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UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 1, 2024

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)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, February 1, 2024

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

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)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 31, 2024

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)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 30, 2024

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)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 30, 2024

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)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 29, 2024

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 29, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Hovenier urges enforcement of cash operations regulation be postponed (media)
• EU calls on Kosovo to resolve issue of Serbian Dinar through dialogue (Klan)
• Mustafa against talks in Brussels about use of Dinar in Kosovo (Gazeta Blic)
• EU confirms Lajcak visit to Pristina, “dialogue a key topic” (Reporteri)
• Kurti: Kosovo neither forgives nor forgets Serbia’s crimes (Albanian Post)
• Kosovo and Türkiye sign military framework agreement (media)
• Kastrati: PDK aims to be the leading party in the next elections (media)
• AAK calls for extraordinary assembly session on healthcare (Lajmi)
• Parallel municipalities that operated illegally in Dragash closed (media)
• Kosovo buses pelted with stones while traveling through Serbia (Indeksonline)
• Police confiscate 3 hunting rifles, 3 radios and 2 knives in Leposavic (media)
• Daughter of Serbian opposition politician pays homage in Prekaz (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic meets Lajcak, says it is necessary to establish ZSO, hold elections in northern Kosovo (RTS)
• Petkovic: During meeting with Lajcak, Vucic emphasized difficult position of Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• SNV: “Hold on a bit Mr. Kurti, put portraits of Djokovic and Krivokapic back, those of Vucic and Djuric we leave to you” (KoSSev)
• Vorgucic about Kurti: If someone speaks Serbian and beats you at the same time, it doesn't mean much to us (N1)
• What happened to the tent in Leposavic? (KoSSev)
• Endangered cultural and historical monuments in Kosovo: Barbed wire does not protect against political games (KoSSev, Insajder, KiM radio)
• Spahiu on banned official visits (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Time is the Enemy for Kosovo’s New War Crimes Institute (BIRN)
• Sandulovic’s daughter on being stopped by Serbian agents (Euronews Albania)
• Bilčik: The problems of Serbia’s elections can never be resolved inside the EU institutions (EWB)
• Talat Xhaferi, Taboo-Breaker who Became North Macedonia’s First Albanian PM (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 29, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Quint embassies statement on recent regulation of Kosovo Central Bank (media)
• Lajcak to visit Serbia today, Kosovo tomorrow (RTK)
• Xhaferi elected head of caretaker government in North Macedonia (media)
• Bauer: Not enough to expect EU and NATO to do everything in Balkans (Lajmi)
• Car of president of Leposavic municipal assembly set on fire (RFE)
• Lajcak: Busy week in Brussels (media)
• Lajcak meets Von Cramon, discuss developments in Kosovo and region (media)
• Kosovo leaders’ messages on Holocaust Remembrance Day (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic to meet Lajcak (media)
• Quint calls for suspension of CBK regulation due to concern over its impact on K. Serb community (KoSSev)
• Mijacic: A strong message would be for the Central European Bank to prohibit the euro in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, KoSSev, N1)
• KP suspects arson after Leposavic MA president’s car partially torched (KoSSev)
• In Ljubozda returnee village seven houses robbed since the beginning of the year (Kosovo Online)
• Vasic: Milosavljevic and Zaric’s unfounded detention a clear message to all Serbs who want to return to Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Jevtic: Attacks on Serbian returnees are a result of the policy of the regime in Pristina (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Czech minister: Kosovo’s political scene united on nationalism (N1, Beta, KoSSev)
• Kurti: No former Kosovo PM maintained dialogue with Serbia as much as I do (Beta, N1)
International Media:
• North Macedonia's Parliament Elects First Ethnic Albanian PM (RFE)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 26, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Belgrade’s destructiveness must not translate into slower EU integration for Kosovo (EO)
• Bislimi: We sent Banjska report to EU; let prosecution publish it (Albanian Post)
• After Oct 26, Kurti didn’t ask for additional discussions on Association or send comments to Brussels (Express)
• Stoltenberg: Fragile situation, with potential tensions in Kosovo, Bosnia (RFE)
• Who wants early elections? (RFE)
• 374 businesses registered in north of Kosovo, around 280 paid taxes (RFE)
• Pajaziti: PDK has no responsibility for the Association (TeVe1)
• Hoti: We’ll meet Serbian delegation on Jan 31; hoping to get archives (media)
• Kosovar arrested in Serbia no longer worked for Interior Ministry (Indeksonline)
• Over 20,000 electricity bills issued for January in north of Kosovo (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• Stano: New elections in northern Kosovo should be held as soon as possible (Euronews Serbia)
• KoSSev: Northern mayors consider possibility of filing appeal to court, to declare instruction for their replacement unconstitutional
• KoSSev: Zeqiri refutes himself, filing of appeal not considered
• O’Brien: Finding evidence of what happened in Belgrade election takes time (N1, Beta)
• Petkovic informed Ambassador Gori that ''Pristina wants to expel Serbs with the decision to cancel the dinar'' (Kosovo Online)
• Lucic: Problems of MTS.doo to be discussed in Pristina as of Monday (Tanjug)
• Odalovic: Pristina’s decisions provoke and make lives of Serbs in Kosovo difficult (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: Serbian embassy in Pristina “Svecla’s bad dream” (Kosovo Online)
• Lawyer: Proceeding against Sladjan Trajkovic unlawful (Euronews Serbia)
• Rasic responds to Strpce municipality authorities: ''Prosecutor's Office is seriously knocking on their door'' (KiM Radio)
• Pendarovski: KFOR important for stability of Kosovo and entire region (KiM radio, Danas, Beta)

International:

• Kosovo Removes Billboard In Volatile North With 'Honorary Citizens' Vucic, Djokovic, Putin (RFE)
• ‘It Is In the Best Interest Of All Impacted Parties,’ That Kosovo PM Albin Kurti Takes US Position On Suspension Of Serbian Dinar Seriously (thepavlovictoday.com)
• Kosovo Navigates Formidable Challenges in Ambitious Bid for Digital Transformation by 2030 (Prishtina Insight)
• Government Of North Macedonia Resigns Under Roadmap For General Elections (RFE)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 26, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

O’Brien: Leaders of the Balkans to do more to take the region forward (RFE)
Kurti meets Pendarovski, “strengthening good neighborly relations” (media)
State Department comments again on “ban” of Serbian dinar (Express)
CEC chief: Received petitions from municipalities; need time to verify them (EO)
Atiq: Petition was signed with pressure from the Serbian List (RTK)
EU: Looking forward to the investigation report about Banjska (media)
Abbott calls for better communication with affected communities (media)
Hoxhaj asked if changes can happen to Special Court after U.S. elections (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Petitions to recall mayors in northern municipalities submitted to CEC (RTS)
Reactions to billboard removal in Zvecan (Kosovo Online, KoSSev, social media)
US on abolishing dinars: Constructive engagement of Pristina and Belgrade would bring lasting benefits for citizens (Kosovo Online, The Pavlovic Today)
Serbian Democracy submitted petition against land allocation to Kosovo Interior Ministry in Mitrovica North (KoSSev)
Ugljanin says there is no law on referendum, MA decision on land allocation valid as it is approved by ministry (KoSSev)
New deadline given to Serbs to remove tent in Leposavic by 15.00 hrs today (Kosovo Online)
Hearing in case of Sladjan Trajkovic postponed (Radio KIM)