UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 22, 2024
Albanian Language Media:
• Stano confirms meeting on dinar issue on February 27 (media)
• Municipal elections in north flowing according to administrative instructions (ekonomia)
• Tahiri: We do not vote on international agreements, we aim to send country to elections (media)
• Krasniqi asks Szunyog and Guerot to lift sanctioning measures (Albanian Post)
• Lawyer Arsic contests CBK Regulation in Constitutional Court (Koha)
• Second meeting of Partnership Council between Kosovo and United Kingdom, held (Klan)
• “Share the Equality” awareness campaign advocating employment of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians, launched (Reporteri)
• Bujar Osmani, DUI’s candidate for president of North Macedonia (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Lines of people to withdraw dinars in Kosovo also today; all categories affected (RTS)
• Radojevic: Tens of thousands of people left without wages, pensions (Tanjug)
• Stano on planned meeting in Brussels, Bislimi’s remarks (Kosovo Online, RFE)
• Andric Rakic: If Pristina continues to refuse talks, Kosovo will be discussed more often in Security Council (Kosovo Online)
• Hasani: Serbian lawyers right about the abolition of the dinar issue, but the Constitutional Court not the place for such an appeal (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic receives new Portuguese ambassador (Tanjug)
International:
• Kosovo’s Serbs hit by lines, limited withdrawals after currency ban (AFP)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 21, 2024
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 21, 2024
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti: Budget for municipalities this year is 40% higher than 3 years ago (RTK)
• Konjufca: The U.S. sees Kosovo from a much higher level (RTK)
• Central Bank Governor meets with Austrian Ambassador Schnetzer (media)
• Krasniqi: Allegations that process for electing new mayors in north is dragging on, unfair (Kallxo)
• Ajeti reports to Committee that supervises the KIA (RTK)
• Maqedonci visits Finland, security of Kosovo also discussed (RTK)
• Kurti denies accusations of unequal treatment of municipalities (Kallxo)
• Trial against Milan Jovanovic, accused of war crimes in Kosovo, begins (Koha)
• Ambassadors go to Prime Minister Kurti’s office (Reporteri)
Serbian Language Media:
• Nenezic: Dinar is just an excuse to open issue of remaining Serbian institutions in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Serbian NGOs from Kosovo: Systematic and orchestrated attacks by GoK officials on the civil sector (Beta, NMagazin, KoSSev, KiM radio )
• Less and less dinars in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Education staff express protest in Mitrovica North, say they cannot withdraw salaries because of CBK decision (Kosovo Online)
• Djuric: We have exposed Kurti’s disinformation systematically (Tanjug)
• Drecun: Kurti is putting obstacles in dialogue with Belgrade with unilateral moves (RTV)
• Dacic: SPS supports establishment of movement (Tanjug)
• Vucic receives new head of CoE office in Belgrade (Tanjug)
• Swiss daily: Fewer and fewer Serbs in Kosovo – and in Serbia as well (DW)
International:
• Ethnocentric Yugoslav War Commemorations Taint the Future, Experts Warn (BIRN)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 20, 2024
Albanian Language Media:
• Konjufca: O’Brien’s statement is concerning (media)
• Sarrazin: Window not closed yet; Kosovo, Serbia to implement Ohrid deal (DW)
• Gervalla says she never asked for Rohde’s removal: Untrue and absurd (media)
• ESI background paper: Invented pogroms (media)
• Gervalla meets German Vice Chancellor (media)
• Sources: Agreement near between LDK and AAK in Pristina (Indeksonline)
• Hoti: Unprecedented deterioration of budget structure in last 3 years (media)
• Tahiri: North without state sovereignty and with increased protectorate (media)
• Rohde: Delighted that Foda takes charge of Kosovo national team (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• A team of lawyers submitted a request for an assessment of the constitutionality of the CBK Regulation, requesting a suspension until the court’s decision (KoSSev)
• Communities in Serbian areas could not receive social assistance and child allowances today because of CBK decision (Kosovo Online)
• Janjic: Kurti completely ignores reality in Kosovo (Euronews in Serbian, media)
• Analysts on Osmani’s statements, Kurti’s goal not to establish ZSO (Kosovo Online)
• My word worth more than someone else’s firm promise – Vucic tells TASS (Tanjug)
• Vucic speaks by phone with Kazakhstan’s Tokayev (Tanjug)
• Rada Trajkovic says her income blocked by executors (KiM radio, Danas)
• ”Borrell was supposed to visit Kosovo on February 26, the trip was postponed after the talks in Munich” (Kosovo Online)
International:
• Transparency Questions over ‘Secret’ Kosovo Lobbying Contract (BIRN)
• Minority Serbs protest Kosovo’s decision to abolish the Serbian dinar currency (Independent)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 19, 2024
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 19, 2024
Albanian Language Media:
• Osmani: Honored friends, allies joined us to celebrate independence day (media)
• Kurti: We are partners with USA, but it does not mean that we always agree (Koha)
• Sarrazin: Kosovo and Serbia must advance implementation of Ohrid agreement (DW)
• Gervalla briefs German MPs about “substantial changes” in north (media)
• Gervalla and Turkish FM discuss increasing security capacities (Koha)
• Gervalla meets foreign ministers of Croatia, Portugal and Liechtenstein, security a priority (media)
• Rucker: Decision on the dinar, hasty (media)
• Abbott: Kosovo, a special country that deserves to be successful (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:
• Veljkovic: Belgrade left us in the lurch, and Pristina is harassing us (KiM radio, Media Center Caglavica)
• Radakovic: Verification of signatures to oust mayors could have been completed in a day (Kosovo Online)
• Nestorovic: Process of removing mayors deliberately stalling (Kosovo Online)
• Vucevic: We work every day to make our Army stronger, it is the guarantor of peace in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Zeman: By recognizing Kosovo West created dangerous precedent (RTS)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 16, 2024
Albanian Language Media:
• Biden congratulates Osmani on Kosovo independence day (media)
• Krasniqi meets Hovenier, “crucial to safeguard partnership with U.S.” (media)
• Ismaili meets Guerot, briefs on new cash payment operations regulation (media)
• Quint, EU ambassadors meet representatives of Kosovo Serb community (media)
• Joint meeting with Kurti and Vucic not on Borrell’s agenda (RFE)
• Ahmeti: Kosovo got here through cooperation with international community (KSP)
• Montenegro Deputy PM Gjeloshaj to visit Kosovo (media)
• VV MPs want IMC board dismissed, because of return of “Arena Sport” (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Quint ambassadors and head of EU delegation in Kosovo with representatives of Serbs (KiM radio)
• Borrell announced separate meetings with Kurti and Vucic in Munich (Beta, Danas)
• Vucic in Munich with Cameron and Hahn (RTS)
• Vucevic: Kurti creating impossible conditions for survival of Kosovo Serbs (Tanjug, TV Prva)
• 23 years since bomb attack against Nis-Express bus in Livadice, memorial service held in Laplje Selo (KoSSev, media)
• Office for KiM: Devastating that the Livadice crime is a closed case (RTS, media)
• Serbian List: We demand those responsible for crimes against Serbs be urgently found and punished (Kosovo Online)
• Abolition of dinar directly affects salaries, pensions, and social assistance for about 95,000 people (DW, Danas, KoSSev)
• Derikravic continues hunger strike, his representative says his condition deteriorates (KoSSev, Radio KIM)
• Sentic visits Visoki Decani Monastery, says Constitutional Court decision on monastery’s land to be implemented without delay (KoSSev, media)
Opinion:
• Weller: Serbia’s great challenge to Kosovo (Koha)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 15, 2024
Albanian Language Media:
• Kusari-Lila: Dinar has not been banned, it can be used like any other currency (RTK)
• Minister Gervalla leaves for Munich to participate in the Security Conference (media)
• Kryeziu-Hyseni: Focus of the reporting has been on Banjska issue (RTK)
• NCU says Bislimi’s labeling, against spirit of dialogue and European values (Koha)
• The American Chamber of Commerce proposes three alternatives for solving dinar issue (Koha)
• Georg Schnetzer: Kosovo remains a priority of Austria’s foreign policy (RTK)
• 55 NGOs request dismissal of Balje and Deme-Murtezi from Human Rights Committee (media)
• Kamberi accuses Lajcak of double standards (Koha)
• The EESC accepts 9 candidate countries, Kosovo not included (RTK)
Serbian Language Media:
• Brnabic: Only strong Serbia can solve issues of national interest (Tanjug)
• Dacic meets Botsan-Kharchenko (Tanjug)
• Selimi and Thaci gave confidential information about witnesses to visitors in Hague custody (KiM radio, Beta, NMagazin, Danas)
• Joseph: Kurti scored “an own goal”, continues uncoordinated actions which damage Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Reactions to Bislimi’s statement on Serbian NGOs and Brussels meetings continue (social media, media)
• Rama: Every attack on Kosovo is an attack on Albania, but we should also think about the importance of allies every day (KoSSev)
• Kosovo police stopped and beat up Serb in northern Kosovo, claims he obstructed officers (RTS)
• Presentation of the defense in the Ivanovic case only after the Prosecution submits documents in the Serbian language (KiM radio, Radio Mitrovica sever)
International:
• US secretary of state visits Albania, a key regional ally seeking European Union membership (AP)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 14, 2024
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 14, 2024
Albanian Language Media:
• Ismaili: CBK regulation has not banned any currency (RTK)
• Murati on CBK regulation: Belgrade propaganda creating confusion (Klan)
• Kurti meets Davenport, discuss transition phase for CBK regulation (media)
• Kurti only words of praise for his government on 3rd anniversary of victory (Koha)
• Bajrami: Because of Kurti, U.S. questioning partnership with Kosovo (media)
• Serwer: EU, U.S. were wrong to appease Serbia and punish Kosovo (Kallxo)
• Kanin: Kurti’s actions make everyone forget about Banjska (RFE)
• Ex UNMIK chief: Kosovo Serbs, hostage of Belgrade destabilizing policies (media)
• “Darling, you’ve failed” – LDK with symbolic action in front of govt building (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:
• NATO SG urges all sides in Western Balkans to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric and actions (Tanjug)
• Yet another shipment of dinars for Kosovo stopped at Jarinje (RTS)
• Serbian List meets French MEPs (Kosovo Online)
• Biden congratulates Vucic and the Serbian people the Statehood Day (NMagazin, Beta, media)
• Exhibitions, events to mark Serbian Statehood Day (N1)
• Vucic meets Russian Ambassador Botsan-Kharchenko (Tanjug)
• Nova: Marko Djuric the new head of diplomacy? (Danas, FoNet)
• Djuric: US companies condemn Pristina’s blockade of Serbian goods (Kosovo Online)
• Ugljanin: There are no flyers calling for violence against Kosovo police on streets of Mitrovica, my statement was misinterpreted (Danas)
• Lucic: Signal for users in northern Kosovo to be restored today, criminal complaint against Hetemi filed (Kosovo Online)
International:
• Advertising inequality (Kosovo 2.0)
• New Gas Supplies For the Western Balkans Facilitates a Geopolitical Game Rather Than the Green Energy Transition (visegradinsight.eu)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 13, 2024
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti: Vucic wants to leave open the possibility of invading Kosovo (media)
• State Department: Kosovo can continue procedures to purchase Javelins (Klan)
• New pamphlets in north, police initiate case for call to resistance (Koha)
• Uglanin: Pamphlets calling for resistance, threat to population (Telegrafi)
• EU: IMC draft law should not negative effect on media freedom (RFE)
• “Postponed prohibition” of dinar, Rohde surprised “how deadlines are given without a plan?”(Nacionale)
• Gjoshi: CBK has become a shelter of Kurti’s militants (media)
• Shala: Situation in north can escalate; protest led by Belgrade-backed SL (EO)
Serbian Language Media:
• Elek: Kurti’s goal is to displace Serbs, I hope reason will prevail (Radio KIM)
• Gogic: CBK measures are phrases, they won’t ensure stable flow of funds to Serbs and Serbian institutions (Kosovo Online)
• Escobar: Unilateral moves in Kosovo will have consequences (Tanjug, RTS, KiM radio)
• Hill: We were clear about the concerns regarding the dinar ban (Tanjug, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Leaflets for “resistance to Kurti’s police” allegedly appeared in Mitrovica North (KoSSev)
• How will elections in the USA affect Serbia? (Danas, FoNet, ipese.rs)
• Szijjarto: Serbia ready to join EU tomorrow, membership not to be conditioned with Kosovo issue (Kosovo Online, Insajder)
• Livadice victims’ commemoration on Friday (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, radio Mitrovica sever)
Opinion:
• How a German journalist misinterprets unrelated facts: Dragutin Nenezic’s answer to Mihael Martens (Danas)
International:
• Former Allies Argue Over Prishtina Coalition Crisis (Prishtina Insight)
• As Serbian Journalist’s Murder Goes Unpunished, Verdict Comes Under Scrutiny (BIRN)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 12, 2024
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti to Bloomberg: Euro rules won’t be reversed (media)
• Prime Minister Kurti travels to United Kingdom (media)
• Kosovo Police initiate case for new graffiti in the north (Koha)
• Rrahmani on the Dinar: Every action must be in agreement with U.S. (Gazeta Blic)
• Serbs protest: Cancel the decision on dinar (media)
• 108 million euros used for armament of KSF during 2023 (media)
• Journalists’ Association condemn threatening messages against reporter (media)
• Lack of progress in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, one of main challenges of EU Growth Plan (Albanian Post)
• Hoti: Data from 2023 budget report create impression that there is no master of house (media)
• Tahiri: PDK to propose establishment of two Inquiry Parliamentary Commissions (media)
• Tahiri: The average salary in the public sector should be 1000 euros (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Serbs protest in Mitrovica North: CBK’s decision means end of life for Serbian people (Kosovo Online, N1, media)
• Kurti on 17th anniversary of demonstrations against Ahtisaari: We rightly opposed mono-ethnic concessions (KoSSev)
• Arsenijevic: The more Kurti speaks in Serbian; the more Serbs get beaten (Danas)
• “People are frustrated, situation on the brink of survival” – Atmosphere ahead of protest in Mitrovica North (N1)
• Serbian National Council (SNV) supported protest in North Mitrovica (Danas, KiM radio)
• President of Trade Union of Private Sector: 140,000 workers have left Kosovo since visa liberalization (Kontakt plus, N1, FoNet)
• Orban: ‘I’m afraid we’ll lose Serbia, it is key for entire EU’ (N1)
• Vucic: Serbia, Greece have always supported each other’s territorial integrity (Tanjug)
• Mitsotakis: Our position on Kosovo unchanged, dialogue only path (Tanjug)
• Dacic speaks by phone with FMs of Romania, Spain, Cyprus (Tanjug)
• North Macedonia rejects allegations from Pristina regarding Kurti’s assassination (N1, BETA, media)
International:
• ‘Kurti Hates The United Nations,’ Declares President Vucic In Interview (The Pavlovic Today)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 9, 2024
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 9, 2024
Albanian Language Media:
• CBK launches the toll-free line for citizens 0800 222-55 (media)
• Prime Minister Kurti’s address at the UN Security Council session (media)
• Zulfaj: Kurti asked for the fourth time for the agreements to be signed (media)
• Kadiu: Broadcast in Serbia stopped when Kurti started his speech (media)
• Rama: A pointless session of the UN Security Council (media)
• PDK: Kurti’s wrong policy made western powers agree with Russia, China (Koha)
• Hoti: Last night for first time allies criticized us at a UNSC session (media)
• Kupchan: Kurti and Vucic are making solution difficult by playing nationalist cards (RFE)
• Rohde calls for a four-month transition phase for dinar prohibition (RTK)
• Ramadani: U.S. named group that attacked on September 24 as paramilitary (RTK)
• WB security discussed between Kosovo MPs and German delegation (Koha)
• Juratovic: Serbs manipulated by Kosovo and Serbia, Vucic under tension (Ekonomia)
• OSCE: Resignation of Serb judges and prosecutors, setback for justice system (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• CBK opened ‘toll-free line’ for Serbs to get informed about regulation, but we were unable to get a line (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Serbia spoke with facts about problems in Kosovo, Kurti responded with personal insults (Kosovo Online, media)
• Elek: Vucic pointed out everything Kurti does to our people in Kosovo (Danas, Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic: Thursday’s UNSC session historic, truth about Kosovo was heard (Tanjug)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: UNSC session a glimpse of hope (Tanjug)
• Szunyog: EU expects that Pristina does more on de-escalation and implementation of agreements (Tanjug)
• Rohde: Kosovo Government to postpone CBK for four months (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Abbott: CBK regulation unilateral and harmful action (Kosovo Online)
• Member of Serbian Gendarmerie arrested at Jarinje (Kosovo Online)
International:
• Kosovo Looks to Commercial Banks to Enable its Euro-Only Rule (Balkan Insight)
• Hoti: Momentum for Kosovo-Serbia Agreement Has been Lost (BIRN)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 8, 2024
Albanian Language Media:
• UN Security Council to discuss Kosovo today following Serbia’s request (Koha)
• Kurti travels to U.S., expected to take part in UNSC session on Kosovo (media)
• Tahiri: Partners earlier advised us for PM or President not to go to UNSC (Express)
• Citaku criticizes Kurti for issue of Dinar being discussed at UNSC (media)
• Konjufca: Serbia used the Dinar to blackmail the Kosovo Serbs (Koha)
• Muja: Don’t expect Dinar issue to threaten Kosovo’s partnership with allies (KTV)
• “Romas in north can be blackmailed via uncontrolled entrance of Dinar” (Koha)
• Serbian List MPs return to Assembly to ensure continuation of mandates (media)
• “The fabricated exodus’ of Serbs from Kosovo (Deutsche Welle in Albanian/FAZ)
• Aliu: Contract signed to expand and finalize Pristina-Mitrovica road (Koha)
• KFOR MSU conducts live firing exercise (media)
• Svecla: Kosovo’s security is challenged by Russia’s satellite, Serbia (RTK)
• Danish Justice Minister to visit Kosovo on February 12-13 (Klan Kosova)
• Bregu launches new platform of Regional Cooperation Council in Pristina (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Serbian List writes to Quint, requests prevention of Serbian people exodus from Kosovo (Tanjug)
• CSOs: Blatant violation of media freedoms and direct attack on civil society (Radio KIM)
• NBS: Commercial Bank was forced to close branch office in Mitrovica because of pressure (KoSSev)
• Gogic: It is only matter of time when Pristina will go against schools and hospitals (Kosovo Online)
• Andric Rakic: Kurti is intimidating Serbs with his moves, West can prevent that, but it balances (Kosovo Online)
• Jevtic says KSF member who shot at Serbian children on Christmas Eve pressed lawsuit against him (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Serbian products expelled from the shelves in the north of Kosovo, Mitrovica residents say they “live like in a ghetto” (N1)
• Deputies of the Serbian List at the session of the Kosovo Parliament in order not to lose their mandates (NMagazin, Beta)
• Office for KiM: Fire in Odanovce village most probably planted, pressure continues (Tanjug)
• Serbian List: About a dozen Serbian families in the village of Odanovce attacked by arsonists (Kosovo Online)
• European Court of Auditors wants better protection for growth plan (N1)
• European Parliament adopts Resolution on Serbian elections (N1)
International:
• ‘Stability is fragile’: An overlooked European conflict zone is at a tipping point between peace and combat (CNBC)
• Sandulovic: I was beaten by 10 persons, Radoicic was present (Euronews Albania)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 7, 2024
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 7, 2024
Albanian Language Media:
• Stano: Kosovo risks lagging in EU path because of unilateral actions (media)
• Central Bank Governor meets Minister for Communities and Returns (media)
• Rasic on CBK regulation: We are in a period of transition (RFE)
• Qalaj: Svecla is making a mistake by taking part in police actions (Indeksonline)
• Kurti meets Director of Open Society Roma for Europe, Zeljko Jovanovic (media)
• Bislimi on IMC draft law: It increases transparency of media ownership (Koha)
• Prelec: It is likely Kosovo will form an empty Association or none (RFE)
• Dimic to Kurti: I’m returning to Kosovo; Vucic’s dictatorship intolerable (RTK)
• Serbia fears documentary novel about crimes in Kosovo (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:
Dacic: I received information that UNSC session will be open to public, President Vucic to attend (Tanjug, RTS, media)
First shipment of dinars following CBK decision banned from entering Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
Serbian Democracy calls upon EU to establish Fund in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
China Ambassador Li Ming: The issue of Kosovo should be resolved through dialogue (RTS)
Hovenier: Reactions of Kosovo authorities have direct impact on quality of our partnership (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
Pistorius: I am concerned, Germany has been sending additional forces to Kosovo since April (Blic, Kosovo Online, media)
Sentic: Serbs in Kosovo deprived of basic rights, existence, and dignity (Kosovo Online)
Gogic: Pristina closes down Serbian institutions, and does nothing to return Serbs in institutions in the north (N1, Kosovo Online)
10 years of KoSSev: Awards to Milivoje Mihajlović and posthumously to Belul Beqaj
Brnabic: Draft EP resolution contains no arguments (Tanjug)
International:
Kosovo Allows Consumers to Terminate Contracts with Cable Operators Escaping Penalties (Prishtina Insight)
Read More →