UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 27, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• EU rapporteur reacts to Thaci's statement on Lajcak (media)
• “President doesn’t talk to Lajcak as he is openly against land swap” (Telegrafi)
• Haradinaj believes court will give right to other parties to form govt (Telegrafi)
• Miftaraj: President cannot play role of whistleblower (Koha)
• Borg Oliver: Not president's role to form new govt (Kallxo/Prishtina Insight)
• Acting government considers Association/Community to be invalidated (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• One new case of Covid-19 infection in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Serb returnee in Klina physically assaulted and injured (Kosovo-online)
• House of returnee in Ljubozda village stoned (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Pressure on Serbs will not stop, constant campaign of Albanian media (Tanjug)
• Djuric: Serbs in Kosovo most persecuted ethnic group in Europe (Kosovo-online)
• OSCE Mission condemns incident in Drenovcic village (Kosovo-online)
• Grenell's ready: "Serious dialogue" between Belgrade and Pristina is expected (B92, Kosovo-online, Vecernje Novosti)

Opinions:

• Milacic: Why Serbia’s President chose Grenell over Merkel (Euractiv/Koha)

International:

• Grenell to join Trump campaign (Politico)
• Little love, as Berlin bids 'auf Wiedersehen' to Trumpism (EUobserver)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo: 92-year old woman alone in abandoned village (Al Jazeera, KoSSev)
• World Bank approves $100 mil loans to Serbia for curbing pandemic (BETA, N1)
• OpisMEDIJavanje: Think about where the media get their money from (KoSSev)

• Nine new cases of coronavirus confirmed (media)
• Kosovo President rejects EU mediator for talks with Serbia (Reuters)
• EU: Lajcak speaks on behalf of all member states (Lajmi)
• Kurti: We shouldn’t worry that protests will be violent (media)
• Kurti speaks to Djukanovic about Covid-19, dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Osmani: Dialogue with Serbia to be well-structured (media)
• Abbott: Constitutional Court decision to be respected by all (media)
• VV supporters with "performance" in Prishtina on Thursday (Indeksonline)
• Selimi: We will not remain silent to unfair decisions (Telegrafi)
• Haradinaj: Court will support Hoti government (media)
• LVV submits to CEC request for local elections in Podujeve (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We only expect interpretation from the Constitutional Court (media)
• Thaci says he will not take part in negotiations led by Lajcak (Koha)
• Veseli: I will not cease efforts to set up tribunal for Serb war crimes (media)
• LVV's Zogiani compares Grenell to former ambassador Dell (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dr Antonijevic: The situation is calming down; protection measures are still mandatory (Kontakt plus radio)
• New attacks against Serb returnees in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• “Opening of crossings after June 1, following analysis of III phase measures” (KoSSev)
• "Western Balkans belong to Europe" (B92, Tanjug)
• REC:"Office for KIM will soon publish the number of polling stations in KiM" (Kosovo Online)
• "All our eyes would be on Serbia, watching election process" - MEP says (N1)
• Kosovo society should not deny the crimes of certain KLA members (KoSSev, Novosti)
• Matkos Group director: We are not breaking the law (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Profession, law, and justice (KoSSev)
• Kosovo between USA and EU (moderndiplomacy.eu)

International:

• Borell: Maintain the intention to bring the Western Balkans into the EU (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• OpisMEDIJavanje: Any unverified information or half-truth can lead to major consequences (KoSSev)
• Kosovo Economy Faces Fresh Hit If Diaspora Stays Away (Balkan Insight)

• Six new cases of coronavirus in last 24 hours (media)
• Covid-19: New eased measures to enter into force Thursday (media)
• Kurti: Unacceptable for President to write the Constitution (Telegrafi)
• Thaci accuses Kurti of ‘usurping’ PM’s office (Koha)
• Kurti reiterates calls for elections (media)
• Osmani: It is clear there was no need for state of emergency (media)
• Weber: EU reclaiming Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Koha)
• Kurti and Zaev agree land swaps are dangerous (media)
• Grenell remains envoy for Kosovo-Serbia negotiations (media)
• In Brussels, Lajcak meets six Western Balkans ambassadors (RFE)
• Acting PM Kurti meets CEC head Daka (media)

• 21 new cases of coronavirus in last 24 hours (media)
• Kurti to respect Court's ruling if it is no more than legal interpretation (Koha)
• Germany and France: Re-start the EU-led dialogue now (media)
• Kurti meets Quint, EU reps - discusses political situation, Covid-19 (media)
• Switzerland considers Kosovo's borders unquestionable (Koha)
• Kurti, BiH presidency chairman agree land swap is dangerous (media)
• U.S. commits additional $500,000 for Kosovo’s response to Covid-19 (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 22, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Haxhiu concerned over Constitutional Court's leaks of possible ruling (media)
• Abazi: No underground scenario can prevent LVV's governance (Kosovapress)
• Kosnett, Osmani discuss pandemic and political developments (media)
• Grenell's office denies September is deadline for agreement (Express/RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: The "big ones" do not care about the opinion of Serbs and Albanians on resolving the Kosovo issue (Beta, N1)
• No new Covid-19 infection cases in Serb areas, one person cured (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic and Quint ambassador discuss Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, situation in region (FoNet, N1)
• Thaci says no land swap with Belgrade, dreams about parts of Serbia in Kosovo (N1, KoSSev)
• Djuric: Thaci once again reminds world about true face of his politics (Kosovo-online)
• There is no consensus on Kosovo's NATO membership (AlJazeera, Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Member of Project Evaluation Commission of Office for Communities resigns (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Balkans Not Ready to Declare Victory Over COVID-19 (Balkan Insight)
• Week in Review: Times Too Interesting (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• CoE Development Bank chief says Serbia doing well in pandemic (N1, Radio Free Europe)
• Number of people who can gather in public places in Serbia changed (B92)

• One new case of coronavirus in last 24 hours (media)
• President Hashim Thaci’s interview to Klan Kosova
• Abazi: Prosecution to interview Thaci regarding his statements (Klan Kosova)
• "Seven Constitutional Court judges on Thaci's side" (Koha)
• LDK’s Gashi: Kosovo to have new government next week (media)
• Haxhiu reacts to Gashi: Tendency to interfere in Court’s work (media)
• Haradinaj: U.S. not EU to lead Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Koha)
• Pacolli’s advisor: We’ve yet to decide on new government vote (media)
• Bislimi: Serbia failed to reflect, reciprocity measures to be stepped up (Kallxo)
• Hoti: MPs to have lot of work on economic revival measures (media)
• Kurti, Pendarovski discuss cooperation and Covid-19 (media)
• Ahmeti: Measures against COVID – 19 must be reviewed (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti says next dialogue with Serbia meeting depends on Brussels (KP/Koha)
• LDK vows to distribute at least €400 mill for economic recovery if in power (media)
• Hamza: PDK to be constructive on international financial agreements (Telegrafi)
• Tahiri: Kurti could not strengthen relations with internationals (KP)

Serbian Language Media:

• No new Covid-19 infection cases in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• The Balkans will be one of the US main fronts, so they want the Kosovo issue resolved (Kosovo Online, B92)
• Djuric: Kurti’s audacity is surprising, he is hitting out at US diplomacy (KoSSev, TV Happy)
• Gorazdevac: Kosovo police intend to remove Serbian flags (Kontakt plus radio, Kosovo Online)
• EU for Kosovo-online: Taken property to return to Visoki Decani Monastery (Kosovo-online)
• “Initiatives to face past were unsuccessful” (Radio KIM)
• US Ambassador: Washington allocates additional € 850,000 to Serbia (FoNet, N1)
• Opening of the administrative line towards Serbia as of tomorrow (Radio Mitrovica Sever)

International:

• Kosovo Tries Again to Establish War Crimes Research Institute (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• KWN concerned with approach to women in decision making posts (media)
• Bringing Back the Bodies: The Balkan Emigrants Repatriated in Death (Balkan Insight)
• Serbian epidemiologist criticizes political gatherings during epidemic (N1)

• Health Institute confirms 14 new cases of coronavirus (media)
• EU adopts €3 billion assistance package for neighbouring partners (media)
• Kurti: The Presidential fourth attempt to bring down the Republic of Kosovo
• Lajcak: Everyone ready for resumption of dialogue (Koha)
• Thaci pressures Quint into declaring on Court’s ruling, they refuse (Koha)
• Kurti denies putting pressure on Constitutional Court (media)
• Osmani for reciprocity with Serbia and against border changes (Kallxo)
• LDK’s Gashi adamant: LDK is against territorial exchange (Koha)
• PDK MP: Elections within one year, Vetevendosje will mark a decline (media)
• Government allocates €3.5 million for Trepca mine (Kosovapress)
• Haxhiu: War crimes institute to be set up through special law (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 20, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• "Governmental regulations against Covid-19 to be respected by all" (media)
• Thaci meets Quint members, urges respect for independent institutions (media)
• Constitutional Court receives “arguments” favoring Thaci (Koha)
• "Another political pressure on Constitutional Court" (Kosovapress/Koha)
• Authorities launch investigations into threats against Kurti (media)
• Osmani implies Assembly will convene on June 4 (media)
• Reka: Dialogue to lead in mutual recognition and no territorial changes (Telegrafi)
• Government allocates €20 million for subsidising public enterprises (Zeri)

Serbian Language Media:

• No new Covid-19 infection cases in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Lajcak and Djuric on the continuation of the dialogue (media)
• Dacic: We are far from restoring dialogue (Blic, Kosovo-online)
• US, UK embassies call for implementation of court’s ruling on Visoki Decani Monastery’s land case, EU and OSCE join call (B92, Kosovo-online)
• Varhelyi to N1: EC report on EU candidate countries in autumn (N1)
• President Vucic on Serbian Orthodox Church, situation in Montenegro (B92)
• Freedom House stands by report conclusions on Serbia (N1, VoA)

Opinion:

• Confronting rape myths (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Kosovo’s Political Rivals Lock Horns Ahead of Court Verdict (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Muslims Hold Protest Prayers in Pristina Square (Balkan Insight)
• Hague indictments give Kosovo’s war crime victims a voice after 20 years (The Times)

Humanitarian/Development:

• No tests or other requirements to enter Serbia, pandemic Crisis Committee says (N1)
• UNMIK donated humanitarian aid to Zubin Potok municipality (Kosovo-online)