UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 3, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• EU reiterates: Agreement on Association must be implemented (RTK)
• Haradinaj: AAK will not support motion to dismiss Kurti (TeVe1)
• Mujanovic: Kurti is right – Kosovo must resist (media)
• Tahiri: Kurti must ask for guarantees from Escobar and Lajcak (media)
• Osmani received by Speaker of Assembly of Iceland, Birgir Ármannsson (media)
• LDK decides to officially boycott public broadcaster (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• The session of the Serbian Assembly on Kosovo continued today (BBC, N1)
• Kosovo Government’s decision on new expropriations in Leposavic and Zubin Potok (KiM Radio, KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
• EU concerned over works in Leposavic, asks government to respect law and property rights (KoSSev, media)
• Locals from Dren and surrounding hamlets protest for third day (Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Lawyer says Trajkovic’s health condition deteriorates (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic in Washington: US thinks Belgrade is constructive, unlike Kosovo’s Kurti (Beta, RTS, N1)
• Peskov: Kremlin understands that Serbia is under enormous pressure from West (RTS)
• Egypt, Serbia working on FTA, respect each other’s territorial integrity (Tanjug)
• Chief of Serbian Army visits US (RTS)

Opinion:

• West Piles Pressure on Kosovo Over Serb-Majority Municipalities Body (BIRN)

International:

• Kosovo Govt Moves to Expropriate Land in North Despite Protests (BIRN)
• Escobar Exclusive Interview: The View of the Western Balkans from inside the State Department (The Pavlovic Today)

• Kurti’s six conditions for the Association (media)
• Kurti travels to Turkey, will meet President Erdogan today (media)
• Pristina University students to march against Association on Feb 15 (media)
• Kosovo court shortens jail terms for witness tampering (AFP)
• Lajcak meets Sarrazin, coordinate for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)
• Kosovo govt makes two decisions on expropriations in the north (Koha)
• Kosovo’s postwar wealth vanishes under water in floods (Prishtina Insight)
• Vucic presents 10-point plan including Kosovo (Albanian Daily News)
• Serbian Parliamentarians Clash in Tense Debate on Kosovo (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti talks about conditions for formation of Association (Koha)
• Abdixhiku: February 2 is date when Kurti accepted Association (Telegrafi)
• President Osmani travels to Iceland (media)
• Osmani: Important to advance Kosovo’s membership at Council of Europe (media)
• Krasniqi: Kosovo is happy and proud to have an ally like the U.S. (media)
• Citaku: Senior members of government with shameful remarks against allies (Nacionale)
• Court of Appeals reduces sentences for Gucati and Haradinaj by three months (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• At the same time, Vucic and Kurti talk about ZSO in their assemblies (KoSSev)
• Hill: Serbia chose to go West, relations with Russia weakening by the day (N1, media)
• Works in Dren village halted, special police left village (media)
• Rakic sends protest letter to international community over expropriation (RTS)
• Lawyer says owners of properties affected by expropriation to file complaint to Supreme Court (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic: Discussions at US State Department successful (Tanjug)
• State Dept spokesman says Blinken thanked Vucic (N1)
• Group of public figures urges government to accept Franco-German plan (Beta, N1)
• Proclamation with a petition against the European proposal, Kostunica among signatories (KoSSev)
• UNS says “most media in Serbian language not invited” at meeting on CSM (Beta, N1)
• Jevtic visits US, to talk about difficult position of Serbs in Kosovo (media)
• Djurovic: Quint states changed stance on Pristina's CoE bid in past two weeks (Tanjug)
• Office for KiM report: Serb side fulfilled its obligations from the roadmap, a contract to be signed for Elektrosever to become operational (KoSSev)
• Cramon: No ultimatums were given to Serbia regarding the Franco-German plan (KiM radio, Vreme, FoNet)
• UNMIK calls for responsible reporting (KoSSev)

International:

• Government Reveals Coefficient for Wages in Public Sector (Prishtina Insight)
• Serbia could become 'pariah' over Kosovo, president warns (The Washington Post)

• 'We can't be blackmailed': Kosovo PM not giving in against Serbia (AFP)
• Kosovo leader says ethnic Serb association isn't a priority (AP)
• Krasniqi: Association should be created as part of general agreement (VoA)
• Rasic: Work on a special project called “House of Albanian-Serb friendship” (Klan)
• UNMIK remains steadfast in pursuit of its mandate and service to people of Kosovo (Nacionale/TeVe1)
• Blinken thanks Vucic for “constructive engagement” with U.S.-EU team (RFE)
• Hill: Serbia has turned toward the West (media)
• Kosovo miners’ underground strike of 1989 inspires exhibition (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 1, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• EP demands Association and agreement with mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia (Sinjali)
• Kurti: An ethnic association is not possible in a multi-ethnic Kosovo (media)
• Hovenier: The U.S. thinks it is time to move forward with the Association (Telegrafi)
• Rohde: You are late with the Association (Nacionale)
• PDK’s Krasniqi meets with Escobar, discuss developments in Kosovo and the region (Reporteri)
• Kurti: The biggest salary increase ever in independent Kosovo (Klan)
• Murati: With new law, average gross salary will be 730 euros (Klan)
• The value of coefficient for salaries of over 80 thousand workers, published (media)
• Abdixhiku on salary coefficient: Kosovo's emptying coefficient (Albanian Post)
• The opposition leaves Assembly session in protest of salary coefficient (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• EU sources: Kosovo Constitutional Court did not dispute the establishment of the CSM (ZSO) (Beta, NMagazin)
• Serbian Parliament Speaker says MPs will debate report, not proposal for Kosovo (N1)
• Vucic: Parties not interested in Kosovo proposal (N1)
• Aleksic: Peoples’ Party submits Resolution against European plan to Serbian Assembly (KoSSev)
• Police secures works on disputed land in Dren village in Leposavic (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Clear intention to cause new crisis and tensions by land expropriation in Leposavic (Kosovo Online)
• SL attended the discussion at the embassy: It was underlined that the ASM should have executive powers (KoSSev)
• Arsenijevic: Hovenier brought the incompatible under one roof, productive discussions (KoSSev)
• Brnabic says it is unclear to her why Friedrich Ebert Foundation deals with ZSO establishment (Radio KIM)
• Hill with Vucevic: The USA ready to help the process of equipping the Serbian Armed Forces (RTS)
• Kosovo police searched Milan Radojevic, former Mitrovica North mayor, after shooting a video (Radio KIM, media)
• Pristina's application for membership in the Council of Europe not on the Committee's agenda (Tanjug)

International:

• In Kosovo, Proposal to Research Post-War Crimes Sparks Controversy (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Ruling Party Accused of ‘Capturing’ Public Broadcaster (Balkan Insight)
• A Serb Association in Kosovo Would Threaten Integration and Peace (BIRN)

• US hosts ‘constructive’ talks on contested Kosovo Serb municipality body (BIRN)
• Hovenier: We don’t support an agreement that threatens Kosovo sovereignty (RFE)
• Serbian List: Association must have executive competencies (RFE)
• Abbott: There is no question of creating a monoethnic enclave (media)
• State Department doesn’t comment on reports of blocking Kosovo at CoE (media)
• Haradinaj: Association, the only way to reach final agreement (media)
• Serwer: Put the ball in Serbia’s court (peacefare.net)
• Von Cramon submits draft report on Kosovo to European Parliament (RFE)
• Kosovo progress on – but still doesn’t control – corruption (Prishtina Insight)
• Opposition parties accuse Vetevendosje of “capturing the RTK” (Koha)
• Kosovo and Serbia: Synchronising the timing for peace (Euractiv)
• UNMIK supports Kosovo families as they recover from recent floods (Kallxo)

Albanian Language Media:

• Hovenier: We continue to advocate for implementation of all commitments (media)
• “It went very well” source says about meeting at U.S. Embassy (Albanian Post)
• EU comments on Kurti’s recent statement on Association (Reporteri)
• Vetevendosje MPs comment on Association of Serb-majority municipalities (media)
• Analysts: Association should be postponed; should be part of final agreement (RTK)
• Haxhiu: Our government is uncompromised in fight against corruption (Indeksonline)
• Hoxhaj in Vecernji List slams Milanovic’s statement about Kosovo (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• American Embassy in Pristina: A critical element for the future of Kosovo is the formation of the ASM (ZSO) (Kosovo Online)
• The Serbian community was unanimous at the meeting on the ZSO at the US Embassy in Pristina (N1)
• Serbian Government submits proposal to Parliament for special session on Kosovo (N1, FoNet)
• Vucic: Why is only Serbia's territorial integrity not respected? (Tanjug)
• Zeman: We have not derecognised Kosovo, but we never sent ambassador to Pristina (Tanjug)
• Dacic welcomes Croatian President’s “principled” statement on Kosovo (Hina, Tanjug, N1)
• Hill: Formation of ZSO is a legal obligation of Pristina (NMagazin, AP, Beta, TV Pink)
• Drecun: Political maneuvers to adapt the CSM (ZSO) to Pristina's view (FoNet, Danas, RTS)
• Dacic to begin three-day visit to Washington (Tanjug)
• The editor of the show “Pravo na sutra” still prohibited from entering Kosovo (uns.org, KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio)

International:

• Bosnia, Serbia, Turkey, Hungary Corruption Worsening, Transparency Says (BIRN)

• U.S.: Kurti and Osmani’s offices confirmed attendance in discussion (RFE)
• U.S. presses Kosovo on municipal body in Serb-majority areas (AP)
• German ambassador insists on establishment of Association (media)
• Kusari-Lila: Bigger pressure on Kosovo, because only govt is resisting (T7)
• Haradinaj meets Escobar: Final agreement must be a joint victory (media)
• Schlee: According to statute, Association won’t have executive powers (KTV)
• Gorani: This government has not said no to the Association (media)
• Walker: It is not good to form the Association (Telegrafi)
• TI: Despite the fight, Kosovo has yet to control corruption (RFE)
• Croatian Prime Minister reacts to President Milanovic: Kosovo is an independent state, no one has annexed it (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kusari-Lila: The association can only be formed by the institutions of Kosovo (media)
• LVV MPs after the U.S. position on the Association: Zajednica does not pass (media)
• LVV against the establishment of an association on ethnic grounds (RTK)
• LDK confirms it will attend discussion on Association (Telegrafi)
• PDK’s Tahiri: Kurti has brought Kosovo to miserable position vis-à-vis USA (media)
• Kurti's advisor publishes 1999 documents when the EU had sanctioned Vucic (RTK)
• According to the FES statute, the Association will have its own official symbols (RTK)
• If the Basic Agreement is not signed, integration process will be blocked, support frozen, and there will be a setback in the relations with the West (Albanian Post)
• Serbian national arrested driving truck with 107 kg of drugs in Kosovo (Nacionale)

Serbian Language Media:

• Chollet, Escobar: The Time for Establishing the ASM is Now (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Serbia wants a compromise, but it also has principles and expectations (FoNet, N1, media)
• Councilors of the CI "For Zubin Potok" took over their mandates, then submitted their resignations (Kosovo Online)
• Djuric: CSM (ZSO) is a condition for continuation of talks with Pristina (KiM radio, KoSSev, Beta, TV Pink)
• ‘Kreni-Promeni’ movement launches a petition for the withdrawal of Kosovo special forces and bases from the north (KoSSev)
• Dacic defends Brussels Agreement: It was the maximum Belgrade could achieve (Politika, Beta, N1)
• Office for KiM: Stoned vehicle with 'KG' plates in Suvi Do (KiM radio)

Opinion:

• The solution to the Kosovo problem suggests political retirement for many (euractive.com)

International:

• Italy Seeks Higher Profile Role in Western Balkans (Balkan Insight)
• KFOR: It is important to refrain from provocations and seek solutions through dialogue (EWB)

• Kurti: The European proposal is not a final agreement (Radio Free Europe)
• Kurti: I didn’t receive satisfactory explanations for Association formation (RTK2)
• U.S. reiterates necessity to form Association of Serb municipalities (Koha)
• Hoti: Because of Kurti’s actions, Association is asked right now (Kosovapress)
• Krasniqi: Most difficult days since liberation; people want to leave (media)
• Petritsch: Kurti cannot avoid Association (media)
• Abazovic supports Kurti on Association (Top Channel/Koha)
• KFOR: Refrain from provocations, seek solutions through dialogue (EWB)
• How Investigators Found the Yugoslav Wars’ Disappeared (BIRN)
• Rama: Vucic and I, completely different views on Kosovo (Albanian Daily News)