UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 1, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Thaci: We'll act based on previous practices (Indeksonline)
• Kurti: Kosovo to head to fresh elections following no-confidence motion (media)
• Mustafa: This is not the time for new elections (media)
• Veseli: Hypocrisy to speak of extraordinary elections at this time (media)
• Kurti sends letter to Thaci, after their meeting (RTK)
• US Embassy statement on the tariffs (media)
• Fields in which Kosovo is considering to introduce reciprocity measures (RTK)
• Judah: Tariff lifted to be replaced with what equalizes Kosovo-Serbia relationship (RTK)
• Vitia, Abbott discuss measures to contain coronavirus spread in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Borell: The complete abolition of taxes is an important decision in these times of crisis (KoSSev)
• Djuric: Fees have not been lifted; Pristina continues to play games (Beta, B92)
• Gerxhaliu: Kosovo more damaged by tariffs than Serbia (KIM radio)
• Stefanovic: Fake news that 24-hour curfew starts on Wednesday (N1, Nova S)
• The first death in the Serbian Government of a coronavirus: State Secretary deceased (media)
• Doctors: The worst day in Serbia: Seven more dead, 115 new cases of coronavirus (N1)
• Five persons infected with Covid-19 in Mitrovica North, 7 in total in Serb-populated areas (Radio kontakt plus)
• Taxi associations in Zvecan and Mitrovica suspended work until April 15 (Radio kontakt plus)
• Spiric: Contact epidemiologist if you were in contact with infected individuals (Radio Mitrovica sever)

Opinion:

• Surroi: Constitutional coup is being prepared (media)
• Coronavius is Not the Only Disease Afflicting the Balkans (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo Lifts 100 Percent Tariff On Serbia; Belgrade Calls It 'Fake News' (RFE)
• Party leaders divided over steps to form Kosovo’s next government (Prishtina Insight)
• New enlargement strategy of the EU: a new chance for the Balkans (neweasterneurope.eu)
• COVID-19 pandemic as a threat to the rule of law in the Western Balkans (EWB)
• Serbian Govt Takes Control of Information Flow About Pandemic (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Roma: Europe’s Neglected Coronavirus Victims (Balkan Insight)
• Balkan Tech Enthusiasts Deploy 3D Printers against COVID-19 (Balkan Insight)
• Center for Peace and Tolerance launches new cycle for graduates from non-majority communities (TV Most)

• Four more cases with coronavirus confirmed (media)
• Government decides with majority of votes for reciprocity with Serbia (media)
• Kurti: Tariff is lifted and reciprocity to be implemented from tomorrow (media)
• EU High Representative hails lifting of import tariff on Serbia (media)
• Haradinaj opposes decision to lift import tariff on Serbia (media)
• Kosovo acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti interview to KTV
• Mustafa speaks about no-confidence motion in interview with Klan Kosova
• Constitutional Court rules against govt’s decision to restrict movement (media)
• PDK's Tahiri: We will remain in opposition (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Two new cases with coronavirus confirmed (media)
• Import tariff to be lifted on April 1, full reciprocity to enter into force (RFE)
• Svecla informs OSCE chief on measures to combat COVID-19 (RTK)
• Serbs don’t report coronavirus cases to Kosovo institutions (Radio Free Europe)
• Kosovo budget risks losing €200 million (Radio Free Europe)
• EU allocates €63 million for Kosovo’s economic recovery (RTK)
• Ahmeti: Interior Ministry decided to ban public transport Kosovo-wide (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: We expect more confirmed cases (Kosovo Online)
• Epidemiologists to arrive to Mitrovica North (KIM radio, Kontakt plus radio)
• Spiric: One more person in Mitrovica North infected with Covid-19 (Radio kontakt plus, KoSSev)
• Serwer: New elections are not possible in Kosovo, Richard Grenell's attention doesn't mean much (Kosovo Online)
• New 44 confirmed coronavirus cases in Serbia, with 3 more deaths yesterday (B92)
• "Serious deterioration - a prerequisite for introducing 24-hour curfew" (B92, N1)

Opinion:

• Lesson No 1 From Pandemic – We’re all Interdependent (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Thaci Push for Unity Government in Kosovo Deemed Futile (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Specialist Chambers: Providing compensations for victims (EWB)
• Kosovo-Serbia Agreement: Why is the Trump Administration Fast-Tracking a Hasty Deal? (Medium.com)
• Dismantling democracy? Virus used as excuse to quell dissent (AP)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Belgrade Takes Charge of Kosovo Serbs With COVID-19 (Balkan Insight)
• Domestic violence shelters keeping their heads above water during pandemic (Prishtina Insight)
• Two men arrested for domestic violence in Istog (Express)

• 12 new cases of coronavirus confirmed (media)
• President Thaci invites Kurti to meeting (media)
• Veseli: Whoever incites conflict will have no room here (RTK)
• Mustafa reacts to Bahtiri's statement (media)
• Charges files against Mitrovica South Mayor (Indeksonline)
• Acting Interior Minister files charges against Thaci (media)
• US gives Kosovo $1.1 million to fight coronavirus (media)
• Lajcak to start his duty as EU Envoy for dialogue in two days (RFE, RTK)
• Haradinaj: Kurti gave up the tariff, if he kept it, I would support him (RTK)
• “If Kurti does not meet Thaci, we call it a constitutional silence” (RTK)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 30, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Thaci insists on broad-based government (media)
• Nagavci: 82 MP votes for no-confidence motion, opened way to Thaci’s plans (Koha)
• LDK's Hoti: Parties have two options (media)
• Bahtiri denies reports, "I am man of peace" (Klan Kosova)
• 97 cases of coronavirus in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• National Convention on the EU: Establish cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo in combating the coronavirus pandemic (Kontakt plus radio, KIM radio, RTK2)
• EU secures 38 million Euro in aid to Western Balkans (N1)
• Thaci with Quint ambassadors instead of consulting the political parties (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Within 3 to 4 days decision on a 24-hour curfew (Prva TV, B92)
• In Serbia, 82 new cases of coronavirus, total of 741 (B92)
• Two persons in northern Kosovo tested positive for Covid-19 (media)
• Ivanovic: Number of persons infected with coronavirus will increase (media)
• EUROPOL: How criminals profit from the Covid-19 pandemic (KoSSev, Beta)
• Two Serb families from Banje and Osojane villages robbed (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Jeffrey Sachs: The pandemic crisis will last two years, and things will no longer be the same (NMagazin)

International:

• Fall of the reform government in Kosovo: State crisis in the midst of Corona crisis (Der Spiegel)

Humanitarian/Development:

• COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects digital rights in the Balkans (globalvoices.org)
• China: End of epidemic (B92, Sputnik)

• 3 new coronavirus cases confirmed, 91 in total (media)
• Kurti: We need to convince every family member to stay at home (media)
• Kurti: Extraordinary elections are inevitable (media)
• Thaci expected to invite political leaders for a consultation meeting (media)
• Nagavci: There is no government without the winner, Kurti was the best PM (RTK)
• LVV could delay forming of the government infinitely (media)
• Kusari: LDK would have submitted motion, with or without Veliu (media)
• Abazi warns on additional measures if citizens do not respect decisions (RTK)

• U.S. envoy Grenell: Kurti said he would drop tariffs (T7)
• Kurti: I did not say we would lift the tariff without reciprocity (media)
• Mustafa: Kurti should withdraw his statements and publicly apologise to the U.S. (RTK)
• Congressman Raises Concerns Over Trump Administration Tactics on Kosovo (VoA, RTK)
• Haxhiu: Tendencies to form government without elections, unconstitutional (RTK)
• The outgoing government dismisses KUCS Board (media)
• Curfew hours change: movement restricted after 17:00 hours (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• The UK, as the U.S. calls to respect the Constitution (RTK)
• Haradinaj: The U.S. leaders’ statement, rightful guarantee for Kosovo (media)
• Dismissed government to continue to combat COVID-19 (RTK, RFE)
• Prishtina Mayor: Seriously, stay at home! (media)
• Svecla meets UN and UNDP representatives (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Grenell, Palmer, Kosnett: There is no secret land swap plan, lift the tariffs (KoSSev, RTS, Blic)
• Janjic: Thaci dictates developments now (Danas)
• Weekly: EU largest donor to Serbia, China holds 15th place, Russia below (Novi Magazin, N1)
• Fabrizi: First shipment of EU aid arriving (N1, RTS)
• In Serbia 73 new coronavirus cases confirmed, 457 in total (N1)
• Brussels Dialogue in 2019 – lost year and missed opportunities (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Kosovo’s ‘Albanian Spring’ Has Succumbed to Early Frost (Balkan Insight)
• Kurti’s Downfall Leaves Kosovo Politics in Turmoil (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo Mulls its Choices After Fall of Kurti Govt (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Coronavirus in the Balkans: Can disasters defeat hatred? (DW)
• Foreign nationals allowed to remain in Serbia until the end of the state of emergency (Tanjug, B92)

• Thaci: I will soon call all leaders to consult on new govt formation (media)
• U.S. State Department: No secret agreement, dialogue leads to mutual recognition (media)
• Thaci thanks US officials for their statement (media)
• Von Cramon: Hope no secret land swap plan (Koha)
• Mustafa: The U.S. refuted you, apologise (RTK)
• Hoti: LVV accused LDK for becoming servile to the U.S. (RTK)
• Thaci: Kosovo confirms first recovered case (media)
• Eight new cases of coronavirus confirmed (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 26, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Govt spokesman: PM won't dismiss LDK ministers (media)
• Kurti: We will continue as a government in duty (RTK)
• Pisonero: Kosovo in a difficult political situation (media)
• Bieber: EU - US alliance damaged (media)
• Mustafa: LDK Ministers to remain in duty until new govt. is elected (media)
• Viola von Cramon: Totally irresponsible political class (media)
• Pack critices LDK for no-confidence motion (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Empirica public statement: Equal treatment of all communities in combating Covid19 (Radio Mitrovica Sever, KIM radio, Kontakt plus radio, RTV Mir)
• “Respect measures of Serbian Government, Albanians deal with politics not health” (B92)
• Fajon: Coronavirus is not an excuse for locking democracy (Danas, N1, Beta)
• Djuric: Serbian List not to interfere in ''Albanian-Albanian'' conflict (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Trajkovic: Ousting of government irresponsible (RTV KIM)
• EC: Kosovo is in difficult political situation (Tanjug, RTV Puls)
• Three more returnees’ houses in Novake village burglarized (RTV KIM)
• Roma in Gracanica face supply difficulties in period of coronavirus pandemic (RTK2)
• Total of 384 coronavirus cases confirmed in Serbia (N1, covid19.rs)

International:

• No-Confidence Vote Topples Kurti Govt in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
• EU and US in opposite camps as Kosovo government toppled (Euractiv)
• Coronavirus row helps topple Kosovo government (BBC)
• Coronavirus Helps Bring Down Kosovo’s Government, With Nudge From U.S. (The New York Times)
• Germany’s cautious support to Kosovo’s visa liberalization (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The virus in Italy is finally slowing down, the coming days are crucial in the fight (B92, Tanjug)