UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 30, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Rama: I am here to support Kosovo and its politicians (media)
• PM Rama annuls his meeting with Haradinaj (RTK)
• Orlando: We look forward to visa liberalisation for Kosovo soon! (media)
• 111 patients with coronavirus currently treated at Prishtina Hospital (media)
• Council reacts to Hoti and Zemaj on facemasks remarks (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Tanjug: The EU 'took note' of Thaci's announcement (B92)
• Mihajlovic: Thaci thinks he would manage to ‘cleanse’ his biography as Haradinaj did (Kosovo-online)
• Kosovo police to assist municipal inspectors in enforcing new measures on Covid-19 (Radio kontakt plus)
• Bieber: Enthusiasm for Serbia's Vucic declining in Germany (Beta, Danas, N1)
• German Ambassador: Serbia’s EU integration depends on progress in reforms (N1, FoNet)
• DPM Rakic met Norwegian Ambassador Grondahi (TV Most)

Opinion:

• PDK’s lawsuit against BIRN can’t hide the truth (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Kosovo’s president hits out at ‘fabricated’ war crimes charges (Politico)
• Serbia’s Vučić: Kosovo talks must go on despite Thaçi indictment (Politico.eu)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Coronavirus: Worst could be yet to come, WHO warns (BBC)
• Live Blog: Central, Southeast Europe Responds to Uptick in COVID-19 Pandemic (Balkan Insight)
• OpisMEDIJavanje: Fact-checking protects the journalist and the reputation of the media (KoSSev)
• 60 organizations condemn Austrian embassy’s role in ‘illegal’ hydropower operation (Prishtina Insight)

• President Thaci’s address to the people after proposed indictment (media)
• Hoti: We will react with dignity toward new developments (media)
• Rama starts his day by distributing his speech on defense of KLA (media)
• Vetevendosje’s Nagavci says Thaci’s address was scandalous (media)
• Haradinaj: A great power behind Specialist Chambers (media)
• Zeka: List includes other very powerful political actors (Klan Kosova)
• Abrahams: EU, US to seek justice in Serbia for Kosovo crimes (media)
• Kicmari: I think the President should've resigned tonight (T7)
• 136 new coronavirus cases in last 24 hours (media)
• US State Department Country Report on Terrorism for Kosovo (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Rama: Indictment, a stain of shame (media)
• Selimi: Lack of transparency in dialogue, bad signal for the country (media)
• Osmani denies allegations for KFOR protection and discussing special court with Ambassadors (Express)
• Concerning spread of coronavirus in Kosovo (RFE, media)
• Von Cramon: Macron does not want liberalisation of visas for Kosovars (media)
• Hoti: Not wearing masks represents a criminal offence (media)
• "Trump gives Grenell last chance for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue" (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: If Trump wins, it will be easier for Serbia (Kurir, B92)
• Vucic: Dialogue should resume despite indictment against Thaci (BETA, N1)
• "The indictment in 'carrot and stick' fashion intended for Belgrade" (Tanjug, B92)
• Antonijevic: Increase in the number of newly infected in Serbian communities (Kontakt plus radio)
• New measures to curb Covid-19 in northern municipalities (KoSSev, Radio kontakt plus)
• Djilas: Reconciliation of the people, but not with Vucic and Thaci (KoSSev, N1)
• Serbs mark Vidovdan at Gazimestan Monument (KoSSev, N1)
• Serbian List, Djuric condemned beating of Serbian men at Gazimestan (Kosovo-online)
• Serb house in Gracanica robbed (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Nationalism May Well Haunt a Post-Pandemic Balkans (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo's President To Address War Crimes Charges In Speech To Nation (RFE)
• Germany: Merkel's CDU eyes Western Balkans immigration curbs amid coronavirus (infomigrants.net, DW)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Safe house opened in Zubin Potok (Radio Mitrovica Sever)
• Crisis Staff session ended, new measures to be introduced (B92)

• 87 new coronavirus cases in last 24 hours (media)
• Due to increased cases of Covid-19, EU borders remain closed for Kosovo (Koha)
• PM Hoti: We might have to reintroduce isolation measures (media)
• Osmani: Significant rise requires government’s urgent attention (media)
• Coronavirus spreads in the Assembly (Indeksonline)
• Assembly Presidency and committees should not meet, Council suggests (media)
• President Thaci to address the media on Monday (media)
• Specialist Chambers comment on accusations against Thaci (Klan/Telegrafi)
• Albanian PM Rama to visit Kosovo on Monday (media)
• EULEX work not affected by lack of letter exchange (Koha)
• Serwer: Shore up the Kosovo state (Peacefare.net/Koha)
• EU undercut the U.S.-led Kosovo–Serbia summit (National Review/media)
• Police detain then release two persons during St. Vitus celebrations (media)

• Hoti: Liberation war is sacred, territorial integrity will not be discussed (media)
• German Foreign Office: We support Specialist Chambers (Express)
• German MPs: Parliament not to give in to efforts to abolish special court (media)
• EU considers EULEX has legal mandate to continue mission (Koha)
• Schutz: Germany fully supports vital role of EULEX (media)
• Limaj calls for unity after indictment against Thaci and Veseli (media)
• “Any obstacle to Special Court and EULEX, grave consequences” (media)
• "Call for Justice" supports Specialist Chambers’ work (Kallxo)
• Cakaj after meeting Grenell: No plans for Kosovo partition (media)
• Serb “that threatens the situation” not allowed to enter Kosovo (Koha)
• 62 new coronavirus cases in last 24 hours in Kosovo (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 26, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Thaci to deliver address on Sunday, following war crimes accusations (media)
• Thaci: No one can rewrite Kosovo's history (media)
• Weber: Specialist prosecutors proved to be independent (DW)
• British Embassy concerned over increased attacks against Kosovo Serbs (Klan)
• Two new coronavirus-related deaths reported in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic from Brussels: I expect that Serbia will become a member of the European Union by 2026 (B92, Tanjug)
• Vucic met von der Leyen, Varhelyi and Lajcak in Brussels (B92, media)
• Deutsche Welle: Thaci hoped that Washington would save him? (B92)
• Covic: It is completely clear now that EU, Germany and France work directly against Trump (Kosovo-online)
• "There were indications they'll sign an agreement, why meet at White House?" (Tanjug, B92)
• Kosovo ambassador demands explanation from KSC; Hoti claims his government will not comment on KSC processes (KoSSev)
• Fabrizi: Vucic's visit to Brussels shows readiness for talks with Pristina (N1)

Opinion:

• Op-ed: Kosovo should suspend participation in dialogue (Koha)
• Serwer: Kosovo needs to hedge (Peacefare.net)

International:

• After Kosovo President War Crimes Indictment, Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue Uncertain (VOA)
• Thaci Trial ‘Should Have Happened Before’, Victims’ Families Say (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kon: Situation with coronavirus is getting worse (Tanjug, B92)

• White House meeting between Kosovo and Serbia postponed (media)
• Albanian FM Cakaj in Washington for Kosovo-Serbia agreement (Koha)
• Grenell reacts to NYT story on Washington mtg, says it has ‘lots of errors’ (media)
• Hoti: Now is the right momentum to conclude the dialogue (media)
• French Embassy: France, Germany expect dialogue to resume soon (media)
• President’s Office: EULEX’s mandate in Kosovo over (media)
• Haradinaj comments on indictment against Thaci, Veseli (Telegrafi)
• Former KLA fighter sent to The Hague (media)
• Kosovo PM to visit Tirana next week (media)
• Covid-19: 69 new cases over last 24 hours (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Hoti from Brussels: Dialogue has no alternative (RTK)
• Mustafa: Let us sit together once again prior to meeting Vucic (RTK)
• Hoti: Government engaged in advancing democratic processes (RTK)
• Osmani hosts a meeting with Quint Ambassadors, discuss latest developments (RTK)
• Bildt not surprised if efforts to shut down Specialist Chambers intensify (Koha)
• 106 patients with Covid-19 are being treated at Infectious Disease Clinic (RTK)
• Der Standard: Thaci and Grenell were about to reach a ‘dirty deal’ (Koha)
• Scandalous: The Specialized Prosecutor's Office violated work regulations, professional ethics and its own laws (Indeksonline)
• Association of KLA Veterans: We will ask abrogation of KSC Law in August (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• EU expects Belgrade-Pristina dialogue to resume in July (B92, Tanjug, RTS)
• EC head says will meet Kosovo’s Hoti, Serbia’s Vucic as planned (N1)
• Drecun: They wanted to “trade” in Washington to be excluded from indictments (RTS)
• Two new cases of Covid-19 infection in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Kandic: I expect the indictments to be confirmed, the first on the list is the Drenica group (N1, FoNet, KoSSev)
• Former Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor Vukcevic on Thaci and Veseli’s indictment (KoSSev)
• KLA graffiti and robbed house in Serb villages in Istok municipality (Kosovo-online)
• Stefanovic: Kosovo issue can’t be resolved by agreement of those indicted for war crimes and autocrats (Danas)
• “That was not fight for freedom, but brutal attack against Serbs” (RTS, Radio KIM)
• Judah: Thaci’s legs have been cut off, Vucic has no equal with whom to talk (KoSSev)
• Ahmetaj: I don’t expect resignations or protests (KoSSev)
• Petritsch doubts US success in Belgrade – Pristina talks; Sooner or later elections in Kosovo (N1, Tanjug, B92)
• Rakic and Popovic discussed strengthening of cooperation (TV Most)

Opinion:

• Two Decades on, Kosovo’s Guerrilla Boss Thaci May Finally Face Trial (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovan president’s war crimes indictment puts West in a bind (Politico)
• Presentation of Balkan barometer 2020: The shape of things to come (Regional Cooperation Council)

International:

• Kosovo scraps White House talks with Serbia after leader indicted (Reuters)
• Kosovo: War Crimes Indictment Advances Justice (HRW)
• Thaci Charges ‘Timed’ to Prevent Amnesty Deal in Washington (Balkan Insight)
• Five Things Kosovo Must Know Before Doing a Deal with Serbia (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi indicted on war crimes charges (The Guardian)
• EU-backed court wrecks US plan for Kosovo summit (EUobserver)
• Telekom Srbija places 155 mln euro bid for Kosovo's IPKO - Pristina mayor (SeeNews.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• COVID-19’s far reaching impact on global drug abuse (news.un.org)
• WHO to N1: Classification of Covid-19 cases up to national authorities (N1)

• Thaci, Veseli and others accused of war crimes by Specialist Prosecutor (media)
• Thaci cancels trip to Washington amid filing of war crimes charges (media)
• Hoti cancels Washtington trip (media)
• Veseli calls indictment against him 'political' and ‘groundless’ (media)
• Hoti: No one can be considered guilty without final decision of the court (media)
• Osmani calls for maturity and unity (media)
• Kurti: Indictment, new consequence of older mistakes (media)
• Mustafa: Hoti to decide himself if he will go to Washington (media)
• Haziri: There will be no White House meeting (Syri TV/Telegrafi)
• Collaku: Disgusting to try freedom fighters in the name of justice (media)
• Limaj: KLA fighters being politically persecuted (media)
• Konjufca: Dialogue to stop until Specialist Chamber completes its work (Koha)
• Ahmeti: Events ahead of White House meeting have no good intentions (media)
• EU does not comment on indictment against Thaci and Veseli (Koha)
• State Department: Indictment, step forward in justice and reconciliation process (VOA)
• Former SITP prosecutor comments on indictment against Thaci (media)
• Rama on indictment: Cannot find words to express indignation (RTK)
• Op-ed: A planned Kosovo-Serbia meeting at the White House is falling apart. It was always a bad idea. (WaPo)
• Weber: Specialist Prosecutor feared Thaci plans to negotiate amnesty (RFE)
• Serwer: Kosovo is in trouble (Peacefare.net/Koha)
• Op-ed: Anatomy of a Kosovo Summit Catastrophe (Foreign Policy)
• 95 new coronavirus cases in last 24 hours (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 24, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: EU has not delivered on visa liberalisation promise (KP/Koha)
• PDK submits request for creation of committee on privatisation (Klan)
• Zemaj: We are trying to pursue mass testing for Covid-19 (Klan)
• 85 coronavirus patients receiving treatment at Infectious Clinic in Pristina (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbia's army among participants, Vucic among guests at Moscow parade (Beta, FoNet, N1)
• Vucic: I spoke with Macron, I expect swift continuation of Brussels dialogue (Tanjug)
• NGO: Concern over increase in incidents in Serb communities in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio, KIM radio)
• Gracanica: First case of coronavirus infection recorded- unofficial (RTK2)
• Godfrey: America offers Serbia and Kosovo a chance (Danas)
• Grenell denies NYT report Trump will meet Vucic on June 27 (FoNet, N1)
• Vucic after meeting Putin: "We discussed issues I cannot talk about in public" (B92)
• Priluzje residents: Four people dead after ‘consuming suspicious brandy’; KP and Prosecution: Waiting for autopsy results (KoSSev)
• Lajcak: Belgrade-Pristina talks in July, EU insists on implementation of deals (N1, FoNet)
• Detention of Marko Rosic extended for two more months (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Serbia, Kosovo Leaders Expected in Brussels before Washington Meeting (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo talks to focus on economy, less likely to affect US military role (Stars and Stripes)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Western Balkans coal power plants are still breaching pollution limits (emerging-europe.com)
• Vucic: Claims on reduced number of dead and infected in Serbia hypocritical (BETA, N1)
• Serbian anti-Covid-19 Crisis Team: Face masks mandatory in public transport (N1)
• OpisMEDIJavanje: Public service broadcasters should reflect pluralism of society (KoSSev)