UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 25, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo marks slight progress in anti-corruption fight (RFE/media)
• KDI recognises Kosovo’s progress but notes that a great deal of work remains (media)
• Kosovo's progress in fight against corruption hailed (media)
• Kurti says justice institutions to deal with Serbian List officials, not Government (Telegrafi)
• Northern municipalities not included in energy price increase proposal, ERO head says (Kosovapress/media)
• GAP: Kosovo to increase minimum wage to mitigate price increase impact (media)
• COVID-19: 2,707 new cases, two deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian communities in Kosovo: 192 people infected and one death recorded (Kontakt plus radio)
• Petkovic: Preventing Serbian elections in Kosovo would have consequences (Beta, N1)
• Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency launches proceedings against Serbian List officials (Radio KIM)
• Brnabic holds bilateral meetings with Varhelyi, Borrell (Tanjug)
• Corruption 2021: Serbia at its lowest score in decade for second year in a row (N1)
• Petkovic, Selakovic with Davenport on situation in Kosovo, rights of Serbs (Kosovo-online)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Do not assume COVID pandemic reaching 'end game', warns WHO (Reuters)

• Assembly to vote today on motion against energy price increase (media)
• Rizvanolli: Energy tariff increase is inevitable (KTV)
• COVID-19: 2,243 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Kosovo defends new COVID-19 measures for visitors against backlash (BIRN)
• Mehaj-Hovenier: KSF, partner of NATO for regional and global security (RTK)
• Court closes ‘Pronto’ affair without convictions (Prishtina Insight)
• Not wanted: Roma graduates remain jobless in Kosovo (BIRN)
• Cameras blacklisted by the U.S. monitor the Government of Kosovo (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We need to jointly discuss a way out of crisis (Kallxo/Express)
• Abdixhiku: Government's delayed response on energy shows regime's inexplicable fear (Klan)
• PDK: Institutions were indifferent to announcements of energy price increase (Kallxo)
• Kusari-Lila: No going back to past practices regarding Serbia's elections (Telegrafi)
• Greece's Dendias expresses support for progress in Kosovo-Serbia relations (media)
• COVID-19: 2,243 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Haradinaj asks Kurti to lift COVID-19 border measures (media)
• North Macedonia urges Kosovo to review recent COVID-19 measures (media)
• Why Kosovo Shrugged off Balkan Conspiracy Theories About Vaccines (Prishtina Insight)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 155 new cases registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Kosovo-online)
• Blakaj: Kosovo institutions have not done enough to gather evidence of the war (Danas, KiM radio)
• Greek FM lends support to Lajcak’s efforts on Kosovo (N1)
• Complaints over new decision of Kosovo government that booster dose is needed to enter Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Vucic on voting in Kosovo on April 3 elections (TV Most)
• Dacic says international community should ensure that Serbs vote in Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• US, UK & German embassies deny PM claim they finance protests in Serbia (N1)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Olympic dreams come true for Kosovo skier Kiana Kryeziu (AP)
• Europe could be headed for pandemic 'endgame': WHO (france24.com)

• COVID-19: 2,957 new cases, one death (media)
• Kosovo implements stricter measures as daily cases surpass 2,900 (Exit News)
• Assembly to meet today over possibility of increased energy prices (Koha)
• B2 block resumes operation; Kurti calls it “great news” (media)
• U.S. Department of State: Kosovo and Serbia to prioritize dialogue (RFE)
• Joseph: Ideally, the Association would be negotiated as a final status issue where Serbia recognizes Kosovo (Express)
• Pro-Ukraine positioning; risk of Russian scenario unfolding at Kosovo-Serbia border (Koha Ditore)
• Serb MP challenges Kosovo institutions with public position in Serbia (Koha)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 21, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 2,943 new cases, one death (media)
• Kosovo commemorates 16th anniversary of Ibrahim Rugova’s death (Express)
• U.S. Ambassador’s video address: Kosovo has achieved a lot for these 13 years (RTK)
• The Assembly approves five international agreements (KosovaPress)
• Kosovo Army soon will get its first helicopters, says Deputy Minister of Defence (Express)
• LDK does not exclude protests against increase of electricity price (media)
• Ambassadors Minzhozi and Hovenier talk about political developments in Kosovo (media)
• Heated debate between Murati and Hoti on a loan to finance social schemes (Ekonomia)
• New anti-COVID measures to enter into force tomorrow (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic: International community without adequate reactions, election will be held on April 3 (Kosovo-online)
• Peoples’ Party: Carelessness of authorities for appropriation of Serbian property in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic: We have not handed over Brezovica, we continue fighting (Radio KIM)
• Kosovo-online says portal Siri endangers safety of their journalists by publishing ungrounded accusations (Kosovo-online)
• France, Germany support Serbia on path to EU (N1)
• First flurona case confirmed in Serbia (N1)
• Brnabic: Administrative acts related to Rio Tinto Company abolished (B92, Tanjug)
• Rio Tinto very concerned over Serbian PM’s statement (N1)

International:

• Afghans Housed at Military Base in Kosovo Risk Being Denied Entry to U.S. for Alleged Terrorist Ties (Wall Street Journal)
• NATO Dismisses Russian Demand to Withdraw from Romania, Bulgaria (Balkan Insight)
• Erdogan’s Withdrawal from Istanbul Convention ‘Illegal’, Top Prosecutor Says (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 2,708 new cases, one death (media)
• Kosovo considers new measures in light of increasing COVID-19 cases (media)
• In Athens, Gervalla urges Greece to recognise Kosovo (media)
• U.S. Ambassador at OSCE: Kosovo sets terms for elections of other states in its territory (media)
• Konjufca: Kosovo has nothing more to give to Vucic (Telegrafi)
• AAK-sponsored resolution on electricity price not approved by Assembly (RTK)
• PSD to stage protest next week against electricity price increase (media)
• Mehaj: NATO's base in Kucove, show of commitment to peace and stability in region (media)
• Kosovo Public Broadcaster Board Sacks Director for Negligence (BIRN)
• After Ban, Kosovo’s Crypto Miners Weigh Options (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 20, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 2,708 new cases, one death (media)
• Kurti justifies increase of energy price (media)
• Rizvanolli: We are working to resolve lack of electricity bills’ payment in north (media)
• “Even if tariffs proposed by ERO are approved, price of electricity in Kosovo is the lowest in Europe” (Ekonomia)
• Gashi: We will stop increase of energy price with resolution, LVV made it impossible for us to debate (Ekonomia)
• Coordination and Evaluation Committee proposes new measures to slow down increase of COVID-19 cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 235 new cases registered in Serbian areas (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic: Serbia paid for every KW of electricity consumed in north until 2021, it was Serbian electricity (KoSSev)
• Unvaccinated students to miss exams at Mitrovica North University (Kosovo-online)
• Mojsilovic: Serbian Army will react to attempts to endanger Serbs in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Serbian school children going to school every other day (N1)
• Gov't set to confirm Rio Tinto's departure from Serbia (Tanjug)

International:

• Kosovo War Victims ‘Fear Betrayal’ over Compensation Hopes (BIRN)
• Berisha’s Antics Are Useful Distraction for Albanian Govt’s Failures (Balkan Insight)
• Israeli Historian ‘Will Correct Srebrenica Death Toll in Bosnian Serb Report’ (Balkan Insight)

• Kosovo reports over 2,000 new daily COVID cases as Omicron surges (media)
• New anti-Covid-19 measures to be discussed today (media)
• Kurti: The government will increase support for consumers (media)
• Kosovo’s electric bills could increase two-fold (Euractiv)
• Hovenier: U.S. dedicated to strengthening the rule of law in Kosovo (media)
• Gervalla in Athens to meet Dendias (Ekonomia)
• EU millions for rule of law did not translate into substantive reforms (Koha)
• RTK Director sacked; board cites numerous violations (media)
• Serwer: Good on recognition but oversold on strategic impact (media)
• Macron: Clear accession perspective of Western Balkans and EU reform (EWB)
• Landscapes of industrial ruin (Kosovo 2.0)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 19, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 2,050 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Lajcak and Escobar expected to visit Prishtina and Belgrade (RFE)
• Arrival of new SRSG and Head of UNMIK, Caroline Ziadeh (media)
• From crisis to convergence: A strategy to tackle Balkans instability at its source (media)
• “Kosovo selectively discriminated against for visa liberalization” (media)
• Haradinaj suspects energy situation created to benefit “the energy mafia” (Koha)
• Kosovo in 2022: No end in sight to life in limbo (BIRN)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 51 new cases registered in Serbian areas (Radio KIM)
• HLC: Investigations still opened on days of arrests of defendants (Radio KIM)
• Lawyer: Second witness in case of Dusko Arsic interviewed, says he never heard about him (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic with French Ambassador Koshar on situation in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Epidemiologists warn of rapidly rising number of coronavirus cases (N1)
• Djuric with Escobar: Serbia ready to contribute to progress of region (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Peace, stability priceless (Tanjug)
• Erdogan: 2021 was exceptional year for Turkey-Serbia ties (Tanjug)
• Drecun: Kurti wants to interrupt practice of Serbs voting in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)

• COVID-19: 720 new cases, one death (media)
• Latifi: Healthcare system prepared to handle increased hospitalisations (Koha)
• The two-day rate of COVID-19 infections affects roughly 400 children (RFE)
• Government pledges €75 million to subsidise energy for citizens and businesses (Kallxo)
• LDK leader Abdixhiku opposes electricity price increase (media)
• AAK ponders calling protests to oppose electricity price increase (Klan/RTK)
• Lajcak, Peach discuss Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• Hovenier: KFOR enjoys U.S.'s steadfast support (media)
• Xhacka at UN SC: Women in Kosovo raped, killed as part of ethnic cleansing campaign (Koha/Klan)