UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 14, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kusari-Lila: No official confirmation of visas conditions or technical requests (Kallxo)
• South-East Europe Liberal Parties adopt statement, visa liberalisation support (media)
• Abazi accuses Lajcak for visas: It was wrong that he came to Pristina (Paparaci)
• UN report mentions fragile security situation in Kosovo (Koha/N1)
• U.S. Ambassador to OSCE: Regrettable that Kosovo is not a member (Kallxo)
• World Bank will continue to support Kosovo (RTK)
• “If Brezovica case ends successfully, Maloku is Kosovo’s Falcone” (Nacionale)
• Police detain Serbian national, weapons, binoculars and hunting dogs seized (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Guterres: Situation in Kosovo fragile (media)
• Patriarch Porfirije enthroned at Pec Patriarchate, calls for peace and only peace (N1, media)
• Brnabic: We stand by our position, sanctions not best solution (Tanjug)
• Arlov banned from entering Kosovo for seventh time (Kosovo Online)
• Bilcik: The negotiations will not be interrupted (RTS)
• Serbian Ministry of Culture: Pristina’s request absurd (Kosovo Online)
• Erdogan gave the order for the start of work on the gas hub in Turkey (Insajder)

Opinion:

• Why would an Albanian support Giorgia Meloni? (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

• EU states dash Prague’s visa-free Kosovo hopes (euractive.com)
• German Diplomat: "The Berlin Process for the Western Balkans should not be duplicated" (DW)
• EU does not rule out suspending Serbia visa waiver over migration spike (euractive.com)
• Kosovo Frustrated by EU’s New ‘Conditions’ for Visa-Free Travel (Balkan Insight)

• Stoltenberg: License plate issue may increase tensions in Kosovo (Albanian Post)
• Kurti talks about meeting with Lajcak (media)
• Osmani: We are in full coordination with the USA (RTK)
• Varhelyi: Kosovo completed points, we’re awaiting technical talks (euronews.al)
• Bislimi: ETIAS system was not France's only request (Telegrafi)
• Gervalla: Last phase of the visa liberalization process started today (media)
• France supports Kosovo’s visa liberalization (Albanian Daily News)
• EU report offers mixed assessment of Kurti government’s efforts (BIRN)
• KFOR’s Regional Command-East welcomes new aviation battalion (army.mil)
• Kosovo's power utility donates coal to its workers for heating (Reuters)
• Rama reacts after EPP/EDC refuse dinner invitation (Albanian Daily News)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti Lajcak meet, discuss path toward normalisation, energy and licence plates (media)
• U.S. again call on Kurti government to implement decision on Decani Monastery (RFE)
• Hovenier: I expect the Association of Serb municipalities to be implemented (ATV)
• Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy promises continued support for KSF (EO)
• Albanian political leaders from Presevo Valley travel to Washington (RTK)
• Solidarity in Pristina with the women of Iran (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic on EC Serbia report (N1)
• Brnabic: Serbia not neutral on Ukraine (N1, Tanjug)
• Head of Serbian Delegation says Rama’s speech at PACE scandalous (Kosovo Online)
• Specialist Court without comment on Rama’s speech, remains committed to court proceedings (Kosovo Online)
• Borrell for N1: Serbia’s alignment with EU foreign policy is backsliding (N1)
• Bilcik: Serbia’s European integration a bit of a yo-yo (N1)
• We do not want tensions in Kosovo, KFOR to stay - NATO official (Tanjug, Blic)
• Popovic and Odalovic not allowed to enter Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Vecernje Novosti)
• Kurti: More significant that the Patriarch came to Kosovo than Petkovic; Porfirije to distance himself from the Kremlin (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: The latest ban the epitome of Pristina's arrogance (Kosovo Online, TV Pink)
• UN condemns Russian “annexation attempt”, Serbia voted as well (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Jeremic: Impossible to be in favour of sanctions against Russia and against Kosovo's membership in the UN (NMagazin, N1)

International:

• 2022 Enlargement package: EC assesses reforms in the WB and Türkiye, and recommends candidate status for BiH (EEAS)
• Serbia Backs UN Resolution Against Russian Annexations in Ukraine (Balkan Insight)
• Strengthen enlargement policy as EU’s strongest geopolitical tool, say MEPs (europarl.europa.eu)

• Osmani accepted EC report, says Kosovo is applying for EU this year (RTK)
• Key findings of the 2022 Report on Kosovo (European Commission)
• Brussels Rebukes Ex-Yugoslav States for Slow War Crimes Justice (BIRN)
• Czech Republic confirms: Visa liberalization to be discussed on Thursday (RTK)
• EU institutions "are not aware" of the Franco-German proposal (RTK)
• IMF slightly cuts Kosovo's 2022 GDP growth projection to 2.7% (SeeNews)
• NATO supports the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)
• Albanian PM Slams Kosovo Organ-Trafficking ‘Fabrications’ (BIRN)
• Opposition: Today, Rama was the voice of Kosovo (media)
• No progress on EU visa liberalisation for Kosovo (Euractiv)
• Decani Monastery “welcomes" Kurti with conditions (RFE)
• Kosovo moves to toughen penalties for rape, domestic violence (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 12, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Berlin confirms there are proposals for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Gazeta Express)
• EC report: Kosovo has met all conditions for visa liberalisation (Telegrafi)
• EP President in favour of Kosovo visa liberalisation, says EULEX chief (Gazeta Metro)
• Kosovo Foreign Minister to visit Germany, meet Baerbock (RTK)
• Gervalla calls on EU to suspend talks with Serbia (media)
• Haradinaj to Kurti: Increase salaries and pensions (media)
• Kosovo welcomes another two Ukrainian reporters (Zeri)
• Electricity is not being saved, even greater alarms for winter (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic, Vujic banned from visiting Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• New Serbian Embassy building opens in Washington (RTS)
• PACE adopts Resolution on support to Western Balkans (N1, Beta)
• Stoltenberg: Western Balkans important for NATO (Tanjug, RTV, Kosovo Online)
• Foreign Ministry official says EC report focused on policy alignment (N1)

International:

• Borrell wants a bolder, faster EU — and scolds diplomats to get to it (euobserver.com)
• Kosovo’s eternal asterisk (emerging-europe.com)

• Kurti and Blinken talk about dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• President Osmani’s statement about the Franco-German plan (RTK)
• Blinken after telephone chat with Vucic: “Productive call” (media)
• Ukrainian MP calls on CoE countries to recognize Kosovo (media)
• Rama to address CoE session, ask to review Marty resolution (euronews.al)
• Bislimi says census of Albanians in Serbia is manipulated, calls on OSCE (RTK)
• “The U.S. should not be a neutral mediator in the Kosovo-Serbia talks” (VoA)
• NATO Parliamentarians’ Seminar in Prishtina Puts Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic Integration under Magnifying Glass (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo Police Seize Holiday Villas in National Park Raid (Prishtina Insight)
• Questions Persist Over Young Kosovo Activist’s Death in Jail Cell (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo MP addresses Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly for first time (media)
• Kurti condemns Russian strikes in civilian areas in Ukraine (media)
• Austrian Foreign Minister: Visa liberalisation for Kosovo is close (RTK)
• Greece: European integration of Western Balkans, including Kosovo (media)
• Haxhiu: Agreement with Denmark to be sent to Assembly within a month (Telegrafi)
• Special court confirms trial against Thaci et al will start early next year (Nacionale)
• Hoxhaj: Kosovo lost chance to get closer to NATO because of Kurti govt (Koha)
• Serbia decorates general convicted of war crimes in Kosovo (Albanian Post)
• Around 100 buildings in Brezovica temporarily seized by prosecution (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• EC: Unfavourable report on Serbia (RFE, FoNet, KiM radio, N1)
• Jovanovic (NS): Pristina doesn’t fulfil basic conditions for CoE membership (Radio KIM)
• Vucic: $1 billion loan from UAE will ensure Serbia’s liquidity (N1)
• How “waking up next to Albanians“ turned into “seizure“ of Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Visoki Decani Monastery: We hope Kurti will bring us cadastral paper on return of land (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic met Botsan-Kharchenko, discussed Kosovo and geopolitical situation (Tanjug, N1)
• Vucic: We are looking after our interests in terms of oil supplies (Tanjug)
• Serbian analysts say Russia using Kosovo precedent (N1)
• Serbia votes against Russian proposal in the UN (serbianmonitor.com, nova.rs)

International:

• Romania Faces Dilemma Over Euro 2024 Matches with Kosovo (BIRN)
• As EU Refloats Visa-Free Entry, Ethnic Serbs Say They Could Embrace Kosovo Passports (RFE)
• Kosovo Police Seize Holiday Villas in National Park Raid (Balkan Insight)

• Kurti confirms new developments in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)
• Kurti: NATO contribution to peace and security, indispensable (media)
• Draft of Progress Report on Kosovo with mixed assessments (Koha)
• Osmani: Russia's attack on Ukraine is a war crime (media)
• Susanne Schutz: The Berlin process should not be duplicated (DW, media)
• Rohde to leaders: Prepare to make difficult decisions (Albanian Post)
• Osmani meets Qelaj, discuss rights of Albanians in Presevo Valley (media)
• Haradinaj: No economic growth, only increase of imports from Serbia (media)
• Despite concerns, Serbia still “erasing” ethnic Albanian addresses (BIRN)
• Petkovic: Kosovo’s membership in UN is unacceptable (Euronews Albania)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 10, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani on Association: I support any initiative with no executive powers (RFE)
• Major General Angelo Ristuccia takes over command of KFOR (media)
• Osmani: Thanks to NATO, Kosovo a peaceful and prosperous country (media)
• Kurti: Maintaining security, a shared objective with NATO (media)
• Osmani meets Joint Force Command Naples Commander Munsch (media)
• Kurti signals solution for 24 hectares of Decani Monastery (Gazeta Blic)
• Kosovo to attend and address CoE plenary session for first time (Express)
• Abdixhiku: During Kurti’s governance, some of worst economic records broken (Kallxo)
• AAK’s Lekaj sceptical about visa liberalisation, says process linked to dialogue (EO)
• 23rd anniversary of PDK: Ready to make Kosovo more modern and developed (media)
• Mustafa says Abdixhiku ashamed of LDK’s past (Teve1)
• Bislimi condemns attack on Kosovo bus travelling through Serbia (Lajmi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Kosovo recognition in exchange for EU membership proposed (media)
• Petkovic: Kurti spreads ‘frightening’ disinformation (Radio KIM)
• Visoki Decani Monastery: Unfounded accusations endanger security of Serbian Orthodox Church (Radio KIM)
• Serbian Ministry of Culture and Information: Pristina continues to misinform the public (Blic, NMagazin, Politika)
• For 85% of citizens important Kosovo’s preservation within Serbia; cooperation with the EU supported but not the membership (KoSSev)
• KFOR concerned about the weak interest of Serbs in re-registration (Politika, Tanjug)
• Selakovic: Out of 200.000 internally displaced Serbs, less than two percent returned in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Hill on sanctions to Russia, Kosovo issue (RTV, Kosovo Online)
• Schmidt: Vucic’s opinion completely different than Dodik who thinks like Putin (Beta, N1)
• Vucic: I am not worried about pressure groups (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• German-French document; referendum (Danas, N1, KoSSev)
• “Kosovo’s recognition by Serbia is baseline” (Albanian Daily News)

International:

• Serbian Orthodox Monastery Demands Land Awarded by Kosovo Court (Balkan Insight)
• Belgrade, Pristina Confirm German-French Proposal for Kosovo Deal (Balkan Insight)
• Kamberi: Some MPs want my arrest; I said Kosovo independent (Euronews Albania)
• Lenny Emson: Women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights are on the frontline (Kosovo 2.0)
• Russia’s sham Ukraine vote undermines Serbia’s Kosovo claims (Kyiv Post)
• ‘Remembering Yugoslavia: Further than thought’ (BIRN)
• Albania moves towards declassifying communist-era security files (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Brnabic: EU has provided 200 million euros to Serbia for migration management (Tanjug)

Osmani: Erdogan can convince Vucic to recognize Kosovo independence (media)
Kurti: I am optimistic about Prishtina-Belgrade agreement (euronews.al)
“Parallel structures more aggressive after Ukraine invasion” (euronews.al)
Kajari: Ukraine war brought tensions in Kosovo too, situation now calm (media)
Bislimi: The distance between Kosovo and Serbia is now bigger (RTK)
Gervalla: Europe has not asked Serbia to meet duties from dialogue (media)
Szunyog: Non-recognising states expect progress in dialogue (RTK)
Kosovo health minister quits after mounting criticism (BIRN)
Vucic says French, Germans squeezing Serbia to swap Kosovo recognition for quick EU entry (RFE)
Bus from Kosovo attacked with stones in Serbia (Kallxo)