UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 17, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Baerbock another call to achieve required majority for Kosovo at CoE (media)
• French Minister: Kosovo issue can cause division at Council of Europe (media)
• Hasani: Kosovo government should act swiftly to meet its commitments (media)
• Hoxhaj: Failure to admit Kosovo would only benefit Russia and Serbia (media)
• Knaus: It would be fatal to ignore Ahtisaari formula for peace (media)
• Escobar: We should’ve insisted more on implementation of Association (media)
• Forde: EU-facilitated dialogue and CoE membership are linked (Albanian Post)
• E-Municipalities launched; Kurti: Citizens are active part of decision-making (Klan)
• Hovenier: We stand together against any form of violence or hate speech against LGBTQI+ (media)
• Bislimi, Gjeloshaj discuss ways to further Kosovo-Montenegro relations (media)
• Kurti remembers Ukshin Hoti, “perpetrators remain unpunished” (media)
• Challenges and responsibilities of Serbian media in Kosovo (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media: 

• No CoE Committee of Ministers debate on Pristina's membership bid (Tanjug, media)
• Vucic on Kosovo and CoE: It won't be easy for them, now they're trying another trick (Kosovo Online)
• Vogel on letter to CoE: Kosovo Government initiative “a political theater” (Kosovo Online)
• Djuric meets with Allen (media)
• Allen: We won't tell Serbia how to conduct its foreign policy; partnership with the U.S. is more important (Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Trial of Sladjan Trajkovic continues: Different statements of witness (Radio KIM)
• Vucic: UNGA resolution seeks punishment for entire Serbian nation (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• The Escobar Case: A Case Study of How Disinformation Is Created Through the Misuse of Real Events and Data (KoSSev)

International:

• U.S. Ambassador To NATO Calls On Western Balkan Countries To Increase Defense Spending (RFE)
• ‘Here You’re Nobody’: Kosovo Cannes Film Candidate Explores Lure of Migration (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

Scholz, Macron and Meloni letter to Kurti: We support Lajcak's draft (media)
Stano: We cannot assess Association draft, without knowing content (RFE)
Presidency: Government's letter sent to CoE, without consultation with Osmani (RTK)
Knaus: European trio's letter was sent before Kosovo government's letter (RTK)
President Osmani met ambassadors of U.S., Germany and UK (ekonomia)
Prime Minister Kurti met with Prime Minister of Montenegro (ekonomia)
U.S. Ambassador to NATO: Issue of four Alliance countries that do not recognize Kosovo, must be addressed (Reporteri)
Abdixhiku on Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ letter: Spectacular failure, international shame (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic, O'Brien discuss situation in region, Kosovo (Tanjug)
Civil Society Report on Human Rights in Kosovo in 2023 presented (Radio KIM, social media)
Andric Rakic: Kosovo must submit draft CSM statute prepared by EU to Constitutional Court (Kosovo Online)
Mijacic: Any advice to Pristina at expense of existing EU demands won’t lead Kosovo to CoE (KoSSev)
Stano: Content of CSM draft statute proposed by Kosovo government unknown, it was discussed neither with EU nor Serbia (Kosovo Online)
War crimes indictments raised against two Serbs (Radio KIM)
203 requests to switch Serbian to Kosovo driver’s licenses submitted thus far (KoSSev)
Djuric to visit Hungary Friday (media)

International:

Western Balkan Leaders See EU Development Plan For Region As Sign Of Bloc's Commitment (RFE)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 16, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Gervalla: Government to send draft statute to court before end of May (media)
• Govt: Ready to implement Association, if internationals accept our offer (media)
• Gervalla: Letter to Council of Europe, a serious commitment (media)
• German Embassy: Draft should be sent to court before ministers meet (Kallxo)
• Position of U.S. on Association remains unchanged (Klan)
• Knaus, Martens on Kosovo’s move to prepare draft statute for Association (media)
• LDK says Gervalla's letter on Association politically and tactically wrong (media)
• Musliu-Shoshi: Propaganda and deception do not work with CoE countries (media)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo is late with draft statute, doesn’t produce right effect (media)
• O'Brien: Fulfilling its potential, vital for Western Balkans (RTK)
• Kurti: We expect mutual recognition from all countries of region (media)
• Hovenier thanks Escobar for his tireless commitment to dialogue (Koha)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Vucic: Letter to CoE with promises about CSM – new Pristina’s trick (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: The Statute of the CSM is negotiated and adopted in a high-level dialogue (KiM radio)
• Because of CSM draft statute Pristina was late for CoE, yet it will send to Constitutional Court its own draft, not the one prepared by EU (KoSSev)
• Mijacic: Decision on Kosovo admission to CoE is made by member states, Gervalla wrote to PACE which has nothing to do with it any longer (Kosovo Online, social media)
• The Western Balkans six, the EU and the USA representatives today in Kotor on the Growth Plan for the region (Danas, Beta, media)
• Vucic: I believe that with EU membership we can achieve important results (RTS, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Rights of Serbs in Kosovo only on paper: Who and why is bothered by the Serbian flag? (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Orban will sacrifice Kosovo to keep Serbian ally sweet (BIRN)

International:

• BIRN Journalists Awarded for Exposing Public Broadcaster’s Gender Discrimination in Top Job Recruitments (Prishtina Insight)
• From Bosnia to Ukraine: How a Serb Sportsman Became a Russian Fighter (BIRN)
• Trump Son-in-Law’s Company to Renovate Serbia’s NATO-Struck Army HQ (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:
• Another failed meeting between Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels (media)
• Kurti travels to Montenegro for Western Balkans – EU leaders’ summit (media)
• Hamza: PDK will vote in favor of international agreements (Nacionale)
• Haliti does not rule out a coalition between Vetevendosje and PDK (KTV)
• Abdixhiku calls on Kurti to resign: Set the date for new elections (Kosovapress)
• Haziri: For dissolution of Assembly, Vetevendosje has the LDK votes (media)
• Kurti open EXPOKOS 2024 in Pristina, “let’s explore new partnerships” (media)
• Reactions to graffiti painted on walls of orthodox church near Peja (media)
• Kosovo leaders react to assassination attempt on Slovak PM (media)

Serbian Language Media:
• Stano and Lajcak: No willingness of Belgrade and Pristina to find a compromise agreement (NMagazin, Beta, media)
• Petkovic: Pristina rejected all six of our proposals, we will not give up (Tanjug, media)
• UNS protest due to the lack of translation at the Svecla's and Hoxha conference (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• Protest of drama artists in Serbia due to the ban on entry to Kosovo of actor Nenad Jezdic (KiM radio)
• Vucic shocked by Fico assassination attempt (Tanjug)
• Vucevic met Russian ambassador to Belgrade; Azerbaijani Ambassador (Tanjug)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti on elections: Opposition must be ready, we are always ready (media)
• Kurti meets coalition partner, discuss developments and elections (media)
• Muhaxheri: PDK and VV have agreed on date of new elections (media)
• Osmani speaks with Steinmeier on Kosovo’s membership in CoE (media)
• Knaus: There is still a good way for Kosovo to join CoE soon (media)
• Civil society’s open letter to CoE in support of Kosovo’s membership bid (media)
• Damka: Conditioning CoE membership unfair to communities too (RTK)
• Malcolm criticizes EU for stalemate in Pristina-Belgrade dialogue (VoA)
• COMKFOR: Security stable but fragile, ready to respond to any challenge (media)
• Maqedonci to meet British Armed Forces Minister Docherty (media)
• Specialist Chambers: Kilaj released in Kosovo under strict conditions (media)
• Osmani meets “thriving diaspora” in Copenhagen (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Trilateral meeting in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue underway in Brussels (Tanjug, media)
• Vucic meets Allen, says US should step up engagement to help preserve regional stability (Tanjug, media)
• The census ending, and the enumerators did not knock on the doors of the citizens of North Mitrovica (KoSSev, N1)
• Raska-Prizren Diocese: Serbian Orthodox church near Pec desecrated (media, social media)
• Gervalla in Leposavic about the "beauty of the Republic of Kosovo" and the region's "brutal decade-long backwardness" (KoSSev)
• Kosovo authorities bar ‘The Book of Milutin’ crew from entering Kosovo, a move actor condemns as primitive (KoSSev)
• Protest by journalists, cameramen of newsrooms in Serbian language due to the eviction of "Jedinstvo" from its premises (Radio Mitrovica sever, RTS, Kosovo Online, KiM radio)
• UN General Assembly sets date for Srebrenica resolution vote (N1)

International:

• Former Officer Detained As Police Seize Weapons Cache In Northern Kosovo (RFE)
• Kosovo Remembers Village Massacres as PM Urges More War Crime Probes (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

Kosovo Police seize large weapons cache in north (media)
Kosovo, Serbia negotiators to meet in Brussels today on Serbian Dinar (media)
Quint, EU concerned over Kosovo govt decision not to allow Porfirije visit (media)
EU reacts to ban on Porfirije’s visit: Violation of 2014 agreement (Koha)
UNMIK chief closely following denial of Patriarch's entry to Kosovo (Albanian Post)
LDK calls for Kurti’s resignation before early parliamentary elections (media)
Svecla: Regional cooperation resulted with closure of 35 illegal routes (Koha)
Osmani says “Serbia is helping Russia open a new front against West” (media)
Rrustemi: Vetevendosje ready for early elections; will over 51 percent (Dukagjini)
Ahmeti: CoE is being used to pressure Kosovo to accept Lajcak’s draft (media)
Kurti: Made in Kosova platform represents Kosovo’s potential (media)
Turkish KFOR units conduct crowd riot control training at Camp Bondsteel (media)

Serbian Language Media:

During transition period without solution for dinar, uncertainty and anxiety of citizens increasing (Kosovo Online)
UNMIK carefully follows SOC Patriarch’s entry denial (Nova, Blic, RTV, Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
SOC Assembly: Ban on Patriarch, as if Pope is banned from going to Vatican, and Pristina wants to join Council of Europe (KoSsev, media)
Sentic on Patriarch's entry ban: Decision-makers should carefully consider consequences of their actions (Kosovo Online)
Svecla and Hoxha in a conference in Mitrovica North without translation into Serbian language provided, journalists react (KoSSev)
Serbian List on entry ban to theater play The Book of Milutin crew: How far madness of Pristina will go? (Rad

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 14, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani to participate in Copenhagen Democracy Summit (media)
• Lajcak optimistic that agreement on dinar can be reached (media)
• Sources: PDK proposed dissolution of Assembly next week (Indeksonline)
• Tahiri: Assembly dissolution only after Kurti’s dismissal or resignation (Koha)
• Krasniqi slams conditioning of CoE membership with Association (media)
• Weber: Kosovo won’t be included in agenda to avoid failed vote (Sinjali)
• Gervalla: Serbia against EU-proposed agreement, wants only Association (media)
• Bislimi speaks of importance of Kosovo’s membership in CoE (media)
• Reuten reacts to Vahelyi: Serbian President destabilizes the region (media)
• Lajcak “insightful and inspiring meeting” with Finnish President (media)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Quint and EU statement on Kosovo Government May 13 decision not to allow entry of Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch and accompanying clergy (media, social media)
• Stano: Pristina violated the Agreement on official visits by banning the Patriarch of the SOC to enter (Kosovo Online)
• The Mesihat of the Islamic Community of Serbia condemned Pristina's decision (KiM radio, Blic)
• Office for KiM: Transport of Zvezdara Theater equipment to Kosovo forbidden (KiM radio, N1, RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Zvezdara Theater: Crew of theater play The Book of Milutin banned from entering Kosovo (Tanjug, KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: Pristina's moves, Srebrenica draft resolution not contributing to regional stability (Tanjug)
• Varhelyi: I hope for Serbia’s membership in EU by 2029 (Beta, N1)
• Indictment raised against Goran Rakic for not reporting incomes while being a minister (N1, KoSSev)
• Andric-Rakic: Until there is agreement on how people will receive money from Serbia, it is irrational to start with punitive measures (Kosovo Online)
• Tutin: Unknown assailants shot at police officers in the Ground Security Zone (Tanjug)
• Olena Zelenska thanked Serbia for its support to Ukraine (RTS, media)

International:

• Kosovo Nears the End of a Challenged Census Process (Prishtina Insight)
• Political Attacks, Misogynistic Insults Continue to Pollute Balkan Online Space (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: We must discuss with all parties about date of elections (media)
Krasniqi after meeting with Kurti: Kosovo is in agony, elections are necessity not desire (Koha)
Scholz reminds Vucic of importance of implementing Ohrid Agreement (media)
U.S. Undersecretary of State to visit Kosovo, will meet Osmani and Kurti (media)
Bislimi begins his visit to Hungary, meets head of Committee for Foreign Affairs (media)
French Embassy: Uncoordinated implementation of CBK regulation presents difficulties (Klan)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejects Serbian patriarch's request to visit Kosovo (RTK)
Two Russians detained in north Kosovo, sentenced and deported (Koha)
Haradinaj: AAK supports dissolution of parliament only if Kurti resigns or is dismissed (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

Pristina authorities banned Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch from entering Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Porfirije react to Pristina’s ban (media, social media)
Reactions to decision of Pristina authorities to ban Serbian Patriarch Porfirije from entering Kosovo (media, social media)
Lajcak: Solution to dinar issue in Kosovo can be reached with compromise from both sides (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
Vucic meets with Kuleba (Tanjug, media)
Vucic receives letter of gratitude from Xi (media)
Vucic: I am heading to New York to respond to those wishing to accuse Serbia (Tanjug, media)
After switching to Kosovo driver’s license, hole is punched in Serbian one, 77 requests for replacement submitted so far (KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: CBK regulation aims at legality, not punishment (RTK)
• Kosovo, Serbia to discuss Serbian Dinar in Brussels on Wednesday (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo off the agenda at meeting of CoE Committee of Ministers (Koha)
• Statistics Agency: Over 1,420,000 persons registered in census so far (EO)
• Heads of opposition parliamentary groups also refuse Kurti’s invitation (media)
• Svecla and Tomlinson discuss intensifying cooperation on border security (media)
• Osmani commemorates Korisha massacre: Serbia wanted extermination (Koha)
• Zimmerman: Kosovo can be accepted in CoE as associate member (Albanian Post)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: I informed Scholz about the almost unbearable situation for the Serbian community in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Ukraine’s first lady pays visit to Belgrade (N1, Tanjug)
• Lawyer: Slobodan Miletic did not take part in clash in Zvecan, was standing next to church, watching what was going on (KoSSev)
• Petkovic meets with Quint ambassadors, EU delegation head (Tanjug)
• Komazec: Jedinstvo newspaper expelled for second time, threatened by forced eviction (Kosovo Online, media)
• SPM formed Municipal Committee, opened office in Zubin Potok (Radio KIM)
• Pristina’s admission to the CoE opens numerous questions: Is Serbia ready for thousands of lawsuits from Kosovo (NIN)

International:

• Fresh start for Belgrade-Pristina after the elections? (Euractive)

Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti invites opposition leaders to a meeting today (media)
• Chief negotiators to meet this week on the Serbian Dinar in Kosovo (media)
• One month detention for Serb suspected of hooliganism in north (RFE)
• Osmani visits Texas Guard; expresses deep gratitude for U.S. Army (media)
• Kurti: Presevo Valley Albanians have unwavering support of Kosovo govt (media)
• Quni: Serbia, Russia can repeat Banjska to create political disadvantages (KTV)
• “The discrimination of Albanians in Gracanica” (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:
• Serbian Finance Minister: EU our most significant partner, China an opportunity not to be missed (N1, Beta)
• The dinar: Media announced punitive measures as transition period “ends”, CBK silent, KP has no orders (KoSSev)
• Svecla with kayakers rowed from Radoicic's pontoon on Lake Gazivode (KoSSev)
• Krivokapic: Slobodan Miletic has been detained for one month (Kosovo Online)
• Office for KiM: S. M. detained as a victim of betrayed and empty promises of the international community (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Editor of Vreme: Vucic and Thaci could have reached an agreement (N1)
International Media:
• North Macedonia's First Female President Sworn In, Declines To Use 'North' (RFE)
• Greece reacts to North Macedonian president’s swearing-in speech (ekathimerini.com)