UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 25, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Stano: EU is aware of Serbia’s vote against Kosovo (Radio Free Europe)
• Vela: Serbia’s vote against Kosovo’s CoE application should be penalised (media)
• Serbia violates agreement, threatens countries that support Kosovo (Koha)
• The CEC announces results of extraordinary elections in northern municipalities (Klan)
• Kusari-Lila: End of Serbia’s influence in Kosovo began on Sunday (EO)
• Osmani to visit North Macedonia on Wednesday (Albanian Post)
• Lajcak at Webster Vienna, discussion on normalisation of relations (Nacionale)
• Krasniqi: Monoethnic institutions are not good for us (Kosovapress)
• Delawie: Regrettable, Serbian authorities influenced Serbs to boycott elections (media)
• Details about burning of excavator in Zvecan, belonged to an Albanian (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: President Vucic may attend the UNSC session on Kosovo (Tanjug, RTS)
• Vucic: Foreign policy changes coming (RTS, N1)
• Lajcak: The road to normalisation is mined, we must avoid mines (Kosovo Online, Blic)
• Dacic: CoE's decision was expected, it will be ashamed of this day (Tanjug, media)
• Dodik: "Srpska does not recognize self-proclaimed Kosovo, the ambassador voted outside the procedures" (Tanjug, RTRS)
• PM Brnabic reacts to Von Cramon’s remarks on elections (N1)
• Jablanovic to Viola von Cramon: Blackmail and threats do not pass with us (Politika, KiM radio)
• Petkovic reacts to Osmani’s remarks on agreement violation (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Vasiljevic responds to Vela (social media, Kosovo Online)
• Dacic and Hill: Continuation of dialogue the only path to concrete results (BETA, N1)
• New law on expropriation - Pristina's new plan to seize Serbian property, says Petkovic (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio, RTS)
• Foreign Affairs Committee rejects draft resolution to impose sanctions on Russia (BETA, N1)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo’s economy shows resilience despite slowing growth (worldbank.org)

• Kosovo passes first step to Council of Europe membership (BIRN)
• Palokaj: If no obstacles, Kosovo can join CoE early next year (KTV)
• Legitimacy of local elections in question after low turnout (Prishtina Insight)
• Von Cramon’s statement on local elections in north of Kosovo (media)
• UK Ambassador comments on the local elections in the north (media)
• KFOR calls for refrain from escalating rhetoric after elections in north (RFE)
• Osmani: Serbia committed two violations of agreement less than 24 hrs (media)
• Kurti: I am ready for May 2 meeting in Brussels (media)
• Limaj: Albin Kurti should give up on north of Kosovo (media)
• Serbian leader lashes out at the West over Kosovo vote (Associated Press)
• Szunyog: No room for attacks on religious sites in multicultural Kosovo (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Serbia’s engagement to obstruct elections is against Ohrid agreement (media)
• Kurti: Low turnout because of intimidation and blackmail by Belgrade (media)
• EU: These elections don’t offer long-term political solution for municipalities (media)
• Kosovo govt statement on April 23 local elections in north (media)
• Kurti and Hovenier expect full implementation of agreement reached in Ohrid (Telegrafi)
• Krasniqi: Govt to enable forming of institutions in four northern municipalities (Kallxo)
• Access to municipal premises, first challenge of the new mayors (RFE)
• Bielamowicz: Lost opportunity for Kosovo Serbs (RTK)
• Why according to Trajkovic, Radoicic called for boycott of elections (Express)
• Kosovo’s application on the agenda of the Council of Europe (RFE)
• PDK calls extraordinary session for Nagip Krasniqi’s arrest (EO)
• Hovenier: We appreciate Iowa’s partnership with KSF (media)
• Osmani: Turkish community enriches mosaic of diversity in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: What happened yesterday is much more than Albin Kurti’s defeat (Tanjug, media)
• Serb-majority north Kosovo towns get Albanian mayors (N1)
• Elections in northern Kosovo: What Belgrade and Serbs say (N1)
• Petkovic: Empty ballot boxes debacle of Kurti and international community (RTS)
• Jablanovic expects elections to be annulled (DW, Kosovo Online)
• Arsenijevic: If the new mayor works against the interests of the Serbs, we can hold a referendum (KoSSev, N1)
• Bisevac: If elections are not annulled and Albanians really take over, many people will move away (Danas)
• Civil sector: The elections in the north improvised, the Serbs boycotted them (KiM radio)
• Memorial service for RTS workers killed in the NATO bombing (RTS, BETA, N1)
• Hill: Dialogue needs "new momentum", it is time for CSM (ZSO) (N1, Beta)

Opinion:

• A debacle of half a million euros (KiM radio)

International:

• North Kosovo elections trigger harsh words, criticisms from Belgrade (Euractive)
• Kosovo Dreams of Turning Mining Heritage into Tourist Trail (Prishtina Insight)

• Serbs in north of Kosovo boycott local snap elections (media)
• “Kosovo’s application for CoE membership on agenda for Monday” (media)
• Lajcak: Time of intense preparation for next high-level meeting (media)
• Escobar: We expect concrete proposal on Association from Kosovo (media)
• Kurti reacts to Serbian armed forces’ exercise in Batajnica (media)
• 25 years after Kosovo war, rape victims find the courage to heal (RFE)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 20, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: There’s a negative mood in the State Prosecution against our government (KSP)
• PDK’s Tahiri calls on Kurti to dismiss KEK Board and CEO (Indeksonline)
• Rizvanolli on arrest of KEK CEO: We will wait for the facts (media)
• Escobar: Waiting for concrete proposal from Kosovo for Association by May 2 (RTK)
• Konjufca: Can’t accept Association without de facto recognition from Serbia (media)
• “Kurti govt’s seriousness prevented further conditioning of visa liberalisation” (Kallxo)
• Government with €3 million aid package for non-majority communities (Klan)
• Election commission accredits around 360 observers for elections in north (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Milatovic: Open Balkans better than closed Balkans (Beta, NIN, N1)
• Dacic: We have returned to the pre-Brussels era (NMagazin, Politika, RTV)
• Escobar: US will recognize Kosovo election results (Tanjug, N1)
• Botsan-Kharchenko on Community of Serb Municipalities (Danas)
• KP: Three minors admitted that they damaged the door of the church in Prizren (KiM radio)
• Ponos: Ten years after Brussels Agreement, Kosovo further from Serbia (N1, Danas)
• No visa liberalisation for Serbian passport holders in Kosovo (N1, media)
• Petkovic reacts to von Cramon statement, says make Pristina establish ZSO (Radio KIM)
• Court of Appeals increases sentence to Vukotic, lawyer announces complaint to Supreme Court (KoSSev, media)
• Dacic: Pristina has almost no chance of becoming a UNESCO member (Tanjug)
• US ambassadors discuss regional stability with Vucic (N1, social media)

Opinion:

• Editor of RTV KiM: Serbs got a one-way ticket, Albanians an unsettled situation (Danas, Insajder)
• “Serbs from Kosovo humiliated, term Kosovar insulting” (N1)

International:

• Kosovo Parties Split Over Energy Corporation Head’s Arrest (BIRN)
• Serbia, Kosovo, Take First Steps To Implement EU Ohrid Deal (BIRN)

• KEK director Nagip Krasniqi arrested (media)
• COMKFOR: We will act if stability and security are threatened (media)
• OSCE calls for calm and democratic elections in the north (ATV)
• UNMIK chief Ziadeh welcomes visa liberalisation for Kosovo (media)
• Szunyog disappointed with absence of MPs during plenary sessions (media)
• Freedom of Information in Balkans still ‘on paper only’, panel hears (BIRN)
• Police identify three juveniles that damaged church door in Prizren (media)
• UNMIK chief condemns arson incident against church in Prizren (media)
• Population anxiety mustn’t be resolved at cost of women’s rights (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Serbia continues “old habit of violating agreements” (Radio Free Europe)
• Beyer: Ohrid agreement, only path for normalisation and EU membership (Express)
• Kosovo Police raid central offices of Kosovo Power Corporation (media)
• OSCE: Not part of team that drafts Association statute; if needed will help (Express)
• Hoti: Dialogue wasn’t kept on tracks of mutual recognition (TV Dukagjini/Nacionale)
• Serb candidate for Zvecan: If I win, I will return to work all those who resigned (Insajderi)
• Krasniqi: Polls show that Vetevendosje has dropped to 36-37 percent (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: We will fulfil everything we said, but only when Pristina forms the CSM (ZSO) (N1)
• Tenth anniversary of the First Brussels Agreement (N1)
• Odalovic: On the 10th anniversary of the Brussels Agreement, Pristina awarded visa-free status (KiM radio, RTS, Beta)
• Petkovic: The next round of dialogue in Brussels on CSM (ZSO) (Beta, N1, RTS)
• Dacic: Pristina's CoE bid will not be on agenda on Wednesday (Tanjug)
• Kosovo Police calls minorities to apply for jobs (KoSSev, N1)
• Ziadeh: Perpetrators to be held responsible for arson incident at the church in Prizren (euronews.rs, Tanjug, RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Elections in the north: Voting containers in places inhabited by Albanians and at crossings (Kontakt plus radio, Klan)
• Jevtic: The elections in the north of Kosovo contrary to democracy (Beta, TV Prva, KiM radio)
• Simic: We will not stop demanding the CSM (ZSO), we will remain a thorn to Pristina (Kosovo Online, TV Pink)
• Analysis from Ljubljana: Montenegro's agreement with the SOC, a model for Kosovo (Danas)
• The EU decision on visas: Residents of Kosovo with Serbian passports are the most discriminated group in Europe (Kosovo Online)

International:

• American Corners Bring US Closer to Kosovar Youth (Prishtina Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Energy from the wind in Bajgora (Kosovo 2.0)

• European Parliament votes to scarp visa regime for Kosovo citizens (BIRN)
• Visa liberalisation agreement to be signed on Wednesday (SchengenVisaInfo)
• Gervalla, Kosovo delegation thank MEPs for visa liberalisation (Klan)
• Kurti and Vucic to meet in Brussels on May 2 (Albanian Post)
• Joint monitoring committee for Kosovo-Serbia agreement established (media)
• U.S. expects implementation of past agreements, including Association (VoA)
• Vela: Serbian List informed of all developments regarding elections (Klan)
• Hovenier condemns arson incident in Orthodox church in Prizren (media)
• Montenegro Urged to Reinvestigate 1999 Killings of Kosovo Albanians (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Serbia should be more responsible for implementing the agreement (RTK)
• Rohde: Implementation of the agreement and avoidance of any tension, needed (Klan)
• European Parliament Approves Visa Liberalization for Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)
• Reuten proud that the EP removed visas from Kosovars (media)
• Von Cramon: Congratulations to Kosovo for the long-awaited visa liberalization (media)
• Austria congratulates Kosovo on visa liberalization (ekonomia)
• Kurti: Visa liberalization brings us one step closer to the European Union (media)
• Osmani: The liberalisation of visas, a merit of the people of Kosovo (media)
• The government takes credit for the visas (media)
• Opposition parties hail EP decision on liberalisation of visas (media)
• Church door in Prizren set on fire, police say gasoline smell was present at scene (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Hill: We will not give up until CSM (ZSO) becomes a reality (N1, FoNet, Kontakt plus radio)
• Pristina's request for membership will not be on the CoE agenda tomorrow (Kosovo Online, Danas)
• Dacic may cancel Strasbourg visit over Pristina's CoE membership bid;MFA: Dacic to attend the COE Committee of Ministers (Tanjug)
• Signing of the petition for the withdrawal of special units of Kosovo police continued today in the north (Kosovo Online)
• Lajcak concerned about developments in North Kosovo (Beta, N1, KoSSev)
• KP: Attempt to set fire to the door of the Church of St. Panteleimon in Prizren; Office for KiM: An example of Pristina's intolerance towards everything Serbian (Kontakt plus radio)

Opinion:

• Andric Rakic: Almost impossible to stop the escalation of 'non-normalization' with the current negotiators (medijacentar.info, Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio)

• Kurti: No partial implementation of agreement, no delays (media)
• Deadline to form Monitoring Committee expires (Koha)
• European Parliament expected to vote on visa liberalisation today (media)
• Kurti meets Davenport, discuss elections in the north (media)
• Vela: Serbian Govt trying to interfere with local elections in north (media)
• Serbian government adopts measures to protect Serbs in Kosovo (Euractiv)
• Jablanovic: Situation in the north can escalate (media)
• Kurti: Pleased to announce agreement with IMF for up to €260M (media)
• Vela reacts to Dacic’s remarks about Kosovo’s CoE membership (media)
• Private hearing of first witness in Thaci trial causes concern (BIRN)
• 20 cases of criminal acts against reporters this year (RTK)
• Seizing crypto-mining equipment has saved Kosovo ‘millions’: Govt (BIRN)