UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 6, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• President Osmani met with Panamanian Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes (media)
• Prime Minister Kurti starts his visit to the United States (media)
• CBK reacts to whistleblower letter: They are intended to damage reputation (media)
• Konjufca received the delegation of the Arab Union (Telegrafi)
• SBASHK informs Nagavci: On May 12 there is 1-hour strike in education (media)
• COVID-19: 11 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: Serbia to donate 3 mln euros to Ukraine (Tanjug)
• Zivkovic, Arsenijevic on list of Serbs suspected of ‘violating constitutional order’ (Kosovo-online, Danas)
• Should Serbia rely on China in the UN Security Council regarding Kosovo? (Danas)
• Stefanovic meet Lambrecht (Tanjug)
• Patriarch from Kosovo: Our shrines are the heritage of the entire world (KoSSev, N1)
• “If Pristina wishes to join Council of Europe, 14 stats will retract recognition of Kosovo” (Vecernje Novosti, Kosovo-online)
• Drecun: I am not optimistic about continuing the dialogue on May 13 (Tanjug, media)
• Selakovic thanks India for its support to Serbia on Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Selakovic: Brazil's call for full implementation of the Brussels Agreement important (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic meets with Brammertz (Tanjug)

International:

• KLA Hague Detainees Face New War Crime Charges (Prishtina Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Supreme Court Upholds Suspension of ‘Adventure Park’ Project (Prishtina Insight)
• Western Balkan countries face new economic challenges with growth set to slow to 3.1% this year (intellinews.com)

• Kurti received Germany’s Minister of Defense Christine Lambrecht (media)
• Kurti: We have no parallel projects (Deutsche Welle)
• Chancellor Scholz will visit Balkans in autumn, Defense Minister says (Koha)
• Mehaj, Lambrecht talk about security in Kosovo and the region (media)
• “Difficult” meeting in Berlin raises hopes for agreements in Brussels (Koha)
• Kosovo Assembly forms two energy inquiry committees (BIRN)
• UK Ambassador to OSCE calls for commitment to dialogue (Kallxo)
• Osmani meets with President of Panama Cortizo (media)
• “Kurti could be the person that gives a final solution to dialogue” (Klan Kosova)
• Kurti received delegation of Social Democratic Party from Switzerland (media)
• Valon Totaj elected President of the Court of Appeals (media)
• Kosovo citizens still see violent extremism as threat to national security (media)
• Whistleblower claims there are scandals and nepotism at Central Bank (Kallxo)
• COVID-19: 16 new cases (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Germany’s Scholz: Progress needed on visa liberalisation for Kosovo (BIRN)
• Kurti: Germany, a strategic ally of Kosovo (media)
• Chancellor Scholz’s statement at Wednesday’s press conference (RTK)
• Opposition conditions participation at session with investigating commission (media)
• PDK: No normality in parliament until inquiry committee on energy is formed (media)
• Ischinger: Lajcak needs urgent support (media)
• Head of Kosovo Police meets EUROPOL Executive Director (Indeksonline)
• COVID-19: 16 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Open talk important, even if we argue; Lambrecht: Important that there is stability in the Western Balkans (RTS)
• Vucic after meeting Baerbock: Difficult talks, but I am satisfied with Germany's interest (RTS, media)
• Lajcak: Vucic and Kurti new meeting on May 13 (Radio Mitrovica sever, media)
• Vucic to Scholz: Serbia will not be the cause of problems (media)
• Serbian Patriarch in Decani: The prayer recited here is for all people – in Kosovo and the entire universe (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Viskovic: Berlin understands Serbia's position; joining some sanctions against Russia must be expected (RTS)

International:

• German Chancellor Presses Serbia, Kosovo To Resume Normalization Talks (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo leads growth forecasts as Western Balkans face new economic headwinds (emerging-europe.com)
• Kosovo Institutions’ Neglect Leaves Minority Girl’s Schooling in Limbo (Balkan Insight)
• Report on Novobrdo: Archeological material, illegally in Belgrade (Koha)

• Germany calls for agreement that serves peace and stability (media)
• Kurti: I expect Serbia to change its position on Kosovo (RTK)
• Meta: I applaud Scholz’s commitment to resume Berlin Process (media)
• Government spokesperson: Kurti will visit the U.S. this month (media)
• Varhelyi: Kosovo needs to progress with reforms (media)
• World Bank sees Kosovo's 2022 economic growth at 3-4% (SeeNews)
• COVID-19: 3 new cases (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Germany confirms it supports Kosovo membership bid at CoE (media)
• Osmani departs for official visits to Panama and Costa Rica (media)
• German Defence Minister visits Sarajevo, plans to visit Kosovo too (Gazeta Express)
• Mehaj: Kosovo should have a voluntary military reserve of 20 thousand people (media)
• Prosecution: no ethnic motives in the armed incident in Badovc (Kallxo)
• PDK: Kosovo imported only 0.56 percent of energy in March, 100 percent increase of price continues (Reporteri)
• COVID-19: 3 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic arrived in Berlin (RTV, Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: Conversation with Mitsotakis good, grateful for his support (Tanjug)
• Session of the Holy Synod held in Patriarchate of Pec (RTS, Kosovo Online, KoSSev)
• Serbia increased exports of goods to Kosovo by ten million euros (KiM radio)
• Gracanica Mayor seek from KFOR more effective protection for Serbs (Kosovo Online)
• The pandemic affected the census process in Kosovo (KiM radio, RTK)
• Kurti's softening of stances would not be well received in Pristina (KiM radio, N1)

Opinion:

• DW: Vucic and Kurti in Berlin, symbolic encounters in the shadow of Ukraine (Danas, Kosovo Online, RTK2)

International:

• Prosecutors Add More War Crime Charges Against Kosovo Ex-President (Balkan Insight)
• Can the war in Ukraine lead to a faster EU integration of the Western Balkans? (EWB)

• Kurti, Vucic to meet Scholz separately; then joint meeting with Lajcak (media)
• Kurti to meet German Foreign Minister Baerbock, source says (RTK)
• Free media is the bedrock of democracy, Kurti says (media)
• Media and government don’t look eye to eye (Radio Free Europe)
• Kajtazi: Another 13 persons will be arrested by Special Court (Telegrafi)
• Grondahl hopes for a Kosovo-Serbia final deal this year (Kosovapress)
• COVID-19: 4 new cases (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: A great example of our devotion to democracy (media)
• Kurti received the Head of the Greek Liaison Office in Kosovo, Heleni Vakali (media)
• Journalists Association: Government to respect work of reporters (media)
• EU in Kosovo: Media must enjoy safety and unwavering freedom of expression (media)
• Zelensky addresses Albanian Parliament (media)
• Additional charges against former KLA leaders (media)
• COVID-19: 4 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Memorial to missing Kosovo Serb journalists restored (N1, Beta)
• Vucic: I do not expect too much from Berlin discussions (Tanjug)
• US Ambassador says Serbia should think again about Russia (VoA, N1)
• Serbia ranked lowest in region on World Press Freedom Index (N1)
• Five Minutes of Thundering Silence for World Press Freedom Day (N1)
• V.Decani monks paid a visit to the Islamic Community in Pec on Eid al-Fitr (KoSSev)
• KP says that at Gracanica Lake a police officer was shot at (KiM radio)

International:

• Balkan leaders meet to support gas project rivaling Russia (ABC, AP)
• Media Freedom Remains Major Concern in Balkans, Watchdog Says (Balkan Insight)

• EU confirms Lajcak meeting with Kurti and Vucic (Radio Free Europe)
• Transatlantic cooperation for an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia (Koha)
• Chollet: Progress in dialogue, key to Kosovo’s European future (media)
• Kosovo to replace blocked ‘smuggling roads’ in Serb-majority north (BIRN)
• Kosovo makes progress in media freedom, report says (Radio Free Europe)
• In land with no sea, Kosovar builds ocean-going boats (BIRN)
• Russian Ambassador to Serbia denies change in Putin’s Kosovo policy (BIRN)
• COVID-19: 11 new cases (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 28, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Opposition parties call for dismissal of ambassador Berishaj (Telegrafi)
• Kusari-Lila: Political parties to be conscientious about situation with Serbia (KP)
• Unions to hold one-hour strike and protest; do not rule out general strike (media)
• UK urges the West to send weapons to Western Balkans (Koha)
• EUCOM pledges support for KSF command (RTK)
• Media close to Vucic slam Putin over his statement on Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• COVID-19: 19 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: No harm from Open Balkan, only benefits (Tanjug)
• Brnabic: Violence in Kosovo cause for concern (Tanjug, TV Pink)
• Analysts on Putin’s statement about Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Vulin: Russia could have changed its stance on Kosovo thus far, but it had not (Kosovo-online)
• Donfried on Serbia, Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (RTS, Politika)
• Szunyog meets Jevtic (Kosovo-online)
• Odalovic: Search on location near Stavalj to continue on May 10 (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Pressured by the West Over Russia, Serbia May Look To China (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Albania’s Pioneering LGBT Activist: ‘We Should Not Be Second-Class Citizens’ (BIRN)

• Osmani and Kurti attend funeral for Madeleine Albright, former U.S. secretary of state (media)
• EU on attacks against police in the north: Avoid unnecessary speculation (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo Assembly to hold plenary session today (media)
• Vetevendosje collects signatures for establishing inquiry committee on energy (media)
• Haxhiu: There can be no serious steps in fight against corruption without vetting (KP)
• Kosovo, Serbia Urged to Not Politicise Missing Persons Issue (BIRN)
• EULEX expert lists main obstacles in identification of human remains (Koha)
• Ethnocentric Memorials Dominate Kosovo’s War Remembrance Culture (BIRN)
• Albanian minister at UN SC: Images from Ukraine remind us of those from Kosovo in 1999 (media)
• COVID-19: 13 new cases (media)