UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 28, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Statement by the Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, UK, and the U.S. (media)
• Quint, LVV and LDK to meet at 17:00 (Indeksonline)
• Maliqi has a proposal for LVV and LDK (media)
• LVV's Abazi hopes power-sharing agreement with LDK will happen (media)
• AAK deputy leader Ardian Gjini’s interview to Telegrafi
• LVV does not give up Assembly Speaker’s post (ekonomiaonline)

Serbian Language Media:

• President of Montenegro: "There can be neither Great Serbia nor Great Albania, it can only be great tragedy" (Tanjug, B92)
• Stefanovic: Vucic to meet Djukanovic soon, the attack might be ethnically motivated (B92, RTS, Tanjug)
• Jeremic: ''If the Law on SPC passes in Montenegro, this will happen in Kosovo also'' (Danas, KoSSev)
• US envoy Grenell satisfied with efforts to resume Serbia-Kosovo rail services (FoNet, N1)
• Ahmeti: It doesn't cross my mind to allow construction in Badovac (KIM radio, Kosovo Online, Koha Ditore)
• ''KRIK out loud'': Behind the yacht photo (KIM radio)

Opinion:

• China Buying Balkans Influence, Competing with West (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Belgrade – Pristina Eurowings Service Will Begin In Summer 2020 (simpleflying.com)
• BIRN Fact-check: Has the Import Tax Aided Kosovo’s Economy? (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo, Serbia Make 'Good Progress' In Working Out Railway Deal Details (RFE)
• The Brief – Is Mini Schengen all it’s cracked up to be? (Euractiv)
• Fighting Words: Journalism Under Assault in Central and Eastern Europe (reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Plemetina: Windows of local football club’s changing room broken (Radio KIM)

• LVV, LDK agree to include Quint ambassadors in the talks (media)
• Veliu: LDK will not accept new offers from LVV (Zeri)
• Bahtiri: Konjufca’s resignation will not happen (RTK)
• Veseli: If cowards shy away from responsibility, elections are imminent (Telegrafi)
• “Lack of transparency in Kosovo-Serbia meeting in Berlin raises questions” (Zeri)
• Konjufca to participate at Western Balkans Summit in Brussels (RTK)
• Albanian PM comments on Mini-Schengen initiative (Telegrafi/Top Channel)
• Borell announces plan to visit Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Germany removes Kosovo from security clearance list (media)
• Former newspaper editor reports attack on his home (Bota Sot)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo delegation says meeting in Berlin was constructive (media)
• This is Kosovo’s delegation negotiating on railways in Berlin today (media)
• Haradinaj says he has not spoken to Grenell about railways (Express)
• Thaci: Kosovo joins remembrance of the Holocaust victims (media)
• Mustafa: Meeting with Kurti today, I am committed to an agreement (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: Thaci abuses the Holocaust in an uncivilized manner (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica Sever, Blic)
• Borrell: We will do the best we know to facilitate Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (RTS)
• Railway line to be discussed in Berlin today, Djuric heads Serbian delegation (Tanjug, Radio KIM)
• Godfrey: I hope dialogue will continue (FoNet)
• Dacic: Grenell's position nothing new, Quint states have similar opinion (BETA, N1)
• Atlantic Council: Trump may be more successful in the Balkans than elsewhere (Beta, N1, VoA)
• “Prva petoletka” basketball players banned to enter Kosovo at Jarinje (RTS)
• PDS municipal councillor in Gracanica joined Srpska Lista (Radio KIM)
• Political analyst Fatmir Sheholli summoned to the Hague (Radio kontakt plus)

Opinion:

• The French non-paper: Are there any implications for Kosovo’s EU integration process? (EWB)

International:

• Michel: Three pillars for future Western Balkans-EU relations (EWB)
• Church Protests in Montenegro – Key facts (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• What’s happening on the shores of Lake Badovc? (Prishtina Insight)
• Possible protests over construction near Badovac lake (KiM radio)
• Teaching through the pain (Prishtina Insight)
• Educated by another state (Prishtina Insight)

• LVV-LDK continue negotiations, no agreement yet (media)
• Kosovo-Serbia railway link details to be discussed on Monday in Berlin (Klan)
• Grenell to AP: U.S. wants parties to focus on economy (Koha)
• Albanian President Meta hopes Israel will soon recognise Kosovo (media)
• Djuric: Our Ivanovic murder investigation lead in opposite direction from Pristina (Express)

• Thaci hails initiative for Pristina-Belgrade railway line (media)
• Osmani: There will be meetings with LVV over the weekend (Kosovapress)
• Shala: Assembly speaker post standing between LDK- LVV deal (Klan)
• LVV: Calls for Konjufca's resignation, unreasonable (Zeri)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 24, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Grenell heralds establishment of railway line between Pristina and Belgrade (Koha)
• Konjufca expected to resign, LVV succumbs to pressure from LDK (Lajmi)
• Vetevendosje: No reason for Konjufca to resign Assembly President post (media)
• EU: Elections transparent, well-administered; counting with major shortcomings (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic after meeting Grenell: I do not accept equality sign between retractions of recognition and Pristina’s tariffs (RTS)
• Grenell in Belgrade: If you do not reach agreement, we will withdraw (Tanjug, B92)
• Grenell arrived, bringing a "new Dayton" to Vucic? (Tanjug, B92, Srpski Telegraf)
• Godfrey: Grenell’s visit shows US interest for Western Balkans (RTS)
• Drecun: The White House wants some progress between Belgrade and Pristina (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Dacic: Ending de-recognition campaign can not be compromise over tariffs (Tanjug)
• Young Kosovo Serb journalists visit ''Klan Kosova'' TV in Pristina (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Belgrade-Pristina Flights Won’t Get Kosovo Serbs Airborne (Prishtina Insight)
• Balkans Risks Being Caught in Crossfire Over Middle East (Balkan Insight)

• Grenell’s message in Kosovo: Set disagreements aside, focus on economy (media)
• Grenell in Belgrade: Tax and derecognition campaign to end soon (Koha/Epoka)
• Haradinaj: Tax will not be lifted until Serbia recognises Kosovo (media)
• Osmani: Grenell energised dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Kurti has two days to decide on LDK offer (Indeksonline)
• Hoti: Kurti should mind his own affairs (RTV21/RTK)
• Abrashi: I would lift tariff today, prior to Grenell’s visit to Serbia (RTK)
• New EULEX chief assumes post (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 23, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Grenell after meeting Kurti: We discussed economic issues (Koha)
• Kurti: Economic development discussed in meeting with Grenell (media)
• Grenell reiterates after LDK meeting: Economic issues, focal for U.S. (media)
• Thaci: Fruitful meeting with Grenell on dialogue (media)
• Thaci: Ambassadors are not here to put pressure on internal affairs (media)
• Kosovo ranks 101 on TI's corruption perception index (media)
• Haradinaj meets Andrews, talk about Kosovo-U.S. partnership (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Former Pentagon official Carpenter on Kosovo issue (B92, Telegraf, Tanjug)
• NATO tells U.S. Congressman that Serbia can buy arms from whoever it wants (N1, Danas)
• Grenell to visit Belgrade on Friday (Blic, B92)
• Vucic: I appreciate Grenell’s energy, but speeding up talks with Pristina won’t go easily (BETA)
• Grenell to Thaci: Revoke tariffs to achieve progress in Belgrade-Pristina talks (N1, KoSSev)
• Vucic: Charles Michel, EC President, to organize WB leaders meeting in February (B92, Tanjug, TV Pink)
• Serbia has over 100 million euros worth projects in Kosovo (Kosovo-online, N1)
• Djuric: Belgrade-Pristina airline economic arrangement, not political dialogue (Danas, RTV)
• German and French ambassadors to Belgrade: Serbia belongs to the EU, but must meet conditions (FoNet, N1)
• Vucic: "The point is not Amfilohije, but the thesis that I will betray Kosovo" (B92, Tanjug)

Opinion:

• How Has the UN Mission in Kosovo Delivered on Action for Peacekeeping? (IPI Global Observatory)
• The Illusion of Russian Influence in the Western Balkans (The Globe Post)

International:

• U.S. Envoy Urges Kosovo, Serbia Turn Eyes on Economy, Jobs (AP/NYT)
• Corruption Fight Faltering in Balkans, Central Europe, Transparency Says (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo jails eight over plot to kill president and prime minister (Reuters)
• Details of Kosovo-Serbia flight deal revealed (Prishtina Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo’s wealth still buried underground (Prishtina Insight)

• Grenell with no preferences for coalition, wants dialogue to resume (media)
• Thaci: We will reach agreement with Serbia with President Trump (RTK)
• Grenell will first meet Kurti, then Mustafa (Indeksonline)
• LDK, LVV rule out other partners for coalition government (media)
• Osmani: Grenell’s visit, high interest of White House for Kosovo (Klan)
• Haxhiu: We will work hard to reach agreement in coming days (Bota Sot)
• LDK’s Bajrami calls for Konjufca’s resignation (RTK)
• Osmani: We want to resume talks, LVV to look into our proposal (Klan)
• Apostolova calls for quick formation of new government (media)
• Haradinaj continues to "cripple" Kosovo budget (Zeri)
• Hoxhaj: Mini-Schengen is Serbia’s idea; we cannot share sovereignty with it (Zeri)
• PDK appoints new leadership (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Ambasador Grenell visits Pristina and Belgrade this week (Koha)
• In Davos, Thaci meets president of World Economic Forum (media)
• Finnish ambassador: There is hope for coalition agreement (Klan Kosova)
• Haradinaj and Apostolova meet to discuss latest developments in Kosovo (media)
• Haradinaj nominates Lulzim Rafuna for the Minister of Finance (RTK)
• The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Jorgen Andrews to visit Kosovo tomorrow (RTK)
• Haradinaj: Belgrade line is not related to tariff (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Borrell to visit Belgrade on January 30 (Tanjug)
• Vucic spoke to O'Brien in Davos (Tanjug, B92)
• Reactions from Belgrade and Srpska Lista on BG-PR flight deal (KoSSev, Radio KIM, BETA)
• Djuric on Belgrade-Pristina flight: We will inform KFOR and UNMIK (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Tariffs unsustainable, problem to be resolved after Kosovo government is formed (BETA)
• Grenell: This is just the beginning of a bright future we predict for Serbia and Kosovo (N1, Blic)

International:

• Serbia president Vučić 'fed up of being lectured' over ties with Russia and China (Euronews)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Discrimination in the name of neutrality (Prishtina Insight)