• U.S. administration ready to assist Kosovo-Serbia agreement (RTK)
• Thaci: Wrong decisions deepen Kosovo’s isolation (media)
• Mustafa: Kosovo should not stand between the U.S. and the EU (Klan/Telegrafi)
• Haradinaj: Kurti agreed with Vucic to lift the tax (Koha)
• UK PM Johnson welcomed Kosovo’s partial withdrawal of tax (media)
• Berlin: Kurti's decision first step towards full lifting of tax (media)
• Italy supports decision on partial removal of tax (media)
Albanian Language Media:
• Kosovo government dismisses boards of Trepca, Infrakos (media)
• Osmani: Important for coalition partners to take joint decisions (media)
• Judah: Kurti defies Grenell's team while Palmer's team keeps quiet (media)
• Kosovo requests information from Romania on the killing of two protesters in 2007 (Zeri)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic: Western allies will come out with agreed plan for Kosovo (FoNet, Beta, N1)
• A slap from America: "Kurti is making a serious mistake" (Tanjug, B92)
• "No willingness to create conditions for Serbs to live better" (KIM radio, Kontakt plus radio)
• Joseph: Kurti’s decision indicator of US power (Tanjug, Dnevnik)
• Russian MFA Spokeswoman comments on Kosovo Specialist Chambers’ readiness to initiate proceedings (Serbian media)
• Nova.rs website publishes new details about Serb politician murder in Kosovo (Nova.rs, N1)
International:
• Kosovo to partially remove tariffs on Serbian-made goods (Reuters)
• U.S. Envoy Calls Kosovo's Decision To Partially Lift Serbian Import Tariffs A 'Serious Mistake' (RFE)
• Mixed reactions to Kurti’s tariff plans (Balkan Insight)
• EU's Varhelyi: Accession Talks With Two Balkan States Could Open in Weeks (The New York Times)
• Life in the Shadow of Kosovo’s new Border/Boundaries (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Mehmet Bogujevci: Boxers from Kosovo will participate in the championship in Belgrade (RTK2, Kosovo Online)
• "Turkey will no longer stop refugees" - migrants already heading towards Europe (Tanjug, B92, Reuters)
• Social Media a Help and Hindrance in Balkan Coronavirus Fight (Balkan Insight)
• Kurti announces partial lifting of tariffs on Serbia and Bosnia (media)
• Grenell: We don’t support Kurti's half measure (media)
• EU welcomes Kurti's decision: calls for renewal of dialogue (Telegrafi)
• Kurti did not consult LDK about the tariff (Koha)
• Hoti: They are waiting for us at the White House if we lift the tariff (T7)
• Haziri supports Kurti for conditional lifting of tax (RTK/Klan Kosova)
• Haradinaj reacts to partial lifting of tax, calls Kurti 'deceiver' (media)
• Veseli: Nothing new from Albin (media)
• Hoxhaj: Tariff should be lifted, no reciprocity (media)
• Kurti: EU officials should respect independence of Kosovo (Euronews)
• Kosovo President Thaci meets National Security Advisor O'Brien (media)
• PM Kurti meets COMKFOR Risi (media)
• Konjufca meets Lajcak, urges all EU countries to recognise Kosovo (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 27, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• Greek PM: Resumption of dialogue strengthens European perspective (Koha)
• Surroi: Thaci-Rasmussen letter exchange is an international agreement (Telegrafi)
• Gazeta Express: Kurti told U.S. he will not lift tax (RTK)
• In Washington, Thaci meets DFC chief executive, Adam Boehler (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic: "They will give even more... but will seek from us de facto or de jure Kosovo's recognition" (O2, RTS, KoSSev)
• Raskovic-Ivic: Vucic never presented proposal on resolving Kosovo issue to citizens or MPs (N1, KoSSev)
• Djuric: Kurti threatens Serbia again (Kosovo-online, RTS)
• BIRODI says President Vucic dominates prime news programme on Serbian TV stations (N1)
• US to Kosovo: We expect lifting of taxes as step toward resumption of dialogue (Beta, N1)
• Albanian attacked Serbs in Grizime village, Office for KiM condemns incident (RTV Puls, Radio KIM)
International:
• Kosovo Leaders Trade Angry Words Over ‘Secret’ NATO Deal (Balkan Insight)
• NATO contradict Haradinaj’s KSF claims (Prishtina Insight)
• U.S. Reiterates Commitment To Kosovo Independence, Urges Dropping Tariffs On Serbian Goods (RFE)
• Moravcsik: EU enlargement in the Western Balkans is in the interest of member states (EWB)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Serbs, Albanians protest together against small hydropower plants in Kosovo (FoNet, N1)
• Mitrovica Rock School unites young Albanians and Serbs in a segregated Kosovo city (globalvoices.org)
• Appeals Court Upholds Nine-Month Sentence For Kosovo Soccer Chief (RFE)
• Rallies for clean air to be held on Friday in nine Balkan cities (balkangreenenergynews.com)
• Kurti: Hiding correspondence with NATO constitutes flagrant violation (media)
• NATO reaffirms: KSF cannot go to north without KFOR’s permission (Koha)
• Serbia had sought guarantees that KSF would not deploy to north (Koha Ditore)
• Thaci sends message to Kurti from Washington (media)
• Osmani: Calls for upholding Constitution should not be misinterpreted (media)
• Abazi says Kosovo's partnership with int’l allies can never be questioned (media)
• Haradinaj: KSF can be deployed throughout Kosovo territory (media)
• Veseli: Concerning that a Kosovo PM questions agreements with NATO (media)
• Thaci: Kosovo blessed with trust and partnership of U.S. (media)
• Rama to Lavrov: Kosovo should be recognised by all (media)
• Vucic: Matter of time before Serbia recognises Kosovo (media)
Albanian Language Media:
• Secret letter surfaces concerning Thaci's assurances not to have KSF go to the north (Kallxo)
• Prime Minister’s Legal Office: Sufficient basis to conclude Thaci violated Constitution (Koha)
• Hoti: Agreement with Serbia can be achieved through a government-led dialogue (media)
• Veseli: Kurti needs to clarify himself, not avoid responsibility (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Strategic partnership between Russia and Serbia on rise (BETA, N1)
• EU, US State Department comment on Serbia’s acquisition of 'Pantsir S1' system (VoA, N1)
• KIM radio: Mysterious dismissal of Tanja Ivic (VoA)
• Diplomats have forgotten fair play in Kosovo, some receive support, some face bans (Kosovo Online)
• Rakic met EULEX chief Wigemark (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Detention of Rosic and Spasojevic extended for two more months (Tanjug, Dnevnik)
International:
• Kosovo: 2nd Former Fighter Refuses War Crimes Court Summons (AP/NYT)
• Kurti calls for Thaci’s dismissal over ‘secret agreement’ (Prishtina Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Croatia Confirms Coronavirus Case as Balkan States Boost Precautions (Balkan Insight)
• Balkan cities united in struggle for clean air and environmental protection (BETA, N1)
• Thaci calls on leading think tanks to join momentum for Kosovo and Western Balkans (media)
• U.S. coordinating for a solution in Balkans (media)
• UK Minister to Kurti: We are closer and closer in defence and security (RTK)
• Kurti: Our focus is to eliminate inequality in salaries (media)
• AAK collects signatures to call extraordinary session of Assembly (Zeri)
• Vatican urged to recognise independence of Kosovo (media)
• Presevo Mayor: We want to join Kosovo (media)
• First Specialist Chambers indictments could be confirmed within six months (Koha)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 25, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• EU Council extends mandate to Special Representative Apostolova (media)
• Lekaj: Munich agreements have been presented to Government (Zeri)
• Selimi: No differences within ruling coalition on reciprocity (Gazeta Express)
• Bahtiri meets EULEX chief: Situation in Mitrovica calm (Zeri)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic: Anything less than 48.2 percent will be election failure for SNS (FoNet, N1)
• Specialist Prosecutor informed the president of this court of his intent to issue indictments (KoSSev)
• "Indicted will be known in six months" (KIM radio)
• Rakic: Tariffs have created even bigger rift between Albanians and Serbs (Vecernje Novosti)
Opinion:
• Redrawing Kosovo’s foreign policy (Prishtina Insight)
International:
• Why Serbia’s Disgruntled Citizens Aren’t Backing the Opposition (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• AoK Committee on the Rights and Interests of Communities established (RTK)
• Albania Prosecutors to Probe Panic-Mongering About Coronavirus (Balkan Insight)
• Croatia reports first confirmed coronavirus case in Balkans (medicalxpress.com)
• At EBRD summit, Kurti lists priorities of new Kosovo government (media)
• Kurti to EBRD: We could do better but EU could do more (media)
• Thaci: U.S. to maintain focus on Kosovo and the region (RTK)
• Sources: Kosovo-Serbia agreement to be reached by year's end (Klan Kosova)
• Prospect of broadening Lajcak's portfolio seen in Pristina with concern (Koha)
• Cakaj and Konjufca with a joint statement on Presevo Valley coalition (RTK)
• Specialist Chambers ready to initiate proceedings (media)
• Abrashi: We have almost collected signatures for Assembly session (T7/RTK)
Albanian Language Media:
• In London, Kurti calls for reciprocity with Serbia (RTK)
• Konjufca calls for visa liberalisation at Western Balkans conference (media)
• Cakaj: Visa liberalisation for Kosovo to boost EU credibility (Koha)
• AAK: Tax on Serbia increased employment in Kosovo, reciprocity will not work (Koha)
• Ramush Haradinaj’s family enters media business with Telecom money (Kallxo/Prishtina Insight)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic on Kosovo, ultimatum, EU, Pantsir S1 (Prva TV, B92)
• Alliance for Serbia: Vucic confirmed failure of his Kosovo politics (KoSSev, N1)
• Dacic: Spain has firm stance, does not accept unilateral acts (RTS)
• Trump: Grenell does very good job as Belgrade-Pristina envoy (RTS, VoA)
• NATO on Russian armament: National decision and Serbia’s right to choose (B92)
• Father of Serbian footballer who wants to play for Kosovo didn't lose job (Radio KIM, N1)
• President of the Specialized Chambers of Kosovo: We will stand trial fairly and independently (Blic, Kontakt plus radio)
• Janjic: Ahtisaari ++ an old idea, I don't know where it came from now (KoSSev, Kontakt plus radio)
• Milicevic: Kosovo has advanced in the last 12 years (RTK2, Slobodno Srpski)
• "Borrell discussed Kosovo partition in Berlin" (Kosovo-online, B92)
International:
• New Kosovo Leader Ready to Revoke Tariffs for Serbian Goods (VOA)
• Serbia Receives Delivery Of Russian Antiaircraft Systems Despite U.S. Sanction Threats (RFE)
• The Western Balkans: Low Hanging Fruit for China? (thediplomat.com)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Serb player’s parents fired after he joins Kosovo Under-19s (AP/WaPo)
• Airport workers sacked ‘in revenge’ for joining protest (Prishtina Insight)
• Balkan Countries Take Precautions Amid Fear of Coronavirus (Balkan Insight)