UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 6, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Parliament does not pass resolution on Washington agreement (media)
• “Failure of resolution does not mean role of the U.S. is not appreciated” (RFE)
• Sacking initiated for judge involved in leaked audio recordings (media)
• Health Minister: We are reviewing anti COVID-19 measures (media)
• Minister of Education: Around 50% of teaching staff are vaccinated (media)
• Public Health Institute appeals for vaccination against COVID-19 (media)
• COVID-19: 271 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: The dialogue is Brussels' responsibility for Washington (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Dacic: Serbia donating Sputnik V vaccine to Iran (N1)
• Serbian Defense Minister and US congressmen on Belgrade-Washington cooperation (N1)
• US embassy in Pristina: Kosovo govt to be open-minded about ‘Open Balkan’ (N1)
• Gajic: There is no single reason why Albanians should resent Bregovic (Kosovo-online, Sputnik)
• Vucic: Attacks on Serbian holy shrines in Kosovo impermissible (Kosovo-online)
• Office for KiM on KLA graffiti in Prilepac (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic: Flat of Dragica Gasic refurbished with new furniture (Kosovo-online)
• RECOM: There was no political attention for the important and reasonable words of Patriarch Porfirije (Beta, N1)

International:

• Moscow expects West to impartially assess Kosovo leadership's actions — Foreign Ministry (TASS)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Dream that Survived: Kosovo’s DokuFest Marks 20 Triumphant Years (Balkan Insight)

• New PDK chairmanship elected (media)
• Chief state prosecutor: To my information, wiretaps are unauthorised (media)
• KJC forms commission to review disciplinary liability of judge (media)
• Chief state prosecutor expected to be sacked, sources say (Arbresh.info)
• US diplomat: Talk of early elections in Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo hope trials in absentia will boost war crimes convictions (BIRN)
• Serb defies town’s opposition to return to Kosovo home (AFP)
• “Kosovo aligns left; conservative views on abortion and religion” (Exitnews.al)
• COVID-19: 195 new cases, two deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• President Osmani decrees the Law on Budget Review (media)
• PDK to elect new leadership today (Telegrafi)
• CSIS: Transatlantic coordination is needed for Kosovo-Serbia talks (Koha)
• Nagavci appeals to teachers to vaccinate (media)
• The U.S. Embassy calls for vaccination against COVID-19: They are safe (RTK)
• COVID-19: 195 new cases, two deaths (media)
• “Fires threatening not only Rugova but city of Peja too” (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• “KLA” graffiti written in Prilepac village, near Ranilug (Radio KIM)
• Djuric responds to Vela: Vucic had more bilateral meetings in a couple of months than Osmani will have for the entire mandate (Kosovo Online, Twitter)
• Twenty-six years after ‘Storm’ operation: Serbs mourn, Croats celebrate (N1)
• Brnabic: More than 50 percent of adult population in Serbia inoculated (Radio KIM)
• Gazeta Express again on Goran Bregovic (KoSSev)
• Janjic: "Open Balkans" is an opportunity for the development of Kosovo, I expect Kurti's government to join (Kosovo Online)
• In Serbian communities two Covid-19 cases (Kontakt plus radio)

• Justice minister slams media and civil society's response to leaked wiretaps (media)
• Prosecutorial Council launches disciplinary actions against prosecutor (media)
• Judicial Council says it will act in line with disciplinary procedure regulation (media)
• Financial Intelligence Unit chief sacked over leaked wiretaps (Prishtina Insight)
• Assembly committee approves list of PAK board nominees (media)
• Slovenia supports Kosovo’s efforts to join NATO, EU (Express)
• Another former EULEX prosecutor wants to report to Kosovo legislators (Lajmi/Zeri)
• Over 38,000 vaccines arrive in Kosovo, half a million more expected from next week (media)
• WHO calls for moratorium on COVID-19 vaccine booster shots (media)
• COVID-19: 221 new cases, one death (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 4, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• EU Special Representative for Kosovo: Fighting corruption needs constant attention (Prishtina Insight)
• Wilson Center issues report: Consolidating Kosovo's Sovereignty (media)
• CEC has so far approved 1,960 registration applications from Diaspora (Koha)
• Interest in COVID-19 vaccines increases in Kosovo, 14% of people fully vaccinated (KP)
• COVID-19: 221 new cases, one death (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Grenell's visit during the "Open Balkans" project is (not) a coincidence (Danas, Kosovo Online)
• Serbia sends police choppers to help North Macedonia’s firefighters (N1)
• Jevtic: By introducing economic measures to Serbia, Kurti wants to end dialogue (Gracanica-online)
• Davenport and Mladenovic on language rights in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Sheholli: ''Dragica ought to be sitting with Albanian women, apologizing, although she is not guilty'' (Kosovo Online, Blic, Euronews)
• Kosovo portals say Bregovic inspired massacres (KoSSev, N1, Kosovo Online)

International:

• Serbia’s Ambassador to Russia Lazanski Passes Away (Balkan Insight)

• Head of Financial Intelligence Unit sacked (media)
• Investigations against senior officialsmentioned in recordings (Betimi per Drejtesi)
• “Proof that prosecution, judiciary are influenced by interest groups” (Telegrafi)
• Vetevendosje people in the board that government proposed to Assembly (Koha)
• Haradinaj calls on government to treat wildfires more seriously (media)
• Vetevendosje implies Arben Vitia will run for Prishtina Mayor (Express/ATV)
• COVID-19: 110 new cases, 1 death (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• War veterans’ leader: Special Court will fail, like EULEX and UNMIK (Telegrafi)
• Women’s Network: Gender equality is a legal obligation in local elections (Koha)
• COVID-19: 110 new cases, 1 death (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Selakovic: We will know how to answer if Pristina starts lobbying for new recognitions (KoSSev)
• Police: Fires in northern Kosovo localized and under control (TV Most)
• Vucic: Serbia will help Skopje in firefighting, "Open Balkans" stipulates it (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Serbian election dates leaked from ruling coalition-opposition meeting (N1)
• No new Covid-19 cases in Serb communities in Kosovo (KoSSev)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Book Explores Kosovo Albanian Tradition of Dream Interpretation (Balkan Insight)

• Kurti: Citizens know our government cannot be compared to others before (Kallxo/RTK)
• Abdixhiku on Government's 100-day report: Empty and disappointing (media)
• PDK's Tahiri: Kurti government has done nothing of what it promised (EO/RTK)
• Hajdari: Implementation of reciprocity requires good organisation (Telegrafi)
• Petkovic on reciprocity: Kurti destroying dialogue (media)
• LVV supporter seemingly confirms Vitia's candidacy for Pristina mayor (media)
• 10 active fires remain in Kosovo, out of 50 (media)
• KSC experiencing serious problems with Albanian translation (Klan)
• COVID-19: 48 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Belgium to share COVID-19 vaccines, Kosovo among beneficiaries (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 2, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We did not give up on reciprocity with Serbia (media)
• Protest against Open Balkans in front of Albanian embassy in Prishtina (Kallxo)
• Kosovo Defense Minister: We are monitoring fires (Klan Kosova)
• COVID-19: 48 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Politika: Ten countries ready to withdraw recognition of Kosovo's independence (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: Serbia must be open, hatred towards Albanians brings nothing good (Politika, Beta, N1)
• UNESCO lists reasons why Serbian monasteries in Kosovo are endangered (Radio KIM, Euronews Serbia)
• Visegrad Group welcomes Open Balkans Initiative (N1)
• Petkovic: Albin Kurti threatens and ruins the dialogue (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Petkovic with Pinter on situation of Serbs, SOC in Kosovo, dialogue and ‘Open Balkans’ (Kosovo-online)
• One case of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Bajrami: Open Balkan of the Balkans people (Koha)
• Palokaj: Open Balkans cannot be built with deniers of genocide (Koha)

International:

• Trenin: Balkans are not a prime battlefield in the Russia-West confrontation (EWB)

• COVID-19: 100 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kurti on Open Balkans: Creates space for influence from the East (KP)
• Kosovo honors Beau Biden, late son of US President (Reuters)
• Kosovo MPs to debate today on first 100 days of Kurti-led government (media)
• Gervalla denies reports suggesting her removal from post (Kallxo)
• Police arrest person for breaking into Gasic’s flat (Koha)
• Kosovo wins international recognition … at the Olympics (Politico.eu)
• Experts’ exodus from Kosovo accreditation body sparks blame game (BIRN)
• Minor earthquake shakes Kosovo, Serbia and North Macedonia (media)
• Kosovo men in search of WWII aircraft at bottom of Lake Ohrid (Euronews.al)