UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 23, 2019

Albanian Language Media:

• Haradinaj: Don’t lift the tariff and don’t stop the Dukagjini highway (media)
• Russia’s strategic interests and tools of influence in Western Balkans (media)
• Rugova: No alternative to LDK-LVV coalition government (Telegrafi)
• Dialogue: A new chapter with old consequences (Express)
• Agim Veliu: LDK is more than a political party (Klan)
• Osmani: We want agreement with Serbia but not at cost of Kosovo borders (Koha)
• LVV to Veliu: We did not request President’s post (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• “Europe will support ‘mini-Schengen’ initiative with 1.2 billion euros” (B92, Tanjug)
• 'Mini Schengen is not a replacement for EU and it doesn't mean new Yugoslavia' (N1)
• What happened with “poisoned ballots” from Serbia? (Tanjug, B92)
• Gracanica citizens to self-organize as a protection against thieves until a solution found (KIM radio, RTS, Gracanica radio)

International:

• In the Balkans, a disruptor poised for power (politico.eu)
• ‘Mini-Schengen’ risks driving a wedge between Albania and Kosovo (Emerging Europe)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Europe 'will feel' new refugee wave, warns Turkey's Erdogan (DW)
• “White Peony” award to Milorad Trifunovic and Bajram Qerkini, “Black Peony” to Kosovo Assembly (Radio kontakt plus)

• Assembly session three days away, LDK insists on ‘balancing’ of posts (Zeri)
• LVV, LDK to make final efforts for an agreement (Koha)
• Veliu: No agreement until president’s post is defined (Express/Bota Sot)
• Hamiti: People with authoritarian mentality want absolute power (RTK)
• Albanian PM Rama defends Mini-Schengen in face of criticism from Kosovo (Koha)
• Palokaj: Yes to meetings with Serbian leaders, but with dignity (Koha)
• Basha: No Mini-Schengen without Serbia apologising to Kosovo (Kallxo)
• Meta: Serbia to stop campaigns against Kosovo’s integration (Zeri)
• Haradinaj justifies depleting Kosovo’s reserve fund (Klan Kosova)
• Gashi: 15 witnesses are being interviewed on Astrit Dehari’s case (media)
• Railways in Kosovo north under Serbia’s administration (media)

• LVV-LDK without agreement despite international pressure (media)
• Kurti optimistic after the meeting with Mustafa (RTK)
• Bislimi: Support for LVV is increasing (RTK)
• Hyseni: LVV is threatening with new elections (RTK)
• Special Prosecution files charges against two women repatriated from Syria (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Abazi: Rama handing over Albania to Vucic’s Mini-Schengen (media)
• Kurti: We do not have concrete results, agreement possible (media)
• Tahiri: Kosovo right not to take part in Mini-Schengen initiative meeting (Zeri)

Serbian Language Media:

• NGO ''ÇOHU!'' reports that 8 media outlets violate the code of ethics, including KoSSev ''due to readers’ comments'' (KIM radio, KoSSev)
• “Solution for Kosovo based on UN SC Resolution 1244” (Radio KIM)
• Poster of Vucic ‘persona non-grata’ in Tirana (BETA, N1)
• Analysts on Thaci’s refusal to attend “mini-Schengen” summit (Sputnik, B92)
• “Pristina became political loser” (Tanjug, B92)
• Joksimovic: Serbia committed to EU accession (BETA, N1)
• Lawyer Vasic: The indictment is 'a far-fetched construction', especially in the sections related to organized criminal group (Kosovo Online, RTV Puls)
• Vucic: Tahiri threatens with war and nobody reacts (RTV, Tanjug)

International:

• What Macron plans for Europe (Politico)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Strpce residents in the fight against MHPPs: We only have one Shara Mountain (KoSSev)
• British ambassador visits KSF members attending Serbian language course (Koha)

• Int’l community steps up pressure on LVV, LDK to form new government (media)
• “Visa liberalisation might happen next year” (RTK)
• Nagavci: LVV said it prefers to govern with LDK, we stand behind this (media)
• Basha: LDK is keeping hostage the agreement (RTK)
• Abrashi: LVV hesitates to take over PM’s Office (RTK)
• Gashi: For now constitution guarantees only Assembly President to LVV (media)
• Vetevendosje in Albania to protest against Vucic’s visit (media)
• Rama: Kosovo mistaking for refusing Mini-Schengen initiative (Klan Kosova)
• Citaku's complaint against Dacic not included in UN SC agenda (Klan Kosova)

Albanian Language Media:

• EU Office: A swift government formation is needed in Kosovo (media)
• Osmani: New elections if institutions are not formed (Ekonomia Online)
• Veliu: Both prime minister and president are too much for LVV (media)
• Haradinaj: Vetevendosje to end process of forming institutions (Koha)
• Beyer: Dont talk through media, arrange a meeting, form coalition (Express)
• Kurti and Bislimi meet German MPs, discuss new government (RTK)
• VV leader Kurti talks government program during visit to Rome (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Oliver Ivanovic's 10,000-page indictment in Albanian language only (RTV Puls, Kosovo Online, Vecernje Novosti)
• Serbian military chief says KFOR only legitimate armed formation in Kosovo (N1, Beta, KIM radio)
• Kosovo Law Institute: How did Pacolli obtain documents about crimes? (Kosovo-online)
• KRIK editor banned to enter UAE returns to Belgrade; Serbian MIA issued statement on his case (B92, Serbian media)
• North Macedonia PM: I support 'mini-Schengen', Vucic’s initiative beneficial (FoNet, N1, TV Pink)
• Former CIA Chief: Washington returns to the Balkans, which is not good news (Nedeljnik, B92)

International:

• Moscow Points Out Hypocrisy In Ex-NATO Commander's Remarks On Russian Interests In Balkans (urdupoint.com)
• Marinelli: Serbia is becoming an increasingly important partner to NATO (European Western Balkans)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo Journalists Condemn Minister Accused of Punching Reporter (Balkan Insight)

• LDK ready to 'sacrifice' additional ministry for president's post (Zeri)
• VV, LDK barricaded over post of Kosovo President (Koha)
• Haxhiu: No thanks, LDK wants half of government and everything else (RTK)
• Haziri: LVV should have faith in LDK (T7/Zeri)
• Merkel sends envoys in a final effort to secure LVV-LDK coalition (media)
• Constitutive session of new Kosovo Assembly next Thursday (media)
• Kurti meets British Ambassador Abbott (RTK)
• Thaci turns down invitation to Balkans Mini-Schengen summit (media)
• Haradinaj “exhausts” Reserve Fund (Koha)
• Trial on Oliver Ivanovic’s murder to start on 30 December (media)
• Investigation launched against minister Shala for attack on journalist (Zeri)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 18, 2019

Albanian Language Media:

• Constitutive session of new Kosovo Assembly next Thursday (media)
• Thaci turns down invitation to Balkans Mini-Schengen summit (media)
• Kurti: Let us see if LDK barricades further or we reach agreement (Express)
• “Mustafa, Kurti to overcome obstacles before new assembly session”
• “Kosovo, Serbia to implement agreements before finale of dialogue” (Koha)
• Tahiri: War, if Serbia doesn’t recognise Kosovo in current borders (Klan Kosova)
• Fajon on visa liberalisation for Kosovo (Gazeta Metro)
• Trial on Oliver Ivanovic’s murder to start on 30 December (RTK)
• Veseli: “Syri i popullit” activated to hide failure of LDK – LVV agreement (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian List: Edita Tahiri's statement raises unrest and incites hatred among communities in Kosovo (TV Most)
• Balkans 2020: No brightening (DW, B92)
• UNMIK Head Zahir Tanin reacts to desecration of Orthodox cemetery in Lipljan (Social media)
• OSCE Mission in Kosovo condemns desecration of Serban Orthodox cemetery in Lipljan (Social media)
• Zyberaj: Pacolli forwarded evidence of Serbia’s genocide to prosecution; Djuric: Primitive chauvinist campaign (KoSsev)
• Dacic: Albanians frustrated because of incoming indictments (Tanjug, TV Happy)
• Serbian List won’t prevent forming of Kosovo institutions (Beta, N1)
• Politika: Calling the elections on March 8th, to the polls on April 26th (NMagazin, Beta)
• UAE: Serbia’s journalist is on ‘blacklist’ on some other Govt. request (N1, B92, Beta, Tanjug)
• Ivanovic’s nephew: There is no indictment for execution and organization of murder (Radio kontakt plus)
• Oliver Ivanovic murder trial on December 30th (Kosovo Online, RTV Puls)
• Lawyer Vasic: Prosecutor proposes house arrest measure for Markovic, Jovanovic and Arsovic (Kosovo online)
• Lawyer Halimi: No new evidence against Rosic (KoSSev)
• Odalovic: Serbia cannot shed light on destinies of missing persons alone (RTS)
• Ombudsman: There is no improvement in the accountability of institutions (RTV Puls)
• Lawyer Vlajic: We will appeal when the Todosijevic verdict arrive (Kosovo Online)

International:

• BIRN Launches Updated Map of Balkan War Crime Verdicts (Balkan Insight)
• Belgrade Appoints Serb Officials in Northern Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Gorazdevac: Young people are most disappointed and most dissatisfied part of society (KoSSev, Radio Gorazdevac)
• Serbian Museum Puts Mestrovic’s Vidovdan Sculptures on Display (Balkan Insight)

• Assembly prepares for constitutive session, VV-LDK no agreement yet (media)
• Hoti: If we don’t get post of President, we will go in opposition (Indeksonline)
• Arben Gashi: Negotiations for a coalition take time (RTK)
• Bahtiri: LVV- LDK coalition will be reached, never with PDK (Telegrafi)
• Nagavci: LVV structures did not discuss post of President (Kallxo)
• Rakic: Serbian List will not impede creation of institutions (RTK)
• Land swap idea damaged Kosovo’s position in dialogue, poll shows (media)
• Rama invites Thaci to summit on Balkans Mini-Schengen (media)
• Pacolli submits war crime files to the prosecution (RTK)
• NISMA leader Limaj’s advisor wounded in Pristina (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We will not form a coalition with the Serbian List (media)
• Muhaxheri: Chances of no coalition with LVV are zero (media)
• Bosch mentions candidates for future Kosovo President (Koha)
• Turkey deports two Kosovar nationals (media)
• Kurti and Konjufca at prosecution tomorrow for criminal charges against Thaci and Veseli (RTK)
• German Ambassador: Election process took too much time (RTK)
• LDK continues to insist on the post of the President (media)
• Haradinaj: The winner should create institutions (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Tombstones at Orthodox cemetery in Lipljan demolished again, Djuric condemns the incident (RTS)
• Hodzic in strongest terms condemned desecration of Orthodox cemetery in Lipljan (Radio KIM)
• Fabrizi: Region needs normalization of Belgrade-Pristina relations (Beta, N1)

International:

• How Brexit sent Kosovo to back of the EU queue (The Times)
• Kosovo ‘enslaved from within’ by corruption, says incoming PM (FT)
• War Criminals Given Respect in Balkan Societies, Activists Warn (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The warnings of the Gracanka River and tailings (KoSSev, Gracanicaonline.info)