• Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania Push Forward On 'Open Balkans' Initiative (RFE) • Government of Kosovo reiterates position against Open Balkans initiative (media) • Analysts support Kosovo's position on Mini-Schengen (Kosovapress) • LDK: Berlin Process should be the starting point for Kosovo (Telegrafi) • Kosovo Dismisses ‘Visionless Mini Schengen’, Urges for Trade Deal with the EU (Exit) • Over 55% of respondents consider rejection of "Open Balkans" will not negatively affect Kosovo’s economy (Telegrafi) • Demi: Easy for Rama and Vucic to make calls for not keeping hostage to the past (Koha) • Spahiu: Kosovo loses politically by not joining Open Balkans initiative (Klan) • Osmani, Kurti, and Konjufca pay respects to the victims of bus crash (media) • Kurti: Ireland, an important voice in speeding up the visa liberalization (media) • President Osmani has telephone conversation with Israeli President Herzog (media) • Gervalla to pay an official visit to North Macedonia today (media) • Four laws in four months (RFE, media) • COVID-19: 72 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 29, 2021 Albanian Language Media: • Rama, Vucic and Zaev sign cooperation agreement in line with Open Balkan initiative (euronews.al) • In 2023 there will be no borders between our countries, Vucic says (euronews.al) • Zaev: A new wind of cooperation is blowing today in Skopje (euronews.al) • Rama: Regional cooperation brings us closer to the EU (euronews.al) • Vucic: If you consider Asterix a disgrace, put Serbia with a square sign (media) • Concept Paper on justice vetting proceeded for public consultation (Telegrafi) • Health Ministry: Compatriots living abroad can be vaccinated in Kosovo (media) • COVID-19: 72 new cases, no deaths (media) Serbian Language Media: • "Open Balkans" new name for "mini-Schengen" (Kosovo Online, Tanjug) • Vucic, Rama and Zaev today at the economic forum in Skopje (media) • Serbia-US friendship and alliance in 140 years of diplomatic relations (N1) • Bishop Teodosije met German diplomat Berger (Radio KIM) • Non-paper: European Council definitively rejects access to document (N1 Slovenia, N1 BiH) • OSCE on burglary of Dragica Gasic’s flat (KoSSev, media) International: • Kosovo Faces Uphill Fight in Claiming Yugoslav-Era Property (Balkan Insight)

• Families bury victims of tragic bus crash (media) • Germany's state secretary Berger meets PM Kurti, President Osmani (media) • Hasani: EU and U.S. could ask for a break in dialogue (Klan) • PDK warns it will not vote international agreements (media) • Haxhiu: Four prosecutors to join Special Prosecution of Kosovo (media) • Rama, Vucic, Zaev meet today at Skopje’s Economic Forum (media) • Renowned Serb returnee to Gjakova suffers break-in (Prishtina Insight) • COVID-19: 58 new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media: • UNDP poll finds significant increase in people's satisfaction with Kosovo institutions (media) • “Kosovo has investment potential but political instability and corruption hinder it” (Klan) • Kosovo Assembly adopts budget review (media) • Muja: For the first time in Kosovo, revenues exceed €2 billion (Kallxo) • Bodies of bus crash victims arrive at Kosovo (media) • COVID-19: 58 new cases, no deaths (media) Serbian Language Media: • OSCE report on assessment of community rights in Kosovo presented (KiM radio, RTV Puls, RTK2, N1) • Fabrizi expects Serbia’s progress in talks with bloc before end of 2021 (N1) • Dragica Gasic after robbery at her flat: I am staying in Djakovica (Radio KIM) • “Absence of reactions and tendentious reporting on incidents constitute their silent approval” (Radio KIM) • Petkovic to seek additional security for Dragica Gasic (Kosovo Online) • Cadez: It is important that political leaders realize importance of “mini-Schengen” (Kosovo-online) • BSN: New weapons strengthen operational capacities of Serbian Army (N1) Opinion: • Is the Decani Monastery really endangered? (Kosovo 2.0) International: • Balkan trio push ‘mini-Schengen’ as they hit out at EU membership delay (Financial Times) • ‘Genocide’ Controversy Erupts over WWII Massacres in Montenegro (Balkan Insight)

• Osmani, Kurti and Konjufca meet the survivors of accident in Croatia (media) • Ministers Vitia and Svecla give update on the bus crash developments (media) • Kusari-Lila: We expect reviewed budget to be approved (Koha) • Abdixhiku: LDK's rightful place is at the top, current government made of interns (G. Express) • PDK's Tahiri slams Government for not submitting 100-day report (media) • Haradinaj: Kurti’s government will not last long (RTV Dukagjini/Telegrafi) • Spain awaits dialogue’s epilogue to decide on recognition of Kosovo (RTV Dukagjini) • A bakery opens in the Kosovo Correctional Center in Lipjan (T7) • Dragica Gasic claims her flat was broken into (RFE) • OSCE issues report on assessment of community rights (Telegrafi) • NGOs: Assembly will disable work of organizations and deprive public of right to be informed (media) • COVID-19: 42 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 27, 2021 Albanian Language Media: • Kurti: The government will help reduce the gap between communities (Koha) • KIA Chief Petrit Ajeti reports to the supervising committee (media) • Minister Mehaj gives details about the released from the hospital in Croatia (Zeri) • Croatian Court sentences driver of crashed bus with one month detention (media) • Economy committee votes proposal for ERO board members (media) • Maas: A German citizen among the victims of the bus crash (media) • 55 patients are being treated with oxygen therapy, one in serious condition (Koha) • COVID-19: 42 new cases, no deaths (media) Serbian Language Media: • 58% of Serbian citizens support the EU-mediated BG-PR dialogue (KoSSev) • Stefanovic: Serbia grateful to Indonesia for support and non-recognition of Kosovo (Kosovo-online) • In Serbian communities in Kosovo one Covid-19 case (KoSSev) Opinion: • The genocide campaign (Danas, KoSSev) International: • Minuto-Rizzo: Balkans has regained a priority status for NATO (EWB) Humanitarian/Development: • Summer School on Transitional Justice in Prizren (RTK2)

• COVID-19: 14 new cases, no deaths (media) • Ministry: So far, 20 percent of people in Kosovo have been inoculated (Telegrafi) • Only 30 percent of Kosovo teachers have been vaccinated (RFE in Albanian) • 10 victims of Kosovo bus crash identified, funeral arrangements underway (media) • Ministry: 26 persons to be discharged from hospital, 15 to continue treatment (media) • Kosovo mourns 10 compatriots killed in Croatia bus crash (AP) • Due to the terminology on Kosovo, Serbia failed four regional agreements (Koha) • Kosovo expects GDP growth to exceed projected 7.9% this year (intellinews.com) • 60 films in 6 days, female directors prominent in Prishtina Film Festival (euronews.al)

Albanian Language Media: • COVID-19: 14 new cases, no deaths (media) • Kurti, Gervalla return to Kosovo, Vitia and Svecla stay on in Croatia (media) • Svecla: Some of the passengers will travel to Kosovo, others will return to Germany (Klan) • PM Kurti pays tribute to Enver Zymberi on anniversary of his death (media) • Gervalla called on EU to stop "Mini-Schengen" initiative (Telegrafi) Serbian Language Media: • One case of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo on Saturday (Radio KIM) • Presidential, and Belgrade elections, possibly parliamentary in Serbia in spring, official says (N1, Beta, Vecernje Novosti) • Serbian List expresses condolences to families of those who died in bus crash (Kosovo-online) • Raska-Prizren Eparchy expresses condolence to families of victims, prays for recovery of those injured in bus crash (Kosovo-online) • Vucic will get closer to Moscow, but he will not "grow cold" towards Erdogan (Danas) • Joksimovic: Regional initiatives enable stability (RTS) • “International community does not see difficult position of Serbs” (Politika) • Bayramov: Azerbaijan respects principles of international law when it comes to Kosovo issue (Kosovo-online) • Dacic to attend inauguration of Iranian president (N1) • Bolton: Pristina has the right not to accept territorial changes, but then there is no progress in the negotiations (Kosovo Online, B92) International: • Enmity and Neglect Take Toll on Serb Churches in Kosovo (Balkan Insight) • Enkel Demi: We Need to Know Each Other’s Literature (Balkan Insight) Humanitarian/Development: • Nora Gjakova wins Kosovo’s third Olympic gold medal (Prishtina Insight) • Montenegro Makes History With First Same-Sex Marriage (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 25 new cases, no deaths (media) • Kosovo bus crash leaves 10 dead, 45 injured (media) • Condolences extended to families of victims that died in bus accident (media) • President Osmani declares day of mourning in Kosovo (media) • Government fears mini Schengen gives rise to Russia and China influence (Koha) • Osmani meets with the Prime Minister of Japan (media) • Judge rejects Thaci's request for interim release (media) • Janjic warns that Belgrade's campaign could lead to armed conflict (Koha) • Kosovo Wins Women's Judo Olympic Gold (RFE)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 23, 2021 Albanian Language Media: • COVID-19: 19 new cases, no deaths (media) • Kurti calls on Kosovo population to vaccinate (Klan) • President Osmani received by Japan’s FM Motegi and Emperor Naruhito (media) • Beqaj: Kurti's approach to dialogue is right but unrealistic (Telegrafi) • Questions regarding Kosovo's international organisation membership bids (RFE) • Thaci’s lawyer provides guarantee for his release from detention (media) • Unwavering trust between Ankara and Belgrade (RFE Albanian) Serbian Language Media: • 22 years since the murder of 14 Serbian harvesters in Staro Gracko (media) • Odalovic: It is certainly known who committed the crime in Staro Gracko (RTS, N1, Beta, KiM radio) • Petkovic with Veselinovic: Mistreatment of Serbs must end (Kosovo-online) • Rakic: We’ll continue to provide assistance, as it is only way to save our people (Kosovo-online) • Serbian pilgrims banned from entering Kosovo (Radio KIM) Opinion: • Should Kosovo recognise Serbia? (Prishtina Insight) • 11 years since the opinion of the International Court of Justice on Kosovo’s independence (KoSSev) • Non-Papers and the elephant in the room: Rule of law in the Western Balkans (EWB) International: • Montenegro Rules out Changes to Kosovo Border Agreement (Balkan Insight) • Serbian interior minister in Madrid to discuss police cooperation, Kosovo (Euractive)