• Kurti and Borrell clash over Association of Serb-majority municipalities (Koha) • Kurti: Two decades since prison release, I continue to fight for the same causes (media) • Escobar: U.S. supports implementation of reached agreements (media) • Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti meets EC President von der Leyen, EP President Sassoli (media) • Varhelyi on vetting process: No need for such a deep reform (Kosovapress) • President Osmani meets UK, Austrian ambassadors (media) • Haradinaj: Kosovo is in the hands of energy mafia (media) • Kosovo, Albania Ready to Help any Potential US-led Ukraine Mission (BIRN) • COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 7, 2021 Albanian Language Media: • Kurti meets Borrell and Lajcak, talks about future of dialogue with Serbia (media) • Kurti: We have fulfilled all criteria for visa liberalization (media) • Meeting between Kurti and Vucic, not expected this year (Koha) • Sir Stuart Peach’s appointment as special envoy to Western Balkans, important step (RTK) • Perparim Rama sworn in as mayor of Pristina (media) • KOSTT's request for allocation of 33 million euros for electricity in the north, rejected (media) • Kurti represents Kosovo with a footnote in Stabilization and Association Council (Zeri) • COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media) Serbian Language Media: • Covid-19: 42 new cases, two deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online) • Vucic: We are ready to sign agreement on missing persons, but it is Pristina blocking dialogue (KoSSev) • Office for KiM: Flags of Albania and KLA displayed in Bosniak Mahala (KoSSev) • NATO senior official says Serbia valued, long-term partner (N1, BETA) • RCC’s Bregu: Challenges facing EU linked to those W. Balkans experiences (FoNet, N1) • Von Cramon met SOC Bishop Grigorije (N1, media) • The White House announced a plan to fight corruption on a global level (Kosovo Online, Tanjug) • OSCE Mission condemned repeated vandalism of memorial plaque dedicated to missing Serb journalists (social media) • Vucic and Hasanpur: Iran respects territorial integrity of Serbia (Kosovo-online, Tanjug) Opinion: • The global fight for democracy begins at home (Politico) International: • Serbia Strengthening ‘Parallel Structures’, Kosovo Deputy PM Says (Balkan Insight) • For Serbia’s Stevan Dojcinovic, journalism brings the Balkans’ corruption to light by ‘touching the untouchables’ (theglobeandmail.com) Humanitarian/Development: • More than 100 cases of sexual violence this year (Koha, KoSSev, RTK2)

• Stano: Pristina and Belgrade have no readiness for dialogue (RFE) • Kosovo delegation travels to Brussels for Stabilisation and Association Council (media) • Kurti on Gllogjan case: Best investigators working on it (media) • Bislimi: Parallel structures in the north stronger than ever (media) • Kosovo leaders pay tribute to late US senator Bob Dole (euronews.al) • Kosovo war veterans’ leader ‘trapped’ by leaked documents (BIRN) • COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media) • Kosovo death rate soars as result of COVID, data reveal (Prishtina Insight) • Head of private sector union warns Kurti of big protests next week (Express) • Kosovo judges’ ‘sexist’ language in rape trial draws outrage (BIRN) • Youth from Kosovo will receive direct help from Youth Guarantee scheme (EWB)

Albanian Language Media: • Haradinaj calls for unity in political battle with Serbia (media) • Kurti mentions meeting with Vucic; EU says we cannot speculate (Telegrafi) • “Serb MPs didn’t honor Dole only because he was a friend of the Albanians” (Express) • Jablanovic accuses SL of surveilling people through cameras in Leposavic (Kallxo) • Croatian President to visit Kosovo on Christmas, will meet Osmani and Kurti (media) • Kosovo sends over 30 samples for testing for Omicron to Germany (Express) • COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media) Serbian Language Media: • Covid-19: 36 new cases registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM) • Mts doo and ARKEP deny KosovaPress - that the number of illegal antennas in the North has increased (KoSSev) • UNS: Memorial plaque dedicated to kidnapped Serb journalists demolished for eight time (Radio KIM) • Office for KiM: Desecration of memorial plaque impermissible (Radio KIM) • On the eve of Human Rights Day, the associations of missing appealed to Belgrade and Pristina to intensify their work (KiM radio, Kossev) • Platform of NGOs asks decision on award to language non-compliant institutions be reconsidered (Radio KIM, media) • Language Commissioner response to Gracanica-online open letter (Gracanica-online) • Police invisible, Serbia’s roads blocked; Protest against Vucic in Kosovo north (N1) • Protests across Serbia: “Serbia is not for sale! Marš sa Drine!” (KoSSev) Opinion: • Palokaj: Merkel will be missed by all (Koha) International: • Cocaine Comrades: The Balkan Ties of a Fallen Colombian Drug Trafficker (Balkan Insight) Humanitarian/Development: • PM Kurti hosts meeting with heads of shelters for domestic violence victims (media) • Government declares iron will in defense of human rights (Ekonomia Online) • “Women, girls from minority communities not included in labour market” (Koha) • BIRN to Hold Exhibition Commemorating Reporters Killed in Balkan Wars (BIRN)

• Kurti and Vucic might meet in the second week of December (media) • Kurti for Montenegrin daily Pobjeda: Serbia is copying Russia (media) • Kosovo PM Kurti has telephone conversation with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Escobar (media) • Haradinaj calls Kurti a “communist” (Koha) • Hoxhaj: Dangerous to believe that UN membership is not important (Zeri) • Petkovic: Kurti will not get a U.S. visa while he attacks Belgrade (Express) • Outrage over the language of a Kosovo court ruling (media) • Kosovo Arrests 31 for Fraudulent Use of Agriculture Subsidies (BIRN) • Vucic reacts to massive cross-country protests over lithium mine (euronews.al) • COVID-19: Three new cases, one death (media) • Kosovo introduces additional measures in effort to prevent new wave of COVID-19 infections (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 3, 2021 Albanian Language Media: • PDK: Shadow government will be formed after New Year holidays (T7) • Kosovo Minister of Defense reports to parliamentary committee (media) • Berisha: Army was never involved in police operations (media) • The Western Balkans with “Russian troubles” (Radio Free Europe) • New board no silver bullet for troubled Kosovo broadcaster (BIRN) • Haradinaj: Deeply grateful to Merkel, a great friend of Kosovo (media) • Abazovic: If Open Balkans is alternative to EU, Montenegro disagrees (Telegrafi) • COVID-19: 13 new cases, no deaths (media) Serbian Language Media: • Serbian Government most strongly protested the Pristina’s new ban for Petkovic (GoS website, media) • Serbian PM says support for EU membership highest in five years (N1) • Serbian media continue reacting to awards presented to language non-compliant institutions, seek public apology (KoSSev, Gracanica-online, Radio KIM) • Lawyer: Rada Trajkovic acquitted of charges for slander against BIA official (KoSSev) • Vucic grateful for EU financial gift for Nis-Merdare highway construction (N1) • Rakic: SOC pillar of support for Serbian people (Kosovo-online) • Vasic: Confirmation of verdict to Krstic a scandal that is no surprising (Radio KIM) • Tadic on Rio Tinto Company: "Negotiations started during time of Zoran Djindjic's government" (B92) • EC’s Pisonero: Rio Tinto ‘Jadar’ project can be good economic chance for Serbia (N1) • Godfrey: US support participation of other countries from region in “Open Balkan” initiative (Kosovo-online) • EU-W. Balkans Ministerial Forum: Importance of rule of law, judicial reforms (N1) International: • Far-Right Exploiting Pandemic to Spread Hate, in the Balkans Too (BIRN)

• Kurti meets Quint ambassadors and head of EU office (media) • Kurti: Any initiative aimed at replacing EU integration is deviation from genuine democratic reforms (media) • Politicians react to appointment of UK special envoy to Western Balkans (media) • Mustafa: Association to either be formed or Assembly to invalidate 2013 agreement (Koha) • Analysts discuss implementation of Constitutional Court rulings (Klan) • Kosovo rejects entrance permission to Petkovic (RTK) • Svecla meets Johansson, discuss fight against crime and corruption (media) • EC 2021 Reports on Western Balkans: Corruption is widespread and remains an issue of concern (EWB) • Arrested development: the unfinished church dividing Kosovo (AFP/France 24) • Kosovo to Simplify Path to Citizenship for Albanians from Presevo Valley (Exit) • Kosovo Confirms Jailing of Serb Ex-Policemen for War Crimes (BIRN) • ‘Art Without Limit’ Film Festival Opens in Capital (BIRN) • COVID-19: 16 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 2, 2021 Albanian Language Media: • UK appoints special envoy to the Western Balkans (media) • Ambassador Rohde urges political parties to achieve Assembly quorum (media) • Trade unions give government deadline to approve law on salaries (Klan/Kallxo) • Rama: "Open Balkan" mechanism to aid implementation of Berlin process (Koha) • AJK calls on Government and LVV to distance themselves from social media group (media) • COVID-19: 16 new cases, no deaths (media) Serbian Language Media: • Covid-19: 32 new cases, one death registered in Serbian areas (Radio KIM) • Petkovic again banned from entering Kosovo (Tanjug, Kosovo Online) • Property issues in Kosovo, an unresolved problem (Radio KIM) • FM Selakovic: Serbia fosters friendly relations with African states (Tanjug) • NATO’s Stoltenberg: Development of the situation in the WB worrying (N1, Radio Mitrovica sever) • Protest in Zvecan due to electricity supply issues (Radio kontakt plus) • The Court of Appeals upheld verdicts to Krstic and Shabani (Kosovo-online) • Selakovic thanks Romania for its firm position not to recognize Kosovo (Kosovo-online) • Institutions respecting the Law on Use of Languages awarded (Radio KIM) International: • The Eagle’s Nest: Migrants, Refugees Tread New Balkan Route (Balkan Insight) • Serbia, new environmental protests (balcanicaucaso.org) Humanitarian/Development: • Von der Leyen: "It's time to consider mandatory vaccination" (B92, Tanjug)

• Borrell: Kosovo and Serbia must return to dialogue, no other way (Koha) • Lajcak visits Norway, discusses dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia (media) • Abdixhiku: I am trying for a great comeback of the LDK (media) • AAK’s Lekaj says KSF commander was sacked (Ekonomia Online) • Healthcare workers on strike today (Telegrafi) • PDK denies agreement on Prishtina deputy mayor post (Kallxo/Zeri) • KEDS asks for 7 percent increase in electricity tariffs from December 1 (Koha) • COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media: • Stoltenberg: We are concerned with rhetoric in Bosnia and Kosovo-Serbia tensions (Klan) • PDK's Citaku accuses Minister Mehaj of legal violations (media) • Kosovo's deputy minister denies allegations of Mehaj-Rama disagreements (Telegrafi) • Former KSF commander to represent Kosovo at RACVIAC organisation (Telegrafi) • Quint must not put pressure on Kosovo institutions, historians say (media) • KSC prosecution opposes interim release of former KLA leaders (media) • Court fines Klina mayor on conflict of interest charges (Zeri) • Kurti on anti-COVID measures: They respond to current situation (media) • COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media) Serbian Language Media: • Dacic calls referendum on constitutional amendments for January 16 (media) • New assemblies constituted in Serbian municipalities in Kosovo (RTS) • Visoki Decani: Without respect for the rights of all communities, there is no sustainable democratic development (Kosovo Online) • PM Brnabic to von Cramon: ''I understand that Kosovo is part of Serbia for you as well, and I appreciate that'' (Kosovo Online, Blic) • The north of Kosovo among the reasons for the change in the KSF; the position of the USA awaited (Kosovo Online) • Serbian Defence Minister Stefanovic about the change of the KSF head (Kosovo Online) • Todosijevic, Serbian List member who was sentenced to prison, still MP (RFE) • Serbian Ministry of Culture returned Kosovo and Metohija to the Law on Cultural Heritage (KiM radio, Beta) • Stano: Both Belgrade and Pristina to allow official visits (RTS, Tanjug) • Borrell: Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is the only way to stabilization (RTS, Tanjug) Opinion: • Serbia’s War on Free Media is Moving to ‘Street Level’ (Balkan Insight) International: • Havana Syndrome: The Perfect Disease for a Post-Truth World (Balkan Insight) Humanitarian/Development: • World AIDS day finds Kosovo with eight new HIV positive cases (RFE/Koha) • Quarantine in Kosovo Sparks Revival in Greenhouse Gardening (Prishtina Insight) • Workshop on Participatory Strategic Planning organised in Kosovo* (CoE) • Massive protests in Serbia against Rio Tinto’s lithium mining ambition, pollution (balkangreenenergynews.com)