UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 3, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Avdullah Hoti elected new prime minister of Kosovo (media)
• Fight against Covid-19 and economic recovery, priorities of new govt (media)
• Hoti presents composition of his cabinet (media)
• U.S. embassy, Grenell welcome the formation of new government (media)
• EU congratulates the new Kosovo government (media)
• Thaci pledges to cooperate with new government (media)
• Haxhiu: New government, illegal (Klan)
• Selimi: This is Thaci's government not one of people (Telegrafi)
• Veseli: PDK will not support Hoti-led government (Kallxo)
• Haradinaj: Hoti government is not against anyone (Klan Kosova)
• Hoti government with a convicted minister (Kallxo)
• Kosovo government holds meeting ahead of Assembly's vote (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• New Kosovo government voted, Serbian List has two ministers (RTS)
• Brnabic: Pristina not to conduct populist politics (Tanjug)
• RFE: Lajcak to restart Belgrade–Pristina talks soon; Vucic: After bans lifted (N1)
• Vucic on situation in US, Kosovo issue (B92)
• Vucic spoke with Rohani, Iran committed at respecting territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia (RTS)
• Várhelyi expects significant EU’s investments in Western Balkans (N1, BETA)
• Last Serb in western Kosovo Decani town dies at 58 (N1)
• No new Covid-19 infection cases in Serb-populated areas (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• America’s Never Been Less Likely to Help the Balkans (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo picks new government promising deal with Serbia (Reuters)
• Hoti elected prime minister (Balkan Insight)
• Opinions Split over Legality and Effect of Kosovo’s Reciprocity Measures (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian:

• Insults, Leaks and Fraud: Digital Violations Thrive amid Pandemic (Balkan Insight)
• Kon: It is time to suspend introduced measures (B92)

• 13 new cases of coronavirus in last 24 hours (media)
• Thaci: New government will have my support (media)
• LDK announces names of its ministers in new eventual government (media)
• Osmani: Transitional govt until new elections, best option (Koha)
• Mustafa: We will have a government with a full mandate tomorrow (media)
• Haziri doesn’t trust the Hoti government (media)
• Source: Some MPs in the coalition will vote against (Lajmi)
• Abazi says LDK agreed to give SL leading posts, including DPM (media)
• Constitutional Court kept no records of sessions on Thaci's decree case (Koha)
• EP rapporteur calls on all parties to respect Court’s decision (media)
• Konjufca: LDK is now group of close interests, Thaci gave them the govt (T7)
• Svecla: Vote on Hoti government tomorrow, very likely to fail (KTV)
• Vetevendosje: Protest are becoming inevitable, but not tomorrow (media)
• New round of Kosovo – Serbia dialogue, maybe in June (RFE)
• EU calls on Kosovo to review decision on reciprocity with Serbia (RFE)
• Grenell to continue to serve as Presidential Envoy for Kosovo-Serbia talks (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Assembly to vote on Hoti government tomorrow (media)
• Hamza: PDK will not vote in favor of Hoti government (Telegrafi)
• CDHRF: No one can pressure MPs on how to vote (media)
• Kurti’s advisor: Any government without winner of elections, illegitimate! (media)
• Vetevendosje starts petition calling for elections (media)
• Two casualties in Novobrdo mine landslide (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lajcak received the support of 27 member states to continue the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (Kosovo Online)
• Belgrade & Washington disappointed with Kosovo’s new ban on goods from Serbia (Fonet, N1)
• Grenell resigned from State Department, remains special envoy for dialogue (B92)
• Djuric and Botsan-Kharchenko: Pristina's behavior requires a sharp and decisive reaction from the international community (media)
• Serbian Ministry of Culture: Nefarious falsification of facts (TV Most, RTV Puls)
• Jevtic: Repanovic families from Osojane village robbed (Kosovo Online)
• Mijacic: Kosovo is not a topic for the parliamentary elections in Serbia (RTK2)
• Kosovo police spokesperson: Entry in Kosovo possible for everyone, with medical procedures (Radio KIM)
• No new cases of Covid-19 infection in Serb-populated areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Confusion at Jarinje crossing point, hundred trucks waiting (RTS)

Opinion:

• Liberals in the EU should turn enlargement into a success of the European project (EWB)

International:

• Kosovo Govt Defends New Reciprocity Measures Against Critics (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Unclean Energy: The Kosovar Who Would Own the Sun (Balkan Insight)
• ‘If we gave up, what would happen to my children?’ (Prishtina Insight)
• Italian Ambassador to Serbia: Thank you for generous donation, it will be remembered (N1, FoNet)

• 27 new cases of coronavirus in last 24 hours (media)
• Thaci: New government to assume its responsibilities (media)
• PM's office: Constitutional Court contradicted itself (media)
• Kosovo Assembly presidency to meet tomorrow (media)
• LDK: We have required votes for new government (media)
• LVV demands transcripts of Constitutional Court (media)
• Kosovo’s acting Deputy PM suspects Court’s decision is "falsified" (media)
• Constitutional Court rejects claims its ruling is falsified (Kallxo)
• Nagavci: No-confidence motion, result of appetites for power (KTV)
• President Thaci meets AKR leader Pacolli (media)
• Tunheim: Court made fair decision on President’s decree (Gazeta Express)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 1, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Constitutional Court publishes full decision (media)
• LDK waiting for full Constitutional Court ruling (media)
• Haradinaj: Realistic to expect voting of new government tomorrow (Express/RTK)
• Foreign ministry could present a challenge for Hoti government (Indeksonline)
• 15 trucks from Serbia not allowed into Kosovo (Koha)
• Kosovo courts to resume work (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian official react to Pristina’s reciprocity measures (media)
• “Republic” for Serbia, but not for others (KoSSev)
• Ljajic on Pristina’s measures: Trucks with goods are returning, that is a complete suspension of trade (Kosovo Online, RFE)
• Distribution of Serbian daily newspapers prevented at Jarinje (KoSSev)
• Association of Journalists of Serbia: Pristina without delay to ensure the free flow of Serbian print media (uns.org.rs)
• No new cases of Covid-19 infection in Serb-populated areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online portal)
• Two Serbs attacked in Donja Gusterica (KIM radio)
• "Kamenica the best example of coexistence of Serbs and Albanians" (Slobodno Srpski, KIM radio)
• Jevtic about another stoned house in Ljubozda village (Kosovo Online)
• Crossing points to open today (Radio KIM, Kosovo-online)
• Pristina orders removal of goods which 'are not in line with Constitution' (KoSSev, N1)
• RIK: 90 polling stations in Kosovo (Kosovo online)
• Vucic: There's no doubt - without resolving Kosovo issue, Serbia will not join EU (B92, Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Nomen est omen: Albanian-Serb territorial dispute is also 50 plus years semantics battle (KoSSev)
• Stretching the rules to breaking point (Prishtina Insight)
• A Republic of Kosovo is not what the Balkans needs (The Jerusalem Post)

International:

• Kosovo: corruption, electoral funding and political participation of women (balcanicaucaso.org)

Humanitarian:

• 300 residents of Strpce hold protest against Matkos Group (KoSSev)
• OpisMEDIJavanje: Only media close to the government in Belgrade can reach Kosovo Serb politicians (KoSSev)
• Coronavirus crisis to affect household welfare across W. Balkans - World Bank (SeeNews)

• Covid-19: 13 new cases in last 24 hours (media)
• Kosovo authorities ease coronavirus measures (media)
• Kosovo government supplements reciprocity towards Serbia (media)
• Kurti: Denying Kosovo reciprocity is denying its sovereignty rights (media)
• Lajcak criticizes Kosovo’s move to expand reciprocity measures (media)
• Osmani supports recently-expanded reciprocity measures (media)
• Thaci: Kurti risking everything achieved in two decades (media)
• Hoti: The new government will eliminate every obstacle to dialogue (media)
• Veseli: Reciprocity measures, part of Kurti’s deceitful mentality (media)
• Names of ministers expected to be appointed to Hoti-led govt (Koha)
• UNDP publishes latest Public Pulse poll (media)

• Borrell: EU prefers current borders between Kosovo and Serbia (RFE)
• 12 new cases of coronavirus in last 24 hours (media)
• Survey: Citizens satisfied with Osmani and Kurti’s work (media)
• CDHRF calls on all parties to respect Court’s decision (media)
• National Security Council supports Grenell’s position (Telegrafi)
• Decision to open Kosovo’s air and land borders, next week (media)
• Von Cramon: All parties must respect Constitutional Court's decision (DW)
• Vogel: U.S. expects swift agreement to declare Kosovo a concluded mission (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

• Thaci calls for swift formation of new government (media)
• Acting PM Kurti: Decision of Constitutional Court, unacceptable (media)
• Veseli: An expected decision by the Constitutional Court (media)
• Abazi: Constitutional Court ruling, dangerous precedent (media)
• Mustafa: Assembly to vote on new government by Monday (media)
• Von Cramon: No alternative but to accept Constitutional Court ruling (Telegrafi)
• Nagavci: We’ll use democratic means to oppose court’s decision (Koha)
• Pacolli: Constitutional Court decision to be respected by all (media)
• Kusari-Lila: Kosovo democracy was betrayed (media)
• Pacolli’s New Kosovo Alliance won’t be part of new government (Indeksonline)

Serbian Language Media:

• North Kosovo: One person infected, no cured and deceased ones in the last 24 hours (Kontakt plus radio)
• Djuric: We will continue to help Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, TV Most)
• Jokanovic: Constitutional Court failed (KIM radio)
• Rasic: Constitutional Court will be quite ruined after this decision (KIM radio)
• Jovanovic: Albanians are buying time and waiting for the outcome of the elections in America (Kosovo Online)
• Orahovac: A group of Albanian young men removed a street sign with the name of Sloven Radic (Kosovo Online)
• Russian arms, deals with China harm Serbia's EU path, US diplomat says (FoNet, N1)
• Vucic invited to the 2020 Moscow Victory Day Parade (B92, Tanjug)

International:
• Kosovo highest court clears the way for new government vote (Reuters)
• Kosovo's President Welcomes Court Ruling On Prime Minister Appointment (RFE)
• Brussels and Washington Must Work Together on Kosovo Deal (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo’s Caretaker Governing Party Holds Peaceful Rally (AP/NYT)
• Week in Review: The Keys of Power (Balkan Insight)

• Constitutional Court rules in favor of President Thaci’s decree (media)
• President Thaci welcomes decision of Constitutional Court (media)
• U.S. Embassy statement on Constitutional Court’s decision (media)
• Grenell comments on Court's decision (Express)
• Konjufca implies LVV will seek opinion from Venice Commission (media)
• Abazi: This is state capture (media)
• Haxhiu: Court's decision is scandalous (media)
• Hoti: Time to unite for the country (media)
• Mustafa: Constitutional Court ruling, triumph for democracy (media)
• Haradinaj: Hoti government to be formed as soon as possible (media)
• Limaj calls on parties to respect Constitutional Court decision (media)
• Vetevendosje supporters hold “test-protest” in downtown Prishtina (media)
• Border changes promoted with taxpayer money (Kallxo/Prishtina Insight)
• Osmani: Those who lobbied for partition with taxpayers’ money, want to govern again
• Ambassador Heldt reacts to BIRN story about partition lobbying (Kallxo)
• Mujanovic: First time in history a govt hires lobbyists to partition own territory
• Haradinaj: I stopped Kosovo’s partition, no one can bring back this issue (media)
• President Thaci publishes images of “drug lab”, accuses “Kurti’s group” (media)
• Svecla: Psychiatric experts should comment on Thaci’s statements (media)
• Prosecution initiates investigations on surveillance room allegations (media)
• PDK: VV took data of over 1 million citizens from surveillance room (media)
• Miftaraj: The surveillance case is Thaci’s game, nothing more (Koha)
• President’s advisor: Kurti wants to be a dictator (media)
• 4 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in last 24 hours (media)
• Montenegro decides to open border with Kosovo on June 1 (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti responds to Thaci's statements, calls them "lies" (media)
• Prosecution gathering information into Thaci's allegations (Kallxo)
• Kurti: Old regime’s time is over (media)
• Kurti, Ahmeti discuss Covid-19 management efforts (media)
• "Contour Global" seeks over €20 mil in compensation from Kosovo govt (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Kosovo North: No new cases, cured and deceased in the last 24 hours (Kontakt plus radio)
• Dacic: ''Protection of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija is an important and long-term goal of Serbia'' (media)
• Russian ambassador calls for respect of UN SC resolution 1244 on Kosovo (Srna, N1)
• Palmer: US doesn't support stability at expense of democracy in Serbia (VOA, N1)
• Bilcik supports Lajcak, Vogel thinks he is the wrong man for the dialogue (Beta, Euractiv, KoSSev)
• Serbian cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo a sovereignty issue for both Belgrade and Pristina (KoSSev)
• Covic: In political sense, coronavirus helped some put on or take off their masks (RTS)
• Jevtic met Risi, discussed frequent attacks against Serbs in Kosovo (TV Most)
• Two decades since murder of 4-year old boy and two more Serbs in Cernica village (Radio kontakt plus)

Opinions:

• Court Ruling May Deepen Divisions in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The heroine mother (UNICEF)
• Kon: Serbia on way out of epidemic (B92)
• WHO office chief says pandemic under control in Serbia (N1, Nedeljnik)