UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, May 30, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: “Protests not peaceful; mobs of extremists directed from Belgrade” (Koha)
• Konjufca: Serbs again showed they want north separated from Kosovo (media)
• KFOR confirms: About 25 Italian and Hungarian soldiers injured (RTK)
• NATO spokesperson statement on unprovoked attacks against KFOR (media)
• Osmani: Attacks by criminal gangs must be condemned by everyone (media)
• Hovenier: Kurti to take steps to improve the situation (Koha)
• Ziadeh strongly condemns attacks on KFOR and injuries to troops and civilians, urges immediate de-escalation (media)
• International community on attacks on KFOR and journalists (media)
• Zvecan Mayor: I’ll go to work today with help of KFOR, I have meetings (Koha)
• Bislimi: Mayors can only work from municipal buildings (media)
• Kupchan: Government to withdraw from installing mayors in the north (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• Situation in Zvecan calm this morning, gatherings in north continue (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Vucic blames Kosovo PM Kurti for unrest (N1)
• Violent clashes between KFOR and Serb protesters in Zvecan, dozens injured (RTS, KoSSev, Tanjug)
• Marko Djuric presents chronology of events in Zvecan yesterday (media, social media)
• Bishop Teodosije served prayer for peace in Zvecan (KoSSev)
• Raska-Prizren Diocese statement following violent incidents in northern Kosovo (social media)
• Serbian flag in Gracanica set on fire (Tanjug)
• Part of Serbian opposition: Vucic should resign because of events in Kosovo (RTS)

International Media:

• NATO-Led Force Moves To Disperse Crowds As Tensions Rise In Standoffs With Serbs In Northern Kosovo (RFE)
• Kosovo: Fresh clashes as Nato troops called in to northern towns (BBC)
• Protesters, Peacekeepers, Injured as Violence Erupts in North Kosovo (BIRN)
• Lavrov: Situation in Kosovo may provoke new conflict in Europe (euronews)
• Kosovo ex-president on trial for war crimes allowed to visit his sick mother (AP)
• Back to the Abuser: Kosovo Women Struggle to Escape Domestic Violence (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Implementation of basic agreement, situation in north to be calmed down (media)
• Hovenier after meeting Osmani: Situation is very concerning (media)
• Szunyog : We asked them to show restraint, not to escalate situation further (Reporteri)
• Kurti: Important to intensify dialogue for full implementation of Basic Agreement (media)
• KFOR: We have increased our presence in north, ready for necessary actions (RTK)
• Media teams attacked in the north: tires slashed, and symbols sprayed (media)
• Protesters in Zvecan throw empty bottles at SL leader Goran Rakic (media)
• Serbian flag placed on Kosovo Police armoured vehicle in Zvecan (Koha)
• Von Cramon calls on Kosovo to withdraw special police units from north (Koha)
• Atic: I have asked to be connected to network and to start paying electricity (Kallxo)
• Hyseni: Kurti, Osmani definitely bringing back 1244 and UNMIK in north (Nacionale)
• Prosecution files charges against Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla (media)
• Haradinaj: We thank U.S. soldiers that served and still serve in Kosovo (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• Rakic: We presented our demands, mayors to leave and special police forces to withdraw (Kosovo Online)
• Milovic: Protests are peaceful (RTS)
• Protests in the north: We gathered in peace, with request that police and new mayors go home (Radio Mitrovica sever, TV Most, Kontakt plus radio)
• KFOR Region North Commander arrived to Zvecan (Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic: Situation in Kosovo tense, we must preserve peace (Tanjug)
• Dacic on situation in northern Kosovo (RTS, media)
• Mayors from Self-determination Movement didn’t attend meeting with US Ambassador (RTS, KoSSev)
• KFOR: We increased presence in north, we will ensure safe environment (Kosovo Online)
• Von Cramon visited Zvecan and Leposavic yesterday (KoSSev)
• Grenell: From peace and progress we went to chaos and occupation (N1, social media)
• Vucic no longer leader of SNS, Vucevic takes his place (BETA)
• Vucevic: By 2:00 p.m. we will finish deploying the units, we hope for a political solution (N1)
• Detention of Sladjan Trajkovic extended for two more months (Radio KIM)
• Albanian journalists for a brief time in the municipal building in Zvecan (KiM radio)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: Could it really be that Serbia met all obligations and Kosovo didn’t (Koha)

International:

• NATO troops form security cordons in Kosovo as Serbs protest (Al Jazeera)
• Kosovo Serbs trying to take over municipality building in north clash with police (AP)
• Embassies of Quint and EU condemn Kosovo decision to force access in north (BIRN)

• Police: Protesters threw teargas in Zvecan, we responded with spray (Express)
• Situation in northern Kosovo this morning, increased presence of KFOR (media)
• Police withdraw from cordon in Zubin Potok, KFOR members remain (Nacionale)
• Rakic asks KFOR that Zvecan mayor should not enter municipal building (media)
• Zeqiri: We will meet Hovenier in Pristina at 09:00 (Koha)
• Dacic: Albanians cannot be mayors in Serb municipalities (RFE)
• School classes in northern Kosovo suspended until further notice (Tanjug)
• Serbian List asks Vucic to end dialogue with Pristina (N1, KoSSev)
• EU and QUINT: Unilateral actions negatively affect our relationships (media)
• Borrell announces talk with Stoltenberg about situation in the north (media)
• NATO head urges Kosovo to ease tensions with Serbia (Reuters)
• Sarrazin: We do not allow chances offered by Ohrid agreement to collapse due to reckless decision (Koha)
• PM Kurti meets Rapporteur for Kosovo in European Parliament (euronews.al)
• Von Cramon: Situation in the north is tense, wise solutions must be found (Koha)
• Kusari-Lila: Von Cramon's statements about Kosovo Police offensive (Koha)

• Von Cramon to hold press conference in Pristina today (media)

• Vucic says he fears the conflict in Kosovo (media)
• US, EU allies scold Kosovo for escalating tensions with Serbia (politico.eu)
• US rebukes Kosovo for escalating tensions, Serbia puts army on alert (euraactiv)
• Serbian border police on high alert amid ethnic clashes inside Kosovo (France24)
• Serbia blasts NATO forces over inaction during Kosovo clashes (Aljazeera)
• Serbian border troops to maintain highest state of alert after ethnic clashes inside Kosovo (AP)
• Russia blames US, EU for escalating tensions in Kosovo (Reuters)

New mayors in the north swore outside their offices (BIRN)
Varhelyi: Support for Kosovo's European path (RTK)
Murphy calls for swift implementation of agreement (media)
North Macedonia Foreign Minister to visit Kosovo today (media)
Grenell: I managed to convince Thaci and Vucic to undo Special Court (media)
UNDP Pulse: Lower satisfaction with work of Kurti, Osmani, Konjufca (Kallxo)
Serb reporter: Besnik Bislimi will visit Mitrovica North on Monday (media)
Administrator: USAID to continue supporting Kosovo (Euronews)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 25, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Varhelyi: Parties to implement reached agreements, including Association (Koha)
• New mayors of northern municipalities sworn in (Radio Free Europe)
• Kurti calls for full, swift and unconditional implementation of agreement (media)
• Exclusive: These are four steps of implementation of the agreement, needs to end by autumn, otherwise “consequences will be immediate” (Albanian Post)
• Haxhiu: Kosovo needs a professional and brave state chief prosecutor (media)
• Radoica Radomirovic appointed Deputy Minister for Communities and Returns (media)
• AJK: Sami Kurteshi’s language against us is very dangerous and unacceptable (Klan)
• Who is Srdjan Jurisevic, Montenegrin arrested in Gjilan on international warrant (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic receives US senators (Tanjug, media)
• ‘KLA’ graffiti appeared on children’s playground in Ugljare village (Tanjug, RTS, N1)
• Freedom House: No change for Serbia (N1)
• Radoica Radomirovic appointed as Rasic’s deputy (KoSSev)
• UNS: In four months 43 cases of attacks, pressure on journalists in Serbia (Beta, N1)
• Without presence of Serbian councillors, with flags of Kosovo and Albania: Mayor of Zubin Potok took oath (Danas)
• Hetemi took oath as Leposavic mayor in Saljska Bistrica (Kosovo Online)
• Zvecan Mayor, Ilir Peci, after taking oath, made statements next to grave of Isa Boletini (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic receives farewell visit from Cypriot ambassador (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Serbia wishes more active presence of OSCE in Kosovo (RTS)

International:

• Kosovo Ruling Party Criticised for Electing Supporter to Media Regulator Board (BIRN)
• Activists Advocate for Lower Taxes on Menstrual Products in Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)

• Three mayors of northern municipalities to swear in today in public buildings (media)
• Rasic on swearing in of mayors: I don’t see any obstacle (media)
• Hovenier: Government to urgently prepare draft statute of Association (RTV21)
• Varhelyi to visit Kosovo today, will meet leaders and opposition (media)
• Reactions to Aliu election as member of Independent Media Commission (media)
• Kosovo to invest €1.77 mil to improve railways, water infrastructure (SeeNews)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Three mayors in the north will swear in tomorrow in public premises (media)
• Krasniqi: New mayors will exercise mandates in their municipalities (Albanian Post)
• Osmani on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue: There is more pressure on Kosovo (Dukagjini)
• Freedom House report: War deepens a regional divide (media)
• Senior western diplomat: If Kosovo doesn’t propose statute for Association, facilitators could seek solutions outside the Constitution (Albanian Post)
• LDK proposal for own source revenues will go to the Assembly (Koha)
• LDK’s Lumir Abdixhiku goes to party elections, certain of another mandate (Express)
• Faton Bislimi resigns from LDK presidency (Paparaci)

Serbian Language Media:

• Diplomatic corps visits Visoki Decani Monastery, recalls unimplemented Constitutional Court decision (KoSSev, media)
• Jevtic: The Constitutional Court assessed that Kostic, the defendant in the "Brezovica" case, was unjustifiably detained (Radio Mitrovica sever, Blic, KiM radio)
• Pristina: Ceremony of signing memorandum to organise European judoka championship without translation in Serbian (Radio KIM)
• General Mojsilovic met Brig Gen Romano (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: Strong willingness of Serbs from Kosovo to come to Belgrade, despite Pristina’s threats (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Momcilo Trajkovic called on fellow citizens of Kosovo not to go to the counter rally on May 26 (N1, FoNet, KiM radio)
• Peci to take the oath at the "Tower of Isa Boletini", Zeqiri in Cabra, Hetemi in Bistrica (Kontakt plus radio, Koha)
• Orlic receives Theophylactou (Tanjug)
• Vucic: Escobar should read Brussels Agreement again (Tanjug, RTS)
• Poll: Majority of respondents believe that BG and PR authorities benefited after Serbs withdrew from Kosovo institutions (KoSSev)

International:

• Germany’s Unique Opportunity to Locate Kosovo War Mass Graves (BIRN)
• Freedom House: Democratic institutions in the Western Balkans continued to falter in 2022 (EWB)

• Extension of UK commitment to NATO's Kosovo Force announced during ministerial visit to Western Balkans (gov.uk)
• 2 US Senators promote closer Serbia-Kosovo ties in Balkans visit (AP)
• Atic appoints four directors - one Albanian, one Bosnian, one Serb and one Egyptian (media)
• Mayors in northern municipalities expected to swear in on Thursday (media)
• June 1, “trap” for destabilization of the north (Radio Free Europe)
• Why is Mogherini silent about the letter she once sent to Mustafa? (RTK)
• Vucic: Kosovo has no competence to propose statute for Association (Reporteri)
• Decani Monastery says visit of diplomats is support for 24 hectares (Reporteri)
• Kosovo Ex-Guerrilla Leaders’ Trial Hears Allegations of Assault (BIRN)
• Director of Visametric in Kosovo Detained by Prosecution (Prishtina Insight)
• Inverted neon house installed in Kosovo pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale (Dezeen)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 23, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Konjufca: No Association without Serbs returning to institutions (Koha)
• Kurti: Judicial and prosecutorial system must be freed from political influence (Koha)
• Gervalla: The region doesn’t need another Republika Srpska (media)
• Krasniqi: Elected mayors will exercise their mandate according to law (media)
• New mayors of northern municipalities expected to swear in this week (RTK)
• EULEX on swearing-in of mayors: We are on standby 24 hrs to react (Front Online)
• Citaku: This government acts as a weak administrator of our taxes (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Radio Gorazdevac: House of a returnee in Vitomirica demolished despite Supreme Court ruling in his favour (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
• US Senators: Good faith should be a demand of negotiations, while joint action is key to the implementation of the agreement (KoSSev)
• Dacic: There was no pronounced pressure on Serbia (Tanjug)
• Former North Mitrovica mayor: Situation in north Kosovo extremely difficult (Tanjug, TV Pink)
• KP: Three minors arrested for shooting in Ugljare (Kosovo Online)

International:

• UK Ambassador Urges Kosovo to Draft Statute for Association (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• From the fields of Nivokaz (Kosovo 2.0)

• Murphy: Association will lead to mutual recognition (RFE)
• Kurti: We have strengthened partnership and alliance with USA (media)
• Borrell: Tensions and mutual provocations have to reach an end (media)
• Mehaj met with US Senator, discuss about advancements of KSF (Euronews)
• Abbott: Vucic’s statement that Kurti plans to expel Serbs from north is ridiculous (Kallxo)
• Kosovo towards completion of genocide lawsuit against Serbia (media)
• Balkan Countries Host ‘Immediate Response’ NATO Exercise (BIRN)
• Witness at Thaci Trial ‘Found Body of Victim of Kosovo Guerrillas’ (BIRN)