UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 18, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID – 19: 11 deaths, 720 new cases (media)
• Over 40,000 pages of material against former KLA leaders (Koha)
• Prosecution: Trial of KLA leaders to start in summer of the next year (RTK)
• Thaci’s lawyer: Starting trial in June is absurd (RTK)
• Veseli’s lawyer criticizes evidence work of the Special Prosecutor (RTK)
• Krasniqi’s and Selimi’s lawyers also complain, request more time for evidence (RTK)
• Emmerson: When evidence comes to light, this indictment will be called ridiculous (RTK)
• Hoxhaj: On the day Albanian mass graves are opening in Serbia, freedom fighters are being tried in The Hague (Express)
• KLA war veterans: session against Thaci and others, clearly political (Telegrafi)
• Balje reacts to Belgrade’s claims that communities are endangered (RTK)
Serbian Language Media:
• The remains found in the quarry near Raska; Odalovic: We are on the field, awaiting the judge’s move (KoSSev)
• Braun about Biden’s statement on Thaci: Views can be changed (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Enhance the presence of international security forces in Serb areas south of the Ibar, says Petkovic (Kontakt plus radio)
• Attack on a Serb in Kisnica, no injuries sustained (KiM radio, gracanicaonline.info, Kontakt plus radio, KoSSev, RTV Puls)
• YIHR: The glorification of those accused for war crimes is unacceptable always and under any circumstance (KoSSev)
• Vulin uses the derogatory term ”Shiptars” on RTS; Kamberi: Vulin violates Serb laws (KoSSev)
• Darko Tasic’s lawyer: ”My client was beaten in the prison near Podujevo” (Kontakt plus radio)
• CEC member and former Minister, Rikalo appointed Acting Assistant Director of Office for KiM (KoSSev, Kontakt plus radio)
• Ambassador Godfrey: Biden’s administration will work on strengthening relation with Serbia (FoNet, N1)
• EU Ambassador says Serbia’s military neutrality not in question (RFE, N1)
• Serbian FM Selakovic meets UN Belgrade office chief Miculescu (FoNet, N1)
International:
• Bulgaria blocks EU membership talks for North Macedonia (EWB)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Serbian teachers’ unions want schools closed (media)
• Balkans 17/11/2020: 1.430.341 recorded cases, 32.867 deaths (balkaneu.com)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 18
• COVID – 19: 17 deaths, 764 new cases (media)
• Hoti on the burned banner: We must be calm (RTK)
• SPO session for Thaci, Veseli and the others, today (media)
• Hoti to Kurti: You know that there is legal basis for protection of the accused (RTK)
• Kosovo’s acting President tests positive for coronavirus (Express)
• Haradinaj in Berlin, seeks help on liberalization of visas for Kosovo (Express)
• Hoxhaj: Mass graves opening in Serbia, EU remains silent (RTK)
• Haxhiu: PDK is flirting to become part of the government (RTK)
• Krasniqi: Kurti is not honest while calling for protection of KLA leaders (media)
• Suspected mass grave of Kosovo war victims found in Serbia (Prishtina Insight)
Belgrade Media Report 17 November
LOCAL PRESS
UNMIK’s engagement continues to be necessary in Kosovo and Metohija (srbija.gov.rs)
Selakovic: Serbia highly appreciates India’s principled position regarding Kosovo and Metohija (RTV)
Stankovic: Dismissal of Serbs in Bujanovac may be interpreted as provocation (Politika/Novosti)
EU sources: No reason why change in Washington should affect Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Beta)
Majority of Serbians opposed to NATO membership (Beta)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
B&H CEC: 96.22 percent of ballots processed so far (RTRS)
Media carry names of newly elected Mayors and Heads of Municipalities (Hayat)
Future convocations of municipal councils already outlined (Dnevni avaz)
Media bring preliminary results of elections in RS (N1)
SNSD, United Srpska, SP are content with preliminary results of elections; Dodik: We win 48 out of 63 local communities (RTRS)
SNSD wins most votes for posts of mayor and municipality head in 42 local communities in RS; DNS loses its stronghold in Prijedor (ATV)
SNSD’s Jerinic reelected as Doboj Mayor (ATV)
HDZ B&H wins local elections in majority of municipalities predominantly inhabited by Croats (BHT1)
Irregularities reported during local elections 2020 (Hayat)
Dodik announces financing of Banja Luka from RS level will cease due to election result (O kanal)
Croatia
PM sending message of reconciliation with delegation to Vukovar (Hina)
Montenegro
Meeting between representatives of the Socialist People’s Party and Krivokapic (CdM)
I think the parties will get seats in the government (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
Dimitrov: At the moment we have negative stance from Bulgaria (Telma)
Mickoski to call leaders’ meeting with Sela and Gashi, invite Ahmeti, Thaci and Kasami as well (Republika)
Albania
White House deal, a farce (ADN)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 17, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID – 19: 17 deaths, 764 new cases (media)
• Thaci, Veseli and the others at another session on Wednesday (media)
• Nagavci: Unity around obsolete political club would be wrong (media)
• LVV Spokesman, supports Kurti’s reaction on Special Court (RTK)
• Isa Mustafa defends Lulzim Basha (media)
• Billboard in support of ex-KLA members torched overnight near Serb-majority Municipality (Gazeta Express)
• Serbian president says Merkel siding with Kosovo (media)
• Human remains of suspected missing persons from Kosovo war found in Serbia (Euronews Albania)
• Kosovo’s economy to shrink 7.2% due to coronavirus crisis (Gazeta Express)
Serbian Language Media:
• 74 newly infected, one death and 13 cured in Serbian communities (Kontakt plus radio, KoSSev, KiM radio)
• Nine more newly infected, 29 hospitalized in Gracanica (Kosovo Online)
• Gracanica billboards (media)
• Vucic: The Russians knew what was being signed in Washington; We will fight for Serbia (TV most, TV Happy)
• Majority of Serbians opposed to NATO membership (N1, Beta)
• “The only possible option is for Serbia to join the EU” (B92, Tanjug)
• SPC monastery in Kosovo abbess: Ten nuns infected with coronavirus (Beta, N1)
• Seventy thousand requests for return of usurped property in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Artists in support of war crimes indictees; A billboard in Gracanica burns down (KoSSev)
Opinion:
• “Specialist chambers ‘inat’ should be recognised–and faced” (kosovotwopointzero.com)
International:
• Kosovo president expects better US relations under Biden (Financial Times)
• “Serbia and NATO have to work on restoring trust in one another” (EWB)
• Suspected Mass Grave of Kosovo War Victims Found in Serbia (Balkan Insight)
• Survey: 80% of Serbian citizens against NATO membership, but only 33% against cooperation (EWB)
Humanitarian/Development:
• A year after China ‘Patient Zero,’ 55 mil infected with SARS-CoV-2, 1.3 mil died (N1, RTS)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 17
• COVID – 19: 11 deaths, 688 new cases (media)
• Mustafa: Let’s find an independent candidate for Kosovo President (RTV21)
• Hoti: We will soon start consultations on post of Kosovo President (media)
• Vetevendosje calls for elections: Government must be dismissed ASAP (media)
• Haziri: If we don’t agree on President post, we go to new elections (Gazeta Blic)
• Hoxhaj: Biden asked us to vote in favor of Specialist Chambers (Telegrafi)
• Bajrami: A vaccine against bad governance (Koha)
• Kosovo Foreign Minister warns of Russian – Serbian hybrid threats (media)
• Zeka: SPO told Azem Syla not to leave Kosovo this week (media)
• “Mortal remains found in Serbia are of Kosovo Albanians” (media)
• Janjic: Kosovo, Serbia will reach agreement late next year (media)
Belgrade Media Report 16 November
LOCAL PRESS
Brnabic: Importance of unity of Serbia, Republika Srpska (Tanjug/RTS)
Petkovic: Regardless of outcome of trial, the West will not change position on Kosovo and Metohija (RTS)
Petkovic condemns billboards with insignia of co-called KLA (Politika/Tanjug/Beta)
KFOR change of command in Pristina (N1/RTV/Politika/Novosti)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Local elections in Bosnia and Hercegovina (BHT1/N1/FTV)
Pandemic makes B&H election complicated, claims a candidate’s life (N1/Srna)
SDA registers huge debacle in Sarajevo, SNSD lost Banja Luka and Bijeljina (Dnevni avaz)
Kojovic: Citizens declared in what kind of B&H they want to live; Mandic: This is beginning of new B&H (Dnevni avaz)
Izetbegovic: We lost Sarajevo, but we remain strongest party in B&H (Dnevni avaz)
PDP’s Stanivukovic wins elections in Banja Luka, Micic loses in Bijeljina, comments (Oslobodjenje)
Both Grujicic and Tabakovic claim election victory in Srebrenica (Oslobodjenje)
SNSD’s Cosic wins post of Istocno Sarajevo Mayor (Oslobodjenje)
SDP’s Imamovic re-elected Mayor of Tuzla (Oslobodjenje)
Kasumovic re-elected Mayor of Zenica (Oslobodjene)
Ogresevic, Fazlic re-elected in Cazin and Bihac, big fight in Velika Kladusa between Husic and Abdic (Oslobodjenje)
SDA’s Ganci wins post of Visoko Mayor (Oslobodjenje)
HDZ B&H’s Boskovic re-elected Head of Municipality of Stolac (Oslobodjenje)
HDZ B&H maintains number of posts; Loses Tomislavgrad and Prozor-Rama (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia
Sanader, Barisic, Pavosevic sentenced to prison; HDZ fined in Fimi Media case (Hina)
Montenegro
Knezevic: We will support the new government; despite the injustice we are faced with (Dnevne novine)
Politicians in Montenegro must not allow resurrection of nationalism (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
Zakharieva: Macedonia is not ready for EU accession talks (Republika)
Zaev is off to Berlin for a last-minute push on the Bulgarian veto (Republika)
Albania
EU accession negotiations postponed until second half of 2021 (Tirana Times)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 16, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID – 19: 11 deaths, 688 new cases (media)
• Zemaj: All medical staff specialists will be employed (media)
• “Marginalised groups must be supplied with protective equipment” (media)
• Hoti: Integration of market, first step toward political reconciliation (media)
• Kurti statement on KLA leaders indictments sparks reactions (Euronews Albania)
• Kollcaku: Vucic is not a man of peace (Euronews Albania, RTK)
• Kusari-Lila warns overthrow of Hoti’s government (KosovaPress, media)
Serbian Language Media:
• UNS: KLA Crimes Court ignores killings of journalists in Kosovo (Beta, Danas)
• KLA billboard disturbs residents of Gracanica, Mayor Popovic invites international community to react (KIM radio, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Petkovic condemns KLA billboards near Gracanica (FoNet, N1)
• People’s Party branch in Kosovo: Director of Office for KiM should deal with protecting people in Kosovo (Beta)
• Serbian List to People’s party: ‘’Only three Jeremic’s followers, blinded with hatred, do not see the assistance of the state of Serbia’’ (Kosovo Online)
• Albanian Minister: Relation between Serbs and Albanians a frozen conflict (N1, FoNet, RTK2)
• Serbia condemns prevention of handball team’s ban on entry to Kosovo (FoNet, N1)
• Gjinovci on Kurti’s allegations against the Special Court: ”Icing on the cake” evidence of political meddling with justice (KoSSev)
Opinion:
• Biden presidency is key to EU leadership in Kosovo – Serbia Dialogue (Euractiv)
• Thaçi’s gone. The thin line of Erdoğan’s brotherhood (EWB)
International:
• Unnamed Suspects Charged over Kosovo Serb Politician’s Murder (Balkan Insight)
• SDA loses Sarajevo and SNSD loses Banja Luka in Bosnia’s 2020 local elections (N1 Sarajevo)
Humanitarian/Development:
• BIRN to Hold Art Exhibition About Kosovo War Mass Graves (Balkan Insight)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 16
• COVID – 19: 13 deaths, 501 new cases (media)
• Hoti: We have taken necessary steps to fight COVID – 19 (Kallxo)
• Kurti wants Kosovo government to defend indictees at The Hague (media)
• Williamson: If Kosovo wouldn’t form Special Court, UN would do it (media)
• Lack of coordination in government for Washington pledges (Koha)
• Finance Minister: War against thieves will continue with all capacities (media)
• Fate of ‘disappeared’ Yugoslav soldiers from Kosovo still unknown (BIRN)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 14
• COVID-19: 1,047 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• Prishtina Mayor appeals to citizens to respect new measures (media)
• Osmani: EU favoring Serbia as a spoiled child (media)
• Haxhiu: New elections before President is elected (media)
• Lack of quorum continues to impede Assembly’s work (Kosovapress)
• SPO: We have jurisdiction to try Serbian forces for war crimes (RTK)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 13, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID – 19: 953 new cases, 13 deaths (media)
• Hoti: Outstanding issues must be resolved through dialogue (media)
• EU, NATO do not answer Kosovo’s calls to condemn Vucic statement (media)
• Hoti: Let’s agree on a President or set a date for new elections (media)
• Mustafa: Talks with Serbian List; AKR said it’ll support the bill (Indeksonline)
• PDK: Hoti-led government must go home ASAP (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• 84 new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian communities (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: Fabrications of Kosovo’s politicians that I called for war (Danas, Beta)
• Dacic: Time of false news and Pristina’s first love with NATO and EU has passed (Kosovo Online)
• Biden asked Haradinaj to protect Visoki Decani in a confidential letter from 2002 (KoSSev)
• Spahiu: ”Mentioning of Catholics in the indictment is offensive, members of Muslim community worked more for Milosevic” (Kosovo Online)
• CI SDP: New indictment for Ivanovic’s murder confirms Kosovo judiciary violates its own laws (Beta, Kosovo Online)
• What did Vucic say? Pristina: Vucic issued a ”war threat”; Belgrade: Kosovan ”hysteria” and stereotypes about Serbs (KoSSev)
Opinion:
• Serbian List awaits Vucic to ”wink” (Danas)
• Kosovo wartime leaders’ indictment is inaccurate and biased (Prishtina Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• UN Says Serbian anti-terrorism laws misused to target NGOs, media (N1)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 13
• COVID-19: 767 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Hoti: Kosovo committed to peace, stability and prosperity of the region (media)
• Osmani calls on EU, NATO to react to Vucic’s statements (media)
• NATO on Vucic’s statement on frozen conflicts (RFE)
• Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry reacts to Vucic’s statement (media)
• Quni: We do not want war but if unavoidable, we will win again (media)
• Hoxhaj: Region can move ahead when Serbia faces genocide it has committed (media)
• NISMA: Final time for EU to take measures towards Serbia (media)
• Party of Kosovo Serbs: Vucic’s statement, a hypocrisy (RTK)
• Petkovic says Kosovo’s reaction to Vucic’s statement “hysterical” (media)
• PDK Spokesperson denies claims they will join governing coalition (RTK)
• AAK MP: Government is already down, election date should be set tomorrow (Express)
• Kosovo’s rival communities reach deal on World Heritage site (AP)
• Serbian Ministry Again Defends Privacy of Wanted War Criminal (Balkan Insight)
Belgrade Media Report 12 November
LOCAL PRESS
Vucic: Better that we reach solution with Pristina sooner than later (RTS/Tanjug/B92)
Vucic meets with Quint Ambassadors, Fabrizi (RTS/Tanjug/Beta)
Simic: Serbs consider leaving Kosovo government (FoNet/Politika)
Revised budget for 2020 adopted by Serbian parliament (RTS/Tanjug)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
B&H CEC expects epidemiologic measures to be respected in polling stations, presidents of local election commissions say this instruction is opposite to Law on Elections of B&H as it limits right of political parties to have observers (Dnevni avaz)
PIC SB and BoP issues joint statement calling for transparency and integrity of election process (Dnevni avaz)
Head of EUD to B&H Sattler and Head of EU Member Countries Missions to B&H write joint column, call on people to vote in Sunday’s local elections (Dnevni list)
OSCE Mission to B&H issues statement, supporting free, fair and safe elections (Dnevni avaz)
Inzko: Ball in Dodik’s court, he has opportunity to remove plaque which carries name of Radovan Karadzic (Hayat)
Montenegro
Prime Minister-designate to present division of positions (Dan)
Becic: We want to avoid divisions (CdM)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Bozovic: We are not going to allow the rewriting of our history; The Embassy of Serbia canceled laying the wreath (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
No enlargement if settlement of historical disputes becomes precondition for EU accession negotiations (Republika/Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung)
Karakachanov gives an ultimatum to the government: Zaev is silent about the non-paper and the language that should get a footnote (Republika)
Zaev hopes to reach a deal with Bulgaria by Tuesday (Republika)
Taravari: Zaev will push for early general elections in 2021 (Republika)
Albania
Minister Cakaj receives Kosovo Ambassador, discuss over KLA (ADN)
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