UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 19, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 118 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Zemaj warns on stricter measures (media)
• Lajcak misinterpreted, constitutional changes apply to Belgrade as well (RFE)
• Horti: Government taking necessary steps to implement Washington Agreement (media)
• Kosovo marks the EU Anti-Trafficking Day (media)
• PDK MP writes public letter to Lajcak (media)
• Basha: Ahtisaari’s package is Kosovo’s compromise (T7, RTK)
• Thaci and Daka discuss election dates for Podujeva and North Mitrovica (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 11 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serb-areas in Kosovo on Saturday (Radio kontakt plus)
• “ZSO must be formed as it was agreed” (Radio KIM)
• Odalovic: Brussels has instruments to make Pristina establish ZSO (RTS)
• Lavrov to visit Serbia later this month (N1)
• Dmitrijevic to Serbian journalists’ associations: “Novosti” daily jeopardized safety of SOC clergy and Serbs in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• UNS: Could truthful reporting jeopardize Serbs in Kosovo? (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Kosovo Leaders Condemn Gun Attack on Journalist’s Car (Balkan Insight)
• ‘Easy Money’: Fake Forex and Fraudulent Balkan Call Centre (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Epidemiologist Kon: Situation unfavorable, especially in Belgrade (Prva TV, N1)
• The "corona generation" is coming and it will not be good (DW, B92)

• COVID-19: 137 new cases, one death (media)
• Hoti calls for caution after increase in COVID-19 cases (media)
• Zemaj urges for implementation of COVID-19 preventive measures (media)
• Osmani: Battle against COVID-19 is not over (media)
• PDK, VV and SL to start talks for ousting Hoti government (Indeksonline)
• Vetevendosje doesn’t trust Hoti about the Association (media)
• Biden: A settlement that respects Kosovo’s territorial integrity (media)
• Hoti wants assault on reporter to be resolved (media)
• Journalist association condemns attack on Kajtazi in strongest terms (media)
• Jashari: Serbia, not Kosovo, must change its constitution (media)
• Serbia continues to invest in Mitrovica North, builds football field (Lajmi)

COVID - 19: 104 new cases, two deaths (media)
Kosovo FM reacts to Lajcak remarks (media)
Nitaj: Prishtina can ask for Lajcak’s dismissal (media)
Balje: Lajcak’s request to amend constitution, unacceptable (media)
PM Hoti replaces heads of police, customs and tax administration (Koha)
What does the UN report on Kosovo contain? (media)
Victims of violence don’t find long-term shelter from the state (RFE)
U.S. Embassy: Civil Code to include rights of marginalised communities (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 104 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Zemaj: No lockdown, we will take tough measures to combat COVID-19 (Telegrafi)
• Osmani slams Lajcak's statement calling it 'concerning' (media)
• Tahiri: Serbia to change its Constitution, not Kosovo (Klan/Kallxo)
• CDHRF: Lajcak inciting another war in Kosovo (media)
• Draft law on KLA values, dialogue resolution fail to pass Assembly (media)
• New U.S. troops to join NATO in Kosovo (media)
• Hoti: Kosovo to ban use of 5G equipment from untrusted sellers (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: Tahiri can change the constitution if she wins the elections in Serbia (Radio Mitrovica sever, Tanjug)
• Petkovic with Bocan-Kharchenko on Belgrade - Pristina dialogue (RTS)
• Petkovic with Lajcak: European Union's ability as a mediator being tested (RTS)
• "If true, it was done behind Belgrade's back and means betrayal by the EU" (B92, Sputnik)
• Vucic: This is a plan that is little talked about in the Serbian public (Tanjug, B92)
• "For eight years I have been listening about Vucic preparing to betray Kosovo" (B92, Vecernje Novosti)
• Father Sava: The priest from the video has nothing to do with the Diocese (KiM radio)
• Redzepi: I expect elections in a month and a half (RTK)
• EIB helping revive Serbian railways, regional office chief says (Beta, N1)
• Unclear whether Bosnian Presidency voted against recognition of Kosovo (N1)

Opinion:

• Pribicevic: Albanian side missed its momentum in dialogue with Serbia (N1, Kontakt plus radio)
• Thousand Days After: Why the Murder of Oliver Ivanovic Should Be Brought to an International Tribunal? (KoSSev, zorancicak blog)

International:

• Brussels Vows to Settle Kosovo Serb Municipal Association’s Status (Balkan Insight)
• The EU needs a step-by-step integration plan for the Western Balkans (emerging-europe.com)
• Serbia expects Russian foreign minister’s visit soon — president (TASS)

• COVID-19: 77 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Thaci: Association will be established; no executive competencies (media)
• Hoti warns of early elections if there is no agreement on President (media)
• Hoti: Association is a closed issue, we entered dialogue only for recognition (media)
• Osmani: I will start a civic initiative with new faces (media)
• LDK leader publishes Mogherini’s letter on Association (media)
• VV's Haxhiu reacts to Mustafa regarding Mogherini's letter (media)
• “Lajcak same as Belgrade, wants Association without final agreement” (media)
• Vucic, Lajcak: Dialogue continues, implementation of agreements (N1)
• Bosnia Presidency Fails to Agree on Recognition of Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
• Minister Krasniqi calls on CEFTA to drop "UNMIK-Kosovo" tag (RTK/Telegrafi)
• PM Hoti meets UN Kosovo Team (media)
• Venice Commission rebuts statements about receiving draft law on government (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 77 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Lajcak: Association has to establish, you committed in 2015 (RTK)
• Mustafa and Lajcak discuss conclusion of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)
• Americans want Kosovo in OSCE (Gazeta Express)
• Whyte: There will be no Republika Srpska in Kosovo (RFE, Koha)
• Krasniqi reacts after Lajcak's statements on Association (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lajcak: Pristina must show consistency by implementing the agreement on ZSO (RTS)
• Russian ambassador denies media claims about Putin visit (N1)
• Andjelkovic: Putin's visit cannot be canceled, because it was not even scheduled (N1, Nova S)
• Gracanica Mayor: We have the right to withdraw from the institutions if the ZSO is not formed (RTS)
• Was progress made with Lajcak's visit? (KIM radio, Danas)

International:

• Lajčák: International organizations are “eyes and ears” in Kosovo (EWB)
• Snarky Facebook post sparks diplomatic incident between Russia and Serbia: What’s behind it? (neweasterneurope.eu)
• Mariano: Western Balkan states could contribute to security and defense of NATO (EWB)
• EU and the Western Balkans, a long engagement (balcanicaucaso.org)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The Latest: WHO: European cases rocket, strong limits needed (apnews.com)
• International Day of Rural Women: I love the countryside, I love to produce (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev)
• Platform Initiative launched to support clean energy transition in coal regions in Western Balkans and Ukraine (balkangreenenergynews.com)
• Femart’s 8th edition celebrates resilience and solidarity in challenging times (Prishtina Insight)

• COVID-19: 80 new cases, one death (media)
• Hoti: We will be forced to take stricter steps if COVID cases increase (media)
• Lajcak: EU and U.S. share same interests in the Western Balkans (media)
• Jevtic calls for establishment of Association of Serb-majority municipalities (media)
• Ymeri: There will be no government fall until dialogue ends (Telegrafi)
• Vilan: There is no specific date of our recognition of Kosovo (N1/ Lapsi.al)
• Vucic: Fulfill promises, then we will discuss (RTK)
• Putin cancels Serbia's visit protesting country's 'approximation' with U.S. (Koha)
• International drivers' licenses not valid unless Kosovo joins UN (Koha)
• Kosovo PM: No Serb Municipal Association Before Final Settlement (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia finally recognizes Kosovo border by staffing Common Border Crossing Point at Merdare (Express)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 80 new cases, one death (media)
• Zemaj: WHO remains Kosovo's strategic partner in battling COVID-19 pandemic (media)
• Thaci meets Lajcak: We discussed final agreement, including mutual recognition (media)
• Lajcak meets heads of international organisations in Kosovo (media)
• Lajcak meets leaders of political parties (media)
• State Department hails Kosovo-Serbia cooperation in Merdare (RTK)
• Grenell: Merdare border crossing becomes operational thanks to Trump (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• 14 new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian communities in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Petkovic: The only way to move the dialogue from the deadlock is for Pristina to fulfill its obligations (RTS)
• Simic: Pristina's refusal to form the ZSO threatens the survival of Serbs in Kosovo (TV Prva, Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Popovic: Albanians underrate the EU (Kosovo Online, TV Pink, Tanjug)
• Milivojevic: Belgrade has full right to get out of Brussels agreement (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Serbia didn’t change stance on Kosovo following Washington agreement (Sputnik)
• Lajcak cautious about Belgrade-Pristina dialogue process (N1)
• Vucic tells Russian Ambassador gas pipeline to be completed this year (N1, Beta)
• Merdare: Serbian personnel started work in new premises (Radio KIM)
• Dacic: Gratitude to Ukraine for principled stance not to recognize Kosovo (Kosovo-online)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Economic empowerment of women crucial for prevention of gender-based violence (media)
• Serbian "herd immunity" (BETA, B92)
• Civil Society Filled a Void in the Balkan Pandemic (Balkan Insight)
• Report: Global Internet Freedom Declines in Shadow of Pandemic (freedomhouse.com)
• Femart’s 8th edition celebrates resilience and solidarity in challenging times (Prishtina Insight)
• Three KelKos hydropower plants no longer licensed (Prishtina Insight)

• COVID – 19: 98 new cases, one death (media)
• Hoti: Association won’t be formed without a final agreement (media)
• Osmani calls for internal consensus for dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Lajcak to meet President Thaci, party leaders on Wednesday (Indeksonline)
• EU wants Association as part of comprehensive agreement (media)
• Guterres warns of Thaci, Veseli attempts to obstruct court’s work (Zeri/RTS)
• “Kosovo – Serbia final agreement must include mutual recognition” (media)
• Osmani: We are discussing formation of a civic initiative (KTV)
• Konjufca: Time is near for a landslide victory of VV in elections (media)
• Kumnova: Our loved ones were taken away by Serbs we knew (media)
• Kandic: War crimes to be simultaneously tried in The Hague and Belgrade (Koha)
• Shala: I was invited by Specialist Chambers as a murder suspect (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 13, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 98 new cases, one death (media)
• EU Special Representative Lajcak to arrive in Kosovo today (Gazeta Express)
• Government to Lajcak's question on Association shortly before his arrival in Kosovo (Express)
• To Russia, thesis of removing borders between Albania and Kosovo is alarming (Koha)
• France fades Kosovo hopes for visa liberalisation any time soon (Express)
• Hoti receives new U.S. Military Attaché Stephen Rose (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• If Pristina continues blocking ZSO, Serbs announce possibility of leaving all Kosovo institutions (Kosovo-online)
• Várhelyi: Boosting and connecting the Western Balkans on the EU path (N1)
• EU envoy Lajcak makes first report on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue to foreign ministers (N1)
• Djuric: Pristina makes efforts to suspend dialogue (Radio KIM)
• Grubjesic: Lajcak to convince Pristina establish ZSO and continue dialogue (TV Most)
• “1000 candles” lit in Ivanovic’s honor in Belgrade and North Mitrovica (KoSSev)
• Srebrenica Mothers: Serbian FM threatens all who speak of mass graves in Serbia (N1)
• Odalovic: Serbia does not hide mass graves; we checked everything that was asked of us (Kosovo Online)
• Senior German diplomat says region’s problems can no longer be put off (N1, BETA)

Opinion:

• Ring them Bells (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Balkan Govts Mull Tightened Rules as COVID-19 Cases Rise (Balkan Insight)