UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 8, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: Eight new cases, two deaths (media)
• Vitia: We won’t take vaccines from China and Russia (Ekonomia Online)
• Kosovo Assembly dismisses members of public broadcaster board (media)
• “Those why deny Srebrenica genocide, keep alive dream of it repeating” (media)
• Ann Linde: OSCE supports the Kosovo – Serbia dialogue (media)
• Concrete barriers at Decani Monastery replaced with wooden ones (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• No new coronavirus cases in Serbian areas (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Rakic with Ann Linde on problems Serbs face in Kosovo, Dragica Gasic’s case (Kosovo-online)
• Missing persons families excluded from dialogue (Radio KIM)
• U.S. Embassy in Serbia: Statement on the 22nd Anniversary of the Murder of Bytyqi Brothers (rs.usembassy.gov, media)
• Serbian List: We refused to give legitimacy to the intention to "stick the label of genocide" on the Serbian people (KiM radio, Facebook)
• Dacic on resolutions: Justice is when all crimes are condemned (Kosovo-online)
• Milena Popovic: I respect Vucic, it’s clear to all what I think about Radoicic; Trajkovic: Popovic protecting Vucic from the investigation (Danas, Nedeljnik)
• Szunyog on Dragica Gasic: We are closely monitoring the situation, the competent institutions to ensure the right to return (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• A Global US Can’t Avoid Confronting China and Russia (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo Special Prosecutor: ‘Wartime Rape Victims Must Speak Out’ (BIRN)
• Kosovo Adopts Resolution Condemning 1995 Srebrenica Massacre (RFE)
• Is Greece moving towards Kosovo recognition? Fears of Serbian retaliation against Cyprus (greekcitytimes.com)
• Serbia ignores West’s concerns, praises China’s Marxism (euractive.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• As Vaccination Campaigns Falter, CEE Countries Get Creative (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: Nine new cases, one death (media)
• Kurti: Those who deny Srebrenica genocide have to face their past (media)
• Kurti, Vucic to meet in Brussels on third week of July (media)
• Kosovo, Serbia exchange accusations for failure to respect obligations (Koha)
• No dialogue with Kosovo Serbs before negotiations in Brussels (Koha)
• Kosovo ex-minister indicted for hiring firm to promote border changes (BIRN)
• Deputy Defence Minister: We’ll try to repeal Thaci-KFOR agreement (Klan)
• Demiri: Looking forward to strengthening Kosovo – Israel relations (media)
• In Serbia and Montenegro, Srebrenica is still politically toxic (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: Nine new cases, one death (media)
• Kurti warns of change in Demarcation agreement with Montenegro (Klan)
• Wesley Clark takes over duty of Special Adviser to Kosovo’s Defense Minister (media)
• Kosovo Parliament approves resolution condemning genocide in Srebrenica (Express)
• LDK criticizes government for lack of transparency in dialogue process (media)
• Kurti: University operating in Mitrovica North, illegitimate (media)
• Kosovo PM Kurti deems the Washington Agreement unconstitutional (Express)
• Hoti: Washington agreement has broken Kosovo's international isolation (media)
• Tahiri criticizes government for obscurity over Washington Agreement (RTK)
• Konjufca expresses condolences to Kadri Veseli for the loss of his father (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lajcak talked to Petkovic, later a meeting with both sides (Beta, NMagazin)
• Vucic on the Srebrenica resolution: It is surprising that Podgorica was faster than Pristina (Kosovo Online, B92)
• The Serbian List left the session; the Assembly adopts the Srebrenica resolution (Kosovo Online)
• Djakovica municipality sued Dragica Gasic (Radio KIM)
• Minister Selakovic met Goran Rakic (Kosovo-online)
• German Ambassador says Berlin Process summit successful (N1)

Opinion:

• Serbia: Sweeten The Pot, Or There Will Be No Pot (eurasiareview.com, TransConflict)

International:

• Berlin Process: Leaders praise successes of regional integration, commit to continue economic cooperation (EWB)
• Grisly Discovery in Serbia Brings Trauma Back to Kosovo Village (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Rakic: We will offer all available support so displaced can return to their properties (Kosovo-online)

• COVID-19: Ten new cases, no deaths (media)
• Assembly to debate today on implementation of Washington agreement (media)
• Kosovo, Serbia to meet today at level of chief negotiators (Indeksonline)
• “Guxo” List, Vetevendosje to run together in upcoming local elections (media)
• Calls for equal inclusion of women and men in elections (media)
• Vetevendosje MP: No Association with executive competencies (T7)
• “There must not be a monoethnic association in a multiethnic society” (KTV)
• Hasani: When political options are stopped, war breaks out (media)
• Serbia’s Interior Minister insults Kosovo President, reactions follow (media)
• Law on confiscation of illegally obtained wealth to be ready in autumn (T7)
• US Ambassador: Kosovo needs to move past reliance on remittances (media)
• Trial of Oliver Ivanovic murder suspects opens in Kosovo (BIRN)
• Roma in Kosovo protest for investigation of ‘Czech Floyd’ death (BIRN)
• Investing in the Balkans, China sidesteps Kosovo (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 6, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: Ten new cases, no deaths (media)
• Lajcak: There is nothing technical in dialogue (media)
• Lajcak raises 'status' of dialogue from that of Pristina-Belgrade to Kosovo-Serbia (Klan)
• Association at the centre of dialogue (RFE)
• Andin Hoti appointed head of Kosovo's committee on missing persons (media)
• The Netherlands: Kosovo-Serbia agreement would contribute to Western Balkans stability (Klan)
• Romanian authorities have not yet replied on killing of Balaj, Xheladini (Koha)
• Assembly committee approves draft law on commercial court (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Three weeks without new Covid-19 cases in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Serbian analysts on incidents against Serbs in Kosovo, nationalist rhetoric (Danas)
• Trial for murder of Oliver Ivanovic begins (KiM radio)
• Ursula von der Layen: Supporting Western Balkans to achieve reforms (N1, Beta)
• Belgrade: Pristina judiciary biased, denies right to fair trial to a Serb (N1, Radio KIM)
• Vucic: Serbia wants good relations, neighbors haven’t reciprocated (N1)
• Spanish Ambassador to Serbia: We do not recognize Kosovo (Blic, Tanjug)
• Merkel: EU backs solving problems in W. Balkans; cancelling roaming success (N1)
• Von Cramon: Berlin Process was another missed opportunity (N1)
• Vucic: Gratitude to Angola over support to Serbia’s territorial integrity (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Abolishing visa regimes is not only about traveling, but also about basic human rights (EWB)
• The First Meeting between Kurti and Vučić in Brussels: A Dynamic Status Quo? (KoSSev)

International:

• Kosovo needs evidence for genocide lawsuit against Serbia (Euractiv)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovan youngsters have high hopes for their most famous judoka at Olympics (Reuters)

• COVID-19: Three new cases, no deaths (media)
• Germany to give 3 million COVID-19 vaccines to Western Balkans (media)
• Kurti: Time for bold actions in both the EU and Western Balkans (media)
• Merkel sees strategic case for Balkan states joining EU (Reuters)
• EC president calls for acceleration of Western Balkans EU integration (RFE)
• Varhelyi: EU to support Western Balkans economic recovery with €30bn (media)
• Kurz: EU to deliver on promises to Western Balkans (media)
• Kosovo welcomes first sexual violence during conflict conviction (media)
• Kosovo Feels US, EU, Heat on Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities (BIRN)
• Osmani: Thaci should not be called "Americans' hound dog" (Koha)
• Kurti-led government doesn't plan on forming new municipalities (Klan)
• Kosovo Municipality Takes Serb Returnee Case to Court (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 3 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Vitia: Purchased vaccines from Pfizer arrive in Kosovo by end of the month (RTK)
• 7 years on from the Berlin Process, regional disputes are still looming (euronews.al)
• Meetings in Brussels, preparations for the Kurti-Vucic meeting (RFE Albanian)
• Kurti receives a letter from Israeli PM Naftali Benett (media)
• Albert Zogaj takes office as KJC chairman (media)
• Greek FM speaks about Kosovo’s independence (media)
• PDK accuses Gervalla of another diplomatic scandal (Koha)
• Kosovo convicts Serb ex-policeman of wartime rape (media)
• Dissatisfied with first Kurti-Vucic meeting, family members of the missing insist to be included (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Leaders of the Western Balkans today at the Berlin Process Summit: Four agreements on the table (euronews.rs)
• Stano: Belgrade and Pristina main negotiators on Wednesday in Brussels (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: We start new round of talks with CSM (Kosovo-online)
• Youth Initiatives on Djakovica: This is nothing new, violence cannot be justified (N1)
• YIHR: End hostility towards Kosovo Serb community (KoSSev)
• UNS and its branch in Kosovo react to TV Syri reporting (Radio KIM)
• Protest in Gracanica over arrest of Risto Jovanovic (RTS)
• Pandemic: Number of addicts to psychoactive substances increased, problems due to the non-compliance with the Law on the Use of Languages (KiM radio)
• Protest in North Mitrovica due to incidents targeting the Serbian community (Kontakt plus radio)

International:

• Susanne Schütz: Political issues should be left out of the Berlin Process (DW)
• Civil society members urge EU to apply consistent conditionality to the Western Balkans (EWB)

• COVID-19: 9 new cases, one death (media)
• Palmer: Kosovo needs to deliver on obligation for Association (RTV21)
• EU expects Kosovo to make proposals on Association (Koha)
• Kurti will insist on his four points in second meeting with Vucic (Kosovapress)
• EU wants discussions on all ideas for joint regional market (Koha)
• Memli Krasniqi elected leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK (media)
• Kosovo forgets border demarcation with Montenegro (RFE)
• Wesley Clark to visit Kosovo on Wednesday (media)
• The Party’s Back: Balkan Summer Festivals Return (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 2, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 17 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Ahmeti: Almost half of Prishtina residents have passed COVID-19 (Telegrafi/KP)
• Kosovo and Albania have differing stances on Mini-Schengen (Koha)
• Kurti meets Lajcak at the Prespa forum (RTK)
• Kosovo purchases Turkish-made armoured vehicles (Zeri)
• Kllokot mayor indicted on charges relating to February elections (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: Regional cooperation improves quality of citizens’ lives (Kosovo-online)
• Reeker: US supports Lajcak and the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (Blic, Tanjug)
• Rakic and Stoltenberg on the security situation in Kosovo (KiM radio)
• Office for KiM: Boy beaten up in Gojbulja village (Radio KIM)
• Brnabic attends the first Prespa Forum Dialogue today (Tanjug, B92)
• Stefanovic: ''Better for Kurti to prepare for Brussels, instead of going to the north'' (Kosovo Online, Vecernje Novosti, B92)
• Dacic: Compromise in dialogue is real situation on ground (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• The time is ripe for substantial electoral reform in Kosovo (Gazeta Express/Kossev)
• Kurti vs Vucic or the continuation of the fight by (international) legal means (KoSSev)

International:

• Stoltenberg: Kosovo force important for the region and NATO (AP)
• Serbian President Voices Hesitation Over Embassy’s Jerusalem Move (Balkan Insight)
• Slovenia Takes Over EU Presidency Amid Wave of Criticism (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Manifesta 14: how the art biennial is set to reclaim Pristina’s abandoned public spaces (The Calvert Journal)

• COVID-19: 10 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian communities 'excluded' from vaccination (Koha)
• Denmark, Croatia donate vaccines to Western Balkans countries (media)
• Kurti: There is pressure to implement damaging agreements with Serbia (RTK)
• Kurti: Ujman was built in ex-Yugoslavia; was considered a closed issue (media)
• NATO SG reaffirms commitment to KFOR and Western Balkans stability
• Osmani: Kosovo's future is in EU, NATO, UN (media)
• Stoltenberg: KSF cannot go to north without agreement with KFOR (Telegrafi)
• Gervalla: Serbia to recognise reality (media)
• Vetevendosje to join forces with Osmani’s Guxo and Kusari’s party (Kallxo)
• Enver Hoxhaj decides not to run for post of PDK leader (media)
• Kosovo court orders detention for media commission duo for bribery (BIRN)
• Pack: Border changes in the Balkans would be devastating (Klan Kosova)
• Osmani and Kurti appoint new intelligence deputy director (media)