UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 4, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• LDK-AAK-NISMA meet to harmonise programs (ekonomia)
• Vitia: I considered resigning, I’m also responsible to shed light on case (media)
• Kurti calls on MPs to leave aside political calculations (RTK)
• Abrashi: We don’t have names of ministers yet (Lajmi)
• Pacolli expected to travel back to Switzerland today (Koha)
• Public Health Institute urges caution in light of lockdown relaxation steps (media)
• Haradinaj: Acting government is commiting recidive violation of the Constitution (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• No new Covid-19 infection cases in north, quarantine measure lifted (Kosovo online, Radio Mitrovica sever, Radio KIM)
• Jevtic: Wave of attacks against Serb returnees in Kosovo continues, two persons arrested (Kosovo-online, KoSSev, RTK 2)
• Head of UNMIK Tanin concerned over recent incidents against non-majority communities (social media)
• Empirika: Institutions to take measures to protect Serb property (KIM radio, Kontakt plus radio)
• EU in Pristina concerned over incidents in Serb-populated areas (RTS)
• OSCE Mission expresses concern over incidents in Gojbulja village (social media)
• Vucic: State of emergency to be lifted on Saint George Day, May 6 (B92)
• Borrell: Covid-19 pandemic has shown essential role of journalism (N1)

International:

• Kosovo Orders Retrial of Wartime Guerrilla Unit Commander (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Brnabic: If numbers are not under control, restrictive measures again (Prva TV, B92)
• Contact Tracing: Europe’s Coronavirus Tech Tangle (Balkan Insight)

• Public Health Institute: 11 new cases of COVID-19 (media)
• Authorities urged to instigate death of young man in quarantine centre (media)
• Kurti: Govt was brought down because they want a quick agreement to divide territories (media)
• Bajrami: Court must rule in line with people's will (Infokusi)
• Hooper: Grenell to convince EU on Kosovo-Serbia agreement (VoA, RTK)
• Vucic foresees protests and riots in Kosovo (media)
• In less than a month, Serbia imported €12.4 million worth of goods to Kosovo (Koha)

• Kurti asks Court’s opinion on Thaci’s competencies to propose candidate (media)
• Thaci: Threats from Kurti’s group and others must stop at once (media)
• Hoti: Parliamentary majority will elect new government (media)
• Osmani: Peace is possible only after perpetrators are brought to justice (media)
• Spain lifts veto over Kosovo attendance at international meetings (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• LDK, NISMA reach coalition agreement (media)
• Thaci: International silence created amnesty for Serbia's crimes (media)
• Sources: Pacolli to arrive in Kosovo today (Koha)
• Prishtina Mayor calls on leaders to set aside differences (media)
• LDK leader reacts to Svecla's remarks (media)
• Abazi: Parties, especially LDK, must distance themselves from Thaci (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• New incident against Serb community in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• SL: Passivity of police and lack of responsibility among Albanian leaders and international community concerning (Kosovo-online)
• Five new cases of Covid-19 infection in north, four persons cured (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: We may lift the state of emergency next week; The unstable situation in Kosovo does not suit Serbia (B92, RTS, Kontakt plus radio)
• EU High Representative Borell wants Kosovo dialogue resumed soon (N1)
• Serbian Trade Minister says 16 million Euro in goods shipped to Kosovo (Blic, N1)
• “KEK will no longer drill holes without consent of Kuzmin residents” (Radio KIM)
• CoE SecGen warns against media restrictions during pandemic (N1)
• Media: Curfew in Serbia from 6 pm on Thursday, April 30 to 5 am on Saturday May 2 (B92)
• Delevic: Special Prosecution indicted five persons (Radio Kosovska Mitrovica)

Opinion:

• Kosovo-Serbia Land Swap Deal Risks Destabilizing the Balkans, Researchers Group Warns (exit.al)
• The dialogue between two people will continue, and not two societies (KIM radio)
• Why Serbia’s President Vucic chose Richard Grenell over Angela Merkel (EurActiv)

International:

• COVID-Related Boom Reveals Video Conferencing’s Dark Side (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• UNFPA and UN Women continue offering support to victims of gender-based violence (Radio KIM)

• Covid-19: Nine new cases, 17 recoveries (media)
• Kurti and Risi discuss security situation, Covid-19 response (media)
• Svecla: Thaci travelled to Albania by disregarding state protocol (media)
• Thaci says he did not bring Pacolli, calls LVV a criminal organization (TV Dukagjini)
• Kurti responds to Thaci, invites him to a televised debate (media)
• Scenario to vote new government when court is on a day off (Koha)
• Mustafa responds to Thaci, says he will send the name of PM candidate soon (RTK)
• LDK reaches agreement for coalition with NISMA (Klan)
• Hoti: SL will have as much participation as in Kurti’s government (RTK)
• LVV says MP Etem Arifi's vote cannot be counted on (media)
• Haradinaj: I don't think Kurti plans to keep PM’s post by force (Telegrafi)
• Surroi: There will be no new government (Koha/Telegrafi)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 29, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• LDK signs governing coalition agreement with AAK (RTK)
• Thaci another letter to Mustafa, wants name of PM candidate (Indeksonline)
• Veseli: PDK MPs won’t vote a govt of fraud, elections after pandemic (media)
• BiEPAG: Western Balkans in Times of the Global Pandemic (Koha)
• Behgjet Pacolli is still in Tirana (RTK)
• 2018 report: Amnesty for war crimes could be part of Kosovo-Serbia agreement (Koha)
• Hyseni: The matter of the new government to conclude soon (Klan, RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• NGOs and Media: Responsible institutions to protect human rights (Kosovo Online, KIM Radio, Kontakt plus radio)
• US Ambassador to Serbia: Return to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is important to Washington (Kontakt plus radio, N1)
• Djuric: We disagree on status, but we can't beat the virus without cooperation (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• US Embassy in Pristina: Violence against minorities should be investigated and prosecuted (Kosovo-online)
• Jevtic: Violence against Serb properties must end immediately (Kosovo-online)
• Office for KiM: Burning down of family house in Cernica latest in series of attacks against Serb properties in Kosovo (TV Most)
• One person infected and five more cured of Covid-19 in Kosovo north (Kontakt plus radio)
• KP classified assault on RTV Puls owner case as minor bodily harm and destruction of property (KoSSev)
• EU - WB draft declaration: Close cooperation after crisis (N1)

Opinion:

• Collective amnesia for an elusive normalisation of relations (Prishtina Insight)
• Surroi: The clash between two majorities (Koha)

International:

• Ian Bancroft: With North Kosovo the Only Obstacle is in Your Mind (Kosovo 2.0)
• Recession Looms for Western Balkans as Countries Respond to COVID-19 (miragenews.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Number of confirmed coronavirus cases drops (Prishtina Insight)

• Ten new cases of COVID-19, 31 recovered (media)
• Kurti: Tremendous progress against COVID-19, but we must not relax (media)
• Vitia: Relaxation of measures to be announced in coming days (RTK)
• Caretaker PM Kurti’s interview to Euronews Albania
• Mustafa: We have votes to form new government (media)
• By not making the letter for PM candidate public, Thaci is impeding the matter to reach the Constitutional Court (Koha)
• Hoti: Agreement expected tomorrow, AKR too will be part of govt (EO)
• Sources: Pacolli is in Prishtina, joins talk for government formation (Lajmi)
• Vitia speaks about Pacolli's return to Kosovo (media)
• EULEX chief slams Pacolli's claims on quarantine measures (Kallxo)

Albanian Language Media:

• LDK's Gashi: We have 64 votes for new government (Koha)
• Mustafa to present the new government to LDK MPs (media)
• Thaci: No peace without justice for crimes Serbia committed in Kosovo (media)
• Ahmeti: Schools will not reopen on May 4 (media)
• Specialist Prosecutor initiates additional proceedings (Koha)
• Pacolli: Government preventing my return to Kosovo in 'primitive, dictatorial' way (media)
• Ministry of Health: Public health measures applied to everyone equally (media)
• VV's Abrashi says Pacolli's request is arrogant (media)
• Three KFOR soldiers from Slovenia infected with coronavirus (RTK)
• Association of Journalists condemns attack on Nenad Milenkovic (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Open hunting season: Are journalists the only problem? (KIM radio)
• A house set on fire in the village of Cernica in Gnjilane municipality (Kosovo Online, B92, Tanjug)
• Jevtic requests from Kosovo minister, officials protection for Serbs and their properties (Kosovo-online)
• Two new cases of Covid-19 infection, two deaths registered in northern Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• EU lifts restrictions on medical exports to Western Balkans (N1)
• The owner of RTV Puls attacked in front of North Mitrovica municipality building (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM, Spric condemn physical assault against RTV Puls owner (KoSSev)
• Journalists’ associations, TV Mreza condemn attack on RTV Puls director (Radio KIM)
• OSCE Mission requests swift investigation into arson of Serb house in Novake village (Radio KIM)
• Djuric: ''KFOR will not allow Pristina to invade northern Kosovo'' (Kosovo Online, TV Pink)

Opinion:

• Kosovo was not adequately prepared for the pandemic (EWB)
• Robelli: A barbary of barons (Koha)
• Serbia practices its four-pillar foreign policy in the coronavirus era (intellinews.org)

International:

• Kosovo Court in Another Step Toward Indicting War Suspects (AP/NYT)
• EU Pledges to Continue Search for Kosovo’s War Missing (AP/NYT)

Humanitarian/Development:

• EU in Kosovo and CoE Office call for strong efforts to guarantee safe access to education
• EU Plans New Package To Help Balkans Through Coronavirus Crisis (RFE)
• European Commission aware of air pollution in Western Balkans (N1)
• Media literacy project – A guide to the news you release into your world! (KoSSev)

• 35 recovered and 17 new cases with COVID-19 (media)
• EC President von der Leyen writes to acting PM Kurti (media)
• PM’s Office will address Venice Commission on Thaci’s letter (Lajmi)
• Kurti expresses concern over Thaci’s steps (media)
• Mustafa: Talks for new coalition are going well (Express)
• Haziri: You cannot impose ministerial names to LDK (Klan)
• LDK MP speaks about distribution of ministries (RTK)
• Thaci: Serbia committed genocide in Kosovo (media)
• Haxhiu says remarks on war crimes amnesty were misinterpreted (Telegrafi)
• OSCE condemns attack on journalist in Mitrovica North (Kallxo)
• PDK MP receives death threat (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 27, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Govt overthrown ‘because we were ending state capture’ (Prishtina Insight)
• Veseli: Serbia must answer for its crimes before an international tribunal (media)
• Osmani: Serbia is not ready for peace (media)
• Haxhiu: Thaci must publish letter for PM candidate to LDK (media)
• “War crimes are not pardoned; they need to be tried and condemned” (media)
• Health Institute: Stop pressure on us, we cannot test everyone at once (media)
• “All data show increase of cases of domestic violence” (Radio Free Europe)

Serbian Language Media:

• North Kosovo: Five new cases diagnosed with Covid-19 (Kontakt plus radio)
• Incidents affecting Serb community in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Trifunovic: 23 years we live in darkness, looking for truth about missing persons (Kosovo-online)
• Blakaj: Attacks on Gashi are wrong, we must acknowledge all victims regardless of nationality (Kosovo Online)
• YIHR and HLC Kosovo condemn criticism and protests over Gashi’s statement (KoSSev)
• Elections in Serbia in July? (media)
• UN SG Gutteres calls Belgrade, Pristina to continue dialogue (BETA, N1)
• Dacic tells UN Security Council Pristina not ready to continue dialogue (BETA, N1)
• Opposition leader calls Serbian Government to revoke holiday curfew decision (BETA, N1)

Opinion:

• Why we should be worried about the fall of Kosovo’s government? (EWB)

International:

• Kosovo PM Sacks Adviser for Criticising Wartime Guerrillas (Balkan Insight)
• Kurti Will Not Oppose Protests Against New Govt in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Domestic violence cases on increase compared to last year (KoSSev)
• Vucic discusses pandemic fallout with EBRD President (FoNet, N1)