UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 29, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• NATO Secretary General statement on the situation in Kosovo (media)
• Raid in four locations in the north ends, the fifth ongoing (media)
• Prosecutor: Action was carried out mainly in Radojcic’s properties (Koha)
• Svecla says attack in Banjska will be fully investigated (media)
• Berisha: We got information from intelligence on training of groups in Raska (Nacionale)
• Haxhiu responds to Rama: KFOR does not need to take control of the north (media)
• After attack in Banjska, increased movement of Serbian tanks in Presevo Valley (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• NATO approved sending additional forces to Kosovo (Tanjug, Politika)
• Vucic: Milan Radoicic resigned from the position of vice-president of the Serbian List (media)
• Borrell does not rule out the possibility of introducing punitive measures against the authorities in Serbia (N1, KiM radio)
• Office for KiM: Banjska as an excuse for continuation of terror in north of Kosovo (RTS, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Serbian List: Invasion into several private facilities in north of Kosovo (RTS, N1, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Elek on Kosovo special police raid of hospital premises, nothing was found (KoSSev, media)
• Ristuccia: There is no military solution for Kosovo, normalisation of relations necessary (Radio KIM, RTV, Tanjug)
• Vucic meets with Orban, UAE presidential envoy in Belgrade (Tanjug)
• Dacic and Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko on the situation in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• KoSSev: A fake priest spreading propaganda on certain Albanian media (N1)
• Brnabic: Kurti's terror against Serbs continues (Tanjug)
• EULEX: Monitoring activities conducted in cooperation with Kosovo police and KFOR (Tanjug, Blic)

Opinion:

• Hehir: The consequences of appeasing Vucic (Kosovo 2.0)
• Mandic: “Murderers at best, terrorists at worst” (Kosovo 2.0/Pescanik)
• “Is it possible to declare the Serbian List as a terrorist organisation?” (Danas)
• Hoxha on Banjska events: It was police operation, KFOR was clear; EU characterised it as ‘terrorist act’ (KoSSev)

International:

• NATO Says It Has Authorized Additional Forces for Kosovo (usnews.com)
• Belgrade to Question Kosovo Serb Kingpin Radoicic over Violence: Vucic (BIRN)
• Concrete and Cash: The Dirty Money Behind a Balkan Building Boom (Balkan Insight)
• Austria sent a non-paper for the accelerated EU integration of the Western Balkans (EWB)

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: Kosovo is under attack, dialogue is no longer the same (media)
Kurti: Idea that weapons entered Banjska without involvement of Serbia cannot be believed (media)
Gervalla: The association is dead (media)
Kurti responds to Edi Rama's idea that KFOR take control of the north of Kosovo (Kallxo)
Department of State: Killing of policeman cannot be equated with that of attackers (RFE)
QUINT in OSCE: Killers of Kosovo police should be brought to justice (media)
European Parliament to discuss situation in the north on Tuesday (Klan)
UAE calls for return to dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia (RTK)
Rohde: We have seen a lot of inflammatory statements, especially from Belgrade, this has to stop (media)
Police are looking for weapons and other potential victims in Banjska (Koha)
EULEX denies Serbia’s claim that it was not allowed to take part in police operation (Reporteri)
Bodies of the killed in Banjska cannot be handed over to families without scientific identification (Reporteri)
The Rashka-Prizren Diocese refuses for Kosovo to restore the Banjska Monastery (Koha)
Maliqi believes "there will be new attacks", says Vjosa Osmani "seems informed about the dangers"(Nacionale)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms death of Kosovo citizen in territory of Serbia (RTK)
Kurti asks for support in clarifying the fate of the missing (Klan)
Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Situation in Kosovo more complicated and dangerous than ever (N1)
Elek: Kosovo special police forcefully entered Clinical Hospital Centre in Mitrovica North, conduct search of some premises (Kosovo Online, N1)
Raska-Prizren Diocese responds to Kosovo institutions’ initiative to repair damage at Banjska Monastery (media, SOC’s website)
Jeremic: A broad national gathering needed in elections for protection of Kosovo (N1, Nova.rs, RTV)
Dacic meets with German MP Chrupalla, discuss Kosovo issue (Tanjug)
Mijacic: How long does implementation of freedom of movement agreement need to be waited for? (social media, Kosovo Online)
EUELX said in no way it was prevented to be present or observe Kosovo police operation in Banjska (KoSSev)
EULEX: Present during autopsy as observers, Pristina authorities conduct investigation into Banjska case (Kosovo Online)
International Media: 

Kosovo accuses Serbia of involvement in paramilitary ambush (The Guardian)
Exclusive: Kosovo's president blames Serbia for shootout, says Kosovo 'under attack' (Reuters)
Exclusive: Serbia to investigate killing of policeman in northern Kosovo, Vucic says (Reuters)
Kosovo accuses Serbia of direct involvement in deadly clashes and investigates possible Russian role (AP)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Assembly adopts resolution condemning attack in Banjska (media)
• Kurti: Serbia ruins bridges of cooperation; police showed determination (EO)
• Kurti wants Serbia “to be punished internationally” for the attack in Banjska (Klan)
• Kosovo special police step up presence in north after attack in Banjska (RFE)
• Rama: KFOR should take over control in north of Kosovo (Indeksonline)
• Vetevendosje’s Mihali reacts to Rama’s proposal for KFOR in north of Kosovo (media)
• EU in Belgrade didn’t lower flag to half-mast: “We don’t mourn criminals” (Kallxo)
• Clark: Incident in north of Kosovo, a real problem for stability in the Balkans (VoA)
• Kamberi reacts to Vucic’s statement about “trained criminals from Presheva” (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• An order has arrived from the SNS: Mayors and presidents of municipalities across Serbia are resigning (N1)
• Petkovic voices serious accusations against Kosovo police and its role in Banjska killings (Radio KIM, N1)
• Increased presence of special police in the north; Petkovic: Why didn't they allow EULEX to participate in the investigative operation (RTS)
• "Flags lowered, heads bowed": What are the residents in Kosovo north saying in the days after the conflict in Banjska? (Danas)
• Serbs in areas south of Ibar River: Tensions, uncertainty, sadness and powerlessness felt (Kosovo Online)
• PKS: Armed conflict in Banjska last alarm for all parties in dialogue (KiM radio)
• The house of Bosiljka Nojic in Gnjilane stoned (RTV Puls, Kosovo Online, Kontakt plus radio)
• Reaction of the Diocese to the statement of retired American General Clark (VoA, KiM radio)
• Serbia’s top security agency says its chief on visit to Israel (N1)
• Dveri, Oathkeepers, the People's Party demanding a parliamentary session on Kosovo (KiM Radio, Beta)
• Sutanovac: I think Vucic did not know what was happening in Banjska (Radio KIM, N1)
• Rada Trajkovic: How come “mysterious hand, with power on both sides, always saves Radoicic” (NMagazin, Beta, KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Franz-Lothar Altmann: Additional international forces need to be deployed to northern Kosovo (Demostat)

International:

• Kosovo Frees Four Serbs after Clashes, Alleges New Serbia Link (BIRN)
• Kosovo accuses Serbia of involvement in paramilitary ambush (The Guardian)
• Statute of Limitations as ‘Amnesty’ in Too Many Kosovo Criminal Cases (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:
Osmani says draft statute of Association should be prepared with U.S. (RTK)
Kurti and Gervalla meet ambassadors and diplomats accredited in Kosovo (media)
Gervalla says “Vucic regime poses threat to peace, stability in Europe” (media)
Svecla publishes document of Serbian army found in the north (media)
Konjufca and Hovenier meet, discuss events in Banjska (media)
Krasniqi: “National interest above all; Serbia should surrender terrorists” (Koha)
Rama wants EU to issue new statement on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RFE)
Lajcak meets incoming COMKFOR Major General Ulutas (media)
Docherty: Serbia to use its influence after attack on Kosovo Police (media)
“Exclusive: Belgrade hospital confirms Radoicic as their patient” (Indeksonline)
Serbian Language Media:
Vucic says last night peace is in Serbia’s interest, Kurti systematically destroys Serbian people (RTS, Tanjug, N1, B92, media)
Andric-Rakic: Those killed were family men, they would not have brought conflict to their children’s doorstep if they thought there was another way out (KoSSev, N1)
Dacic: Belgrade has nothing to do with armed group in Banjska (N1, BETA)
Serbian Ministry of Culture: Forgery and appropriation of cultural heritage (Radio KIM, Tanjug)
Dacic: Video of Kosovo Serb politician fake (RTS, N1)
Day of mourning observed in Serbia (N1, media)
Petkovic: Intention of Svecla is to accuse Belgrade for alleged involvement in Banjska incident (Tanjug, Radio KIM)
Serbian Prince Filip extends condolences to families of those killed in Banjska (Radio KIM)

International Media: 

Serbs in Kosovo mourn those killed in monastery shootout (Reuters)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Kosovo Serbs need to be liberated from Serbia’s tutelage (RFE)
• Elshani: Our goal was not to kill 30 persons, but to free the territory (Koha)
• Svecla says “one of those killed was Vulin’s bodyguard in 2013” (media)
• Stano: EU does not rush into decisions based on a video (Albanian Post)
• Rasic: There was information three months ago about military camp in Raska (media)
• Abdixhiku calls for “national unity when faced with Serbia” (media)
• Haradinaj: The threat is present, we cannot work separately (Nacionale)

Serbian Language Media:

• Regarding requests for measures against Serbia: EU will wait for the investigation before deciding (KiM radio, FoNet)
• Vucevic: Current communication with KFOR at the lowest, technical level (Danas, RTS)
• Office for KiM: The breaking of windows in Lipljan is an echo of the violence in the north of Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever, Tanjug)
• Kurti: Serbs need to be liberated (N1)
• Prosecution frees four Banjska incident suspects (N1)
• Entry to Banjska allowed (KiM Radio, Kosovo Online)
• Mijacic: After Banjska, the most important thing to stabilize the north, with international actors on the move (Kosov Online)
• SOC: We pray for the victims of Serbs and Albanians, we send our condolences, means not chosen for the disappearance of the people and the Church from Kosovo (KoSSev)

International:

• US envoy says Kosovo attack ‘coordinated and sophisticated’ (politico.eu)

Albanian Language Media:

Chollet: Parties should return to dialogue and implement Ohrid deal (Koha)
Kurti: Two years today, Serbia sent warplanes near border to scare us (Express)
Kurti thanks residents of Banjska for calmness and prudence (Kallxo)
Osmani meets Hovenier: Hope there will be sanctions for Serbia (Koha)
Kurti meets Abbott, discuss security situation and attack on police (Express)
Gervalla: “Vucic, exporter of terrorism and instability” (Express)
Kosovo, Serbia called to return to negotiations, implement agreement (Koha)
KFOR: We were ready to intervene, coordinated with Police and EULEX (media)
Police Director visits Banjska, ensures citizens will be offered help (media)
Some 60 suspects for Banjska, 10 received medical treatment in Serbia (Koha)
Ramadani insists NATO-Serbia Kumanovo Agreement was breached (Express)
Serbian Language Media:
“Restore calm, return to dialogue”: Chollet speaks to Vucic, Kurti (N1)
Dacic accuses Kurti for situation, asks KFOR to take over security functions (media)
Drecun: “Kurti to escalate terror” (Tanjug, RTS)
Momirovic: Systematic violation of human and political rights leads to tragic events (media)
Raska-Prizren Eparchy extends condolences to families of killed Serbs in Banjska (KoSSev, media)
Citizens lit candles for Serbs killed in armed incident in Banjska (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, Radio KIM)
Day of Mourning declared in Republika Srpska (RTRS, Kosovo Online)
Three Serbs arrested in relation to Banjska incident sent to one-month detention (Radio KIM)
Windows at Braca Aleksic Elementary School broken in Lipljan (Kosovo Online)
AP on situation in Kosovo: Highly unlikely KFOR will grant Vucic’s request (BETA, N1)
Police action in Banjska concluded, decision on further steps today (media)
Kosovo police says eight persons in total arrested in north (Kosovo Online)
Brnabic thanks Cyprus for respecting Serbia's territorial integrity (Tanjug)
International Media:
The Pavlovic Today Asks Blinken’s Spokesperson About US Support For KFOR Taking Charge In Northern Kosovo

Albanian Language Media:

• Svecla publishes video claiming to show Radoicic during attack in north (RFE)
• Svecla: Armed group planned to go south to the Iber River, “declare autonomy” (media)
• Rohde: Urgent need to continue dialogue talks, implementation of Ohrid deal (media)
• UK MP Kearns reacts to latest developments in north of Kosovo (media)
• Albanian PM Rama says “Belgrade blowing the fire of an armed conflict” (media)
• Kosovo Police deliver 100 food packages to citizens of Banjska (Koha)
• Abazovic: Situation in north of Kosovo can turn into wider conflict (Albanian Post)
• Dugolli: International community should take urgent steps against Serbia (media)
• Maliqi: KFOR, NATO negotiated with Belgrade to stop armed conflict in north (media)
• Former KSF commander: Operation to continue, there are more arms warehouses (KTV)
• Tahiri: Borrell, Lajcak must resign; Serbia must be suspended from integration (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Stano: In the afternoon, a new meeting of EU ambassadors will be held on the situation in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Vucic requests KFOR to take over security in the north of Kosovo (NMagazin, media)
• Hill: Further steps are being considered after the events in Banjska (Beta, KiM radio)
• Kosovo minister says Serbian List’s Radoicic was in Banjska (N1, KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio)
• Tomorrow in Serbia Mourning Day due to the events in Kosovo (media)
• Serbian List: Three-day mourning in Serbian communities in Kosovo (Danas)
• Milicevic: The Serbian List has failed, less and less control and influence on the Serbs from the north (N1)
• Kontakt plus journalist, Ana Marija Ivkovic: The atmosphere in the north of Kosovo is worse (Insajder)
• Vorgucic: To me it is unbelievable that K-Serbs are behind this action (Insajder)
• Brnabic met with Vucic: Discussion on measures to be taken (Beta, N1)
• A vehicle set on fire in Leposavic last night (KoSSev)

International:

• State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller Addresses Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti’s Accusations, Violent Clashes, And Excessive Force Concerns (thepavlovictoday.com)
• Svecla: What we want to do is make sure everyone feels safe (BBC Newsnight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, September 26, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: “Serbia should be held accountable for sponsoring terrorist violence on territory of Kosovo” (media)
• Osmani: “Terrorist actions in the north orchestrated by Belgrade” (media)
• Prosecution confirms finding of third body of armed group (media)
• Kosovo accuses Radoicic of attacking the Police (RFE)
• Bosnian TV: Radoicic suspected injured, being treated in Serbia (media)
• EU says that de-escalation in the north is more than necessary (media)
• Lajcak: Intensive and essential consultations on situation in north (media)
• EULEX: We assisted the Kosovo police in transporting pilgrims to Jarinje (Klan)
• France strongly condemns the attack on the Kosovo Police (media)
• Tajani asks Kurti and Vucic to dialogue, says Italy plans to strengthen KFOR presence on the border (media)
• Belgium condemns attack on police: Perpetrators must be brought to justice (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian List: At least two Serbs killed after their surrender, we will demand investigation (N1, KoSSev, Kosovo Online, media)
• Bishop Teodosije visited Banjska, Diocese: Monks were in no way involved in tragic events (KoSSev)
• Petkovic: Pristina used Sunday's event as occasion for terror in northern Kosovo (Tanjug)
• V.T. wounded in Banjska rendered one-month detention (KoSSev, media)
• Two persons arrested in hotel in Banjska, weapons found (KoSSev, media)
• Novi Sad mayors welcomes group of pilgrims who were at Banjska monastery during Sunday’s clashes (Tanjug)
• Ambassador Botsan-Kharchenko says violence of Pristina continues (Tanjug, media)
• Lajcak discusses situation in Kosovo with US, EU diplomats (N1, media)
• Opposition blasts Vucic over incident in Kosovo (N1)
• Tajani: I have spoken with Vucic, Kurti, Kfor presence to be boosted (Tanjug)
• Zakharova reacts to incident in northern Kosovo, situation there (Tanjug, media)
• Vucic to meet Quint ambassadors, head of EU delegation today (Tanjug)

International Media:

• Attack Leaves Kosovo Serbs in Fear and Disbelief Over What Occurred (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Body of another dead attacker found in Banjska (Koha)
• Blinken: Violent attacks on Kosovo Police near Banjska Monastery, unacceptable (media)
• “Weapons seized at Banjska Monastery will be presented today” (TeVe1)
• Another vehicle with weapons found in the north (Koha)
• Crisis in Banjska – Police find new evidence, including drone (Kallxo)
• Kurti: Bunjaku was killed by a professionally trained group supported by Serbia (media)
• Osmani awards slain police officer with “Hero of Kosovo” order (media)
• Sarrazin condemns “criminal and terrorist” attack on Kosovo Police (Albanian Post)
• Lajcak to meet French, German, Italian representatives today, Escobar will attend (RFE)
• “Arms seized in the north; terror group tried to camouflage as KFOR” (Indeksonline)
• Rohde calls on Serbian List to react against killing of Kosovo police officer (media)
• Vela: Vucic resorted to unprecedented aggression; he will fail (media)
• Lajcak: Cowardly acts of violence, against principles of peace and cooperation (media)
• Bogdanovic, Biserko comment on yesterday’s developments in north (Nacionale)
• Kanin: Kosovo is victim of attacks in north; Association favours Serbia (media)
• Kupchan: The attack in Kosovo was not spontaneous (Radio Free Europe)
• Maliqi: “Serb terrorists” wanted to frame massacre and blame Albanians (Dukagjini)
• Taravari: Kosovo can’t be another Ukraine, because it would mean World War III (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Stano: A very dangerous situation happened in Kosovo, urgent de-escalation needed (Kosovo Online)
• Visoki Decani monastery warns against misinformation (KiM radio, N1)
• Vucic meets Bostan-Kharchenko, tells him ethnic cleansing is ongoing in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Sarrazin: We must have a successful dialogue (KiM radio)
• Brussels: Lajcak and Escobar with diplomats from France, Germany, and Italy (KiM radio, Tanjug)
• Elshani: Police are looking for uniformed attackers (KiM radio)
• Jarinje and Brnjak still closed for entry in Kosovo (N1)
• Believers still in Banjska monastery, citizens of North Macedonia went home (Kim Radio, Beta, N1)
• BETA: Injured near Banjska transferred to hospital in Novi Pazar (N1, nova.rs, KiM Radio, NMagazin)
• Attacker from Banjska underwent surgery in Pristina (N1)
• Due to incompetence of Serbian regime, Kosovo Serbs at mercy of Kurti, Freedom and Justice Party said (Beta, N1, KiM radio)
• Dacic: Kurti wants war (FoNet, Danas)
• Serbian Minister says events in northern Kosovo planned, conflict suits Kurti only (Kosovo Online, TV Pink)
• Regional media: "The state of war", "terrorists" and "the spark that could ignite the region" (NMagazin, N1)
• Serbian citizen arrested in Montenegro suspected of war crimes in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, RTCG, N1)
• Post of Serbia: Post office in Banjska intruded, property damaged (RTS)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: “Terrorism cannot be a topic of the dialogue” (Koha)

International:

• Siege of Serb monastery in Kosovo ends after militants withdraw (Financial Times)
• Why Kosovo’s standoff with Serbs continues 15 years after statehood (Al Jazeera)
• Telekom Srbija wins Kosovo appeal (broadbendtvnews.com)

Albanian Language Media:

An official of the Kosovo Police killed in the north (media)
Reactions to killing of Kosovo police officer in north (media)
Raska-Prizren Diocese: Armed persons moving in monastery yard (Koha)
Kurti: At least 30 heavily armed people under siege of our forces (media)
President Osmani: An attack on Kosovo (RTK)
Svecla's ultimatum: Last warning to surrender (media)
Kurti on terrorist attack: Politically, financially supported by Belgrade (media)
Police: Arrested two terrorists, four others, situation tense, under control (media)
Svecla: Kosovo Police has territory under control (media)
Special Prosecutor's Office: Six arrested in north are suspected of terrorism, we seized a lot of weapons (media)
KFOR: Closely monitoring situation, ready to intervene if necessary (Reporteri)
IMC calls on media for accurate and impartial reporting (media)
Attacker on police treated in Prishtina, surgical intervention expected (media)
Opposition political parties react to the killing of Kosovo policeman (media)
Serbian Language Media:
Vucic condemns killing of Kosovo policeman, blames “Kurti’s terror“ for escalation (N1, media)
Raska-Prizren Eparchy: Currently, there is sense of calm at Banjska monastery, but overwhelming unease and concern linger among monks and pilgrims (media, social media, Eparchy’s webpage)
Armed masked persons breached locked gate of Banjska Monastery during yesterday’s armed clashes, Eparchy expressed condolences to family of killed police officer (KoSSev, media, social media)
Djuric blames Kurti for preparing ground for yesterday’s incidents (media, social media)
Brnabic: International community gave Kurti a wind at his back for disaster in northern Kosovo (RTS, TV Pink)
Serbian opposition parties accuse Kurti of carrying out ethnic cleansing in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
Entry to Banjska village still forbidden (Tanjug)
Six persons arrested in northern Kosovo sent to 48-hour detention (KoSSev)
SRSG Ziadeh condemns incident in northern Kosovo in which Kosovo police officer was killed (Kosovo Online, Radio KIM)
Lazarevic on incident in northern Kosovo (N1)
Grenell: Kurti’s unilateral actions are not justification for violence (Kosovo Online, social media)
Von Cramon: Urgent de-escalation needed and reinforcement of KFOR (Radio KIM)
Gashi: Current situation consequence of Kurti’s failures in north (Kosovo Online)
Demhasaj: Statements of officials in situations as this one must be careful (Kosovo Online)
Telekom Srbija wins appeal against ban in Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
Incident at playground in Mikro Naselje, KP: A boy showed knives to other children, he has been questioned and knives confiscated (KoSSev)
International Media:
Kosovan PM Albin Kurti says talks with Serbia have reached deadlock (The Guardian)
Serb gunmen battle police in Kosovo monastery siege; four dead (Reuters)