UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 25, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: Eight deaths, 136 new cases (media)
• EU: Dialogue at level of experts to continue August 27 (RFE)
• Hoti about the road near Monastery: Laws must be respected (media)
• Mustafa: Changes in government if agreement is not respected (media)
• Konjufca: Hoti is going to dialogue with Serbia without platform (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Janjic after meeting Hoti: I hope solution would be satisfactory to all (Kosovo-online)
• Abbot Janjic: We support economic development of municipality, but highway can’t go through protective zone (Kosovo-online)
• EU: Belgrade-Pristina dialogue at expert level on August 27 in Brussels (Kosovo-online)
• “I would quote Vucic, do not waste kerosene” (B92, Tanjug)
• “Washington meeting part of US election campaign, its importance to be exaggerated” (KoSSev)
• Server: Some agreements on Gazivode and Trepca in Washington are possible (Danas)
• Serbian, Russian military chiefs discuss security situation, cooperation (BETA, N1)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbs and Albanians laid together flowers at monument of missing persons (Kosovo-online)
• European Commission adopts measures to help neighbors recover from pandemic (RTS, N1)

• COVID – 19: 99 new cases, 13 deaths (media)
• Kosovo President urges MPs to extend mandate of the War Crimes Court (Express)
• Opposition parties have not changed stance regarding dialogue with Serbia (RFE)
• Haradinaj: Mutual recognition should be part of the final deal (TV Dukagjini)
• Limaj: Coalition is stabile as long as there is fair partnership (RTK)
• Zemaj: Anti-COVID-19 vaccines to be distributed free of charge (media)
• Haziri: President’s name goes through LDK offices (media)
• MP Haxhi Shala and former KLA Member Ziadin Hoxha summoned by SPO (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 24, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 99 new cases, 13 deaths (media)
• Mustafa: There is no mood for elections (KosovaPress)
• Hoti: Trend of new cases dropping; situation not under full control (media)
• Zemaj: COVID-19 tests to be available in all Kosovo regions soon (RTK)
• Hoti: We won’t relax measures; number of fatalities very high (media)
• Hoxhaj: Lukashenko nostalgic about Soviet Union, Vucic about Milosevic (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Three new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serb areas in Kosovo on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• Politika: Infrastructural projects on agenda in Washington
• Ljajic: Trade without political barriers may reach one billion EUR (Kosovo-online)
• OSCE expresses concern over damages made to church in Sredska (Radio kontakt plus)
• Rakic and Jevtic with Bishop Teodosije: Road reconstruction within law only (RTS)
• Djuric: Brussels must have final say on Pristina’s dangerous game (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Pantovic: I expect confirmation or dismissal of first indictments (Kosovo-online)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Neither test, nor quarantine - Citizens of Serbia can travel to 17 countries (B92)
• More Serbs spend holiday in Albania, say better than expected (N1)
• Serbia relaxes anti-epidemic measures, opens cinemas and theaters (N1)

COVID – 19: 111 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
Hoti: Bigger threat from coronavirus infection in September (media)
Kosovo – Serbia meeting in Washington confirmed for September 4 (media)
Prime Minister Hoti to meet coalition partners today (media)
Haradinaj: No bad agreement in Washington (media)
Abrashi: President post belongs to LDK (media)
Hoxhaj: Race of political parties over President post, immoral (RTK)

COVID - 19: 162 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
Haradinaj: We won’t break coalition over President post (Indeksonline)
3 economic agreements expected to be finalised in Washington (Kosovapress)
Vucic: Meeting could be postponed to Sept 3 or 4, Trump could join (Express)
Selimi: Serbian government has information on Ukshin Hoti’s fate (RTK)
Six cases of domestic violence reported in last 24 hours (Kosovapress)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 21, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 162 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
• PM’s Office is not aware of cancellation of September 2 meeting (RTK)
• Hoti: Terrorism is a global challenge that should be fought globally (media)
• Thaci supports the initiative of Albanian Americans, Kurti rejects it (media)
• Gani Geci summoned to The Hague (media)
• Government approves amendments to Law on financing political entities (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Four new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Postponement of meeting in Washington by day or two not excluded (Tanjug)
• Lavrov: Dialogue on Kosovo without blackmails and arms twisting (Radio kontakt plus, N1)
• 22 anniversary of kidnappings of journalists Djuro Slavuj and Ranko Perenic marked today (KoSSev)
• Office for KIM: Unresolved destiny of kidnapped journalists stain on face of international community (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: I would open Decani topic in Brussels, we fight with political and diplomatic means (Kosovo-online)
• “Police officers arrested in northern Kosovo last year released pending trial” (Radio KIM)

Humanitarian/Development:

• WHO keeping track of Balkans during coronavirus pandemic (N1)
• COVID-19 crisis hits health workers (Prishtina Insight)

• COVID - 19: 158 new cases, 13 deaths (media)
• President Thaci decrees three laws, including law against COVID-19 (media)
• Raka: Situation may deteriorate in September (media)
• Leaders of ruling coalition to meet on Monday (media)
• Haradinaj explains why he wants the post of Kosovo President (media)
• Selmanaj: New President could come from the PDK (T7)
• Beqiri: If coalition doesn’t function properly, we go to elections (TV21)
• U.S. Ambassador encourages minority representation in KSF and KP (media)
• Specialist Chambers have four days to confirm first indictments (Koha)
• EU, UK warn of consequences if Specialist Chambers' mandate is changed (Koha)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 20, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 158 new cases, 13 deaths (media)
• Education minister: We are expecting decision on reopening of schools (media)
• UNDP delivers vouchers to 2,000 families as part of COVID-19 response (KP/Klan)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo to go to Washington meeting for final agreement with Serbia (RFE)
• Kosovo ministers meet U.S. Special Representative Palmer (media)
• Kosovo looks to send representative to U.S. State Department (media)
• Meeting of ruling coalition leaders rescheduled (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Six new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Haradinaj should not waste kerosene to travel to US in hope for final agreement (Kosovo-online)
• Dacic: EU thinks Belgrade should accept every stance of Brussels (RTV)
• Vucic received Dodik’s comparability analysis on status of RS and Kosovo? (Tanjug)
• Abbot Janjic: Suspension of construction encouraging sign by Kosovo government and municipality (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• ‘Never Let a Good Crisis Go To Waste’ (Kosovo 2.0)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbian Labor Minister says no rise in unemployment figures (BETA, N1)

• COVID-19: 162 new cases, nine deaths (media)
• Hoti, Ramosaj agree to suspend works on Decan-Plav road (media)
• Ramosaj: Decan – Plav road, “will be built or I will build it” (media)
• U.S. Embassy statement on construction of Decan-Plav road (media)
• Hoti: I discuss mutual recognition in Brussels, Haradinaj knows this (media)
• Hoti: Meeting in Washington will focus on the economy (media)
• Ruling coalition leaders to meet today amid disagreements on dialogue (EO)
• Hoti: Government is stable, no need for reshuffling (media)
• EU aims to set up mechanism to monitor implementation of agreements (KTV)
• Weber predicts difficulties for Avdullah Hoti on September 2 (Express)
• Shala: Kosovo status, not a topic in dialogue (Express)
• Two more former KLA members summoned by Specialist Chambers (media)
• Serb arrested in Mokna, suspect in Enver Zymberi killing (Indeksonline)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 19, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 162 new cases, nine deaths (media)
• Hoti concerned some still do not believe in existence of COVID-19 (media)
• Hoti and Ramosaj agree to suspend works on the Decan-Plava road (RTK)
• Government considers Vetevendosje’s accusations low (media)
• Ramush Haradinaj to meet Hoti tomorrow (RTK)
• Leaders thank police and doctors on the World Humanitarian Day (media)
• Naser Sahiti elected rector of the University of Prishtina (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Four new cases of Covid-19, one death registered in Serb areas in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Abbot Sava: It is absurd that monks defend law from institutions (KoSSev, N1)
• Nora Weller: Kosovo must prove that Serb community and monasteries are protected (KoSSev, N1)
• Vucic and Dacic on upcoming meetings in Washington and Brussels (RTS)
• Customs claims Bishop Teodosije returned from Jarinje over phytosanitary certificate; Bishop: They didn’t ask for anything (KoSSev)
• Serbian Chamber of Commerce: Export to Kosovo EUR 95 million in first half of 2020 (N1)
• Four Serbs sent to one-month detention over possession of weapons and shooting (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Russia and China are Penetrating Balkans at West’s Expense (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo Road Construction Sparks Row with Serbian Monastery (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• UNDP hands over vouchers for vulnerable families (media)