UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 8, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• EU: Kosovo remains a condition for Serbia’s membership (Arberesh.info)
• The quarantine at students’ center will last seven instead of 14 days (Klan)
• Patient succumbs to coronavirus at Prishtina Hospital (media)
• UNDP and Luxembourg donate 5,000 Covid-19 test kits (media)
• Orlando: We hope visa liberalization for Kosovo will soon be a reality (Klan)
• LDK addresses the Constitutional Court (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Two new cases of Covid-19 infection in north, three persons cured (Kosovo-online)
• Varhelyi on the dialogue: Exchange of territories in the second plan, it is important to continue the dialogue (RTS, Tanjug)
• Várhelyi: European Commission monitors situation in Serbia (N1, EWB)
• Vucic says he won't run for SNS head again, perhaps not for head of state either (media)
• Opposition Alliance for Serbia (SzS) says decision to boycott elections is final (N1, B92)
• Kozarev: Disturbing attacks on returnees (TV Most)

Opinion:

• Surroi: No more than the Pope (Koha)
• ‘Coronavirus Diplomacy’ Won’t Change Serbia’s Path (usnews.com)

International:

• ‘Accountability’ should be the priority of the dialogue, not ‘amnesty’ (Prishtina Insight)
• Democracy digest: Frustration Looms Over Western Balkans (Balkan Insight)
• Global Europe Brief: Elephants in the Balkan Room (Euractiv.com)
• Balkans media during COVID-19: Reporting on corruption became even harder (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• UN SG: Tsunami of hatred and xenophobia sparked by COVID-19 (Tanjug, B92)

• One new case of Covid-19, 28 recoveries (media)
• Kurti: Thaci and Vucic have a secret deal (media)
• Germany supports agreement that contributes to stability (Express)
• Varhelyi: Kosovo needs a stable government (RFE)
• Kurti on letter to Pence: I clarified the position of Kosovo govt (Koha)
• LDK deputy leader Lutfi Haziri debate on T7
• VV deputy leader and Finance Minister Bislimi interview to KTV
• PDK deputy leader Krasniqi interview to Klan Kosova
• Behramaj: Kurti ruined his relations with U.S. over Borrell (media)
• A week on, LDK has not made public coalition agreement with SL (Telegrafi)
• Kurti and Abbott discuss pandemic and economic recovery (media)
• UK refuses in silence Kosovo ambassador (Koha)
• Increase in cases of domestic violence during pandemic (Express)

Albanian Language Media:

• Thaci on EU-WB summit: I asked for visa liberalisation, recognition of Kosovo (media)
• Von der Leyen: Regional cooperation key for Western Balkans' economic recovery (KP/Indeksonline)
• Veseli: EU-WB summit left a bleak enlargement perspective (media)
• Mustafa: Border change is in our hands, not in that of Grenell, Borrell or Lajcak (media)
• Beyer slams Borrell: Germany is against change of borders (express, media)
• Serwer: An agreement for exchange of territories and people is being prepared, Borrell is moving in that direction (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• North Kosovo: No newly infected, two people cured (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: Serbia confirmed determination to join EU at Zagreb summit (RTS, N1)
• "Serbia is part of the 'Europe team'" (Tanjug, B92)
• EU confirms support for Western Balkans’ European perspective (N1)
• EBRD chief announces more finances for Western Balkans (Beta, N1)
• Vucic calls for lifting of trade barriers for Western Balkans (N1)
• The state of emergency in Serbia has been lifted (B92, Tanjug)
• Wreaths laid at Chinese Embassy old location in Belgrade in memory of 1999 bombing (BETA, N1)

Opinion:

• China’s Balkan Investments Are Paradoxically Speeding Region’s EU Integration (Balkan Insight)
• A constitutional battle with far-reaching political consequences (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Kosovo Albanian Woman Charged With Joining IS Terror Group (The New York Times)

Humanitarian/Development:

• A Woman’s Work is Never Done (Kosovo 2.0)

• Four new cases of Covid-19, 43 recoveries (media)
• The declaration of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Zagreb (media)
• Thaci wants visa liberalisation, candidate status for Kosovo (media)
• Kurti: Elections after pandemic the only way forward (media)
• Mustafa: We want a pro-European Kosovo, in friendship with U.S. (media)
• Kurti: No dialogue with maps, no agreement on partition (Express)
• Sources: Kurti complains to Pence that Thaci misinformed Grenell (media)
• Court says it will make merited decision on Thaci’s decree (Lajmi)
• PDK calls for resignation of government ministers (media)
• Hoxhaj: No to debates on whether we side more with U.S. or Europe (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 6, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Thaci has telephone call with Croatian PM Plenkovic ahead of Zagreb summit (media)
• Ahead of Zagreb summit, Thaci calls for visa liberalisation (Koha)
• Varhelyi: Western Balkans, EU’s priority (DW, media)
• AAK reacts against Borrell's statement on border changes (Telegrafi)
• LVV submits answers on the PM candidate to the Constitutional Court (RTK)
• FH: Kosovo making continuous progress (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• Kosovo North: One new case, two cured of coronavirus in the last 24h (Kontakt plus radio)
• Borell concerned over political situation prior to Serbian elections (N1)
• EU-Western Balkans video summit takes place today: Vucic represents Serbia (B92)
• President Vucic thanked EU for help (SRNA, N1)
• Fajon: Not wise to stage elections now (DW, N1)
• Serbian opposition to discuss whether to boycott June elections (BETA, N1)
• Lajcak: Slovakia’s experience can have an impact on WB countries joining EU (Tanjug, TASR, B92)
• EBRD warns that Western Balkans can’t deal with pandemic fallout alone (N1)
• Gashi received death threats during broadcast (Kosovo-online)
• NAO: MLGA mostly allocated projects to Serbian municipalities without criteria (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Against all odds, the COVID-19 pandemic cemented EU ties with the Western Balkans (media)
• An opportunity to end Kosovo’s isolation in Europe (EurActiv)
• Time for a new approach to the Western Balkans (EurActiv)

International:

• Freedom House: Serbia, Montenegro, Hungary ‘No Longer Democracies’ (Balkan Insight)
• EU aims to counter Chinese, Russian influence at Balkan summit (Reuters)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Minority media in Kosovo are important but financially vulnerable (KoSSev)
• Women entrepreneurs feel the strain amid COVID-19 pandemic (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo’s Museums in the Post-Corona World: an Opportunity for Change (Kosovo 2.0)
• Kosovo Film Festivals to Go Ahead Despite COVID-19 (Balkan Insight)

• One new case of Covid-19, 87 recoveries (media)
• Borrell is not against Kosovo border changes (Koha)
• Osmani: Intl community must stop border changes attempts (media)
• Von Cramon: Ethnoterritorial shifts are dangerous (media)
• Rouge: How did we get back to this dangerous idea? (media)
• Kurti: Vjosa Osmani, true leader of LDK (media)
• Participants of Zagreb summit without state symbols (RTK)
• Venice Commission replies to PM Kurti (media)
• President Thaci on reply from the Venice Commission (media)
• Osmani seeks legal interpretation on MP's mandate (media)
• OECD expresses solidarity with Kosovo govt during pandemic (media)
• Kosovo loses around €6 million daily from the pandemic (RFE)
• Kurti appoints new head of Office for Community Affairs (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Zagreb summit: EU to reaffirm Western Balkans perspective (RFE/Koha)
• President Thaci to represent Kosovo at Zagreb Summit (media)
• EU: Kosovo to decide who represents it at the Zagreb Summit (Express)
• Borrell is not against Kosovo border changes (Koha)
• Mayors’ call on citizens: Danger has not passed, be cautious (Telegrafi)
• PDK: Special committee to investigate quarantine centre death case (media)
• CoE rapporteur urges political responsibility and respect for the rule of law (Koha)
• U.S. Embassy: Success of youth is our top priority, education is key (media)
• Police commander suspended over social media comments (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• North Mitrovica: One new person infected of Covid-19 (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic says elections for Serbian parliament on June 21 (N1)
• Bilcik: Belgrade-Pristina dialogue important for EU perspective (media)
• Pavicevic: Horrible and flagrant violation of Pristina’s obligations (TV Most)
• Dacic: Opening of borders doesn't depend on Serbia (FoNet, N1)

Opinion:

• Balkans Face Same Problems, Only Worse, Once Pandemic Ends (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Spain: We will not boycott Zagreb Summit over Kosovo’s presence (EWB)
• MEPs: Westerns Balkans summit must bring step-change and strengthen democracy (EWB)
• EU to reassure Balkan hopefuls they are not forgotten (france24.com)
• Elections Return to Balkan Agenda as Pandemic Wanes (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• OpisMEDIJavanje: Even-steven, only in the interest of truth (KoSSev)
• Coronavirus Causes Massive Layoffs Across the Balkans (Balkan Insight)

• Health Institute confirms four new cases of COVID-19 (media)
• Ministry reacts to reports concerning the death at quarantine centre (media)
• Opposition calls for resignations of Health and Interior ministers (media)
• Haziri: Agon Musliu case must not be politicised (media)
• Mushkolaj: LDK-led govt will be short-lived (Koha)
• EU and Western Balkans to hold a virtual summit (RTK)
• "Kosovo will suffer first recession since independence" (Koha)
• Serbia to hold elections on June 21 (RFE)

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)