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UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, July 23, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

President says EU decision to lift visas for Serbs legally unimplementable (media)
Osmani: Kosovo remains steadfast on path to rightful place within EU (media)
Kosovo Police install security cameras near Iber Bridge (media)
Foreign Ministry: Fingerprints sent by Serbia match those of Faton Hajrizi (media)
Market inspectorate closes two more gas stations in north of Kosovo (media)
Kasanof appointed U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Balkans (media)
AJK slams “dangerous smearing campaign” by VV MPs against two media (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Antonijevic: Abolition of visas has ended long-standing injustice, closed black hole in region (Kosovo Online)
Sljuka: Visa liberalisation for Serbian passports holders in Kosovo positive news amid sea of negative things (Kosovo Online)
Alexander Sasha Kasanof appointed new Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Balkans (KoSSev)
Kosovo police installed surveillance cameras on northern side of Ibar River Bridge (media)
Two more NIS gas stations closed in northern Kosovo (RTS)

International Media:

EU Scraps Visa Requirement for Kosovo Serbs With ‘Special’ Passports (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 22, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo’s leaders honor Biden, “one of Kosovo’s greatest friends” (media)
• EU Council decides to lift visas for Kosovo Serbs with Serbian passports (media)
• Szunyog holds farewell meetings with Kurti and Bislimi (media)
• Political leaders’ statements on 14th anniversary of ICJ ruling on Kosovo (media)
• Sources: Vucic met with Radoicic in Kragujevac in early July (RTK)
• AJK condemns threats against journalists after reports on Faton Hajrizi (media)
• Vehicles of Radoicic’s group now used by Kosovo Police (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Full text of the Serbia-EU memorandum (N1)
• Vucic: Decision not to impose sanctions on Russia was the right call (N1, BETA)
• Dacic: Pristina trying to avoid responsibility in connection with the murder of police officer Nikola Krsmanovic (Tanjug, TV Pink)
• Lawyer: Note a single out of 35 witnesses saw Bajrovic taking part in murders of civilians (KoSSev)
• EU Council made decision to abolish visas for Coordination Directorate passport holders (Kosovo Online)
• Nemec welcomes decision on visa abolishment, says unacceptable that group of people remains discriminated against (Kosovo Online)
• Shahini: Diaspora keeps Kosovo's economy stable (KiM radio, Slobodno srpski)

International:

• Second generation immigrants: Kosovo Albanians making their mark in Swiss business landscape (Prishtina Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Fashion and Sports: Balkan Olympic Teams’ Outfits Introduced (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, July 22, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti reacts to blast in north: Normality there doesn’t suit Serbia (media)
U.S. State Department Investment Climate report on Kosovo (media)
Kurti: There can’t be social equality without gender equality (media)
Kearns: It’s vital we don’t allow hostile actors reignite conflict (media)
Osmani thanks Radev for unwavering support for Kosovo’s future (media)
Kurti meets Japanese FM; “Japan an important ally and supporter” (media)
Dimic: Serbs should not be afraid from opening of Iber bridge (Express)
Gervalla: Kosovo people will be forever grateful to President Biden (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Dacic: We are trying to determine Faton Hajrizi’s motives, Germany is not answering our questions (N1, Beta, TV Pink)
Explosion near Gazivode, next to the road after the fifth tunnel (Radio Mitrovica sever)
''Nothing can scare us, there will be more of us in the coming days, Ujmani belongs to Kosovo'' - a journalist from Gazivode after the explosion (KoSSev, Danas)
The statement of the Kosovo minister regarding the escape of Faton Hajrizi caused a storm: Serbia in Kosovo prisons? (Danas)
Effect of the census in Kosovo: Serbs between statistics and reality (Kosovo Online)
Florian Bieber: EU and Germany exchanged democracy, rule of law for lithium (N1)

International Media:

European Union Agrees Controversial Lithium Mining Project with Serbia (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 19, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani meets Macron, discusses Kosovo’s full integration (media)
Osmani thanks Belgian PM for supporting Kosovo (media)
Gervalla meets Hovenier, highlights need for more intensive cooperation (media)
KLI: New law on IMC threatens values and principles of democracy (Kosovapress)
Rexhaj: Serbs buying Albanian land, giving it to Serb churches (media)
Hoxhaj: New phase of complications in Kosovo’s relations with partners (media)
Court sentences Bajrovic to 12 years in prison for war crimes in Istog (media)
KFOR publishes video of its troops patrolling on Iber Bridge (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Gogic: Serbs in north would see opening of bridge as provocation (Blic, Kosovo Online)
Dacic says attacker on police officers in Loznica killed (KoSSev)
Person arrested under suspicion of aiding attacker on police officer previously convicted, but fled (N1)
Vanovac: New law is attack on media freedom in Kosovo, especially on Serbian newsrooms (Kosovo Online)
One month detention for former KLA member arrested in North Macedonia (KoSSev)
Vucic: Lithium mining project to enable Serbia's quantum leap to future (Tanjug)
Serbian Govt explains content of MoU with EU on sustainable raw materials (N1)
Scholz: Memorandum reinforces cooperation (N1)
Von Cramon against lithium deal with Serbian Government (N1)
Zelenskyy meets Vucic, thanks Serbia for financial and humanitarian assistance (N1)

Opinion:

In Kosovo’s divided Mitrovica, disputed bridge could become a meeting point (BIRN)

International:

Appeals Court upholds ruling in favour of ‘Jeta në Kosovë’ investigation into solar energy monopoly (Prishtina Insight)
Court finds Kosovo Bosniak guilty of war crimes (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, July 19, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani discusses with Scholz about Euro-Atlantic integration of Kosovo (Koha)
Osmani: Serbia and Russia trying to destabilise not only Kosovo, but entire region (Koha)
State Department: Tensions with Serbia hinder attraction of foreign investments (VoA)
Kurti: Follow the announcements of our authorities (RTK)
MFA appeals for caution when crossing Serbian territory (Kallxo)
Guerot: France does not want new confrontations in the North ( media)
Killing of policeman in Serbia, MFA appeals for caution when crossing Serbian territory (Kallxo)
MFA engages legal experts for release of former KLA soldier in Skopje (media)
PAK takes possession of Jugobanka's facilities in three northern municipalities (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: I had many good meetings at EPC summit, Macron to visit Belgrade (Tanjug)
Vucic says Serbian police officer killed in terrorist act (Tanjug)
Dacic: Statement of Artan Hajrizi that his brother stole his documents is false, everything organised in advance (N1)
Vucevic receives Italian Chief of Defence Staff (Tanjug)
Serbian Govt tables All-Serb Assembly Declaration to Parliament for adoption (N1)
State Department on Serbia: American investors positive about investing in Serbia, Expo an opportunity (Kosovo Online, media)
State Department on Kosovo: Tensions with Serbia hinder investments, ban on Serbian goods a problem (Kosovo Online)
Kosovo Privatization Agency took over premises of Jugobanka in three northern municipalities (Tanjug, media)

International Media:

Serbian police officer shot dead, minister blames Kosovo (Reuters)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 18, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti on killing of Serbian policeman: Case should not be politicized (media)
Osmani before EPC summit: Kosovo, success story, model of democracy (media)
Kurti: Iber Bridge opening would help people, economy, and trade (media)
Palokaj: Opening of Iber Bridge would quickly return EU penalty measures (Koha)
Gervalla: Opposition will suffer fatal defeat in elections (EO)
Kurti on ex-KLA soldier arrest: In contact with North Macedonia govt (media)
Safe Journalists: Stop malicious campaign against independent media in Serbia

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian border police officer killed in Loznica, another seriously wounded, search for suspected attacker from Kosovo underway (RTS)
Dacic on killing of Serbian police officer, possibility of it being terrorist attack (N1)
Petkovic: Svecla with his statements confirmed who the only threat to peace and stability in Kosovo is (Tanjug)
Vucic meets with Starmer (Tanjug)
26th anniversary of murders and kidnappings of Serbs and Roma in Orahovac municipality marked (RTS, Kosovo Online)
Dacic: We expect that North Macedonia will extradite Blerim Ramadani to Serbia (Kosovo Online, RTS)
Serbian Democracy establishes boards in Zubin Potok and Zvecan (Radio KIM)
Haziri: Claims Serbia is readying for war unrealistic, serve to Kurti for internal political consumption (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

Yugo-nostalgia overlooks Albanians (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

Serbian police officer shot dead near Bosnian border (RFE)
Inaction on air pollution means Serbians, Macedonians ‘pay with their health’ (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, July 18, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Borrell demands moving forward with implementation of Agreement (media)
• Kurti with QUINT and EU ambassadors discuss opening of Iber Bridge (Koha)
• Svecla and Krosser talk about security in northern municipalities (RTK)
• Ministry of Defense with close to 8 million euros agreement with Germany (Koha)
• Kurti: Serbia's crimes in Kosovo cannot disappear or be forgotten (RTK)
• Kosovo processes indictment against Radoicic, Serbia requests documents from EULEX (RFE)
• Haxhiu: It is important to have accurate data on war crimes (RTK)
• Former KLA soldier detained in North Macedonia under arrest warrant issued by Serbia (media)
• Hoxhaj: Invitation to Osmani in London shows Europeans do not want Kurti at Summit (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic arrives in London for European Political Community summit (Tanjug)
• Djuric: Serbia to complete all difficult EU accession reforms by 2027 (media)
• Consent reached to abolish visas for Serbian Coordination Directorate passport holders (Danas, social media)
• KFOR conducts exercise near Decani Monastery: Safe environment for all communities in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, social media)

International Media:

• Kosovo Public Misinformed by Authorities About War Crimes, BIRN Report Warns (Balkan Insight)
• World Bank Urges Heatwave-Stricken Balkans to Act Together on Climate Change (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 17, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Musliu: Security situation stable, but threats from Serbia continue (RTK)
Maqedonci: Signals of attacks raise need for peace treaty with Serbia (media)
Gervalla expects good relations with U.S. President (media)
Kurti considers the census successful (Koha)
Interior Ministers of Kosovo and Albania agree on cooperation against illegal migration (media)
Surroi: The North should not be managed by special units (media)
Serbs in the north do not pay property tax or building permits (Sinjali)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucevic: I expect no change in US policy on Kosovo (Tanjug)
Petkovic: Biggest lie about Banjska is that Vucic was order-giver (RTS)
Drecun: Kurti makes lives of Serbs in Kosovo difficult (Tanjug)
Statement of eight Serbian NGOs: 100 new notaries, not a single Serb among them (Radio KIM)
Sentic: Absolutely unacceptable that among 101 appointed notaries, none is Serb (Kosovo Online, social media)
More than 2.800 requests to switch Serbian to Kosovo drivers’ licences (KoSSev)

Opinion:

Ethnic breaking of media silence (Radio Gorazdevac, media)

International:

Accommodation Challenges in Kosovo: Can Airbnb Meet the Summer Demand? (Prishtina Insight)
Surge in SLAPPs Hits Serbia’s Independent Media Hard (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, July 17, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Specialist Chambers in Hague sentence ex-KLA member to 18 years in prison (media)
Kurti: Keen to push forward Kosovo’s sustainable development (media)
Svecla: We have info Vucic was involved in training of Banjska attackers (media)
Hargreaves: We ask Serbia to hold Banjska attackers accountable (KTV)
Three gas stations closed in north of Kosovo (media)
Osmani, Kurti congratulate Metsola reelection as EP Parliament President (media)
Thailand lifts visa requirements for Kosovo (media)
Serwer: Dialogue should focus on more practical issues (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Djuric to meet Borrell in Brussels today (media)
Mojsilovic, Russian Defence Envoy discuss opportunities for cooperation (Tanjug)
Ragus meets with Spanish Ambassador (Tanjug, media)
Szunyog in farewell visit to north, says it is necessary that Pristina and Belgrade genuinely engage in dialogue (media, social media)
Preliminary census results in Kosovo: What statistics revealed and concealed (Kosovo Online)
Hasani: Numerous irregularities during census, justified doubts about validity of results (Kosovo Online)
Three NIS gas stations closed in northern Kosovo (RTS, KoSSev)

International Media:

Kosovo’s ‘Commander Wolf’ Convicted of War Crimes by Hague Court (Balkan Insight)
Serbia Campaigns to ‘Rebuild’ Reputation in the West (National Review, media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 16, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kosovo government launches project for investments from diaspora (media)
Govt says it will send comments about sequencing plan on time (Koha)
Szunyog: Association draft must be sent to Constitutional Court (media)
Kurti meets Westerlund; “NATO membership, a clear objective” (media)
Government: EU has all the reasons to lift the measures (RTV21)
Germany: Kosovo to create necessary climate to remove measures (media)
Ministry says KPC statements about law are inaccurate and tendentious (Koha)
Journalists’ Association calls on Osmani to hold public stance on IMC law (media)
Haziri: Osmani’s request for guarantees from allies, pressure on Kurti (Express)
Hoxhaj welcomes Vance’s selection as U.S. Vice President candidate (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic speaks with Meloni by phone (Tanjug)
Lajcak, Miscevic discuss Serbia's EU path in Brussels (Tanjug, media)
Report: Violation of human rights greater in north, than in southern municipalities (Radio KIM)
Arsenijevic: List for certification of notaries without Serbian candidates, decision discriminatory (Kosovo Online, social media)
Return of displaced Serbs to Kosovo: 25 years of loud silence (Kosovo Online, Vesti)
Ministry of Information, Djerlek condemn attack on journalists at Ibar Bridge in Mitrovica (N1)

Opinion:

Good day, Belgrade! (Kosovo 2.0)
Leapfrogging gas, Western Balkans can get cleaner air and save billions (BIRN)

International:

Photographers reflect on documenting Kosovo’s 1990s turmoil (Prishtina Insight)
‘You don’t qualify: Kosovo massacre survivor struggles to obtain war victim status (BIRN)
Kosovo eases working hours for some categories due to extreme heat (euronews.al)

Humanitarian/Development:

Behind sensational narratives of gender disinformation (media)