UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 30, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Thaci: Kosovo has been treated unfairly by the EU on visa liberalization (RTK)
• Borrell without a date on visas, request swift forming of the government (RTK)
• Borrell: EU not competing with the US over Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Gazeta Express)
• What happens if negotiations for a ruling coalition fail? (RFE)
• LVV, LDK keep silent over a coalition agreement (Koha)
• Kadri Veseli boycotts Josep Borell’s meeting with political parties (media)
• Haziri: LDK seeks balanced power, we do not give up Assembly Speaker’s post (RTK)
• Sabit Geci interviewed by specialist chambers in Pristina (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• Borell to Tanjug: I will be personally involved in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (B92)
• Borrell in Pristina: Recognition of Kosovo independence is individual stance of EU member states (RTS)
• Kosovo Online: ''Kurti with the Serbian List today, though he repeatedly said he will not talk to them''
• Borrell's main goal is to renew talks between Belgrade and Pristina (Tanjug, B92)
• Djuric: Dialogue with Pristina after tariffs are lifted (FoNet, N1)
• Raska-Prizren Eparchy lead procession from Zvecan to Mitrovica in support to Church in Montenegro (KoSSev)
• Kosnett: Kosovo needs citizens to challenge politicians and influencers in all communities who spew hatred toward other ethnicities (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Roma Face Brunt of Western Balkans Demographic Crisis (Balkan Insight)
• Art of the Deal, Palestine Version (Wall Street Journal)

International:

• Outgoing Kosovo Govt Adopts Magnitsky Act (Balkan Insight)
• Deadline Looms for Kurti to Form Kosovo Government (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Trading socks, seeds, cigarettes and rakia (Prishtina Insight)

• EU High Representative Borell to visit Kosovo today (media)
• Delays in formation of government reflect on integration agenda (Koha/Zeri)
• Kelmendi: A victory in battle, surrender on the table (Koha)
• Abazi: If LDK burns Kurti it will be divided (media)
• Stoltenberg: NATO is working on opening Kosovo lower airspace (RTK)
• Haradinaj: Agreements with Serbia, step toward final settlement (Zeri)
• Bildt: Even Milosevic would’ve loved Trump-like solution for Kosovo (Zeri)
• Konjufca in Brussels: Feeling isolated is disappointing for Kosovo people (Epoka)
• Spain could block Zagreb summit over Kosovo (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

• Konjufca addresses summit of Western Balkans Speakers (RTK)
• Western Balkans Speakers adopt joint declaration at Brussels summit (Kallxo)
• Apostolova: We do not interfere on internal matters (RTK)
• Grenell: Germany, France, and the EU are not involved, I welcome them in the dialogue (Express)
• Think tank presents report on institutions' response towards Syria returnees (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• NIN Weekly: Insight into Oliver Ivanovic’s murder indictment (Radio KIM)
• SLS president Slobodan Petrovic resigns (Kontakt plus radio, KIM radio, RTV Puls, RTK2)
• Vucic: They will try to divide us as they try to tear down our church (B92, Tanjug)
• Serbian Orthodox Church appeals for peace in Montenegro (BETA, N1)
• Kosovo ‘1 out of 5 million’ protest organizers against Belgrade’s movement decision to take part in elections (KoSSev, N1)

Opinion:

• The Balkan Great Game (CEPA)

International:

• Turkish national arrested in Kosovo sentenced to eight years in prison (Prishtina Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Balkan Countries Take Precautions Amid Fear of Coronavirus (Balkan Insight)
• Public money for private schools (Prishtina Insight)

• LVV and LDK with no agreement despite Quint meeting (media)
• Abbot and Heldt: We did not have any advice for Kurti and Mustafa (Klan)
• Haxhiu: LDK’s proposal, a mockery of Kosovo Assembly (Zeri)
• Abazi on Quint statement: Normal position as Kosovo is independent (EO/Klan)
• Borell to visit Kosovo tomorrow (media)
• Haradinaj: I would gladly lift the tariff towards Serbia (Express)
• Serwer: No continuation of dialogue before elections in Serbia (media)
• UK ambassador meets members of missing persons commission (media)
• One officer killed during a police operation in Zhur (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 28, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Statement by the Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, UK, and the U.S. (media)
• Quint, LVV and LDK to meet at 17:00 (Indeksonline)
• Maliqi has a proposal for LVV and LDK (media)
• LVV's Abazi hopes power-sharing agreement with LDK will happen (media)
• AAK deputy leader Ardian Gjini’s interview to Telegrafi
• LVV does not give up Assembly Speaker’s post (ekonomiaonline)

Serbian Language Media:

• President of Montenegro: "There can be neither Great Serbia nor Great Albania, it can only be great tragedy" (Tanjug, B92)
• Stefanovic: Vucic to meet Djukanovic soon, the attack might be ethnically motivated (B92, RTS, Tanjug)
• Jeremic: ''If the Law on SPC passes in Montenegro, this will happen in Kosovo also'' (Danas, KoSSev)
• US envoy Grenell satisfied with efforts to resume Serbia-Kosovo rail services (FoNet, N1)
• Ahmeti: It doesn't cross my mind to allow construction in Badovac (KIM radio, Kosovo Online, Koha Ditore)
• ''KRIK out loud'': Behind the yacht photo (KIM radio)

Opinion:

• China Buying Balkans Influence, Competing with West (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Belgrade – Pristina Eurowings Service Will Begin In Summer 2020 (simpleflying.com)
• BIRN Fact-check: Has the Import Tax Aided Kosovo’s Economy? (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo, Serbia Make 'Good Progress' In Working Out Railway Deal Details (RFE)
• The Brief – Is Mini Schengen all it’s cracked up to be? (Euractiv)
• Fighting Words: Journalism Under Assault in Central and Eastern Europe (reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Plemetina: Windows of local football club’s changing room broken (Radio KIM)

• LVV, LDK agree to include Quint ambassadors in the talks (media)
• Veliu: LDK will not accept new offers from LVV (Zeri)
• Bahtiri: Konjufca’s resignation will not happen (RTK)
• Veseli: If cowards shy away from responsibility, elections are imminent (Telegrafi)
• “Lack of transparency in Kosovo-Serbia meeting in Berlin raises questions” (Zeri)
• Konjufca to participate at Western Balkans Summit in Brussels (RTK)
• Albanian PM comments on Mini-Schengen initiative (Telegrafi/Top Channel)
• Borell announces plan to visit Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Germany removes Kosovo from security clearance list (media)
• Former newspaper editor reports attack on his home (Bota Sot)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo delegation says meeting in Berlin was constructive (media)
• This is Kosovo’s delegation negotiating on railways in Berlin today (media)
• Haradinaj says he has not spoken to Grenell about railways (Express)
• Thaci: Kosovo joins remembrance of the Holocaust victims (media)
• Mustafa: Meeting with Kurti today, I am committed to an agreement (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: Thaci abuses the Holocaust in an uncivilized manner (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica Sever, Blic)
• Borrell: We will do the best we know to facilitate Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (RTS)
• Railway line to be discussed in Berlin today, Djuric heads Serbian delegation (Tanjug, Radio KIM)
• Godfrey: I hope dialogue will continue (FoNet)
• Dacic: Grenell's position nothing new, Quint states have similar opinion (BETA, N1)
• Atlantic Council: Trump may be more successful in the Balkans than elsewhere (Beta, N1, VoA)
• “Prva petoletka” basketball players banned to enter Kosovo at Jarinje (RTS)
• PDS municipal councillor in Gracanica joined Srpska Lista (Radio KIM)
• Political analyst Fatmir Sheholli summoned to the Hague (Radio kontakt plus)

Opinion:

• The French non-paper: Are there any implications for Kosovo’s EU integration process? (EWB)

International:

• Michel: Three pillars for future Western Balkans-EU relations (EWB)
• Church Protests in Montenegro – Key facts (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• What’s happening on the shores of Lake Badovc? (Prishtina Insight)
• Possible protests over construction near Badovac lake (KiM radio)
• Teaching through the pain (Prishtina Insight)
• Educated by another state (Prishtina Insight)

• LVV-LDK continue negotiations, no agreement yet (media)
• Kosovo-Serbia railway link details to be discussed on Monday in Berlin (Klan)
• Grenell to AP: U.S. wants parties to focus on economy (Koha)
• Albanian President Meta hopes Israel will soon recognise Kosovo (media)
• Djuric: Our Ivanovic murder investigation lead in opposite direction from Pristina (Express)

• Thaci hails initiative for Pristina-Belgrade railway line (media)
• Osmani: There will be meetings with LVV over the weekend (Kosovapress)
• Shala: Assembly speaker post standing between LDK- LVV deal (Klan)
• LVV: Calls for Konjufca's resignation, unreasonable (Zeri)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 24, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Grenell heralds establishment of railway line between Pristina and Belgrade (Koha)
• Konjufca expected to resign, LVV succumbs to pressure from LDK (Lajmi)
• Vetevendosje: No reason for Konjufca to resign Assembly President post (media)
• EU: Elections transparent, well-administered; counting with major shortcomings (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic after meeting Grenell: I do not accept equality sign between retractions of recognition and Pristina’s tariffs (RTS)
• Grenell in Belgrade: If you do not reach agreement, we will withdraw (Tanjug, B92)
• Grenell arrived, bringing a "new Dayton" to Vucic? (Tanjug, B92, Srpski Telegraf)
• Godfrey: Grenell’s visit shows US interest for Western Balkans (RTS)
• Drecun: The White House wants some progress between Belgrade and Pristina (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Dacic: Ending de-recognition campaign can not be compromise over tariffs (Tanjug)
• Young Kosovo Serb journalists visit ''Klan Kosova'' TV in Pristina (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Belgrade-Pristina Flights Won’t Get Kosovo Serbs Airborne (Prishtina Insight)
• Balkans Risks Being Caught in Crossfire Over Middle East (Balkan Insight)