UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 29, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Police confirms: Merdare crossing opened (media)
• Two trucks set on fire at a barricade in the north of Kosovo (media)
• New effort for final agreement; Scholz and Macron advisors visit Kosovo in Jan (media)
• UNMIK chief welcomes measures to deescalate tensions; calls for return to dialogue (media)
• German MP expects concrete actions from EU about situation in North (Albanian Post)
• The removal of the barricades hasn't started yet (Paparaci)
• Krasniqi: Kosovo is going through one of the most fragile moments since it was declared an independent and sovereign state (Klan)
• “Those who believed they protected Serbia by setting up barricades, it is a lie directed by SL” (Telegrafi)
• Tahiri: Kurti made compromises with Serbia, this time he accepted Association (Koha)
• Abdixhiku meets head of OSCE in Kosovo, discuss situation in the north (Klan)
• Haradinaj: Thanks to USA and EU, solution from explosive situation in north found (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Removal of barricades to start Thursday morning (N1, media)
• Ziadeh (UNMIK) welcomed the removal of barricades and de-escalation (N1, media)
• KFOR: Serbian forces don’t need permission for movements in their territory (N1)
• Two trucks at barricade near Dudin Krs, Mitrovica North burned down (KoSSev)
• Dacic: It depends upon Kurti only if there will be escalation of conflict (Radio KIM)
• Djuric: Pristina lost “blank cheque” support for its behaviour from US and international community (RTS)
• US Ambassador Hill says Kosovo crisis requires political solution (Nova.rs, N1)
• Heightened combat readiness state of Serbian Army revoked (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Trampling US-EU guarantees will not be easy for Pristina (Tanjug, TV Pink)
• Vucic to receive Nedeljkovic tomorrow (Danas)

Opinion:

• "Full escalation in Kosovo only postponed": What's next in 2023? (DW, Danas)

International:

• Serbia's Vucic Says Kosovo Roadblocks To Be Removed (RFE)
• Village’s Xmas Lights Draw Thousands of Kosovars (Prishtina Insight)
• In northern Kosovo, conflict is avoided, for now (emerging-europe.com)

• Joint Statement on the Escalating Tensions in the North of Kosovo (media)
• Kurti calls on Serbs to apply for jobs in Kosovo public institutions (euronews.al)
• Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani interview with Klan Kosova
• Vucic: Removal of barricades will start on Thursday morning (RFE)
• Serbs in northern Kosovo to start removing barricades from Thursday (Reuters)
• KFOR reacts to tensions: Solution must come through dialogue (media)
• EULEX: We have neither mandate nor capacity to remove barricades (Klan)
• Prosecution: Pantic was sent to house arrest due to his health (media)
• Haxhiu: Special Prosecutor, Court chose to side with criminal groups (Koha)
• JCK and PCK react to Kurti about Pantic (media)
• Graffiti against judge and prosecutor who freed ex-Serb police officer (media)
• Krasniqi: Kurti to clarify if there was secret deal for Pantic release (media)
• Haradinaj: Situation is serious, it requires coordination (media)
• Petkovic: Vucic asked Serbs to withdraw from barricades (media)
• Hill: Patriarch Porfirije must be allowed to visit Kosovo in future (euronews.al)
• Xhacka: Serbia to stop, so-called ‘Kosovo and Metohija’ gone forever (media)
• Tension soars as Kosovo shuts main border crossing with Serbia (AFP, Reuters)
• Why ethnic tensions are flaring again in northern Kosovo (CNN)
• Germany urges Kosovo Serb militants to remove barricades (Deutsche Welle)
• Kosovo-Serbia Crisis Simmers as New Barricade Blocks Border (BIRN)
• Kosovo closes border crossing as tensions with Serbia intensify (FT)
• Kosovo to Host Five Persecuted Afghan Journalists (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 28, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: There is nothing that can defeat will of people to live freely (media)
• Kurti about barricades in the north: Criminals will be arrested (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo Police: Blocking in Merdare is illegal (Zeri)
• Pantic’s detention replaced with house arrest measure, attorney confirms (RFE)
• Kurti surprised by the decision to send Pantic to house arrest (Koha)
• Von Cramon welcomes decision on Pantic, demands immediate removal of barricades (Klan)
• Abazi: Pantic’s release, failure of the entire institutional chain (Telegrafi)
• Bomb threat at Pristina Airport, passengers and staff evacuated (media)
• AAK’s Tahiri calls on Kurti to summon meeting of party leaders (media)
• LDK’s Hoti proposes four points for Kosovo to “emerge from Serbia’s trap” (media)
• Gashi: Serbs citizens in north are paid €50 daily to be in barricades (Klan Kosova)
• Kremlin: We are not pushing Serbia to incite tensions in Kosovo (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• Barricades entered the 19th day: Now and Merdare crossing closed (KoSSev)
• Dejan Pantic under house arrest (RTS, Blic, Tanjug)
• Vucevic: Serbia's position to seek a political agreement (KoSSev, RTS)
• Vucic: Pristina wants to banish Serbia, Serbs from Kosovo forever (Tanjug)
• A new convocation of the Zubin Potok assembly formed (RTS)
• Brnabic responds to Osmani on justice and democracy (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Hill: Important that the Patriarch be with the Serbs in KiM (Danas, Nova.rs)
• Civil society: The Kosovo government to apologise to the patriarch; international community to speak out and condemn it (Kontakt plus radio)
• Haradinaj: Kurti's statements complicate the situation; KFOR cannot be given deadlines (KoSSev)
• UNS and DNKiM: Ensure unobstructed work to Svetlana Vukmirovic and other journalists (UNS, media)
• Petkovic asks Rohde if he will condemn entry ban to RTS journalist (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Nikola Nedeljkovic arrested on June 28 at Gazimestan released after six-months sentence (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Albanian FM spurring Kurti to further provocations (Tanjug)

International:

• Kremlin Denies Kosovan Claims Russia Is Pushing Serbia to Stoke Tensions (Reuters)

• Merdare crossing closed; Serbs erect barricades on Serbian side (media)
• Osmani condemns attacks on reporters in north of Kosovo (media)
• Ministry refutes reports that KSF vehicles moved toward Mitrovica (Nacionale)
• Kosovan minister says Serbia aims to destabilize the country (Reuters)
• Why ethnic tensions are flaring again in northern Kosovo (Reuters)
• Serbia troops on ‘highest level of alert’ as tensions rise (The Guardian)
• COMKFOR: We support dialogue to find solution and ease tensions (TV21)
• Switzerland calls for refrain from actions that can inflame the situation (media)
• Xhacka to Serbia: Playing with fire is a bad idea; we stand with Kosovo (media)
• Council of Ambassadors sends letter to Biden and Quint (Klan Kosova)
• Mujanovic: I’ve received copy of Kosovo govt report sent to West (Nacionale)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: If KFOR does not remove the barricades, we will remove them (Koha)
• Two new barricades in the north (RFE)
• Svecla: We are not interested in war, but we are committed to fighting crime (media)
• Kusari-Lila: The barricades must be removed as soon as possible (ekonomia online)
• The EU invites Kurti and Vucic to personally contribute to calming of tensions (media)
• Albanian judges move from north to south Mitrovica (Kosovapress)
• Rohde condemns the attack on journalists in Zupc (media)
• Gjoshi: Prime Minister Kurti is serving Serbia (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Day 18 at barricades, new barricades erected (RTS, media)
• Petkovic: Raising combat readiness a response to the immediate threat of war (RTS, Beta, NMagazin)
• Vucic on Instagram: Difficult situation; we do our best to preserve peace and stability (N1, RTS)
• Patriarch Porfirije after meeting Vucic says peace to be preserved at any cost (RTS, media)
• Pristina bans Patriarch Porfirije from entering Kosovo, returns him from Merdare crossing (media)
• Reactions to Pristina’s ban of Patriarch Porfirije visit (media)
• What do laws and Brussels agreement say on Serbian Orthodox Church (KoSSev)
• KFOR after meeting Kurti, EULEX head, says they discussed security situation (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Crisis Committee in northern Kosovo: Serbs do not attack KFOR and EULEX (N1, Danas)
• Rakic: No attack on KFOR, Pristina media spreading disinformation (Tanjug, media)
• RTS journalist Svetlana Vukmirovic banned from entering Kosovo twice (RTS, media)
• Grenell on situation in north, Pristina’s decision to ban Patriarch Irinej from entering Kosovo (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Wife of Dejan Pantic says they had brief phone conversation on Friday (Kurir)

International:

• Kosovo: Serbia puts troops on high alert over rising tensions (BBC)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Heroes of 2022: People Who Made a Difference (Balkan Insight)

• Kurti meets KFOR commander and EULEX chief (media)
• Kosovo is still waiting for KFOR to remove the barricades (euronews.al)
• Svecla: Shooting near the KFOR patrol, Vucic's games (RTK)
• North Kosovo: Shots fired near NATO patrol amid tensions (Deutsche Welle)
• NATO probing shooting incident in tense Kosovo north (Associated Press)
• Serbia sends military chief to Kosovo border as tensions rise (France24)
• Kosovo bans entry of Serbian Patriarch ahead of Orthodox Christmas (AA)
• EU condemns attack on journalists in north of Kosovo (euronews.al)
• Attacks on journalists in north of Kosovo, US ambassador reacts (euronews.al)
• Krasniqi to Kurti: Remove barricades! You have my full support (media)
• Lekaj: Kurti took wrong steps in north (Kosovapress)
• Arben Vitia appointed Minister of Health (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 23, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Comprehensive digitization is one of the key objectives of the government (Klan)
• EU concerned over several provisions of new Kosovo Law on Public Officials (media)
• LVV MP: We will not give up on the implementation of the law in the north (Telegrafi)
• Pendarovski: There will be no problem for NATO if situation in north escalates (media)
• Government submits appeal against Court's decision to suspend reduction of judges/prosecutors’ salaries (Kallxo)
• Trajkovic writes about consequences of her detention at the border (Telegrafi)
• Two minors physically attacked in Mitrovica north by some Serb citizens (media)
• A worker in Leposavic threatened with a weapon by four masked individuals (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: Peaceful rally at Rudare response to Pristina's threats, terror (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Pantic’s lawyer: I spoke with him, he is well (N1, Tanjug)
• Kabasic on Self-determination Movement, militarization of north, and institutional crackdown on Serbs (KoSSev)
• Simic on “assessment” that 1.500 people attended protest in Rudare (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Jevtic refutes Kosovo police statement of not obstructing busses from Strpce (social media, media)
• Serbian List, Petkovic react to VV MP published list with names of Serbs (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, RTS, social media)
• Sweden to deal with Pristina's EU bid once it is on agenda – ambassador (Tanjug)
• Odalovic: Resolution 1244 in function, KFOR to return ''ROSU'' from northern Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever, TV Prva)
• Drecun: ''Pristina preparing KSF base in the North of Kosovo'' (Tanjug, Dnevnik, Blic, TV Pink)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The fate of the missing politicised and neglected topic (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, KoSSev)

Kurti: The law on public officials and the one on salaries, a big step (media)
Svecla: If KFOR does not act in time, we will remove the barricades(media)
Serbian List: Svecla's threats do not scare anyone at the barricades (Koha)
Protesting Kosovo Serbs want ethnic Albanian police out of country's north (Reuters)
Kosovo Police: About 1,500 participants in the protest in the north (euronews.al)
Haradinaj: The association should be part of the final agreement (VoA)
NATO’s KFOR Considering Serbia’s Request to Send Military to North Kosovo (exit.al)
Serbian President contradicts himself over liability for Kosovo roadblocks (Euractiv)
At least 3 TV crews attacked while covering protests in northern Kosovo (Committee to protect journalists)
Bieber: The current situation in Kosovo is worst in the last ten years (EWB)
Slovenia plans to increase troop numbers in Kosovo (STA)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 22, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Serbs in Rudare demand release of arrested and KP’s departure from north (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo Police denies speculations about obstruction of buses in Shterpce (Express)
• Kosovo Police calls for peaceful protest in north (Koha)
• EULEX: We are closely monitoring security situation in north of Kosovo (media)
• “Serbia's illegal structures are intimidating Serbs and attacking policemen” (Albanian Post)
• Sources: Serbian structures oblige and threaten people to take part in protest (KP)
• EULEX present at the entrance of the road to Leposaviq (Kallxo)
• Osmani and Kurti appoint new KIA Inspector General (media)
• Central Bank foresees 3-4 percent increase in economic growth next year (RFE)
• PSD: Selective justice is not justice, it is confirmation of injustice (Paparaci)

Serbian Language Media:

• Kilometres-long column of people in the north of Kosovo, a large number of people at the protest in Rudare (N1, KoSSev)
• Serbian List, new speakers addressed protestors in Rudare (KoSSev, Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Vucic before the protest in Rudare: Serbs not asking for much, only what belongs to all civilised people in Europe (media)
• Radojevic: Barricades are reaction (RTS)
• Jevtic: Police returns buses transporting Serbs from Strpce to attend protest in Rudare (Novosti, social media)
• Vucicevic: “If Kurti goes against barricades that is road to bad direction” (RTS)
• Brnabic: Kurti clearly showed his intentions (Tanjug, RTV)
• EULEX: We closely monitor security situation in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Vucic: KFOR fairer than some Western gov'ts, but I expect negative response (Tanjug)
• Miscevic: Nobody imposes a condition Kosovo or the EU on Serbia (Danas, Beta)
• Police officers from the south warned not to publish photos from the north, what happened in the previous days? (KoSSev)
• What will happen to Pristina’s EU membership bid? (Danas, FoNet)
• Statistics Bureau Chief: 61.000 to 62.000 Albanians live in Bujanovac, Presevo and Medvedja (Bujanovacke, FoNet)

International:

• RSF Urges Kosovo to Protect Journalists From Attacks in North (BIRN)
• Kosovo Photographer Tracks Down Country’s Rarest Fauna (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Capital Expects First Electric Buses Next Year (Prishtina Insight)

• Police set up checkpoints on the Mitrovica-Leposavic highway (media)
• Serbs called to protest, KFOR ready to react if situation escalates (Koha)
• Kosovo Police investigating reports about kidnapping of Serbs in north (media)
• EULEX may increase number of police if needed (Klan)
• Kosovo Police confirms arrested ex-cop being held at police station (BIRN)
• After increase in attacks on journalists in Kosovo, police and international forces asked to provide better protection (Reporters Without Borders)
• Szunyog: Visa-free movement in 2024 is not yet final (Klan)
• Hovenier confirms support for Kosovo (RTK)
• Krasniqi: If Kurti can’t remove barricades, he should hand over mandate (Klan)
• Basha on KFOR's statement: “Offensive to state and victims of war” (media)
• Kosovo EU bid to get careful consideration early next year (Bloomberg)
• PSD calls on Assembly to amend law on specialist chambers (media)