UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 13, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Stoltenberg: NATO closely monitoring the situation in north (Lajmi)
• KFOR: Important to avoid any renewed escalation; we remain extremely vigilant (media)
• Kurti: This week we will submit application for EU membership (RFE)
• Kurti discussed with MEPs about Kosovo's membership in the EU (RTK)
• Lajcak to visit Pristina and Belgrade (media)
• Haradinaj meets Escobar and Hovenier (media)
• KP: Reports of rude behaviour do not stand (media)
• Roads in the north of Kosovo remain blocked (RTK)
• Text of "European" proposal for "basic agreement between Kosovo and Serbia" (Koha)
• Krasniqi: Law does not foresee appointment of administrators in municipalities (EO)
• Rasic: I am here to build bridges and I have experience in this (Klan Kosova)
• Tahiri: Serbia wants to divide north from Kosovo because of Trepca mine (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Situation in northern Kosovo unchanged (RTS)
• UNMIK calls for de-escalation and restraint in northern Kosovo (RTS)
• Drecun: Pressure on Serbia to accept the EU plan and abandon Resolution 1244 (NMagazin, Beta, TV Pink)
• EU ministers today and about the situation in the north of Kosovo (media)
• Pantic rendered 30-day detention (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Detention of Dejan Pantic attempt to criminalise Serbs in Kosovo (N1. media)
• Simic says Pantic and Adzic are innocent (Radio KIM)
• KFOR: Important to avoid renewed escalation, the road to peace is the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (Kosovo Online, Danas)
• Stoltenberg: All sides to restrain from escalation, NATO forces vigilant (Tanjug, RTV)
• Escobar: No comment after meeting with Kurti (N1, BETA, social media)
• Serbian PM Brnabic reacts to Viola von Cramon’s remarks (N1, media)
• Dacic: We are trying to get Pristina's EU bid disputed by non-recognizers (Tanjug, media)

International:

• Kosovo Assembly Approves Law on Salaries in Principle (Prishtina Insight)

• French-German plan gets support from 27 EU member states (Koha Ditore)
• Borrell urges Kosovo and Serbia to de-escalate after latest clashes (Reuters)
• Kurti meets Escobar; “barricades must be removed immediately” (media)
• Osmani meets Escobar, discuss urgent need to remove barricades (media)
• Escobar meets the Serbian List, discuss political and security situation (media)
• PM advisor: French-German plan is a good basis for discussions (KTV)
• Hovenier and Escobar meet Kosovo civil society representatives (media)
• France ‘concerned’ by attacks in Kosovo (Euractiv)
• Court orders 30-day detention for Pantic, suspected of terror act (media)
• President’s Chief of Staff reacts to closure of schools in north (media)
• Does Nenad Rasic’s appointment violate Kosovo’s constitution? (BIRN)
• Protest in Belgrade in support of Kosovo Serbs (Radio Free Europe)

Albanian Language Media:

• Borrell: Fighting in the street doesn’t lead to normalisation of situation (Telegrafi)
• Von Cramon: Restoration of peace and stability must be a priority (media)
• Escobar, Chollet expected to meet opposition leaders tomorrow morning (Telegrafi)
• Chollet’s visit to Kosovo postponed, infected with COVID-19 (Telegrafi)
• German diplomat reiterates: Serbia is responsible for the situation in the north (RTK)
• Musliu: Police officers in Jarinje for 55 hours; food supplies running out (Nacionale)
• Rama: Kosovo has understanding and support of Albanian government (KP)
• Serb schools in north of Kosovo closed (RFE)
• Trajkovic: My children too are being threatened; responsibility falls on Vucic (media)
• Two reporters threatened in the north (Gazeta Metro)
• Ukrainian MP expresses support for Kosovo (RTK)
• Grenell: Europeans must change their directions on Kosovo-Serbia strategy (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic to Pristina and EU officials: Which of the five agreements will you respect (N1)
• Dacic reveals what Annalena Baerbock told him (Danas)
• Rakic in Rudare: We want peace and an end to hunting of Serbs (Kosovo Online)
• Belgrade liaison officer sent request to Pristina to visit Dejan Pantic (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Serbs to respect KFOR and EULEX (KiM radio, Beta, RTS)
• Vucevic: I hope that KFOR and EULEX will not allow the violent removal of the barricades (KiM radio, Beta, TV Pink)
• Northern Kosovo still blocked, peaceful night at barricades (N1)
• Primary and secondary schools in northern Kosovo closed until further notice (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: We have assurances EULEX, KFOR will not take violent action (Tanjug)
• Vucic: We have taken measures to protect our homeland, we call for peace (N1)
• Petkovic: Kosovo special forces entered Gazivode (N1)
• New reports of Kosovo special police mistreating local Serbs in Zubin Potok (Kosovo Online)
• Drecun claims Pristina eavesdropping on communications (Kosovo Online)
• Tadic: International public must know Serbs are exposed to Kurti’s violence (Kosovo Online)
• Jeremic says Kurti the most responsible for escalation in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic reacts to Baerbock’s remarks, terms it ‘stunning level of absurdity’ (Kosovo Online)
• Grenell reacts to Baerbock’s remarks on tensions in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Branbic reacts to Borrell’s remarks on barricades in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Check Foreign Minister reacts to situation in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Kosovo Serb Barricades Remain up Despite Calls for Removal (BIRN)
• EU's Borrell urges Kosovo and Serbia to de-escalate after latest clashes (Reuters)
• EU Urges De-Escalation In Kosovo, U.S. Sends Envoys To Pristina After Latest Clashes (RFE)
• Kosovo calls for NATO intervention after weekend of violence amid rising ethnic tensions (CNN)
• Serbia's president says Belgrade seeks to deescalate situation in Kosovo (Reuters)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Municipality of Pristina allocates €500 per month to victims of violence (Klan)

• Kurti says he is waiting for KFOR to remove barricades in the north (RFE)
• Government refutes claims for deployment of special forces in north (RFE)
• Serbs in Kosovo clash with police as ethnic tensions flare (Reuters)
• Tensions rise, violence reported in Kosovo as ethnic Serbs block roads (RFE)
• German FM: Kosovo reduced tensions by postponing elections, recent rhetoric from Serbia did the opposite (media)
• Joint statement of U.S. Embassies in Belgrade and Pristina (media)
• Statement by United Kingdom Embassies in Pristina and Belgrade (media)
• Kurti: We do not seek conflict but dialogue and peace (media)
• NATO: Parties to avoid provocative actions and rhetoric (media)
• Albanian PM Rama reacts to incidents in north of Kosovo (media)
• Chollet, Escobar start their visit to Kosovo (media)
• Escobar begins visit to Kosovo with visit to Decani Monastery (media)
• RFE secures French-German plan; doesn’t mention mutual recognition
• Kosovo to submit EU bid in coming days (Politico)
• Bildt: Things will heat up as Kosovo intends to submit EU application (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 9, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: There will never be police and soldiers of Serbia in Kosovo again (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo Police is not oriented against Serbs (media)
• Situation in north of Kosovo reported to be calm (RFE)
• EU concerned about “very serious” situation in north Kosovo (RFE)
• Rohde: Elections in the north must be postponed (RTK)
• AJK condemns the attack on journalists in the north, demands security (media)
• UK sanctions Milan Radoicic and Zvonko Veselinovic (Gazeta Express)
• Masked persons attack vehicle of reporters in Mitrovica North (Kallxo)
• Masked persons seen near Bosniak Neighborhood in north Kosovo (Klan)
• U.S. recommends religious communities’ registration without criteria on number of their members (Koha)
• LDK demands Minister Haxhiu’s resignation after disappearance of samples (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic: ZSO not a matter of Kurti's wishes, but an obligation from the agreement (KiM radio)
• Serbian List reaction to Veselinovic, Radoicic, Tepic sanctions (Kosovo Online, Danas, Kontakt plus radio)
• Situation in Mitrovica North calm, but tense (RTS)
• Stano: EU calls for responsibility and calming of tensions in north of Kosovo (RTS)
• Brnabic says Serbia to demand everything that is in line with UN SC Resolution 1244 (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: “We sent final appeal to international community, Serbs will no longer endure Kurti’s terror” (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Tadic says Petkovic ‘deceives’ public (Danas)
• Igor Simic: We are committed to peace, but it is boiling here (RTS, Tanjug, media)
• Djuric: A textbook example of inflaming conflict in Kosovo (Danas)
• Rasic: I will ask Kurti to delay the election (KiM radio, Danas)
• Serbian Orthodox Church: Increased pressure of Kosovo institutions on Serbs (Beta, NMagazin)
• In three settlements in Mitrovica North there were no members of Kosovo police this morning (N1)
• Drecun: Ultimate Kurti’s goal is to send KSF to northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Attempted robbery in Leposavic, Serbian bank confirms exchange of fire (KoSSev)
• Stojanovic: Return of Serbian army in Kosovo at this moment unrealistic (Radio KIM)

International:

• KALLXO Team and Police Attacked in the North (BIRN)
• Branded ‘Scum’ in Serbia, Kosovo Serb Defends Cabinet Role (BIRN)
• Serbia Considering Sending 1,000 ‘Security Personnel’ Into Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

• Kosovo police officer wounded in volatile northern region (Reuters)
• President’s Office reacts to Petkovic’s statement (media)
• Government: Regular police in north, not special units (Radio Free Europe)
• Chollet: Elections in north should be delayed (media)
• Svecla on elections in north: We coordinate with allies; President decides (RTK)
• Konjufca: Main person of justice has file on gangs in north, doesn’t act (media)
• Trajkovic: Alarming situation in north; Vucic caused security vacuum (media)
• Kurti: Green agenda remans our priority (media)
• Dozens of Kosovo Serbs protest customs’ confiscation of illegal alcohol (BIRN)
• Kosovo holds march against abuse of disabled (Anadolu Agency)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Decision on elections in north, in a matter of days (Koha)
• Osmani: Progress made with non-recognisers; compromise needed in dialogue (media)
• Borrell invites Kurti and Vucic to Brussels (media)
• Kurti in Vienna: ‘Perspective in EU’ not enough, accelerated process is needed (Koha)
• Varhelyi: Kosovo imminent application to start membership process discussed (media)
• Kosovo gets €57.6 million in grants from WBIF media)
• Gjoshi: Kurti decided to leave Kosovo at a critical moment (media)
• Customs: Confiscated 42,000 litres of alcoholic drinks in village near Rahovec (media)
• Two months without Minister of Health; opposition says government is negligent (RTK)
• Haxhiu: Dehari’s blood samples missing from Institute of Forensic Medicine (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic discusses with Hill security situation in Kosovo (RTS)
• Vucevic: Events in northern Kosovo and Velika Hoca message that Serbs are unwelcome (Tanjug)
• Confiscation of wine from a Serb family in Velika Hoca (RTS)
• Giuafret: ZSO must be formed, I am convinced that the talks will continue (RTS)
• Zarazzin: Pristina knows there must be talks on ZSO (Tanjug)
• A strong blast of a pyrotechnic device disturbed Bosniak Mahala residents, another device thrown in Mikronaselje (KoSSev)
• Hoxha: Svecla should be more careful in his statements (Kosovo Online)
• The special Kosovo police entered the yard of the kindergarten in Leposavic with combat vehicles (Kosovo Online)
• KFOR clarifies situation, extends apology over accidental entry to kindergarten yard in Leposavic (Tanjug)
• Popovic calls for rejection of Kosovo HCCH membership bid (Tanjug)
• Stano: Borrell invited Vucic and Kurti for a meeting (Kosovo Online)
• DiA invite President Osmani to start the consultations on the postponement of elections (Kosovo Online)
• The latest version of the Franco-German proposal: What the top-secret document says? (Danas, N1)
• Serbian Ministry of Justice: Albanian who died in prison refused treatments (N1)

Opinion:

• Mihajlovic: ''ZSO a colorful lie that Belgrade uses to cover up the sale of Serbian interests in Kosovo'' (Beta, Danas, KoSSev)

International:

• EU, US, Civil Society, Query Conditions for North Kosovo Elections (BIRN)
• Kosovo president: Progress made in lobbying non-recognisers (Euractiv)
• New Underground Carpark in Prishtina Creates ‘Above-ground’ Dilemma (BIRN)
• Study Reports 25,000 Violent Pushbacks at EU Borders (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• A candidate for deputy ombudsman with views that are against human rights (gorazdevac.com, Kallxo)

• Office of President: Postponing elections only after assessment by security bodies (media)
• Interior Minister Svecla says incidents in the north are terror attacks (RFE)
• Two blasts in north on Wednesday; police say they’re shock bombs (media)
• EU condemns attacks on CEC offices in north of Kosovo (Kallxo)
• COMKFOR Ristuccia: We don’t tolerate violence (RTK)
• EULEX steps up patrol in north; “trying to reassure local population” (Express)
• Bislimi meets chief foreign policy advisor to EC President (media)
• Krasniqi: PDK will certainly win the next national elections (media)
• Association of Journalists presents the 2022 Annual Journalism Awards (media)
• Kosovo Albanian’s Death in Serbian Prison Raises Concerns (BIRN)
• Faik Rexhepi Recalls Iconic Photo of Resistance (Prishtina Insight)
• FIFA fines Serbia for Kosovo flag in dressing room (Reuters)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 7, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• U.S.: Conditions not in place at this time for elections in the north (media)
• Government: Waiting for assessment of situation in north for further steps (media)
• EULEX says protests should be peaceful; calls for calm and restraint (media)
• Rohde: Full support for peaceful demonstrations; zero tolerance for violence (media)
• Guerot: Acts of intimidation very concerning; dialogue only way forward (media)
• Kusari-Lila: Milosevic’s Serbia still functions with Vucic at the helm (Klan)
• Gjoshi: Postponing elections is Vucic’s request; shouldn’t be accepted (Nacionale)
• Abazi: Wouldn’t be the end of the world to postpone elections in north (T7)
• Bislimi to travel to Brussels tomorrow; to meet Varhelyi and Jourova (Express)
• Ceku: Kosovo will apply for UNESCO membership next year (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: New French-German proposal no improvement for us (Tanjug)
• Vucevic: Situation in Kosovo flammable (Kosovo Online, media)
• Vulovic says Pristina officials “acted arrogantly and unprofessionally” (Kosovo Online)
• Trajkovic: They came with automatic weapons, detonations were heard (Kosovo Online)
• After incidents in north, Belgrade and Pristina hurl accusations against one another (KoSSev)
• New manifestation of an old crisis and lack of understanding (Radio KIM)
• Wigemark concerned with incidents in north, says any protests should be peaceful (Kosovo Online)
• EU, W. Balkan mobile operators sign declaration on reduction of roaming charges (Tanjug)
• Doderovic: Dismayed by appointment of Radulovic, we support Serbian List (Kosovo Online)
• EULEX monitors the situation in the north of Kosovo; Kurti increases the presence of the police (Beta, NMagazin, KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Failure to Protect Murdered 35-year-old Was Result of Catalogue of Errors (BIRN)
• Cooper: Belgrade and Pristina enjoy media attention (VoA, Beta, KiM radio)

International:

• Kosovo PM Announces More Police Presence in North Following Attacks (BIRN)
• Explosions, Attacks in North Put Elections in Question (Prishtina Insight)
• Leaders sign the Declaration of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tirana (EWB)
• Kosovo Activist Threatened After Criticising Football Player’s ‘Thuggish’ Gestures (Balkan Insight)

• Osmani: Criminal gangs trying to destabilise Kosovo (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo government doesn’t bargain or tolerate criminal gangs (media)
• Svecla: Election officials and police were attacked with shock bombs (media)
• Police: No one injured during incidents; election offices demolished (media)
• Explosions heard in Serb majority areas in Kosovo, no injuries reported (Reuters)
• Citaku about developments in north: Govt keeping us in the dark (media)
• Haradinaj to Kurti: Do you want to endanger the north at any cost? (media)
• Radoniqi: Elections cannot be held by force (media)
• PDK candidate for Zubin Potok says he received threat in Serbian (T7)
• EU drafts new proposal for Kosovo-Serbia ties - senior EU diplomat (Reuters)
• US Special Envoy Escobar to visit Kosovo on Monday (Kosovapress)
• State Department Counselor to visit Kosovo this week, sources say (Nacionale)
• “One sentence” is blocking resolution of fate of forcibly disappeared (AP)
• European Commission admits mistakenly asking Montenegro and North Macedonia to issue visas to Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)
• Heritage heist: Kosovo, Serbia fight over ‘loaned’ museum exhibits (BIRN)
• Solidarity Stories #6: Serb Monastery Shelters Kosovo Albanians (BIRN)
• Love divided: Kosovar-Serbian Couple Struggle to Build a Home in Disapproving Society (Prishtina Insight)