• Kurti and Borrell clash over Association of Serb-majority municipalities (Koha)
• Kurti: Two decades since prison release, I continue to fight for the same causes (media)
• Escobar: U.S. supports implementation of reached agreements (media)
• Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti meets EC President von der Leyen, EP President Sassoli (media)
• Varhelyi on vetting process: No need for such a deep reform (Kosovapress)
• President Osmani meets UK, Austrian ambassadors (media)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo is in the hands of energy mafia (media)
• Kosovo, Albania Ready to Help any Potential US-led Ukraine Mission (BIRN)
• COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 8, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 7, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 7, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti meets Borrell and Lajcak, talks about future of dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Kurti: We have fulfilled all criteria for visa liberalization (media)
• Meeting between Kurti and Vucic, not expected this year (Koha)
• Sir Stuart Peach’s appointment as special envoy to Western Balkans, important step (RTK)
• Perparim Rama sworn in as mayor of Pristina (media)
• KOSTT's request for allocation of 33 million euros for electricity in the north, rejected (media)
• Kurti represents Kosovo with a footnote in Stabilization and Association Council (Zeri)
• COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Covid-19: 42 new cases, two deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: We are ready to sign agreement on missing persons, but it is Pristina blocking dialogue (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM: Flags of Albania and KLA displayed in Bosniak Mahala (KoSSev)
• NATO senior official says Serbia valued, long-term partner (N1, BETA)
• RCC’s Bregu: Challenges facing EU linked to those W. Balkans experiences (FoNet, N1)
• Von Cramon met SOC Bishop Grigorije (N1, media)
• The White House announced a plan to fight corruption on a global level (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• OSCE Mission condemned repeated vandalism of memorial plaque dedicated to missing Serb journalists (social media)
• Vucic and Hasanpur: Iran respects territorial integrity of Serbia (Kosovo-online, Tanjug)
Opinion:
• The global fight for democracy begins at home (Politico)
International:
• Serbia Strengthening ‘Parallel Structures’, Kosovo Deputy PM Says (Balkan Insight)
• For Serbia’s Stevan Dojcinovic, journalism brings the Balkans’ corruption to light by ‘touching the untouchables’ (theglobeandmail.com)
Humanitarian/Development:
• More than 100 cases of sexual violence this year (Koha, KoSSev, RTK2)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 7, 2021
• Stano: Pristina and Belgrade have no readiness for dialogue (RFE)
• Kosovo delegation travels to Brussels for Stabilisation and Association Council (media)
• Kurti on Gllogjan case: Best investigators working on it (media)
• Bislimi: Parallel structures in the north stronger than ever (media)
• Kosovo leaders pay tribute to late US senator Bob Dole (euronews.al)
• Kosovo war veterans’ leader ‘trapped’ by leaked documents (BIRN)
• COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kosovo death rate soars as result of COVID, data reveal (Prishtina Insight)
• Head of private sector union warns Kurti of big protests next week (Express)
• Kosovo judges’ ‘sexist’ language in rape trial draws outrage (BIRN)
• Youth from Kosovo will receive direct help from Youth Guarantee scheme (EWB)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 6, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• Haradinaj calls for unity in political battle with Serbia (media)
• Kurti mentions meeting with Vucic; EU says we cannot speculate (Telegrafi)
• “Serb MPs didn’t honor Dole only because he was a friend of the Albanians” (Express)
• Jablanovic accuses SL of surveilling people through cameras in Leposavic (Kallxo)
• Croatian President to visit Kosovo on Christmas, will meet Osmani and Kurti (media)
• Kosovo sends over 30 samples for testing for Omicron to Germany (Express)
• COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Covid-19: 36 new cases registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• Mts doo and ARKEP deny KosovaPress - that the number of illegal antennas in the North has increased (KoSSev)
• UNS: Memorial plaque dedicated to kidnapped Serb journalists demolished for eight time (Radio KIM)
• Office for KiM: Desecration of memorial plaque impermissible (Radio KIM)
• On the eve of Human Rights Day, the associations of missing appealed to Belgrade and Pristina to intensify their work (KiM radio, Kossev)
• Platform of NGOs asks decision on award to language non-compliant institutions be reconsidered (Radio KIM, media)
• Language Commissioner response to Gracanica-online open letter (Gracanica-online)
• Police invisible, Serbia’s roads blocked; Protest against Vucic in Kosovo north (N1)
• Protests across Serbia: “Serbia is not for sale! Marš sa Drine!” (KoSSev)
Opinion:
• Palokaj: Merkel will be missed by all (Koha)
International:
• Cocaine Comrades: The Balkan Ties of a Fallen Colombian Drug Trafficker (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• PM Kurti hosts meeting with heads of shelters for domestic violence victims (media)
• Government declares iron will in defense of human rights (Ekonomia Online)
• “Women, girls from minority communities not included in labour market” (Koha)
• BIRN to Hold Exhibition Commemorating Reporters Killed in Balkan Wars (BIRN)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 6, 2021
• Kurti and Vucic might meet in the second week of December (media)
• Kurti for Montenegrin daily Pobjeda: Serbia is copying Russia (media)
• Kosovo PM Kurti has telephone conversation with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Escobar (media)
• Haradinaj calls Kurti a “communist” (Koha)
• Hoxhaj: Dangerous to believe that UN membership is not important (Zeri)
• Petkovic: Kurti will not get a U.S. visa while he attacks Belgrade (Express)
• Outrage over the language of a Kosovo court ruling (media)
• Kosovo Arrests 31 for Fraudulent Use of Agriculture Subsidies (BIRN)
• Vucic reacts to massive cross-country protests over lithium mine (euronews.al)
• COVID-19: Three new cases, one death (media)
• Kosovo introduces additional measures in effort to prevent new wave of COVID-19 infections (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 3, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 3, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• PDK: Shadow government will be formed after New Year holidays (T7)
• Kosovo Minister of Defense reports to parliamentary committee (media)
• Berisha: Army was never involved in police operations (media)
• The Western Balkans with “Russian troubles” (Radio Free Europe)
• New board no silver bullet for troubled Kosovo broadcaster (BIRN)
• Haradinaj: Deeply grateful to Merkel, a great friend of Kosovo (media)
• Abazovic: If Open Balkans is alternative to EU, Montenegro disagrees (Telegrafi)
• COVID-19: 13 new cases, no deaths (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Serbian Government most strongly protested the Pristina’s new ban for Petkovic (GoS website, media)
• Serbian PM says support for EU membership highest in five years (N1)
• Serbian media continue reacting to awards presented to language non-compliant institutions, seek public apology (KoSSev, Gracanica-online, Radio KIM)
• Lawyer: Rada Trajkovic acquitted of charges for slander against BIA official (KoSSev)
• Vucic grateful for EU financial gift for Nis-Merdare highway construction (N1)
• Rakic: SOC pillar of support for Serbian people (Kosovo-online)
• Vasic: Confirmation of verdict to Krstic a scandal that is no surprising (Radio KIM)
• Tadic on Rio Tinto Company: "Negotiations started during time of Zoran Djindjic's government" (B92)
• EC’s Pisonero: Rio Tinto ‘Jadar’ project can be good economic chance for Serbia (N1)
• Godfrey: US support participation of other countries from region in “Open Balkan” initiative (Kosovo-online)
• EU-W. Balkans Ministerial Forum: Importance of rule of law, judicial reforms (N1)
International:
• Far-Right Exploiting Pandemic to Spread Hate, in the Balkans Too (BIRN)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 3, 2021
• Kurti meets Quint ambassadors and head of EU office (media)
• Kurti: Any initiative aimed at replacing EU integration is deviation from genuine democratic reforms (media)
• Politicians react to appointment of UK special envoy to Western Balkans (media)
• Mustafa: Association to either be formed or Assembly to invalidate 2013 agreement (Koha)
• Analysts discuss implementation of Constitutional Court rulings (Klan)
• Kosovo rejects entrance permission to Petkovic (RTK)
• Svecla meets Johansson, discuss fight against crime and corruption (media)
• EC 2021 Reports on Western Balkans: Corruption is widespread and remains an issue of concern (EWB)
• Arrested development: the unfinished church dividing Kosovo (AFP/France 24)
• Kosovo to Simplify Path to Citizenship for Albanians from Presevo Valley (Exit)
• Kosovo Confirms Jailing of Serb Ex-Policemen for War Crimes (BIRN)
• ‘Art Without Limit’ Film Festival Opens in Capital (BIRN)
• COVID-19: 16 new cases, no deaths (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 2, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 2, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• UK appoints special envoy to the Western Balkans (media)
• Ambassador Rohde urges political parties to achieve Assembly quorum (media)
• Trade unions give government deadline to approve law on salaries (Klan/Kallxo)
• Rama: "Open Balkan" mechanism to aid implementation of Berlin process (Koha)
• AJK calls on Government and LVV to distance themselves from social media group (media)
• COVID-19: 16 new cases, no deaths (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Covid-19: 32 new cases, one death registered in Serbian areas (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic again banned from entering Kosovo (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Property issues in Kosovo, an unresolved problem (Radio KIM)
• FM Selakovic: Serbia fosters friendly relations with African states (Tanjug)
• NATO’s Stoltenberg: Development of the situation in the WB worrying (N1, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Protest in Zvecan due to electricity supply issues (Radio kontakt plus)
• The Court of Appeals upheld verdicts to Krstic and Shabani (Kosovo-online)
• Selakovic thanks Romania for its firm position not to recognize Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Institutions respecting the Law on Use of Languages awarded (Radio KIM)
International:
• The Eagle’s Nest: Migrants, Refugees Tread New Balkan Route (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia, new environmental protests (balcanicaucaso.org)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Von der Leyen: "It's time to consider mandatory vaccination" (B92, Tanjug)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 2, 2021
• Borrell: Kosovo and Serbia must return to dialogue, no other way (Koha)
• Lajcak visits Norway, discusses dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Abdixhiku: I am trying for a great comeback of the LDK (media)
• AAK’s Lekaj says KSF commander was sacked (Ekonomia Online)
• Healthcare workers on strike today (Telegrafi)
• PDK denies agreement on Prishtina deputy mayor post (Kallxo/Zeri)
• KEDS asks for 7 percent increase in electricity tariffs from December 1 (Koha)
• COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 1, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• Stoltenberg: We are concerned with rhetoric in Bosnia and Kosovo-Serbia tensions (Klan)
• PDK's Citaku accuses Minister Mehaj of legal violations (media)
• Kosovo's deputy minister denies allegations of Mehaj-Rama disagreements (Telegrafi)
• Former KSF commander to represent Kosovo at RACVIAC organisation (Telegrafi)
• Quint must not put pressure on Kosovo institutions, historians say (media)
• KSC prosecution opposes interim release of former KLA leaders (media)
• Court fines Klina mayor on conflict of interest charges (Zeri)
• Kurti on anti-COVID measures: They respond to current situation (media)
• COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Dacic calls referendum on constitutional amendments for January 16 (media)
• New assemblies constituted in Serbian municipalities in Kosovo (RTS)
• Visoki Decani: Without respect for the rights of all communities, there is no sustainable democratic development (Kosovo Online)
• PM Brnabic to von Cramon: ''I understand that Kosovo is part of Serbia for you as well, and I appreciate that'' (Kosovo Online, Blic)
• The north of Kosovo among the reasons for the change in the KSF; the position of the USA awaited (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian Defence Minister Stefanovic about the change of the KSF head (Kosovo Online)
• Todosijevic, Serbian List member who was sentenced to prison, still MP (RFE)
• Serbian Ministry of Culture returned Kosovo and Metohija to the Law on Cultural Heritage (KiM radio, Beta)
• Stano: Both Belgrade and Pristina to allow official visits (RTS, Tanjug)
• Borrell: Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is the only way to stabilization (RTS, Tanjug)
Opinion:
• Serbia’s War on Free Media is Moving to ‘Street Level’ (Balkan Insight)
International:
• Havana Syndrome: The Perfect Disease for a Post-Truth World (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• World AIDS day finds Kosovo with eight new HIV positive cases (RFE/Koha)
• Quarantine in Kosovo Sparks Revival in Greenhouse Gardening (Prishtina Insight)
• Workshop on Participatory Strategic Planning organised in Kosovo* (CoE)
• Massive protests in Serbia against Rio Tinto’s lithium mining ambition, pollution (balkangreenenergynews.com)