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UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 23, 2021

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 23, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 356 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• PM Kurti meets North Macedonian FM Osmani (media)
• Osmani: We reject ideas that affect our borders (media)
• Kosovo FM Gervalla against redrawing of Balkans borders (media)
• North Macedonia's FM pledges support to Kosovo (media)
• Austria opposes border changes (Koha)
• Szunyog commends minister for publishing list of recovery aid recipients (media)
• Ministry launches disciplinary procedures against correctional service chief (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic travels to Brussels on Sunday (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Pristina will have to respect Brussels agreement (Kosovo-online)
• Maas: The right time to continue the dialogue; no need to reset (media)
• Mojsilovic: Construction of the base in northern Kosovo causes concern, we monitor the situation (Danas, Beta, Politika)
• Selakovic and Petkovic: Scandalous political audacity of Vjosa Osmani (RTS)
• Selakovic with Maas: Germany one of the most important Serbian economic partners (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic says Belgrade not interested in creating Greater Serbia (N1)
• Commemoration for 16 killed during 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia’s state TV (Beta, N1)
• Rakocevic: KFOR must open its eyes; lies being told nowadays only encourage extremists (Kosovo-online)
• Bishop Irinej writes to Blinken about violence against Serbs in Kosovo (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Organic networking: a Balkan awakening (KoSSev)
• A ‘Greying’ Western Balkans Must Look to Robots (Balkan Insight)

International:

• German diplomat says time is right for Serbia-Kosovo talks (AP)
• Germany rejects idea of redrawing Western Balkans borders - minister (Reuters)
• Serbian Leader Talks Up Ties To Biden, Says 'No Interest' In 'Greater Serbia' (RFE)
• Disputed memo on partitioning Bosnia sparks fears of violence (Al Jazeera)
• Serbian Court Tries Kosovo Albanian for Wartime Killings (Balkan Insight)
• Vučić: Serbia wants stronger relations with Bosniaks and Croats in Bosnia (euractive.com)
• Suspicions Persist About NATO’s Deadly Bombing of Serbian TV (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• We want to breathe (EWB)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 23, 2021

• COVID-19: 408 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Maas: Ideas for border changes, unrealistic and dangerous (media)
• Government to announce topics of Kurti-Vucic meeting, when date is set (KTV)
• Hoxhaj won’t accept Kurti’s invitation to dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Kurti’s backing down on reciprocity with Serbia (Koha)
• Environment Ministry implies reviewing permits for hydropower plants (Koha)
• North Macedonia Foreign Minister to visit Kosovo today (media)
• Selakovic: Osmani’s statements show Prishtina doesn’t want dialogue (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 22, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 408 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Maas: Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia hinder their progress (Klan)
• Osmani thanks Szunyog for EU-donated vaccines (media)
• Opposition slams government's decision affecting pensions (media)
• KFOR: No significant security incident was recorded in the last 10 years against Decan Monastery (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: 26 new cases (KoSSev)
• EP’s Fajon: Ideas about new borders extremely dangerous, especially for Bosnia (NIN, N1)
• Patriarch Porfirije: I appreciate the efforts of Bishop Teodosije, who is falsely accused by those who want to bring unrest (KoSSev)
• Aliferi: Greece doesn’t recognize Kosovo; its stance remains unchanged (Radio KIM)
• Dejan Dimitrijevic from Gracanica fined with EU 2300 over protest gathering (Vecernje Novosti)
• Serbian minister says intergovernmental conference with EU in June (N1)

Opinion:

• Can Kurti use the moment to start genuine inter-ethnic cooperation? (K2.0)

International:

• Disputed Non-Paper is Stirring Dangerous Dreams in the Balkans (Balkan Insight)
• EU action awaited as phantom paper further unhinges Western Balkans (euractive.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Vucic discusses new arrangement with IMF (N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 22, 2021

• COVID-19: 506 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Majority of COVID-19 patients infected with British variant (BIRN)
• Immunisation before the recovery plan (Koha)
• Kurti will visit Brussels, but not to meet with Vucic (Koha)
• Kosovo, Serbia leaders won’t meet on visits to Brussels (BIRN)
• Hajdari on reciprocity measures: We will first exhaust CEFTA tools (Koha)
• German Foreign Minister to visit Kosovo today (media)
• Kurti: People of Kosovo and Israel share a historical tie (media)
• Lajcak speaks with OSCE Head of Mission in Kosovo (media)
• Agron Llugaliu appointed General Director of Kosovo Customs (media)
• Press Council, AJK criticise call for state regulation of online content (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 21, 2021

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 21, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 506 new cases, five deaths (media)
• PM Kurti to visit Brussels next week, meet EU officials (media)
• German FM Maas to visit Kosovo and Serbia (RFE)
• Britain's PM Johnson congratulates Kurti on election, pledges support to Kosovo (media)
• Roth: No one in Europe can support border changes phantasies (DW)
• Hoxhaj accuses government of 'abstaining from responsibility' (media)
• State prosecutor and police: Avoid investigations against media and reporters (media)
• Musliu reacts after sexist graffiti: This is not in the culture of PDK (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Antonijevic: The situation more favorable, but there is no room for relaxation (Kosovo Online, RTK)
• Kosovo media: Vucic, Kurti to go to Brussels and Paris (N1, KoSSev)
• Vaccination with Pfizer without registration available in Serbia as of Wednesday (Kontakt plus radio)
• Embassy of Slovakia: We are not changing our position on Kosovo (Politika, Blic, B92)
• Selakovic: Gratitude to Iran for not recognizing Pristina’s separatism (Kosovo-online)
• Selakovic: Serbia plans to start producing Sinopharm vaccine as of October (N1)
• Vucic meets with WHO Europe Director Kluge (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: With budget rebalance we have earmarked 4 billion dinars for assistance in KiM (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Media Freedom Deteriorated In Europe Amid Pandemic, Report Warns (Balkan Insight)
• North Macedonia to Upgrade Army Despite Economic Concerns (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Belgrade Mayor: Herd immunity soon to be reached in capital (N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 21, 2021

• COVID-19: 478 new cases, 16 deaths (media)
• Government silent over “difficult compromises” with Serbia (RFE)
• Tahiri: Government must not make compromises in dialogue (media)
• Koha publishes 2015 draft statute of Association of Serb-majority municipalities
• Collaku: Kurti deserves everyone’s respect if he can reject Association (media)
• Gorani: Kurti government will be forced to accept compromise (media)
• Kurti: Cultural differences must unite us, not divide us (media)
• Albanians from Presevo Valley expect Kurti to include them in dialogue (media)
• Rama: Mini-Schengen aimed to dissolve border with Kosovo (Euronews Albania)
• PDK denies it is behind offensive graffiti against its former MP (media)
• Editor: Brussels confirmed they received document from Jansha (media)
• Bosnian Serbs urge talks on Country’s potential ‘disintegration’ (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 20, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 442 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• EU to send 95,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine to Kosovo (media)
• Vitia signs administrative instruction paving way for vaccine purchase (media)
• President Biden writes to Osmani: Our partnership is rooted in common values (media)
• Aliferi: Greece supports Kosovo's European integration path (RFE)
• Kusari-Lila: Government to soon present position on dialogue with Serbia (Telegrafi)
• LVV calls for end to government paying electricity bills for the north (Koha)
• Haxhiu: Vetting of judiciary, biggest challenge for Ministry of Justice (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: Two people died, 36 new cases (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Serbia will not recognize Kosovo to get Republika Srpska (N1)
• Brnabic meets WHO Europe Director Klugge (Tanjug)
• Palestine requests Islamic states to cease relations with Pristina (RTS)
• Kosovo dropped eight places on media freedom list (RTV Puls)
• Journalism, a high-risk profession in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Serbia’s ranking unchanged on World Press Freedom Index (N1)
• Varhelyi: 651.000 vaccines for Western Balkans, Serbia was first to extend help to the region (Kosovo-online)
• Gracanica: Performance ''Contribution to the tax'' (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Biden urges to Kosovo continue ‘essential’ talks with Serbia (AP)
• Serbia’s Marko Đurić urges ‘just solution’ to bitter Kosovo dispute (washdiplomat.com)
• Balkans rocked as leaked memo explores redrawing Bosnia’s borders along ethnic lines (euronews.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovar biologist calls newly found insect after coronavirus (AP)
• Mediation as a form of reconciliation in schools (UNICEF, social media)
• Brain drain? In Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia there are signs of ‘brain gain’ (Emerging Europe)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 20, 2021

• COVID-19: 277 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• Poll respondents: Government to be more transparent about vaccines (media)
• “Dialogue has so far been treated with priority but not seriousness” (Telegrafi)
• Kurti, Wigemark stress need to fight crime and corruption (media)
• Macron to Osmani: France will support you in essential reforms (media)
• 8 years later, first Kosovo-Serbia agreement partly implemented (Koha)
• Kosovo Foreign Minister to visit Greece (media)
• Tahiri: Vjosa Osmani is a marionette of Albin Kurti (media)
• Kosovo Ex-Guerrilla Pleads Not Guilty to War Crimes (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo spent €4 million in first year of pandemic for salaries of MPs (Koha)
• Kosovo falls eight places lower in Reporters Without Borders’ report (RFE)
• Weller: Cultural Heritage in Kosovo: Why do international organisations fail to adhere to their own policies? (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 19, 2021

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 19, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 277 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• To date, over 16,000 Kosovo citizens got vaccinated against COVID-19 (media)
• Almost half of Kosovo businesses declare unsatisfactory situation (media)
• Bars and cafes reopen as COVID-19 measures eased (Prishtina Insight)
• PM Kurti urges Slovakia to recognise independence of Kosovo (media)
• On anniversary of Kosovo-Serbia agreement, KDI tackles its implementation (media)
• Szunyog: Government to take concrete steps to attract foreign investors (EO/Koha)
• Legislation committee approves draft law paving way for trial in absentia (media)
• SPO argues for extending detention to Gucati and Haradinaj (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic says he never saw alleged non-paper on redrawing borders in WB (Beta, N1)
• Serbia’s FM: Iran supports Serbia on the issue of Kosovo (Beta, N1)
• Dacic on alleged non-paper on WB: We do not support ideas that cause instability (FoNet. N1, TV Prva)
• Bishop Teodosije warns of aggressive pressure and negative media campaign against SOC and Decani Monastery (KoSSev)
• Djuric: Brussels agreement enabled years of peace (Radio KIM, Tanjug)
• Petkovic: Disrespect of Brussels agreement indicates what attitude Pristina or EU would have on some other reached agreement (Kosovo-online)
• Bogujevci: The issue of the missing both a human and a political issue, but it should be a humane (KiM radio, Slobodno srpski)
• EU: Brussels agreement must be implemented, agreement on ZSO has never been recalled (Kosovo-online, Tanjug)
• Gracanica: "Police are asleep, blow the horn to wake them up" (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio)
• Entry door of Serbian school in Obilic damaged (Radio KIM)
• Tamara Grujic denies that she was detained; Kosovo Police said it was just an identity check (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, RTK2)

Opinion:

• It's time for transparency in Kosovo's COVID-19 numbers (Kosovo 2.0)
• Palokaj: Border changes, Belgrade’s attempt to implement Milosevic goals (Koha)
• The Abbot today, Kosovo tomorrow (KoSSev)
• DW: Serbia’s Vucic not in pre-election mode only when in deep sleep (N1)

International:

• Kosovo’s New President Has Major Crises To Take On (theowp.org)
• Hague Tribunal Urged to Report Serbia to UN Security Council (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Vucic announces new shipments of vaccines to Serbia (RTS)
• Loncar: Serbia avails itself at disposal of WHO, will help immunization in Europe (N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 19, 2021

• COVID-19: 521 new cases, 8 deaths (media)
• Government announces new measures against COVID-19 (media)
• Health Minister Vitia meets PDK MP Haxhiu (media)
• Additional uncertainties in the Kosovo – Serbia dialogue (Koha Ditore)
• Croatian President slams idea of border changes in the Balkans (media)
• Russian Foreign Minister reacts to Slovenian non-paper (media)
• Kosovo civil society criticise monastery’s inclusion on endangered list (BIRN)
• Kosovo authorities “withdraw from investigations against Insajderi” (RFE)
• Confiscation of unjustifiable wealth; EU calls for respect of human rights (Koha)