• U.S. Ambassador Hovenier interview with Klan Kosova
• Kurti: No time for small ambitions, it’s time for big steps (media)
• Abbott welcomes agreement; “time for Serbs to return to institutions” (media)
• Kosovo PM expects final deal with Serbia early next year (Reuters)
• Krasniqi: I told Kurti, you cannot tell the U.S. “No” so often (T7)
• Albanian PM: I don’t agree with attacks against Albin Kurti (media)
• Osmani: Our bond with U.S. is stronger than ever (media)
• Serbia Claims ‘KM’ Plates Remain Valid in Kosovo Despite Deal (BIRN)
• Wages law will be in force one month after published on official gazette (Koha)
• Kosovo Faces Fresh Judicial Strike Over Draft Salary Law (BIRN)
• Szunyog surprised by decision to reduce salaries in judicial system (media)
• Peci on Berlin agreements: Serbia was pressured by a powerful EU state (KTV)
• SL List, 13 parties won’t take part in extraordinary elections in north (Kallxo)
• Albanian Foreign Minister to visit Kosovo today (media)
• Pupovci on his resignation as Deputy Minister of Education (Kallxo)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 25, 2022
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 24, 2022
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)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 24, 2022
• 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)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 23, 2022
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)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 23, 2022
• 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
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)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 22, 2022
• 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)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 21, 2022
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)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 21, 2022
• 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)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 18, 2022
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)