UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 13, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We are working to ease the energy crisis (media)
• PDK wants government to react to Vulin’s remarks about Recak massacre (RFE)
• “Kosovo to prosecute war crimes suspects according to chain of command” (Koha)
• Osmani receives credentials of Ambassador of Lithuania, Jurate Raguckiene (media)
• Kosovo, Albania unveil joint project for railway link (Prishtina Insight)
• Results of test samples for Omicron variant to arrive this month (Express)
• In four months, 89 percent of COVID-19 fatalities were not vaccinated (Koha)
• COVID-19: 8 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 33 new cases registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• Vucic: We continue strengthening army due to complicated security situation (N1)
• Avenija: Ungrounded arrests of Serbs disgrace for Kosovo society and international community (Radio KIM)
• Darko Dimitrijevic elected new president of Association of Journalists of Serbia branch in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic reacts to Gervala’s statement, says Pristina rhetoric “inflammatory and anti-Serbian” (Radio KIM)
• Odalovic: Families of missing persons should address Lajcak for support (Radio KIM)
• Selakovic in London, to meet Lajcak, Peach and Escobar (media, GoS website)

International:

• Richard Grenell Exclusive Interview: The Serbia-Kosovo Agreement Was Not Just For Christmas (The Pavlovic Today)

• Serbian minister's statement on Recak continues to draw reactions (media)
• Serwer: If Serbia refuses recognition, Kosovo has the right to reject Association (Koha)
• Kosovo authorities arrest three persons in connection to Gllogjan shooting (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo improving legal framework in efforts to uproot gender-based violence (media)
• Haxhiu: Venice Commission supports changes to prosecutorial system (media)
• Early marriages, a concern in Kosovo (media)
• Three NGOs urge Kurti to remove Egyptians from the RAE group acronym (Telegrafi)
• Meta: Republika Srpska actions threaten regional stability (Koha)
• North Macedonia eyes 3 million tones of Kosovo coal (Reuters)
• COVID-19: Seven new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: No agreement with Serbia without resolving the fate of missing persons (Koha)
• Civil society organisations from Kosovo and Serbia present joint demands on dialogue (media)
• EU: No room to deny or understate what happened in Recak (RFE)
• Pacolli on Vulin's statement: Serbia is trying to lie to the world (Klan)
• A group of U.S. members of Congress urge President Biden to bring justice for all victims of war crimes in Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo president's aide: Criminal groups in the north cooperate with actors in Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Rama and Escobar discussed Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, "Open Balkan" (Klan)
• COVID-19: Seven new cases, one death (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Families of the Missing: Our human rights are being violated daily (KiM radio)
• Vucic: Abuses of democratic principles hamper our well-being (Tanjug, media)
• Belgrade to Athens: Kosovo main political-security challenge (FoNet, N1)
• Blinken: Sanctions and restrictions for 11 officials due to criminal and illegal activities (Kosovo Online, RTV Puls)
• Stevic on US sanctions: I run a legitimate business; 20 years since I’ve last seen Veselinovic (KoSSev)
• “Metal” owner on US sanctions: It’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard, I have no ties to Veselinovic (KoSSev)
• Serbian List: Propaganda actions as justification for the attack on Serbs and an alibi for future moves of Pristina (Kosovo Online)
• One month detention for Dusko Arsic, Office for KiM reaction (KiM radio)
• Poll shows majority of youth want to leave Kosovo (N1)
• Survey: Over half of Serbia’s people believe corruption is present everywhere (FoNet, N1)
• Vulin: “NATO aggression began after the horrible lie about Racak” (N1)

Opinion:

• We should all speak out for survivors (KoSSev)

International:

• Nuclear technology centre planned for Serbia (world-nuclear-news.org)
• 'Nobody's dump': Lithium mine stirs unrest in Serbia (rfi.fr)

Humanitarian/Development:

• UNMIK calls for further efforts to promote equality for all in Kosovo (media)
• Osmani: Kosovo believes in UN values and its vision for sustainable development (Telegrafi)

• Osmani speaks at Democracy Summit, presents three main commitments (media)
• Macron: We will organise a conference for Western Balkans in June (RFE)
• EP on Tuesday about fight against organised crime in Western Balkans (EWB)
• Kurti says criminal group in the north must be tried in Kosovo (media)
• Serbian List opposes U.S. decision on criminal bosses (media)
• Kosovo Serbs close to Serbia’s rulers join US blacklist (BIRN)
• Kosovo arrests Serbian citizen for war crimes on border (BIRN)
• Junior doctors protest failure to allocate special budget for wages (BIRN)
• Kosovo youth train as bakers, waiters to get quick jobs abroad (Reuters)
• Prishtina-Durres railway, Kosovo sets aside €1 million for feasibility (euronews.al)
• Consequences of Vucic’s “passivization” campaign on thousands of Albanians in Serbia (Exit News)
• The anger you’re entitled to (Kosovo 2.0)
• COVID-19: 19 new cases, one death (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 9, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We want a legally binding agreement centred on mutual recognition (Kosovapress)
• Svecla: Sanctions against Veselinovic's group prove our fight against corruption was legitimate (media)
• UK's Abbott welcomes U.S. sanctions against Veselinovic's group (Telegrafi/RTK)
• Haradinaj hails U.S. sanctions as ‘excellent news for Kosovo’ (media)
• Radule Stevic and tenders awarded to him by Kosovo institutions (RFE)
• Minister Aliu confirms having a contract with company sanctioned by the U.S. (EO/Zeri)
• Kosovo joins U.S. in diplomatic boycott of Winter Olympics in China (Koha/Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 33 news cases in Serbian communities (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• I did not yield to protests; I only met people’s demands, President Vucic says (N1)
• Borrell: US sanctions important step in fight against organized crime in Western Balkans (Kosovo-online)
• Millions worth tenders of an entrepreneur from the north of Kosovo, to whom the US imposed sanctions (RFE, KoSSev)
• Trajkovic: Serbian-Albanian connections (Radio KIM)
• KLA flag in Bosniak Mahala, Mitrovica North removed (KoSSev)
• Serb accused of committing war crimes arrested at Jarinje (KoSSev)
• Vucic participates in online Summit on Democracy (RTS)
• Admiral Bauer and General Wolters with KFOR Commander on security situation in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian Parliament Speaker says expropriation law up for public debate (N1)

International:

• As Russia's Balkan Allies Toy With War, Kosovo Banks on U.S. Protection (Newsweek)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Berkovo: Struggling with Covid-19, without technical and potable water (Radio KIM, Radio Gorazdevac)
• Mitrovica North residents on new Covid-19 measures: political decision, making peoples’ lives more difficult (KoSSev)

• U.S. imposes sanctions on controversial Kosovo Serb businessman (BIRN)
• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s statement on sanctions (media)
• Kosovo’s leaders welcome sanctions against Veselinovic and his group (media)
• Vucic: We’ll look into any serious allegations (media)
• Collaku: Kurti should change strategy to win ground with Serbia (euronews.al)
• Hasani: Constitutional Court has cemented obligation to form Association (media)
• Gastronomes to protest against government measures on December 15 (media)
• COVID-19: Ten new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Szunyog: No agreement in dialogue prevents deployment of special unit in northern Kosovo (Klan)
• The U.S. Democracy Summit starts Thursday, Osmani to participate (RTK)
• Weber expects Germany’s stronger commitment on resumption of dialogue (media)
• Qalaj: We have never requested permission for actions in the north (Ekonomia)
• Kosovo to start administering COVID-19 booster shots from Thursday (euronews.al)
• COVID-19: Ten new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Borrell: New Vucic – Kurti meeting unnecessary before preconditions are met (N1)
• Serbian privileging of the north of Kosovo (RFE)
• “There are no obstacles to deploy Kosovo police in the north, but only in coordination with KFOR” (Kosovo-online)
• Rakic's visit to the Municipality of Gracanica without the presence of the media (KiM radio)
• Von Cramon’s tweet: Tabloid headlines, Vucic’s comments, and the SOC reaction (KoSSev, media)
• EU ambassadors confirm opening of Cluster 4 for Serbia (RTS, N1)
• Ambassador De Riu: Belgrade and Pristina to avoid rhetoric that closes room for negotiations (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Stabilisation and Association Council statement following the 4th meeting between the EU and Kosovo* (consilium.europa.eu)
• EU is losing the PR battle and the soft power in the Western Balkans (EWB)

• Kurti and Borrell clash over Association of Serb-majority municipalities (Koha)
• Kurti: Two decades since prison release, I continue to fight for the same causes (media)
• Escobar: U.S. supports implementation of reached agreements (media)
• Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti meets EC President von der Leyen, EP President Sassoli (media)
• Varhelyi on vetting process: No need for such a deep reform (Kosovapress)
• President Osmani meets UK, Austrian ambassadors (media)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo is in the hands of energy mafia (media)
• Kosovo, Albania Ready to Help any Potential US-led Ukraine Mission (BIRN)
• COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 7, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti meets Borrell and Lajcak, talks about future of dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Kurti: We have fulfilled all criteria for visa liberalization (media)
• Meeting between Kurti and Vucic, not expected this year (Koha)
• Sir Stuart Peach’s appointment as special envoy to Western Balkans, important step (RTK)
• Perparim Rama sworn in as mayor of Pristina (media)
• KOSTT's request for allocation of 33 million euros for electricity in the north, rejected (media)
• Kurti represents Kosovo with a footnote in Stabilization and Association Council (Zeri)
• COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 42 new cases, two deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: We are ready to sign agreement on missing persons, but it is Pristina blocking dialogue (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM: Flags of Albania and KLA displayed in Bosniak Mahala (KoSSev)
• NATO senior official says Serbia valued, long-term partner (N1, BETA)
• RCC’s Bregu: Challenges facing EU linked to those W. Balkans experiences (FoNet, N1)
• Von Cramon met SOC Bishop Grigorije (N1, media)
• The White House announced a plan to fight corruption on a global level (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• OSCE Mission condemned repeated vandalism of memorial plaque dedicated to missing Serb journalists (social media)
• Vucic and Hasanpur: Iran respects territorial integrity of Serbia (Kosovo-online, Tanjug)

Opinion:

• The global fight for democracy begins at home (Politico)

International:

• Serbia Strengthening ‘Parallel Structures’, Kosovo Deputy PM Says (Balkan Insight)
• For Serbia’s Stevan Dojcinovic, journalism brings the Balkans’ corruption to light by ‘touching the untouchables’ (theglobeandmail.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• More than 100 cases of sexual violence this year (Koha, KoSSev, RTK2)

• Stano: Pristina and Belgrade have no readiness for dialogue (RFE)
• Kosovo delegation travels to Brussels for Stabilisation and Association Council (media)
• Kurti on Gllogjan case: Best investigators working on it (media)
• Bislimi: Parallel structures in the north stronger than ever (media)
• Kosovo leaders pay tribute to late US senator Bob Dole (euronews.al)
• Kosovo war veterans’ leader ‘trapped’ by leaked documents (BIRN)
• COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kosovo death rate soars as result of COVID, data reveal (Prishtina Insight)
• Head of private sector union warns Kurti of big protests next week (Express)
• Kosovo judges’ ‘sexist’ language in rape trial draws outrage (BIRN)
• Youth from Kosovo will receive direct help from Youth Guarantee scheme (EWB)