UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 5, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• German Defense Minister arrives in Kosovo (media)
• Osmani: CBK regulation is not against dinar and it does not mention it (media)
• Hovenier insists on postponing implementation of CBK regulation (media)
• Muja: No one is fueling the fire; some statements can be used for tensions (media)
• Kosovo citizens advised not to travel through Merdare (media)
• Feith: Kosovo should be careful, don't make mistakes (Reporteri)
• Konjufca: Serbia poses a danger to our region and beyond (media)
• Gervalla in Rome with Western Balkans foreign ministers (Albanian Post)
• Zlatan Arsic acquitted of war crime charges (Koha)
• Gervalla meets Belgian Ambassador, focus on political situation (media)
• CEC: Signatures for dismissal of mayors in the north are being verified (Koha)
• Police begin investigations into posters with Radoicic in the north (media)
• Serbian police continue to mistreat Nikola Sandulovic’s family (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Stano: Concern growing in EU due to decision of CBK and police operations against Serbian entities (N1)
• Brnabic on request for extraordinary session of UN SC: We will fight with all diplomatic means (Beta, NMagazin, TV Pink)
• Dacic: Kosovo and Metohija issue of paramount state and national interest of Serbia (Tanjug)
• Hovenier after meeting Kurti: We hope to see postponement of Central Bank decision (Kosovo Online)
• China: Unilateral Pristina’s actions do not lead toward resolution of Kosovo issue (Tanjug)
• Self-determination Movement lists their January successes including ban on dinar (KoSSev)
• Zlatan Arsic acquitted (RTS, N1)
• Lawyers: Zlatan Arsic is a free man (Kosovo Online)
• OSCE: It is of crucial importance that rights of Kosovo Serbs are fully respected (Kosovo Online, media)
• Rohde: Unilateral measures only add fuel to fire, opposite of reducing tensions (Kosovo Online, KoSSev, social media)
• Simic: Serbs in Kosovo frightened by silence of international community, statements are not enough (Beta, Danas, TV Pink)
• Grenell on German officials’ reactions to latest Pristina authorities acts (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Chinese Ambassador to Belgrade: Solve Kosovo issue without double standards (Beta, NMagazin, Politika, KiM radio)
• Haziri: Government increased national sentiment, reduced European one among citizens (Kosovo Online, VoA)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: Kosovo is asked not to do what it has the right to do (Koha)
• Serwer: How to counter the Serbian world (media)

International:

• Kosovo Euro Rule, Closure of Belgrade-Run Offices, Draw International Criticism (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• U.S., EU react to latest decisions by Kosovo authorities (media)
• Governor: This is a fight against money laundering and terrorism (Kallxo)
• German Defense Minister to visit Kosovo today (media)
• Kurti remembers Albanian civilians killed in Mitrovica North in 2000 (media)
• “Association current draft status creates room for Republika Srpska” (media)
• Kurti: First 100MW solar auction bidding process successful conclusion (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Displaced Serbs from Kosovo announced a three-hour blockade of the road in Rudare on Monday (euronews.rs, Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Serbs in Kosovo in a difficult situation; we ask for an urgent session of the UN SC (NMagazin, RTS, media)
• Tabakovic: Serbia cannot renounce the use of the dinar in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Vecernje Novosti, Blic)
• Serbian List: The Quint countries responsible for the moves that Albin Kurti makes without bearing the consequences (RTS)
• SNV again sent a request to Bishop Teodosije to schedule a national assembly (Danas, KiM radio, KoSSev)
• The Bishop of Raska-Prizren visited the Serbian people in Osojane to encourage them to stay (Tanjug, KiM radio)
• Dimitrijevic: The Pristina government destroying one of the last positive examples of coexistence (KoSSev)
• The new DSS adopts the Declaration on Kosovo, requests the state to declare the occupation of that part of the territory (Beta, NMagazin, RTS)
• Surlic: Amendments to Chapter 35 call dialogue and European integration into question (Tanjug)
• Office for KiM : "Post" workers detained in Gorazdevac, Kurti's terror against Serbs continues (Kosovo Online)
• Post of Serbia: The arrest of our workers in Kosovo another in a series of attacks on Serbs (NMagazin, Beta)
• KP: Seized 4,000,000 dinars from the Post of Serbia pending the decision of the CBK (Kosovo Online)
• The Post Office in Ugljare robbed (KiM radio)
• HLC: Arsic found guilty of expulsion, robbery, burning property, and no direct evidence was provided (KoSSev)
• Serbian List: Radoica Radomirovic placed posters (KiM radio)
• Posters against Radoicic and the SL in the north of Kosovo (Danas, KoSSev)
• Reactions to acquittals in Slavko Curuvija case (Beta, N1, nova.rs)
International Media:
• US Slams Kosovo for Unnecessarily Raising Ethnic Tensions (Bloomberg)
• EU Council Formally Asked To Insert Recent Kosovo Commitments Into Serbia's Accession Talks (RFE)
• ‘They hit me so hard I lost consciousness’: Serbian opposition politician tells of secret service ordeal (The Guardian)
• Rights Groups, U.S. Assail Serbian Court's Acquittal Of Ex-Intelligence Officers In 1999 Murder Of Journalist (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

• EC: No problem with regulation, but how it was done (Gazeta Express)
• Konjufca assures U.S. there won’t be unrest over Dinar decision (Kallxo)
• Court sentences Kosovo Serb to 13 years in prison for war crimes in 1999 (media)
• Police, prosecution with action against parallel structures in Peja region (media)
• IMC draft law seen as attack against news websites (Koha)
• AmCham: Kosovo to free itself from discourse of conflict and instability (RTK)
• Unknown persons removed table set up by Ministry in Zubin Potok (media)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo’s main objective is NATO membership (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Serbia demands a session of the Security Council, letters to the EU, Russia, and China on Monday (N1)
• The police harassed the team of Radio Gorazdevac (KiM radio, Radio Gorazdevac)
• Revolted by the police action, young people gathered in the center of Osojane (KiM radio)
• Serbian List: The raid of armed special forces in three Metohija municipalities another proof of ethnic cleansing (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)
• Office for KiM: Closure of Serbian municipalities in Metohija, continuation of ethnic cleansing and extermination of Serbs (Kosovo Online)
• After Pec and Istok, the police raided the premises of the Provisional Authority of the Municipality of Klina (Kosovo Online, Danas)
• Gorazdevac: KP raided the facility of the Provisional Authority of the Municipality of Pec (Kosovo Online, Radio Gorazdevac, media)
• Osojane: Kosovo Police special forces raided Provisional Authority of the Municipality of Istok, the post office and the ambulance (KiM radio, media)
• Dusko Arsic sentenced to 13 years in prison (RTS, media)
• Lawyer Vlajic: This verdict destroys everyone's hope of getting justice in Kosovo (KiM radio)
• Shahini: The government should respect the Kosovo Constitution, but also the Serbs who have dinar accounts (Kosovo Online)
• Andjelkovic (Serbian Democracy): Workers of Serbian companies in Kosovo cannot receive money in Kosovo banks (Danas)
• EC spokesperson: The solution for the dinar can be found within the dialogue led by the EU (N1)

Albanian Language Media:

U.S State Department urges postponement of decision to ban dinar (VoA) 
Osmani meets Hovenier, discuss latest developments (media) 
Hovenier: Kosovo risks facing ethnic tensions (media) 
Kurti meets Ambassador Ziv, talk about organizing an Economic Forum (Klan) 
Over 800 Serbs applied for Kosovo passport only in January (Express) 
Kurti dismisses adviser seen in party with parallel structures' officials (media) 
Kosovo urged to drop legal push to 'control online media' (Prishtina Insight) 
Illegal activity near Police seen as security concern (Koha) 

Serbian Language Media:

Hovenier: US concerned the dinar ban could escalate tensions (Beta, N1, KiM radio)
Serbian List with Hovenier regarding the last decision of Pristina (Radio Mitrovica sever)
More than 800 Serbs applied for Kosovo passports during January (N1, FoNet, Danas)
Drecun: Dinar ban one of toughest blows yet but Kurti will not stop there (Tanjug)
A ministerial duo visited Albanian houses under construction in Brdjani, workers tore down a billboard with the Serbian flag nearby (KoSSev)
Arsenijevic on the occasion of the visit of Kosovo ministers to North Mitrovica (Danas) 
The State Department calls on the GoK to immediately postpone the CBK's decision to abolish dinars (Kosovo Online, thepavlovictoday.com, media)
Andric Rakic: If the withdrawal of dinars is prevented, the cost of living for citizens will increase (Kosovo Online)

International Media:

Closed Hearings at Hague War Crimes Court ‘Heighten Mistrust’ in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Constitutionality, legality, decision-making are not negotiable (RTK)
• EU asks again Kosovo to resolve dinar issue through dialogue (Klan)
• Hoti: We didn’t get answer in Vienna why Serbia not opening archives (Klan)
• Svecla and Krasniqi in Mitrovica North : Serbia's threats do not scare us (Koha)
• Bislimi: EU should be driving force for Western Balkans as well (RTK)
• Gervalla in Germany, discusses cooperation in security field (RTK)
• Hamza: There are sufficient funds for defendants in the Hague (EO)
• Haradinaj at White House National Security Council (media)
• Ramadani: KFOR did not allow Krasniqi to enter Zvecan municipality on Monday (media)
• Serbian inscriptions on Albanian houses in Kroi i Vitakut neighborhood (RTK)
• Kosovo police remove billboard with Serbian flag in Kroi i Vitakut (Reporteri)
• Limaj on opposition: I don’t know if they want to keep Kurti in power (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Hill: The Ohrid Agreement does not imply that Serbia recognizes Kosovo (N1, NMagazin, Beta, Bujanovacke)
• Vucic to address public tomorrow (Danas, RTS, media)
• Vucic: I informed Botsan-Kharchenko about Pristina's latest unilateral move (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Kurti's decision to ban dinar undermines dialogue (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, TV Pink)
• National Bank of Serbia: There can be no talk of an agreement with the CBK, a solution only through political dialogue (Tanjug, RTV, Kosovo Online)
• Prosecution: Two suspects Illegally provided medical services in Pristina (KiM radio, RTS)
• Center for Peace and Tolerance (CPT): The action in the Center in Pristina instills fear and endangers the safety of Serbs (KiM radio, Kosovo Online)
• Office for Kosovo and Metohija: Detention of health workers exposes the criminal nature of Kurti's regime (N1, NMagazin)
• EU concerned over fallout of Kosovo central bank decision (N1)
• Kosovo Central Bank: Komercijalna Bank voluntarily stopped operations (Beta, N1)
• Serbian DefMin says conscription not about Kosovo (N1, RTS)
• KoSSev editor in chief asked Vucic whether he agreed to abolish the dinar in Brussels; Petkovic reacted on X (N1, NMagazin, Kosovo Online)
• JUGpress: "EULEX informed about incidents with armed forest thieves, KFOR and the Serbian Army do not respond" (NMagazin)

International:

• What is (or was) Open Balkan? (Kosovo 2.0)

Albanian Language Media:

• Bislimi: CBK regulation to enter into force on Thursday, facilitated transition (RFE)
• Svecla informs about raid of NGO inside a police station in Pristina (RFE)
• Stoltenberg: NATO most successful alliance (Albanian Post)
• Haradinaj asks Rounds to support Kosovo in Partnership for Peace (media)
• Serwer: Trump’s election would be misfortunate for the Balkans (KTV)
• Grenell: Kurti to stop unilateral moves that risk safety of U.S. troops (media)
• Osmani speaks to Al Thani, discuss excellent Kosovo-Qatar relations (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• No statement from Vucic's meeting with Quint, EU representatives (Tanjug, media)
• Petkovic: Vucic's meeting with Quint representatives most difficult ever (Tanjug, RTS)
• Vucic to speak with White House officials, and with Botsan-Kharchenko (Tanjug, Vecernje Novosti, Blic)
• Eparchy of Raska-Prizren: Banning dinar will block normal life in Serbian communities in Kosovo (Tanjug, KiM radio)
• KP search clinic used by Kosovo Serbs in Pristina (N1, RTS, media)
• Starovic: The remaining Serbs in Pristina are denied basic medical services (Tanjug)
• The Serbian People's Movement submitted documents for the registration of a new political party (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio, Caglavica Media Center)
International Media:
• Grenell: Kosovo’s PM Albin Kurti Is Putting American Lives At Risk (thepavlovictoday.com)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 31, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: CBK's decision is non-negotiable (RTK)
• Osmani on dinar: Each time we act along with allies, constitution is protected (media)
• CBK Board Chairman: Discussion to postpone regulation, no suspension (RFE)
• Gervalla meets Germany’s Minister of Defense, discuss security in region (RTK)
• Osmani believes CEC will take appropriate actions for dismissal of mayors in north (Koha)
• Former minister sentenced to 3 years in prison in “€53 million case” (media)
• ICG: If not Association, parties to find other alternatives (Koha)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo, its army ready to be NATO member alongside U.S. (media)
• Rohde: More ambition is possible and expected (media)
• Ministry: Nearly €23 million for attorneys of eight former KLA members (Kallxo)
• Radakovic: Only 30% of Serbs that left institutions don’t want to return (KTV)

Serbian Language Media:

• UNS and DNKiM: Central Bank of Kosovo not to violate right to information in Serbian language; translation provided after reaction (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)
• Lucic: Pristina's action against MTS makes life difficult for Serbs (Radio Mitrovica sever, RTS)
• Hill: I support Quint stance on postponing KCB decision (Kosovo Online)
• Amendments to laws on citizenship and property: Granting rights to Albanians from southern Serbia or depriving rights of Serbs in Kosovo? (Kosovo Online)
• COMKFOR discusses security with Lajcak (N1)
• Vucic to meet Quint ambassadors, EU delegation head today (Tanjug)
• Rohde: Concern over interference of Kosovo Government in judiciary (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo should show flexibility in resolving dinar issue (Kosovo Online, media)
• MTS security staff staged warning strike in Gracanica (RTS, Radio kontakt plus)
• Commercial Bank as of today no longer works in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Vucevic: “We will never recognize independence of Kosovo, even if not even one of us remains there” (Kosovo Online, Beta, TV Happy)

International:

• Kosovo ban on Serbian dinar risks new crisis (AFP)
• EU envoy urges Kosovo and Serbia to step up normalization efforts before the bloc’s June elections (AP)
• Toward Normal Relations between Kosovo and Serbia (ICG)
• Kosovo* enters day-ahead market on Albanian Power Exchange (BGEN)
• With Billions in Conditional Aid, EU Offers Balkan States ‘Taste’ of Accession (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Kosovo committed to normalization centered on mutual recognition (media)
Osmani: Brussels agreement, Ohrid annex must be fully implemented (media)
Lajcak: Important results but little progress on big picture (media)
Osmani meets Rohde, discuss latest developments (media)
Tahiri: We asked Kosovo’s membership in NATO from Escobar (Klan Kosova)
Ahmeti: Kosovo-Serbia reconciliation for quiet and peace in Balkans (RTK)
Cakolli: Firing of whistleblowers is intimidation for others (KTV)

Serbian Language Media:

ICG: Constant pressure drives Serbs out of Kosovo, tensions increased since Kurti came to power (Kosovo Online, media)
Media: Vucic held meeting with ministers last night over Kurti’s decision to ban dinar (Tanjug)
Lajcak: Kosovo government to announce information about dinar decision (Kosovo Online)
Petkovic: Quint statement different this time (media)
Witness at Thaci’s trial: KLA was killing Albanians declared collaborators near Orahovac (N1, BETA)
Vucic: Serbia has to be prepared (N1)
Businessman from Zvecan to go on hunger strike, Tax Administration damaged him for 310.000 euros (KoSSev)
Cvetkovic, Marinkovic meet with Escobar in Washington (Tanjug)

International Media:

Pavlovic Today: Diplomatic Memo Outlines Risks To Serbs Amid Suspension Of Serbian Dinar In Kosovo
Four Kosovo Men Jailed for Plotting Acts of Terrorism (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Central Bank Governor Ismaili meets Hovenier (media)
• Woelk: Politics taken towards Kosovo by EU is deeply unfair, unjust (media)
• Haradinaj says decision to ban Serbian Dinar in line with EU standards (media)
• Baraliu: They’re asking for Serbia to have a say in CBK decisions (KTV)
• German Defense Minister to visit Kosovo on February 5 (Gazeta Express)
• TI: No political will to give up from interference in judicial affairs (media)
• Rohde: Integration of north is important for KOSTT sustainable business (media)
• Serwer: Lajcak didn’t say word about Belgrade-sponsored Sept 24 attack (media)
• Hoare: Trump return, Serbia’s goals – threat for Kosovo, Western Balkans (media)
• Four Serbs suspected of attacking CEC premises in north plead innocent (Koha)
• Police in Zvecan find bags with sand, were used for trenches, roadblocks (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucevic: We are concerned about the military agreement between Pristina and Turkey, we will respond adequately (Danas, Beta)
• Serbs to be left without dinar in Kosovo: Can decision be suspended? (Radio KIM)
• Dragana Miletic dismissed from the post of vice president of Leposavic municipality (RTK2, RTKlive, Kosovo Online)
• Party of Kosovo Serbs demands urgent investigation into events in Leposavic municipal building (Radio KIM)
• Thaci's lawyers requested to withdraw from the case (Kosovo Online)
• Witnesses at Thaci’s trial: KLA in 1999 kidnapped, mistreated and murdered civilians in Prizren and Podujevo (KoSSev, BETA)
• Four Serbs accused of terrorism pleaded not guilty at a preliminary hearing held today (KiM radio)
• Lawyer of Milun Milenkovic: It would be fair to approve bail measure (Radio KIM)
• Ulutas met the head of UNMIK in Pristina (Kosovo Online)
• Mladenovic: Language rights violated in almost all institutions (KiM radio, Radio Gorazdevac)
• Serbia drops on the Transparency International CPI (N1)
• The Assembly of Serbia constitutive session scheduled for February 6, before the EP votes on the resolution and the Serbian elections (Danas, FoNet)

Opinion:

• A few words about the course of the struggle against lawlessness: We must fight (KoSSev)

International:

• Little Change in Balkan Corruption Perceptions Bar Decline in Bosnia (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

O'Brien: U.S. demands full implementation of agreements (media)
Lajcak announces next Kosovo-Serbia meeting at level of chief negotiators (Reporteri)
Israel to lift visas for Kosovars, Osmani calls it a positive development (RTK)
Haxhiu meets head of EULEX, discuss reforms in justice and vetting (media)
Haradinaj at U.S. Department of State, meets Escobar (media)
CEC starts verifying signatures from citizens' petition in the north (Koha)
Kurti and Svecla visit Police Inspectorate (media)
Weber: West aware that Serbia’s high levels are involved in attack in Banjska (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

Lajcak met Vucic, says they discussed next steps in normalization of relations (Kosovo Online, social media)
Andric Rakic: Implementation of cash operations regulation would mean recognition of Serbian institutions in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
Lucic: We explained that Competition Authority operates contrary to European practise norms and regulations (Kosovo Online)
Protest over timber poachers from Kosovo held in Kursumlija (N1)
Portal: Plaque of Kosovo institutions placed on center for social welfare, firefighters’ station in Zubin Potok (KoSSev)
Vucevic: We are not preparing for wars, but we will be ready to defend Serbia (Tanjug)