UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 31, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 923 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• Donika Gervalla: We are not an experiment, we are a sovereign state (Prishtina Insight)
• Rohde, Von Cramon: MPs should follow LDK’s example (media)
• Krasniqi: Decision not to vote Vjosa Osmani is final (RTK)
• Haradinaj: We have not changed our position, we do not support Osmani (media)
• Konjufca: Serbia has not detached from Milosevic’s policy (media)
• Blinken to Vucic: US goal is to see Kosovo, Serbia reach an agreement centered on mutual recognition (Express)
• Kosovo economy to expand by 4% in 2021, according to World Bank report (Express)
• Man arrested over 1999 Kosovo Massacre (Express)
• EU expects Kurti government to be fully committed to dialogue (RFE Albanian, media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 26 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Office for KiM: Arrest of Mila Andjelkovic yet another brutal example of returnees’ intimidation (Kosovo-online)
• EU and US join forces in support of WB to prevent Russia and China influence (N1)
• US State Department: Human rights violations, corruption cases in Serbia in 2020 (N1)
• More frequent provocations of group of Albanian youngsters in front of school in Ugljare (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Reconstruction of Jarinje-Mitrovica North motorway to start in a month (KoSSev)

Humanitarian/Development:

• WHO report: Coronavirus likely came from animal, not a lab (CNN, N1)

• COVID-19: 811 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• Zemaj says Kosovo has secured 100,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine (media)
• Humolli from WHO: Covid measures need to be toughened (RTV21/Telegrafi)
• Kosovo FM Gervalla: Embassy in Jerusalem is a done deal (media)
• State Department: Many corrupt officials continue to hold public posts (media)
• PM Kurti meets British ambassador Abbott (media)
• Abdixhiku: LDK with 12% could not condition a party with 50% of votes (Telegrafi)
• Opposition Party Clears Path to Parliament Vote on Kosovo President (Balkan Insight)
• PDK's Deliu-Kodra slamms FM Gervalla for agreement with Serbia remarks (media)
• Haxhiu: Serious action needed to fight organised crime and corruption (Klan)
• U.S. Embassy opposes holding government meetings outside of Kosovo (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 30, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 752 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• UNICEF: 76,800 doses of Covid vaccine expected by May (media)
• PM Kurti meets representatives of UN agencies in Kosovo (media)
• Abdixhiku: LDK will take part in president’s election session (media)
• Assembly presidency discusses division of parliamentary committees (media)
• CEC replaces 13 MPs with new ones (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 59 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Vaccination of people from region – signal we can move ahead together (RTS)
• Von der Leyen promises 650,000 Covid-19 vaccines for Western Balkan countries (N1)
• Gerxhaliu: Excavation of mortal remains on three locations in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Rakic: Houses for two families in Klokot municipality to be constructed soon (Radio kontakt plus)

International:

• Albania, Greece, Romania, Serbia Join Global Pandemic Treaty Call (Balkan Insight)
• EU move on vaccine exports puts Serbia’s leader on edge (The Financial Times)
• World leaders back treaty to prepare for next pandemic (DW)

Humanitarian/Development:

• ‘Nothing Like Home’ exhibition showcases Kosovo’s young artists (Prishtina Insight)
• Greece accepts all vaccines for Serbia’s tourists as of May 14 (N1)

• COVID-19: 774 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Vaccinations against COVID-19 begin in Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo PM gets first COVID-19 vaccine shot to encourage take-up (Reuters)
• Kurti's vaccination draws reactions in Kosovo (media)
• Ramadani: New vaccine deliveries to take place in the coming weeks (Kallxo)
• Vaccination certificates to be issued to Western Balkans citizens (RFE/Koha)
• Kurti has separate meetings with ambassadors, Kosnett and Orlando (media)
• Haziri vows LDK will play constructive role in president's election (media)
• PDK’s Haliti on voting Vjosa Osmani for president (RTK)
• Kosovo Serb Party Challenges Govt in Court Over Representation (Balkan Insight)
• Miftaraj says SL's complaint to Constitutional Court has no legal basis (media)
• Vucic: If I recongnised Kosovo, I would have won the Nobel Prize (Happy/Zeri)
• Spanish FM on the match with Kosovo: It is football (media)
• Kurti 'blocks' PAK activity (RFE/media)
• Journalist claims he was suspended for comments against Kurti (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 29, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 774 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Albin Kurti to receive the anti-Covid vaccine today (Express)
• Anti-COVID vaccination in Prishtina starts Tuesday (media)
• The Serbian List addresses Constitutional Court claiming bigger share in government (Express)
• Shala: We do not make compromises with candidates who lack political unity (media)
• Gashi: final decision on issue of President is made by LDK MPs (media)
• Kosnett urges parties to take a constructive position on the issue of president (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 12 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Sunday (Radio KIM, RTS)
• Serbian List filed complaint with Constitutional Court over one ministerial post (KoSSev)
• Mass vaccination of citizens and foreigners in Serbia; PM says no politics (N1)
• Cadez: 8.500 businesspeople from region vaccinated in Serbia (N1)
• German media: ‘Vaccination weekend’ new success of Serbia immunisation policy (N1)
• Bartolome: Spain will not change stance on Kosovo, no matter who requests that (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic: Announcement of constructing KSF base in northern Kosovo dangerous (Kosovo-online)
• NSI reacts to announced KSF base at Crnusa hill above Mitrovica (media, social media)
• Andjelkovic: Formation of KSF base in northern Kosovo direct threat to Serbs (Kosovo-online)
• Milic: Disrespect of Resolution 1244 (B92)
• YIHR: Officials should stop manipulating data related to victims of Kosovo war (KoSSev)

International:

• Serbia Vaccinates Thousands from Region Over Weekend (Balkan Insight)
• Foreign vaccine-seekers flock to Serbia for COVID-19 shots (Reuters)
• Serbia vaccinates migrants amid surge in COVID-19 cases (ABC News, Associated Press)

• COVID-19: 926 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
• First doses of Covid vaccine arrive in Kosovo (media)
• Kurti: We are working night and day to secure vaccine (media)
• Complications of president election increasing (Koha)
• Abdixhiku and Osmani meet again, LDK to decide on president vote on Monday (media)
• Visa liberalisation for Kosovo not in EU Council's agenda (Koha)
• Redzepi: Time for "Great Serbia" and "Great Albania" is over (media)
• Kurti appoints three political advisers and spokesperson (media)
• Kosovo leaders vow to sue Serbia over wartime ‘Genocide’ (exit.al)
• Kosovo's EU-backed war crimes court 'has full US backing' (euronews)
• Shqiprim Arifi’s party, winner of Presevo elections (RTK)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 860 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Kurti: War crimes and missing persons, priorities in dialogue with Serbia (Koha)
• KSF barracks to be constructed on a hill overlooking Mitrovica (media)
• Rosenstock-Siller: Kosovo-Serbia dialogue to be centred on mutual recognition (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: 15 new cases, two deaths (KoSSev)
• Chinese Defense Minister visiting Belgrade (N1, RTS)
• EU warns Kurti over undermining dialogue process (RTS, Tanjug)
• The countries of the Western Balkans are the least resistant to false news in Europe (KoSSev, N1, Beta)
• Selakovic: Von Cramon’s speech on Kosovo parade of political distaste (RTS)
• Businessmen from the region in Belgrade this weekend for a vaccination (Danas)
• Israeli envoy: Serbia’s Govt. office in Jerusalem step toward moving embassy (Beta, N1)
• Zakharova: NATO aggression against FRY long-term tragedy (Kosovo-online)
• Belgrade insists on concrete examples from the EP on the Serbian authorities' wrongdoings (FoNet, N1, RTS)
• Stojkovic: 180 housing units more in Kosovo for displaced persons and young couples (Radio KIM)
• Vucic: I am proud to delegitimize the statehood of Kosovo and I will continue to do so (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• How the Quint must help Kosovo (EWB)
• It's time to deliver in this time of 'firsts' (Kosovo 2.0)
• Three key foreign policy objectives for Kosovo’s new government (Emerging Europe)

International:

• European MPs Urge Serbia, Kosovo to Intensify War Grave Search (Balkan Insight)
• Unregulated and Unlicensed, War Memorials Proliferate in Kosovo Towns (Balkan Insight)
• EP discusses Reports on Western Balkans: Majority support for enlargement, but the criteria need to be met (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• From Texas to Kosovo: Rape survivor returns as part of new gov’t (Al Jazeera)

• COVID-19: 885 new cases, 11 deaths (media)
• Vaccine rollout delayed, expected doses also reduced (Koha)
• Rama: Albania ready to vaccinate 11,000 Kosovo healthcare staff (Koha)
• EP adopts report on Kosovo, urges EU to grant visa liberalisation (media)
• Kurti meets Osmani, refers to her as the incoming president of Kosovo (media)
• Weber: New elections are not in favour of the opposition (RFE)
• Kurti to PAK: Suspend temporarily all decisions (RTK)
• Haziri: Difficult year ahead, KSC to have huge impact in coming weeks (Telegrafi)
• Vasfije Krasniqi: Ready to take part in dialogue, throw at Serbia’s face crimes committed in Kosovo (media)
• Op-ed: It is time for Vetevendosje to finally condemn homophobia (Prishtina Insight)
• After request for her dismissal, Emilija Redzepi changes the statement (media)
• EU to Examine Whether Serbia is ‘Deleting’ Ethnic Albanian Addresses (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 25, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 836 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
• Varhelyi: Resumption of dialogue with Serbia is essential (media)
• Kurrti continues receiving congratulating letters (media)
• Von Cramon: EU to liberalise promised visas for Kosovo citizens (media)
• Kurti to visit the U.S. as soon as possible (media)
• Kosovo government appoints deputy ministers (media)
• State Prosecutor issues 73 indictments against 76 individuals (media)
• Kurti asked to dismiss Deputy Prime Minister Emilija Rexhepi (media)
• Serbian List attempts to install parallel structures in Skenderaj and Vushtrri (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid -19 in Serbian communities: 49 new cases, one death (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic on Kurti’s dialogue principles, EU reaction (B92)
• Bilcik: Important to continue the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina for the sake of reconciliation (KiM radio, Tanjug)
• Lazarevic: New elections would strengthen Kurti even more, the losing parties are aware of this (Beta, KoSSev)
• Weber: The principles for dialogue presented by Kurti will make easier for the EU and the USA to reset the negotiations (Kosovo Online)
• EU on Kurti ZSO statement – Parties in the dialogue to refrain from harmful statements (Kosovo-online)
• Agreement to produce Sputnik V vaccine in Serbia reached (RTS)
• Obradovic: 904.000 citizens revaccinated in Serbia so far (Kosovo-online)
• Interpol warns citizens once again not to purchase vaccines on internet (KoSSev)
• Rakic: We continue working on return of displaced persons (Radio KIM)
• Office for KiM: KLA graffiti on health ambulance in Suvi Do (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian Chamber of Commerce set to open Jerusalem office (N1)

Opinion

• Kosovo: Kurti In Driver’s Seat Of A Driverless Vehicle – Analysis (eurasiareview)
• Serbia’s Brave Actresses Deserve Our Respect for Naming Their Abusers (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Application of the new methodology to Montenegro and Serbia: Principles remain the same, more emphasis on interim benchmarks (EWB)
• President Biden Urged to Move Hague War Court to Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The introduction of mutual language learning in Kosovo: A tentative roadmap (FB)
• North Mitrovica Municipality: NGO "Eko-Protekt" and UNMIK provided 75 tablet computers for school children (Kontakt plus radio, Radio Mitrovica sever)

• COVID-19: 823 new cases, 17 deaths (media)
• WHO: Vaccines to reach Kosovo in three weeks' time (T7/Telegrafi)
• Kosovo business community refuses vaccines from Serbia (Koha/Klan)
• U.S. and EU confirm joint engagement in Western Balkans (RFE/Koha)
• Lajcak: Resumption of dialogue within weeks (RFE)
• Kosnett: We are not asking MPs to vote certain individual but participate and avoid fresh elections (media)
• Merkel writes to Kurti: You have a challenging work ahead (media)
• Rama says he trusts Kurti in overcoming Kosovo's challenges (Koha)
• Osmani and Abdixhiku meet, agree to continue discussions (media)
• Hoxhaj: PDK has no vote for Vjosa Osmani, she is a divisive figure (media)
• European Parliament expected to endorse report on Kosovo today (media)
• SRSG Tanin congratulates Konjufca on election (media)
• Konjufca discusses securing anti-Covid-19 vaccines with Szunyog (RTK)
• Orlando meets Konjufca: Italy supports Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic road (media)
• Holliday offers support to enlighten fate of the missing persons (media)
• Petkovic: Kurti's positions are destroying the future of dialogue (RFE/Kallxo)
• President Biden urged to move EU-backed war crimes court to Kosovo (euronews)