Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 27, 2023

• Quint statement on local elections scheduled for April 23 (media) • Kurti: Agreement with Serbia is de facto mutual recognition (Koha/Klan) • PDK: As opposition, we will commit to protection of constitutionality (RTK) • AAK: Drafting of anti-constitutional laws becoming a norm (Koha) • Prosecution gives details about fire at Institute of Forensic Medicine (media) • Kurti: Serbian forces destroyed bodies in an attempt to destroy the truth (Koha) • LDK: The government is punishing the municipalities of Kosovo (RTK) • Trajkovic talks about life threats she is receiving (Koha) • Albanians in Kosovo protest EU proposal to establish Union of Serb Municipalities (Anadolu Agency) • Right-Wing Serbian parties protest agreement with Kosovo on anniversary of NATO bombing campaign (RFE) • Athens assures Belgrade it will not recognize Kosovo (Anadolu Agency)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 24, 2023

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 24, 2023 Albanian Language Media: • European Council welcomes agreement on path to normalisation (media) • Gervalla: We don’t have agreement, Serbia refused to sign (Nacionale/Diario de Noticias) • American Chamber of Commerce welcomes Kosovo-Serbia agreement (Klan Kosova) • Osmani: NATO prevented extermination of people of Kosovo (Klan Kosova) • U.S.: NATO’s use of force was both necessary and legitimate (media) • Kurti to visit Tirana on March 26, will meet Rama and Nikolla (media) • Krasniqi: Increase of energy tariffs, latest blow against Kosovo families (media) • PDK spokesperson: We’ll get visa liberalisation as Kurti yielded on Association (media) Serbian Language Media: • 24th anniversary of NATO bombing commemorated (N1, media) • Serbian List: We do not take part in elections because of institutional violence against Serbs (RTS, media) • Brigadier General Giampiero Romano: We do not forget past, but we can go forward (Tanjug) • Ambassador Hill offers condolence to families of those killed in war and NATO bombing (KoSSev, social media) • Gasic met Botsan-Kharchenko (Tanjug) • Four Serbian opposition parties send letter to EU officials and non-recognizers on European plan (Radio KIM) • Vucic met Dendias (Tanjug) • Bishop Grigorije: Great Problems Require Great Men to Solve Them (KoSSev) • Members of opposition parties block traffic in front of Serbian Government (BETA) • Grenell: No one signed "agreement" (media, social media) • Chollet thanks Vucic for constructive engagement in Ohrid (Tanjug) • Jovanovic: Authorities avoid discussion on Kosovo, that is why there is no assembly session (KoSSev) International: • Kurti demands condemnation of Serbian List by EU, after their boycott of local elections (BIRN) • In pictures: 24 years from NATO’s bombing of Yugoslavia (Prishtina Insight) • As NATO Bombed Yugoslavia, Fear Gripped Serbs in Kosovo (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 24, 2023

• Borrell: Any attempt to question the agreement is futile (media) • U.S. expects agreement to pave way to recognition by 5 EU members (Koha) • Kosovo will implement measures agreed on with Serbia, PM says (Reuters) • If Association with executive powers becomes mandatory, Kosovo faces new elections, Assembly Speaker says (Prishtina Insight) • Kurti: SL decision not to take part in elections, sign of Belgrade control (media) • Von Cramon calls on Serbian List to take part in elections (RFE) • Vela: Serbia is violating the agreement, sanctions should follow (Albanian Post) • Hill: Talks for a Kurti-Vucic meeting to explain several things (media) • U.S. Ambassador to EU meets Kosovo Ambassador to Brussels (media) • Osmani: NATO membership, one of main objectives (Albanian Daily News) • Kosovo and Serbia must keep their promise on missing persons (BIRN) • In Serbia, cooperation with Kosovo scientists can bring threats of violence (BIRN) • Hovenier: Kosovo remains a champion of Religious Freedom (media) • Kosovo dervishes welcome spring with centuries-old mystical practices (RFE)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 22, 2023

Albanian Language Media: • Kurti: The EU must ensure that the agreed agreements are implemented (media) • Osmani: Borrelli cannot agree on behalf of Vucic (media) • Kurti lists “obstacles” in his two-year mandate as prime minister (Koha) • Abdixiku: Letters of U.S. presidents talked about a final agreement with recognition (media) • Ziv: Israel and Kosovo committed to opening new chapters of cooperation (RTK) • Government allocates around €300 thousand for Ukrainian and Afghan journalists in Kosovo (media) Serbian Language Media: • Simic: ZSO and withdrawal of special police preconditions for Serbs’ return to institutions (N1, FoNet, Politika) • Vucic: KFOR acted professionally during crisis in Kosovo (N1, media) • Vucevic: Impression is that Serbia was more constructive partner in Ohrid (Tanjug) • Sekulic: I am afraid of the unfolding of an extra-institutional nature, elections are also very possible (N1) • Students opposing the European agreement announced participation in the blockades of institutions (KoSSev, Danas, Beta) • Hill: Signing the agreement is not very important, implementation is the real issue (NMagazin, FoNet, N1) • Andric Rakic: If Pristina remains consistent - from April 1, Serbs with KM licence plates will not be able to drive in Kosovo and use crossings (Danas) • The first test of the Ohrid agreement is the Serbian List participation in the elections on April 23 (Danas, FoNet) • Dacic meets with OSCE's Schmidt in Vienna (Tanjug) • Kurti: The degree of self-management will not be the same as the CSM (ZSO) (RTS) Humanitarian/Development: • How did Crossplag go global? The success story of a Kosovar start-up (BIRN) • Every village in Kosovo now connected to high-speed broadband internet, with World Bank support (worldbank.org)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 22, 2023

• EU Envoy says agreement reached by leaders of Kosovo, Serbia is turning point on road to normalisation (Radio Free Europe) • Kurti: Vucic declined generous offer of self-management for K-Serbs (media) • Starovic reacts to Kurti’s offer for self-management for K-Serbs (media) • Vela reacts to Vucic saying Serbia won’t agree to Kosovo UN membership (media) • NATO chief on Ohrid agreement: Parties to fully implement it (Klan Kosova) • Kurti: We’ll address shortcomings identified in State Department report (media) • State Department report: Domestic violence still a problem in Kosovo (BIRN) • Szunyog meets Krasniqi, discuss opposition’s support for agreement (media) • Lajcak, ICRC President discuss missing persons cases in Balkans (Express) • Hasani: South Tyrol can be a model for the Association in Kosovo (T7) • Kurti meets generals Hoppe and Hammerstein (media) • COMKFOR Ristuccia meets Mojsilovic in Belgrade (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 21, 2023

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 21, 2023 Albanian Language Media: • UN hails agreement between Serbia and Kosovo (media) • Kurti: I expect international factors to reprimand Serbia (media) • Musliu: For PDK, the agreement is unacceptable (Kallxo) • Krasniqi: State Department report shows failure of Kurti’s government (media) • Rexhepi on Association: Doesn’t have to do with minority rights (KTV) • “Bad ending”; Selimi, Ischinger and Maliqi predict failure of Ohrid agreement (Express) • Mustafa: Kosovo didn’t win anything; deal helped avoid instability in the north (media) • What is self-management? (Albanian Post) • Serwer: Ohrid agreement did not have any major content (RTK) Serbian Language Media: • Vucic: Legally binding for Serbia when it signs or verbally agrees (KiM radio, N1, FoNet) • Todic on expropriation, international organisations’ responses (Kosovo-Online) • Belgrade and Pristina complicate life for Serbs from the North of Kosovo with moves around vehicle plates: Is a new crisis approaching? (Danas) • Vucic: Italy a sincere friend, has never put Serbia under grave pressure (Tanjug) • Tajani: Balkans has strategic significance (Tanjug, media) • Dacic: Serbia has set aside 1.5 mln euros more in aid to Syria, Turkey (Tanjug) Opinion: • Power Has Corrupted Vetëvendosje’s ‘Operating Map’ (BIRN) International: • After Agreement, Kosovo and Serbia Argue Over Implementation (Balkan Insight) • 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (state.gov.)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 21, 2023

• Borrell: Ohrid Agreement creates new status-quo in dialogue, Association is an urgent matter (media) • Kurti: We have enough votes for membership in the Council of Europe (TeVe1) • Murati: Kosovo wasn’t allowed at donors' conference without a footnote (media) • State Department: Government corruption and gender-based violence, among key problems in Kosovo (media) • Guerot: There will be consequences if agreements are not respected (media) • Hovenier thanks Osmani for sharing experiences and thoughts (RTK) • Haradinaj: Three objectives must be achieved in first phase of implementation of agreement (TeVe1) • Serbia, Kosovo ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ on EU-backed deal unpacked (euractiv) • Serbia and Kosovo Weren’t Desperate Enough for an Ohrid Breakthrough (BIRN) • UAE welcomes Serbia-Kosovo agreement on plan to normalise relations (wam.ae) • Analysts on Ohrid meeting: It did not bring what was expected, there is no agreement without compromise (eoronews.al) • Prosecution Case in Kosovo Ex-Guerrillas’ Trial ‘Could Take Six Years’ (BIRN) • Serbian List: We won’t take part in elections without Association (gazeta10) • Suspect for Arson Attack on Kosovo Journalist’s House Detained (BIRN) • Francophonie Week Starts in Peja (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 20, 2023

Albanian Language Media: • Escobar: Implementation of normalisation agreement must start immediately (RFE) • Hovenier: Kurti to work with us on implementation of Association (Koha) • Kurti: EU to find mechanism to make agreement legally & internationally binding (media) • Kurti to report about Ohrid agreement to Assembly on Thursday (media) • Ischinger: Implementation will require constant supervision, and nudging (media) • PDK calls for dismissal of Minister Rozeta Hajdari (Telegrafi) • Tahiri reacts to Osmani: Easiest to criticise internationals when you fail (EO) Serbian Language Media: • Civil society: Work to build trust so that political agreements take root and benefit society (Kontakt plus radio) • Dacic: Serbia managed to protect its national interests in Ohrid (Kosovo Online) • Jeremic on consequences of European proposal on Kosovo (N1) • Metropolitan Joanikije: Agreement is unacceptable if it means that Kosovo is treated as an independent state (KoSSev) • Gathering against EU plan on Kosovo took place on Friday in Belgrade (N1, media) • SNS top official criticises opposition gathering over Kosovo issue (BETA, TV Pink) • Opposition calls for new protest against European proposal (Radio KIM) • Drecun: Progress made in Ohrid, ‘traps’ of EU proposal avoided (Tanjug, TV Pink) • Montgomery: Vucic deserves full support in fighting against pressure (Kosovo Online, Tanjug) • Three Serbian houses in Kosovo burglarized (Radio KIM) Opinion: • Serbia and Kosovo Weren’t Desperate Enough for an Ohrid Breakthrough (BIRN) • Nenezic on the annex to the European agreement: A lot of bureaucracy about a little bit big obligations (KoSSev) • Lazarevic: These negotiations distance Serbia from Kosovo (N1, KoSSev) • Hoxha: For the USA more important not to waste time then the signature; inevitable formation of the CSM (ZSO) or whatever it's called (KoSSev, Nova S, News Max Adria) • Ognjen Gogic: Lower probability of the formation of the CSM (ZSO) after the Ohrid meeting (Danas) • In the north, "confused" after Ohrid, they don't know anything about plates, institutions... (N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 20, 2023

• United States welcomes accord between Kosovo and Serbia (media) • State Department urges Kosovo and Serbia to immediately implement their agreement (The Pavlovic Today) • EU publishes Implementation Annex of Kosovo-Serbia agreement (media) • Osmani: Accommodative approach towards Serbia should change (media) • NATO: Kosovo and Serbia to implement what they agreed on (RTK) • Hovenier on talks in Ohrid: An important agreement has been reached (media) • Germany congratulates Kosovo and Serbia (media) • UNMIK chief Ziadeh welcomes progress made in Ohrid (media) • Ohrid Agreement, Slovak Foreign Minister promises support (RTK) • Turkey welcomes Ohrid agreement between Kosovo and Serbia (media) • Kosovo and Serbia agree to EU plan to normalise relations (Financial Times) • Despite 'Difficult' Talks, Kosovo And Serbia Reach Agreement On Normalizing Ties (RFE) • Krasniqi: Kurti accepted everything he had promised not to accept (media) • PSD to protest on Saturday, demands Kurti's resignation (media) • Smoke and mirrors make confusion, not peace (peacefare.net) • Petritsch: Implementation leads to normalisation and recognition (RFE) • “Kurti couldn’t refuse!” Analyst: He grew politically with the Association (euronews.al) • Vucic: Serbia ready to work on implementation up to its red lines (Tanjug) • Opposition criticizes Vucic after Ohrid talks: Citizens are deceived (N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 17, 2023

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 17, 2023 Albanian Language Media: • EU: The meeting in Ohrid will focus on finalising the Annex to the Agreement (media) • Escobar optimistic about Ohrid: USA, the biggest supporter of Kosovo in the world (media) • PM Kurti meets U.S. Envoy Gabriel Escobar (Klan) • Osmani: Any tendency of Serbia to hinder agreement through conditionality damages dialogue (media) • Konjufca meets with Escobar: Kosovo is constructive, unlike Serbia as an undermining party (media) • March 22, deadline for applications for certification of political entities for elections in the north (media) Serbian Language Media: • 19 years since March violence, organisers not held responsible yet (N1, KoSSev, media) • Activities to commemorate anniversary of March violence in Kosovo (KoSSev, media) • Serbian officials on March violence (media, social media) • US Ambassador Hill on March violence (Kosovo Online, Kurir) • Vucic: We have still not received draft paper on what EU wants (Tanjug) • KSF member suspected of wounding Serb youth in Gotovusa sent to house arrest (KoSSev) • Reactions to send KSF member suspected of wounding Serb youth in Gotovusa to house arrest (Radio KIM, media) • Vucic thanks Cuba for supporting Serbia's territorial integrity (Tanjug) • Obradovic: Vucic never said he is against Kosovo membership in UNESCO, Interpol (BETA) • Vucic: We will preserve integral Serbia as written in Constitution (BETA, N1) Humanitarian/Development: • KoSSev director wins award for a story about life in Cernica, award money to be donated to a family in Koretiste (KoSSev, media)