UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 16, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Bislimi: CoE bid was submitted in coordination with Kosovo's partners (media)
• Gervalla to attend EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels (media)
• Defence Minister Mehaj travels on official visit to Turkey (media)
• Albanian Ambassador: We support any initiative between Kosovo and Serbia (EO)
• Kosovo introduces additional sanctions on Russia (media)
• Ukshin Hoti’s son: Serbia not willing to help resolve his fate (Klan Kosova)
• Kusari-Lila: Members of election reform team will be appointed soon (media)
• The government of Kosovo sanctions two terrorist groups ISIL and Al-Qaeda (ekonomia)
• Kosovo's application to CoE, Abraham calls on Italy to put it on the agenda of May 20 (media)
• PDK and AAK invite LVV to vote on the Draft Law on the Pension Fund (media)
• COVID-19: 7 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian FM to EU Commissioner: Region needs encouragement (N1)
• Vucic: We will refrain from imposing sanctions on Russia as long as possible (N1)
• Petkovic on Belgrade-Pristina talks in Brussels on Friday (RTS, Kosovo-online)
• G7: Belgrade and Pristina to engage in dialogue, implement reached agreements without delay (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian officials on G7 statement, find reference to territorial integrity ‘hypocritical’ (media)
• Medvedev: Do not forget Kosovo precedent (Kosovo-online)
• Dacic: Number of derecognitions of Kosovo to grow (Tanjug)
• Bomb threats force evacuation of dozens of schools, public building and airport in Serbia (N1)
• Nova.rs: Belgrade won’t impose sanctions on Russia
• French Ambassador to Belgrade on Pristina’s CoE membership bid (KoSSev)
• Vucic arrives in UAE to pay tribute to late president (Tanjug)

International:

• Scoop: U.S. to deny entry to some Afghans in Kosovo (AXIOS)
• Turkey ‘not Positive’ About Finland, Sweden Joining NATO – Erdogan (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Switzerland to Invest 86 Million Euros in Kosovo Over Next Four Years (BIRN)
• Kosovo Music Festival’s Long Land Lease Draws Complaints (Balkan Insight)

• Kurti: Kosovo's NATO membership would diminish security threats in the Balkans (media)
• Xhacka: NATO should open its doors to Kosovo (media)
• No agreement reached at Friday's meeting of chief negotiators (media)
• Bislimi: Kosovo remains constructive and committed to dialogue (media)
• Kosovo Foreign Minister Responds to Serbia’s Derecognition Claims (Exit)
• Kusari-Lila on dialogue: Moving forward at all costs is not an alternative (EO)
• Kosovo to set up special agency to assess external pressure on security (Koha)
• Kosovo concludes negotiations with MCC, Haradinaj takes credit (media)
• COVID-19: 16 new cases (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• U.S. Department of State: Kosovo, Serbia set their own foreign policy priorities (media)
• CDU/CSU calls on German government to support Kosovo joining CoE (DW)
• Haxhiu: Vetting will be fully independent and monitored by US and EU (EO)
• Kurti visits Albanian-American Cultural Centre in Texas (media)
• “Demarcation will be closed after Djukanovic’s meetings in Kosovo” (Albanian Post)
• Rohde: Looking forward at seeing Kosovo as part of CoE (RTK)
• COVID-19: 21 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Selakovic: Four states revoked recognition of Kosovo (Kosovo-online, Tanjug)
• State Department: Serbia and Kosovo choose their own foreign policy priorities (VoA, Politika)
• Selakovic reacts to Gervalla’s statement she hopes Serbia will support Pristina’s CoE membership bid (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic to Osmani on violation of human rights in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Dveri Movement, Patriotic Bloc: Serbia to urgently withdraw from Brussels Agreement (Danas)
• Petkovic met Lajcak in Brussels (RTS)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: I hope Serbia will not impose sanctions on Russia (Kosovo-online, RTV)
• EU spokesman calls Belgrade, Pristina to show restraint (N1)
• Brnabic signs cooperation agreement in Dubai (N1)
• US Ambassador to Serbia: Major changes in energy in the Balkans (NMagazin, Beta)
• Sarrazin, Rhode visit Visoki Decani Monastery (Kosovo-online)
• Kosovo’s FM Gervalla insists on mutual recognition (N1, Beta, AlJazeera)

International:

• Fact-Check: Serbia’s Vucic Talks Big on EU, Kosovo and Oil (BIRN)
• Do Western Balkan countries like Macron's idea for a two-tier Europe? (euronews.com)
• How Online Violence Against Women Goes Unpunished (Balkan Insight)
• Top global official: Bosnian Serbs are trying to `secede' (The Washington Post)

• Kosovo leaders’ messages on membership bid at Council of Europe (media)
• Konjufca: Serbia won’t leave stone unturned to prevent CoE membership (media)
• Interior Minister Svecla visiting France (media)
• Kurti willing to visit former KLA leaders in the Hague (Nacionale)
• Surroi: Through oil industry, Serbia bought Russian veto against Kosovo (KTV)
• Indictment against ex European Integration minister for abuse of office (Kallxo)
• German Special Rep for Western Balkans visits Decani Monastery (media)
• Montenegrin President to visit Kosovo on May 18 (Express)
• Sunny Hill Festival given site for 99 years by Prishtina Council (BIRN)
• COVID-19: 22 new cases (media)
• North Macedonia hosts big NATO exercise (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 12, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Government approves initiative for membership in CoE (media)
• Rama on CoE membership bid: We are sorry for Serbia, we support Kosovo (Klan)
• Gervalla’s announcement after Kosovo's application to the Council of Europe (media)
• Osmani: Kosovo’s membership in NATO, security for the region (RTK)
• Defence Minister Mehaj travels to U.S. (Zeri)
• Opposition welcomes Kosovo's application to the Council of Europe (Koha)
• COVID-19: 22 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic says Belgrade prepared for Kosovo CoE application (N1, RTS, Blic)
• Member of the SNS presidency: "I do not want to be ominous, but I think that Kosovo will join the Council of Europe" (Beta, Danas, NMagazin, TV Pink)
• Djordjevic: Accession of Pristina to Council of Europe agreement of Vucic and West (Danas)
• Antonijevic: Pristina violates Washington agreement, there will be consequences on dialogue (Kosovo-online)
• Civil society organisations present report on human rights in Kosovo, note numerous problems (Radio KIM)
• Brussels: Leaders of the Western Balkans reaffirmed commitment to EU path (RTS, Tanjug)
• EU Council President Charles Michel in Serbia next week (RTS)
• Kosovo Assembly elects Kabasic and Miletic members of Judicial Council (Radio KIM)
• FM Selakovic says fighting terrorism is Serbia’s priority (N1)

Opinion:

• Prpa: This is not our game; if we opt in a divided world, we will be losers (NMagazin, N1, Danas)

International:

• Kosovo hopes to join Council of Europe after Russia’s exit (Reuters)
• BIRN Fact-Check: Is Kosovo Set to Join the Council of Europe? (BIRN)
• Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe and the comeback of the Washington Agreement (EWB)
• ‘This game is up’: Serbia urged to take a stand on Ukraine’s war (AlJazeera)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo choking in garbage (DW, KiM radio)

• Kosovo to formally apply for CoE membership today (Koha/RFE)
• Borrell: Western Balkans, EU's most important foreign policy (media)
• Gervalla-Schwarz: Kosovo delegation ready for dialogue results (media)
• Osmani attends dinner hosted by House Speaker Pelosi; travels to Lithuania for official visit (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo to be put on the global map of information technology investments (media)
• AAK leader Haradinaj meets U.S. envoy to Western Balkans Escobar (media)
• Kosovo FM on moving embassy to Jerusalem: ‘We keep our promises’ (i24News)
• Kosovo and France police directors meet in Zagreb (Kosovapress)
• COVID-19: 14 new cases, one death (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Chief negotiators to try and set the scene for a new Kurti-Vucic meeting (Koha)
• Shasha: No visa liberalisation this year; a European tragedy (Telegrafi)
• Excavation in search of human remains commences in Serbia (media)
• Haxhiu meets Venice Commission representatives (media)
• Three international agreements voted by the Assembly today (media)
• Inflation rate in Kosovo recorded at 11 percent (Koha/Kosovapress)
• COVID-19: 14 new cases, one death (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic with Cochard on Brussels agreements, Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Kosovo-online)
• Bus transporting Serb returnees from Osojane stoned (RTS)
• Guterres congratulates Vucic on his election as President of Serbia (RTS)
• President of Basic Court in Mitrovica North returns to work following suspension (Kosovo-online)
• Stavalj mine terrain research began at the request of the Pristina delegation for the missing (Kontakt plus radio)
• Selakovic: Gratitude to India for its stance on Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Pahor: EU enlargement to the Western Balkans the most important issue (Kosovo Online, N1, RFE, Hina)
• Infrastructure Minister says Serbia interested in Saudi investment plan (N1)

International:

• Montenegro’s New PM Supports ‘Open Balkan’ Initiative (Balkan Insight)

• Chief negotiators to meet this Friday; discuss license plates and energy (Koha)
• Osmani: No price is too high for democracy and freedom (media)
• Russian-Ukrainian war could spill over into Balkans, Gervalla warns (jpost.com)
• Thaci plead innocent to fresh war crime charges (BIRN)
• Kosovo Assembly meets today; discuss first year of Kurti government (media)
• FM Gervalla to represent Kosovo at informal dinner hosted by Borrell (media)
• Mehaj: U.S. support Kosovo’s membership in NATO (media)
• We’ll apply for CoE membership; we have 2/3 of votes: PM advisor (media)
• Abazovic in favor of Open Balkan; Kosovo would benefit most (Klan Kosova)
• EBRD mulls €22.5 mln loan to Kosovo for solar heating project (SeeNews)
• COVID-19: Four new cases (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 10, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Sarrazin in Kosovo on Thursday; aims to restore dialogue with Serbia (Indeksonline)
• Sarrazin: Kosovo needs visa liberalisation; we must not miss opportunity (Express)
• Kurti in U.S.; Borrell invites Western Balkans leaders to Brussels (Express)
• Kurti: Kosovo offers favorable climate for investment by U.S. companies (media)
• U.S. supports Kosovo's membership in Partnership for Peace (RFE)
• At opening of Munich Leaders Meeting, Osmani meets U.S., European officials (media)
• Thaci, Veseli plead not guilty to new war crimes charges (media)
• Albanian PM Rama visits Thaci in Hague (Klan Kosova)
• Konjufca received representatives of the Venice Commission (Koha)
• Education Union: One-hour strike on Thursday; preparing for general strike (Telegrafi)
• COVID-19: Four new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Western Balkans leaders at the traditional Brussels annual dinner tomorrow (RTS)
• Vucic with Sarrazin: Belgrade-Pristina talks only way to reaching sustainable agreement (Kosovo-online)
• Dacic met German ambassador (Tanjug)
• Rakic meets Japanese Embassy Chargé d'Affaires (Kosovo-online)
• Energy minister says ownership of Serbian oil company could change (N1, Beta)
• Le Monde: Macron and Draghi for EU "confederation" with Western Balkans, Scholz abstains (Beta, N1)
• Less than half of Serbians support EU membership (FoNet, N1)

Opinion:

• Western Balkans must once again become a priority for the EU (brusselstimes.com)

International:

• EBRD affirms Kosovo's 2022 economic growth forecast at 4% (SeeNews)
• Constantinople Ends Schism with North Macedonia Church (Balkan Insight)
• Montenegro Govt Urged to Compensate NATO Bombing Victims’ Families (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Lessons of War: Kosovo Trains Ukrainian Women in Demining (BIRN)
• Kosovo War Widow Wins ‘European of the Year’ Award (BIRN)
• Helping Migrants in the Western Balkans End “the Game” (gmfus.org)
• Oracle opened a regional IT center in Kragujevac (Beta, N1)

• Osmani: End four years of unjust denying of visa liberalization (media)
• Some countries were convinced for visa liberalization, government says (RFE)
• Osmani travels to Washington; will attend Munich Leaders Meeting (media)
• Kosovo Compact Negotiations with MCC begin (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo, Israel ink deal year after Jerusalem embassy opens (Jerusalem Post)
• Rukiqi: Kosovo faced with unprecedented inflation (Kosovapress)
• Journalist recounts meeting former Kosovo President at The Hague (euronews.al)
• Macron proposes new political union for non-EU member states (RFE)
• COVID-19: Two new cases (media)