UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 21, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 264 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Hoti: Kosovo among countries that have best managed the pandemic (media)
• Zemaj: No new measures without coordination with relevant institutions (media)
• PDK's Haxhiu accuses government of trying to present false picture of COVID-19 cases (media)
• Hoti on president's election: January is too late (Koha)
• Tahiri: Vucic's statements, continuation of his provocations (Telegrafi)
• Government of Kosovo adopts anti-corruption strategy (media)
• Kosovo, North Macedonia governments to hold joint meeting (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• 33 new cases of Covid-19, two deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• Kosovo leaders react to Vucic’s position on recognition, Macron announces a meeting (KoSSev)
• Vulin visits the SAJ in Batajnica, the YIHR reacts, the US ambassadors call for the prosecution of all war crimes (KoSSev)
• New restrictions in place at Serbian border crossings (N1, SRNA)
• Serbian List also today didn’t take part at government’s session in Pristina (Kosovo-online)
• ''Our Church'' sign in Albanian and English placed on the road leading to the church in Suvo Grlo village (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Office for KiM: We are concerned over yet another brutal attack against Serbian religious and cultural heritage (Kosovo-online)
• Selakovic: UN of special importance for the protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity (Danas)
• Milivojevic: Walker claims Thaci was innocent out of fear from his own responsibility for KLA crimes (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• A year that exposed the entrenched violence against women (Prishtina Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• WHO: There is no evidence that a new strain of COVID-19 is more dangerous (Tanjug, B92)
• Holiday traffic clogs Balkan borders despite virus warnings (AP)

• COVID – 19: 378 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
• Between death and hope: Nurses reflect on a long year (Prishtina Insight)
• Hoti and Vucic clash in distance, far from the table of talks (media)
• Musliu: Hoti is a weak prime minister, LDK is seizing the state (media)
• Rexhepi: New elections, if compromise on President post isn’t found (media)
• Shala: Haradinaj’s election for President would suit PDK too (Epoka)
• “The frustrating failure of the German EU presidency” (Koha)
• Walker: I haven’t seen any proof against Thaci and the others (media)
• Serbia: Exhuming the skeletons of the Kosovo war (Balkan Insight)
• Vucic says no to recognition of Kosovo (Euronews Albania)

• COVID-19: 385 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• Health minister warns of new measures next week (Prishtina Insight)
• Covid vaccine to reach the Balkans the same time as the EU (Koha)
• LDK’s Abrashi: First president then elections (media)
• Vucic: While I am president, Serbia will not recognise Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo FM Haradinaj-Stublla reacts to Vucic's statement (media)
• Leader of Kosovo War Veterans Pleads Innocent at Hague Court (Balkan Insight)
• Kadri Veseli's family establishes fund for his defence (Klan)
• Remains of 2 war missing Kosovars found (AP)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 385 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• Ex-KLA members appear today before Hague Court (Gazeta Express)
• Osmani suspends secretary Driton Gashi on suspicion of violations (Koha)
• LVV objects Selmanaj’s presence, Assembly session interrupted (media)
• LVV relates Selmanaj’s presence at session with Hoti’s motion on Ujman Lake (media)
• Gashi responds to LVV: Selmanaj will be present at the hearings (media)
• PDK: Time for new elections, LDK’s and LVV’s behavior, unacceptable (media)
• Basha pledges new Assembly to adopt resolution condemning Serbian genocide (Euronews.al)
• One year and six months prison for terrorist call against Ambassador Gashi (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 29 new cases of Covid-19, three deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Varhelyi: We are working to make vaccines available to the Western Balkans (RFE)
• Kosovo minister says Serbia blocking power transfers (Beta, N1)
• What does Biden bring? (TV show Agreement, KiM radio)
• Import of Pfizer vaccine in Serbia approved (B92)
• NATO, US plan 2021 military exercise in Serbia's neighboring countries (Beta, N1)

Opinion:

• Unlocking Kosovo in 2021: last chance to right the wrong (EWB)

International:

• Czecks, Slovaks, Reject Bulgaria’s ‘Historical’ Twist to Enlargement Criteria (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Fires Intelligence Chief Over ‘Raid on President’s Safe’ (Balkan Insight)
• Unlocking Kosovo in 2021: last chance to right the wrong (European Western Balkans)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Neglecting Society’s Little Ones (Kosovo 2.0)

• COVID-19: 500 new cases, 9 deaths (media)
• PM Hoti asks intelligence chief Gashi to step down (media)
• Osmani comments on decision to relieve of duty KIA chief (media)
• Former KIA chief addresses attempts to obtain classified documents claims (media)
• Peci reacts to Gashi's statement on attempts to open safe in President's Office (media)
• “The red line on talks with Serbia”, acting President Vjosa Osmani on Euronews Albania
• Hoti: Missing persons, priority issue in dialogue with Serbia (media)
• LDK adds budget to the anticipated meeting of political parties (Koha)
• Hoxhaj: LVV to make serious invitation to bring down government (media)
• Haxhiu: No need to experiment by making Haradinaj president (Telegrafi)
• Jashari: Our family ready to take presidential responsibilities (Klan)
• Constitutional Court decides on LVV's complaint against Thaci (media)
• Health Minister calls for measures to be taken after BIRN investigation (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 17, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 500 new cases, 9 deaths (media)
• Osmani: We must cooperate so truth about Kosovo is not overturned (media)
• Osmani at Albanian Parliament: We are forever grateful (media)
• Defense of KLA leaders insists on postponing trial at The Hague (RFE)
• Kosnett: Excellent news, MCC reaffirmed support for Kosovo (media)
• Haradinaj-Stublla: Kosovo ready to join Adriatic Charter (media)
• Citaku returns as Kosovo’s ambassador to Washington (RFE)
• Inclusion of non-majority students at UP remains low (Prishtina Insight)

Serbian Language Media:

• 47 new cases of Covid-19, one death registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• "It's not just about Serbia" (B92, Tanjug, VoA)
• EU Delegation official says Serbia should step up efforts to align with Brussels (Beta, N1)
• Selakovic: EU membership is key priority (FoNet, N1)
• Serbian Health Minister: We are ready to produce vaccines with Russia (B92, Tanjug)
• Serbia does not even know its energy border with Kosovo (Danas)
• Mitrovica North MA session on electricity, water supply, non-compliance with COVID-19 measures (Kontakt plus radio)
• NGO Aktiv presented trend analysis on attitudes of Serbian community in Kosovo (social media)

Opinion:

• EU dream fading in Western Balkans, a local's view (euobserver.com)

International:

• Clientelist Networks Lie Behind Western Balkans State Capture – Transparency (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbian epidemiologist: More expensive PCR test economic move and should reduce travels (N1)

• COVID – 19: 348 new cases, 5 deaths (media)
• Hoti: Situation with COVID – 19 in Kosovo under control (media)
• EU Head of Office: Kosovo will get free vaccines for over 300,000 people (media)
• Osmani: Going to elections helps further democracy (Radio Free Europe)
• Hoti: New elections are not excluded (RTK)
• Gashi: No political readiness to resolve President issue (media)
• Konjufca: We expect to win up to 50 percent of votes (media)
• Xhemajli: PDK has a candidate for post of Kosovo President (media)
• Palmer: US, EU working together on Kosovo – Serbia dialogue (Indeksonline)
• Ruecker denies knowing of any corruption affair while heading KTA (EO/Koha)
• WHO vaccine scheme risks failure, leaving poor countries with no COVID shots until 2024 (Reuters)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 296 new cases, five deaths (media)
• PM Hoti's Office issues statement on Government's work plan draft (media)
• Kosovo Government not to apply to join international organisations until 2023 (Koha)
• Kosovo authorities allowed to visit Maqastena in Prokuplje, Serbia (Koha)
• Kosovo and Serbia representatives clash at CEFTA's virtual meeting (media)
• Kurti writes to KSC judge to support Selimi's bail request (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• 52 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Vucic met Serbs from Kosovo, EMS and EPS directors – conclusions in two, three days (KoSSev)
• Serbia won’t impose sanctions on Moscow, says Vucic; Resolution 1244 the basis for every agreement, says Lavrov (Beta, N1)
• German State Secretary: EU and Germany supported process which resulted in KOSTT independence (KoSSev)
• Jeremic: “Albanian finger” on a power supply switch in northern Kosovo as of yesterday (Danas)
• Covic: I do not believe Albright would be in negotiations, Serwer completely irrelevant (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Who gave electricity to Pristina (Nova S)

International:

• Balkan States Race to Secure COVID-19 Vaccine Supplies (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Politicians Divided Over How to Choose Next President (Balkan Insight)
• Europe set to approve COVID-19 vaccine in Christmas week (Reuters)
• Mini-Schengen, Regional Economic Area and Common Regional Market: What is what? (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Last Despatches: News Team Killed the Day After Kosovo War Ended (Balkan Insight)

• COVID – 19: 350 new cases, 18 deaths (media)
• Hoxhaj: President post belongs to the PDK (media)
• Konjufca: Vetevendosje doesn’t want post of Kosovo President (T7)
• Mustafa: Vetevendosje is seeing dreams that it can win 50% of votes (media)
• Bytyci: Red lines in politics are being removed (media)
• Kosovo Acting President Osmani begins 3-day visit to Albania (media)
• Serbia cuts off energy transmission to Kosovo (RFE)
• Russian Foreign Minister: EU to be impartial in the dialogue (media)
• Serbian List to meet Serbian President Vucic (Gazeta Express)
• Captured states in Western Balkans and Turkey (Transparency International)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 15, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• No ease of lockdown measures for Christmas and New Year in Kosovo (media)
• Hoti: Mustafa is dealing with the meeting on president issue (media)
• Haradinaj’s initial appearance at Special Court rescheduled to 18 December (media)
• Ambassador Jan Braathu nominated OSCE chief of the mission in Serbia (Koha)
• Kosnett and Tan support local war crime prosecution (media)
• Osmani to travel for a three day visit to Albania (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Serbian communities in Kosovo 56 new cases and one death (Kontakt plus radio)
• Brnabic: I'm against curfew, celebrate at home; Vucic: vaccination soon (N1, BETA)
• Russian FM arrives in Belgrade; talks to include bilateral relations, economy (N1)
• Serbia's Foreign Minister: Close relations with Russia (N1)
• Serwer to N1: Vucic won't recognise Kosovo, we'll have to wait for one who will (N1)
• Trajkovic: Albright unlike Serwer recognizes opportunity for better US-Serbia relations (Kosovo-online)
• Energy agreement vaguely implanted (Danas)
• Mihajlovic: Opposition is spreading falsehoods and scaring Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian List: Incomprehensible and unacceptable need to denigrate one’s own state (Radio Mitrovica sever)

Opinion:

• The EU and Kosovo a decade on (opendemocracy.net)

International:

• Kosovo Truth Commission’s Future in Doubt After Thaci’s Indictment (Balkan Insight)