UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 18, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 340 new cases, ten deaths (media)
• LDK to elect a two-year mandate leader (media)
• Srpska's game: Hodzic received thousands of votes in municipalities where no Bosniaks live (Express)
• Egyptian PLE also accuses Serbian List of stealing mandates (Koha)
• Roma Progressive Movement: Roma Civic Initiative is in fact the Serbian List (Telegrafi)
• German Ambassador: Voters have given a strong mandate for change (RTK)
• Kurti: I will create the health insurance fund (media)
• Mustafa: I would break the coalition with LVV even today (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Porfirije - a new patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church (B92, Tanjug)
• New Patriarch Porfirije in his first sermon: Kosovo is a covenant for us (KoSSev)
• Vucic met Patriarch Porfirije (RTS)
• Serbian List to new Patriarch: We are convinced that in this holy and responsible duty, you will be on same path as your predecessors (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• State Department congratulates election of Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch (media)
• Petkovic: Pristina has obligation to enable unobstructed work of media (Radio kontakt plus)
• Vukmirovic on ban to enter Kosovo: Pristina's explanation ridiculous and ill-intentioned (RTS)
• Kurti: "We will analyze the ambiguities of the Washington agreement with the Biden administration" (BBC)
• EU launches project to support Western Balkans vaccination effort (N1)

International:

• Kurti's comments spark pessimism in Belgrade over Kosovo-Serbia talks (euronews.com)
• Kosovo Warns of Census Delay, Blaming Pandemic and Elections (Balkan Insight)
• Filipovic: Improving cooperation with NATO in line with military neutrality is in Serbia’s national interest (EWB)

• COVID-19: 285 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Kurti: We don’t avoid talks with Serbia, but first justice and employment (VOA)
• Konjufca: We’ll form government without being dependent on SL (media)
• VV says diaspora votes with expired documents should not be annulled (media)
• Pacolli: I will vote in favor of Osmani for President (media)
• Berisha: Dialogue with Serbia is in Kosovo’s national interest (Koha)
• LDK’s Rugova: Resigned chairmanship trying to impose new leader (media)
• Ahmeti: VV to form coalition with PDK or LDK for greater stability (media)
• Adrijana Hodzic denies deal with Srpska Lista (BIRN)
• “Those assumed to be obstructing justice in Kosovo must be identified” (RFE)
• Serbian church elects patriarch deemed close to president (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 285 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Lajcak:Dialogue to continue immediately after the formation of the government (Lajmi)
• EU’s message is clear: New government of Kosovo to continue dialogue with Serbia (Express)
• Redzepi: Vucic elected Bosnian MPs in Kosovo (media)
• Kosnett urges Kosovo winning parties to form a government quickly (Express)
• Orlando encourages Kurti to form new government as soon as possible (Koha)
• Kosovo hit hard by COVID-19 pandemic as economy contracts by 6%, IMF report (Express)
• Diaspora vote counting goes on (media)
• PDK’s Lladrovci demands in an open letter mass resignation in party structures (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• 42 new cases of Covid-19, three deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Gracanica: The number of Covid-19 cases growing; The Crisis Staff calls for strict compliance with the measures (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio)
• Media: If Pristina makes a move, five countries are ready for de-recognition (B92)
• Selakovic: Serbia doesn’t violate Washington agreement, but is not “silent observer” either (Kosovo-online)
• Kurti for Vreme weekly: To overcome formulas such as historical dialogue and reconciliation (media)
• Parties in Kosovo fined with more than EUR 120.000 over election irregularities (Radio KIM)
• The RTS crew cannot enter Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Pavicevic: Journalists have no obligation to announce the crossing (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, UNS)
• Serbian List: Freedom of media and right to hear truth - essentials need of all societies striving for democracy (Radio kontakt plus)
• "A good strategic move by the Serbian List, but only if they use it" (KiM radio)

Opinion:

• EU and US so far show no interest in renewed threats to unify Albania and Kosovo (greekcitytimes.com)

International:

• Kosovo snap election: A chance for action (ecfr.eu)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbia vaccinated more than a million people (B92)

• COVID-19: 297 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Abdixhiku: Changes in LDK have started and nothing will stop them (media)
• AAK responds to Trajkovic’s vote abuse claims, “a pure lie” (Indeksonline)
• CDHRF: Opposition to vote for Kurti 2 and Osmani as President (media)
• Kosovars take to streets to mark state’s 13th birthday (BIRN)
• The sacrifice for the state that did not deliver justice (Koha)
• Qerkini: Serbia is playing with fate of missing persons (media)
• Where does the fight against corruption begin? (Radio Free Europe)
• Special Court: There is no leak of information (Klan Kosova)
• Bus with Kosovo tourists pelted with stones in Montenegro (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 17, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 297 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Kosovo's political leaders congratulate anniversary of independence (media)
• Blinken congratulates Kosovo on independence anniversary (media)
• MEP Von Cramon calls for visa liberalisation, continuation of dialogue (media)
• German MP Beyer calls on EU to grant Kosovo visa liberalisation (media)
• Elezi: CEC assessing ballot packages from diaspora (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Jarinje: Journalists' protest due to the prevention of the RTS crew to enter Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio, TV Most, Radio Gracanica, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Are Serbs really integrated into Kosovo society? (RTK2)
• Anniversary of Kosovo declaration of independence: Survival of Serbs endangered more than before (Radio kontakt plus)
• Maliqi for Danas: The Serb community still lives either in segregation or in the ghetto (Kosovo Online)
• Beqaj: Kosovo far below expectations of citizens (Radio KIM)
• RTS on February 17 in Kosovo, former Serbian diplomat terms it “failed project” (RTS)
• Lajcak: I still believe that it is possible to find a solution for Kosovo (Danas)
• Vucic to German “Bild” on Kosovo issue, Merkel (B92)
• Senior Duma official says Russia, Serbia have closest possible relations (N1)
• NUNS condemn an obstruction of journalist Dejan Kozul's work in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Canadian Ambassador, Serbian President hope for direct flights (N1)
• Romanian ambassador calls for joint infrastructure and energy projects (N1)

Opinion:

• What were the elections like for Kosovo Serbs? (Kosovo 2.0)
• In Serbia, State’s Ties to Crime Become Hard to Miss (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Historic Images of Kosovo Peace Talks Go on Display (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 277 new cases, three deaths (media)
• World leaders congratulate Kosovo on independence anniversary (media)
• U.S. to encourage new government to continue dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Biden says Kosovo holds ‘special place’ for his family (AP)
• Kurti: I would vote to unify Albania and Kosovo (euronews)
• Vetevendosje does not want to co-govern with PDK, LDK, and AAK (Koha)
• LDK's Mustafa calls LVV's victory damaging for Kosovo (Koha)
• Abazi declares Mini-Schengen dead under LVV governance (RTK)
• Brnabic: Regrettable that dialogue is not Kurti's priority (media)
• International analysts say Kurti may face pressure on dialogue (Telegrafi)
• Albin Kurti has promised to change Kosovo. He has a fight on his hands (euronews)
• Kurti has no limitations for being prime minister, opposition may dispute it (KP)
• Judge at Kosovo court alerts EU diplomats to attempts to undermine court's work (RFE)
• Kosovo Ex-Guerrillas Claim Prosecution is Hampering Their Defence (BIRN)
• Kosovo and Italy sign security agreement for the first time (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 249 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Kosnett meets Kurti and Osmani (media)
• Former KLA leaders face the Special Court (media)
• DiA: February 14 elections in line with democratic standards (Koha)
• KSF in a six-month peacekeeping mission in Kuwait (Express)
• Italian President congratulates Kosovo on 13th anniversary of independence (media)
• Italian Ambassador congratulates LVV (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 28 newly infected in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• UNS: Detention of RTS crew at Jarinje a blow to the freedom of press (Kontakt plus radio, Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Office for KiM: It is inadmissible to prevent journalists to report (Danas)
• Office for KiM: 20 long years there is no justice for the crime in Livadice (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic: No government in Pristina is to the liking of the Serbian people, but Serbs should be in institutions (Kontakt plus radio, TV Pink)
• RTK: Leaders of Bosniak parties on Adrijana Hodzic’s victory, she unavailable for comment (KoSSev)
• Fila: Campaign against Special Court empty story, the West decides, not Albanians (Kosovo Online)
• McCarthy: Not only Serbia to blame for the increasingly difficult accession to the EU, but also Brussels and the United States (Danas, VoA)
• Bilcik: Vote on Serbia report next week (N1)

Opinion:

• Kosovo’s next foreign policy: A wish list (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Will Biden bring changes to the Western Balkans? (EWB)
• Facebook, Twitter Struggling in Fight against Balkan Content Violations (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 219 new cases, two deaths (media)
• CEC updates election results: LVV leads with 47.85 (media)
• Albin Kurti gives interviews to AP, AFP (media)
• Citizens of Kosovo congratulated for holding orderly elections (media)
• Blinken: Kosovo-Serbia agreement requires readiness for compromise (RFE)
• Haxhiu: Dialogue with Serbia not a priority for LVV (Koha)
• Haziri congratulates LVV, Osmani, vows LDK's comeback (Koha)
• Gervalla insists they will have votes to elect new president of Kosovo (Klan)
• "AKR will never contribute to institutional blockade" (Kallxo)
• Ahmeti: Power for LVV came at the worst possible time (media)
• Prelec: Kurti's victory leaves aside dialogue with Serbia (RFE)
• Kosovo’s leftwing party polls record score in elections (FT)
• Kosovo could try to move war crimes court to Pristina, judge warns (euronews)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 15, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 178 new cases, one death (media)
• With 99% of votes counted, LVV stands at 47.88 (media)
• LDK leader Isa Mustafa resigns post (media)
• EU issues statement on the early legislative elections in Kosovo (media)
• Lajcak: I am looking forward to working with new government of Kosovo (media)
• Pacolli: Important to accept election result (media)
• Limaj congratulates Vetevendosje on election result (Klan)
• LDK's Quni congratulates LVV on its victory (media)
• Albanian president, prime minister congratulate Kosovo on democratic elections (media)
• Presevo Valley's Mustafa congratulates Kosovo on free and fair elections (RTK)
• Spahiu: Expected election outcome (Klan)
• ECAP has yet to receive any complaint over election process (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Serbian communities in Kosovo, 41 new cases of coronavirus, one deceased (Kontakt plus radio)
• EU: New authorities of Pristina to continue dialogue with Belgrade (Tanjug, B92, RTV Puls)
• Lajcak: I look forward to cooperation with incoming government in continuing Brussels dialogue (Kosovo-online)
• Vakat coalition gets a large number of votes (RTK2)
• Simic: 95 percent of votes for Serbian List (Tanjug, RTV Puls)
• Reactions after the election (KiM radio)
• Selakovic: We do not agree that the recognition of Kosovo is the only choice (RTV Puls, Vecernje Novosti, Tanjug)
• Blinken congratulates Serbian Statehood Day: ''Comprehensive agreement aimed at mutual recognition, with compromise on both sides'' (Kosovo Online)
• Statehood Day marked in Serbia (N1)
• Bishop Grigorije: I will never be a politician, but will always speak the truth (N1, DW, KoSSev)
• Dusan Janjic: Verdict of Zoran Djokic must be discussed in Brussels (N1)
• Lawyer Pantovic in open letter to Haradinaj-Stublla: You violated the presumption of innocence (KoSSev)
• Russian Deputy PM Borisov visits Belgrade (N1)
• Emini: Vote for LVV is punishment for old ruling elite for how they governed Kosovo (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• The end of an inglorious era (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Ex-Kosovo PM Stages Comeback That May Hurt Serbia Ties More (Bloomberg)
• Serbia Donates Thousands Of Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccine To North Macedonia (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• New doses of Pfizer’s vaccine arrived in Serbia, almost 850.000 people inoculated (Tanjug)

Albanian Language Media:

CEC: 47.08 percent voter turnout in Sunday’s election, Vetevendosje leads
Kurti, Osmani pledge for justice and equal opportunities for all (media)
Vetevendosje on course for landslide victory (Prishtina Insight)
Political leaders react to initial election results (media)
Leaders in the region congratulate Kosovo for successful elections (media)
Kosovo leaders urged people to exercise their right to vote (media)
International officials called on people of Kosovo to go out and vote (media)
Skenderaj mayor boycotts voting in protest of CEC’s stance on security cameras (media)
Allegations of ballot absence reported in several polling stations (media)
Voting irregularities confirmed during Kosovo’s snap elections (BIRN)
Serbia claims two TV crews banned from entering Kosovo (BIRN)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian List: Convincing victory, we won all ten mandates (RTS)
President Vucic congratulates to Serbian List (RTS)
Selakovic congratulates Serbian List, wished happy Statehood Day (RTS)
Petkovic: Policy of Serbian unity has won (RTS)
Djuric: I am looking forward to success of brothers and sisters from Serbian List (RTS)
Capussela: Tectonic change for Kosovo and hope for other movements in the region (KoSSev)
Janjic:"If the Albanian political scene is changing, the autochthonous change of the Serbian one should be allowed" (KoSSev)
Surlic: Kurti and Haradinaj will form government (Sputnik, Kosovo Online)
Office for KiM strongly condemns Pristina’s decision not to allow TV Pink and RTV Kraljevo teams to enter Kosovo (media)
Djordjevic: By calling Serbs to participate in elections Vucic endangered integrity and independence of Serbia (KoSSev)

Opinion:

Political analysts comment on election results (media)

International:

Early results point to Kosovo opposition party win in parliamentary vote (Reuters)
Leftist opposition party heads to victory in Kosovo election (AP)
Kosovo left-wing opposition set to win election: exit polls (DW)
Opposition Vetevendosje Movement eyes landslide win in election (BIRN)
Kosovo election: Exit poll gives victory to left-wing party Vetëvendosje (euronews)
Kosovo voters choose a new parliament amid the pandemic (AP)
Ousted ex-PM wins historic victory in Kosovo election (politico.eu)
Kosovo Anti-Establishment Party Set for Landslide Win (VoA)