UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 9, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• KFOR: Criminal groups were behind violent protests in Zvecan (RFE)
• Kurti: Rule of law needed in north for fair campaign before elections (media)
• Berlin on Rama’s draft: We received it, cannot comment the content (Nacionale)
• For EU, Rama’s draft statute for Association “a serious text” (RFE)
• Wisner: We’re Kosovo’s friends, Kurti knows this; disagreements suit only Vucic (AP)
• Kurti travels to Croatia, participates in an international conference (Kallxo)
• Molliqaj: Kurti’s actions in north are dangerous, door to compromise must open (EO)
• Suspension of visa liberalisation for Kosovo is not an option (RFE)
• Ben-Meir criticises Kurti of shortsightedness, “he must now correct” (Nacionale)
• Police armoured vehicles are leaving Leposaviq (Express)
• Kosovo Police arrest a Serb suspected of war crimes in Kamenica (Kallxo)
• Explosion in Mitrovica South, suspected hand grenade (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Gallieni: KFOR present in northern Kosovo because of crisis (Kosovo Online)
• Situation in Zvecan calm, Serbs continue gathering (media)
• Serb from Pomoravlje region arrested yesterday over war crimes allegations (KoSSev)
• Office for KIM says arrest in Bosce intimidation aimed at driving Serbs away from their places (Kosovo Online)
• Liturgy that “inspires Serbs to violence” and deleted text (Radio KIM)
• Vucic to participate at UN conference in Dubai (Tanjug)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The Fifth Assembly of The United Nations Youth in Kosovo is held (Klan)
• The Fifth UN Kosovo Youth Assembly began in Prizren (Media Centar Caglavica)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti to Cleverly: Only rule of law can pave way for early elections (Koha)
Osmani talks to Senators Shaheen and Ricketts (media)
Abdixhiku calls on Osmani to have clear position on the north (T7)
Hill: Vucic, a good partner - I don't know if we can consider Kurt as such (VoA)
Abbott: Difficult time, Kosovo should listen to advice of friends (Express)
Muja: Police, mayors won’t withdraw as long as there are ‘criminal gangs’ (media)
Hungarian President: Situation in Kosovo can quickly escalate (NZZ/Klan)
Limaj: Resolution 1244 is becoming current again in north (TV Dukagjini)

Serbian Language Media:

Lawyer: Serb from Zvecan arrested at Jarinje yesterday released (Kosovo Online)
KFOR removed barbed wire in Leposavic (Kosovo Online, KoSSev)
Lajcak and Escobar to report on outcomes of talks in Belgrade and Pristina today (RTS)
“Self-determination Movement with new video – “fascist militia”, “genocidal Serbia” and “triumph” of Kosovo” (KoSSev)
US Ambassador: Serbia is our partner, the question is whether Kurti is (N1, BETA)
British Ambassador to Kosovo Govt: Listen to international friends (FoNet, Radio Free Europe)
RS Parliament adopts Resolution on Protection of Serbs in Kosovo (N1)

International Media:

Kosovo complains of biased western envoys in talks with its former foe (AP)
Kosovo Cautious on Albania PM’s Plan for Serb Municipalities Association (BIRN)
Fewer sticks, more carrots (peacefare.net)
Behind the Renewed Troubles in Northern Kosovo (ICG)
Fears simmer as an interethnic conflict brews in Kosovo (Aljazeera)
Kosovo adopts IHRA antisemitism definition (The Jerusalem Post)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 8, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: If there is compatibility, I can deepen my draft vision for Association (Reporteri)
• Albanian PM Rama submits draft on Association to Macron and Scholz (media)
• Hoxhaj: Rama is trying to help Kosovo, not damage it (Nacionale/Paparaci)
• Gashi to Rama: Only government of Kosovo is competent for Association (Koha)
• Bislimi: Belgrade wants Association as Trojan Horse, preparing way for partition (Koha)
• U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Robinson postpones visit to Kosovo (Nacionale)
• Kearns and Kurti talk about the need to de-escalate the situation (RTK)
• Ambassador Szunyog reiterates the EU's call for return to dialogue (Reporteri)
• Mehaj talks to Clark about the latest situation and easing tensions (Klan)
• Kurti attends farewell reception for EULEX chief (media)
• “Vucic's pretence coming out, surprisingly international factor trusts him” (Koha)
• AmCham in Kosovo calls on govt to take measures to lower tensions in north (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbs in northern Kosovo continue gathering (KoSSev, media)
• Petkovic: Kurti’s accusations of Belgrade no longer fly in West (Kosovo Online)
• Andric-Rakic, Petronic about situation in northern Kosovo, ‘lists of Serbs’ (Radio Mitrovica Sever)
• Vucic thanks India for supporting Serbia's territorial integrity (Tanjug)
• President Murmu delighted to visit Serbia on her first trip to Europe (Tanjug, media)
• Vucic: There will be no transitional gov't as long as I am president (Tanjug, media)
• Opposition reacts to Vucic, Brnabic public address (N1)

International:

• Turkey Likely to Take Command of NATO-led Force in Kosovo (Bloomberg)
• Kosovo’s Kurti Under Mounting Pressure Amid Quarrel with Western Allies (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 8, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti, Escobar deny claims of deadlines for proposals on situation in north (Koha)
• Escobar: For Euro-integration, Kosovo should give more autonomy to Serbs in north (media)
• Kurti replies to Escobar: Kosovo has not written a Draft for the Association (Express)
• U.S. Senators call for calm between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Kurti at Camp Belvedere: Amazing successes on law and order in north (media)
• Durmishi: We’ll never compromise with sovereign and territorial integrity (Koha)
• “Kosovo, not Kurti and Osmani, to pay price of breaking relations with US” (media)
• Begaj: Violence is not a solution, sovereignty is indisputable (media)
• Grenell: I’ve seen the consequences, it isn’t pretty (media)
• Vucic promises envoy he will convince Serbs to take part in elections (Koha)
• World Bank affirms Kosovo’s 3.7% GDP growth forecast for 2023 (SeeNews)

Serbian Language Media:

• PM Brnabic, President Vucic addressed public last night (N1, RTS)
• Vucic, Peach discuss developments in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Drecun on plan for de-escalation, Pristina acts (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Grenell: Severe consequences for Kosovo if Kurti refuses US and EU demands (Danas, social media)
• Petkovic conveys concerns for safety of Kosovo Serbs to German ambassador (Tanjug)
• Srdjan Sentic appointed deputy Ombudsman in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• President of India visits Serbia (RTS)

International Media:

• Kosovo president open to new elections in Serb-majority municipalities (Reuters)
• Kosovo PM slams 'Belgrade's intrusion', welcomes elections once 'fascist militia' brought to justice (France 24)
• US Balkan envoy urges Kosovo and Serbia to deescalate tensions or jeopardize progress toward EU (AP)
• US envoy urges Kosovo to grant Serbs autonomy (DW)
• Belgrade To Prod Ethnic Serbs In North Kosovo To Vote In Elections (RFE)
• To join EU, NATO, Kosovo needs to give Serbs more autonomy: U.S. envoy (tvpworld)
• EU, US want Serb-Kosovo spat resolved, demand new elections, dialogue (Euractiv)
• In North Kosovo, Expect the Expected (BIRN)
• Decades-old tensions drive escalating conflict in northern Kosovo (Courthouse News Service)
• Insights of an Adventurous Political Tour to Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 7, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Sanctions awaiting Kosovo if Kurti says no (Albanian Post)
• Murati: If sanctions were to be discussed, they should be against Serbia (Koha)
• Ceku: Kurti will very soon have an answer for all (Koha)
• Stoltenberg: Violence is setting back Kosovo and the entire region (Koha)
• Haradinaj: We have votes to initiate motion against Kurti government (media)
• Abdixhiku to Abbott: Kosovo’s clash with allies, strategic deviation (media)
• Selimi: Lajcak, Escobar to report if Kosovo approved de-escalation plan (media)
• Peci: See you in isolated and bankrupt Kosovo (media)
• Raci: Hard to believe Kurti will be on list with Radoicic, Dodik (media)
• Fried: The government of Kosovo abused the trust of the USA (RFE)
• Unknown assailants attack two persons in their vehicle in Zvecan (media)
• Govt adopts Sovereign Fund bill; Kurti: The core of our economic sovereignty (Telegrafi)
• Rasic says not whole state of Serbia should be blamed for war crimes in Kosovo (Koha)
• LVV’s Atic meets PDK’s Peci: Northern municipalities will become citizens’ (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo, Albania governments to meet on June 14 (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Citizens in northern Kosovo continue protesting (Radio KIM)
• Lajcak: A long conversation with Vucic, an urgent political solution to the current crisis needed (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Lawyers of two Serbs arrested at Jarinje on May 31 file appeal against detention measure (KoSSev)
• North Macedonia FM submits to OSCE plan for normalisation of situation in N. Kosovo (Beta, N1)
• Liturgy in Leposavic: Bishop Teodosije called for peace; Gazeta Express: Inspires Serbs to violence (KoSSev)
• Dacic: Unity and political stability top state and national interest (Tanjug)
• Serb from northern Kosovo in detention in Belgrade, charged with urging Serbs to leave Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Petkovic meets Gori, discusses situation in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Kosovo president open to new elections in Serb-majority municipalities (Reuters)
• Kosovo Eyes Consequences as Deadline for US, EU Demands Approaches (BIRN)
• US, EU considering sanctions against Kurti if situation in north escalates (Euronews.al)
• Behind the Renewed Troubles in Northern Kosovo (Crisisgroup.org)

Albanian Language Media:
• Escobar warns of consequences if international proposal for situation in the north is not accepted by Wednesday (Koha)
• Escobar: US-Kosovo ties are strong (Euronews)
• Lajcak told opposition consequences Kosovo will have from tensions in north (Koha)
• Lajcak, Escobar ask Serbian List to take part in new elections (RTK)
• Hovenier: De-escalation in north and new elections (Koha)
• Guerot: Situation in north worrying, stop divisive rhetoric (Telegrafi)
• Mehaj and Abbott talk about security situation in north (RTK)
• Kurti meets Australian ambassador, discuss Kosovo-Serbia relations (Koha)
• British MP slams US and EU for response to tensions in north (Euronews)
• Bislimi’s advisor: When will intl community react to Serbia’s obligations (media)
• Serbs in southern municipalities do not mind Kosovo police and flag (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic: Time for Pristina to meet its commitments (Tanjug, media)
• Escobar: Whenever we talk to Kurti and Bislimi, they only want to talk about Serbia (KoSSev)
• Escobar on A/CSM: It will be formed; the only question is who will form it and how long we have to wait (KoSSev)
• Lajcak to Serbian List: Serbs to participate in new elections in the north (Kosovo Online, Twitter)
• Serbian List representatives reiterated the demands of the Serbs to Escobar and Lajcak (Kosovo Online, FB)
• Escobar: The crisis in the North a failure of the political leadership of both sides (KoSSev)
• There are voices in the Serbian community that need to be heard, read the letter from the civil sector, said Escobar (KoSSev)
• Vucic and Brnabic to address public today (media)
• Mijacic: Kurti was late for the meeting with Lajcak and Escobar because of football (Danas, N1, Beta)
• Zakharova: Comparing Belgrade-Pristina agreements with Minsk agreement is wrong (Beta, N1)
• CCIS President: Region ready to become part of common EU market (N1, Beta)
International Media:

• EU and US Envoys with Requests for Kosovo Government (Prishtina Insight)
• Minister: Kosovo open to new elections in municipalities hit by unrest (Reuters)
• Will the United States Abandon Kosovo? (BIRN)
• Reporting on the Special Court from a distance (Kosovo 2.0)
• Albanian ‘terrorists’ in Milosevic’s prisons (Kosovo 2.0)
• Kosovo c-bank reopens competition for governor (See News)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani meets Escobar and Lajcak (media)
• Krasniqi: I’ve never seen such concern among internationals (Telegrafi)
• Abdixiku: Kurti to reflect, Kosovo at a critical moment (Koha)
• Escobar: U.S. is waiting for Kosovo to present draft on Association (media)
• OSCE Head of Mission: Strong support for EU call (media)
• Gervalla: Elections in north should be held, but preliminary actions are required (Koha)
• Svecla: Person who threatened Leposavic deputy mayor, arrested (Koha)
• Isufaj confirms investigations about tensions in the north (Nacionale)
• Haradinaj: Kurti is in love with the plan for Kosovo’s partition (Telegrafi)
• Hoti: Kosovo losing friends and allies because of Kurti and Osmani (media)
• Gashi: Opposition leaders concerned that internationals are concerned that Serbia is concerned (Nacionale)
• Sheholli: Albanians over 30 in Medvedja getting military service summons (Demokracia)
• The CEC says it is ready for new elections in the north (Koha)
• Hoxha: Advertisement for police officers in north closed, sufficient number applied (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lajcak and Escobar met Serbian List representatives (Kosovo Online)
• Andric Rakic about the meeting with Lajcak and Escobar (KiM radio)
• Crisis in northern Kosovo day 12, citizens continue protesting, envoys to meet Vucic (KoSSev)
• Drecun: Escobar and Lajcak have a wrong view of the situation in the north of Kosovo (NMagazin, Danas, RTS, N1)
• Davenport meets Lajcak, emphasises importance of all communities participation in elections and institutions (KoSSev)
• DefMin: Serbian military still on high alert (N1)
• The EU Council extend the EULEX mandate until 2025 (RTS)

International:

• Why is there trouble in Kosovo again? (The Economist)
• Serbia backs ammunition shipments to Ukraine in westward pivot (Financial Times)
• Richard Grenell: If Kurti’s mayors are duly elected then why is the EU calling for new elections? (The Pavlovic Today)
• Joseph: Failure of the Serbia-Kosovo agreement would be a failure of Brussels and Washington (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovar Artist’s Work in Amsterdam Art Week (Prishtina Insight)
• CAN Europe: Western Balkans took little to no action in preparing NECPs (balkangreenenergynews.com)

Albanian Language Media:
International requests: Calm situation in north, elections, return to dialogue (media)
Escobar, Lajcak to meet President Osmani and opposition parties today (media)
State Department again calls on Kurti and Vucic to reduce tensions (Koha)
Rohde: Fulfillment of EU requirements to begin urgently (Koha)
Opposition: OSCE intervention in elections in north, backtracking (Klan)
British Parliament debates on situation in north of Kosovo (Koha)
Sladjana Pantovic appointed deputy mayor of Zvecan (Reporteri)
Svecla speaks about Police actions in north of Kosovo (Koha)
“Mayors taken by police, sent to offices, not knowing where they’re going” (media)
Kurti in Pride Week: Freedom to love is a universal right (Koha)
Gervalla attends SEECP Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Budva (media)
Serbian Language Media:
Serbs continue gathering in northern Kosovo, voice same demands (RTS, media)
London calls on Pristina to withdraw special police forces from north (N1, SRNA)
Sladjana Pantovic appointed deputy mayor of Zvecan (KoSSev, media)
Vucic to meet Lajcak and Escobar this evening (media)
Moliqaj criticized Kurti for making list of Serbs (Kosovo Online)
International Media:
I won’t appease friends of Putin, says Kosovo PM (The Times)
US commander describes attack on troops in Kosovo by Serb ‘agitators’ after elections (Stripes)
Serbia’s cunning Kosovo deflection (IPS Journal)
Ethnic Albanian journalists attacked, vehicles vandalized during Serb protests in northern Kosovo (CPJ)
Turkish forces arrive in Kosovo to bolster NATO-led peacekeepers after recent violence (AP)
UN Expert Assails Serbia For Using Mass Killings To 'Stir Up Hatred,' Attack Rights Defenders (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti to meet Escobar and Lajcak in the evening (Koha)
• Kurti: Law enforcement in north is necessary to remove criminal elements (Koha)
• Kusari-Lila: Police in the north when there is threat and danger to security (Reporteri)
• Tahiri: Kurti reduced sovereignty to yards of four municipalities (Telegrafi/Kallxo)
• “Vucic cannot condition Kosovo; elections in north were Kurti’s experiment” (Koha)
• Stano: EU ready to organise Kurti-Vucic meeting when conditions allow (media)
• KFOR removes some barbwires in Zvecan (RFE)
• The Kosovo Police attacked in Zvecan (Koha)
• Mustafa: Association cannot be formed in these conditions (media)
• Tahiri accuses govt: KFOR getting stronger in north, sovereignty getting weaker (Koha)
• Around 20 media have been attacked during tensions in the North (Albanian Post)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic: Kurti arrests innocent Serbs, we demand the immediate release of Rados and Dusan (Kosovo Online)
• POKS request from Serbian Government protection for arrested Serbs in northern Kosovo (Novi Magazin, KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
• Reactivation of the Serbian National Council of Kosovo and Metohija in Gracanica (KiM radio, KoSSev, Danas)
• Radio KIM on inaccurate reporting during crisis in northern Kosovo
• KFOR removed barbed wire in Zvecan (Kosovo Online)
• Simic on the RFE article: Fake news that Serbian List has two conditions for participating in the elections (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, RTV, FB)
• Kosovo police entered street where people gather in Zvecan (Tanjug)
• Jevtic: Desecrated "Becir's Church" on the way to the Brezovica Ski Center (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic meets Beyer, tells him Kurti persistently avoids fulfilling Brussels agreement obligations (Kosovo Online, media)
• Vucic to meet Escobar and Lajcak tomorrow (Kosovo Online)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The Pride Week in Kosovo opens today (Paparaci)

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti: I cannot compromise with the democratic republic (RFE)
U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Finer’s call with Kurti (media)
EU High Representative statement on behalf of EU on latest developments (media)
Escobar: Escalation of tensions in the north was avoidable, Kosovo did not listen to the international community (BBC, media)
OSCE CiO reveals 9-point plan for reducing tensions in north Kosovo (Euronews)
Kurti: With US and EU, we may have differences in approach, but not in goals (The Geopost)
Escobar and Lajcak in Kosovo “to continue pressure” on government (Koha)
COMKFOR Ristuccia interview with Corriere della Sera (media)
Sarrazin: Parties in the conflict have lost great deal of trust (media)
Kurti thanks Leposavic mayor, “exemplary position for law and order” (Euronews)
Minister Elbert Krasniqi visits the mayor of Leposaviq (Klan)
Stoltenberg welcomes the sending of Turkish troops to Kosovo (Koha)
Davenport: No normality without participation of Serbs in institutions (media)
Bilcik in Belgrade: Hope Serbs will return to institutions (Euronews)
Serbian Language Media:
Day 10 of crisis in northern Kosovo (RTS, media)
Serbs in Kosovo urgently call on EU and USA to help resolve crisis (KoSSev, N1, media)
“The time when Kurti confronted police shields and threw tear gas“ (KoSSev)
Serbian List: Kurti draws targets on Serbs in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online, media)
General Ristuccia on situation in northern Kosovo, Pristina acts (RTS, Corriere Della Sera)
International Media:
Kurti: International community to put pressure on Belgrade, not Pristina (Euronews)
Turkey to send commandos to Kosovo in response to Nato peacekeeping call (The Guardian)
Macron and Scholz urge Kosovo to hold fresh elections to ease Serbia tensions (The Guardian)
‘We’ve never felt free of Serbia’: Kosovan Albanians blame Belgrade for violence (The Guardian)
PM Kurti accuses Belgrade of whipping up tension in northern Kosovo (Euronews)
Five questions (and expert answers) about the recent clashes in Kosovo (Atlantic Council)