UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 30, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti - to QUINT ambassadors: Kosovo ready to sign basic agreement, Serbia refusing (media)
• Szunyog on Ursula von der Leyen's meetings: Waiting for fruitful discussions (Klan)
• Sources from Special Prosecution: “Almost all terrorists of Sept 24 are identified” (AP)
• Specialist Prosecutor’s Office raids houses of Thaci’s former advisors (media)
• Court sentences Bozovic to seven months in prison for incidents in the north (Koha)
• Delawie: The EU really needs to stop coddling Vucic (media)
• PDK: We do not vote international agreements without setting date for elections (Reporteri)
• Kurti expected to report to Assembly on developments in dialogue on Friday (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: I will call elections on Wednesday or Thursday (media)
• Serbia Against Violence parties will offer cooperation to right wing parties if need be (media)
• Less: It's no secret that London has more understanding for Pristina than other Western actors (Kosovo Online)
• Janjic: Brussels talks ended without an agreement, but showed a change in work methodology (Kim radio, Slobodno srpski)
• Milovan Bozovic from Zubin Potok sentenced to seven months in prison (KoSSev, media)
• Larger number of Kosovo police present in Zubin Potok, works on police station construction continue (Kosovo Online)
• "Fatherland" on construction of police station: “The brutality of Pristina while Belgrade is busy collecting voters” (KiM radio)
• Office for KiM: Tractor stolen from Djuric family in Osojane village (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio, N1)
• Vucic receives farewell visit from Albanian ambassador (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: Vucic continues to successfully challenge the EU (Koha)

International:

• Kosovo’s Report Reveals Banjska Terrorist Attack Details (Prishtina Insight)
• After BIRN Investigation, Prishtina Court Sentenced 13 Police Officers for Smuggling Operations (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:
Joint statement by Macron, Scholz and Melon on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
Lajcak: Leaders showed readiness, although couldn’t agree on modalities (media)
Von der Leyen will visit Kosovo today, to meet Osmani and Kurti (media)
Gervalla: Kosovo-Serbia agreement must be implemented in its entirety (VoA)
Haradinaj: Kosovo needs to implement the French-German plan (media)
Kearns calls on Borrell and von der Leyen to lift sanctions on Kosovo (media)
On sixth day of strike, mineworkers want Kurti to visit them (Koha)
Kosovo Police reacts to SL accusations about Zubin Potok police station (Kallxo)
Serbian Language Media:
Three European leaders call on Belgrade to deliver on de-facto recognition, on Pristina to establish CSM (N1, media)
Vucic: Deadlines about agreement with Pristina nonsense, we are ready for everything but recognition (Radio KIM, media)
EU: Failure to de-escalate tensions will have consequences (N1, BETA)
Scholz: Negotiations with Belgrade, Pristina did not end in failure (media)
Surlic: Meeting of Belgrade and Pristina leaders with EU officials – a successful failure (Tanjug)
Local residents object plan to build police station near elementary school in Zubin Potok (KoSSev, media)
Office for KiM, Serbian List react to decision to build police station near elementary school, say Pristina continues escalation (Radio KIM, media)
International Media:
A mysterious attack in northern Kosovo rattles everyone (The Economist)
Kurti, Vucic Trade Blame as Tensions in North Kosovo Worry EU (BIRN)
Kosovo-Serbia Stalemate Lets Convicted Criminals Walk Free (BIRN)
Op-ed: What of Inter-Ethnic Relations in Post-Banjska Kosovo? (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 27, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Von der Leyen in Western Balkans next week to present details of Growth Plan (media)
• Rama: Kosova accepted EU proposal, time for Serbia to do the same (media)
• Haradinaj: A big step forward, we are in the right position (Albanian Post)
• Kearns: A month since Radoicic admitted guilt, yet he remains free in Serbia (media)
• U.S. Senator Peters meets Gervalla (media)
• Kelmendi criticises Borrell for never putting blame on Serbia (media)
• Selimi: Do we let the progress of Kosovo be hostage to Serbian refusal? (media)
• “Former chief of special police for north was involved in Banjska group” (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Michel: At European Council summit today on dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia (Kosovo Online, RTV)
• Vucevic: In Brussels, Serbia avoided scenario of being culprit and disruptive factor (N1, Beta)
• KFOR, Serbian military commanders meet in Kosovo (N1)
• The trial in the case of Ivanovic's murder postponed due to the impossibility of broadcasting the video material (KiM radio)
• Von der Leyen visiting the Western Balkans next week (Kosovo Online)
• Part of Serbian opposition reaches final agreement on elections (N1)

International:

• Kosovo’s Ruling Party Takes Risk in Snubbing Parliamentary Inquiry (BIRN)
• OSCE, Serbian Church Criticise Damage to Serb Cemetery in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
• Leaders of Serbia, Kosovo End Talks In Brussels With No Sign Of Progress On Normalizing Relations (RFE)
• Pressure builds on Serbia over controversial new media laws (Euractive)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo Alpinist Uta Ibrahimi featured at a UNHQ exhibition honoring 50 women from around the world for their contributions to Women, Peace and Security (media)

Albanian Language Media:
Borrell: Kurti and Vucic were not ready to agree - they set conditions for each other (media)
Kurti insists on signing the agreement, Vucic on implementing what was signed (RFE)
Michel: The normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations is essential (media)
OSCE Chairman: I welcome resumption of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia (Klan)
Konjufca: New draft proposed for Association, quite different from those we have criticized (Klan)
Gervalla: Serbia refused to normalize relations with Kosovo (Klan)
Kurti's advisor: Serbia does not want normalization or self-management for Kosovo Serbs (media)
Bajrami: Kurti accepted complete Brussels package, unfortunately Serbia refused (Klan)
Rama: I congratulate Prime Minister of Kosovo for accepting EU proposal (media)
Svecla: Sanctioning Serbia prevents repetition of attacks (RTK)
KFOR and Serbian army talk about border line with Kosovo (Reporteri)
Civil society in Kosovo and Serbia calls for normalization of relations (Koha)
Palokaj: In the EU, there is greater optimism for reaching an agreement (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:
Vucic says Belgrade if favor of agreement implementation, but can not accept Kosovo independence and membership to UN (Tanjug, N1, media)
Charles Michel: Normalization of Belgrade-Pristina relations essential (FoNet, N1)
Meloni: We asked Vucic, Kurti to implement reached agreements (N1, media)
Grenell: EU must not allow Osmani and Kurti ignore previous agreements (media, social media)
Soil with mortal remains from old Orthodox cemetery in Mitrovica North taken to landfill (RTS, Tanjug, media)
KM Church Committee files criminal complaint over destruction of old cemetery (KoSSev)
Kryeziu says government not responsible for decision on construction of road that went across Orthodox cemetery (KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media:

• Scholz, Macron and Meloni to meet Kurti then Vucic, meeting starts at 14:00 (Telegrafi)
• Osmani in Iowa: September 24 attack was aimed at annexing north of Kosovo (media)
• Internationals express support for KSF, condemn attack in Banjska (media)
• Kosovo agreed to European “new plan” on Saturday; Vucic and Kurti expected to meet at Paris Peace Forum and sanctions lifted after the meeting (Albanian Post)
• Gervalla meets U.S. Congressman Torres (media)
• Citaku: U.S. always supported an Association in line with Constitution (media)
• Nitaj: Implementation of French-German plan today is a patriotic duty (Klan Kosova)
• Hehir: Vucic’s appeasement does not end in Mitrovica (KTV)
• “No Republika Srpska in Kosovo”; Albanians protest in Brussels (Telegrafi)
• Over €1 billion sent by diaspora to Kosovo this year (Kallxo)
• Kurti in Athens meets leaders of companies from energy field (media)
• Kosovo Judicial Council publishes decision to dismiss Stefanovic (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Guler's visit extremely significant for peace, stability in Balkans (Tanjug)
• SNF: Albanisation of Serbian municipality at stake in Caglavica (Radio KIM)
• One person interviewed in relation to old Orthodox cemetery desecration, case goes in regular procedure (Tanjug)
• Montenegrin Minister of Justice refused to extradite Serbian citizen Pristina accused of alleged war crimes (Tanjug)
• Brnabic speaks about Kosovo, Serbia's EU perspective in Brussels (Tanjug)
• Most Serbian citizens see China as friendly (N1)
• Stoltenberg in an official visit to Serbia in November (N1, RFE)
• EU Office in Kosovo: We are closely following the case of Abbot Fotije's deportation (Kosovo Online)
• Serbs upon arrests sent to detention in 90 percent of cases (Kosovo Online)
• Church of Saint Gabriel in Osojane robbed (Radio Gorazdevac)
• Djuric: Support to KSF transformation into army encourages extremism of Pristina government (Kosovo Online, social media)

International:

• Feuding Serbia and Kosovo leaders set for talks Thursday on the sidelines of an EU summit (AP)
• Serbian List gets new leadership, more Kosovo Serb parties are emerging (EWB)
• Montenegro Refuses to Extradite War Crime Suspect to Kosovo (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:
• No meeting between Kurti and Vucic in Brussels today (media)
• Serbian Ministry of Defense demands only KFOR guard border of Kosovo (RFE)
• EULEX observed raids in the north, members of KFOR stayed nearby (media)
• NATO: Investigations on Banjska are being carried out by Kosovo Police (Klan)
• MLGA rejects accusations of Serbian List: There is no decision on excavations in Orthodox cemeteries in Mitrovica north (Kallxo)
• Nikolla: Escobar described U.S. as most pro-Kosovo country in the world (Klan)
• Locked for six months, Hetemi demands KFOR leave municipality facility (RTK)
• Tuhina: Thursday will not determine only the fate of the dialogue (RTK)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic: It won't be easy, but they are knocking on the open door when it comes to Belgrade (RTS)
• Brnabic met Varhelyi: All current topics discussed, also the upcoming report of the European Commission (Blic)
• Vucevic: Serbs in Kosovo have no problem with KFOR presence (N1, FoNet)
• The Raska-Prizren Diocese: Desecration of graves goes on for 24 years with impunity (Tanjug, KiM radio)
• Serbian List: Kurti's regime is populist and fraudulently shows false concern for citizens (Tanjug)
International Media:
• Kosovo to Probe Damage to Old Cemetery in Serb-Majority North (Balkan Insight)
• The Situation of Women in Kosovo: A Gloomy Reality in International and Local Reports (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 25, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• EU says meetings on Thursday are “support” for dialogue (RFE)
• Kurti: No dialogue if no condemnation and sanctions on Serbia (media)
• Kosovo agrees for plan of envoys to be framework for further discussions (media)
• Konjufca on EU plan: I haven’t read it in detail, but it is in line with Constitution (media)
• Osmani hosted by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (media)
• Gervalla: Important to hold Serbia accountable for aggression (media)
• Elshani does not rule out another attack in Kosovo (TeVe1)
• 182 kilograms of marijuana seized at border with Serbia (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• New searches in relation to Banjska incident in northern Kosovo (KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
• Odalovic: Kurti made every agreement meaningless; the missing persons investigation neglected (RTS)
• Works on a road passing across old Orthodox cemetery in Mitrovica North halted (KoSSev)
• Brnabic and Rama today with Varhelyi (NMagazin, Beta)
• Drecun: West trying to expedite normalisation and get Belgrade recognize Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Goran Bogdanovic on change of Serbian List leadership (N1, Danas)
• Davenport: Excessive use of detention measure represents problem not only in Kosovo, but wider as well (Kosovo Online)
• Pasalic: ''I am amazed because the international institutions do not react to the evidence about the situation of Serbian prisoners in Kosovo'' (Kosovo Online)
• Former High Court Judge in North Mitrovica Kabasic: Serbs in Kosovo completely disenfranchised (Kosovo Online)
• Mobile mammograph in Mitrovica North (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Serwer: “A failed terrorist provocation” (peacefare.net)

International:

• Kosovo’s premier slams Serbia ahead of fresh round of talks (Financial Times)

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti and Vucic expected to meet with main European leaders on October 26 (RFE)
EU presents "modern" draft for Association, invites Kurti and Vucic to Brussels (Koha)
Haxhiu: Kurti has not yet confirmed his participation at Brussels meeting (media)
Government informs about Kurti’s meetings in Greece (media)
Svecla: Other groups are being trained in Serbia to attack Kosovo, Veselinovic, among them (Koha)
Austria demands the recognition of Kosovo by the entire EU (Klan)
Osmani begins her visit to Iowa, USA, goes by helicopter to Camp Dodge (media)
Fajon: It is important to do everything in our power to de-escalate tensions (media)
Serbian Language Media:
Belgrade, Pristina to hold separate meetings with EU officials Thursday (Tanjug, media)
Stoltenberg: Situation is Kosovo difficult, calls for restraint (N1, FoNet, Kosovo Online)
New Serbian List leadership elected (KoSSev, media)
Old cemetery in Mitrovica North plowed over by road reconstruction, Church to ask for protection of plot (KoSSev)
Serbian List condemns desecration of old cemetery (Kosovo Online, media)
Petkovic meets with CDU/CSU foreign policy adviser, informs him of difficult situation of Serbs in Kosovo (media)
Vucevic, Grenell discuss situation in Kosovo (media)
Grenell: Pristina must select date for elections, form CSM (BETA, N1, social media)
Ilija Elezovic released pending trial (Kosovo Online, media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: This week is important, but not to put a full stop to everything (RTV21)
• Kurti on dialogue: Let us implement fast what we have agreed upon (Koha)
• Osmani begins official visit to Iowa (media)
• Detention of suspects of Banjska attack extended by two more months (Telegrafi)
• “Serbia, most likely with knowledge and instructions from Vucic, formed terrorist group to attack KFOR and Kosovo”, conclusions of a report by the Kosovo Government (Albanian Post)
• Osmani's request to UNSC for a resolution is being considered smart step (RTK)
• Who is Zlatan Elek, the man who took over the "Serbian List" (Express)
• Halimi: Kurti should report to Assembly, prior to lecturing in Greece (media)
• Constitution of Investigative Committee on state reserves fails for the fifth time (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dr Zlatan Elek, new president of Serbian List (Kosovo Online)
• A road built across the old Orthodox cemetery in Mitrovica (KiM radio)
• Brnabic after UNSC session: Pristina does not intend to participate in dialogue, they do not want to understand how Serbs live in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Vucevic: Brnabic informed world of actual situation in Kosovo (Tanjug, TV Prva)
• Serbian PM denies Belgrade’s involvement in Banjska incident (N1)
• Arsenijevic: More information we have, less it is clear what happened in Banjska (Radio KIM)
• IFIMES: Unserious to put blame for Banjska on one actor (Tanjug)
• Djuric commends Brnabic's UN Security Council speech (Tanjug)
• Vucic: In two to three days, me and Kurti will again go to Brussels for talks (RTS)

International:

• Shadow Clans and Shadow Wars: Kosovo PM Accuses Serbian Group of Terrorism (BNN)
• Grants, Loans to Kosovo Hostage to Opposition Election Demand (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:
UN Security Council discusses situation in Kosovo (media)
Albanian-American community protests at UNHQ against Serbia’s acts (media)
Palokaj: Kurti and Vucic have by Thursday to respond to requests (KTV)
Rohde calls on PDK and AAK to end blockade of international agreements (media)
KSF field exercise on Wednesday, announces movement towards Gjakova (media)
Elezi: Around 150-200 Serbs are being trained in Serbia to enter Kosovo (media)
Court annuls govt decision to lower salaries of prosecutors and judges (Koha)
Serbian opposition wants explanations for Serbia’s role in Banjska (RFE)
Ziv: Israel not fighting Palestinian people but Hamas terrorists (media)
Serbian Language Media:
Brnabic tells UN SC: Pristina using systematic violence against Serbs in Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
Ziadeh: Shared responsibility, concerted action and compromise, the only route to progress (KoSSev, media)
What did ambassadors say at UN SC session on Kosovo, from “fleeing to third country” to return of Monastery’s land (KoSSev, social media)
Dacic: No recognition or UN admission of Kosovo (media)
EU urges Belgrade, Pristina to de-escalate, calls for elections in north Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
Raska-Prizren Eparchy sends letters to EU, EULEX, OSCE and Quint over deportation of Abbot Fotije (Kosovo Online)
Serbian List to hold Assembly session today (Kosovo Online, media)
International Media:
International Investigation Underway on Banjska Terrorist Attack, Says British MP (BIRN)
Kosovo Imam Seeks 40,000 Euros Over 2016 Article’s ‘Wahhabi’ Claim (BIRN)