UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 12, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: First the Brussels Agreement, then the Washington agreement (media)
Kosovo Assembly adopts draft budget for 2025 in first reading (media)
Kurti visits War Crimes Institute, receives one-year work report (media)
Posters in support of Trump and Grenell placed near government building (media)
Kosovo Police Director meets COMKFOR, agree to further cooperation (media)
Haradinaj on Veterans Day: Forever grateful to their service (media)
RTK staff warn with protests and strikes: Government cut the budget (Express)
Osmani congratulates Poland on its Independence Day (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic, Aliyev meet in Baku (Tanjug)
Vucic: Building gas power plant near Nis discussed with Aliyev (media)
Representatives of French and German embassies marked Armistice Day in Pristina (Radio KIM)
Petkovic comments on Vucic-Trump phone conversation (Kosovo Online, social media)
Black paint sprayed over SNS premises, Vucic’s photo in Leposavic (KoSSev)
Protest held in front of Serbian Government building (N1)

Opinion:

Green transition in Balkans needs risky reforms to cut coal dependence (BIRN)
Why should Donald Trump visit Serbia (Kosovo Online)

International Media:

Serbian protesters demand resignations, justice over deadly station disaster (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

Barbano: All sectors of society to engage on road to EU (RTK)
EULEX report: There is decrease in productivity of court hearings (RTK)
Agreement with Denmark on Gjilan prison, criticism continues (RTK)
Rama meets COMKFOR, grateful for commitment to peace and security (media)
KFOR German soldiers conduct routine patrols in northern Kosovo (media)
Three municipalities led by PDK, “champions in budget transparency” (media)
Kurti meets with delegation of Regional Assembly of Europe (RTK)
Coach who slapped child suspended by European Taekwondo Federation (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbia marks World War I Armistice Day (N1)
Vucevic lays wreath at Monument to Unknown Hero (Tanjug, media)
Djuric: Serbia paid high price for freedom; we preserve statehood, freedom, and independence (Kosovo Online)
Vucic speaks with Trump: US President thanks Serbians for support (N1)
Serbian Democracy protest in Pristina, display photos of ‘inappropriate conduct of Kosovo police officers’ (Radio KIM)
Entry of Albanian companies in northern Kosovo: Fuel stations owned by Serbs threatened with shutdown because they are ‘missing one document more’ (Euronews)
Mitrovica North municipality takes over garage behind NIS petrol station (KoSSev)

International:

Balkan states come to UN Climate Summit with little progress to report (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 11, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kosovo Assembly to discuss 2025 budget today (media)
Kurti’s address at “Advancement of Role of Women, Peace and Security” (media)
Osmani: Bulgaria always supports Kosovo in international organisations (media)
Haradinaj: No big love for PDK or LDK, but we must remove Kurti (Kosovapress)
Lajcak to hold important discussions on Western Balkans in Geneva (media)
Svecla commends Kosovo Police for successful operations (media)
KFOR soldiers conduct joint patrols with Kosovo Police in Zubin Potok (media)
Kurti, Osmani’s messages on 35th anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Gov't reshuffle due between March and June (Tanjug)
Vucic in phone conversation with Trump (Tanjug, Novosti)
Poll: Mitrovica North residents concerned about security, without trust in Kosovo police (KoSSev, Radio kontakt plus, media)
Pavkovic: Self-Determination has assessed they need diaspora votes for majority (Kosovo Online)
EU Ambassador expects Serbia to intensify reforms amid election-free period (N1)
Joint patrols of KFOR and Kosovo police in Zubin Potok (Kosovo Online, social media)
Serb arrested at Jarinje released (Radio Mitrovica sever)
Opposition calls protest for November 11 outside Serbian Government building (N1)

International Media:

Trump allies push Richard Grenell for Secretary of State (Real Clear Politics)
US Election: Balkan strongmen spy new chances under second Trump term (BIRN)
Kosovo’s labour market needs to meet a generation’s aspirations (PI)

Albanian Language Media:

Metsola meets Osmani, discuss Kosovo’s efforts for European future (media)
Osmani meets Estonian PM, “grateful for powerful support” (media)
Gervalla and Landsbergis talk about security challenges in Europe (RTK)
Maqedonci: Malign foreign services “fed” fake news on KSF food supplies (media)
Judah: Return of Grenell may bring concerns for Kosovo government (RFE)
Haradinaj meets De Riu: Strong partnership between Kosovo and Italy (media)
Hamza hosted at German chancellery: We will create conditions for German investors in economic development of Kosovo (Klan)
Hoti: Next government should turn its focus to Washington Agreement (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic receives Egyptian Senate President (Tanjug)
City celebration Saint Dimitrios Day marked in Mitrovica North (Kosovo Online)
Milicevic: Suspension of cooperation with EULEX is a forced act (Radio KIM)
Head of EULEX met with PIK (social media)
Montgomery: Kurti ‘drives Serbs out’ of Kosovo (Kosovo Online, RTV, Tanjug)
Restraint order to Arsenijevic from approaching Visar Syla extended for two more months (KoSSev)
Trial of Dragisa Milenkovic continues (Kosovo Online)
Vujinovic: Serbian Government's measures improve livelihood of Serbs in Kosovo; Western reactions expected (Kosovo Online)
Petkovic: On this day, 80 years ago Serbs from northern Kosovo liberated 11 US airmen and 3 UK officers (Kosovo Online, social media)
21 companies from Serbia take part in economy fair in Tirana (KoSSev)

Opinion:

Donald Trump’s comeback is bad news for Bosniaks and Kosovars (BIRN)

International:

Serbia’s bill to prosecute crimes in Kosovo ‘unworkable and populist’ (BIRN)
'This is not our war' (Kosovo 2.0)

Humanitarian/Development:

Calls in Albanian and Serbian rock theatre stage in search of peace (Kallxo)
Advancing social goals through public procurement (Kosovo 2.0)
Jeton’s three promises (Kosovo 2.0)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 8, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: Kosovo has had support of every U.S. administration since 1990s (media)
Kos: We won’t follow trends for land swap between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
Hoxhaj: Trump will resolve Kosovo-Serbia issue in this mandate (media)
Council of Albanian Ambassadors congratulates Trump on his victory (media)
Buja says he has been acquitted of all charges at Specialist Chambers (media)
Abdixhiku: Kosovo at the biggest political and existential crossroads (Koha)
Haradinaj: Time has come for a new contract with the U.S. (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: I expect strategic decision to take in Serbia as EU member (Tanjug, media)
Vucic with Macron, Erdogan, Rutte, Michel on strengthening European security (N1, BETA)
Marinkovic on Serbs in north: Big colourful lie of LVV that we are happy and liberated, for us, ‘one baton has been replaced by another’ (KoSSev)
Lawyer Filipovic: Lutvia physically abused in Podujevo prison, ‘guards hit him in the head’ (Kosovo Online)
Office for KiM, Serbian List react to reports on Lutvia’s mistreatement (Kosovo Online, media)
Lawyer: I expect release of S.V. arrested at Jarinje crossing two nights ago (Radio KIM)

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: Every reason to believe that U.S. support for Kosovo will continue (Klan)
Osmani hosted by Orban in Budapest (Indeksonline)
Osmani: I will not meet Vucic, dialogue meetings are held in Brussels (Klan)
Gervalla to represent Kosovo at high-level forum on Future of Democracy (media)
EU: Government cannot transfer Association responsibilities to municipalities (RTV 21)
Serwer: Division of Ukraine could set precedent for Kosovo and Bosnia (media)
Hehir: Trump’s victory is ominous for Kosovo and Bosnia (media)
EC Report: Kosovo’s IPA processing complaints in efficient manner (Kallxo)
Kos: Kosovo and Serbia, two countries that are on the way to the EU (Klan)
Britain to sign agreement with Kosovo to fight human trafficking gangs (Indeksonline)

Serbian Language Media:

Fifth meeting of European Political Community today in Budapest, Vucic represents Serbia (NMagazin, Beta, media)
Vucic arrives at European Political Community summit: I expect open talks in light of new circumstances in world (Tanjug)
Ethno-journalism and public apathy: Kosovo struggle for truthful reporting (KoSSev)
Arlov: I am still banned from entering Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
Two Swiss residents accused of showing “Greater Albania” symbols in Belgrade banned from entering Serbia for ten years (N1)
Hill: Ties between USA and Serbia are getting stronger every day, in every way (Tanjug)
Finance Minister Mali presents Serbia’s investment plans to US companies (N1)
Kos: End of negotiation process for one or two countries of Western Balkans (FoNet, N1)

Opinion:

Velebit: New US administration will not tolerate unilateral moves by Pristina (Kosovo Online)
Jovic: Trump to have more power than before; to negotiate creation of new international order, Balkans not priority (KoSSev, Insajder)
Taking the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue back to basics (Euractiv)
Shocked by train station disaster, Serbian city shaken again by protest unrest (BIRN)

International:

What’s behind Serbia’s rearmament (Deutsche Welle)
‘We’ve ceased to exist’: Albanians in South Serbia demand end to ‘address passivisation’ (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 7, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani to attend leaders’ summit of European Political Community (media)
Gervalla congratulates Trump on victory in U.S. elections (media)
Haziri: We expect Trump to reconfirm Washington agreement (media)
Camaj: Trump and his administration will be a positive force for Albanians (RTK)
Svecla meets new Dutch Ambassador to Kosovo (media)
Haxhiu visits Turkish Academy of Justice in Ankara (media)
Ismaili: Financial system remains stable, liquid and well-capitalized (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: I expect good relations with US, Trump victory to have healing effect on global situation (Tanjug)
Fiala: Czechia to try to shorten Serbia's path to EU membership (Tanjug)
Petkovic: Pristina congratulates Trump while tearing up his posters (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)
Pro-Trump posters appear in Leposavic and other Serb majority areas, police tear them down (Kosovo Online)
The SL congratulated Trump on his victory in the presidential elections (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)
Gracanica Mayor with the OSCE Acting head on the municipal land confiscation (KiM radio)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo leaders, politicians congratulate Trump on election victory (media)
• Bettel thanks Kosovo for warm welcome (media)
• Murati presents budget for next year, opposition reacts (media)
• Pristina Mayor says he has LDK leader’s support to run for another term (Koha)
• “Eurosig” insurance company opens office in Mitrovica North (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic, officials congratulate Trump: Serbia committed to cooperation with US (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Djuric with Romanian PM: Gratitude for the principled stance on non-recognition of Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Grenell on Trump’s victory (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Residents of North Mitrovica congratulated Trump on his victory (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian media on ‘Kurti’s differing messages prior and after election of Donald Trump as US President’ (KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
• Atiq and Krasniqi once again booed at Mitrovica North promenade (KoSSev, media, social media)
• Journalists from Belgrade and Pristina visit Mitrovica North (Radio KIM, KoSSev)

Opinion:

• How allocation of EU rapporteur jobs might impact Western Balkan accession hopes (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Can Kosovo census questions quantify wartime damage? (BIRN)
• Kosovo’s first observatory and planetarium inspires a new generation of stargazers (Prishtina Insight)
• Central and Southeast Europe’s populists celebrate Trump win (BIRN)
• Harris or Trump: What impact will the US presidential election have on the Western Balkans? (EWB)
• Protest turns violent in Serbian city where canopy collapse killed 14 (RFE)
• ‘Like prison’: How African migrant workers suffer exploitation in Albania (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• “European draft statute on Association is not a non-paper, but a document” (media)
• Kurti: Survivors of sexual violence during the war, demand social care and justice (media)
• Osmani: Youth and children, Kosovo’s most valuable asset (media)
• COMKFOR meets EULEX chief, express support for EU-facilitated dialogue (media)
• Kosovo Customs with record-setting revenues of over €1.5 billion (media)
• Krasniqi: Regardless of who will be President, American policy will not change in relation to Kosovo (Reporteri)
• Citaku: Relations with US have reached weakest level in more than three decades (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucevic met Li, thanked him for China’s stance on Kosovo issue (Tanjug)
• Dendias: Greece's stance on Kosovo remains unchanged, dialogue is path to regional stability (Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic met Egyptian Senate President (Tanjug)
• Stano: Calling draft statue A/CSM ‘non paper’ is disrespectful to EU Council (Kosovo Online)
• COM KFOR met EULEX chief, they reiterated support to Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Serbian European Integration Minister: Less progress in more chapters than last year (N1)
• Protesters throw red paint, stones at Novi Sad City Hall, police respond with teargas (N1)

International Media:

• Activists accuse Kosovo’s ‘Big Brother’ show of promoting domestic violence (Balkan Insight)
• Grief sparks furious protest in Serbia after Novi Sad station disaster (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: Kosovo blessed with American bipartisan support (RTK)
Osmani hosts Orav, receives EC Report on Kosovo (media)
Kurti: Austria is among top investors in Kosovo (media)
Gervalla: No sign U.S. support for Kosovo will change after elections there (RFE)
Osmani: Kosovo grateful for Luxembourg’s enduring support (media)
Kosovo and Luxembourg sign memorandum of understanding (media)
Kosovo will no longer be presented as part of Serbia in German platforms (media)
Mustafi: Serbia does not offer justice for Albanians in the Valley (KTV)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic, Djuric met Minister for European Affairs of Denmark (Tanjug, media)
Djuric: Pristina regime boasts of not implementing Brussels Agreement (RTS, Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)
Pristina takes credit, Serbian goods still struggling to reach consumers (Kosovo Online)
Odalovic: Hoti's statement unmasks Pristina's intentions to block everything related to dialogue, including issue of missing persons (Kosovo Online)
Facebook and Instagram pages of SOC Draganac Monastery targeted (Kosovo Online)
Divisive restoration of Xhafer Deva’s house: Belgrade protests, Albanians rejoice, and German Embassy reiterates Nazi ties (KoSSev)
Vucic, Dendias discuss military cooperation, situation in region (Tanjug)
Vucic on Novi Sad tragedy, calls for his resignations (N1, TV Happy)
Giaufret: Work on reforms, no elections in sight (N1)
PM Vucevic accepts Vesic resignation (N1)
Opposition parties: Construction minister’s resignation insufficient (N1)

Opinion:

Dismissing independent media: Albin Kurti’s strategy to control the narrative (Sbunker.com)

International:

Kosovo lawyer sentenced for sending death threat to journalist (BIRN)
For some Bosnians, Kosovo visa waiver a chance to restore old ties (Prishtina Insight)