UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 18, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Visa liberalisation should not remain hostage of any technicality (media)
• Rohde: A speedy solution for visa liberalisation is needed (Klan Kosova)
• Escobar tomorrow in Kosovo, to meet leaders of opposition (Gazeta Express)
• Kusari-Lila responds to criticism: I have Kurti’s full support (Kosovapress)
• Serb accused of killing 33 Kosovars in Peja in ’99 arrested in Budapest (Indeksonline)
• Initiative against Marty report; Rama writes to CoE member states (Telegrafi)
• Gjini: The document exists, I have seen it (Gazeta Express/T7)
• Abdixhiku: I cannot say Kurti is an associate of Serbia; but he is damaging (Telegrafi)
• Hoxhaj at foreign policy forum in Berlin, meets German Foreign Minister (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• UN Security Council today on Guterres' report on the situation in Kosovo (media)
• Vucic discusses Belgrade-Pristina dialogue with Lajcak (N1)
• Petkovic with Lajcak: Pristina induces tensions (Radio KIM)
• Selakovic to address UN SC session on Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Vulin in New Delhi: Closer cooperation with Interpol (N1)
• Varhelyi: EU views Serbia as ally (N1)
• Deputy Russian Foreign Minister: We would be disappointed if Serbia introduced sanctions (N1, Sputnik, NMagazin)
• “KLA” graffiti in Susica (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Roadmaps to ‘final solution’, two Germanys, minority rights and parallels with Ukraine (KoSSev)
• The enlargement package 2022 – Another Groundhog Day (EWB)
• “Kosovo in UN would lead towards “Great Albania”” (Danas, Kosovo Online)

International:

• Serbian Alleged Gang Leader Tells Trial: ‘We Served State’s Needs’ (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• UNICEF: The war in Ukraine pushing millions of children into poverty; Kosovo and Albania the most threatened in the WB (KiM radio)
• Stanisavljevic: 86,000 migrants registered in Serbia in 2022 (Tanjug)
• Milan from Djurakovac takes third place in his Yugo in the autoslalom near Pristina (KoSSev)

• Osmani: There should be no additional conditions for visas (media)
• Pressure to accept German-French plan (Koha Ditore)
• Kurti meets Norwegian envoy for Western Balkans (media)
• Osmani and Kurti meet MCC CEO Alice Albright (media)
• Gervalla travels to New York to participate at UN SC (media)
• Bislimi: We will apply for EU membership within the year (RTK)
• Svecla: Serbian extremist ideologies aim to infiltrate the north (Telegrafi)
• “In Serbia, talk of tensions in the north after November 1” (euronews.al)
• Wider Europe briefing: A new EU plan to help Ukraine; visa liberalization for Kosovo (RFE)
• Calls to ban small power plants at first Water Protection Summit (BIRN)
• Concrete construction threatens to ruin pristine Albanian valley (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Our experience can help Ukraine in treating sexual violence survivors (Klan)
• AAK: Failure to give visa liberalisation to Kosovo, classical discrimination (Telegrafi)
• Portuguese MP promises support for visa liberalisation and EU integration (EO)
• Palokaj: Visa liberalisation was never closer (KTV)
• U.S. expert: Kurti focusing extensively over Serbia’s recognition (Zeri)
• Another two weeks to convert licence plates to RKS (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• KFOR: Cooperation on enthronement of patriarch way forward to peaceful coexistence (KoSSev)
• Mayor of Pec attendance of Serbian Patriarch enthronement met with approval (KoSSev)
• Local Serbs from Miroc village say 100 hectares of their properties usurped (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: West using all instruments to get "Kosovo" into UN (Tanjug, N1, Beta)
• Bilcik: We expect clear red lines towards Russia from Serbia (Beta, N1)
• Serbia’s new government expected to be established on October 27 (Beta, N1)
• Brnabic: New government to face circumstances unseen since WWII (N1)
• Dacic: Imposing sanctions on Russia is Serbia’s matter and not that of EU (N1)
• Ambassador Hill: Strategic partnership between the US and Serbia being discussed (N1, VoA)
• Von Cramon on German-French proposal (N1, Nova)
• Vulin: We don’t belong in EU, they are blackmailing us (N1)
• Flag from monument to killed and kidnapped Serbs in Velika Hoca taken away (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• On World Food Day, Let’s Strengthen Our Resolve to Work Together (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Showpiece Factory That Cost Millions is Still Not Operating (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Inflation in Kosovo reaches historic levels amid trade developments (euractive.com)

• Kurti: Not sure if we have two years for agreement with Serbia (DW)
• Mehaj: Kosovo must join Partnership for Peace ASAP (KosovaPress)
• Hovenier: Decision on Decani Monastery land must be implemented (Klan)
• Historians from Decan: Insistence of internationals is unacceptable (Zeri)
• Szunyog pleased with ratification of three international agreements (RTK)
• PDK: EU report on Kosovo proved limited capacity of government (media)
• Osmani: If Open Balkans harms someone, we won’t be part of initiative (RFE)
• Abazi forms Green Group of MPs in the Assembly of Kosovo (RTK)
• Education Ministry overrules school ban on long-haired boy (BIRN)
• German Chancellor calls for EU’s enlargement (Albanian Daily News)
• Vulin: We are being blackmailed to recognize Kosovo (Klan)
• Serbia-Hungary pipeline deal a big political gamble (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 14, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kusari-Lila: No official confirmation of visas conditions or technical requests (Kallxo)
• South-East Europe Liberal Parties adopt statement, visa liberalisation support (media)
• Abazi accuses Lajcak for visas: It was wrong that he came to Pristina (Paparaci)
• UN report mentions fragile security situation in Kosovo (Koha/N1)
• U.S. Ambassador to OSCE: Regrettable that Kosovo is not a member (Kallxo)
• World Bank will continue to support Kosovo (RTK)
• “If Brezovica case ends successfully, Maloku is Kosovo’s Falcone” (Nacionale)
• Police detain Serbian national, weapons, binoculars and hunting dogs seized (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Guterres: Situation in Kosovo fragile (media)
• Patriarch Porfirije enthroned at Pec Patriarchate, calls for peace and only peace (N1, media)
• Brnabic: We stand by our position, sanctions not best solution (Tanjug)
• Arlov banned from entering Kosovo for seventh time (Kosovo Online)
• Bilcik: The negotiations will not be interrupted (RTS)
• Serbian Ministry of Culture: Pristina’s request absurd (Kosovo Online)
• Erdogan gave the order for the start of work on the gas hub in Turkey (Insajder)

Opinion:

• Why would an Albanian support Giorgia Meloni? (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

• EU states dash Prague’s visa-free Kosovo hopes (euractive.com)
• German Diplomat: "The Berlin Process for the Western Balkans should not be duplicated" (DW)
• EU does not rule out suspending Serbia visa waiver over migration spike (euractive.com)
• Kosovo Frustrated by EU’s New ‘Conditions’ for Visa-Free Travel (Balkan Insight)

• Stoltenberg: License plate issue may increase tensions in Kosovo (Albanian Post)
• Kurti talks about meeting with Lajcak (media)
• Osmani: We are in full coordination with the USA (RTK)
• Varhelyi: Kosovo completed points, we’re awaiting technical talks (euronews.al)
• Bislimi: ETIAS system was not France's only request (Telegrafi)
• Gervalla: Last phase of the visa liberalization process started today (media)
• France supports Kosovo’s visa liberalization (Albanian Daily News)
• EU report offers mixed assessment of Kurti government’s efforts (BIRN)
• KFOR’s Regional Command-East welcomes new aviation battalion (army.mil)
• Kosovo's power utility donates coal to its workers for heating (Reuters)
• Rama reacts after EPP/EDC refuse dinner invitation (Albanian Daily News)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti Lajcak meet, discuss path toward normalisation, energy and licence plates (media)
• U.S. again call on Kurti government to implement decision on Decani Monastery (RFE)
• Hovenier: I expect the Association of Serb municipalities to be implemented (ATV)
• Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy promises continued support for KSF (EO)
• Albanian political leaders from Presevo Valley travel to Washington (RTK)
• Solidarity in Pristina with the women of Iran (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic on EC Serbia report (N1)
• Brnabic: Serbia not neutral on Ukraine (N1, Tanjug)
• Head of Serbian Delegation says Rama’s speech at PACE scandalous (Kosovo Online)
• Specialist Court without comment on Rama’s speech, remains committed to court proceedings (Kosovo Online)
• Borrell for N1: Serbia’s alignment with EU foreign policy is backsliding (N1)
• Bilcik: Serbia’s European integration a bit of a yo-yo (N1)
• We do not want tensions in Kosovo, KFOR to stay - NATO official (Tanjug, Blic)
• Popovic and Odalovic not allowed to enter Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Vecernje Novosti)
• Kurti: More significant that the Patriarch came to Kosovo than Petkovic; Porfirije to distance himself from the Kremlin (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: The latest ban the epitome of Pristina's arrogance (Kosovo Online, TV Pink)
• UN condemns Russian “annexation attempt”, Serbia voted as well (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Jeremic: Impossible to be in favour of sanctions against Russia and against Kosovo's membership in the UN (NMagazin, N1)

International:

• 2022 Enlargement package: EC assesses reforms in the WB and Türkiye, and recommends candidate status for BiH (EEAS)
• Serbia Backs UN Resolution Against Russian Annexations in Ukraine (Balkan Insight)
• Strengthen enlargement policy as EU’s strongest geopolitical tool, say MEPs (europarl.europa.eu)

• Osmani accepted EC report, says Kosovo is applying for EU this year (RTK)
• Key findings of the 2022 Report on Kosovo (European Commission)
• Brussels Rebukes Ex-Yugoslav States for Slow War Crimes Justice (BIRN)
• Czech Republic confirms: Visa liberalization to be discussed on Thursday (RTK)
• EU institutions "are not aware" of the Franco-German proposal (RTK)
• IMF slightly cuts Kosovo's 2022 GDP growth projection to 2.7% (SeeNews)
• NATO supports the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)
• Albanian PM Slams Kosovo Organ-Trafficking ‘Fabrications’ (BIRN)
• Opposition: Today, Rama was the voice of Kosovo (media)
• No progress on EU visa liberalisation for Kosovo (Euractiv)
• Decani Monastery “welcomes" Kurti with conditions (RFE)
• Kosovo moves to toughen penalties for rape, domestic violence (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 12, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Berlin confirms there are proposals for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Gazeta Express)
• EC report: Kosovo has met all conditions for visa liberalisation (Telegrafi)
• EP President in favour of Kosovo visa liberalisation, says EULEX chief (Gazeta Metro)
• Kosovo Foreign Minister to visit Germany, meet Baerbock (RTK)
• Gervalla calls on EU to suspend talks with Serbia (media)
• Haradinaj to Kurti: Increase salaries and pensions (media)
• Kosovo welcomes another two Ukrainian reporters (Zeri)
• Electricity is not being saved, even greater alarms for winter (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic, Vujic banned from visiting Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• New Serbian Embassy building opens in Washington (RTS)
• PACE adopts Resolution on support to Western Balkans (N1, Beta)
• Stoltenberg: Western Balkans important for NATO (Tanjug, RTV, Kosovo Online)
• Foreign Ministry official says EC report focused on policy alignment (N1)

International:

• Borrell wants a bolder, faster EU — and scolds diplomats to get to it (euobserver.com)
• Kosovo’s eternal asterisk (emerging-europe.com)

• Kurti and Blinken talk about dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• President Osmani’s statement about the Franco-German plan (RTK)
• Blinken after telephone chat with Vucic: “Productive call” (media)
• Ukrainian MP calls on CoE countries to recognize Kosovo (media)
• Rama to address CoE session, ask to review Marty resolution (euronews.al)
• Bislimi says census of Albanians in Serbia is manipulated, calls on OSCE (RTK)
• “The U.S. should not be a neutral mediator in the Kosovo-Serbia talks” (VoA)
• NATO Parliamentarians’ Seminar in Prishtina Puts Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic Integration under Magnifying Glass (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo Police Seize Holiday Villas in National Park Raid (Prishtina Insight)
• Questions Persist Over Young Kosovo Activist’s Death in Jail Cell (BIRN)