UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 21, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• German government denies involvement in draft statute of Association (Telegrafi)
• EU: We expect the Association to be formed (Gazeta Express)
• Haradinaj: Final agreement with Serbia must have U.S. seal (media)
• Abazi: There is no German proposal for the Association (Kosovapress)
• Defence Minister Mehaj meets NALT leaders (media)
• U.S. Embassy: Escobar had full and productive visit to Kosovo (media)s
• Murati: Redefinition of borders, only solution to Albanian-Serbian problem (Lajmi)
• Mustafi: Presevo Valley is on Washington’s agenda (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Important talks with Quint ambassadors and EU (Kosovo Online)
• Quint ambassadors concerned over possible impairment of stability in region (N1)
• Vucic: Pressure growing, I could resign to buy time (N1, Prva TV)
• Personal documents, usurped properties, and lack of language rights respect - three main problems affecting Serbs in Klina (Radio KIM, Radio Gorazdevac)
• Albanian flag placed on Christ the Saviour Temple’s door in Pristina (Kosovo Online, RTS)
• McCarthy: Postponing implementation of decision on vehicle re-registration would be constructive measure
• Serbia introduces visas for citizens of Tunisia and Burundi (RTS)
• Stano: EU does not set deadlines for reaching Belgrade-Pristina agreement (RTS)
• Escobar says there are no deadlines (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Serbian Army Chief of Staff and new KFOR Commander discuss security situation in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

• Government: Ethnicity-based associations, in conflict with Constitution (Koha)
• Vucic: “German” draft was written in Belgrade (Gazeta Express)
• Hasani: “German draft” is anti-constitutional; can lead to total paralysis (Koha)
• Escobar: I expect dynamic continuation of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Euronews)
• Bislimi meets Hovenier: Kosovo remains an active party in dialogue (RTK)
• Rohde: Berlin Process is back, don't miss opportunity for cooperation (media)
• Svecla: Kosovo committed to the initiatives of the Berlin Process (media)
• Krasniqi rejects Kurti’s call: No reason to invite us for technical issues (Koha)
• LDK too rejects Kurti’s invitation to a meeting (Koha)
• Palokaj: If Germany authored the draft, govt should consider it (Koha)
• Rashiti: Postpone deadline on licence plates in exchange for Green Card (RTK)
• Body art ban: Kosovo Army expels recruits with tattoos (BIRN)
• War games: Replaying Yugoslavia’s military conflicts as entertainment (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 20, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani meets ambassadors of Norway, Greece and Luxembourg, discuss visas (Klan)
• KFOR and government coordinated on security in Kosovo (RTK)
• The German minister for Europe is visiting Kosovo this week (Koha)
• Ursula von der Leyen next week in Kosovo (KosovaPress)
• Government on Esobar's proposal on licence plates: We have rule of law as our obligation (Koha)
• Exclusive: Pre-agreement draft between Kosovo and Serbia (Koha, Albanian Post)
• Police arrest Serb suspect in Oliver Ivanovic assassination case (media)
• Kurti's former advisor: Legal entity separated from Kosovo is being created (Nacionale)
• The draft statute of the "new" Association with its old points financed by Serbia (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic with Escobar about the possibilities for finding "sustainable solutions" (N1)
• Petkovic with Escobar: Belgrade for the continuation of negotiations, but also for the implementation of all agreements reached (Beta, Danas)
• Escobar: We asked implementation of decision on re-registration be postponed by ten months (N1)
• Pristina increasingly asking the end of the UNMIK mandate, the Serbs saying that this mission is necessary (euronews.rs)
• Reactions to Todosijevic’s verdict over his remarks on Racak (Kosovo Online, media)
• EU Ambassador: No deadline for Belgrade to impose sanctions on Russia (N1)
• Varhelyi: Serbia to step up efforts to align with EU, including sanctions (Beta, N1, media)
• Gracanica: Decision on land swap annulled (KoSSev)
• Selakovic to attend Berlin Process meeting tomorrow (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Montgomery: The irony is that we defend Ukraine, and Kosovo was taken by force; the EU has nothing to offer Serbia (Kosovo Online, Politika, RTV)

International:

• Kosovo-Serbia Talks May Advance ‘in Weeks’, US Diplomat Says (Balkan Insight)
• Defaced Putin Mural Tells the Story of Russia's Waning Influence (Financial Post)
• Serbia’s Parliamentary Rightists Unite on Platform to Reclaim Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

• Escobar: Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia - a matter of weeks (Kanal10)
• Kosovo ‘ready to intensify’ Serbia dialogue, President tells Escobar (BIRN)
• Kurti calls opposition leaders to meet, Haradinaj confirms participation (media)
• Escobar met with Serbian List representatives (Koha)
• After Pristina, Escobar will visit Belgrade (media)
• Agreement reached between KOSTT and Elektrosever (RTK)
• Kosovo Serb Ex-Minister Convicted of Inciting Hatred After Retrial (BIRN)
• Serbia reacts after Todosievic's sentence regarding Recak statements (BIRN)
• Civil society organisations sign joint statement on dialogue (media)
• Kosovo Police arrest war crimes suspect (media)
• Freedom of Information in the Balkans: No Access and no Progress (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani after meeting Escobar: Ready to intensify dialogue (Telegrafi)
• Escobar expresses U.S. support for Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo is a constructive party in dialogue; Escobar confirms support (Koha)
• Interior Ministry: Vucic’s criminal structures in north are intimidating people (Telegrafi)
• Ivan Todosijevic sentenced to one year in prison (Radio Free Europe)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian FM Selakovic in the UNSC session: Pristina consciously sabotaging all efforts, aims to persecute Serbs (Tanjug, media)
• UN Security Council permanent members differ on Kosovo (Beta, media)
• Heated debate between Serbia, Kosovo foreign ministers at the UN SC session (Beta, N1, NMagazin)
• Selakovic met Ziadeh in New York (Tanjug, media)
• Mijatovic: Court decision on Visoki Decani must be implemented promptly (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• KFOR: We monitor situation, everybody to avoid actions that could lead to violence (Kosovo Online)
• Russian Patriarch calls for unity of Serbian, Russian churches (N1, SRNA)
• Botsan-Kharchenko to RTS: I believe Serbia will not stand in a sorrow line of states not thinking of their own national benefits
• Hill to RTS: I would warn the Serbs to understand that this is not their "mother Russia" (N1)
• NGOs: Citizens must not be hostages of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (Beta, N1, Danas)
• “Petkovic’s visit should have been approved” (Tanjug)
• Vulin: Interpol has Serbia’s full support (N1)

International:

• Kosovo issue has expanded Serbian far-right’s global reach (BIRN)
• Radicalised on the Net? Albanian Plumber Charged With ‘Jihadist Propaganda’ (Balkan Insight)
• Freedom of Information Summary (Balkan Insight)

• SRSG Ziadeh: Leaders must find positive pathway for benefit of all (media)
• U.S. Ambassador to the UN: Mutual recognition is the solution (RTK)
• The President’s Office confirms: Osmani to meet Escobar on Wednesday (Zeri)
• Lajcak expected to visit Kosovo on Thursday, sources say (TeVe1)
• Berlin: Ongoing discussions on French-German proposals (Express)
• Svecla doesn’t indicate additional period for replacing license plates (media)
• “International offensive, agreement may happen before December” (Klan)
• Witness ‘fears for safety’ in trial for Kosovo politician’s murder (BIRN)
• Kosovo journalists ‘face threats and attacks’: Council of Europe (BIRN)
• Hungary arrests Serb for alleged Kosovo war crimes (BIRN)
• LDK leader calls for France’s support for visa liberalisation (RTK)
• Kurti expected to appoint new Health Minister soon (EO)

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)