• COVID-19: 1,096 new cases, 4 deaths (media)
• Kosovo opens doors to Afghan refugees (Koha Ditore)
• US: Kosovo joins calls for safe departure of Afghans (media)
• Albright thanks Kosovo for offering to refuge Afghan allies (media)
• Citaku: Kosovo should shelter some refugees from Afghanistan (RTK)
• Kosovo parties ponder joint candidates in Serb-majority areas (BIRN)
• Kosovo without protect against Russian propaganda (Radio Free Europe)
• COVID-19 spike adds to jitters over new school year in Balkans (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 13, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 1,128 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Vaccination of children and teachers, condition to return to schools (RFE)
• Rohde: Implementing court decision on Decan Monastery, long overdue (Express)
• Several political parties to announce joint list for Mitrovica North (Klan Kosova)
• Kosovo Assembly adopted only seven laws in the spring session (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• “Crime in Gorazdevac must not be forgotten” (Radio KIM)
• “KLA” graffiti in Gracanica; 18 yrs on, no one responsible for killing two Serb kids (N1)
• Rakic, Petkovic on crime in Gorazdevac (Kosovo-online)
• British Embassy welcomes court decision on Dragica Gasic’s flat, condemns attacks against her (Radio KIM)
• Flags of “Greater Albania“ displayed on south and north sides of Ibar River (KoSSev)
• EU on ‘Open Balkan’: We welcome commitment of leaders to regional cooperation (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian police chopper crews continue battling fires in Greece (N1, RTS)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Half of young Serbians want to leave country (FoNet, N1)

• COVID-19: 1,009 new cases and two deaths (media)
• Kosovo to impose new measures amid rising infections (Euronews Albania)
• LDK slams government: We are risking going to a total lockdown (media)
• Mimoza-Kusari Lila to run for Gjakova mayor (media)
• State Department: Common Regional Market, key to progress (VoA)
• Kosovo court sides in favour of media-famous Serb returnee (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 12, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 1,009 new cases and two deaths (media)
• Beerfest festival in Prishtina cancelled amid growing COVID-19 cases (media)
• Albanian parties to run with one list in northern municipalities (Koha)
• Three Serbian nationals arrested in Gjilan, 11 kg of drugs seized (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 13 new Covid-19 cases registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Ksenija Bozovic appointed deputy minister (Kosovo-online, media)
• Attacked Nikola Peric feels well, needs to undergo nose surgery (TV Most)
• RFE: Serbian List officials from Kosovo selectively report double salaries (N1)
• Cyprus will not change stance on Kosovo (RTS)
• Davenport: Decision on Monastery’s land in Decane should be implemented (Kosovo-online)
• Tanaskovic: New Pristina’s tactic to appropriate Serbian heritage, UNESCO's decision important (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Porfirije gets Instagram account (N1)

International:

• German statement revives Kosovo-Albania tensions about ‘Open Balkan’ project (BIRN)

• COVID-19: 888 new cases, one death (media)
• Silence in the face of growing cases of COVID-19 (Radio Free Europe)
• Ministry: Start of school year depends on vaccination of teaching staff (Telegrafi)
• Court allows Gasic to stay in her apartment (media)
• Albanian PM criticises Kosovo leaders about Open Balkan again (media)
• Peja municipal director for cadaster and property arrested (media)
• Dozens of suspected arsonists arrested in Balkans over blazes (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 11, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 888 new cases, one death (media)
• German government on Open Balkan: Every regional cooperation useful (Express)
• Justice Minister: Scenario of vetting process yet to be decided (Indeksonline)
• Government adopts five-year strategy for rule of law (Telegrafi)
• Wiretap scandal: Special Prosecution now has the audio recordings (Kallxo)
• Over 58% of Kosovars say COVID-19 vaccination must be mandatory (media)
• US Embassy calls on pregnant mothers to get vaccinated (media)
• Women in politics lack support from parties and society (Radio Free Europe)
• Government adopts €15 million agreement to distribute vaccines (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Trajkovic: Only Serbian health care system functions in Kosovo (Danas)
• KFOR to hold 10-day exercises in Kosovo (N1, Radio KIM)
• Vucic spoke with Godfrey: Serbian-US relations on rise (Kosovo-online)
• Prosecution in Gnjilane launched investigation into attack on Serb in Zebnica village (Radio KIM)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Foreign tourists can get free vaccine at Belgrade Fair (B92)

• COVID-19: 562 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Kurti calls on diaspora to register for voting in October 17 elections (media)
• Godfrey: Don’t put demands on table without being ready to compromise (media)
• Rama criticises Kosovo leaders; says Open Balkans leads to recognition by Serbia (Express)
• Pacolli: Kosovo, Albania leaders to reduce tensions (media)
• Open Balkan initiative doomed to fail as agreement in case of natural disasters fails to materialize (Euronews Albania)
• KPC: Deputy Minister Sallahu’s accusations, ungrounded (media)
• Kurti receives Head of Mission of ICRC in Kosovo (RTK)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 10, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 562 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Prime Minister Kurti calls for vaccination (media)
• About 1 million euros abused, forensic experts illegally compensated (media)
• Hoxha: Law on Forensic Medicine came into force before I became minister (Klan)
• Minister of Interior facing trial for pelting police with rocks while in opposition (Express)
• Meta and Basha thank Kosovo for assistance in battling fires (euronews.al)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vulin: Mitsotakis confirmed Greece will not change its stance on Kosovo (Tanjug, Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Israeli recognition of Kosovo was disappointment for Serbia and its citizens (Politika)
• “Background of Washington Agreement rejection by Kosovo Assembly” (Politika)
• Young man in Novo Brdo beaten up, incident condemned (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic on Viola von Cramon’s statements regarding northern Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• US Embassy in Sarajevo on ‘Open Balkan’ initiative (Kosovo-online)
• Four new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo Filmmakers Eye Bright Future After Cannes Debut (Prishtina Insight)

• Osmani authorises KSF deployment to assist Albania in extinguishing fires (media)
• Von Cramon expects progress Prishtina-Belgrade talks after elections (N1, media)
• Elezi: We have received 13 applications from political entities so far (media)
• War crimes judges should be disqualified over 'abuse of authority,' say UK lawyers (The Telegraph)
• Foreign experts expect parallel structures to be dissolved this year (Klan Kosova)
• Be the change you want to see; How Diaspora can contribute to cleaner Kosovo (Kosovo 2.0)
• Most Balkan countries cheer Olympic medal scores (BIRN)
• COVID-19: 263 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 9, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti is asked to find “creative” solution for Association (media)
• Kusari-Lila: We can discuss other topics with Rama, but not Open Balkan (Koha)
• Police Director says vetting in judiciary, including police, is necessary (media)
• Kosovo Defence Minister: US Army main guarantor of security in Kosovo (media)
• COVID-19: 263 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Rakic: Pristina uses passivity of Brussels (Vecernje Novosti)
• Incident near administrative line with Kosovo on Friday (Tanjug, Radio KIM)
• Patriarch Porfirije: Support to church and people in Greece (Radio KIM)
• Vucic and Botsan-Kharchenko – High degree of bilateral cooperation (RTS)
• Albanians launch petition against Goran Bregovic (KoSSev)
• Five new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Zaev: Our peoples have same path, ‘Open Balkans’ demonstration of progress (Kosovo-online, Politika)

International:

• Diaspora Kosovars flood home after year of absence (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbians likely to be able to travel to EU after August 15 (N1)