UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 20, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• "Governmental regulations against Covid-19 to be respected by all" (media)
• Thaci meets Quint members, urges respect for independent institutions (media)
• Constitutional Court receives “arguments” favoring Thaci (Koha)
• "Another political pressure on Constitutional Court" (Kosovapress/Koha)
• Authorities launch investigations into threats against Kurti (media)
• Osmani implies Assembly will convene on June 4 (media)
• Reka: Dialogue to lead in mutual recognition and no territorial changes (Telegrafi)
• Government allocates €20 million for subsidising public enterprises (Zeri)

Serbian Language Media:

• No new Covid-19 infection cases in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Lajcak and Djuric on the continuation of the dialogue (media)
• Dacic: We are far from restoring dialogue (Blic, Kosovo-online)
• US, UK embassies call for implementation of court’s ruling on Visoki Decani Monastery’s land case, EU and OSCE join call (B92, Kosovo-online)
• Varhelyi to N1: EC report on EU candidate countries in autumn (N1)
• President Vucic on Serbian Orthodox Church, situation in Montenegro (B92)
• Freedom House stands by report conclusions on Serbia (N1, VoA)

Opinion:

• Confronting rape myths (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Kosovo’s Political Rivals Lock Horns Ahead of Court Verdict (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Muslims Hold Protest Prayers in Pristina Square (Balkan Insight)
• Hague indictments give Kosovo’s war crime victims a voice after 20 years (The Times)

Humanitarian/Development:

• No tests or other requirements to enter Serbia, pandemic Crisis Committee says (N1)
• UNMIK donated humanitarian aid to Zubin Potok municipality (Kosovo-online)

• Only one new case with coronavirus in last 24 hours (media)
• Kosovo institutions can't say when borders will be opened (media)
• PM Kurti receives threat from so-called “Albanian Volunteers Guard” (media)
• Constitutional Court condemns interference by the heads of state (media)
• Nagavci: We will respect Court’s decision on PM candidate (Klan Kosova)
• Grenell doesn’t rule out Russia’s involvement in dialogue (Lajmi)
• Konjufca attends Thessaloniki Ministerial Forum through video link (media)
• Regional foreign ministers adopt joint statement on Covid-19 (media)
• EC to postpone progress reports for Western Balkans (Kallxo/Telegrafi)
• Serwer: Kosovo’s decisive summer (Peacefare.net/Koha)
• China on sideline as Japan plays bigger role in Kosovo (The Diplomat/Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

• "Talks to resume as soon as possible" (Lajmi)
• Albania to open border with Kosovo this month (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• Fifth day in a row no new Covid-19 infection cases in Serb-majority areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Godfrey: The solution for Kosovo can only be an agreement between the two sides (Kosovo Online, TV Prva)
• Djuric: Kosovo PM fears resumption of talks with Serbia's Vucic (FoNet, N1)
• Serbian PM Brnabic: Crisis Staff today on possibility of opening administrative crossings with Kosovo (Tanjug, B92)
• Godfrey: Everyone should take part in June elections in Serbia (BETA, N1)

Opinion:

• What happened with Metohija? (KoSSev)
• WWII Commemoration Dispute Shows Balkan Weaknesses and Strengths (Balkan Insight)

International:

• China on the Sideline as Japan Plays Bigger Role in Kosovo (thediplomat.com)
• Not just apps: privacy, personal data and COVID-19 in the western Balkans (balcanicaucaso.org)

Humanitarian/Development:

• OpisMEDIJavanje: You have the right to know what the institutions are doing (KoSSev)
• UNMIK donation distributed in Klokot municipality (Kosovo-online)
• Kawasaki syndrome in children also appeared in Serbia after the coronavirus (B92, Sputnik)

• Three new Covid-19 cases in last 24 hours (media)
• Kurti: Grenell wants deal with Serbia by September (media)
• Burns: US and EU to preserve Kosovo territorial integrity (media)
• Osmani: Russia's involvement in talks, a step backwards (media)
• Kurti: Productive phone call with Lajcak (media)
• Selimi: LDK and partners continuing to keep Assembly hostage (Klan Kosova)
• Hamza: LVV blocking Assembly's work (Ekonomia Online)
• Ahmeti: MPs don’t deserve full salary, failed to meet during pandemic (Kallxo)
• Haxhiu: Ministry of Justice to support victims' safe houses (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 18, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti says signed documents in Berlin don't constitute agreement (Koha)
• U.S. Embassy calls on parties to refrain from politicised rhetoric (media)
• Kosovo Assembly to hold plenary session on 4 June (Indeksonline)
• EU negotiating mandate extension for its rule of law mission in Kosovo (RFE)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo not to delay reopening of economy (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• No new cases of Covid-19 infection in north, four persons cured (Kosovo-online)
• The official start of classes in primary schools is expected on June 1 (Kontakt plus radio)
• Radovic: Taxi associations in north will start working as of June 1 (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• War crimes’ trials in Kosovo still at beginning (KoSSev)
• UNS: Serbian List to apologize to journalist Budimir Nicic (KoSSev)
• Vucic: If situation with coronavirus epidemic worsens, elections won't be priority (N1, RTS)

International:

• Serbian President: Skopje betrayed Serbia on Kosovo to impress Germany (greekcitytimes.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• WHO Assembly is scheduled for today, the main topic will be the COVID-19 pandemic (B92)
• UNICEF calls for greater inclusion of children with disabilities (media)
• Kosovo enters second phase of lockdown restrictions (Prishtina Insight)
• Media Literacy Project: Young journalists rarely have the opportunity to work in professional newsrooms (KoSSev)
• Belgrade airport opens, passengers to come three hours ahead of departure (N1)

• Health Institute: Seven new cases of coronavirus (media)
• Kosovo begins second stage of easing lockdown measures (media)
• Govt allocates €10 million to implement emergency fiscal package (media)
• Kurti: Thaci not comfortable in his seat, wants to increase powers (T7/RTK)
• Govt reacts to Haziri: Kurti and ministers not on U.S. visa blacklist (media)
• Specialist chambers continue work during coronavirus pandemic (Koha)
• Tahiri: Kosovo not ready for final phase of dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Kosovo condemns plans to build a church at Batajnica mass grave site (media)
• Kurti: Discrimination has no place in our society (media)
• Thaci: New mechanisms to address concerns of LGBTIQ community (media)
• EULEX chief: Phobias have no place in our societies (media)

Health Institute: 10 new cases of coronavirus (media)
Kurti: Second phase of reopening begins on May 18 (media)
Borrell: Kosovo and Serbia need more agreements (media)
PDK’s Hoxhaj on possible cooperation with Vetevendosje (media)
Haxhiu: 30 percent increase in cases of domestic violence in Kosovo (media)
President Thaci challenges government, seen walking out of restaurant (Kallxo)
EU is negotiating extension of EULEX mandate (Radio Free Europe)
North Macedonia President against border changes in the Balkans (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Thaci: Constitutional Court to work independently, free of pressure (media)
• Mustafa and Lajcak agree resumption of dialogue is a priority (Klan)
• Mustafa: LDK focused for the dialogue with Serbia to start soon (Klan)
• Haradinaj: Governing program with LDK, in its final phase (Klan)
• Kosovo-Switzerland air travel to resume by 15 June (media)
• Kurti and Minxhozi discuss economic cooperation, Covid-19 pandemic (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Borell: EU shares regional agenda with US (N1)
• No new Covid-19 infection cases in north (Radio KIM)
• Vucic & Putin on mutual relations, region and fight against coronavirus (Beta, N1)
• Pristina reinstates taxes on flour from Serbia; Belgrade’s doctors turned back (Beta, N1)
• "Now they have finally confirmed that Kosovo is a NATO project" (B92)
• Kosovo Health Ministry: Serb doctors prevented from entering Kosovo due to unclear purpose of their visit (KoSSev)
• Doctors: We were not allowed to enter Kosovo, because we had Serbian documents only (TV Most)
• Over 200 medical workers from Kosovo await permission to visit Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja (KoSSev, Gazeta Express)
• Opposition Alliance for Serbia says it won’t recognize election results (BETA, N1)

Opinion:

• Will Serbia have to choose between China and the EU? (EWB)

International:

• IMF Offers Emergency Support to the Balkans (imf.org)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo families seek answers 21 years after Serb conflict (AP)
• ‘Until the last person is found, we will not be satisfied’ (Prishtina Insight)
• Pastrimi protests exclusion from emergency package (Prishtina Insight)
• First country in Europe to declare end of epidemic (B92)
• UNMIK donated aid packages in Gracanica municipality (KIM radio)
• Distribution of aid packages continues in Novo Brdo (Kosovo Online)

• Health Institute confirms 18 new cases with COVID-19 (media)
• Acting PM Kurti says he will lead government until new elections (media)
• Thaci: US-guaranteed dialogue will result in mutual recognition (media)
• Haxhiu: Grenell wanted a quick agreement (Klan Kosova)
• Haziri: After Court’s ruling, we need 24 hours to form government (media)
• Osmani: For Serbia, road to EU should go through justice institutions (Zeri)
• Hoti: Over €1 billion in new govt’s economic recovery package (media)
• Kosovo has an international obligation to keep Specialist Chambers (Koha)
• Pacolli ironises with EU, Apostolova and Heldt reply (media)
• Beqaj: Going to new elections is legitimate (Koha)
• "EU & US should prevent Russian involvement" (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 14, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Let's make sure we don't lose the match in the last minutes (media)
• Public Health Institute appeals for caution (media)
• Malisheva receives donation from UN Mission in Kosovo (media)
• Konjufca: LDK brought down LVV-led govt as it was fighting corruption (Koha)
• Maas: Games with borders lead to dead end, delay solution (Express)
• Pacolli: Forming new government would be anti-constitutional (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• One person positive of coronavirus in northern Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Non-majority communities’ problems with the package of measures of the Government of Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Office for KiM: 20 healthcare workers prevented to enter Kosovo (KoSSev)
• President Vucic denies claims of talks to recognize Kosovo (N1)
• Pristina sees thousands ‘cleansed’ Albanians in southern Serbia, who never lived there (Sputnik)
• EC ready to include Western Balkans into plans on opening borders (Beta, N1)
• Serbian trade minister says 18.5 million Euro of goods exported to Kosovo (FoNet, N1)
• Serbian Government replies to Freedom House – report full of contradictions (FoNet, N1, RTS)

International:

• Head of Office of Kosovo and Metohija: Serbs and Albanians should decide on Kosovo fate (TASS)
• Kosovo Activists to Continue ‘Rehearsing’ Protests Despite Movement Restrictions (Balkan Insight)
• Wildly Wrong: North Macedonia’s Population Mystery (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Reports of domestic violence increase in 2020 (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo Businesses Complain Government’s Support Package Falls Short (Balkan Insight)
• Rakic received UNMIK delegation, thanked them for delivered aid (Radio Mitrovica Sever)
• UNMIK donates aid to Ranilug municipality (RTV Puls)
• Strpce, to whom does the land by the river belong? (KoSSev)