• COVID-19: 307 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Sixth election in 12 years reveals growing pains of young nation (EuroNews)
• Hoxhaj: PDK believes in the U.S. and dialogue (media)
• Krasniqi: PDK will restore the good relations with the U.S. (media)
• Limaj expects NISMA to win 50,000 – 55,000 votes (media)
• SL aiming for all parliament seats reserved for Kosovo Serbs (Exit News)
• Political parties with old solutions for new economic challenges (Koha)
• Constitutional Court terminates review of Vetevendosje’s referral (media)
• Citaku: Change of governments cannot be compared to capital events (media)
• International analysts see shift in U.S. positions on dialogue (media)
• “US sledgehammer diplomacy on Kosovo won’t budge Serbia” (BIRN)
• “Kosovo should establish embassy in West Jerusalem” (media)
• Kosovo religious groups still divided on law offering legal status (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 307 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Raka: Mass anti-COVID vaccination to begin in summer (media)
• US Embassy in Belgrade: We know the dangers caused by offensive speech (Express)
• “It is good for Serbia to hear Washington's repeated calls for mutual recognition” (Koha)
• Kurti: Kosovo is on the eve of a referendum (media)
• Hoti: we have no red lines (Radio Free Europe)
• Status conference in Thaci et al case rescheduled for February 16 (media)
• Nasim Haradinaj remains in detention (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Antonijevic: Jump in the number of Covid positives cases in Serbian communities (Kosovo Online, TV Most)
• Palestine Ambassador to Serbia: In Pristina, they should be careful what they do, they are deceived that they will get something from the embassy in Jerusalem (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian FM: US Embassy was wrong, Trump, Biden messages different (RTS, N1)
• "The situation around Kosovo and BiH is worrying, Russia is pushing a position that suits Belgrade" (RTS, Tanjug)
• US Embassy: The goal of the US is Serbia's membership in the EU and mutual recognition of Belgrade and Pristina (RTS, Tanjug)
• Dagens Nyheter: Kosovo's Jerusalem embassy a betrayal (B92, Tanjug, RTS)
• Covic: Tough statements during the campaign in Kosovo, additional pressure on Belgrade (RTS)
• Czech PM visits Serbia, political talks, gathers information on immunization (N1, Beta)
• NGO Aktiv virtual debate on vaccines: Dr Panic says he has no reason to doubt any vaccine (KiM radio)

Opinion:

• Serbia’s President Will Struggle to Get Patriarch He Can Control (Balkan Insight)
• Time For Kosovo To Secure Its True Independence (eurasiareview.com)

International:

• Western Balkans goes east for coronavirus vaccines (politico.eu)

COVID-19: 272 new cases, 3 deaths (media)
Szunyog: Supply with vaccines from COVAX after June (RTK)
Kosovo – Serbia dialogue not expected to resume before summer (Koha)
CEC spokesman: CEC will publish results of certified candidates only (RTK)
Women largely absent from election campaign (BIRN)
Haradinaj: Idea of national unification speeds up recognition from Serbia (media)
Kurti: We will not form coalitions after the elections (media)
Hoti: Visa liberalisation and recognition from Serbia this year (media)
PIPOS publishes results of poll on potential seats of political parties (media)
SPO insists trial of KLA leaders to begin in September (media)
Berlin objects to Prishtina’s decision to open embassy in Jerusalem (Klan Kosova)
Citaku: Serbia courts sealed their approval of racism against Albanians (media)
It’s time for Kosovo to secure its true independence (The New Leam)
Russia concerned with situation in Kosovo and Bosnia (Klan Kosova)

• COVID-19: 272 new cases, 3 deaths (media)
• Szunyog: Supply with vaccines from COVAX after June (RTK)
• Kosovo – Serbia dialogue not expected to resume before summer (Koha)
• CEC spokesman: CEC will publish results of certified candidates only (RTK)
• Women largely absent from election campaign (BIRN)
• Haradinaj: Idea of national unification speeds up recognition from Serbia (media)
• Kurti: We will not form coalitions after the elections (media)
• Hoti: Visa liberalisation and recognition from Serbia this year (media)
• PIPOS publishes results of poll on potential seats of political parties (media)
• SPO insists trial of KLA leaders to begin in September (media)
• Berlin objects to Prishtina’s decision to open embassy in Jerusalem (Klan Kosova)
• Citaku: Serbia courts sealed their approval of racism against Albanians (media)
• It’s time for Kosovo to secure its true independence (The New Leam)
• Russia concerned with situation in Kosovo and Bosnia (Klan Kosova)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 272 new cases, 3 deaths (media)
• Kurti: Only victory with 61+ MPs brings change (media)
• Szunyog: Supply with vaccines from COVAX after June (RTK)
• Ombudsperson slams political parties for violating COVID-19 measures (BIRN)
• CDHRF: The election campaign, “Kosovo’s Wuhan” (media)
• Healthcare unions warn to charge politicians if number of infections rises (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Serbian communities in Kosovo 38 new cases, one deceased (Kontakt plus radio)
• Lajcak no longer talks about months when reaching Kosovo-Serbia agreement is in question (RFE)
• Simic: Reducing the number of voters a way of pressure on Serbs and the Serbian List (Vecernje Novosti, Kosovo Online)
• Re-vaccination of Kosovo residents starts today (KoSSev)
• Vucic for Chinese media: A friend in need is a friend indeed (B92)
• Father Sava: Archaeological artefacts looted from hermitage near Prizren, three Albanians arrested, one escaped (KoSSev, Kosovo-online)
• Trajkovic in Mitrovica North on elections, Ivanovic, possible coalition with Kurti (KoSSev, Radio KIM)
• Petkovic: Rada Trajkovic offers cooperation to a man advocating for a project of “Great Albania” (Kosovo-online)
• Maliqi: New US approach to dialogue expected; a letter to Pristina to prepare for compromise (Kosovo Online)
• Analysts: Vigorous election campaign, known winners, Serbs tired of promises (KoSSev)
• UN: Western Balkan nationals among refugees in Syria (N1, VoA)
• Serbian President met Slovak Foreign Minister (N1)
• Jovanovic family house in Mogila village burglarized twice in a month (Radio KIM)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbia sticks to current anti-epidemic measures despite political pressure (N1, FoNet)

• COVID-19: 290 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Hoti: LDK's election result will be better than that of 2019 (Koha)
• Kurti: LVV needs a victory with over 61 MPs (media)
• Hoxhaj promises quality education, higher salaries for teachers (media)
• Haradinaj: As president I will act without asking Serbia (Telegrafi)
• Latest poll projects LVV winning 40.95%, PDK and LDK trail behind (Klan)
• British Embassy pledges to watch closely counting of diaspora ballots (media)
• First delivery of diaspora ballots reaches CEC (media)
• EU: Dialogue to resume as soon as new Kosovo government is formed (Telegrafi)
• Status conference in Thaci and others case set for Thursday (media)
• Belgrade court institutionalizes use of pejorative for Albanians (Gazeta Express)
• U.S. Embassy criticises decision making at KPC (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 8, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 290 new cases, three deaths (media)
• EU does not seek mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia (Express)
• Energy, environmental and agricultural issues in the spotlight (Prishtina Insight)
• Hoti: DFC Agreement opens a large window for private sector (media)
• Haradinaj to Vucic: Recognize Kosovo or we will unite with Albania (euronews.al)
• The man who represented 57 Islamic states, supports Hoxhaj for PM (RTK)
• Kurti presents 77 world academics who have supported him (Kallxo.com)
• Hoti: There is no place in Europe for people who tie red ribbons (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: The US wants Serbia to be humiliated; I told them what I think about it (KoSSev)
• Biden encourages mutual recognition in a letter congratulating Vucic on Serbian Statehood Day (KoSSev)
• Stefanovic: We will not allow any kind of pogrom against Serbs in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Selakovic: The US has its own position on Kosovo, which they insist on, and Serbia has its own (Kosovo Online, TV Happy)
• Petkovic: Kurti only privately can speak about the Constitution of Serbia, as a citizen of Serbia (Kosovo Online)
• Haradinaj on unification with Albania again; Petkovic: He is in hopeless situation (RTS)
• Vucic: It is important for Serbs to go to polls and vote for Serbian List (TV Most)
• Goran Rakic: Let Rasic go with Kurti, Serbs together with SL will be with Vucic (Kosovo-online)
• Rasic: Arrival of new political current is inevitable; Kurti will be prime minister (Kosovo-online)
• Montenegrins from Kosovo invite their compatriots to vote for Serbian List at the upcoming elections (TV Most)
• New contingent of 50.000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine to be delivered to Serbia soon (B92)
• Person suspected of writing “KLA – Kosovo” graffiti in Gorazdevac arrested (Radio kontakt plus)

Opinion:

• Elections 2021: Week 3 — What Did I Miss? (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

• Kosovo Guerrillas’ Stronghold Tense Ahead of Election Showdown (Balkan Insight)
• The Balkans face their #MeToo moment (DW)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Energy Community warns BiH, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Serbia over coal plant emissions (balkangreenenergynews.com)
• Serbia And Key International Sovereigns Lead With Data And AI To Become Vaccination Champions (forbes.com)
• Turned Back by Italy, Migrants Face Perilous Winter in Balkans (NYT)

• COVID – 19: 249 new cases, 3 deaths (media)
• Biden sends letter to Vucic, urges Serbia to recognise Kosovo (media)
• Vucic reacts to Biden letter (media)
• Osmani: Only outcome of dialogue is a recognition treaty (media)
• Kurti: Independence of Kosovo is the final status of our country (media)
• Hoxhaj: Incredibly important development (media)
• Kosovo election candidates call for alliance against corruption (The Guardian)
• Kurti: We don’t need to form a coalition with anyone (media)
• Hoxhaj: EU unjust towards Kosovo (media)
• Rasic: Kurti promised 10% quota for non-Albanian communities (media)
• Selimi: I was only minister opposed to disbanding the task force (media)
• Kosovo’s Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians need real change (Prishtina Insight)
• Ongoing procedures to extend Lajcak’s mandate (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 284 new cases, five deaths (media)
• UNICEF: Over 100,000 vaccines from COVAX dedicated for Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Hoti: No one can question my government's decisions (media)
• Kurti and Osmani promise a governance free of corruption (media)
• Hoxhaj discusses foreign investments with head of World Economic Forum (media)
• Haradinaj vows to defend Kosovo's sovereignty and independence (media)
• CEC: Votes for uncertified candidates will not be included in result forms (RFE)
• Kurti pledges to bring social and legal justice (Prishtina Insight)
• Rohde: Parties to agree on president's post, not head to new elections (Kosovapress)
• Haxhiu: Vote for number on LV's ticket will not be invalid (media)
• Haradinaj-Stublla reacts to idea of moving Kosovo's embassy from Jerusalem (Lajmi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lajcak: I have strong support from EU members for the plan implementation (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Dacic: Pristina doesn’t respect what has been signed and agreed (Tanjug)
• Serbian List Vice President Dalibor Jevtic: Laws to Pristina as a "Buffet table" (Vecernje Novosti)
• Petar Petkovic: Haradinaj would like to win some votes for his party by attacking President Vucic (Kosovo-online)
• Serbia’s Vucic & EU’s Fabrizi: Belgrade must continue toward EU (N1)
• Preparatory hearing in Oliver Ivanovic’s case, defendants pleaded not guilty (Radio KIM)
• The process of vaccination of the population from Kosovo continues in Kursumlija (KiM radio)
• Decreased number of polling stations, voting only with Kosovo ID (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: Macron doesn’t impose France’s stances, wishes to hear Serbian side (TV Most)

International:

• Six Plead Not Guilty to Kosovo Serb Politician Ivanovic’s Murder (Balkan Insight)
• Ties That Bind, Ties That Break: The Future of Israel-Balkan Relations (themedialine.org)
• Democracy Index 2020: Albania moves up, Serbia achieves the lowest score since 2006 (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbia sees production of Sputnik V by the year-end – president (Reuters)
• Air Serbia moving to JFK Terminal 1 (N1

• COVID-19: 333 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Kosovo begins blood plasma collection to treat COVID-19 (RFE)
• British Embassy cautions against rallies flouting Covid rules (media)
• Hoti: Albanians to unite in the EU (Klan)
• Kurti: Only a high turnout will secure us a victory (media)
• Hoxhaj: PDK will win February 14 elections (media)
• Haradinaj: Vucic using Kosovo Serbs for own interests (Telegrafi)
• Limaj: New government to prepare lawsuit against Serbia (RTK)
• “We would consider moving embassy from Jerusalem if EU conditions it” (Telegrafi)
• CEC meeting dominated by disagreements over diaspora votes (media)
• Agreement on U.S. investments in Kosovo enters into force (Koha)
• Ambassador Abbott meets Constitutional Court president Rama-Hajrizi (media)
• Three members of State Council of Quality quit (media)
• Kosovo Court Urged to Convict Serb of War Crimes (Balkan Insight)