UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 22, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We’ll remove measures on license plates, if Serbia does the same (media)
• EU High Representative Josep Borrell meets with regional leaders (media)
• Osmani: Kosovo met visa liberalisation requirements, EU must deliver (media)
• President Osmani, Foreign Minister Gervalla meet NATO SG Stoltenberg (media)
• Health Minister: 500,000 Pfizer doses will arrive by year’s end (media)
• COVID-19: Five deaths, 160 new cases (media)
• Nikola: Let’s come together so the world knows about Serbia’s crimes (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Varhelyi: Unilateral actions lead to unnecessary tensions and should be withdrawn (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Kurti plans to negotiate but with long barrels and armored vehicles goes against the bare-handed people (Kosovo Online)
• Vulin: ''The situation in Kosovo and Metohija calm, but tense'' (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• The Kosovo government discussing the situation in the north; no translation for Serbian media (KiM radio)
• Number of people gathering at Jarinje increases, no incidents (Kosovo-online)
• Covic: Now international community is on move (RTS)
• Representatives of WB with Borrell at a working dinner in NY (media)
• Tanjug: EU proposes Vucic-Kurti meeting in Brussels, aiming at reducing tensions (Kosovo-online)
• Selakovic met foreign ministers of Tunisia, Estonia and Bolivia in NY (RTS)
• EU-Western Balkans Summit in Slovenia in October (N1)
• Serbian Government to set up health care centers in north Kosovo (N1)
• Novakovic: Kurti introduced reciprocity because of local elections also (Kosovo-online)
• NADA for more decisive response of Serbia over ROSU units in north (Kosovo-online)
• The issuance of trial plates in Laplje Selo started today (KiM radio)

Opinion:

• Merkel’s Balkan Farewell More than Just Symbolic (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Restore trust and inspire hope, UN chief says in message to UNGA76 (news.un.org)
• World leaders speak at United Nations General Assembly (Al Jazeera)

• Kurti: Reciprocity on license plates is not a provocation or discriminatory (media)
• Osmani: The region is increasingly being threatened by Serbia's actions (media)
• EU: Kosovo and Serbia to resolve license plates issue through dialogue (Telegrafi)
• Kamberi: Decision on license plates is just, Presevo Valley citizens to be compensated (KP)
• CDHRF: Reciprocity on license plates does not violate human rights (Zeri)
• Albanian PM Rama comments on license plates measures (media)
• Basha: Relations between two independent countries rest on reciprocity (media)
• “Only Kosovo Police members involved in operation in the north” (media)
• Roadblocks near Bernjak and Jarinje border crossing points remain (media)
• Pyper poll: Over 79% believe reciprocity will have positive impact on Kosovo's image (Telegrafi)
• Osmani outlines meetings at the sidelines of UNGA session (media)
• Grenell criticises President Biden over his UNGA speech (media)
• Kosovo delegation visits Specialist Chambers at The Hague (media)
• Kosovo War Crime Witness Asks Hague Court for Compensation (BIRN)
• COVID-19: Seven deaths, 173 new cases (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 7 deaths, 173 new cases (media)
• Prime Minister Kurti received Quint ambassadors and Head of EU Office (media)
• Kosovo Foreign Minister: Tensions are a unilateral action by Serbia (media)
• Citizens can be provided with temporary license plates starting today (media)
• Kurti: Cooperative security remains our main task and engagement (media)
• Lajcak: Reduce tensions, allow freedom of movement (Express)
• Civilian police officers are removing "KS" license plates in Prishtina (Koha)
• Bislimi: Opening Serbia's state archives helps locating mass graves (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 34 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic says he refused Quint’s proposal for solution, demands withdrawal of troops from northern Kosovo (RTS)
• At Jarinje and Brnjak calm; crossing possible only on foot (media)
• Lajcak concerned over situation in northern Kosovo, calls for immediate de-escalation (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: I don't see the point of dialogue at the moment (media)
• Petkovic: Belgrade “fought in all ways“ to extend KS licence plates (N1)
• Temporary RKS license plates: The origin story (KoSSev)
• Mustafa: The reciprocity measure punishes Albanians in Presevo (Beta, NMagazin)
• Brnabic and Selakovic at the General Session of the UN (B92, Tanjug)
• Opposition in Serbia on the issue of Pristina’s reciprocity measure (media)
• Trial plates still not issued in central Kosovo (Kosovo Online, KiM radio)

International:

• Protesters block Kosovo-Serbia border, tension still high (AP)
• Kosovo: New restrictions on Serbian license plates spark protests (DW)
• EU leaders accuse Biden of disloyalty to allies (politico.eu)

• Osmani: Kosovo fully implemented agreements signed in Brussels (media)
• Bislimi: There is a tendency for further escalation (media)
• Quiet situation in Bernjak and Jarinje (media)
• Svecla: Decision on temporary license plates is legitimate (media)
• U.S. Embassy calls on Kosovo and Serbia to reduce tensions (media)
• Criminal groups of Radojcic and Veselinovic behind roadblocks (Kosovapress)
• Vucic says he discussed crisis in Kosovo with Lajcak (N1)
• Judah: Serbian military reportedly driving around close to Kosovo border (media)
• Stefanovic: License plates agreement expired, Vucic's regime lying to Serbs (media)
• “Government decision to be followed up with requirement to fill in forms” (Koha)
• ‘Reciprocity principle’ in Kosovo license plate dispute with Serbia (Euronews Albania)
• Kurti responds to questions on the gas pipeline project (RTK)
• COVID-19: 6 deaths, 48 new cases (media)
• First witness at Kosovo guerrilla’s trial recalls brutal beating (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 20, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 6 deaths, 48 new cases (media)
• License plates’ reciprocity, Svecla provides details on increase of police forces (RTK)
• Citizens block the roads to Brnjak and Jarinje (media)
• Kurti on action in the North: Serbia agreed to this as well (Ekonomia Online)
• MIA: Do not use Brnjak and Jarinje border points (Koha)
• The road to the Jarinje and Brnjak border points, continues to be blocked (Kallxo)
• EU: Kosovo and Serbia to immediately reduce tensions (RTK/Klan)
• KFOR: The situation in the North is stable (media)
• Serbian media: Vucic to gather National Security Council following Kosovo decision on license plates (Express)
• LDK's Gashi: PM Kurti putting on a 'show' with license plates (Kallxo)
• PDK and LVV clash over Kurti’s role in the KLA (Telegrafi)
• Kurti to undertake U.S. visit in November (Kosovapress/Klan)
• Albanian Assembly Speaker Nikolla to visit Kosovo (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• 38 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio kontakt plus)
• Stano: Lower tensions immediately, sides to refrain from unilateral actions (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• KFOR on events in northern Kosovo: Security situation stable (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic convened an emergency session of the Security Council (B92, Vecernje Novosti)
• ROSU at Jarinje and Brnjak, confiscation of vehicle plates commenced, Rakic urges Vucic to react (RTS)
• Simic called for the restraint of the citizens (B92, TV Prva, Tanjug)
• Issuance of trial RKS vehicle plates has started (KiM radio)
• Replacement of Serbian registration plates started in Gorazdevac (Radio KIM)
• Andric: 9,500 vehicles with Serbian license plates captured in Kosovo (Beta, Danas)
• Stefanovic: ''Explain to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija how you ‘defend’ them '' (Kosovo Online)
• Rada Trajkovic accuses Vucic of misinforming Serbs (Kosovo online)
• Petkovic: Pristina to start issuing temporary license plates for cars with Serb plates as of Monday (KoSSev)
• Milivojevic: By introducing reciprocity, Kurti practically abolishes dialogue (Kosovo-online)
• Lajcak on two-day visit to Belgrade (Radio KIM)
• Lajcak canceled a meeting with civil society in Belgrade (Kosovo Online, Danas)
• Petkovic: Either Brussels agreement will be respected or it shall not exist (Radio KIM)
• Vucic, Erdogan: Friendship with Turkey is guarantee of peace in region (N1)

Opinion:

• Janjic: Vehicle plates are just the beginning of Kurti's measures of reciprocity, Lajcak does not understand, and that leads to war (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Tempers Flare At Serbia-Kosovo Border As Pristina Presses 'Reciprocal' Move Over License Plates (RFE)
• Kosovo deploys police, Serbs protest amid border tension (AP)
• Kosovo Deploys Police as Serbs Protest in Licence Plate Dispute (Balkan Insight)
• Tensions as Kosovo begins removing Serbian licence plates at border (Euronews)

• COVID-19: 10 deaths, 173 new cases (media)
• Government: 35% of adult population is fully vaccinated in Kosovo (media)
• Movement of vehicles with KS license plates to be banned as of today (media)
• Kurti: If we were to sign a final agreement, Serbia would have to change its constitution (euronews.al)
• President Vjosa Osmani insists on concluding dialogue with mutual recognition (euronews.al)
• U.S. Embassy: Discussions with Kosovo government on gas pipeline ongoing (media)
• Serbs consider a possible plan on the north of Kosovo to constitute a threat (Koha)
• President Osmani travelled for official visit to United States (media)
• Rama Links Kosovo’s Membership in ‘Open Balkan’ to Its ‘Dedication to Peace’ (Exit News)
• ‘Relations with Albania Are Cooling,’ Warns Kosovo President (Exit News)
• Albanian PM Rama accepts invitation of Kurti to visit Kosovo (Express)
• Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani: Principled, yet willing to take risks (DW)
• A group of Afghan citizens leave Kosovo for United States (media)
• U.S. Seeks Acceleration Of EU-Balkan Integration, Senior Official Says (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 19 deaths, 279 new cases (media)
• Kosovo making preparations to issue COVID-19 digital passports (RFE/media)
• Kurti: Reciprocity towards Serbia is not an act of revenge (media)
• “Kurti to not debate Washington deal but insist U.S. appoints dialogue envoy” (Euronews Albania/media)
• Rizvanolli: No decisions on gas pipeline without cost information (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• EU envoy Lajcak due in Belgrade on Monday (N1)
• Lajcak met Serbian List’s representatives (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Two more people infected with Covid-19 in Gracanica (KiM radio)
• Resignation after insulting president and prime minister (KiM radio)
• Drecun: Lajcak attempts to give a dynamic to a died down dialogue (RTV Puls, Tanjug)
• Petkovic to Pristina: Plans to conquer North doomed (KoSSev)

International:

• Kosovo Minister Blames Falsified COVID-19 Tests on Wrongly Licensed Labs (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 14 deaths, 368 new cases (media)
• Lajcak expects opposition parties in Kosovo to support the dialogue (media)
• Konjufca: There is only one Kosovo archive and is among world’s most transparent ones (Klan)
• PDK’s Krasniqi: KLA had no archives, it’s world-known fact (media)
• Kosovo not blocking Serbian vehicles’ entry despite agreement expiry (BIRN)
• Human remains recovered at the Kizevak mass gravesite to return to Kosovo (Klan)
• EU deploys 22 long-term election observers to Kosovo (EO/Koha)
• Basha: It is Albania’s duty to support Kosovo (media)
• Death of woman whose family says died after vaccination being investigated (media)
• Two government officials arrested on bribery charges (media)
• Kosovo Urged to Give Syria Returnees More Financial Help (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 14 deaths, 368 new cases (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo, North Macedonia governments’ meeting, a historic moment (media)
• Kosovo and North Macedonia signed 11 agreements today (media)
• Konjufca: Territorial integrity and independence are non-negotiable (media)
• AAK’s Tahiri asks Lajcak to explain issue of KLA archives (Lajmi)
• 117 Afghan nationals expected to fly out of Kosovo today (Radio Free Europe)
• COVID-19 forces parties to avoid conventional campaigns (Indeksonline)
• Rama on Open Balkan: No one can lecture Albania (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Three deaths, 29 newly infected with Covid-19 in Serbian communities (KiM radio)
• "Epidemiological situation in Serb areas in Kosovo serious" (Radio Kosovska Mitrovica, KiM radio)
• Petkovic: Pristina wants to go back ten years and bury the dialogue (RTS)
• The hearing in the case of the murder of Oliver Ivanovic postponed again (KiM radio, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Petritsch: In Washington, the Balkans are increasingly seen as a problem of Europe (Kosovo Online)
• Von der Leyen to visit Belgrade on September 30 (Tanjug)
• Stojanovic: Citizens to decide on their own future (KiM radio)
• Jevtic: Serbian List's victory will be "defeat to the devil" (KiM radio)

International:

• For Kosovo officials, training means travel on taxpayer dime (BIRN)
• European Parliament gives green light to IPA III worth 14.2 billion euro (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• FRONTEX: Illegal Migration Increased by Over 90% in the Mediterranean, Balkan & Western African Route (schengenvisainfo.com)

• COVID-19: 12 deaths, 410 new cases (media)
• Health Institute calls on political parties: Stop rallies with citizens (media)
• Kurti to Lajcak: Kosovo is an equal party in dialogue, not a topic (media)
• Outgoing US Ambassador to Kosovo: ‘Relations Stronger than Stone’ (BIRN)
• ‘Silenced’ Kosovo War Victims Given a Voice at Guerrilla’s Trial (BIRN)
• Kosovo won’t join ‘Open Balkan’, supports ‘Berlin Process’ (Exit News)
• “Germany, steadfast partner of Kosovo’s path to Euro-Atlantic integration” (media)
• Kosovo will be able to appoint liaison officer to Europol (media)
• Haxhiu: Vetting through constitutional amendments, if not Plan B (T7)