UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 24, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We managed to make French-German proposal part of dialogue (media)
• Stano: Kurti and Vucic will soon meet in Brussels (Albanian Post)
• Hovenier: Agreement enhances security, advances efforts to normalise relations (media)
• UNMIK chief Ziadeh welcomes agreement reached in Brussels (media)
• Rohde on agreement: Good news, and good sign for further talks (media)
• Varhelyi welcomes Kosovo-Serbia agreement on licence plates (media)
• Tajani: Agreement on licence plates, an important step towards peace (Zeri)
• LDK’s Abdixhiku welcomes agreement; criticises Kurti (media)
• PDK’s Krasniqi welcomes deal; slams Kurti for “making Vucic a party” (media)
• Tahiri: Kurti should not dare make an agreement without mutual recognition (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Pristina had better deal two days ago (Tanjug)
• Stano: EU expects establishment of ZSO and return of Serbs in institutions (Tanjug)
• RTS at Jarinje says it is peaceful, reprimands no longer issued (RTS)
• Drecun: Important the crisis was stopped, but the problem unsolved; Serbs will not return to institutions without ZSO (RTS, Blic)
• Serbian List welcomes agreement on licence plates in Brussels (Tanjug)
• Petkovic on licence plates agreement (Tanjug)
• SRSG Ziadeh welcomes agreement reached in Brussels (Kosovo Online, media)
• Trajkovic: Current KM plates “preserved” until they expire (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic refutes Trajkovic’s remarks on licence plates (Kosovo Online)
• Miscevic: The EP resolution non-binding and without freezing funds (Tanjug, RTS)
• Bilcik: EP Resolution a signal for Serbia to impose sanctions on Russia (RFE, N1)
• Vucic says Serbia is not interested to recognize Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Aliyev: Belgrade, Baku support each other on territorial integrity (Tanjug)
• Women stage protest in Mitrovica North yesterday (N1)

Opinion:

• Licence Plates For Sovereignty (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

• Serbia Claims ‘KM’ Plates Remain Valid in Kosovo Despite Deal (BIRN)
• ‘Tale of Two Sophias’ Portrays Hope for Albanian-Serb Relations (BIRN)
• For Kosovo, the Football World Cup is More Than a Game (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Russians fleeing Putin prepare for life in Serbian exile (france24.com)

• Kosovo, Serbia chief negotiators reach deal on licence plates (media)
• U.S. welcomes agreement to avoid further escalation of tensions (media)
• Chollet: Good call with Kurti; thanked him for constructive engagement (media)
• Osmani thanks Hovenier and U.S. Govt for active engagement in deal (media)
• EU: Kosovo, Serbia reach deal to end dangerous dispute over plates (Reuters)
• Bislimi: Borrell will soon invite Kurti and Vucic to discuss EU plan (media)
• Govt spokesman: Parties agreed to focus on French-German plan (media)
• Austria’s Foreign Minister welcomes Kosovo-Serbia agreement (media)
• Haradinaj welcomes agreement; “process to conclude with recognition” (media)
• Osmani: Elections in the north will be held, CEC is ready (RTK)
• Hebestreit: Plates shouldn’t hinder dialogue; Association to enter agenda (Klan)
• Abott: Resolving immediate issues, essential for Kosovo long-term goals (media)
• Von Cramon: Removing visa liberalisation from agenda, unacceptable (Kallxo)
• Mandl: Visa liberalisation has nothing to do with tensions in north (media)
• Government adopts official position on Kosovo’s bid for EU membership (media)
• Serbs Of Southern Kosovo See Belgrade Helping Northerners And Ask: But Who Will Take Care Of Us? (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti says that Borrell suited the purpose of Serbia (media)
• Kurti: I bought the plane ticket to Brussels because the deadline for the agreement on the invitation was March 2023 (Klan)
• Svecla: Situation in north tense but manageable; coordination with EULEX, KFOR (Klan)
• Kurti politically “alone” on licence plates (RFE)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo must accept U.S. request; dire situation in north (Nacionale)
• Serwer: Kosovo is within its right on change of licence plates (media)
• Police on Serb rallies in north: We will maintain order and public security (Telegrafi)
• Visa liberalisation removed from agenda due to situation in north (RFE)
• Compromise is near, visa liberalisation at ambassador level in coming weeks (Express)
• Hyseni compares Osmani to Milosevic, reactions follow (media)
• Bushati: There is coalition from Tirana to Belgrade to get rid of Kurti (Express)
• Montenegrin intellectuals: West to protect Montenegro, Bosnia and Kosovo from Vucic (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic travels to Brussels, meeting Bislimi in afternoon (Tanjug)
• Stano: Aim of meeting with Petkovic, Bislimi to find solution to current crisis (Kosovo Online)
• Simic: Tensions in Kosovo high, Kurti ignores warnings (Tanjug)
• Hill: Licence plates issue should be postponed by one year (RTS)
• Dacic: Belgrade part of solution, Pristina problem (N1)
• Poll shows rising indifference towards EU (N1)
• Gracanica, Novo Brdo, Strpce Mayors on support and unity with Serbs in north Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• PKS: “Issuance of Serbian licence plates for Kosovo suspended” (Radio KIM)
• To Brussels only for the final agreement on normalisation, with recognition; agreed that Serbia should stop registering cars with illegal licence plates, said Kurti (FoNet, N1, Beta, NMagazin, KiM radio)
• Protest in Gracanica as a support for the Serbs in the north of Kosovo (Kim radio, KoSSev)
• Serbia, Azerbaijan sign seven bilateral agreements (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Bogdanovic on licence plates issue (Danas, Radio KIM)

International:

• Fact-Check: How Real are Kosovo’s Fears of a Serbian Military Strike? (BIRN)
• Kosovars Await Visa-Free Travel by January 2024 (Prishtina Insight)
• Between Berlin Process And Open Balkan – Analysis (eurasiareview, IFIMES)
• Drug-related health and security threats in the Western Balkans (emcdda.europa.eu)
• Judge Excludes Key Evidence in ‘Serbian Drug Farm’ Case (Balkan Insight)
• Solidarity Stories #4: Yugoslav Officer Confronts Serb Fighters During Abductions (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Women bear the burden of unpaid care work in Kosovo (Kosovo 2.0)
• MEPs Demand End to Roaming Charges for Western Balkans (Balkan Insight)

• Kosovo, Serbia chief negotiators to meet in Brussels today (RFE)
• Kosovo communicates with mediators of dialogue through the U.S. (Koha)
• U.S., EU engage diplomatically after Kosovo postpones licence plate fines (RFE)
• Borrell: We’re not a referee, we’re much more than that (Euractiv)
• Stano: We will continue the talks for a solution (Klan)
• Tajani: Italy available to find solutions and maintain stability (media)
• Osmani, Rohde discuss developments in Kosovo and dialogue with Serbia (RTK)
• France asks Kosovo to accept Borrell's proposal for license plates (RTK)
• Kupchan: Situation between Kosovo and Serbia carries risk of violence (VoA)
• CDHRF: Borell and Lajcak lined up on the side of Serbia (Paparaci)
• Tahiri: Kurti dramatizing to prepare the public for compromises (Koha)
• Kosovo-Serbia flare-up fears over car number plate row (BBC)
• Kosovo PM Postpones License Plate Fines Under Western Pressure (BIRN)
• Fears Kosovo-Serbia number plate row could spark violence (The Guardian)
• Kosovo delays crackdown on Serbian driving plates after US pressure (FT)
• EU slams Kosovo, Serbia on car plates dispute, as fears of violence grow (Politico)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 22, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: It is necessary to correct Borrell’s mistake (Koha)
• U.S. disappointed Kosovo and Serbia fail to reach agreement, State Dept says (media)
• Rohde: We need more statesmanship, less brinkmanship (media)
• Kurti in Skopje: Fortunately, Kosovo not dependent on Russian gas (Express)
• Mehaj repeats request for permanent U.S. military base in Kosovo (media)
• RFE: The proposal for the liberalization of visas in January 2024 passed (media)
• Vogel: The dialogue is suffering a crisis every month, Kurti lost his patience (Koha)
• LDK Women’s Forum leader asks Kurti to explain his change of position (Indeksonline)
• Kurti: Reform in public administration, essential in program of our government (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Rakic on talks with Vucic, Pristina’s acts (Kosovo Online)
• Hill after the meeting with Vucic: Only a constructive approach leads to a solution (RTS)
• Petkovic: Kurti doesn’t wish peace, dialogue serves to meet halfway (RTS)
• Vucic's call to Serbs from Kosovo for calmness and preservation of peace (media)
• Situation in Mitrovica North calm, people do not want to talk in front of cameras (Radio KIM)
• Vucic: I am proud we tried to maintain peace at all costs (Tanjug)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Vucic once again demonstrated constructive approach (RTS)
• Stano: EU has not given up on its proposal (N1, Kosovo Online)
• KFOR commander discusses tensions with Kosovo minister (N1)
• US senators concerned about risk of violence in region (Kosovo Online)
• Vehicle with Serbian licence plates set on fire in Mitrovica North (KoSSev)
• Detention of Krasniqi, Selimi and Mustafa extended (Kosovo Online)
• Italy tells Pristina that unilateral moves do not lead to a solution (NMagazin, Beta)
• Lulzim Rafuna, the new president of the Board of the Chamber Investment Forum of the Western Balkans (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Janjic: Vucic gave up ‘KM’ plates, Kurti asking for guarantees (Beta, NMagazin)
• Italy as Inspiration for the Balkan Far-Right (BIRN)

International:

• Kosovo Postpones Imposition Of License Plate Fines For 48 Hours (RFE)
• EU Blames Kosovo for Failing to Ease Spat Amid Tensions (Bloomberg)

• Kurti accepts U.S. Ambassador call for 48-hour postponement of fines (media)
• EU’s Borrell Blames Kosovo for Fresh Licence Plates Stalemate (BIRN)
• Kurti’s remarks to the media after meetings in Brussels (media)
• Osmani: Borrell was biased; accommodated the aggressor (media)
• EU responds to Kurti: We haven’t given up on normalisation agreement (media)
• U.S. State Department: Parties to refrain from provocative steps (Klan Kosova)
• Bajrami: Kosovo proposed to suspend further phases of plate conversion (media)
• NATO SG: Disappointed that licence plate dispute wasn’t solved (media)
• UNMIK chief Ziadeh calls for calm and commitment to dialogue (media)
• Abbott: Immediate need to make progress on a normalisation agreement (media)
• Svecla: Police ready to ensure and security throughout Kosovo (media)
• Haradinaj: Decision on licence plates must be suspended (media)
• Palokaj: With this pace, dialogue can last 11 years (Koha)
• Floods Cause Six Deaths in Montenegro, Albania, Serbia (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti to meet citizens in Prizren on Tuesday; to present budget for 2023 (Klan Kosova)
American congressman, Ritchie Torres meets Osmani (Koha) 
Kosovo Defence Minister meets Swedish counterpart, discuss cooperation (media)
Gjoshi: Kurti is negotiating with Vucic on an internal issue (media)
Elezi: CEC considering postponement of some election deadlines (RTK)
Lutfiu: Presevo Valley Albanians discuss withdrawal from Serbian institutions (Klan)
Interview with President of Special Court, Ekaterina Trendafilova (Albanian Post)
Noam Chomsky: I was never opposed to Kosovo’s independence (Albanian Post)

Serbian Language Media:

Dacic: Two possible outcomes in Brussels - reason or riots (Tanjug, RTS)
Minister says Serbian Army ready to defend Kosovo Serbs (N1, Beta, Telegraf)
Kosovo journalist: Without plates agreement, small armed conflict is possible (N1, FoNet)
Janjic: Suspension of the Brussels Agreement being discussed (N1)

International:

Floods Across Kosovo Damage Land, hit Drinking Water Supply (BIRN)
Letter from Belgrade (Financial Times)

• The penalty measure for license plates postponed for one day (media)
• Borrell: We need to de-escalate situation, move toward normalisation (media)
• EU to hold emergency talks with Kosovo-Serbia as deadline looms (Euractiv)
• EU police patrol Kosovo's north after Serb officers quit (Reuters)
• US hopes an agreement on licence plates will be reached (RFE, media)
• EULEX chief and KFOR commander walk in the north of Mitrovica (RTK)
• Kurti: Frank and important phone conversation with Chollet (media)
• Bugajski: Fundamental problem – Serbia’s non-recognition of Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo, Serbia delegations clash at NATO Parliamentary Assembly (RTK)
• Kosovo war crimes expert named Special Counsel in January 6 and Trump documents investigations in U.S. (RFE)
• Kosovo Public Broadcaster Complains of ‘Smallest Ever’ Budget (BIRN)
• Media Climate in Albania Worsening, Press Freedom Advocates Say (BIRN)
• Kosovo Public Broadcaster Complains of ‘Smallest Ever’ Budget (BIRN)
• Special Prosecution Charges Serbian Citizen with Torturing Civilians (BIRN)
• The need for lies (Kosovo 2.0)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: I am optimistic about licence plate issue, but Belgrade's approach is quite destructive (media)
• Brussels sends an invitation for a meeting to Kurti and Vucic (media)
• Kusari-Lila announces solution for licence plates "within hours" (Express)
• Osmani thanks Pelosi for her commitment and connection with Kosovo (media)
• EC convinces Netherlands – now they are in favour of visa liberalisation (Express)
• Kusari-Lila: EU plan has U.S. support and includes two phases (RTK)
• Peci: In one version I’ve seen, plan includes Serb Orthodox Church (Klan)
• Abazi: Kosovo to return to table of talks and coordinate with partners (Kallxo)
• Hoti: Kurti doesn’t listen to U.S., but sends police to coordinate with EULEX (Koha)
• EULEX on patrols in north of Kosovo: We have not assumed police responsibility (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• The EU invited Vucic and Kurti to Brussels: Find a European solution to get out of the crisis (N1)
• Office for KiM: No agreement has been reached with Pristina (RTS, Blic)
• Brnabic: No agreement with Pristina, it must implement agreements (Tanjug, media)
• UNS and DNKiM: Urgently to determine who attacked the Insajderi cameraman (KiM radio, NMagazin, Insajder)
• The KP confirms the attack on an Albanian cameraman and a student, but not a kidnapping (KoSSev)
• NGO Aktiv launches a phone line for reporting cases of mistreatment by the police (KiM radio)
• Drecun: We should expect Pristina to accept the EU's suggestions (Tanjug)
• UNS and DNKiM not invited to the meeting of the CoE Platform for the Safety of Journalists (KiM radio)

International:

• UN expert on truth and justice to visit Serbia and Kosovo* (ohchr.org)
• Spain Suggests Kosovo’s Visa Liberalisation Process Be Finalised on January 1, 2024 (schengenvisainfo.com)
• BIRN Conference Warns of Far-Right Groups’ Influence in Balkans (BIRN)

• Kosovo Assembly adopts in principle budget for 2023 (media)
• Osmani: Paneuropa supported Kosovo people in most difficult times (media)
• Kurti travels to Estonia to meet Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (media)
• Belgrade-backed Serb party retakes seats in Kosovo Parliament (BIRN)
• Bislimi: Serbian List’s return to Assembly exposes Belgrade’s agenda (media)
• SL return to Assembly interpreted as weakening of Vucic’s position (Koha)
• A cameraman and a teenager assaulted in the north of Kosovo (BIRN)
• Szunyog: Refrain from actions that could lead to confrontation (Koha)
• OSCE Mission in Kosovo condemns violence in Mitrovica North (media)
• Krasniqi: Association in line with Constitution; U.S. call to be heeded (media)
• Head of Mitrovica North-based NGO talks about assault (Koha)
• “It is difficult to explain why Ukraine does not recognize Kosovo” (Koha)