UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 8, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 290 new cases, three deaths (media)
• EU does not seek mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia (Express)
• Energy, environmental and agricultural issues in the spotlight (Prishtina Insight)
• Hoti: DFC Agreement opens a large window for private sector (media)
• Haradinaj to Vucic: Recognize Kosovo or we will unite with Albania (euronews.al)
• The man who represented 57 Islamic states, supports Hoxhaj for PM (RTK)
• Kurti presents 77 world academics who have supported him (Kallxo.com)
• Hoti: There is no place in Europe for people who tie red ribbons (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: The US wants Serbia to be humiliated; I told them what I think about it (KoSSev)
• Biden encourages mutual recognition in a letter congratulating Vucic on Serbian Statehood Day (KoSSev)
• Stefanovic: We will not allow any kind of pogrom against Serbs in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Selakovic: The US has its own position on Kosovo, which they insist on, and Serbia has its own (Kosovo Online, TV Happy)
• Petkovic: Kurti only privately can speak about the Constitution of Serbia, as a citizen of Serbia (Kosovo Online)
• Haradinaj on unification with Albania again; Petkovic: He is in hopeless situation (RTS)
• Vucic: It is important for Serbs to go to polls and vote for Serbian List (TV Most)
• Goran Rakic: Let Rasic go with Kurti, Serbs together with SL will be with Vucic (Kosovo-online)
• Rasic: Arrival of new political current is inevitable; Kurti will be prime minister (Kosovo-online)
• Montenegrins from Kosovo invite their compatriots to vote for Serbian List at the upcoming elections (TV Most)
• New contingent of 50.000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine to be delivered to Serbia soon (B92)
• Person suspected of writing “KLA – Kosovo” graffiti in Gorazdevac arrested (Radio kontakt plus)

Opinion:

• Elections 2021: Week 3 — What Did I Miss? (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

• Kosovo Guerrillas’ Stronghold Tense Ahead of Election Showdown (Balkan Insight)
• The Balkans face their #MeToo moment (DW)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Energy Community warns BiH, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Serbia over coal plant emissions (balkangreenenergynews.com)
• Serbia And Key International Sovereigns Lead With Data And AI To Become Vaccination Champions (forbes.com)
• Turned Back by Italy, Migrants Face Perilous Winter in Balkans (NYT)

• COVID – 19: 249 new cases, 3 deaths (media)
• Biden sends letter to Vucic, urges Serbia to recognise Kosovo (media)
• Vucic reacts to Biden letter (media)
• Osmani: Only outcome of dialogue is a recognition treaty (media)
• Kurti: Independence of Kosovo is the final status of our country (media)
• Hoxhaj: Incredibly important development (media)
• Kosovo election candidates call for alliance against corruption (The Guardian)
• Kurti: We don’t need to form a coalition with anyone (media)
• Hoxhaj: EU unjust towards Kosovo (media)
• Rasic: Kurti promised 10% quota for non-Albanian communities (media)
• Selimi: I was only minister opposed to disbanding the task force (media)
• Kosovo’s Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians need real change (Prishtina Insight)
• Ongoing procedures to extend Lajcak’s mandate (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 284 new cases, five deaths (media)
• UNICEF: Over 100,000 vaccines from COVAX dedicated for Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Hoti: No one can question my government's decisions (media)
• Kurti and Osmani promise a governance free of corruption (media)
• Hoxhaj discusses foreign investments with head of World Economic Forum (media)
• Haradinaj vows to defend Kosovo's sovereignty and independence (media)
• CEC: Votes for uncertified candidates will not be included in result forms (RFE)
• Kurti pledges to bring social and legal justice (Prishtina Insight)
• Rohde: Parties to agree on president's post, not head to new elections (Kosovapress)
• Haxhiu: Vote for number on LV's ticket will not be invalid (media)
• Haradinaj-Stublla reacts to idea of moving Kosovo's embassy from Jerusalem (Lajmi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lajcak: I have strong support from EU members for the plan implementation (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Dacic: Pristina doesn’t respect what has been signed and agreed (Tanjug)
• Serbian List Vice President Dalibor Jevtic: Laws to Pristina as a "Buffet table" (Vecernje Novosti)
• Petar Petkovic: Haradinaj would like to win some votes for his party by attacking President Vucic (Kosovo-online)
• Serbia’s Vucic & EU’s Fabrizi: Belgrade must continue toward EU (N1)
• Preparatory hearing in Oliver Ivanovic’s case, defendants pleaded not guilty (Radio KIM)
• The process of vaccination of the population from Kosovo continues in Kursumlija (KiM radio)
• Decreased number of polling stations, voting only with Kosovo ID (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: Macron doesn’t impose France’s stances, wishes to hear Serbian side (TV Most)

International:

• Six Plead Not Guilty to Kosovo Serb Politician Ivanovic’s Murder (Balkan Insight)
• Ties That Bind, Ties That Break: The Future of Israel-Balkan Relations (themedialine.org)
• Democracy Index 2020: Albania moves up, Serbia achieves the lowest score since 2006 (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbia sees production of Sputnik V by the year-end – president (Reuters)
• Air Serbia moving to JFK Terminal 1 (N1

• COVID-19: 333 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Kosovo begins blood plasma collection to treat COVID-19 (RFE)
• British Embassy cautions against rallies flouting Covid rules (media)
• Hoti: Albanians to unite in the EU (Klan)
• Kurti: Only a high turnout will secure us a victory (media)
• Hoxhaj: PDK will win February 14 elections (media)
• Haradinaj: Vucic using Kosovo Serbs for own interests (Telegrafi)
• Limaj: New government to prepare lawsuit against Serbia (RTK)
• “We would consider moving embassy from Jerusalem if EU conditions it” (Telegrafi)
• CEC meeting dominated by disagreements over diaspora votes (media)
• Agreement on U.S. investments in Kosovo enters into force (Koha)
• Ambassador Abbott meets Constitutional Court president Rama-Hajrizi (media)
• Three members of State Council of Quality quit (media)
• Kosovo Court Urged to Convict Serb of War Crimes (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 4, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 318 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Kosovo leaders violate Law on KIA (media)
• United Arab Emirates committed to cooperation with Kosovo (media)
• Kurti and Abbott meet, discuss elections (media)
• Vetëvendosje clarifies what will happen to Kurti's votes (media)
• Political parties outline plans for fighting corruption (Prishtina Insight)
• Hoti promises to conclude dialogue with Serbia and visa liberalization this year (media)
• Konjufca: No court can declare invalid ballot for Kurti (media)
• Haradinaj: Vote for President is referendum for a safe homeland (media)
• Kosovo allocates 210 thousand € for Ulcinj and Bujanovc (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Serbian communities in Kosovo, one death, 15 new cases (Kontakt plus radio)
• Until this morning almost 514.000 people inoculated in Serbia (N1, FoNet)
• Vucic and Putin discussed Covid-19 pandemic, vaccines, Kosovo issue (B92, KoSSev)
• Vucic with Chinese Ambassador Chen Bo on vaccines (RTS)
• US grants for Serbia (N1)
• Palestinian Foreign Ministry disappointed by Kosovo (BETA, N1)
• Xharra: Kurti’s removal from the electoral ballot is a boomerang for the outcome of the elections (KoSSev)
• Weber: Mogherini, Grenell and Bolton made damage in connection with Kosovo; story of innovative solutions nebulous (Kosovo Online)
• Salijevic: The goal is to improve the position of Roma in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Sporazum TV Show: New year, new elections (RTV Puls, KiM radio)
• Hodzic: Bosniak community neglected, institutional support needed (KiM radio)
• Rasic: We’ll work on youth employment (RTK)
• Milan Dabic: Door to door campaign of CI “For Freedom, Justice and Survival” (Radio kontakt plus, RTV KIM)
• Panotivc: Prosecutor biased, presents wrongful interpretations in case of Zoran Djokic (Kosovo-online)
• Western Balkan businessmen demand removal of business barriers in the region (RTV Puls, Tanjug)
• SPC Synod to elect new patriarch (Tanjug, B92)

International:

• EU: No Kosovo accession to the EU if it opens an embassy in Jerusalem (eureporter)

• COVID – 19: 341 new cases, 3 deaths (media)
• Szunyog: Kosovo to get over 100,000 vaccine doses for free (media)
• Kurti: Difficult road, we paid great personal and political costs (media)
• Haradinaj: I am open to cooperation with Vetevendosje (media)
• Limaj compares Kurti to the Serbian President (media)
• Vetevendosje pledges to form investigation bureau for senior officials (media)
• Election campaign starts with violations of anti-COVID measures (RFE)
• Price: Kosovo – Israel agreement, a historic event (media)
• “Recognition from Israel, positive signal for non-recognising countries” (media)
• The explainer: The EU’s Kosovo awkward squad (Emerging Europe)
• Next status conference on Thaci et al on February 11 (media)
• Putin reaffirms Russia’s position on balanced solution over Kosovo (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 341 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Humolli: First vaccines in Kosovo expected to be from AstraZeneca (RFE)
• State Department: United States will stand by Kosovo (media)
• Osmani: Israel's recognition strengthens Kosovo's international standing (media)
• Kosovo ministry heralds new horizons in relations with UAE (media)
• Hoti: We will win on February 14 (Kallxo)
• Kurti and Osmani declare the arrival of "2021 spring" (Kallxo/Klan)
• Haradinaj promises the opening of a new chapter for Kosovo (Klan)
• Limaj: NISMA will be the surprise of February elections (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic will talk to Putin soon; main topic – vaccines (B92)
• Brnabic: Vaccination is about saving lives, not geo-politics (DW, Focus, N1)
• Rakic: The fight for Serbian interests is not easy, but it is an honourable duty (RTS)
• Merkel: Serbia vaccinates faster than the rest of Europe (B92)
• Seventeen protected witnesses to testify at Kosovo former leaders’ trial (Beta, N1)
• Dacic: ''We have always said that Kosovo is our Jerusalem'' (RTV, Tanjug, Politika)
• Now, Serbia could not fulfill what has been signed (B92, Sputnik)
• Shooting in majority-Serb Kosovo village (media)
• KLA graffiti inscribed on a wall in Gorazdevac, Office for KiM reacts (Radio kontakt plus, Radio Gorazdevac)
• Arlov: KP rejected appeal to ban on entry with no explanation and a “rejected“ stamp (KoSSev)
• NGO Aktiv launches initiative to amend the Law on the Use of Languages (KiM radio)
• Slavisa Petkovic: We will try to change everything (Radio KIM)
• Telekom General Director: Ambitious plans to expand “Telekom Serbia” in Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Still no answer from Serbia’s Commission to Telekom-Telenor deal; Others react (N1)
• Fabrizi: Serbia showed resilience during coronavirus pandemic (N1)

Opinion:

• Could the Kosovo story end in Greater Albania? (opendemocracy.net)
• Thunder On, Sistes! (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

• Lunić: It is understandable why Serbia wants KFOR to stay in Kosovo (EWB)
• Kosovo Visa Liberalization Not in Portuguese Council Presidency Agenda Either (schengenvisainfo.com)
• French citizens’ convictions against enlargement are not firmly held (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo film wins three awards at Sundance Film Festival (Prishtina Insight)
• Varhelyi and Viola Von Cramon tackle issue of illegally kept lion in Gnjilane (KoSSev)

• COVID – 19: 245 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Kurti: I lead the Vetevendosje list (media)
• CEC allows unverified voters to vote too (media)
• Vetevendosje leads with 51 percent, according to poll (media)
• Voting in Kosovo election delayed for citizens living abroad (BIRN)
• Hoti: U.S. is helping us manage the situation (media)
• EU: Kosovo decision to open embassy in Jerusalem, regrettable (media)
• “Kosovo recognition sends clear message to EU non-recognising states” (media)
• Arab League condemns Kosovo opening of embassy in Jerusalem (DNE)
• AKR leader Behgjet Pacolli, candidate for Kosovo President (media)
• U.S. Embassy supports “Future is in Our Hands” campaign (media)
• Kosovo urged to establish museum in child war victims’ memory (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 2, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 245 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Election campaign starts tomorrow, CEC in process of verifying final list of voters (media)
• European Parliament MP: Recognition of Kosovo by Israel, clear signal for EU (RTK)
• Dialogue with Serbia, visa liberalization do not find place in parties’ campaign (media)
• Mustafa slams Kurti: No one is the first if he must barricade from citizens (media)
• LVV accuses CEC for not making lists from abroad public (media)
• PSD with a symbolic action: “All power to the Soviets” (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 26 new cases of Covid-19, one death registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Selakovic: We are not happy with the actions of Israel (RTS, B92, Beta, N1)
• Vucic on meeting with Macron, Kosovo issue, Israel
• Mihajlovic: Kurti will win, there is no Hashim or Grenell any longer (KoSSev)
• Prosecutor Smith: Possible new indictments for crimes in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• KFOR: Situation in Kosovo calm, we do not interfere in politics (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Grubjesic: An innovative solution would be for Serbs and Albanians to solve problems on their own (Tanjug, Kosovo online, K1)
• Drecun on visits of Albanian politicians to the north (Kosovo-online)
• Mehmeti: Police has operational plan for elections in Kosovo (RTK)
• More than 1.400 people from Kosovo vaccinated in Kursumlija (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Kosovo, Israel establish diplomatic ties (AP)
• Serbia ‘not happy’ with Israel’s recognition of Kosovo, says it will impact ties (The Times of Israel)
• Kosovo's embassy move violates UN resolutions: Turkey (Anadolu Agency)
• EU urges Kosovo to rethink Jerusalem move (Euobserver)
• Balkan nations turn to China and Russia for jabs (FT)
• China Is Helping a European Ally Get Ahead on Vaccines (Bloomberg)
• Book Unpacks Balkans’ ‘Love-Hate’ Relationship With Turkey (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• 'You are not alone': Balkan women seize #MeToo moment (japantimes.co.jp)

• COVID – 19: 282 new cases, five deaths (media)
• EU continues to oppose Kosovo’s Jerusalem embassy plans (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo establishes relations with Israel, ‘breaking blockade on recognitions’ (BI)
• Citaku reacts to EU opposition on embassy in Jerusalem: Hypocrisy (media)
• US Embassy welcomes Kosovo – Israel diplomatic relations (media)
• PDK’s Hoxhaj: Grateful to US for important milestone (media)
• Eggs thrown at Kurti during visit to Skenderaj (media)
• Pacolli: All my doors are closed for Vetevendosje (media)
• CEC to organise elections in the north too (media)
• CEC draws ballot for numbers of political parties (media)
• In Sundance Film, a Kosovo war widow rebuilds against the odds (BIRN)