani sets date for mayoral elections in four northern municipalities (media)
EU warns Serbia, Kosovo against returning to the past (AP)
Jablanovic: Now is not the right time for elections (media)
Rasic: Elections at this time can be used to increase tensions (media)
Petkovic: People will be afraid to go out and vote (RTK)
Borrell on French-German proposal: It came from me and Lajcak (media)
Bislimi travels to Brussels, will meet Lajcak (Koha)
Police, Minister deny Serb NGO director was hit by special police (media)
PDK’s Haliti: High risk of escalation in north of Kosovo (media)
Advisory note by international experts on formation of Association (Albanian Post)
PDK leader Krasniqi meets Lajcak (media)
Lajcak meets McAllister, discuss Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Klan Kosova)
Kosovo Reduces Serb Ex-Policeman’s War Crimes Sentence (BIRN)
‘Honour-Based Abuse’: The Fight against Virginity Testing in Kosovo (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Borrell: We’ve made proposal to resolve situation in north of Kosovo (Express)
• Kurti at Vienna Economic Forum: Kosovo has achieved high economic growth (Koha)
• AAK won’t attend President’s meeting with parties on elections in north (Klan)
• Mayoral elections in northern municipalities could be held on Dec 18 (Albanian Post)
• Ibrahimi on Association: Decision of Constitutional Court must not be ignored (EO)
• Aurescu encourages dialogue: Tensions in north must be stopped (media)
• Car with Serbian licence plates of Kosovo national set on fire in Mitrovica (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic: Pristina authorities should not ‘play with fire’ (Beta, N1)
• Serbian FM says Belgrade won’t negotiate on something that was already agreed on (N1)
• Graffiti calling for resistance appear in Zubin Potok and Zvecan as well (Kosovo Online)
• Citizens again complain that special forces stop them on the roads, the police claim that this is not intimidation, but provision of security (KoSSev)
• Vucic meets ambassadors from Asia and Africa accredited to Serbia, briefs them about Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Djordjevic, Obradovic on what could happen in Kosovo after November 21 (Danas)
• Sentence to Stanisic reduced from 20 to 15 years in prison (Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic to visit Singapore for Bloomberg New Economy Forum (Tanjug)
• Slovenian President: Visit to Western Balkans first trip abroad (N1)

International:

• Music Mobilisation: The Concerts Connecting Neo-Nazis in Croatia (BIRN)

• Osmani: Cooperation with allies to overcome common challenges (RTK)
• Osmani to meet parties today for consultations on election date in north (Koha)
• Interior Minister Svecla visited Jarinje border crossing on Saturday (media)
• Rohde: It's absurd to risk a violent confrontation over license plates (media)
• Kosovo Customs replaces the resigned customs officers (RTK)
• New graffiti in the north, Police are investigating the case (media)
• Opposition asks govt to commit to negotiating text of final agreement (media)
• La Repubblica: ‘Shadows’ of Wagner at Kosovo borders (media)
• Kurti discusses energy and environmental issues with AFD in Paris (media)
• Borell to hold informal meeting with diplomats of EU countries (Albanian Post)
• Kosovo becomes part of the UN Conference on Climate Change (RTK)
• Kurti heads to Austria for the Vienna Economic Forum (media)
• “Longer mutual recognition is postponed, Vucic will destabilise region” (media)
• PDK leader Krasniqi to visit Brussels and Washington (media)
• In Kosovo and Albania, Personal Data Up for Grabs (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 11, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti meets with Borrell and Lajcak (media)
• Chollet to visit Kosovo in early December, sources say (Klan Kosova)
• Osmani: Cannot make friends with someone with war tendencies or goals (Indeksonline)
• Kurti: Ready to stretch our hand to Serbia if it is ready to free its fists (Koha)
• Osmani expected to announce extraordinary elections for north municipalities (RTK)
• Kurti in Paris: Serbia wants more conflict than cooperation (media)
• Konjufca: We feel threatened by Serbia’s claims over our country (Koha)
• Two envoys for Balkans, Sarrazin and Franges, visit Jarinje border crossing (Telegrafi)
• Guerot: We are waiting for a favourable decision on visas (media)
• Abazi: Government has wrong approach to internationals’ requests (RFE)
• Abdixhiku: French-German plan is not the one that is circulating in the media (media)
• Krasniqi's to travel for official visits to Washington and Brussels (Indeksonline)
• Musliu: Kurti to safeguard sovereignty and friendships created by PDK (EO)
• Haradinaj proposes a resolution on the situation in the north (Koha)
• Austrian MP: All EU member states and Serbia should recognise Kosovo (Klan Kosova)
• Ex-Interior Minister warns: Serbia may victimise Serb citizens in north (media)
• Molliqaj: Way we treated north and Serbs lately, I think there is small similarity to how Milosevic treated us (Gazeta Express/T7)
• Maloku: Molliqaj’s statement about Serbs treatment is hatred against Kurti (Nacionale)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucevic: There were drones on the administrative line, I can't say whose they were (NMagazin, Beta, RTV)
• Vucic at working lunch with Borrell and Lajcak (RTS)
• Vucic says good talk with Macron, no meeting with Kurti (N1)
• Vucic tells Chollet that Serbia is focused on peace, despite provocations (N1)
• Vucic on sanctions on Russia, pressure Serbia is facing (N1)
• Vucic met Hungarian president in Paris (Tanjug, media)
• Dacic: Independent Kosovo the starting point of Franco-German proposal (Beta, N1)
• Kosovo officials meet Macron, accuse Serbia of destabilising north Kosovo (KoSSev, N1)
• Jaksic: Vehicle plates nonsense to Kurti, for Serbs the only remaining link with Serbia (N1)
• Poll: Citizens’ opinions on issues concerning the north are divided (KoSSev)
• Arlov sends letter to Ambassador of Croatia in Pristina over his latest ban to enter Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Ambassador of Slovakia: Bratislava's clear position on the independence of Kosovo, which is based on international law (RTS, Tanjug)
• Miners about their fate, Todic claims: KoSSev spreads disinformation, there is no strike (KoSSev)

International:

• EU might mulled in Kosovo-Serbia Paris rendez-vous (euractive.com)
• Decision on Visas for Kosovo to be Taken Soon: EU Countries Support France’s Proposal for Visa-Free Regime on November 2023 (schengenvisainfo.com)
• The Kosovo Crisis: A risky all-or-nothing game (EWB)
• Metsola: Western Balkans should receive strong signal from the EU (EWB)

• Osmani, Kurti hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron (media)
• Escobar: Kosovo to meet requests on Association and licence plates (VOA)
• Borrell to meet separately with Kurti and Vucic today (Koha)
• EU presses Serbia, Kosovo to normalise ties as tensions flare (Bloomberg)
• Chollet expresses disappointment about decision on license plates (Koha)
• Luehrmann: Kosovo and Serbia to be ready for compromise (Koha)
• Kosovo to replace resigned Serb MPs amid pish to ‘defuse tensions’ (BIRN)
• Other Serb mayors ready to resign too (Klan Kosova)
• Bislimi received emissaries of Germany and Slovenia, discuss dialogue (RTK)
• U.S Embassy: Not time for Kosovar ministers to travel to the USA (Klan)
• Czech EU Presidency: No consensus on visa liberalisation for Kosovo (Kallxo)
• Von Cramon: No reason why liberalization shouldn’t happen immediately (RTK)
• Bassuener: French-German plan, discriminatory towards Kosovo (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

• President Osmani travels for official visit to Paris (RTK)
• Gervalla: EU should not tolerate criminal actions (media)
• Borrell to meet Kurti and Vucic separately in Paris on Friday (Klan)
• CEC replaces the ten resigned MPs of the Serbian List (Koha)
• EULEX chief: Seven EU countries ready to send police to the north (Paparaci)
• Kusari-Lila: Even when in parliament, SL did not address needs of Serb citizens (Klan)
• Haxhiu: For first time, Kosovo has dignified position in talks with Serbia (Klan)
• Tahiri: We don’t want early elections, but solution to problem in north (Indeksonline)
• Haradinaj mentions four actions to overcome current situation (Telegrafi)
• PDK MP: I believe today we’ll have much-anticipated visa liberalisation date (media)
• Buja: North will never be quiet, only land swap brings stability (Nacionale)
• Analysts: Ambassador Hovenier's appeal should be taken seriously (RTK)
• Bislimi claims Tahiri insulted and threatened him, Prosecutor's Office invited to investigate (media)
• 11 officials of Serb nationality resign from Kosovo Customs (RTK)
• Possibility of transferring prosecutors in the north being considered (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Rakic and Simic spoke with Sarrazin, Franges (media)
• Dacic met Colomina, UK ambassador (Tanjug)
• DefMin Vucevic to NATO official: No obstacle to cooperation (N1)
• Ambassador of Cyprus: Pristina does not respect obligations; we do not change stance on Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Vucic to begin two-day visit to France (Tanjug)
• Stano: Borrell will meet in Paris tomorrow with Vucic and Kurti in separate meetings (Kosovo Online)
• Hovenier on visits of Kosovo ministers to US (Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic to meet Sarazzin today (Kosovo Online)
• Hovenier on situation in northern Kosovo, Community of Serb Municipalities (KoSSev)
• Customs staff at Jarinje and Brnjak submit resignations (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Jaksic: Kurti lost advantage; the question is whether the Serbian negotiators will know how to use it (N1, KoSSev)
• Why Albanians are Leaving, and What They Leave Behind (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Friend or Foe? For Balkan LGBT Community, TikTok is Mixed Blessing (BIRN)
• Kosovo Court Approves Confiscation of ‘Illegal’ Villas in National Park (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Berlin Declaration of the WB Youth Forum: An example of youth agency and commitment (EWB)

• Kurti indicates meeting with Vucic in Paris (Koha)
• Hovenier: Kosovo should urgently start negotiations on Association (media)
• Leak: Franco-German plan to resolve Kosovo-Serbia dispute (Euractiv)
• Kurti says reprimands issued, US calls situation in north ‘worrying’ (BIRN)
• Kurti meets German and Slovenian envoys for Western Balkans (media)
• Abdixhiku: We need to coordinate with U.S.; not fall on Serbian traps (media)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo must not go to elections, govt must not fall (media)
• EU Boosts Police Presence in North Kosovo After Serbs Quit (BIRN)
• For Kosovo Serbs, It’s Not Just About Licence Plates (BIRN)
• EU Council working group to discuss visa liberalisation today (RTK)
• Svecla: Kosovo has met visa liberalisation requirements (RTK)
• Mehaj denies reports about resignation of 10 Serb members of KSF (media)
• Solidarity Stories #2: Serb Saves Albanian Neighbours in Kosovo (BIRN)
• “Zvonko Veselinovic and Milan Radoicic criminals” – Serbian MPs clash over their dirty work (The Geopost)