UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 2, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We did not give up on reciprocity with Serbia (media)
• Protest against Open Balkans in front of Albanian embassy in Prishtina (Kallxo)
• Kosovo Defense Minister: We are monitoring fires (Klan Kosova)
• COVID-19: 48 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Politika: Ten countries ready to withdraw recognition of Kosovo's independence (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: Serbia must be open, hatred towards Albanians brings nothing good (Politika, Beta, N1)
• UNESCO lists reasons why Serbian monasteries in Kosovo are endangered (Radio KIM, Euronews Serbia)
• Visegrad Group welcomes Open Balkans Initiative (N1)
• Petkovic: Albin Kurti threatens and ruins the dialogue (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Petkovic with Pinter on situation of Serbs, SOC in Kosovo, dialogue and ‘Open Balkans’ (Kosovo-online)
• One case of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Bajrami: Open Balkan of the Balkans people (Koha)
• Palokaj: Open Balkans cannot be built with deniers of genocide (Koha)

International:

• Trenin: Balkans are not a prime battlefield in the Russia-West confrontation (EWB)

• COVID-19: 100 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kurti on Open Balkans: Creates space for influence from the East (KP)
• Kosovo honors Beau Biden, late son of US President (Reuters)
• Kosovo MPs to debate today on first 100 days of Kurti-led government (media)
• Gervalla denies reports suggesting her removal from post (Kallxo)
• Police arrest person for breaking into Gasic’s flat (Koha)
• Kosovo wins international recognition … at the Olympics (Politico.eu)
• Experts’ exodus from Kosovo accreditation body sparks blame game (BIRN)
• Minor earthquake shakes Kosovo, Serbia and North Macedonia (media)
• Kosovo men in search of WWII aircraft at bottom of Lake Ohrid (Euronews.al)

Albanian Language Media:

• President Biden to be awarded Kosovo medal on behalf of late son, Beau (media)
• Gervalla says 'Open Balkans' is a dangerous initiative (Kosovapress)
• Abdixhiku: Economic integration of the region to be preceded by political recognition (media)
• Haradinaj accuses Kurti of ‘selling’ patriotism while protecting Serbia’s products (media)
• Vitia: The pandemic is far from over, our only weapon is vaccination (media)
• COVID-19: 70 new cases, one death (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• EC on the Open Balkans Initiative: We support the leaders' commitment to regional cooperation (Kosovo Online, Danas)
• Belgrade expects constructive Berlin’s support in dialogue with Pristina (N1)
• “Open Balkan” criticized in Pristina and Tirana (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Kurti mistaken in thinking he’ll win with chauvinistic messages and closing Pristina (KoSSev)
• Petkovic: We have delivered food and insulin to Dragica Gasic (Radio KIM)

International:

• Balkan ‘Mini-Schengen’ Leaders Eye Open Borders by 2023 (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• US State Department again lists BIRN as a resource for fighting corruption (Prishtina Insight)

• Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania Push Forward On 'Open Balkans' Initiative (RFE)
• Government of Kosovo reiterates position against Open Balkans initiative (media)
• Analysts support Kosovo's position on Mini-Schengen (Kosovapress)
• LDK: Berlin Process should be the starting point for Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo Dismisses ‘Visionless Mini Schengen’, Urges for Trade Deal with the EU (Exit)
• Over 55% of respondents consider rejection of "Open Balkans" will not negatively affect Kosovo’s economy (Telegrafi)
• Demi: Easy for Rama and Vucic to make calls for not keeping hostage to the past (Koha)
• Spahiu: Kosovo loses politically by not joining Open Balkans initiative (Klan)
• Osmani, Kurti, and Konjufca pay respects to the victims of bus crash (media)
• Kurti: Ireland, an important voice in speeding up the visa liberalization (media)
• President Osmani has telephone conversation with Israeli President Herzog (media)
• Gervalla to pay an official visit to North Macedonia today (media)
• Four laws in four months (RFE, media)
• COVID-19: 72 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 29, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Rama, Vucic and Zaev sign cooperation agreement in line with Open Balkan initiative (euronews.al)
• In 2023 there will be no borders between our countries, Vucic says (euronews.al)
• Zaev: A new wind of cooperation is blowing today in Skopje (euronews.al)
• Rama: Regional cooperation brings us closer to the EU (euronews.al)
• Vucic: If you consider Asterix a disgrace, put Serbia with a square sign (media)
• Concept Paper on justice vetting proceeded for public consultation (Telegrafi)
• Health Ministry: Compatriots living abroad can be vaccinated in Kosovo (media)
• COVID-19: 72 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• "Open Balkans" new name for "mini-Schengen" (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Vucic, Rama and Zaev today at the economic forum in Skopje (media)
• Serbia-US friendship and alliance in 140 years of diplomatic relations (N1)
• Bishop Teodosije met German diplomat Berger (Radio KIM)
• Non-paper: European Council definitively rejects access to document (N1 Slovenia, N1 BiH)
• OSCE on burglary of Dragica Gasic’s flat (KoSSev, media)

International:

• Kosovo Faces Uphill Fight in Claiming Yugoslav-Era Property (Balkan Insight)

• Families bury victims of tragic bus crash (media)
• Germany's state secretary Berger meets PM Kurti, President Osmani (media)
• Hasani: EU and U.S. could ask for a break in dialogue (Klan)
• PDK warns it will not vote international agreements (media)
• Haxhiu: Four prosecutors to join Special Prosecution of Kosovo (media)
• Rama, Vucic, Zaev meet today at Skopje’s Economic Forum (media)
• Renowned Serb returnee to Gjakova suffers break-in (Prishtina Insight)
• COVID-19: 58 new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• UNDP poll finds significant increase in people's satisfaction with Kosovo institutions (media)
• “Kosovo has investment potential but political instability and corruption hinder it” (Klan)
• Kosovo Assembly adopts budget review (media)
• Muja: For the first time in Kosovo, revenues exceed €2 billion (Kallxo)
• Bodies of bus crash victims arrive at Kosovo (media)
• COVID-19: 58 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• OSCE report on assessment of community rights in Kosovo presented (KiM radio, RTV Puls, RTK2, N1)
• Fabrizi expects Serbia’s progress in talks with bloc before end of 2021 (N1)
• Dragica Gasic after robbery at her flat: I am staying in Djakovica (Radio KIM)
• “Absence of reactions and tendentious reporting on incidents constitute their silent approval” (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic to seek additional security for Dragica Gasic (Kosovo Online)
• Cadez: It is important that political leaders realize importance of “mini-Schengen” (Kosovo-online)
• BSN: New weapons strengthen operational capacities of Serbian Army (N1)

Opinion:

• Is the Decani Monastery really endangered? (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

• Balkan trio push ‘mini-Schengen’ as they hit out at EU membership delay (Financial Times)
• ‘Genocide’ Controversy Erupts over WWII Massacres in Montenegro (Balkan Insight)

• Osmani, Kurti and Konjufca meet the survivors of accident in Croatia (media)
• Ministers Vitia and Svecla give update on the bus crash developments (media)
• Kusari-Lila: We expect reviewed budget to be approved (Koha)
• Abdixhiku: LDK's rightful place is at the top, current government made of interns (G. Express)
• PDK's Tahiri slams Government for not submitting 100-day report (media)
• Haradinaj: Kurti’s government will not last long (RTV Dukagjini/Telegrafi)
• Spain awaits dialogue’s epilogue to decide on recognition of Kosovo (RTV Dukagjini)
• A bakery opens in the Kosovo Correctional Center in Lipjan (T7)
• Dragica Gasic claims her flat was broken into (RFE)
• OSCE issues report on assessment of community rights (Telegrafi)
• NGOs: Assembly will disable work of organizations and deprive public of right to be informed (media)
• COVID-19: 42 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 27, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: The government will help reduce the gap between communities (Koha)
• KIA Chief Petrit Ajeti reports to the supervising committee (media)
• Minister Mehaj gives details about the released from the hospital in Croatia (Zeri)
• Croatian Court sentences driver of crashed bus with one month detention (media)
• Economy committee votes proposal for ERO board members (media)
• Maas: A German citizen among the victims of the bus crash (media)
• 55 patients are being treated with oxygen therapy, one in serious condition (Koha)
• COVID-19: 42 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 58% of Serbian citizens support the EU-mediated BG-PR dialogue (KoSSev)
• Stefanovic: Serbia grateful to Indonesia for support and non-recognition of Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• In Serbian communities in Kosovo one Covid-19 case (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• The genocide campaign (Danas, KoSSev)

International:

• Minuto-Rizzo: Balkans has regained a priority status for NATO (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Summer School on Transitional Justice in Prizren (RTK2)

• COVID-19: 14 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Ministry: So far, 20 percent of people in Kosovo have been inoculated (Telegrafi)
• Only 30 percent of Kosovo teachers have been vaccinated (RFE in Albanian)
• 10 victims of Kosovo bus crash identified, funeral arrangements underway (media)
• Ministry: 26 persons to be discharged from hospital, 15 to continue treatment (media)
• Kosovo mourns 10 compatriots killed in Croatia bus crash (AP)
• Due to the terminology on Kosovo, Serbia failed four regional agreements (Koha)
• Kosovo expects GDP growth to exceed projected 7.9% this year (intellinews.com)
• 60 films in 6 days, female directors prominent in Prishtina Film Festival (euronews.al)