UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 21, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• President Thaci's office comments on Jamaica recognition issue (media)
• Konjufca says measures will be taken about Jamaica recognition news (Koha)
• MP Pacolli demands accountability from Amb Citaku on Jamaica recognition (media)
• Tahiri: Decision to annul notaries' appointment process, arbitrary (media)
• LVV MP: After dismissals, accountability in front of justice (ekonomiaonline)

Serbian Language Media:

• Draft recommendations for EU enlargement outlined in European Parliament (N1, Hina)
• Survey in multi-ethnic municipalities: Reconciliation needed for the vast majority but the north (KoSSev)
• Jamaica's foreign minister denies recognition of Kosovo (KoSSev, RTS, Blic)
• Dacic: Tirana and Pristina to give up campaign to lobby for recognition of Kosovo (Blic, N1)
• Thaci for BBC in Serbian: If we waste this opportunity, we will cry at the gates of Brussels (Kosovo Online, Danas, B92)
• Kenya will not change stance on Kosovo (RTV Puls)
• US Ambassador Godfrey says Grenell will continue as Kosovo envoy (Beta, N1)

International:

• Albania PM Widens His Media Wars to Include Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo National Football Team Signs First Serb Player (Balkan Insight)

• Grenell to remain envoy for Kosovo-Serbia negotiations (media)
• Jamaica recognition: Kosovo leaders hail it, Jamaica FM refutes it (media)
• Haziri requests from Kurti to lift the tariff (RTK)
• The U.S. informed Kurti that military presence is being considered (Express)
• Konjufca dismisses 14 consuls saying their appointment was unlawful (media)
• Reka: Mini-Schengen is only in interest of Serbia (Express)
• Haradinaj: Kurti threatens national security with approach to KIA (Klan)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Border change project has failed but the idea is not dead (media)
• Kosnett in a diplomatic offensive to lift the tariff (Gazeta Express)
• Haradinaj meets Kosnett: U.S. involvement in dialogue, necessary (media)
• Osmani: Not only men will represent Kosovo in Brussels (Klan Kosova)
• Kurti warns in Stan Terg: There will be new dismissals of the boards (Express)
• Positioning prior to dialogue with Serbia, Osmani: Trepca is inviolable (Express)
• Minister Haxhiu annuls notaries appointment process (media)
• AAK continues collecting signatures, requests session on the tariff (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• SRSG Tanin: Following integration of judiciary, Kosovo moves towards strengthening of rule of law (Radio KIM)
• Dacic: Lack of reaction to the announcement of Tirana and Pristina on joint lobbying is hypocritical (Tanjug, RTS)
• Everything changes now: A man sent to Serbia heads US national intelligence services (Tanjug, B92)
• Milena Ivanovic joins SNS (Tanjug, B92)

Opinion:

• Albin Kurti – New Hope or New Disappointment? (crnobelisvet.com)

International:

• Trump Appoints Balkan Envoy Grenell to Head National Intelligence (Balkan Insight)
• Juratovic: The arranged situation in the Western Balkans means the arranged situation in the EU (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• "The suspension of the construction of MHE is very important"(KIM radio)
• Denmark’s Integration Experiment Reflects European U-turn (Balkan Insight)
• Wild and exotic animals kept captive in Kosovo ‘zoos’ (Prishtina Insight)

• Kurti: Reciprocity measures aimed at protecting local producers (media)
• “New government to decide what to do with unimplemented agreements” (Klan)
• Trump names Richard Grenell as acting intelligence chief (RFE)
• Kosnett in Mitrovica: Tariff should be lifted (RTK)
• AAK: Final agreement with Serbia to be under Kosovo's existing borders (media)
• Government of Kosovo dismisses Telecom board (media)
• Hoti: Telecom board’s dismissal, only the beginning (Telegrafi)
• Kurti to ministries: Scan the situation at ministries and submit the report (RTK)
• Cakaj: Albania cannot change Kosovo borders (TV Dukagjini/RTK)
• Reka: Visa liberalisation this year, a priority issue (RFE/Zeri)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 19, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Reciprocity measures aimed at protecting local producers (media)
• Grenell slams EUobserver story on Kosovo-Serbia land swap plan (media)
• Opposition collecting signatures for Assembly session to oppose lifting of tax (Express)
• Haradinaj writes about which option of lifting tariff he would support (Express)
• Konjufca: we will reach concrete agreements with the government of Albania (RTK)
• Haxhiu: We will annul notaries appointment process this week (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: ''The only alternative is war, and we would not have survived it'' (B92)
• Macron's "plotting" with Serbia and Kosovo - UN the only place for reaching solution (Sputnik, B92)
• SNS decided on name of electoral list: "Aleksandar Vucic - For our children" (B92)
• Jevtic: Damage to Menkovic family, whose house was demolished, must be compensated (KoSSev)
• Bozovic: Indictments for murder of Oliver Ivanovic not supported by evidence (Radio kontakt plus)
• Kosovo Deputy PM Haki Abazi for Danas: We will seek compensation for war damages, so the devastation and crimes do not repeat again

International:

• Vetevendosje MP: Dialogue ‘on the verge of restarting’ (Prishtina Insight)
• Tensions take center stage as Western Balkans gets under the spotlight in Munich (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Protesters demand prominent lawyer’s license be revoked (Prishtina Insight)

• Reciprocity measures to be introduced in the coming days (Koha)
• Palmer: Kosovo, Serbia to set parameters for mutual recognition (EUobserver/ Epoka)
• Haradinaj: Kurti, Osmani responsible for Grenell demanding tax drop (Telegrafi)
• Zogiani: Kurti has not been yet informed about Grenell’s agreements (Express)
• Kurti visits Kosovo Intelligence Agency (media)
• PM Kurti meets UN resident coordinator Richardson (Klan Kosova)
• Haxhiu meets EULEX Chief, Wigemark (RTK)
• Haxhiu meets Braathu, discuss rule of law (RTK)
• Government launches procedures for dismissing Telecom board (Koha)
• Ministry’s ultimatum ignored; highway construction tender not cancelled (Zeri)

Albanian Language Media:

• Konjufca: Kosovo’s foreign policy has faced serious crisis in recent years (Koha)
• Osmani: Meeting with Thaci was part of state protocol, differences remain (media)
• Gashi: Government looking into ways to lift the tax (Telegrafi)
• Rukiqi: We will support any decision that is in Kosovo's interest (EO)
• Association of journalists’ offices broken into again (Klan Kosova/Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: Kurti will continue with unilateral acts (Tanjug, Prva TV)
• Vucic: We missed a major chance, we will pay high price for that (TV Happy, B92)
• Serbia donates € 2 million to Albania (RTS, Tanjug)
• Djuric: Belgrade will continue to insist on ZSO (Kontakt plus radio, KIM radio, Politika)
• Vucic: Significant and powerful European country requested from Pristina to impose tariffs (B92)
• House of Jovica Menkovic from Cernica demolished, pressure on Serbs to leave (RTV Puls)
• Graffiti written in Preoce village (KoSSev)

International:

• The Brief – Why is America eclipsing the EU in the Balkans? (Euractive)
• Kurti Vows to Make Military Service Compulsory in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
• Dodik’s Tantrum Politics Risks Pushing Bosnia Int Chaos (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Youth from Gracanica migrating due to unemployment, lack of safety and uncertain political situation (KoSSev)

• Kosovo leaders display no unity on Independence Day (media)
• Kurti: Time for us as government to make decisions, not avoid difficulties (RTK)
• Nagavci: Handshakes are act of courtesy, do not imply agreement (media)
• Lajcak could be proposed as special representative for dialogue (Koha)
• Plenkovic: Kosovo has fulfilled visa liberalisation criteria (Koha)
• Meta against Mini-Schengen, values Kurti’s presentation in Munich (Express)
• Vucic: We lost the chance for compromise with Pristina, we will pay the price (TV Happy/Klan)
• Three candidates running for mayoral elections in Podujeve (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 17, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Kosovo representatives to be unified in foreign policy (media)
• Thaci: Kosovo enters second decade with faith, hope and belief for better future
• Serwer says Kurti will not change Kosovo’s position on Serbia (media)
• Osmani: Kosovo’s independence is irreversible (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: 12 years ago, international law was trampled, but Serbia was not defeated (Serbian media)
• ''Everything that Albanians believed in have failed'' (KIM Radio)
• Almost two decades after, still no punishment for the crime in Livadice (Radio kontakt plus)
• Borrell: We are working on appointing envoy for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (N1, SRNA, RFE, RTS)
• EU hosts informal dinner with Western Balkans leaders (Tanjug, B92, RTS)
• Vucic said debate with Kurti was fierce (N1, RTS, Kosovo-online)
• Vucic on talks with Pristina, Carpenter’s statements (B92)
• Rada Trajkovic: Murder of Oliver Ivanovic will be clarified (KIM Radio, Free Serbian)

Opinion:

• Reviving Enlargement in Balkans Means Changing More than Methodology (Balkan Insight)

International:

• EU Says Accession For Balkan Countries Still Possible (RFE)
• Twelve Years In Dependence Leave Kosovo Facing Foggy Future (Balkan Insight)

Thaci: Inter-institutional coordination required for dialogue (media)
Kurti: I have reservations about agreements, I was not part of talks (RFE)
Borrell: Dialogue to continue as soon as we appoint envoy (media)
Kurti meets international representatives at MSC sidelines (RTK)
Kurti for Blick: To Kosovo, Serbia’s recognition is not sufficient (Blick/Lajmi)
Hoti and Grenell discuss dialogue with Serbia (Kallxo)
Haxhiu: From now on, politicians will fear the prosecution (Kosovapress/RTK)