UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 10, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Sarrazin in Kosovo on Thursday; aims to restore dialogue with Serbia (Indeksonline)
• Sarrazin: Kosovo needs visa liberalisation; we must not miss opportunity (Express)
• Kurti in U.S.; Borrell invites Western Balkans leaders to Brussels (Express)
• Kurti: Kosovo offers favorable climate for investment by U.S. companies (media)
• U.S. supports Kosovo's membership in Partnership for Peace (RFE)
• At opening of Munich Leaders Meeting, Osmani meets U.S., European officials (media)
• Thaci, Veseli plead not guilty to new war crimes charges (media)
• Albanian PM Rama visits Thaci in Hague (Klan Kosova)
• Konjufca received representatives of the Venice Commission (Koha)
• Education Union: One-hour strike on Thursday; preparing for general strike (Telegrafi)
• COVID-19: Four new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Western Balkans leaders at the traditional Brussels annual dinner tomorrow (RTS)
• Vucic with Sarrazin: Belgrade-Pristina talks only way to reaching sustainable agreement (Kosovo-online)
• Dacic met German ambassador (Tanjug)
• Rakic meets Japanese Embassy Chargé d'Affaires (Kosovo-online)
• Energy minister says ownership of Serbian oil company could change (N1, Beta)
• Le Monde: Macron and Draghi for EU "confederation" with Western Balkans, Scholz abstains (Beta, N1)
• Less than half of Serbians support EU membership (FoNet, N1)

Opinion:

• Western Balkans must once again become a priority for the EU (brusselstimes.com)

International:

• EBRD affirms Kosovo's 2022 economic growth forecast at 4% (SeeNews)
• Constantinople Ends Schism with North Macedonia Church (Balkan Insight)
• Montenegro Govt Urged to Compensate NATO Bombing Victims’ Families (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Lessons of War: Kosovo Trains Ukrainian Women in Demining (BIRN)
• Kosovo War Widow Wins ‘European of the Year’ Award (BIRN)
• Helping Migrants in the Western Balkans End “the Game” (gmfus.org)
• Oracle opened a regional IT center in Kragujevac (Beta, N1)

• Osmani: End four years of unjust denying of visa liberalization (media)
• Some countries were convinced for visa liberalization, government says (RFE)
• Osmani travels to Washington; will attend Munich Leaders Meeting (media)
• Kosovo Compact Negotiations with MCC begin (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo, Israel ink deal year after Jerusalem embassy opens (Jerusalem Post)
• Rukiqi: Kosovo faced with unprecedented inflation (Kosovapress)
• Journalist recounts meeting former Kosovo President at The Hague (euronews.al)
• Macron proposes new political union for non-EU member states (RFE)
• COVID-19: Two new cases (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Szunyog: The future of Kosovo is in the European Union (media)
• On Europe Day, Kurti calls for accelerated EU integration (media)
• Kosovo and Israel deepen cooperation, sign three MoUs (media)
• Kosovo civil society sends open letter to Macron on visa liberalisation (media)
• Montenegro authorities find no basis for prosecution of Kosovo ambassador (Express)
• Prices in March were 10% higher than last year, only in February the increase was 2.7% (ekonomia)
• COVID-19: Two new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Serbia under pressure over Kosovo after Putin statement (N1)
• Serbian opposition parties on Vucic’s address on Friday (Danas)
• Serbs from Kosovo on Vucic’s address on Friday (Danas)
• Serbian List reacts to Trajkovic, Jaksic, Bogdanovic statements on Vucic (Kosovo-online)
• Kharchenko: The West brutally arm-twisting Serbia; position on Kosovo the same (NMagazin, N1, Beta, Politika)
• Serbian Patriarch meets US Ambassador: Peace and dialogue most important (N1)
• Brnabic: Our objective is to join EU - the sooner, the better (Tanjug)
• "Adding fuel to the fire with the list of Serbs suspected of overthrowing the constitutional order'' (KiM radio)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Sexism, hate speech and misogyny are most present in the Western Balkan media (NMagazin, Beta)
• For Refugees on Serbia-Hungary Border, ‘the Game’ Goes on (Balkan Insight)

• Hovenier: Kosovo to be constructively engaged in dialogue (Klan)
• Opposition calls on Kurti to report to Assembly on Berlin dinner (Koha)
• Joseph: Berlin meeting will not change dialogue dynamics a great deal (KP)
• In U.S., Kurti meets head of MCC (media)
• Osmani: Kosovo has stood on the side of allies defending democratic values (media)
• President Osmani meets President of Costa Rica as he assumes office (media)
• Kosovo moving toward CoE membership (RTK)
• Vucic Threatens ‘Strong’ Response if Kosovo Applies for CoE Membership (Exit News)
• Kurti condemns bombing of school in Ukraine (media)
• Kosovo and Israel to sign first ever MoU (media)
• Kosovo stands to secure sufficient wheat for this year’s needs (KP/media)
• COVID-19: Six new cases (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 6, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• President Osmani met with Panamanian Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes (media)
• Prime Minister Kurti starts his visit to the United States (media)
• CBK reacts to whistleblower letter: They are intended to damage reputation (media)
• Konjufca received the delegation of the Arab Union (Telegrafi)
• SBASHK informs Nagavci: On May 12 there is 1-hour strike in education (media)
• COVID-19: 11 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: Serbia to donate 3 mln euros to Ukraine (Tanjug)
• Zivkovic, Arsenijevic on list of Serbs suspected of ‘violating constitutional order’ (Kosovo-online, Danas)
• Should Serbia rely on China in the UN Security Council regarding Kosovo? (Danas)
• Stefanovic meet Lambrecht (Tanjug)
• Patriarch from Kosovo: Our shrines are the heritage of the entire world (KoSSev, N1)
• “If Pristina wishes to join Council of Europe, 14 stats will retract recognition of Kosovo” (Vecernje Novosti, Kosovo-online)
• Drecun: I am not optimistic about continuing the dialogue on May 13 (Tanjug, media)
• Selakovic thanks India for its support to Serbia on Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Selakovic: Brazil's call for full implementation of the Brussels Agreement important (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic meets with Brammertz (Tanjug)

International:

• KLA Hague Detainees Face New War Crime Charges (Prishtina Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Supreme Court Upholds Suspension of ‘Adventure Park’ Project (Prishtina Insight)
• Western Balkan countries face new economic challenges with growth set to slow to 3.1% this year (intellinews.com)

• Kurti received Germany’s Minister of Defense Christine Lambrecht (media)
• Kurti: We have no parallel projects (Deutsche Welle)
• Chancellor Scholz will visit Balkans in autumn, Defense Minister says (Koha)
• Mehaj, Lambrecht talk about security in Kosovo and the region (media)
• “Difficult” meeting in Berlin raises hopes for agreements in Brussels (Koha)
• Kosovo Assembly forms two energy inquiry committees (BIRN)
• UK Ambassador to OSCE calls for commitment to dialogue (Kallxo)
• Osmani meets with President of Panama Cortizo (media)
• “Kurti could be the person that gives a final solution to dialogue” (Klan Kosova)
• Kurti received delegation of Social Democratic Party from Switzerland (media)
• Valon Totaj elected President of the Court of Appeals (media)
• Kosovo citizens still see violent extremism as threat to national security (media)
• Whistleblower claims there are scandals and nepotism at Central Bank (Kallxo)
• COVID-19: 16 new cases (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Germany’s Scholz: Progress needed on visa liberalisation for Kosovo (BIRN)
• Kurti: Germany, a strategic ally of Kosovo (media)
• Chancellor Scholz’s statement at Wednesday’s press conference (RTK)
• Opposition conditions participation at session with investigating commission (media)
• PDK: No normality in parliament until inquiry committee on energy is formed (media)
• Ischinger: Lajcak needs urgent support (media)
• Head of Kosovo Police meets EUROPOL Executive Director (Indeksonline)
• COVID-19: 16 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Open talk important, even if we argue; Lambrecht: Important that there is stability in the Western Balkans (RTS)
• Vucic after meeting Baerbock: Difficult talks, but I am satisfied with Germany's interest (RTS, media)
• Lajcak: Vucic and Kurti new meeting on May 13 (Radio Mitrovica sever, media)
• Vucic to Scholz: Serbia will not be the cause of problems (media)
• Serbian Patriarch in Decani: The prayer recited here is for all people – in Kosovo and the entire universe (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Viskovic: Berlin understands Serbia's position; joining some sanctions against Russia must be expected (RTS)

International:

• German Chancellor Presses Serbia, Kosovo To Resume Normalization Talks (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo leads growth forecasts as Western Balkans face new economic headwinds (emerging-europe.com)
• Kosovo Institutions’ Neglect Leaves Minority Girl’s Schooling in Limbo (Balkan Insight)
• Report on Novobrdo: Archeological material, illegally in Belgrade (Koha)

• Germany calls for agreement that serves peace and stability (media)
• Kurti: I expect Serbia to change its position on Kosovo (RTK)
• Meta: I applaud Scholz’s commitment to resume Berlin Process (media)
• Government spokesperson: Kurti will visit the U.S. this month (media)
• Varhelyi: Kosovo needs to progress with reforms (media)
• World Bank sees Kosovo's 2022 economic growth at 3-4% (SeeNews)
• COVID-19: 3 new cases (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Germany confirms it supports Kosovo membership bid at CoE (media)
• Osmani departs for official visits to Panama and Costa Rica (media)
• German Defence Minister visits Sarajevo, plans to visit Kosovo too (Gazeta Express)
• Mehaj: Kosovo should have a voluntary military reserve of 20 thousand people (media)
• Prosecution: no ethnic motives in the armed incident in Badovc (Kallxo)
• PDK: Kosovo imported only 0.56 percent of energy in March, 100 percent increase of price continues (Reporteri)
• COVID-19: 3 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic arrived in Berlin (RTV, Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: Conversation with Mitsotakis good, grateful for his support (Tanjug)
• Session of the Holy Synod held in Patriarchate of Pec (RTS, Kosovo Online, KoSSev)
• Serbia increased exports of goods to Kosovo by ten million euros (KiM radio)
• Gracanica Mayor seek from KFOR more effective protection for Serbs (Kosovo Online)
• The pandemic affected the census process in Kosovo (KiM radio, RTK)
• Kurti's softening of stances would not be well received in Pristina (KiM radio, N1)

Opinion:

• DW: Vucic and Kurti in Berlin, symbolic encounters in the shadow of Ukraine (Danas, Kosovo Online, RTK2)

International:

• Prosecutors Add More War Crime Charges Against Kosovo Ex-President (Balkan Insight)
• Can the war in Ukraine lead to a faster EU integration of the Western Balkans? (EWB)

• Kurti, Vucic to meet Scholz separately; then joint meeting with Lajcak (media)
• Kurti to meet German Foreign Minister Baerbock, source says (RTK)
• Free media is the bedrock of democracy, Kurti says (media)
• Media and government don’t look eye to eye (Radio Free Europe)
• Kajtazi: Another 13 persons will be arrested by Special Court (Telegrafi)
• Grondahl hopes for a Kosovo-Serbia final deal this year (Kosovapress)
• COVID-19: 4 new cases (media)