UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 4, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani informs Cameron on “Serbia’s constant destabilization efforts” (media)
• Gervalla meets Cameron: West needs new approach towards Balkans (media)
• Kearns: It is time to stand together, unwavering against irredentism (Reporteri)
• Serbia authorities refuse Svecla’s visit to Presevo Valley (media)
• Svecla after denied visit to Serbia: We will act on principles of reciprocity (Koha)
• Kamberi: Govt in Belgrade remains paranoid and hateful against Albanians (RTK)
• COMKFOR: KFOR presence in north quadrupled, patrols tripled (AP)
• Peci: Serbia’s military mobilization means more NATO troops in region (Koha)
• Environmental NGOs sue ministry, claim it secretly gave permits (Express)
• ICK: Task against New Year celebration, mistake that shouldn’t be repeated (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• What is written in Serbian Government decision on Kosovo license plates (KoSSev)
• Bislimi on Constitutional Court decisions, police bases in northern Kosovo, dialogue (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev, Radio KIM)
• Dacic: I expect strongest pressure on Kosovo issue by March (Tanjug, TV Pink)
• Serbian Army General Staff launches initiative to introduce military service again (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Cameron’s statement on helping Kosovo gain new recognitions deserves strongest condemnation (Kosovo Online, RTV)
• Andric-Rakic: Bill for U.S. to suspend all aid to Kosovo an additional guarantee for implementation of agreement (Kosovo Online)
• Marinkovic: CASA does not take part in initiative to recall mayors (Radio KIM)

Albanian Language Media:

Cameron starts 2024 with a visit to Kosovo: We want to help you (media) 
Svecla to visit Presheva Valley today (RTK) 
Bislimi criticizes Constitutional Court: Incompetent and unreliable - corrupt environment (media) 
Government to decide soon on Serbian license plates (Koha) 
Rasic: I am ready to participate in the drafting of the Association's statute (VoA)  
AAK breaches coalition with PDK in Prizren (Klan) 
Tahiri: The sooner this government leaves, the better for Kosovo (media) 
Third day without visas, no significant increase of demand for abroad tickets (media) 

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Porfirije begins visit in Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
Visoki Decani Monastery: Visit of Patriarch Porfirije holds great symbolic significance for Serbian people in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, social media)
Tanjug reporter denied entry in Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
Serbian journalists’ associations condemn entry ban to Tanjug reporter (KoSSev, Kosovo Online, media)
Citaku on Bislimi’s statements on Constitutional Court (Kosovo Online, social media)
SNS to have 49 seats in Belgrade local assembly, Serbia Against Violence follows with 43 (media)

International Media:

Kosovo in 2024: Kurti in Race Against Time to Deliver on Real Problems (Balkan Insight)
Serbia Publishes Official Election Results – Only Question is Belgrade (Balkan Insight)
Spread of biometric devices spark fears over surveillance in Serbia, Kosovo (Biometric) 
Kosovo Passport Makes Historical Jump by 90 Positions Up in VisaGuide Passport Index (visaguide.world) 

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 3, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo and Turkiye ready to expand relations in 2024 (media)
• Haxhiu criticizes opposition, KPC and KJC: They oppose reforms (KSP)
• Szunyog: Attack in Banjska turned all eyes to Kosovo (AP)
• Less: Association, the only solution – Trump will return with idea for partition, now with backing from Europeans (Express)
• Petritsch: Internal dialogue with Serbs in Kosovo, basis for normalization (RFE)
• Krasniqi: Early elections in 2024, 2023 was lost year for Kosovo (media)
• LDK MP: Kurti has postponed visa liberalization for six years (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian Election Commission releases parliamentary election results (N1, Nova.rs)
• Kurti for second time in last couple of days on Bujanska conference about unification of Kosovo with Albania (KoSSev)
• Lajcak: We expect new local elections in north of Kosovo without further delay (Politika, Kosovo Online)
• Brigadier says NATO, Serbia closer than people think (Demostat, N1, Danas)
• Djilas for Politico: West should support values or say nothing (N1)
• Dveri: National Gathering ceased to exist (RTS)
• Protests over elections to continue in 2024 (N1)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Christmas convoy in Kosovo concluded, ten tons of humanitarian aid distributed (Radio KIM, Euronews, media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Maqedonci: Kosovo at risk from Serbia’s continuous threats (Kosovapress)
• KFOR publishes video of Italian Lagunari specific training in north (media)
• LDK’s Haziri criticizes Kurti, says he has “no merit for visa liberalization” (media)
• Hasani: Serbia is shifting pressure on Kosovo (Gazeta Express)
• Vogel: Trump’s return would be a misfortune for Kosovo (AP)
• The Guardian view on state capture in Serbia: a problem for Balkans, EU (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic: I do not care about reports by foreign media, but only about Serbians (Tanjug)
• Branimir Stojanovic, Milazim Krasinqi on situation in northern Kosovo, dialogue (RTK2, Radio kontakt plus)
• Nastic on exclusion of Serbs from Kosovo from visa liberalization, terms it as farce and shameful act (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic rejects opposition demands for international investigation (N1, BETA)
• Haziri on statements about attacks from Serbia, Kurti and Osmani are trying to divert attention from other problems (Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media:

• KOSTT: From today electricity in north to be paid as elsewhere in Kosovo (RFE)
• AAK gears up for elections; Haradinaj says they could be held in spring (KSP)
• Gruda: Govt thinks winning by 50% means they can go beyond Constitution (EO)
• Reuten: Next processing application for candidate status (media)
• Kovatchev: Association must not be a Republika Srpska (Klan Kosova)
• Latifi: 2024 an election year; won’t be any historic step in dialogue (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• "Kosovo Serbs - the only Europeans who need a visa" (KiM radio, DW, FAZ)
• Information hormones: How adrenaline took precedence over serotonin in news from the north (KoSSev)
• Maliqi: The position of Self-Determination has always been that there must be unification with Albania (Kosovo Online)
• Mijacic to Borrell: Not good to start the New Year with false statements (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Person of the year 2023: Journalists Reporting in the North (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

Borrell: EU also benefits from liberalization of visas for Kosovo (Koha) 
Osmani congratulates Belgium on EC presidency: We will work for EU membership (Koha) 
Bislimi: Three processes have started today, we will take others throughout the year (RTK) 
Germany welcomes visa-free travel (RTK) 
French ambassador: EU proposal makes association less worrying for those who feared it was unconstitutional (Klan) 
Szunyog: EU is closely following debate on possibility of another attack in Kosovo (AP) 
From Monday, vehicles with RKS license plates can move freely in Serbia (RTK) 
Avdyli warns: Serbian extremists are asking Serbian drivers with RKS license plates to have a distinctive sign (Klan) 

Serbian Language Media:

Dacic: Pressure on Serbia over Kosovo expected to focus on February (Tanjug)
Free movement for vehicles from Kosovo took effect on Monday (media)
Citizens of Serbia in Kosovo the only ones denied the right to visa-free travel through Schengen (Danas, KoSSev)
Kosovo takes a step towards the EU with visa liberalization, parties to implement the agreement without preconditions, including the ASM (KoSSev)
SNV demands the arrest of a part of the Serbian state leadership along with Goran Rakic for "treason" (KoSSev)

International Media:

Serb Party Demands International Intervention Over New Disputes in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
Serbia will take over the Presidency of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (Sarajevo Times)

Albanian Language Media:

• Hovenier: Normalization process ultimately ends with mutual recognition (media)
• Osmani proposes national program for the army (Koha)
• 165 persons wanted over different offenses in the northern municipalities (media)
• Tahiri: Kurti’s government is forming the Association (Klan)
• Isufaj approved removal of Radoicic arrest warrant, cannot disclose reasons (EO)
• O’Brien slams Dodik: No right of secession, full stop (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• North Mitrovica MA voted: Land near the Military Overhaul allocated to the Kosovo’s MIA (KoSSev, Kosovo Online, Kontakt plus radio)
• The Serbian Democracy Party on the decision of Kurti's government to request the return of the alleged debt for electricity in the north of Kosovo (Danas)
• 'Don't celebrate the holidays of non-Muslims' posters in General Jankovic: Four people detained (KiM radio, KoSSev)

International:

• Kosovo Teen’s Shop Window Decorations Bring Festive Cheer (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: Equality in employment for all, without distinction (media)
Kurti: There is no increase in energy prices, KESCO and ERO address for complaints (media)
Osmani: Order for terrorist attack in Banjska came from Vucic himself (RTV21) 
Government considers it difficult to fulfill criteria for removal of mayors in north (media)
Tahiri: Association's draft statute, biggest failure of this government (media)
Rasic: Serbs in north are expressing great interest in being employed in institutions (Telegrafi)
Kosovo removes "mysterious" cameras in municipalities with Serb majority (media)
Turkish ambassador on Kosovo-Serbia relations: Dialogue, the only way (media)
Dick Marty, author of Kosovo War Crimes report, dies at 78 (media)
Kurti's bodyguard obstructs journalist, AKJ: Uncertainty for media community (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian List: Kurti's regime illegally to confiscate the funds of citizens from northern Kosovo (Tanjug)
Atiq with Hetemi on next year projects (KiM radio)
KP: The organizers of a local protest involving businessmen were fined for failing to announce it in advance (KoSSev)
Dragan Mladjovic Telegram group accusations: It will not go unpunished, the police are working on the case (KoSSev)
Serbia allows RKS plates on its territory, EU welcomes and opposition criticizes the move, Pristina asks for more recognitions (KoSSev)

International Media:

‘This Barbie is the president,’ says Kosovo’s Vjosa Osmani (Politico.eu)  

Albanian Language Media:

• Maqedonci: Three brigades of Serbian Army along Kosovo border (media)
• Svecla: 2023, a challenge for security, but successful year for police (Dukagjini)
• Krasniqi: Monoethnic institutions are not good for Kosovo (Dukagjini)
• Citaku: Most difficult and failed year since declaration of independence (AP)
• 33 Iowa National Guard soldiers to deploy to Kosovo on Friday (media)
• Air corridors opened between Kosovo and Albania (RFE)
• Ismaili: Economic growth this year 3.4%, in 2024 expected to be 4.2% (AP)
• Abdixhiku “most undisciplined” MP, absent from 44 sessions (Demokracia)
• Kryeziu: Northern mayors should resign, the petition delays the process (media)
• Kurti meets second generation of the Citizen Diplomacy Program (media)
• SBASHK: Kurti govt avoided dialogue with wrong approach to unions (RTK)
• Cross-border theft of forests between Kosovo and Serbia (Kallxo)
• KOMF writes to government: Social services risk closure in January (media)
• Not even one fifth of properties in Kosovo owned by women (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: We’ll begin forming the parliament in January, nothing disputed (Beta, N1)
• Dacic: Kurti trying to take advantage of the events on the domestic political scene (TV Prva, KiM radio, Blic)
• PKS: The funds from the Development Fund are not for debts but for infrastructure (KiM radio)
• Mijacic: There will be further obstructions of the dismissal of mayors (Kosovo Online)
• Andric Rakic: "Overinflated" number of voters in the north could complicate the vote for the removal of the mayor (Kosovo Online)
• Businessmen in the police station and fined because of the protest against the ban on Serbian goods (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Perez: Brussels Feels Only Relief Over Vucic’s Victory in Serbia (BIRN)

International:

• Kosovo's c-bank intl reserves up 5% y/y in Nov (SeeNews)
• Kosovo Children with Autism Raise Funds with Seasonal Drawings (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti on Association: Those who wanted it, lost their chance on October 26 (media)  
Konjufca: There is no draft statute of Association that Kosovo must implement (Klan) 
Osmani welcomes journalists: You are guardian of truth and integrity (RTK) 
Kurti to journalists: It has been both a successful and challenging year (media) 
Serbia does not respond to the request to open archives (Koha) 
Government requests from north municipalities €12 million for electricity debt (media) 
Indictment filed against a person for murder of Oliver Ivanovic (media) 
Police raid eight locations in Leposaviq suspected of smuggled goods (media)  
Petkovic: Kurti tried to blame Belgrade for failure of dialogue (media) 

Serbian Language Media:

Petkovic: Kurti trying to shift blame for failure of dialogue on Belgrade (Tanjug, RTS)
Businessmen from the Kosovo north and citizens sign a petition for the lifting of the ban on Serbian goods (KiM radio)
The Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment against M.M. in the case of the murder of Oliver Ivanovic (KiM radio, KoSSev)
Lawyer: Nedeljkovic's autopsy findings have not arrived yet, I have contacted the Special Prosecutor's Office (Kosovo Online)
The 10th protest ended yesterday in Belgrade: the opposition invited to a ProGlas rally on Saturday (N1)
EC: Complaints of election irregularities need to be properly investigated (N1)
CoE representative to visit Belgrade over serious election irregularities (N1)

International Media:

Kurti Cautious as Serbia Moves to Allow Kosovo Licence Plates (Balkan Insight)