UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 19, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 277 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• To date, over 16,000 Kosovo citizens got vaccinated against COVID-19 (media)
• Almost half of Kosovo businesses declare unsatisfactory situation (media)
• Bars and cafes reopen as COVID-19 measures eased (Prishtina Insight)
• PM Kurti urges Slovakia to recognise independence of Kosovo (media)
• On anniversary of Kosovo-Serbia agreement, KDI tackles its implementation (media)
• Szunyog: Government to take concrete steps to attract foreign investors (EO/Koha)
• Legislation committee approves draft law paving way for trial in absentia (media)
• SPO argues for extending detention to Gucati and Haradinaj (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic says he never saw alleged non-paper on redrawing borders in WB (Beta, N1)
• Serbia’s FM: Iran supports Serbia on the issue of Kosovo (Beta, N1)
• Dacic on alleged non-paper on WB: We do not support ideas that cause instability (FoNet. N1, TV Prva)
• Bishop Teodosije warns of aggressive pressure and negative media campaign against SOC and Decani Monastery (KoSSev)
• Djuric: Brussels agreement enabled years of peace (Radio KIM, Tanjug)
• Petkovic: Disrespect of Brussels agreement indicates what attitude Pristina or EU would have on some other reached agreement (Kosovo-online)
• Bogujevci: The issue of the missing both a human and a political issue, but it should be a humane (KiM radio, Slobodno srpski)
• EU: Brussels agreement must be implemented, agreement on ZSO has never been recalled (Kosovo-online, Tanjug)
• Gracanica: "Police are asleep, blow the horn to wake them up" (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio)
• Entry door of Serbian school in Obilic damaged (Radio KIM)
• Tamara Grujic denies that she was detained; Kosovo Police said it was just an identity check (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, RTK2)

Opinion:

• It's time for transparency in Kosovo's COVID-19 numbers (Kosovo 2.0)
• Palokaj: Border changes, Belgrade’s attempt to implement Milosevic goals (Koha)
• The Abbot today, Kosovo tomorrow (KoSSev)
• DW: Serbia’s Vucic not in pre-election mode only when in deep sleep (N1)

International:

• Kosovo’s New President Has Major Crises To Take On (theowp.org)
• Hague Tribunal Urged to Report Serbia to UN Security Council (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Vucic announces new shipments of vaccines to Serbia (RTS)
• Loncar: Serbia avails itself at disposal of WHO, will help immunization in Europe (N1)

• COVID-19: 521 new cases, 8 deaths (media)
• Government announces new measures against COVID-19 (media)
• Health Minister Vitia meets PDK MP Haxhiu (media)
• Additional uncertainties in the Kosovo – Serbia dialogue (Koha Ditore)
• Croatian President slams idea of border changes in the Balkans (media)
• Russian Foreign Minister reacts to Slovenian non-paper (media)
• Kosovo civil society criticise monastery’s inclusion on endangered list (BIRN)
• Kosovo authorities “withdraw from investigations against Insajderi” (RFE)
• Confiscation of unjustifiable wealth; EU calls for respect of human rights (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 537 new cases, 15 deaths (media)
• “Cannot talk dialogue, while our people are dying from lack of vaccines” (media)
• Germany against border changes in the Balkans (media)
• Slovenian President: I’m strongly against border changes (media)
• European Council has no comment on Slovenian non-paper (Express)
• Tahiri: PDK initiated three parliamentary debates on the pandemic (media)
• Kurti confirms he will attend Prespa Summit (media)
• Reactions follow after Lajcak does not refer to Kosovo in tweet (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: 17 new cases, one death (Kontakt plus radio)
• Petkovic banned from entering Kosovo, explanation is that he endangers the health and safety of people (Beta, Novi Magazin, RTS)
• Office for KiM: Incidents in Serb areas in Kosovo a consequence of systematic non-response (KiM radio, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Young men waving Albanian flag in Mitrovica brought in (Radio KIM)
• Serbian List urges international missions and security institutions to preserve peace and prevent incidents (Kosovo-online)
• Commander of the Gracanica police station: I am not thinking of resigning, regardless of the pressures (KiM radio)
• Auto protest over beating of Luka Dimitrijevic in Gracanica (KoSSev)
• Dodik: Separation of Kosovo from Serbia inseparable from the Bosnian state survival (KoSSev)
• Vucic to Quinta envoys and EU: I’m sure Serbia can move faster towards EU (N1)
• Beqaj: The Balkans are a "powder keg"; Jansa's idea against the values of the EU (Kosovo Online)
• Committee on Constitutional Affairs: Amending the Constitution does not change the preamble on KiM (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, RTS)

International:

• Slovenia Raises Uncomfortable Questions With Talk Of Bosnia's 'Dissolution' (RFE)
• Anti-Semitism Used as Tool in Balkan Disputes: Report (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 612 new cases, 17 deaths (media)
• U.S. Ambassador Kosnett gives interview to Klan Kosova
• Kurti urges Greece to recognise Kosovo (media)
• President Osmani meets representatives of UN agencies in Kosovo (media)
• Lajcak and Bislimi hold virtual meeting (media)
• Gashi: LDK will not be part of dialogue with Serbia (ATV/Telegrafi)
• Kosovo FM Gervalla invited to address EP Foreign Affairs Committee (media)
• Surroi thinks Kosovo's membership in NATO more plausible than in UN (Koha)
• Pjeter Shala transferred to The Hague pursuant to confirmed indictment (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 15, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 599 new cases, 17 deaths (media)
• Kosovo ministries discuss anti-Covid measures with Kosovo mayors (media)
• Petrit Ajeti appointed head of Kosovo Intelligence Agency (media)
• Kosovo leaders meet representatives of missing persons (media)
• KDI calls on Kosovo leaders to prepare for dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Fight of organised crime and corruption, domestic violence priorities of Justice Ministry (media)
• Ministry of Infrastructure cancels tender worth €44 million (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: 13 newly infected (Kontakt plus radio)
• Thus far, 15.000 citizens from Serbian areas in Kosovo inoculated (Kosovo-online)
• EU on the Western Balkans on May 10th (RTS)
• Vucic: We expect Putin in Serbia by end of year, I will go to Brussels soon (Kosovo-online)
• Simic: One violence gives birth to another, Serbs unprotected in Kosovo (RTS)
• Sava Janjic bothers both Belgrade and Pristina (Danas)
• Rakic met Kosnett, and pointed out problem of frequent attacks against Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Protest due to the beating of the young man, demand for the resignation of the police commander (KiM radio)
• Spahiu: Gervalla's appearance at UNSC session complete collapse of the new Kosovo government (Kosovo Online)
• Alleged non-paper on WB leaked: Merging of RS and Serbia, Kosovo and Albania (N1)
• Kharchenko: Russia ready for new aspects in resolving the Kosovo issue, if Serbia wishes so (Kosovo Online, Sputnik)

Opinion:

• The arrival of vaccines doesn't mean the pandemic is over (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

• Palestinians Demand Cutting Ties with Kosovo (english.aawsat.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Greece to lift quarantine for visitors from Serbia (B92)

• COVID-19: 715 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• Kosovo new president says Serbia must answer for ‘genocide’ (The Irish Times)
• Kosovo implies reciprocity with every state (Radio Free Europe)
• Haxhiu: Misused funds must be confiscated, they belong to the people (media)
• EU: Dialogue, Kosovo’s most important foreign policy priority (media)
• Kurti replies to Court on request of Serb MPs (media)
• Kurti government reviewing decisions of Hoti government (Koha Ditore)
• Bogujevci: We’ll push forward draft law on domestic violence (media)
• Collaku: Internationals will strongly impose dialogue on Kurti (media)
• “Either we accept Association, or we have to talk about land swap” (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 701 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• Mayors want new anti COVID measures to be lifted (media)
• Osmani: We’ll make sure women are involved in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• Szunyog: EU ready to support Kosovo government on its EU path (media)
• Lajcak: Very useful meeting with Phil Reeker (media)
• Osmani: April 14, the day of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (media)
• Gervalla-Schwarz: Childhood emigrant becomes Kosovo’s top diplomat (BIRN)
• PDK MP: Gervalla was on same line with Russia and Serbia (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 14 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Tanin: Opening the door to the future requires transformation (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, RTK2)
• Serbian FM tells UN SC Albanian political extremism rising in Kosovo (N1)
• Brnabic and Yamashita on situation in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• SOC: Unfounded and malicious accusations against Sava Janjic (Radio KIM)
• Serb CSOs: Kosovo government and international representatives to condemn CDHRF’s hate speech and protect Fr. Sava (KoSSev)
• Kandic: It is shameful what CDHRF is writing about Fr. Sava (KoSSev)
• Family of Zoran Djokic from Pec seeks fair trial (KoSSev)
• Greek stance on Kosovo remains unchanged (Tanjug)
• RTV KiM: Physical attack on a young man in Gracanica (KoSSev, Blic, RTS)
• Protest in Gracanica due to the beating of a Serb; An ethnically motivated attack or a misunderstanding? (RTV KiM)
• Rakic: Should our children live in everyday fear that someone would attack them in the street? (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Latest incident consequence of irresponsible politics and anti-Serbian rhetoric (Kontakt plus radio)
• Sava Janjic: The church in Samodreza turned into a public toilet, so much for religious tolerance in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, FB)
• Message from Brussels: Travel to EU countries with any vaccine (B92)

Opinion:

• Inter-ethnic cooperation in Kosovo: Can Kurti make use of this critical juncture? (newsocialinitiative.org)
• Mushkolaj: Let us not become allies of disinformation (Kallxo)
• Bounty of Serbian vaccine diplomacy shames the EU (Financial Times)
• How Serbia Can Learn from Germany’s Post-War Remorse (Balkan Insight)

International:

• When libraries burn (balcanicaucaso.org)
• Alleged Slovenian proposal for a peaceful dissolution of BiH creates controversy (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Rolling Film Festival puts fresh spotlight on anti-roma prejudice in Kosovo (BIRN)
• Sputnik V production to begin soon in Serbia, Iran, Italy (TASS)
• Bosnian journalists vaccinated in Serbian capital (N1)
• Hundreds of millions of women living lives ‘governed by others’, UN report shows (news.un.org)

• COVID-19: 544 new cases, 12 deaths (media)
• UN Security Council discusses situation in Kosovo (media)
• Russia tries to ban Kosovo flag at UN – unsuccessfully (AP)
• Government spokesperson: No date yet on reciprocity with Serbia (media)
• Osmani and Kurti in talks to appoint new intelligence chief (RTK)
• Anti-mafia law gets the green light (Koha Ditore)
• Varhelyi in letter to Kurti: Continuation of dialogue is crucial (media)
• EU no comment on reports of Jansha’s alleged letter on border changes (RFE)
• Should Kosovo’s ruling party play opposition politics in Albania? (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 12, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 345 new cases, 8 deaths (media)
• Kurti: Governing programme to be technically finalised soon (media)
• PDK: Kurti focusing on Albania's election rather than securing vaccines (media)
• LDK’s Abdixhiku slams Kurti government (media)
• Kosovo officials accused of ‘irresponsible’ meddling in Albania election (BIRN)
• “Government to treat vaccination of teachers as priority” (media)
• Expert: Youth more threatened by UK variant of the virus (media)
• Caplan: There will be pressure on Kurti for dialogue (Radio Free Europe)

Serbian Language Media:

• Eight new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Sunday (Kontakt plus radio)
• Father Sava reacts to accusations: Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you (social media, KoSSev)
• Brnabic, Office for KiM, Serbian List react to accusations against Father Sava (Radio KIM)
• Europa Nostra: Decani should not be a source of conflict, but a valuable link between citizens (KoSSev)
• Harsh reactions in Kosovo media to Decani Monastery’s inclusion in 7 Most Endangered 2021 (KoSSev)
• Fr. Sava: Paradox that Church must remind Kosovo to respect its own laws and Constitution (KoSSev)
• Health house in village of Gojbulja broken into (RTS)
• Kurti posts about LVV candidates in Albanian elections; the media and the opposition accuse him of running a campaign (KoSSev)
• Petkovic: There is no place at the negotiating table for guns (KiM radio)
• Gogic: Stability while the "honeymoon" lasts (KiM radio, Slobodno Srpski)
• Russian Ambassador says partnership with Serbia has ''cosmic prospects'' (N1, Beta)
• Lajcak: Agreement possible in a few months if there is political will in Belgrade and Pristina (Beta, Kosovo Online)

International:

• Generations of Albanians lived off cannabis production. Can they stop? (BIRN)
• Thousands rally in Serbia to protect the environment (AP)
• Death of British Queen’s Husband Severs a Balkan Link (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Digital Trustbuilding Week (RTK2)
• Rakic with UN and IOM representatives on return of displaced persons (Kosovo-online)

• COVID-19: 537 new cases, 12 deaths (media)
• Disturbing influx of Kosovo citizens towards Albania during weekend (media)
• Dialogue with Serbia considered key issue in foreign policy (Koha)
• Analysts: Greece more likely to recognise Kosovo independence (media)
• The fear of Kosovo women to report sexual harassment at work (BIRN)
• Hoxhaj: Government strategy to respond to Serbia’s propaganda (media)