UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 14, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Borrell: Time to start implementing agreement in earnest (media)
• Osmani: Ready for new elections in north; guarantees from internationals (media)
• Haradinaj: Assembly must help Kosovo, bring down Kurti government (RTV21)
• Citaku to Kurti: Kosovo is more important than his ego (media)
• Klinaku: We will protest tomorrow against SPO and EULEX (Nacionale)
• After Leposavic, Zubin Potok too joins Association of Kosovo Municipalities (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic says talks in Brussels ended unsuccessfully, Pristina did not accept EU proposal (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Trilateral meeting takes place in Brussels (Tanjug)
• Vucic in Brussels, meets with Borrell, Lajcak (N1)
• Vucevic: Elections at the end of this year or at the beginning of 2024 (KiM radio, Beta, TV Prva)
• Bilcik: EU ready for enlargement, Belgrade and Pristina to normalise relations (RTS, Tanjug)
• Detention of Milun Milenkovic extended for two more months (Kosovo Online)
• Covic: “Brussels cunningly subverting again, they allow Kurti to create new reality” (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Momirovic: I have written to EC and EU, UK and US ministers about Pristina's ban on goods (Tanjug, media)
• When a JKP “Standard” accountant ends up working as street sweeper – a lawsuit filed against Rakic (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Abbot Sava Janjic: Kurti repeats Milosevic’s mistakes (DW)

International:

• BIRN Fact Check: Kosovo-Serbia ‘Implementation Annex’ Not Being Implemented (BIRN)
• The Future of Ukraine, Western Balkans & Moldova Is in the EU, von der Leyen Says (schengenvisainfo.com)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti says dialogue has been damaged, criticizes EU for unbalanced approach (media)
Kryeziu: Serbia, Lajcak and Borrell on one side, Kosovo is alone (Koha)
The US Embassy demands seriousness for implementation of Ohrid Agreement (media)
German Embassy: Parties  to urgently commit to de-escalation (media)
Kurti and Guerot talk about bilateral relations and the Brussels meeting (media)
Reuten: Start of Brussels meeting with measures in force against Kosovo is neither balanced nor fair (Kallxo)
Hoti: Only implementation of Agreement reached in Tito's villas in Ohrid is being negotiated (Reporteri)
Kurti: Albanian community in Serbia should have same attention as Serb community in Kosovo (Koha)
Kurti: For the first time, Prime Minister's Office publishes communiqués in Serbian (RTK)
COVID-19: One person died and 67 positive cases in last two weeks in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic confirms trip to Brussels for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (N1)
Serbian FM says West won’t pressure Kurti (BETA, N1, B92, Kosovo Online)
Brnabic receives Sarrazin (Tanjug)
Dacic calls for soonest possible establishment of Community of Serb Municipalities (Tanjug, media)
Djuric meets Escobar, tells him Serbia firmly committed for peace and cooperation (RTS, social media)
Serbian Parliament Speaker meets OSCE High Commissioner (Tanjug)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani and Ulutas talked about deepening cooperation with KFOR (RTK)
• Krasniqi replies to Escobar: Everything beyond administrative instruction is Belgrade's request (Koha)
• Rama: Kosovo's self-destructive tactics are helping victimization of Serbia (media)
• Rohde on Radomirovic’s detention in Serbia: Suspicions of political harassment (Klan)
• Nait Hasan's phone was confiscated by EULEX (media)
• Tahiri: Kurti has degraded dialogue process, he is agreeing to discuss internal issues (Reporteri)
• Bedri Krasniqi acquitted of charge of murdering the UNMIK and Kosovo policemen, Dizdari sentenced to 8 years in prison (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Escobar: I did not receive assurances from Kurti about commitment to normalisation (VoA)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Kosovo issue will not be resolved tomorrow, but under new geopolitical circumstances (Politika, Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Filipovic: Witness of prosecution said he does not know Dusko Arsic (Kosovo Online)
• Mihajlovic: Vucic mustn’t consent to unconditional participation of Serbs in Kosovo elections (BETA, Novi Magazin)
• Zaporozac: 300 pupils more than last year in Serbian schools in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• 542,000 people who migrated from Kosovo live in Germany (Beta, N1, Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media:

Escobar: Resignations of mayors in north, shortest and easiest way (VoA)
Kurti: Pristina will never be behind re-escalation (Deutsche Welle)
Kurti, Peach talk about high-level meeting in Brussels on September 14 (media)
Vela on differences between Presidency and Govt on dialogue (KTV)
Tahiri: Kurti used dialogue to shift attention from internal problems (media)
Serwer: Vucic wants to invade north of Kosovo (RTK)
Mustafa: My phone was taken on order from Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (media)

Serbian Language Media:
Attacks on Serbs, the main topic for Belgrade - what will be on the table in Brussels (RTS)
Lucic: Response to Telekom Srbija appeal due in 15 days (Tanjug)
Jevtic: Pristina's long-term plan to never allow the Serbs to return to Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
Antonijevic: Kurti leading a campaign against Serbs and on the tragic murder of Anna Lindh (Kosovo Online)
Joseph: Little prospect of progress in Brussels (N1, RFE)
US Embassy denies Serbian election claims by former diplomat (N1)
International Media:
Romania-Kosovo soccer game in Euro 2024 qualifying stopped because of home fans’ pro-Serbia chants (AP)
Talks with Kosovo to be difficult, Serbian premier says ahead of EU-sponsored peace talks (AA)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 12, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• EU: High-level meeting of Dialogue on Thursday (media)
• Joseph: Kurti and Vucic benefit from crisis in the north (Radio Free Europe)
• Feilcke: Urgent for Kosovo to find way out of this situation (Telegrafi)
• Kurti meets Major General Ozkan Ulutas (media)
• U.S. senators write to Blinken about situation of Albanians in Presevo Valley (media)
• Sinani: Historic that Presevo Valley issue reached peaks of world diplomacy (media)
• Albanian President meets Albanian political leaders from North Macedonia (AP)

Serbian Language Media:

• Spoke with Lajcak, security of Serbs main topic in Brussels, says Vucic (Kosovo Online, N1)
• Brnabic on upcoming high-level talks in Brussels (RTS)
• Odalovic: The declaration of the Brdo-Brioni summit a wish list, Kurti comes to Brussels only to create problems (RTS)
• Marinkovic: In two years number of Serb pupils in Kosovo decreased by 1000 (Radio KIM, BETA)
• Radosavljevic: Fining of companies in north aimed at putting additional pressure on Serbs (Kosovo Online)
• Subaric: Attack on young man from Gracanica unprovoked, asks international community to react (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Journalists’ Association of Serbia branch in KiM statement on incidents against media workers (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio)

International:

• Prishtina’s Chaotic Urban Evolution Evoques Nostalgia About the Past (BIRN)
• New Elections Are no ‘Magic Wand’ for Serbia’s Divided Opposition (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti confirms to Escobar readiness for active engagement during meeting in Brussels (media)
Participants in the Brdo-Brioni process meeting adopted a joint statement (media)
Kurti meets signatory for a tougher approach to Serbia, Michael Roth (RTK)
Roth: Vucic responsible for violence against KFOR in the north (Koha) 
PDK: The country needs early elections (media)
“AAK will no longer vote for any law or international agreement” (media)
Mother Teresa’s statue unveiled at the Embassy of Kosovo in Skopje (media)
Kosovo police arrest Serb wanted by Interpol (Paparaci)
Bislimi meets representatives from the Presheva Valley, affirms discrimination (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Kurti should bring another whip to Brussels, maybe one will not be enough for him; Skopje joint declaration (KoSSev)
Michael Roth: I don't want a discussion, Vucic responsible for the attacks (KiM radio, KoSSev)
Albanians beat up a Serbian young man on the way to Dobrotin (KiM radio, media)
Office for KiM, Serbian List reacted to the attack on a young man from Gracanica (NMagazin, Beta, N1)
Ten days in prison in Serbia for a municipal official from the north of Kosovo (KiM radio, RFE)

International Media:

Preparations at ‘full speed’ for Thursday's high-level Serbia-Kosovo dialogue in Brussels: EU (AA)
Kosovo Guerrillas’ Defence Tries to Discredit Human Rights Watch Claims (BIRN)
Kosovo Commemorates the Victims of 9/11 (Prishtina Insight)
Israel's Tourism Minister heads to Kosovo for a two-day visit (i24)
Serb Pleads Not Guilty to War Crimes Against Kosovo Civilians (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 11, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani at meeting of leaders of region within Brdo-Brione Process (Koha)
• Kurti and the U.S. deputy ambassador commemorate the September 11 attack (media)
• Emin Hoxhaj appointed director of Agency for Protection of Classified Information (media)
• Israeli Minister of Tourism to visit Kosovo (media)
• Tahiri: We are committed to overthrow Kurti government (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brdo-Brioni summit in Skopje, leaders on dialogue in the region and the European path (RTS)
• Vucic: Correct and constructive discussion in Skopje (Tanjug, RTS)
• Dacic: Kurti politically disoriented, he is the biggest threat to peace (Kosovo Online, Kurir)
• Third hearing in case of Sladjan Trajkovic closed to public (Kosovo Online)
• Office for KiM: Burned returnee house in Madjunsko; Serbian List: Attacks are a daily occurrence (KiM radio)
• Protest organisers submit request for snap elections (N1)
• Serbian opposition leader: We will focus on forming large bloc for elections (BETA, N1)

International:

• Athens denies Kosovo PMs statement that it’s close to recognising independence (Euractiv)
• Men Only: Kosovo’s Public Broadcaster Snubs High-Scoring Women for Top Posts (BIRN)
• State Department Rebukes Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti For Uncoordinated Actions In North Mitrovica (The Pavlovic Today)

Albanian Language Media:

Lajcak: High-level dialogue preparations in full speed, working on positive outcomes (media)
Kurti: EU, US and other allies must urge Serbia to fulfil its treaty obligations (media)
Pristina to host Mediterranean Games in 2030 (media)
Rasic accuses Serbia of blackmail, asks it to release Leposavic director (RFE)
Selimi reacts to “pattern of intimidating Serbs who disobey Belgrade dictate” (media)
“There should be no uncertainties over police engagement because it incites tensions” (Koha)
Rasic skeptical about elections in the north, blames Vucic (Kosovapress)
Osmani meets Pendarovski in Skopje; “look forward to discuss joint steps” (Kallxo)
“Country in information darkness”; LDK, AAK want Kurti to report before meeting Vucic (EO)
Debate to oust government expected to dominate new sessions of Assembly (Koha)
Devastating earthquake in Morocco; KSF ready to help affected areas (Nacionale)

Serbian Language Media:
Petkovic: Belgrade-Pristina dialogue results determined by establishment of CSM (Tanjug)
Lajcak: Preparations for September 14 meeting in full swing, we are working on positive outcomes (Kosovo Online, social media)
Decision to “vacate“ building in Bosniak Mahala used by Serbian institutions postponed again (KoSSev, N1)
Vucic: We must be ready to protect our homeland at all times (N1, RTS)
DefMin Vucevic receives Ohio National Guard commander (N1)
Serb arrested in Leposavic sent to 48-hour detention (RTS)
Olympic Committee of Serbia condemns decision to choose Pristina to host 2030 Mediterranean Games (RTS)
International Media:
Kosovo capital Pristina chosen to host 2030 Mediterranean Games (AP)
Partial Ban on Plastic Bags Applauded by Environmental Activists (BIRN)
The real people behind Vucic’s army of bots (Kosovo 2.0)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Greece is near recognising Kosovo (media)
• “U.S. will continue to support advancement of Kosovo stability and prosperity” (media)
• Osmani meets Quint permanent ambassadors at NATO (media)
• Police at Zubin Potok factory; Elshani: We assisted privatisation agency (media)
• Ex-police officer in north arrested, suspected of taking bribe and abuse of duty (Sinjali)
• Gjoshi: We won’t overthrow Kurti government with votes of Serbian List (Koha)
• Biserko: Serbia is not giving up on idea of Greater Serbia (media)
• Haxhixhemajli: Through Northern Brigade, Vucic tries to incite tensions in north (KSP)
• Construction of houses in north, VV MP emotional: Tears of joy (Nacionale)
• Osmani congratulates Pendarovski on North Macedonia Independence Day (media)
• Lutfi calls on internationals: Albanians in Serbia are being discriminated (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Pristina shows that their power has no limits (RTS)
• Radio KiM: Privatization Agency and the police at the factory in Zubin Potok (N1)
• The trial in the case of Dusko Arsic for war crimes continued in Pristina (Beta, N1, Kosovo Online)
• Stoltenberg: KSF deployment in the north requires prior concurrence of KFOR; Osmani: The north will always be part of Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Poll: The majority would sign the petition to remove the mayors; a part if the conditions are met or Belgrade request it (KoSSev)
• Starovic: Stoltenberg implicitly admitted that the KP is a destabilizing factor in the north

Opinion:

• Fajon: Full speed ahead to 2030 (media)

International:

• Kosovo’s Blueprint for Mayoral Dismissals Meets Scepticism From Experts (BIRN)
• Kosovo’s Beloved Hardh Fest Shuts Its Doors on a Spectacular Season (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: We will work for the Kosovo flag to fly in NATO (media)
Bislimi: Agreement with Serbia should implement without delay and conditions (Koha)
Lajcak intensifies meetings on dialogue before Kurt-Vucic meeting (media)
CEC "confused" by Administrative Instruction for mayors’ dismissal (Klan)
New threat from the "Northern Brigade" (Koha)
Deadline to vacate property used by illegal structures expires today (RTK)
Reactions after NATO SG’s statement on deployment of Police in north (Klan)
Haradinaj: Kurti is waging a hybrid war against Kosovo's achievements (Klan)
Delawie calls on five EU countries to recognize Kosovo (RTK)
Konjufca calls for more commitment to rights of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Stoltenberg: KSF for the North needs consent; we are also looking for consultations for KP actions that can affect security (KoSSev)
Petkovic: Clearly stated that KSF cannot go to the north (Tanjug)
NATO chief welcomes steps to ease tension in Kosovo (N1)
Momirovic: I will reopen the issue of the blockade of Serbian goods in Brussels (Radio Mitrovica sever)
Vucic receives Ohio National Guard commander (N1)

International Media:

Kosovo's president says Serb investigators are dragging their feet over attacks on NATO peacekeepers (AP)
NATO chief calls for accountability over attack on NATO’s mission in Kosovo (Anadolu Agency)
Fehlinger Wants Kosovo in EU in 2029, Calls for ‘Isolation’ of Serbia (SchengenVIsa)
‘It Crushed Me’: Loneliness of Suffering Image-Based Sexual Abuse in Kosovo (BIRN)