UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 18, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Chief negotiators to meet on Wednesday in Brussels (Koha)
• Lajcak: We talked with Kurti about north and implementation of dialogue agreements (Koha)
• The US reiterates call for de-escalation: The parties should return to dialogue (Reporteri)
• Varhely and Sarrazinin discuss the Western Balkans (RTK)
• Konjufca travels to France for an official visit (Reporteri)
• Serb NGOs complain to Escobar about presence of Kosovo Police in north (Klan)
• Hoti after Kurti's meeting with Lajcak: Stop dialogue in beach hotels and hideaways (media)
• Meeting of the Committee for the Supervision of Public Finances fails (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• EU: Lajcak to meet tomorrow Belgrade and Pristina chief negotiators (Tanjug, media)
• Belgrade's delegation arrives in Brussels, dialogue with Pristina to resume on Wednesday (Tanjug)
• 25 years after no one held responsible for crimes against Serbs in Orahovac (Kosovo Online)
• Anniversary of crimes against Serbs and Roma in Orahovac marked in Velika Hoca (Kosovo Online, RTS, media)
• Lawyers say war crimes indictments put additional pressure on Serbs - to drive some away, and prevent others from returning (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian official says Turkey arming Kosovo (N1, RTS, Radio KIM)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti meets Lajcak, discuss de-escalation and normalisation of relations with Serbia (media)
Escobar in Congress: Kosovo and Serbia fulfill all obligations (RTK)
De-escalation in north and sequencing plan to be discussed in Brussels (Koha)
Bayraktar drones cannot be used without KFOR authorization (Radio Free Europe)
KLA War Veterans Organisation request meeting with President Osmani (media)
Kurti and Papandreou open Balkans panel at SYMI Symposium in Greece (media)
Rama doesn’t want to comment on Kurti’s absence, “who wanted came” (media)
Mujka: I will not allow to be used for attacks against PM’s successes (media)
Hovenier meets Devolli, discuss also Klan Kosova situation (media)
RTK: Serbia continues silent cleansing of Albanians

Serbian Language Media:

Association of Journalists of Serbia requests international organizations to support RTS reporter over her years-long ban to enter Kosovo (RTS, Kosovo Online)
KFOR on KSF acquiring Turkish drones: KFOR Commander has primary authority for airspace over Kosovo (KoSSev)
Dalibor Spasic released on bail (Kosovo Online, media)
Brnabic attends Tirana meeting of Western Balkan leaders (Tanjug)
Varhelyi discusses economic, social integration with WB PMs (N1)
Grenell says Escobar’s report devoid of facts from ground (Kosovo Online, social media)

International Media:

Guerrilla Leaders Were Outside Kosovo for Most of War, Trial Told (Prishtina Insight)
Wings of Change: Why Armed Drones Are Proliferating in Western Balkans (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 17, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Rama gathers leaders of region, Kosovo expected to be represented by Bislimi (Klan)
• Bislimi’s participation at informal meeting of regional leaders, refused (Reporteri)
• Mehaj calls on citizens to contribute to Security Fund: To guarantee a safe Kosovo (media)
• Citaku to Kurti: Your approach is harming Kosovo (media)
• Hoti: Kurti's non-participation in the meeting in Tirana, lack of seriousness (media)
• Albanians of Presheva Valley demand justice (RTK)
• CDRF on the fight in Parliament: Bislimi was a guest, had no right to tear photo of opposition (media)
• Association of Municipalities has not received membership application from Mitrovica North (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• A lot of what I’ve seen in the north reminds me of Northern Ireland, that’s why the dialogue is important (KoSSev)
• Detention of Dejan Pantic extended for two more months (Radio KIM, Radio kontakt plus)
• Lawyer: Nemanja Vlaskovic from Leposavic released on bail (Radio KIM)
• Serbian journalists associations request Kosovo police to stop mistreating Serbian media outlets journalists (Radio KIM)
• Dacic: Still no evidence against Vulin from US, and I don’t expect it to come (BETA, Politika, N1)
• Serbian PM: Open Balkan has a bright future, I don’t think Rama is against it (N1, BETA)
• Vucic: Our ties with US a priority in Kosovo crisis (Tanjug)
• Mitrovica North MA: Land parcel near firefighter station allocated for use of Directorate of emergency situations (KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media:

Kosovo buys Bayraktar drones; Kurti: Kosovo now even safer (media)
Lajcak mentions meetings with Bislimi and Krasniqi (media)
KFOR: Kosovo institutions responsible for reducing police presence in north (Express)
Task Force investigating at least five ministers and one deputy minister (Betimi per Drejtesi)
Two shocks bombs thrown at house in Mitrovica North (Koha)
Rama to gather leaders of region in Tirana on Monday, not known if Kurti will attend (media)
Albanian neighbors after Serb house burnt: We never had any bad words (RFE)

Serbian Language Media: 

Serbian President Vucic: Albin Kurti is not interested in peace or what United States thinks of him (The Pavlovic Today, media)
Abbott: I am concerned over specificities of agreement on de-escalation, we need to see more of EULEX instead of special police (KoSSev)
Kurti refers to detained Serb from north as “notorious criminal” at KP graduation ceremony address (KoSSev, media)
Serbian List, Petkovic react to Kurti’s remarks on Kosovo police being continuation of KLA (Kosovo Online, KoSSev, Radio KIM, media)

International Media:

Kosovo buys Turkish Bayraktar drones (Reuters)
 After BIRN’s Investigation, Member of Ruling Party Arrested by Police (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 14, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Work of police officers ruined comfort of criminal gangs in north (RFE)
• Francken: Kosovo should become part of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (media)
• Kurti hosts new head of Albanian National Council in Serbia, Nevzad Lutfiu (media)
• The prosecution interviews Bislimi as a suspect and Murati as a victim (Klan)
• Kurti: The EU should follow the example of the USA in sanctioning Vulin (Koha)
• The EU expects further steps from Kosovo to lift the measures (RFE Albanian)
• Haradinaj: The government is stabbing us in the back (media)
• Hydro-economic enterprise CEO arrested for suspected corruption (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Sarrazin: ZSO crucial for international community, people in north of Kosovo literally suffering because of situation (RTS)
• Dacic: We will insist to present situation in Kosovo at UN SC session (RTV)
• Milivojevic: Returning to previous situation necessary for de-escalation (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic meets Hungarian Ambassador, tells him violence on ethnic and religious grounds carried out in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Ambassador of France: Normalisation of relations has no alternative, that is clearer today than ever (NMagazin, Beta, Politika)
• Timothy Less: Decision to withdraw KP a reluctant concession to please US and EU (Tanjug)
• PM adviser asked media to turn off cameras and leave event (KiM radio, KoSSev, Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic meets Foreign Minister of Venezuela, thanks him for respecting territorial integrity of Serbia (Kosovo Online)
• Krajiste: The celebration of the Saint Vraci holiday followed by a loud music in praise of ‘’UQK” and Jashari (KiM radio, gracanicaonlone.info)

International:

• Platinum Wolf 23 and Defender 23: Two military exercises show changing relationship of Serbia and Kosovo with the West? (EWB)

Albanian Language Media:
Osmani, Hovenier, civil society organisations condemn violence (media)
Osmani expects new mayors in northern municipalities in autumn (Koha)
Osmani meets Hovenier, discuss actions to de-escalate situation in north (media)
U.S. welcome Kosovo-EU agreement on de-escalation in north (Klan Kosova)
Sarrazin: Measures will be lifted only after three EU points are implemented (RTK)
Assembly adopts law on minimum wage; war veterans warn with steps (media)
Ahmet Ismaili elected governor of Central Bank of Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Withdrawal of 25 percent of Kosovo police in north – a trick (Kosovo Online, TV Pink, media)
Elshani said 25 percent of police forces withdrew from municipal facilities in northern Kosovo, but provided no details (KoSSev, media)
EULEX: Fewer people in front of northern municipalities, all efforts focused on de-escalation (RTS, Tanjug)
Detention of Milun Milenkovic extended for two more months (KoSSev, media)
Lawyer: Indictment against Trajkovic delivered in Albanian only, without documents from case file (Kosovo online)
DefMin: US Sanctions don’t mean Vulin dismissal (BETA, N1, RTV)

International Media:

Brawl erupts at Kosovo parliament after lawmaker throws water on PM (Reuters)
MPs Clash Physically as PM Kurti Speaks in Parliament (BIRN)
Tempers Flare In Kosovo's Parliament Over Wiretaps Of Contact With Fugitive Serbian Party Chief (RFE)
Put to Bed by Albania, ‘Open Balkan’ Had Long Flattered to Deceive (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 13, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Physical confrontation at Kosovo Assembly today (media)
• Osmani: We expect EU to remove unjust measures against Kosovo (Koha)
• Ismaili: Kusari-Simic conversation, biggest political scandal of this government (media)
• Abdixhiku: Kosovo going backwards, no progress because of Kurti (RTV21)
• Krasniqi calls for early elections “to return Kosovo in right direction” (media)
• Journalists Association condemns pressure against Buzhala (media)
• Deadline to review Klan Kosova complaint extended to July 28 (Klan Kosova)
• Police arrest renowned attorney and three other persons today (media)
• Janjic: Serbian List has lost credibility among Serb citizens (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic informs Botsan-Kharchenko about Pristina’s violence against Serbs in Kosovo (RTS)
• Vucic meets Chen Bo, says UN SC session on Kosovo necessary (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic, Cohen: Time to return to positive agenda in Serbia-Israel ties (Tanjug)
• Vucic meets Cohen, expects understanding for Serbian position on Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
• Hill: Sanctions imposed on Vulin do not mean worse relations with Serbia (Beta, NMagazin)
• Dusan Janjic: Serbian List has lost its credibility among Kosovo Serbs (RTK2)
• Fake News: During June, more tendentious texts, and headlines on an ethnic basis (KiM radio, Radio Gorazdevac)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Maliqi: Kosovo still far in including people with disabilities in society (ATV)

Kosovo Police begins reducing presence in municipal premises in north (Koha)
Kurti publishes calendar and plan for de-escalation of situation in north (Kallxo)
Borrell welcomes agreement: I expect "other positive steps" from Kosovo (media)
Gervalla explains agreement with EU on de-escalation (Euronews Albania)
Mehaj: Initiative to conclude two agreements with Turkiye is approved (RTK)
Svecla demands quick investigation into burning of a Serb's house in Istog (Koha)
Indictment filed against individual suspected of war crimes in Kosovo (media)
Acting leader of war veterans: Protests are inevitable (media)
Three bodies missing from the war found in North Mitrovica (media)
Media freedom groups call for Klan Kosova business certificate issue to be resolved (media)
Serbian Language Media:
The withdrawal of the Kosovo police from municipal buildings in the north of Kosovo begun (RTS)
An old man from the village of Beluce raised his sajkaca (hat) to greet Kosovo policemen, they entered his yard and told him not to provoke them? (KoSSev)
Svecla: I requested the engagement of all resources to quickly solve the case of the burning house in Veric (NMagazin, Beta)
An indictment for war crimes against Serb S.T. (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)
A Serb from Kosovo accused of violently changing the constitutional order released from custody (KiM radio, BIRN)
International Media:
Kosovo to partially withdraw special police officers from northern Serb-majority municipalities (AP)
Kosovo Announces Reduction Of Police Presence In Serb-Majority North, Fresh Elections (RFE)
Kosovo Supreme Court Clears Serb Ex-Minister of Inciting Hate (BIRN)
Tensions in Kosovo have led to an appalling stifling of free speech (Chicago Tribune)
Kosovo Government and EU Agree on De-escalation Steps in the North (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti expects sanctions will be lifted after de-escalation agreement (Koha)
• Bislimi: The moment has come for Serbia to stick to its commitments (Kanal10)
• Von der Leyen: There is clear plan to de-escalate situation in Kosovo (media)
• Croatian president demands recognition of Kosovo by NATO member countries (Klan)
• Kurti: Government has zero dependency on the Serbian List (Koha)
• Haradinaj: de-escalation and cooperation between communities, the only way to stability (Klan)
• Former minister Ivan Todosijevic acquitted of charges (media)
• Memli Krasniqi on an official visit to Paris and Brussels (media)
• Rama meets with Erdogan, discuss about the north of Kosovo (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Party of Kosovo Serbs on reducing presence of Kosovo police: Poor marketing trick (N1)
• Vulovic: Situation in Zubin Potok difficult and tense, Bozovic’s detention extended (TV Most)
• Rohde condemns burning of returnee house near Istok (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Ivan Todosijevic acquitted of all charges (KoSSev, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Visoki Decani on burning of returnee house near Istok (KoSSev)
• Radakovic: The partial withdrawal of the police means nothing, their presence unnecessary (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian Parliament dismisses Economy Minister Rade Basta (N1)
• Vucic says sanctions on Vulin imposed because of Russia, not crime (RTS)
• Opposition calls for Vulin dismissal over US sanctions (N1)
• Vucic: I expect to meet with Stoltenberg in coming days (Tanjug)
• Israeli FM: Serbia a friendly country, strongest ally in region (BETA, N1)

Opinion:

• Under Spain’s EU presidency, the issue of the Western Balkans will be sidelined (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Duggan Flanakin: Tensions in Kosovo between Albanians and Serbians have led to an appalling stifling of free speech (Chicago Tribune)

Albanian Language Media:
Government: Police presence reduced by 25%, elections in north after summer (Koha)
EU: Kosovo agreed to immediately reduce police presence in municipal buildings in north (Koha)
NATO leaders: Western Balkans requires continued attention (Reporteri)
Kurti: Vulin proved a threat to peace and security (Koha)
Osmani: Together with our allies we will fight the influence of ill-wishers (media)
Rama: North of Kosovo can become hotbed with threat of opening conflict (Klan)
Hovenier goes to burnt house of Serb who was planning to return to Istog (media)
Haradinaj condemns burning of Serb's house, calls for arrest of perpetrators (Klan)
SRSG Ziadeh condemns arson attack on returnee home in Veric (media)
Presidency, Assembly and Government buildings illuminated with Srebrenica symbol (Koha)
Abbott meets KFOR Commander, discuss security situation (RTK)
Serbian Language Media:
NATO wants better relations with Serbia, condemns tensions in Kosovo (N1)
Hovenier: We hope for a complete de-escalation in the north (Radio Gorazdevac, Radio Mitrovica sever)
Hovenier condemned the burning of the house of the Jozic family in Istok (Kosovo Online)
An invitation to Kosovo to lift all restrictions on the movement of Serbian goods (Kontakt plus radio)
Doyle-Price: Kearnes's statements do not reflect positions of UK gov't , parliament (Tanjug)
Kosovo and EU flags, and the banner “United in Diversity” displayed on the Ibar Bridge (KoSSev)
US Embassy: The sanctions against Vulin are not aimed at any Serbian institution, we support the citizens of Serbia (KoSSev)
US Treasury imposes sanctions on Serbia’s top security agency chief (N1)
International Media:
US Sanctions Serbia’s Intelligence Chief Over Alleged Corruption (Balkan Insight)
Kosovo Opposition Scents Opportunity in Kurti’s Rift With West (BIRN)
KFOR confirms that injured soldier in Zvecan had his leg amputated (euronews.al)
Bridging the Language Gap Between the Serbian and Albanian Communities (BIRN)
Eurobarometer survey: Trust in the EU varies across the Western Balkans (EWB)