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UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 15, 2022

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 15, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti officially submits Kosovo's application for EU membership in Prague (media)
• Osmani: The time of border traders has ended once and for all (media)
• Kurti has travelled to Prague, at 13:00 he submits the application for the EU (RTK)
• Kosovo: by receiving candidate status, dynamics in dialogue would accelerate (Koha)
• PDK does not participate in the President's annual speech (RTK)
• AAK also boycotts Osmani's annual address to the Assembly (media)
• Borrell: Barricades must be removed; let’s return to discussions (Koha)
• Varhelyi on visa liberalisation: Work for the fight against crime gave results (Klan)
• Albanian President welcomes Kosovo application for EU membership (media)
• Peci: Serb population is in the most difficult position in the north (Nacionale)
• New barricades set up in the north (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• EULEX chief: We don’t know exactly where Pantic is being held (N1, RTS, Kosovo Online, Srna)
• Wigemark with Rakic discuss security situation, rule of law in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Day six at barricades in northern Kosovo (RTS)
• Hill: Serbia has right to address KFOR, however, political solution is needed (N1)
• Vucic: Pristina officially violates Washington agreement, Belgrade response this evening (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Pristina's EU membership bid a political marketing move (media)
• DefMin: Wrong assumption that Serbia doesn’t know what it’s doing (N1)
• Mitrovica North Assembly gets new speaker (N1)
• Djuric on appointment of new municipal councillors in Mitrovica North (Tanjug, social media)
• Vucic: Conversation with Lajcak, Escobar fair, sincere (Tanjug)
• Trajkovic kept at the Merdare crossing, then allowed to cross to Kosovo (KiM radio, N1, Danas, NMagazin)
• Momirovic: Food and fuel supplies under threat in Kosovo north (Tanjug)

International:

• Kosovo officially applies for EU membership in symbolic act (Al Jazeera)
• Serbian president holds talks with EU, US officials on de-escalation with Kosovo (AA)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 15, 2022

• Kosovo Leaders Sign EU Candidacy Application (BIRN)
• Kurti hails agreement on visa liberalisation (media)
• EU Parliament, Council reach agreement on Kosovo visa liberalisation (media)
• Escobar calls for removal of barricades and formation of Association (Koha)
• Lajcak: Vucic understands seriousness of situation in the north (RFE)
• NATO: Barricades in the north should be removed immediately (Koha)
• Bislimi: Barricades not placed by local Serbs but by a radical group supported by Belgrade (BBC)
• US expects govt proposal for Association, implies to do it with civil society (Koha)
• Mandl for Kosovo's EU application: Important step at the right time (Koha)
• Kosovo Albanians Take Serb-Vacated Council Seats in Divided Town (BIRN)
• Albin Kurti, the most liked leader, poll shows (Klan Kosova)
• Konjufca: We aim to be leaders in region for parliamentary transparency (Koha)
• Krasniqi: No more Serbian soldiers in Kosovo, this was closed in ’99 (Koha)
• First Kosovo Guerrilla Verdict Due at Hague ‘Special Court’ (BIRN)
• Serbian Ex-Policeman Pleads Not Guilty to Kosovo War Crimes (BIRN)
• Why tensions have flared up between Kosovo and Serbia (TRT World)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 14, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Application for Kosovo's membership in the EU, signed (Koha)
• Kurti: We will submit membership application to Czech presidency of EU in Prague (media)
• Kosovo Police refute Serbian media reports that Pantic was mistreated (media)
• Ministry: No agreement stops special police units from going to the north (RFE)
• Kurti: Foreign investments have increased by 46 percent compared to last year (Kallxo)
• Mehaj: The fourth anniversary of the army finds us with great successes (media)
• Mitrovica North SL assembly members replaced by those from Civic Initiative (media)
• Edita Tahiri: Escobar silenced Kurti (Ekonomia)
• Borrell talks about Thaci: We arrested him while he was still president (media)
• Ukrainian MP sends Zelensky request for recognition of Kosovo's independence (Ekonomia)
• PSD with "Tension for Association" action in front of the government (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic’s question: Western partners to say which documents they will respect, mentioning the sixth from Thessaloniki on EU enlargement to the WB (media)
• The Kosovo government made a decision on land expropriation in Leposavic and Z. Potok (KoSSev)
• North Mitrovica Municipal Assembly: New councillors sworn in (Kontakt plus radio)
• Petkovic: Serb-majority municipality taken over by Albanians (Radio KIM)
• Serbs on barricades for fifth day, night went peacefully (RTS)
• Vucic to meet with Lajcak, Escobar on Wednesday (Tanjug)
• Radosavljevic: Serbs are not against (CSM) ZSO, but against what it symbolises (VoA)
• EU Council expects Serbia to align with EU foreign policy (N1, Beta, RTS)
• Dacic to UNMIK chief: UN important for territorial integrity (media)
• Family of Dejan Pantic say his innocence can easily be proved, if trial is just (RTS)
• Brnabic reacts to Escobar’s remark on return of Serbian security personnel (Kosovo Online, social media, Danas)
• Odalovic: Situation in Kosovo requires serious reaction of international community (Tanjug)
• Verdict delivered to Todosijevic, Petkovic says additional pressure on Serbs (Radio KIM)

International:

• Scholz says Balkans joining EU is in Germany’s interest (AP)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 14, 2022

• Escobar, Kurti, Lajcak call for normalization of situation (media)
• U.S. categorically against return of Serbian forces to Kosovo (RFE)
• Lajcak: Much better ways to remove barricades than with bulldozers (Telegrafi)
• U.S., EU envoys urge Kosovo and Serbia not to fuel violence (Reuters)
• Stoltenberg: NATO is very focused on Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Barricades still up in north despite calls for removal (Pristina Insight)
• Sarrazin: Crisis in north of Kosovo should be used to advance dialogue (RTK)
• EU congratulates Kosovo on reforms (media)
• EULEX: Security situation in north of Kosovo is worrying (Klan)
• Kovacevski: Kosovo-Serbia agreement guarantees peace in the region (RTK)
• Kosovo, facing some opposition, to apply this week to join EU (Reuters)
• Far-Right Protesters Rally In Belgrade In Support Of Kosovar Serbs As EU Urges De-Escalation (RFE)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 13, 2022

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 13, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Stoltenberg: NATO closely monitoring the situation in north (Lajmi)
• KFOR: Important to avoid any renewed escalation; we remain extremely vigilant (media)
• Kurti: This week we will submit application for EU membership (RFE)
• Kurti discussed with MEPs about Kosovo's membership in the EU (RTK)
• Lajcak to visit Pristina and Belgrade (media)
• Haradinaj meets Escobar and Hovenier (media)
• KP: Reports of rude behaviour do not stand (media)
• Roads in the north of Kosovo remain blocked (RTK)
• Text of "European" proposal for "basic agreement between Kosovo and Serbia" (Koha)
• Krasniqi: Law does not foresee appointment of administrators in municipalities (EO)
• Rasic: I am here to build bridges and I have experience in this (Klan Kosova)
• Tahiri: Serbia wants to divide north from Kosovo because of Trepca mine (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Situation in northern Kosovo unchanged (RTS)
• UNMIK calls for de-escalation and restraint in northern Kosovo (RTS)
• Drecun: Pressure on Serbia to accept the EU plan and abandon Resolution 1244 (NMagazin, Beta, TV Pink)
• EU ministers today and about the situation in the north of Kosovo (media)
• Pantic rendered 30-day detention (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Detention of Dejan Pantic attempt to criminalise Serbs in Kosovo (N1. media)
• Simic says Pantic and Adzic are innocent (Radio KIM)
• KFOR: Important to avoid renewed escalation, the road to peace is the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (Kosovo Online, Danas)
• Stoltenberg: All sides to restrain from escalation, NATO forces vigilant (Tanjug, RTV)
• Escobar: No comment after meeting with Kurti (N1, BETA, social media)
• Serbian PM Brnabic reacts to Viola von Cramon’s remarks (N1, media)
• Dacic: We are trying to get Pristina's EU bid disputed by non-recognizers (Tanjug, media)

International:

• Kosovo Assembly Approves Law on Salaries in Principle (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 13, 2022

• French-German plan gets support from 27 EU member states (Koha Ditore)
• Borrell urges Kosovo and Serbia to de-escalate after latest clashes (Reuters)
• Kurti meets Escobar; “barricades must be removed immediately” (media)
• Osmani meets Escobar, discuss urgent need to remove barricades (media)
• Escobar meets the Serbian List, discuss political and security situation (media)
• PM advisor: French-German plan is a good basis for discussions (KTV)
• Hovenier and Escobar meet Kosovo civil society representatives (media)
• France ‘concerned’ by attacks in Kosovo (Euractiv)
• Court orders 30-day detention for Pantic, suspected of terror act (media)
• President’s Chief of Staff reacts to closure of schools in north (media)
• Does Nenad Rasic’s appointment violate Kosovo’s constitution? (BIRN)
• Protest in Belgrade in support of Kosovo Serbs (Radio Free Europe)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 12, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Borrell: Fighting in the street doesn’t lead to normalisation of situation (Telegrafi)
• Von Cramon: Restoration of peace and stability must be a priority (media)
• Escobar, Chollet expected to meet opposition leaders tomorrow morning (Telegrafi)
• Chollet’s visit to Kosovo postponed, infected with COVID-19 (Telegrafi)
• German diplomat reiterates: Serbia is responsible for the situation in the north (RTK)
• Musliu: Police officers in Jarinje for 55 hours; food supplies running out (Nacionale)
• Rama: Kosovo has understanding and support of Albanian government (KP)
• Serb schools in north of Kosovo closed (RFE)
• Trajkovic: My children too are being threatened; responsibility falls on Vucic (media)
• Two reporters threatened in the north (Gazeta Metro)
• Ukrainian MP expresses support for Kosovo (RTK)
• Grenell: Europeans must change their directions on Kosovo-Serbia strategy (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic to Pristina and EU officials: Which of the five agreements will you respect (N1)
• Dacic reveals what Annalena Baerbock told him (Danas)
• Rakic in Rudare: We want peace and an end to hunting of Serbs (Kosovo Online)
• Belgrade liaison officer sent request to Pristina to visit Dejan Pantic (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Serbs to respect KFOR and EULEX (KiM radio, Beta, RTS)
• Vucevic: I hope that KFOR and EULEX will not allow the violent removal of the barricades (KiM radio, Beta, TV Pink)
• Northern Kosovo still blocked, peaceful night at barricades (N1)
• Primary and secondary schools in northern Kosovo closed until further notice (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: We have assurances EULEX, KFOR will not take violent action (Tanjug)
• Vucic: We have taken measures to protect our homeland, we call for peace (N1)
• Petkovic: Kosovo special forces entered Gazivode (N1)
• New reports of Kosovo special police mistreating local Serbs in Zubin Potok (Kosovo Online)
• Drecun claims Pristina eavesdropping on communications (Kosovo Online)
• Tadic: International public must know Serbs are exposed to Kurti’s violence (Kosovo Online)
• Jeremic says Kurti the most responsible for escalation in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic reacts to Baerbock’s remarks, terms it ‘stunning level of absurdity’ (Kosovo Online)
• Grenell reacts to Baerbock’s remarks on tensions in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Branbic reacts to Borrell’s remarks on barricades in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Check Foreign Minister reacts to situation in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Kosovo Serb Barricades Remain up Despite Calls for Removal (BIRN)
• EU's Borrell urges Kosovo and Serbia to de-escalate after latest clashes (Reuters)
• EU Urges De-Escalation In Kosovo, U.S. Sends Envoys To Pristina After Latest Clashes (RFE)
• Kosovo calls for NATO intervention after weekend of violence amid rising ethnic tensions (CNN)
• Serbia's president says Belgrade seeks to deescalate situation in Kosovo (Reuters)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Municipality of Pristina allocates €500 per month to victims of violence (Klan)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 12, 2022

• Kurti says he is waiting for KFOR to remove barricades in the north (RFE)
• Government refutes claims for deployment of special forces in north (RFE)
• Serbs in Kosovo clash with police as ethnic tensions flare (Reuters)
• Tensions rise, violence reported in Kosovo as ethnic Serbs block roads (RFE)
• German FM: Kosovo reduced tensions by postponing elections, recent rhetoric from Serbia did the opposite (media)
• Joint statement of U.S. Embassies in Belgrade and Pristina (media)
• Statement by United Kingdom Embassies in Pristina and Belgrade (media)
• Kurti: We do not seek conflict but dialogue and peace (media)
• NATO: Parties to avoid provocative actions and rhetoric (media)
• Albanian PM Rama reacts to incidents in north of Kosovo (media)
• Chollet, Escobar start their visit to Kosovo (media)
• Escobar begins visit to Kosovo with visit to Decani Monastery (media)
• RFE secures French-German plan; doesn’t mention mutual recognition
• Kosovo to submit EU bid in coming days (Politico)
• Bildt: Things will heat up as Kosovo intends to submit EU application (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 9, 2022

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 9, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: There will never be police and soldiers of Serbia in Kosovo again (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo Police is not oriented against Serbs (media)
• Situation in north of Kosovo reported to be calm (RFE)
• EU concerned about “very serious” situation in north Kosovo (RFE)
• Rohde: Elections in the north must be postponed (RTK)
• AJK condemns the attack on journalists in the north, demands security (media)
• UK sanctions Milan Radoicic and Zvonko Veselinovic (Gazeta Express)
• Masked persons attack vehicle of reporters in Mitrovica North (Kallxo)
• Masked persons seen near Bosniak Neighborhood in north Kosovo (Klan)
• U.S. recommends religious communities’ registration without criteria on number of their members (Koha)
• LDK demands Minister Haxhiu’s resignation after disappearance of samples (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic: ZSO not a matter of Kurti's wishes, but an obligation from the agreement (KiM radio)
• Serbian List reaction to Veselinovic, Radoicic, Tepic sanctions (Kosovo Online, Danas, Kontakt plus radio)
• Situation in Mitrovica North calm, but tense (RTS)
• Stano: EU calls for responsibility and calming of tensions in north of Kosovo (RTS)
• Brnabic says Serbia to demand everything that is in line with UN SC Resolution 1244 (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: “We sent final appeal to international community, Serbs will no longer endure Kurti’s terror” (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Tadic says Petkovic ‘deceives’ public (Danas)
• Igor Simic: We are committed to peace, but it is boiling here (RTS, Tanjug, media)
• Djuric: A textbook example of inflaming conflict in Kosovo (Danas)
• Rasic: I will ask Kurti to delay the election (KiM radio, Danas)
• Serbian Orthodox Church: Increased pressure of Kosovo institutions on Serbs (Beta, NMagazin)
• In three settlements in Mitrovica North there were no members of Kosovo police this morning (N1)
• Drecun: Ultimate Kurti’s goal is to send KSF to northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Attempted robbery in Leposavic, Serbian bank confirms exchange of fire (KoSSev)
• Stojanovic: Return of Serbian army in Kosovo at this moment unrealistic (Radio KIM)

International:

• KALLXO Team and Police Attacked in the North (BIRN)
• Branded ‘Scum’ in Serbia, Kosovo Serb Defends Cabinet Role (BIRN)
• Serbia Considering Sending 1,000 ‘Security Personnel’ Into Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 9, 2022

• Kosovo police officer wounded in volatile northern region (Reuters)
• President’s Office reacts to Petkovic’s statement (media)
• Government: Regular police in north, not special units (Radio Free Europe)
• Chollet: Elections in north should be delayed (media)
• Svecla on elections in north: We coordinate with allies; President decides (RTK)
• Konjufca: Main person of justice has file on gangs in north, doesn’t act (media)
• Trajkovic: Alarming situation in north; Vucic caused security vacuum (media)
• Kurti: Green agenda remans our priority (media)
• Dozens of Kosovo Serbs protest customs’ confiscation of illegal alcohol (BIRN)
• Kosovo holds march against abuse of disabled (Anadolu Agency)