UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 29, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti in address at Harvard: Kosovo has strong minority protections (media)
Kosovo denies allegations that Serbs’ rights in north are being violated (RTV21)
Murati: The Development Bank is becoming a reality (media)
Svecla: Kosovo is not a safe haven for criminals (media)
Bislimi meets head of Division for Western Balkans in EEAS (media)
Jashari meets KFOR Chief of Staff, talk cooperation (media)
Osmani: The Siparantum Choir has once again raised our flag high (media)
Artists from Kosovo and Serbia with joint exhibition in Belgrade (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian Government declares Kosovo a region of special social protection (KoSSev, media)
Vucic: We have no closer or greater ally in Europe than Hungary (Tanjug)
Murphy with Vucevic: Implementing Brussels Agreement as a path to compromise (Kosovo Online)
Vulin: BRICS summit brings hope (N1, BETA)
Milos Subotic: “While they were beating me in police station, other officers were laughing; this no longer feels like life” (Kosovo Online, Danas)
Hearing in Milorad Djokovic’s case postponed (Radio KIM)
LVV ‘under fire’: Opposition claims government uses north, bridge opening and A/CSM to divert attention (KoSSev)
Opinion:
Three reasons why there will be a change of government in Kosovo (Nacionale)

International Media:

‘Thirrëm edhe mua’ for women fighting breast cancer (Prishtina Insight)
Kosovo’s choir awarded in Spain (Prishtina Insight)
KLA was voluntary army, witness tells Thaci trial in the Hague (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Konjufca on Association: EU cannot take away our right to propose a draft (media)
• Progress Report expected to request urgent implementation of agreements (RFE)
• Koopman commends Kosovo on Reforms Agenda for Growth Plan (media)
• “Vucic hoping Trump elected in order to start talks on Kosovo partition” (media)
• Zeka: Govt didn’t give the right importance to capital investments (Kosovapress)
• RTK: Dinar continues to circulate illegally in the northern municipalities
• Tahiri: Vetevendosje is not serious, fortunately we are on verge of elections (Klan)
• Videnovic: Serbian politicians must apologize for pain caused in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• CSOs appeal for international actions on police abuse of non-majority communities (Alternativna, Kosovo Online, social media)
• CSOs call upon mayor Atiq to resign (KoSSev, media, social media)
• ‘How can I trust the police?’: Milos Subotic’s struggle for justice after alleged assault (KoSSev)
• Fatherland: Beating of Subotic only tip of an iceberg (KoSSev, media)
• One more Serb claim Kosovo police treated him ‘inappropriately’ (Alternativna, social media)
• Andric Rakic: Level of public security in north of Kosovo decreased (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Ugljanin: ID cards listing ‘Mitrovica’ violate law and agreements on north-south division (KoSSev)
• Bomb thrown in a yard of Serbian woman, member of Kosovo police in Mali Zvecan (KoSSev, media)
• Djuric: Deva's restored house illuminated ‘in colors of the Third Reich flag’ (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Kosovo Assembly did not adopt any of proposed laws that Government planned for 2024 (KoSSev, Koha)

International:

• Kosovo counts cost and benefit of prisoner deal with Denmark (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 28, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Von der Leyen visits Pristina, meets Osmani and Kurti (media)
Peja mayor Gazmend Muhaxheri assaulted by two persons (media)
Finnish MP: We will support Kosovo at Council of Europe (media)
EULEX welcomes investigations into claims of beating of a Serb in north (RFE)
Atiq: Serb civil society never reacted to vehicles’ burning, violent actions (media)
LDK’s Gashi calls for Kurti’s resignation: VV lost majority in parliament (media)

Serbian Language Media:

EULEX demand the competent authorities to urgently investigate allegations of abuse against Subotic (Kosovo Online, RTS, KiM radio)
Atiq: Civil society in the North reacts against government and police actions, not against car arson or Rakic assault (KoSSev)
KP outline details of Milos Subotic’s arrest as Inspectorate launches abuse investigation (KoSSev)
Office for KiM: The beating of Subotic proof that Pristina uses "Gestapo methods" of violence against Serbs (Kosovo Online)
SL: The beating of Subotic confirms that Pristina continues with intimidation and violence (Kosovo Online)
SNP: The GoK’s unacceptable and malicious decision on the expropriation of 13 hectares in the municipality of Gracanica (KoSSev)
Arsenijevic: Atiq's chief of staff and security chased minors; KP: The inspector stopped the young men for pasting stickers (KoSSev)

International Media:

Western Balkans’ struggle with open data and digitalization (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

NATO notes that consensus of 32 members required on Kosovo (RTV21)
Kurti: Austria and Kosovo built a strong partnership over the decades (RTK)
Kosovo’s Election Commission joins A-WEB Executive Committee (media)
Agency denies reports about removal of “Mitrovica North” from IDs (media)
Hoxhaj: Kurti accepted Association, biggest damage in last 30 years (RTV21)
Albanians in Serbia to protest against passivization of addresses (Albanian Post)

Serbian Language Media:

Head of UN: Situation in north of Kosovo tense, possible escalation (RTS, Blic, Danas)
Ursula von der Leyen in two-day visit to Serbia (RTS, media)
Arsenijevic calls on Kosovo police to open case against Missini café for ‘spreading ethnic intolerance’ (social media)
Mesarovic: Serbia has significant economic cooperation with BRICS member states (Tanjug)
Barac: EU lost ability to moderate dialogue, negotiations became ‘absurd’ (Kosovo Online)
In Pristina, graffiti written against Fadil Geci, along with derogatory words for Serbs (KoSSev, Kallxo)

International:

Tena Prelec: People in the region need to feel like a part of Europe, rather than as a “super-periphery” (EWB)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 25, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kosovo, Serbia don’t agree on moving forward toward normalization (RFE)
Kurti, Barduani: “Importance of regular communication and coordination” (media)
Osmani: Steadfast commitment to principles that define our democracy (media)
Chief prosecutor: Kajtazi and Mehmetaj are not being investigated (media)
AJK expresses concern regarding the investigations against journalists (media)
Rasic: Association does not constitute a threat to Kosovo sovereignty (media)
Svecla meets Bulgarian counterpart, discuss security and challenges (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Petkovic: We insisted on CSM, pointed out Pristina's behaviour against Serbs (Tanjug, N1, media)
Lajcak: We agreed about next steps (Radio kontakt plus, social media)
Vucic: Government reshuffle, including mayors, company directors (N1, BETA)
Petkovic, Serbian List condemn apprehension of Uljarevic: Interference of politics into sport (KoSSev, media)
Sports Minister on apprehension of Uljarevic: Pristina authorities are crossing ‘line of reason’ (Kosovo Online)
Tusk: Poland supports Serbia's EU path, EU incomplete without Serbia (media)
Radar: Serbia pays 1st instalment for French Rafale fighters (N1)

International Media:

Controversy erupts over hybrid warfare claims after audio recording leak involving Kusari-Lila and Radoicic (Sbunker, Disinfo)
Workshops: Kosovo youth united against radicalism (Sbunker)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti repeats the demands toward Serbia in the dialogue (RTK)
• Barduani meets Kurti: Dialogue only way to compose ongoing issues (media)
• Reuten: Punitive measures against Kosovo must be removed (media)
• Kurti on terrorist attack in Turkey: Let’s work together to combat terrorism (media)
• Haradinaj condemns terrorist attack in Ankara; “attack against peace” (media)
• Osmani: Courts in Kosovo set a very good example of rule of law (RTK)
• UNMIK: In north of Kosovo, still potential for escalation (Albanian Post)
• Hovenier calls for fair, open, and inclusive selection process in call of KPC (media)
• Citaku: Investigations against Kajtazi and Mehmetaj, orchestrated scandal (media)
• First two projects of Kosovo Prosperity Fund signed in Mitrovica North (RTK)
• Murati meets head of IMF Mission for Kosovo (media)
• Police arrest person, find visit cards, shirts with nationalistic signs (media)
• United Nations Day (Kosovapress)
• Kearns: Vucic continues to seek closer ties to Putin (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Meeting of Serbian delegation with Lajcak ended in Brussels, uncertainty about "tripartite" meeting (Beta, N1)
• KoSSev: North Mitrovica omitted from ID cards, technical mistake or intention?
• Students: This is beginning of our non-violent and democratic struggle for rights of Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, media, social media)
• Lawyer: Prosecution opened proceeding against President of Football Association in Kosovo over jerseys (Kosovo Online)
• Subaric informs British Ambassador about appropriation of municipal land, seeks his support (Radio KIM)
• Vulin: Belgrade will not impose sanctions on Moscow (N1)
• Less: In long term, border changes are prerequisite for stabilization of Balkans (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic recalled Serbian Ambassador to the UN Nemanja Stevanovic (NMagazin, Beta, Danas)
• Vucic and Tusk meeting: Strengthening bilateral relations, EU integration, situations in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio, media)

Opinion:

• NIN on story which is kept quiet about: Serbian women from Kosovo suffer sexual harassment (NIN, Blic)

International:

• Serbian, Kosovar negotiators meet with EU envoy to jump start stalled talks (RFE)
• Ethnic tensions dominate life in divided Kosovan city, decades after war (Reuters)
• Lost in Translation: Open Balkan ID initiative yet to take off (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 24, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani concludes visit to U.S. “with powerful event” (media)
Wood, Osmani discuss dialogue and need for war victims to find closure (media)
Bislimi: With Growth Plan, Kosovo gets one step closer to the EU (media)
Kurti hosts President of Eurochambers Vladimir Dlouhy (media)
Osmani’s message on 25th anniversary of USAID in Kosovo (media)
Kosovo leaders condemn terrorist attack in Turkey (media)
Barduani meets Mojsilovic, discuss regional security and cooperation (media)
German MP calls for accountability for the attack in Banjska (media)
Orav meets Specialist Prosecutor Kimberly West in Pristina (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian PM: Potential government reshuffle to be considered in spring (Tanjug, media)
Djuric met with Giaufret (Tanjug)
Mojsilovic, new KFOR commander discuss security situation in Kosovo (N1, Beta, Tanjug)
Counsellor of the rector of the University in North Mitrovica interrogated over the student protest (RTS, N1, media)
The KP punished young men in Zvecan for "vandalism"; a parent complains about the violation of rights: They redid crossed-out graffiti (KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media:

EC adopts reforms agenda of Kosovo and four countries of region (RFE)
Kurti: The Berlin Process was crowned successfully (Gazeta Express)
Krasniqi: Iber bridge should be opened, no reason for it to remain closed (media)
Aliu: I have no official information from the Special Prosecution (media)
Stano: Focus of the meeting, urgent need to implement the agreement (media)
Svecla hails police operation that seized over 10 kilos of cocaine (media)
Haradinaj meets Kasanof, asks for speedy NATO membership for Kosovo (media)
Slovakia to close its liaison office in Kosovo by December 31 this year (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Donald Tusk and Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Belgrade today (RTS)
A new round of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina tomorrow in Brussels (RTS, media)
Lajcak, Lorkowski on WB integration to EU in context of normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina (Tanjug, Blic)
Silent protest in North Mitrovica: University students march with mouths taped (KoSSev, media)
First hearing in throwing tear gas in Kosovo Assembly case, Konjufca and others were not present (Kosovo Online)
ARTICLE 19 launches news fact-checking campaign (N1, KoSSev)
EC approves reform agendas of Serbia, other W Balkan partners (Tanjug)
EP Rapporteur Picula insists on Serbia meeting EU accession criteria (N1, Hina)

International:

IMF keeps Kosovo's 2024 GDP growth projection at 3.8% (Seenews)
Biserko: Vucic has given up on Kosovo (Albanian Daily News)
'Feces Everywhere': Balkan lake must clean up or lose UNESCO status (RFE)
Balkan criminals planned murders using encrypted phones from Canadian startup Sky Global (OCCRP)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 23, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani meets Wood, talk “Kosovo success and importance of cooperation” (media)
Bislimi calls for lifting of penalty measures against Kosovo (media)
Haradinaj: Association in return for guaranteed fast membership in NATO (media)
Hargreaves: Iber Bridge must be opened, question is when and how (media)
Nic: Germany should engage more seriously in the Balkans (RFE)
Haziri: We cannot implement a bad agreement (media)
Becirovic wants Bosnia and Herzegovina to lift visa regime for Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Number of migrants down by 80 pct compared to 2023 (media)
Fico: Serbia protected Hungary, Slovakia and entire EU from illegal migration (Tanjug)
N1 on Pristina media reports: “Milan Radoicic approved voting for election of Vjosa Osmani as Kosovo president”
Vucic on new EP Rapporteur: His views are problematic, not his nationality (N1)
Vucevic: Serbia ready to work on boosting relations with friendly Montenegro (media)
Djuric met Craxi, thanked her for Italian contribution to peace and stability (media)
Slovenian MFA on uncoordinated decision-making, punitive measures (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

Serbia’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive growth (The Washington Times)

International Media:

Kosovo youth inherit ‘burden of war’ from ‘secondhand memories’, report says (Balkan Insight)
Witness accuses Kosovo’s Thaci of naming his brother a Serbian collaborator (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti opposes replication of Italy-Albania migration deals in Balkans (media)
• Kurti: We already have an agreement, not only dialogue (Telegrafi)
• US Embassy: O’Brien had important conversations with govt leaders (media)
• Osmani emphasizes “importance of never giving up on freedom” (media)
• Osmani meets Lawler, “strong partnership ensures regional stability” (media)
• EU Office: Von der Leyen will visit Kosovo on October 26 (media)
• Torres: Kosovo, American success story of democracy in the Balkans (media)
• Terras from Estonia expected to be appointed EP Rapporteur for Kosovo (RFE)
• Murati travels to U.S. for annual meetings of IMF and World Bank (media)
• Govt, ICO with strategy to address challenges of communities in Kosovo (EO)
• “SL silence about Rakic backs theories Radoicic’s people beat him up” (Express)
• ARKEP authorizes Starlink to offer services in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Aljazeera on construction of 200 houses in northern Kosovo: Residents are asking for information about the future tenants
• Tonino Picula the new rapporteur of the European Parliament for Serbia (N1, FoNet)
• O'Brien: Pristina to send CSM draft to Constitutional Court (Kosovo Online)
• Director of Telekom in Pristina: If they do not give us a license, damage will be paid (RTS)
• Croatia to strengthen its presence in KFOR (Beta, Kosovo Online)
• Selimi: Kurti signed agreement with Denmark to allocate prison, and criticizes Rama (Kosovo Online, social media)

Opinion:

• From girlhood to womanhood through public spaces (Kosovo 2.0)
• Instead of a round of drinks - harsh glares (Radio kontakt plus)

International:

• Kurti opposes replication of Italy-Albania migration deals in Balkans (Euractiv)
• Serbia hints at new long-term deal on Russian gas (BIRN)