UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 13, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo government adopts draft law setting minimum wage at €250 (media)
• Kosovo bans export of certain food products (RFE)
• Political parties agree on formation of an Ad-hoc commission on electoral reform (lajmi)
• Haxhiu: Failed attempts by opposition to stain two important initiatives (Telegrafi)
• PDK calls on ERO to suspend decision for increased electricity tariffs (media)
• Association of Journalists expresses concern over report findings (Telegrafi)
• Inflation in Kosovo has reached 10 % (euronews.al)
• COVID-19: 23 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• State Department on human rights in Kosovo report presented (KoSSev, Radio KIM, Kosovo-online)
• Vucic reacts to Kurti, Djukanovic’s statements on armament of Serbia (Tanjug)
• Politicians and media key to the (mis) understanding of the two peoples (KiM radio)
• Valdete Daka on State Department report relating to her dismissal (Kosovo-online)
• Dimitrijevic resigns post of UNS branch in Kosovo president (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic met Ambassador Schieb: Not a slightest willingness in Pristina (Kosovo Online)
• State Department notes human rights issues in Serbia 2021 report (N1)

International:

• The ‘Awakening’: American Right-Wing Extremist Finds Allies in the Balkans (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• NDI hosts a two-day conference against misinformation (Klan Kosova)
• Fact-checking is Crucial in Combating Fake News, Panel Says (BIRN)
• Kosovo's first medical aid package reaches Ukraine (media)
• President of Serbian Chamber of Commerce calls for aid for Ukraine (N1)
• ‘Food diplomacy’: EU plans to counter Russia in MENA, Balkans (AlJazeera)

• Kosovo government with over €100 million of aid to citizens (media)
• State Department: Impunity for corruption in Kosovo continues (media)
• Government expected to adopt draft law on minimum wage today (Indeksonline)
• Kurti meets Israeli Minister of Regional Cooperation (media)
• Qalaj: Heads of state are keeping silent about Specialist Chambers (Koha)
• Limaj: Serbian Secret Service planned to kill me and Rexhep Selimi (media)
• COVID-19: 14 new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Marty's allegations exceed individual dimension; Serbia's armament not undangerous for the region (media)
• Osmani: Kosovo is an example of a genuine democracy (RTK)
• Government of Kosovo introduces economic recovery measures (media)
• Hoti: 100 euros assistance does not solve the problem of price increases (Klan)
• PDK calls Government's decision a “populist” move (Koha)
• Haradinaj: Kurti cannot hide his failures with 100 euros (media)
• Ministers: Israel and Kosovo to increase cooperation (media)
• Rama on Serbia’s purchase of arms: It is for defense, I am not worried (media)
• Prosecution: Swiss expertise found no DNA of anyone else in things near Dehari (media)
• COVID-19: 9 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Almost 6000 refugees from Ukraine staying in Serbia (Kosovo-online)
• Drecun: Threats to Marty not coming from Belgrade, aimed at compromising Serbia (Tanjug)
• Kosovo's Specialist Chambers about threats to Marty: Focus on fairness of proceedings (Kosovo Online)
• Rama: I am not concerned with Serbia’s armament (Kosovo-online)
• Pendarovski says Serbia is not a threat, Djukanovic concerned (Tanjug)
• China confirmed it delivered regular military shipment to Serbia (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic reacts to Kurti’s statement on Serbia’s armament (Radio KIM)
• State Department: To understand the risk and price of doing business with China (VoA, Beta, N1)
• Prosecution invites B.B. for interview on allegations about Ivanovic’s murder (Radio KIM)

International:

• US sanctions Western Balkan figures, citing ‘threat to regional security’ (Politico)
• Baerbock: It is our responsibility to finally open the accession negotiations for Albania and North Macedonia (EWB)
• Suspicion in Serbia after Opposition Leader Meets President (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo’s Street Kids: Neglected at Home, and by the State (Balkan Insight)

• Kosovo PM Kurti’s interview to Greece’s Kathimerini, euronews (media)
• Mehaj reacts to reports of Serbia’s purchasing Chinese missile systems (media)
• Israeli Minister Esawi Frey begins his official visit to Kosovo (RTK)
• Former KIA chief: Serbian secret service attempted to assassinate Thaci in 2014 (T7, Klan)
• Swiss government: Serbian authorities knew of Marty's assassination attempt claims (Albanian Post)
• Inauguration meeting of the Democracy and Human Rights Council to take place today (media)
• U.S. imposes sanctions on seven individuals in Balkan countries, accusing them of corruption (RFE)
• Rama in Berlin, urges lifting visas for Kosovo: All criteria have been met (media)
• Sinani dismissed from the post of Presevo Valley mayor (media)
• COVID-19: 14 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 11, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti meets Albanian representatives of Presevo Valley, discuss Serbia's elections (media)
• Kusari-Lila expresses scepticism over progress in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (EO)
• Citaku: Serbia continuing attempts to stain the truth about Kosovo and KLA (media)
• KCB governor complains to a Quint ambassador of political pressure (Kallxo)
• COVID-19: 14 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Escobar: Serbia more and more interested in relations with Europe than with the East (N1)
• Unfulfillment of the Brussels agreement provisions should lead to consequences, says Petkovic (Kontakt plus radio, Kosovo online)
• Serbian security agency refutes allegations on Marty’s murder threats (Tanjug, Danas)
• Office for KiM: Church in Ropotovo robbed (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic reacts to Kusari Lila statement on dialogue (Radio KIM)
• Djuric in White House: We highly appreciate gesture of respect towards Serbia (N1)
• Civil society: KP and EULEX to clarify the murder of Selver Haradinaj (KiM radio)
• Selakovic speaks with Chinese counterpart Wang (Tanjug)

International:

• BIRN Offers Grants to Explore War Crimes Archives (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Rukiqi warns of economic recession threat, calls on Government to take measures (EO)
• Unseen, Unpunished: The Endurance of Economic Violence in the Balkans (Balkan Insight)
• World Bank warns of economic decline in Western Balkans (N1)

• In Greece, Kurti has meetings with Lajcak, Escobar (media)
• Escobar: Western Balkans countries belong in the EU (media)
• Kurti urges Greece to recognise Kosovo (media)
• No Solution in Sight as License Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia Set to Expire (Exit)
• Kosovo Government writes to EU, requests visa liberalisation (Koha)
• Vela, Hoxhaj react after reports that China has shipped weapons to Serbia (media)
• Dodik: Kurti to stop destabilisation of Kosovo (Koha)
• Murder threat against Dick Marty, Swiss politician to Vucic: Stop inciting violence and hatred (media)
• Court suspends ERO's decision on new electricity tariffs (Kosovapress)
• COVID-19: 34 new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Mehaj: Kosovo’s objective is NATO membership (media)
• Operation against Kosovo Police and Customs officers suspected of bribery (media)
• PIK: police superiors who participated meeting with Vucic, will be interviewed (Kallxo)
• Minister Krasniqi: Advancing the rights of communities is a priority (RTK)
• Kosovo union members protest demanding higher wages (media)
• Kosovo Police anti-smuggling operation in the north (Express)
• COVID-19: 26 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic met UNMIK Head, the continuation of cooperation discussed (Tanjug, media)
• Russia suspended from the UN Human Rights Council; Serbia voted yes (media)
• Serbia to be exempted from EU sanctions on Russian oil, gas (Tanjug)
• Serbian PM Brnabic met the new UNMIK chief Ziadeh (Tanjug, media)
• Escobar, Lajcak and Cadez at the economic forum in Delphi (KiM radio, FoNet)
• Petkovic: Kurti again trying to intimidate the Serbian people in Strpce (KiM radio)

Opinion:

• The War in Ukraine and the Western Balkans (visegradinsight.eu)

International:

• Did Serbia’s Elections Signal a Further Tilt to the Right? (Balkan Insight)
• Opinion poll: Leading EU countries want Ukraine more than Western Balkans (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• International Roma Day (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• KWN presents report on gender-based discrimination and labour in Kosovo (media)
• Food prices hit record high in March, U.N. agency says (Reuters)

• Lajcak: It is urgent to reach an agreement on license plates (media)
• Vela: New dynamic in dialogue after elections in Serbia (Klan Kosova)
• Osmani finds Russia's influence in Balkans disturbing (ABC Australia, media)
• Kosovo NGOs, EU, US blast proposal for top prosecutor (Exit)
• President Osmani meets U.S. Ambassador Hovenier (media)
• Gervalla to represent Kosovo at UN Security Council session on April 20 (media)
• Krasniqi: PDK supports election reform (media)
• Konjufca indicted for releasing teargas in Assembly while in opposition (media)
• Will China challenge the US on the Kosovo issue? (The Diplomat)
• Kosovo, Bosnia prepare their NATO membership request (Greek City Times)
• Albanian President decrees laws on Kosovo agreements (Albanian Daily News)
• COVID-19: 27 new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• U.S., German ambassadors react to nomination of new Chief State Prosecutor (media)
• Prime Minister Kurti participates in the Delphi Economic Forum (Klan)
• Kurti and Dzaferovic talk about cooperation between Kosovo and BiH (RTK)
• Kusari-Lila comments on why Serbian elections weren’t held in Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Serbian List MPs return to Kosovo Assembly (Zeri)
• Haziri: If government is ready, we can go to new elections (media)
• COVID-19: 27 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic met UNMIK chief: Human and political rights of Serbs in Kosovo drastically regressed (Kontakt plus radio, media)
• Vucic scores 81 pct of Kosovo Serbs’ votes on Sunday presidential elections (Beta, N1)
• How did the Serbian citizens in Kosovo vote: Turnout severely affected by impractical voting arrangement (New Social Initiative)
• Vucic to respond to opposition call for talks on new vote in Belgrade (Danas, N1)
• ODIHR chief observer notes positive and negative aspects in elections (Beta, RTV, N1)
• Abbott: I regret the refusal of the Government of Kosovo to hold Serbian elections (Kosovo Online, RTK2, TV Most)
• Von der Leyen asks Sofia to enable start of EU talks with Skopje (Beta)
• Dzaferovic: Without consent on the recognition of Kosovo in BiH (RTV, Kosovo Online)

International:

• EU, Civil Society, Criticise Kosovo’s Choice of Chief Prosecutor (Balkan Insight)
• BIRN Fact-Check: Can Kosovo reopen its border deal with Montenegro? (BIRN)
• UN to Vote on Expelling Russia from Human Rights Council (VoA)

Humanitarian/Development:

• 62% of citizens experienced worsening of socio-economic situation due to COVID-19, report suggests (media)

• Abbott: I believe that dialogue should be part of a broader context (RTK)
• Kosovo President criticises Open Balkan, Serbia, and Albanian indifference (Exit)
• Szunyog disappointed with KPC’s nomination for new chief prosecutor (media)
• Head of EU Office Szunyog responds to President Osmani criticism for bias (Express)
• President Osmani receives credentials of first Israeli Ambassador (media)
• Thaci's appeal against continued detention rejected (Koha)
• Social Democrats sue Kurti: He was in the KLA, but not a soldier (euronews.al)
• Still hope for an Albanian to sit at the Serbian Parliament, says Kamberi (euronews.al)
• Five KSF members experience poison-like symptoms (media)
• COVID-19: 29 new cases, no deaths (media)