UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 25
• COVID-19: 676 new cases, 15 deaths (media)
• Hoti announces new package of €182 million for economic recovery (media)
• Muhaxheri: Government has votes to pass economic recovery bill (media)
• Kosovars trust Kosovo Security Force the most, research shows (media)
• Haradinaj: We were close to an agreement with Thaci and Veseli (media)
• Agreement with Decan Monastery; road to be used for local traffic only (Koha)
• Surroi: New elections within three months (Klan Kosova)
• Hoxhaj meets Norway’s Special Representative for Western Balkans (media)
• Ambassador Kosnett holds virtual meeting with AAK leader Haradinaj (media)
• MP Haxhi Shala’s son appointed general consul in Prague (Koha)
• Appointment of Haxhi Shala’s son to diplomatic post sparks reactions (media)
• Campaign for elimination of violence against women to kick off (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 24, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 609 new cases, 13 deaths (media)
• Hoti: Name of the new president or election date to be known soon (RTK)
• Mustafa: Meeting on election of president, next week (media)
• Chief Prosecutor: Trial against Thaci and others not to start later than September 2021 (Koha)
• Hoti committed to implement Washington Agreement (Express)
• Veliu to be invited for a motion about EC Security Report (media)
• Zemaj calls the situation with the pandemic in Kosovo alarming (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:
• Two persons died, 67 new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian communities in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Dacic: No extreme changes in Washington’s attitude towards dialogue with Pristina (FoNet, N1)
• Rakic and Bjørnstad about more frequent attacks on Serbian population (TV Most)
• Vesic to file a lawsuit in Strasbourg (B92, Tanjug)
• Bilčík: EU should be Balkans’ goal, not political playground (DW, N1)
• Reforms leading to EU membership are Serbia’s priorities (FoNet, N1)
Opinion:
• Crimes, victims could easily be revealed with honest willingness in Serbia (Koha)
• A wound that needs healing, not opening (Koha)
• Petar Ristanovic: Leaders of the ”KLA” – Untold biographies (KoSSev)
International:
• A special Kosovo war crimes court will try its ex-president. So how do ‘hybrid’ courts work? (Washington Post)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 24
• COVID-19: 645 new cases, 12 deaths (media)
• Hoti warns of stricter measures, decision late this week (Indeksonline)
• Zemaj: Three options available for securing COVID-19 vaccine (Telegrafi)
• Osmani: EU should ask Serbia not Kosovo to amend its Constitution (media)
• AAK’s Haxhiu: Haradinaj should be President of Kosovo (media)
• Source: Belgrade delegation didn’t ask permit for visit to Kosovo (Klan/Express)
• Kosnett and Kurti discuss situation in Kosovo (media)
• Kosnett has virtual meeting with Hoxhaj (media)
• MP Adem Hoxha joins Serbian List (media)
• Specialist Chambers judge extends detention for Salih Mustafa (Koha)
• Kosovo, deputy PM faces public backlash over remarks on missing people (Euronews Albania)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 23, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 645 new cases, 12 deaths (media)
• Borrell: Kosovo-Serbia land swap, once an option but no longer one (Telegrafi)
• Hoti: Selmanaj’s remarks have been misconstrued (Kosovapress/Koha)
• Vetevendosje calls for dismissal of Deputy Prime Minister Selmanaj (media)
• KWN writes to PM Hoti asking for DPM Selmanaj’s dismissal (media)
• Kosovo Assembly fails to adopt resolution on missing persons (media)
• Osmani: Unfortunate that Kosovo is not allowed CoE membership (media)
• Kosovo delegation meets Croatian PM Plenkovic (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic: SPC Patriarch Irinej loved Serbs everywhere, his main concern was Kosovo (N1)
• MP Adem Hoxha joined the Serbian List (KiM radio, Kosovo Online)
• Vesic prohibited from entering Kosovo (KoSSev, KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio)
• The inscription “KLA” on the board at the entrance to Kisnica (KiM radio)
• Gracanica mayor on attempted flag burning (KIM radio)
• Four charged with the murder of Ivanovic in a new indictment, hearing to be held on December 4th (KoSSev)
• BCSP: 70% of Serbs do not believe there will be an armed conflict, 47% of them are ready to take part in a Kosovo conflict (KoSSev)
Opinion:
• Serbs Should Mourn Quiet Patriarch Who Avoided Conflict (Balkan insight)
• Cause for Optimism in Albeit Slow Western Balkans Recovery (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Hidden economy at very high levels and increasing throughout the Western Balkans (EWB)
• WHO official says Serbia close to lockdown (N1)
• Over 2,600 migrants in Kosovo, majority of them from Syria (RTK)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 23
• COVID-19: 707 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
• Health Minister: Citizens must change their behavior (media)
• “Healthcare workers, elderly and people with chronic illnesses to have priority” (media)
• Hoti backed down from negotiations on Association/Community (Koha)
• Kosovo, Albania condemn deletion of Albanian residents’ addresses in Presevo (media)
• Serbian delegation refused permission to visit Kosovo (media)
• Osmani terminates mandate of Serbian List’s representative to CEC (media)
• Emini: The Hoti show must not go on (Prishtina Insight)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 21
COVID – 19: 15 deaths, 875 new cases (media)
Ministry announces new measures: 18 municipalities in red zone (media)
Bislimi: Haradinaj has grip on partners of ruling coalition (Kosovapress)
Daut Haradinaj: Kosovo needs a president like Ramush Haradinaj (media)
“Government doesn’t want to secure votes for economic recovery bill” (media)
“Arrest, deportation of Turkish nationals from Kosovo, human rights violation”
Belgrade Media Report 20 November
LOCAL PRESS
Patriarch Irinej passes away (RTS)
Brnabic sends condolences over death of Patriarch Irinej (RTS/Tanjug)
Serbian government: Albanian citizens allowed to enter Serbia with ID card (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
Varhelyi tells MEPs Western Balkans are a priority (N1)
Lajcak: EU does not agree with the philosophy that whatever the two sides agree should be accepted (VoA/N1/RTS/RTV)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
B&H Presidency adopts harmonized, joint statement on DPA (FTV)
EU High Representative Borrell to visit B&H (Hayat)
UK Ambassador Field: DPA can be changed as it was not set in stone (Dnevni list)
Dodik: RS will not perish to save something that does not want to be saved (Glas Srpske)
Clark: We always knew that DPA was not perfect, but it was the best we could do at the time (Al Jazeera Balkans)
US will return focus on constitutional changes in B&H (Dnevni avaz)
B&H politicians comment 25th anniversary of DPA (Nezavisne novine)
Inzko: Agreement on construction of hydroelectric power plant can be signed only with the state (Dnevni avaz)
B&H CEC processes 96.05 percent of ballots for assemblies in RS, FB&H and Brcko District, passes conclusions on election process in Travnik, election irregularities in Doboj, Srebrenica (RTRS/BHT1)
Croatia
Grlic Radman informs EU Foreign Affairs Council about situation in B&H and need to reform B&H Election Law (HRT1)
Borrell’s op-ed: Future of B&H is in EU, we cannot change the past, but we can shape the future – together (Vecernji list)
Montenegro
Varhelyi: The first official visit of Krivokapic will be a positive signal (Vijesti)
Knezevic: New government will be voted on 2 December (Dnevne novine)
Republic of North Macedonia
State of crisis about to be declared (Republika)
Zaev removed nine SDSM party local chiefs (Republika/IPortal)
Artan Grubi named in an Albanian political dispute over the “Yellow house” organ harvesting investigation (Republika)
Albania
EU Council fails to agree over negotiating framework for Albania and North Macedonia (Tirana Times)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 20, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID – 19: 11 deaths, 855 new cases (media)
• Osmani: We are tired of irresponsible politicians who show tolerance to Serbia’s rejective policies (media)
• Hardinaj-Stublla made official request to visit mass graves locations in Serbia (media)
• Kizevak explained: EULEX experts describe how they identified the exact location where the human remains were discovered (EULEX, Express)
• Veliu: Serbia exercising violence against migrants near Presevo (RTK)
• Osmani: We are tired of irresponsible politicians who show tolerance to Serbia’s denying policies (media)
• Belgrade Court orders exhumation of human remains from Serbian mass grave (Euronews Albania)
• Kosovo’s Constitution does not specify who replaces acting president (Express)
Serbian Language Media:
• Gracanica Crisis Staff: Seven more newly infected with Covid-19 (KiM radio)
• Serbian Orthodox Church: Serbian Patriarch Irinej reposed in the Lord (media)
• Three-day mourning in Serbia after SPC Patriarch’s death; Putin sends condolences (N1)
• Petar Petkovic: Serbian people has lost its spiritual father and archpastor (Kosovo Online, TV Most, KiM radio)
• Varhelyi tells MEPs Western Balkans are a priority (N1)
• Serbian government official calls for end to attacks on Kosovo Serbs (FoNet, N1)
• Gara: Nine sets of human remains found in 3 months in Kosovo, excavations carried out in North Mitrovica (KoSSev)
• SPO: Government officials “loyal” to Thaci and Veseli presided over “corrupt government pay-outs” to potential witnesses (KoSSev)
• Albanian citizens can enter Serbia using only an ID card (KoSSev)
Opinion:
• Kosovo turns blind eye to officials flouting COVID-19 laws (Prishtina Insight)
International:
• Serbia Mourns Aged Patriarch’s Death from COVID-19 (Balkan Insight)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 20
• COVID – 19: 15 deaths, 875 new cases (media)
• Prishtina Mayor proposes Kosovo-wide lockdown for one week (media)
• OSCE trains Kosovo teachers on stress management during COVID-19 (media)
• PM Hoti on video conference with French President Macron (media)
• Kurti: Situation will change radically after the new elections (Kallxo)
• Haliti: PDK should join the government; PDK to propose new President (RTK)
• Lajcak: Kosovo – Serbia agreement must be acceptable for EU and region (KTV)
• Pacolli calls on Rama to lead national effort against Dick Marty report (media)
• “Prosecutor filed indictment against Nasim Haradinaj and Hysni Gucati” (media)
• CEC will ask President’s Office to decide on Nenad Rikalo (media)
Belgrade Media Report 19 November
LOCAL PRESS
Odalovic: Mortal remains discovered at Kizevak location near Raska (RTS/Tanjug/KoSSev)
EU expects Belgrade and Pristina not to move embassies to Jerusalem (N1)
EP worried by Serbia’s ruling party dominance during June general elections (N1)
RTS chiefs meet opposition officials (Beta/RTS)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Dodik: I really admit that Mister Radojicic’s defeat took a toll on me (Nova BH)
Dodik: RS institutions will invest in every part of RS including Banja Luka (RTRS)
Stanivukovic: Dodik is afraid of me because he cannot buy me (Dnevni avaz)
Newly-elected Bijeljina Mayor Petrovic says he will offer hand and cooperate with everyone in order to build better life for all citizens of Bijeljina (BN TV)
B&H CEC updates preliminary election results bringing certain changes to results in some municipalities including Ilijas and Novi Grad Sarajevo (Hayat)
Political subjects in Mostar sign pledge, promise to ensure fair elections in Mostar (Dnevni list)
Dodik: There is still no agreement on manner of marking 25th anniversary of DPA in B&H on 21 November (BHT1)
Zvizdic: SNSD opposes EU HR Borrell addressing Collegium and Heads of Caucuses of both Houses of B&H parliament (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia
President Milanovic lays wreath at Ovcara memorial (Hina)
An estimated 10,000 walk in Vukovar Remembrance Procession (Hina)
Pupovac pays respects to Skabrnja and Nadin victims in Zagreb (Hina/HRT)
Republic of North Macedonia
Pendarovski: Bulgaria is acting outside the 2017 treaty, violates common sense and democratic norms (Republika/ORF TV)
Zaev calls Bulgaria’s veto “failure to approve” (Republika)
State Department: Skopje and Sofia to resolve the dispute outside accession process (Republika/VOA)
Albania
Bulgaria approves opening of negotiations for Albania, closes the door to North Macedonia (Radio Tirana)
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES
Serbian President A.Vucic and Gazprom Neft CEO A.Dyukov launched new complex at the NIS refinery (Neftegaz.RU)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 19, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID – 19: 15 deaths, 875 new cases (media)
• Hoti: We’re committed to the issue of missing persons (media)
• Gerxhaliu: We’re waiting for official invitation to go to Raska (Telegrafi)
• Hoti in an online meeting with Macron, attempt to resume dialogue? (Lajmi)
• Trepca mineworkers protest over October wages (media)
• Minister: €1 million executed for wages of Trepca mineworkers (media)
• “Kosovo won’t be represented by UNMIK at Energy Community Treaty” (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• One death, 68 new cases in Serbian communities in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• EP worried by Serbia’s ruling party dominance during June general elections (N1)
• Lawyer Tapuskovic: If killed journalists are not in the indictments, the trial of KLA leaders of no use (Kontakt plus radio, UNS)
• The Kosovo inspection checks one pharmacy in North Mitrovica, citizens resented (KoSSev, Kontakt plus radio, Kosovo Online)
• Kisnica: Family Trajkovic worried, provocations continue (KiM Radio, Kosovo Online, Radio Gracanica)
• Borrell: The EU expects Serbia and Kosovo not to move the embassies to Jerusalem (N1)
• Doctors: SPC Patriarch’s health condition deteriorating due to coronavirus (media)
• Dacic: There must be justice for Serbian victims as well (B92, Tanjug, TV Happy)
Opinion:
• Language Is Politics, and Not Just In the Balkans (bnnbloomberg.ca)
International:
• Would-be Balkan EU Members Remain Hostage to Vetos (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• “Europe can avoid quarantine on one condition and I stand behind that claim” (Tanjug, B92)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 19
• COVID – 19: 720 new cases, 11 deaths (media)
• Kosovo Assembly to meet today, Hoti to face two interpellations (media)
• Minister: A government that fails to pass economic recovery bill, must go (Kallxo)
• “Serbia deliberately concealing truth of genocide committed in Kosovo” (media)
• “Anyone who commits war crimes should be brought to justice” (media)
• Haziri: Time has come for LDK to get President post (Express)
• Osmani: Women participation in dialogue, necessary and smart decision (media)
• Poll: 66% of citizens think new elections would bring political stability (Telegrafi)