UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 1, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti at Yale: “Serb parallel structures in Kosovo have lost the battle” (media)
Gervalla: “Terrorism, radicalism have no room in our society and state” (media)
Bajqinovci: There are 70 Kosovo Serb police officers working in the north (media)
Two Vetevendosje MPs to announce departure from party (media)
Kajtazi: Internationals strongly engaged for Kurti not to remain in power (media)
Todorovic: Radoicic is somewhere in Serbia (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Djuric: Serbia committed to eradicating terrorism, actively cooperating with partners (Kosovo Online)
Djuric to attend FMs meeting today within Berlin Process (Kosovo Online)
Committee: Security situation in Kosovo tense, unstable (Tanjug)
Office for KiM: Impermissible threats to Tanjug journalists (media)
Outgoing KFOR Commander visits Tirana (N1)
Svecla and Krasniqi visit Mitrovica North again, met with whistling from Serbian Democracy members (KoSSev)
Protest starts minutes before Brnabic calls special session (N1)

International Media:

New EU Line-Up, But No Quick Fix for Balkan Enlargement Woes (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

First deployment of NATO ARF to focus on readiness support to KFOR (media)
British troops deploy into Kosovo by testing new strategic NATO corridor (media)
Muja: Serbia abused free trade to arm the northern part of Kosovo (Kosovapress)
On Banjska, Serbia is ignoring “the elephant in the room” (RFE)
Gjenero: Narrative on Banjska is international (Nacionale)
Kurti pays homage to US-Albanian brothers killed in Serbia in July 1999 (media)
Kurti, Plenkovic talk deepening cooperation on higher education, defense (media)
Serb opposition in Kosovo aims to form front against Serbian List (Koha)
Osmani attends event, “our shared commitment to upholding CEDAW” (media)
SBASHK submits petition to amend law on pension schemes (RFE)
Kosovo government allocates €100,000 for Global Coalition against ISIS (media)
Police interview person in Pristina, was wearing shirt with inciting content (media)

Serbian Language Media:

KP on beaten and robbed couple in Gracanica: They reported that a masked person attacked them (Kosovo Online, KoSSev, gracanicaonline.info, media)
Dusanka Aleksic: Attacker was kicking us and hitting with a baton (Tanjug)
Office for KiM: Attack on Aleksic family in Gracanica made Serbs in Kosovo worried (Tanjug)
Gogic: Attack in Gracanica testifies security situation in Serbian areas is undermined (Kosovo Online)
While police are yet to determine cause of explosion in Zvecan, mayor Peci condemns “people who caused incident” (KoSSev)
ERO: Possible difficulties in the supply of electricity during the winter; Gerxhaliu reacts (Kosovo Online)
Serbian Parliament to hold session on lithium (N1)

International:

Kosovo feminist festival highlights sisterhood in times of war and peace (BIRN)
Aleksandar Vučić’s diplomacy à la carte (Politico.eu)
Pollution and skulduggery claims stalk projects to mine Bosnia’s resources (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Agreement with EFTA countries will be signed next year (RTK)
• Osmani: Vucic will only postpone Crimea-style annexation plan (RTK)
• Osmani meets Cardinal of Vatican, emphasises importance of recognition of Kosovo by Holy See(media)
• Kurti and Gervalla meet Secretary of State of the Holy See (RTK)
• Kusari-Lila: Proposal to impose measures on Kosovo was Lajcak's (media)
• Rasic: Serbian List is working to boycott February 9 elections (Dukagjini)
• Explosive device thrown on property of an Albanian in Zvean (Dukagjini)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Intense week in New York, difficult talks about Kosovo (Kosovo Online, media)
• Vucevic: Enormous pressure by Kurti on Serbs in Kosovo (Blic, Kosovo Online, TV Prva)
• Opposition and Kosovo Serbs discuss alternatives to Serbian List, emphasise community survival (FoNet, N1, KoSSev)
• Explosion in Zvecan, gas station guarded by Kosovo police damaged (N1, KoSSev)
• Albanian PM: “Kosovo’s statehood irreversible, rejects Ukraine parallel at the UNGA (KoSSev)
• Mijacic: Closure of temporary authorities an act of brutal force, not the integration of the Serbian community (Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani after meeting Biden: “Alliance at the foundation of our state” (media)
• Kurti tells UN USG Xu: “I look forward to continuing cooperation” (media)
• Police put security barriers on bridge near Brnjak to prevent smuggling (media)
• Over 1 ton of drugs worth around €5 million confiscated in Peja (media)
• “Kosovo ranked among countries with highest index for law and order” (media)
• Kusari-Lila:“The truth of Radoicic conversation” (media)
• Group of Serbs protest in front of police station in Zubin Potok (Koha)
• What is it like to be an Albanian in Serbia? (Radio Free Europe)

Serbian Language Media:

• Rector Arsic: I hope KFOR’s promise that no one will invade faculties is still valid (NMagazin, Beta, Vecernje Novosti, media)
• Local elections in north nowhere in sight – EU's demand for elections to be held "as soon as possible" has faded (Kosovo Online)
• Following news of cancellation of training for KP, US Embassy: We have not made any decision "at this time" (KoSSev)
• Qerkinaj: Politicians blocking process of shedding light on missings fate, families will not give up (KoSSev, Medija centar Caglavica)
• Petkovic: Accusations against Serbia are indicator of retrograde nature of Pristina's politics (KiM radio, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Protest in Zubin Potok over endangerment of Serbian Orthodox Church objects (ZubinPotok.info, Radio kontakt plus, media)
• Elshani says police investigates desecration of sacred site near Zubin Potok (Radio KIM)
• Lawyer: Health condition of Svetomir Bacevic deteriorated, I requested extraordinary commutation of sentence (Radio KIM)
• Vucic, Netanyahu discuss situation in Kosovo, Israel (N1, Beta, media)
• Brnabic: After EU institutions form and US elections, I expect shift in measures toward Pristina (Beta, N1, RTS)

International:

• A walk through resistance: A visitor’s take from Kosovo’s Reporting House (Prishtina Insight)
• New EU line-up, but no quick fix for Balkan enlargement woes (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• “It is all so sad” (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev)
• Why thousands of Kosovo residents are on hospital waiting lists for years (RFE)
• Back in my day … (Kosovo 2.0)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani meets with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Jim O'Brien (media)
• Osmani: Kosovo should have more coordination and cooperation with the U.S. (media)
• Kurti: Diplomatic and economic ties with Greece have increased (RTK)
• Gervalla meets her counterpart from Monaco, discusses joint projects (media)
• Pacolli: Hovenier's message should not have been conveyed to Kosovo but to Serbia (RTK)
• Haxhiu hosts Danish Minister of Justice, discusses implementation of agreement on prisons (media)
• Rasic: Radomirovic fired for involvement in suspicious activities in the north (Dukagjini)
• KFOR and Serbian army carry out synchronised patrolling (media)
• Anti-smuggling measures, police set up obstacles for trucks at the Bernjak/Brnjak bridge (Dukagjini)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic meets SG Guterres in New York, discusses Kosovo, cooperation and geopolitical challenges (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: We know they deceived us with the Brussels Agreement (Kosovo Online, media)
• Petkovic: “Pristina continues police occupation of northern Kosovo” (media)
• Serbian List: Decision on allocating building in "Bosiak" Mahala made by illegitimate Albanian councillors (Radio KIM)
• Serbian List: Possible abolishment of Serbian goods import ban decision is not a merit of Nenad Rasic (Radio KIM)
• Gerxhaliu: U.S. and Europe have taken Serbian goods blockade seriously; compromise will certainly be reached (Kosovo Online)
• Kosovo police placed concrete barriers on Bernjak/Brnjak bridge (KoSSev)
• Vucic not sure he can make it to parliamentary debate on lithium, will attend that on Kosovo (N1)
• Serbia, Azerbaijan sign agreement on additional gas supply (N1)

International Media:

• Serbia-Albania joint bid with political history set to win hosting of soccer’s Under-21 Euros (AP)

Albanian Language Media:

Kosovo Police deny that U.S. has canceled training for them (Klan Kosova)
Osmani joins world leaders for summit on Ukraine (media)
Haradinaj after U.S. warnings: We are entering a worse period (EO)
Svecla: Radoicic’s group being trained to cause instability in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Djuric with Sybiha: Serbia's commitment to peace and resolving issues through dialogue is universal (Kosovo Online)
Radosavljevic: No functional local governments in the north without new mayors and councilors (Kosovo Online)
Mazreku: Municipalities in north, like all others, should have legitimate authorities (Kosovo Online)
Building housing Office for KiM and other Serbian services handed over to Kosovo MIA (KoSSev)
Dismissed deputy minister Radomirovic accuses Rasic of neglecting northern Serbs (KoSSev)
Rasic responds to Radomirovic, calls him ‘controversial’ personality (Radio KIM)
European Greens stand with anti-lithium protesters (N1)

International:

Kosovo postpones trial for Banjska attack, awaits Supreme Court ruling (Prishtina Insight)
Massacres relived: Book sheds new light on Kosovo war’s atrocities (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

Borrell: Leaders of the region must take bold decisions to move towards integration (media)

KFOR: Serbia should help on urgently bringing perpetrators of attack in Banjska to justice (Koha)

Osmani and Carpenter talk about importance of Kosovo-USA cooperation (RTK)

Kurti: Serbia violating agreement, harbouring Radoicic (media)

Bislimi: Kosovo is working intensively for membership in SEPA (RTK)

Kurti meets Prime Minister of Liechtenstein, talk about cooperation (RTK)

Gervalla: Full Euro-Atlantic integration of Kosovo, necessary (RTK)

Maqedonci: KSF will have three infantry regiments (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic says health care, education to stay out of Kosovo system (Beta, N1)

Mijacic: Svecla's statement inappropriate; education and healthcare are resolved within the framework of dialogue (Kosovo Online)

Imeri: All open issues with the Serbian community in Kosovo should be resolved through the A/CSM (Kosovo Online)

Directors of CHC Kosovska Mitrovica and CHC Pristina-Gracanica deny Svecla's statement (Kontakt plus radio, Kosovo Online)

COMKFOR: Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue crucial and possible (N1)

Vucic: China's support even stronger, I conveyed our frustration to Lajcak (Tanjug, media)

Serbian FM met Greek FM, OSCE Acting SG (Tanjug, media)

Momirovic: A meeting of the Joint Committee of CEFTA has been called, the unblocking of the agreement expected (Kosovo Online)

Radomirovic dismissed from the post of Deputy Minister for Returns (Blic, Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti travels to NY, to take part in UN General Assembly High-Level Week (media)
Hovenier calls on Kosovo and Serbia to fulfill obligations and take dialogue more seriously (media)
Rohde calls for concrete steps to establish the Association (media)
Lajcak meets Plotner, talk how to unblock implementation of Ohrid deal (media)
Maqedonci: Groups near border with Serbia are a threat to Kosovo (Dukagjini)
Torres: Those responsible for Banjska to be held accountable in Kosovo (media)
Hoxhaj says diplomacy turned Banjska victory into isolation, sanctions (media)
Osmani at Summit on Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats (media)
Kurti: Public administration reforms in the service of economic development (EO)
Kosovo confirms another statistic: “Serbia has stolen 3,274 artifacts” (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

Banjska case preliminary hearing: Names of all accused read out, trial to those arrested; Hearing postponed for October 9 (KiM radio, media)
"Broader autonomy": Kosovo Minister of Internal Affairs, Svecla on Serbs’ health and education system in Kosovo (Danas, Kosovo Online, Kontakt plus radio)
Hovenier: No other way for Kosovo and Serbia than dialogue (Kosovo Online)
Vucic meets China FM Yi, tells him of difficulties Serbs in Kosovo face (Tanjug)
Vucic meets Iranian President, discuss Kosovo issue (Kosovo Online, media)
Serbian opposition submits request to hold debate on Kosovo, Vucic invited (N1)
EU Justice Commissioner: EC’s enlargement package “in a couple of weeks” (N1)
German Minister: Important for the CEFTA agreement to be concluded (DW)

International:

Silence over Kosovo’s stalled Council of Europe bid as France, Italy dig in their heels (Euractive)
Kosovo commemorates police sergeant killed in 2023 Banjska attack (BIRN)
Kosovo says indictments ignore Serbian role in deadly siege (RFE)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, September 25, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Serbia is responsible, it must be held accountable (media)
One year from the attack that can be repeated (Koha)
Osmani: The women of Kosovo have always been at the forefront (media)
Osmani meets Albright and Rand during stay in NY (media)
Lajcak meets O’Brien and Kasanof, discuss Kosovo-Serbia normalisations (media)
CEFTA, German minister: We’re trying to find a solution on Kosovo (media)
Study: High level of mistrust between Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: There is no justice for Serbs in Kosovo, why UN Charter was not respected in case of Serbia (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, media)
Petkovic in Paris talks about situation of Serbs in Kosovo, difficulties they face (Kosovo Online)
Petkovic: “Who authorised Stano to violate status neutrality and recognise Kosovo?” (Tanjug)
Trade Minister: Blockade on Serbian goods in Kosovo must end (N1)
Dacic: No dramatic turn to West, relations with Russia, China not in jeopardy (Tanjug)
Marinkovic: Banjska discredited interests of Serbian community (Radio KIM)
Banjska: A year later, poll highlights fear and unresolved questions (KoSSev)
Serbian diaspora in New York warns of difficult situation Serbs face in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo leaders remember police sergeant killed during Banjska attack (media)
• Stano: EU reiterates call for swift prosecution of those responsible (media)
• Hovenier: Perpetrators and all those involved in horrific crime must be held fully accountable (media)
• EU Ambassador Orav pays his respects to Afrim Bunjaku (media)
• German Embassy: Radoicic free in Serbia, although he is behind the crime (RTK)
• Elshani: Situation in north compared to last year is like night and day (media)
• Weapons and confiscations; a history of police actions in north of Kosovo (RFE)
• Kosovo PM Kurti’s interview with the Financial Times (media)
• Shahini: Kosovo will lift ban on Serbian goods, but trying to score twice (media)
• IMC adopts fake news complaint: RTK obliged to give Nacionale room for rebuttal

Serbian Language Media:

• COMKFOR discusses security with NATO, allied ambassadors (N1)
• Vucic attends reception hosted by German chancellor, Namibian president (Tanjug)
• One year after, Banjska still in shadow of armed conflict: Life between silence and bitter reality (Alternativna.com)
• Stojanovic, Sheholli on Banjska (KiM radio)
• A board with name of fallen police officer placed on street in Banjska (KiM radio)
• What protects Radoicic? (RFE, Danas, N1)
• Donald Trump Jr at business dinner in Belgrade (N1)

International:

• A year after Banjska attack, Kosovo indictment chronicles Serb ‘land grab plot’ (BIRN)
• A year after brazen attack in Kosovo, questions remain (RFE)
• Kosovo’s leader defies western pressure to compromise with Serbia (FT)
• Kosovo’s 90s turmoil: Elez Biberaj recounts key interviews in VOA (Prishtina Insight)