UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 22, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Hovenier on NATO raids in ‘99: Let’s remove every doubt, the world witnessed an ethnic cleansing, use of force was necessary (Gazeta Express)
• Citaku: We’ve called for early elections since July last year (Nacionale)
• Tahiri: 3rd year of bad governance, Kurti gives up and calls for elections (media)
• Pacolli comments on if he would vote for ousting Kurti government (Indeksonline)
• U.S. Embassy: Honored to have Robinson visit Kosovo this week (media)
• Musliu: After failure in Banjska, Serbia may provoke with official troops (Telegrafi)
• 50 organizations send open letter to Kurti on “critical situation of rivers” (Kallxo)
• AmCham comments on “political interference in justice institutions” (media)
• Hoxhaj hails decision for membership negotiations with Bosnia (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Starovic: Kurti invents invasion to continue mistreatment of Serbs in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Ministry of Defence: Kurti’s allegations on movement of Serbian Army near administrative line continuation of disinformation campaign (Kosovo Online, Danas, media)
• Pantic-Pilja: Bakoyannis recommended Kosovo's admission to the CoE (Kosovo Online, Blic)
• Sentic: Serbian is one of the two equal official languages in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• KDI Director: Serbs have right to Cyrillic, populist behavior of authorities instead of promoting dialogue, cooperation and integration (KoSSev, media)
• Media Center Caglavica journalists received accreditation from Presidency, in Albanian language (medijacentar.info)
• Dacic: Serbia-Russia intergovernmental committee to meet in autumn (Tanjug)
• Pristina: Both Kurti and the opposition ready for early elections (RTS)

Opinion:

• Timothy Less on burst of fire from Pristina: Mix of nervousness and excessive efforts (Blic)
• Tatal: Super Election Year May Hold Key to Bosnia’s Fate (BIRN)

International:

• Yugoslavia’s NATO Bombing Victims: Official Death Toll Unclear, 25 Years Later (BIRN)
• Serbia Mulls Scrapping Ban on Nuclear Power Production (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• CHC in Gracanica responded positively to request that women in labor be accompanied during childbirth (Radio KIM, KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Serbian forces have approached the border, we are observing carefully (media)
Kurti: Relations with USA are very good (RTK)
Bislimi accuses EU for "failure" of agreement: Serbia is not the only one to blame here (media)
Sarrazin on dinar issue: Good work is being done in Brussels (RTK)
Robinson on resigned policemen and judges in north: They should return to their jobs (media)
Robinson meets President of Constitutional Court (Klan)
U.S. Mission to OSCE: NATO intervention in Kosovo was necessary (VoA)
Opposition reacts to Kurti’s statement on early elections (media)
Serbia thanks Russia for not recognising Kosovo's independence (RTK)
Russia initiates Serbia's session at UN for 25th anniversary of NATO's intervention, the West: "You will come in vain" (Klan)
U.S. Department of State reacts to the meeting between Dacic and Lavrov (RFE)
Krasniqi from Brussels: Kosovo is the most pro-EU country in the region (Reporteri)
Haradinaj: We are not interested on dinar, we are interested about NATO (Klan)
Mehaj: Vucic's threats are permanent and evidence that Serbia is continuing with hegemonic policy of Greater Serbia (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

Dacic: Bakoyannis statement culmination of hypocrisy (Tanjug, KoSSev, media)
Bakoyannis: Protection of Serbian and other minorities in Kosovo will improve if Kosovo becomes a CoE member (N1, KoSSev)
Dacic: Vital issues for Serbia discussed with Lavrov (Tanjug, media)
UNS: It is high time that Osmani stops discriminating journalists, preventing and limiting their work violates right to information (KoSSev, Radio KIM, Kosovo Online)
Vucevic on Kurti’s request that NATO strengthens its presence in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
Djuric: Serbia abhors idea of another regional war (Kosovo Online, WSJ, Danas, FoNet)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Membership in INTERPOL, impossible without U.S. support (RFE)
• US$6 million agreement of U.S. aid for judiciary in Kosovo signed (Indeksonline)
• Sarrazin meets Kurti, discuss Berlin Process and current issues (Express)
• Escobar responds to Vucic’s threat against Kosovo: No one can stop their neighbor to choose security alliances (Reporteri)
• NATO welcomes Slovenia’s interest to send more troops to Kosovo (media)
• Bulgaria to deploy additional troops to Kosovo (media)
• Muja: Not a week goes by that opposition doesn’t talk about elections (media)
• Pristina institute reacts to Serbian President Vucic’s recent rhetoric (media)
• Surroi reacts to claims “LDK’s five asked Clinton not to recognize KLA” (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Media Center Caglavica journalists were not allowed to follow event in Kosovo Presidency (KoSSev, RTS, Media center Caglavica)
• Following Visoki Decani Monastery land registration, Sentic calls for implementation of other CC’s decisions, including one on ZSO (KoSSev)
• UNS informs international press and media organizations about fake news on RTK website (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian Embassy in Moscow marks anniversary of NATO bombing (FoNet, N1, RTS)
• Dacic: Serbia-Russia bilateral relations on high level (Tanjug)
• Vucic spoke with Macron about Kosovo (Danas)
• Vucic: I can congratulate whoever I want, I’m no one’s servant (N1, FoNet)

Opinion:

• Serwer: Double down on success, not failure (peacefare.net)
• Hoxha: I doubt that Osmani would engage in the overthrow of Kurti's government (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Witnesses Tell Kosovo War Crimes Court of ‘Anarchic’ Violence in 1999 (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

Albanian Language Media:

EU announces a meeting between leaders of Kosovo and Serbia (RTK)
Murphy and Peach talk about Kosovo (Albanian Post)
KFOR commander and Hennessey talk about security and dialogue (media)
Bislimi: I informed Hovenier what was discussed at meeting in Brussels (RTK)
Osmani: Kosovo reflects strength and spirit of democracy at every step (RTK)
Kurti talks to Hughes about strengthening of Kosovo-Ireland relations (RTK)
Gervalla: Five non-recognizing countries will not prevent membership in CoE (Koha)
Hargreaves and Rasic talk about ensuring rights for all communities in Kosovo (Albanian Post)
Media will be able to observe counting of votes in future election processes (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Stano: The implementation of agreements between Kosovo and Serbia should be resolved at the highest level (RFE, Kosovo Online)
Association of journalist of Serbia: Untrue information about the March riots still on the RTK2 website (Radio Mitrovica sever) 
Vandalized signs in Serbian are not being cleaned in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
Dacic: It can be expected that Kosovo will be admitted to the CoE following an urgent procedure (KoSSev, Beta)
Brnabic elected new Serbian parliament speaker (Tanjug, media)
Vucic to attend first nuclear energy summit in Brussels on March 20-21 (Tanjug)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 20, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Serbia can’t be a member of NATO, it still sleeps on massive graves (EO)
• Hovenier on Vucic's threat: Neither we, nor people of Kosovo should stay sleepless about this - NATO is ready and prepared (Klan)
• Monastery of Decan registers ownership of 24 hectares of land (Koha)
• Bislimi: Kosovo has little control over outcome of dialogue process (Albanian Post)
• Robertson: Being tough with Serbia pays off (media)
• Cliff: What is EU doing with Kosovo report on Banjska attack? (Albanian Post)
• EU to present soon mandatory roadmap for implementation of Basic Agreement (Albanian Post)
• Osmani: When girls and women are excluded from decision-making processes, entire society is limited (Klan)
• Kosovo Police prevents two cases of smuggling in the north (Albanian Post)

Serbian Language Media:

• Hill on NATO membership: It is up to Serbia to decide (RTS, Kosovo Online, N1)
• Visoki Decani Monastery land registered in Kosovo cadastre, special thanks to Ms Bakoyannis (Raska-Prizren Diocese, media, social media)
• Hovenier: I have not heard Pristina’s proposal to resolve issue with dinars (Kosovo Online)
• Mushkolaj: Kurti’s stories on independence of CBK ‘fairytales for children’ (Kosovo Online)
• How is Brussels dialogue viewed on the ground: "We have the impression that the agreement is to not to agree on anything" (KoSSev, N1)
• Mijacic: Modality on dinar issue is sought, each has technical difficulties and political consequences (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic: UNSC session on 1999 bombing of FR Yugoslavia still uncertain (Tanjug)
• Serbian List: The competent institutions to arrest Radomirovic, and conduct criminal proceedings (KiM radio)

International:

• Kosovo Court Ruling Awarding Serb Monastery Disputed Land Implemented (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti: Britain should send more troops to protect us from Serbian invasion (media)
• Lajcak meets chief negotiators; discussions on Dinar to continue on Monday (media)
• State Department: Discussions on Dinar must continue urgently (media)
• Osmani on Vucic’s threats against Kosovo: He will fail again (Telegrafi)
• Government spokesperson: Vucic, a hostage of the past and desperate (RTK)
• Roth: With Vucic at helm, no way for Serbia to enter the EU (media)
• COMKFOR Ulutas meets Quint ambassadors in Kosovo (media)
• Maqedonci announces second package of military aid for Ukraine (media)
• Haradinaj: I can make Kosovo a member of NATO (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Petkovic: We pointed out all difficulties for Serbs in Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
• Petkovic: Solution must include continued Postal Savings Bank operations in Kosovo (media)
• Lajcak: Dialogue to be continued next Monday (media)
• State Department: Dialogue adequate channel to resolve problems related to CBK decision (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian List met Swedish Ambassador, tell him dinar decision has political not economic background (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic congratulates Putin on election win, informs him of situation in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• KFOR Commander met ambassadors, discussed security situation in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian Parliament fails to elect speaker, MPs in war of words (N1)
International Media:
• Albanian PM’s ‘Intimidation’ of Woman Journalist Condemned (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: There are no proposals that are accepted and which are in opposition with CBK regulation (RFE)
• Varhelyi on Kosovo’s EU application: Seeing new elements of escalation (Klan)
• Assistant Secretary of State Robinson to visit Albania, Kosovo this month (media)
• KCSS: What is Serbia’s 5000 project and why should we be concerned? (media)
• Reactions to Vucic’s statement about West choosing between Serbia and, Kosovo (media)
• Korac: Banjska raised EU awareness, Europeans won’t forgive Vucic (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• KIN: People with disabilities have not received pensions and social benefits since January due to the dinar ban (KiM radio)
• The tripartite meeting of Lajcak, Petkovic and Bislimi began in Brussels (Kosovo Online)
• Meeting of Belgrade and EU delegations headed by Petkovic and Lajcak started in Brussels (Tanjug)
• Varhelyi: We are not considering Kosovo request for EU membership yet (Kosovo Online)
• UNS and DNKiM reacted to the RTK's news corrections (KiM Radio)
• Controversies in reporting: March violence and RTK - lesson not learned (?) (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio)
• Elshani says investigation into burning of Dusan Milanovic’s car ongoing, EULEX monitoring case (Kosovo Online)
• Cleaning of spray-painted traffic signs from Rudar to Jarinje underway (KoSSev)
• Law professor writes to Kurti: After Cyrilic signboards, to remove green religious signboards from streets (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Open Balkan: Serbia and Albania agreed on the text of the Agreement on Social Security (KoSSev)
• Parliament to reconvene Tuesday, Brnabic not elected Speaker (N1)
• Aleksic: Vucic buying foreign support using realty, lithium, Kosovo (N1)

Opinion:

• The EU’s new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans: solid foundations but shaky details (WiiW)

International:

• Kosovo President Demands ‘Equal Treatment’ in Implementation of Normalisation Deal with Serbia (Prishtina Insight)
• Common Regional Market: How far did ratification of the signed agreements go? (EWB)
• ‘Dangerous Trend’: Serbia Ignoring Alleged Trafficking Cases, UN Rapporteur Says (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: U.S. proposal on dinar partially accepted, the rest to be discussed in Brussels (media)
Kurti on international criticism: Welcome, but I must protect Kosovo (Koha)
Kurti meets NDI director, discuss about advancement of cooperation (media)
Konjufca criticizes Escobar: he is pushing Lajcak’s biased concept (media)
U.S. official to visit Albania and Kosovo, to meet with Rama and Osmani (media)
Vucic warns the West with a threatening statement about Kosovo (Klan)
Petkovic used harsh language towards Osmani, Presidency reacts (Express)
Rama: Kosovo-Serbia agreement should be included as part of EU membership (RTK)
Knaus: Association desirable, but not a condition for CoE membership (RFE)
Over 46,000 citizens with right to vote for process of dismissing mayors in the north (Koha)
Haliti: I have information that after elections in north, Serbia will unilaterally announce Association (Koha)
Haradinaj: Kosovo would provide regional and global security as NATO member (RTK)
President of Germany awards Flutura Kusari medal of Order of Merit (media)
The U.S. sanctions former mayor of Kacanik, Xhabir Zharku (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Petkovic: No agreement regarding dinar has been reached (Kosovo Online, social media)
Dacic: UNSC session on NATO bombing of FRY scheduled for March 25 (Tanjug)
1.153 voters more than for local elections in 2023 in northern Kosovo (KoSSev)
Vucic meets with Dodik, Patriarch Porfirije (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, social media)
Brnabic: De-recognitions of Kosovo biggest success of Serbian authorities (media)
Employees of RTK2 and RTK1 Serbian redaction distance themselves from article on March violence (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
Vanovac: UNS and DNKiM expect thorough investigation into burning of Dusan Milanovic's car (Kosovo Online)
ODIHR confirms invitation to observe Belgrade elections (N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 18, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Borell: Serbia and Kosovo have achieved very limited progress (RTK)
• Rama: Implementation of Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, important (RTK)
• Von Cramon: Kosovo is lacking political will for progress in European integration (Klan)
• CEC to decide today on voting centers in the north (media)
• Escobar met during his visit, Director of Police and Afrim Bunjaku’s family (media)
• Biserko: Vucic destabilizing neighbors through Serbian Orthodox Church and security services (Nacionale)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: There is no agreement on dinar issue (Kosovo Online, RTV, Tanjug)
• Sentic: Instead of healing wounds that still hurt, we face attempts to relativize tragic events (KoSSev)
• SNV says Kurti’s statement about March violence aim to further intimidate and expel Serbs, call upon Rasic and Trajkovic to resign (KoSSev)
• UNS and DNKiM condemned RTK reporting over repeated untruth in relation to March riots (Kosovo Online, Radio KIM, media)
• Vucic: Meeting with Lajcak addressed unbearable living conditions for Kosovo Serbs (Tanjug)
• Kosovo Online: We expect arson vehicle case of our portal’s owner to be resolved (Kosovo Online)
• Since CBK decision entered in force, stock market and banks without interest for work in northern municipalities (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian List: Kosovo police to investigate Radoica Radomirovic over arsons of vehicles (Tanjug, media)
• Stojanovic: Vucic admitted that his policy is harmful to Serbia and the Serbian people in Kosovo (Beta, NMagazin)
• Smiljanic: The Serbs in the YU program building in Pristina survived a calvary on March 17, thought we would all be killed (Kosovo Online)
• The UN SC meeting on March 25 on the anniversary of the NATO bombing against the FRY (Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media:

• Borrell’s statement on anniversary of agreement on path to normalization, and the implementation annex (media)
• Blinken calls on Kosovo and Serbia to implement all agreements (media)
• Roth on new U.S. extra conditions for Kosovo at CoE: Unfair and unjust (media)
• Kurti’s message on 20th anniversary of March 17 riots (media)
• Government: Placing of signs in north in line with the constitution (Koha)
• Police arrest Serbian national for damaging traffic signs in Leposavic (media)
• COMKFOR: KFOR continues efforts to prevent any escalation (VoA in Albanian)
• Pacolli: Delays in meeting obligations lead to pressure and damage (media)
• Tahiri: Two important moments this week for CoE membership (media)
• Historians’ League wants Kurti to resign over Decani Monastery decision (media)
• CAA: U.S. must remain engaged in the Western Balkans (VoA in Albanian)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: We will change our approach to the Kosovo issue; Serbia will no longer be subjected to a fait accompli (Kosovo Online)
• Borrell: It is high time for Kosovo and Serbia to break current vicious cycle of crises and tensions (N1)
• 20th anniversary of the March pogrom (KoSSev)
• Diocese on who paid the restoration of holy sites destroyed in the March pogrom (KoSSev)
• Kurti from Cabra: Children jumped into Ibar to avoid the escort of Serbian youths; unclear who then directed the demonstrators towards the Serbs (KoSSev)
• The SL: Self-Determination's brutal lies – a continuation of a dangerous policy of hatred towards the Serbs (Kosovo Online)
• Self-Determination ahead of March 17: 3 children were killed in Cabra, peaceful Albanian demonstrators were shot by Serbian criminals, justice was not served (KoSSev)
• First referendum then elections: Four municipalities in north of Kosovo still without mayors (N1)
• Blinken: We need to see both Kosovo and Serbia keep tensions low (KoSSev, N1)