UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, September 26, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: “Serbia should be held accountable for sponsoring terrorist violence on territory of Kosovo” (media)
• Osmani: “Terrorist actions in the north orchestrated by Belgrade” (media)
• Prosecution confirms finding of third body of armed group (media)
• Kosovo accuses Radoicic of attacking the Police (RFE)
• Bosnian TV: Radoicic suspected injured, being treated in Serbia (media)
• EU says that de-escalation in the north is more than necessary (media)
• Lajcak: Intensive and essential consultations on situation in north (media)
• EULEX: We assisted the Kosovo police in transporting pilgrims to Jarinje (Klan)
• France strongly condemns the attack on the Kosovo Police (media)
• Tajani asks Kurti and Vucic to dialogue, says Italy plans to strengthen KFOR presence on the border (media)
• Belgium condemns attack on police: Perpetrators must be brought to justice (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian List: At least two Serbs killed after their surrender, we will demand investigation (N1, KoSSev, Kosovo Online, media)
• Bishop Teodosije visited Banjska, Diocese: Monks were in no way involved in tragic events (KoSSev)
• Petkovic: Pristina used Sunday's event as occasion for terror in northern Kosovo (Tanjug)
• V.T. wounded in Banjska rendered one-month detention (KoSSev, media)
• Two persons arrested in hotel in Banjska, weapons found (KoSSev, media)
• Novi Sad mayors welcomes group of pilgrims who were at Banjska monastery during Sunday’s clashes (Tanjug)
• Ambassador Botsan-Kharchenko says violence of Pristina continues (Tanjug, media)
• Lajcak discusses situation in Kosovo with US, EU diplomats (N1, media)
• Opposition blasts Vucic over incident in Kosovo (N1)
• Tajani: I have spoken with Vucic, Kurti, Kfor presence to be boosted (Tanjug)
• Zakharova reacts to incident in northern Kosovo, situation there (Tanjug, media)
• Vucic to meet Quint ambassadors, head of EU delegation today (Tanjug)

International Media:

• Attack Leaves Kosovo Serbs in Fear and Disbelief Over What Occurred (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Body of another dead attacker found in Banjska (Koha)
• Blinken: Violent attacks on Kosovo Police near Banjska Monastery, unacceptable (media)
• “Weapons seized at Banjska Monastery will be presented today” (TeVe1)
• Another vehicle with weapons found in the north (Koha)
• Crisis in Banjska – Police find new evidence, including drone (Kallxo)
• Kurti: Bunjaku was killed by a professionally trained group supported by Serbia (media)
• Osmani awards slain police officer with “Hero of Kosovo” order (media)
• Sarrazin condemns “criminal and terrorist” attack on Kosovo Police (Albanian Post)
• Lajcak to meet French, German, Italian representatives today, Escobar will attend (RFE)
• “Arms seized in the north; terror group tried to camouflage as KFOR” (Indeksonline)
• Rohde calls on Serbian List to react against killing of Kosovo police officer (media)
• Vela: Vucic resorted to unprecedented aggression; he will fail (media)
• Lajcak: Cowardly acts of violence, against principles of peace and cooperation (media)
• Bogdanovic, Biserko comment on yesterday’s developments in north (Nacionale)
• Kanin: Kosovo is victim of attacks in north; Association favours Serbia (media)
• Kupchan: The attack in Kosovo was not spontaneous (Radio Free Europe)
• Maliqi: “Serb terrorists” wanted to frame massacre and blame Albanians (Dukagjini)
• Taravari: Kosovo can’t be another Ukraine, because it would mean World War III (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Stano: A very dangerous situation happened in Kosovo, urgent de-escalation needed (Kosovo Online)
• Visoki Decani monastery warns against misinformation (KiM radio, N1)
• Vucic meets Bostan-Kharchenko, tells him ethnic cleansing is ongoing in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Sarrazin: We must have a successful dialogue (KiM radio)
• Brussels: Lajcak and Escobar with diplomats from France, Germany, and Italy (KiM radio, Tanjug)
• Elshani: Police are looking for uniformed attackers (KiM radio)
• Jarinje and Brnjak still closed for entry in Kosovo (N1)
• Believers still in Banjska monastery, citizens of North Macedonia went home (Kim Radio, Beta, N1)
• BETA: Injured near Banjska transferred to hospital in Novi Pazar (N1, nova.rs, KiM Radio, NMagazin)
• Attacker from Banjska underwent surgery in Pristina (N1)
• Due to incompetence of Serbian regime, Kosovo Serbs at mercy of Kurti, Freedom and Justice Party said (Beta, N1, KiM radio)
• Dacic: Kurti wants war (FoNet, Danas)
• Serbian Minister says events in northern Kosovo planned, conflict suits Kurti only (Kosovo Online, TV Pink)
• Regional media: "The state of war", "terrorists" and "the spark that could ignite the region" (NMagazin, N1)
• Serbian citizen arrested in Montenegro suspected of war crimes in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, RTCG, N1)
• Post of Serbia: Post office in Banjska intruded, property damaged (RTS)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: “Terrorism cannot be a topic of the dialogue” (Koha)

International:

• Siege of Serb monastery in Kosovo ends after militants withdraw (Financial Times)
• Why Kosovo’s standoff with Serbs continues 15 years after statehood (Al Jazeera)
• Telekom Srbija wins Kosovo appeal (broadbendtvnews.com)

Albanian Language Media:

An official of the Kosovo Police killed in the north (media)
Reactions to killing of Kosovo police officer in north (media)
Raska-Prizren Diocese: Armed persons moving in monastery yard (Koha)
Kurti: At least 30 heavily armed people under siege of our forces (media)
President Osmani: An attack on Kosovo (RTK)
Svecla's ultimatum: Last warning to surrender (media)
Kurti on terrorist attack: Politically, financially supported by Belgrade (media)
Police: Arrested two terrorists, four others, situation tense, under control (media)
Svecla: Kosovo Police has territory under control (media)
Special Prosecutor's Office: Six arrested in north are suspected of terrorism, we seized a lot of weapons (media)
KFOR: Closely monitoring situation, ready to intervene if necessary (Reporteri)
IMC calls on media for accurate and impartial reporting (media)
Attacker on police treated in Prishtina, surgical intervention expected (media)
Opposition political parties react to the killing of Kosovo policeman (media)
Serbian Language Media:
Vucic condemns killing of Kosovo policeman, blames “Kurti’s terror“ for escalation (N1, media)
Raska-Prizren Eparchy: Currently, there is sense of calm at Banjska monastery, but overwhelming unease and concern linger among monks and pilgrims (media, social media, Eparchy’s webpage)
Armed masked persons breached locked gate of Banjska Monastery during yesterday’s armed clashes, Eparchy expressed condolences to family of killed police officer (KoSSev, media, social media)
Djuric blames Kurti for preparing ground for yesterday’s incidents (media, social media)
Brnabic: International community gave Kurti a wind at his back for disaster in northern Kosovo (RTS, TV Pink)
Serbian opposition parties accuse Kurti of carrying out ethnic cleansing in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
Entry to Banjska village still forbidden (Tanjug)
Six persons arrested in northern Kosovo sent to 48-hour detention (KoSSev)
SRSG Ziadeh condemns incident in northern Kosovo in which Kosovo police officer was killed (Kosovo Online, Radio KIM)
Lazarevic on incident in northern Kosovo (N1)
Grenell: Kurti’s unilateral actions are not justification for violence (Kosovo Online, social media)
Von Cramon: Urgent de-escalation needed and reinforcement of KFOR (Radio KIM)
Gashi: Current situation consequence of Kurti’s failures in north (Kosovo Online)
Demhasaj: Statements of officials in situations as this one must be careful (Kosovo Online)
Telekom Srbija wins appeal against ban in Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
Incident at playground in Mikro Naselje, KP: A boy showed knives to other children, he has been questioned and knives confiscated (KoSSev)
International Media:
Kosovan PM Albin Kurti says talks with Serbia have reached deadlock (The Guardian)
Serb gunmen battle police in Kosovo monastery siege; four dead (Reuters)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Women in Kosovo always at forefront of peace and security processes (media)
• Gervalla reacts to Vucic: Kosovo’s independence doesn’t violate UN charter (media)
• Escobar: I don’t see any impartiality from Lajcak (Radio Free Europe)
• Osmani meets U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer (media)
• Explosion in Mitrovica North (Koha)
• Svecla: Grenade throwing, revolt to arrest of Serbs suspected of war crimes (RFE)
• Hate slogans in Zvecan; Police: We’re investigating, suspects unknown (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• KFOR: Kosovo police informed us about arrest of three Serbs a day later (Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Vucic meets Chinese Vice-President on UN GA sidelines (BETA, N1)
• Dacic in New York: We respect principle of territorial integrity, but we are victim of this principle violations (RTS)
• Jeremic on Vucic’s speech at UN GA (N1, BETA)
• Explosive devices thrown at Serbian families’ yards in Ranilug municipality (RTS)
• Office for KiM on Ranilug: The goal is ethnic cleansing of Serbs; KP: Investigation ongoing (KiM radio, RTV Puls)
• Detonation in Bosniak mahala, suspected it was a shock bomb (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• Serbia’s weapons exports to exceed $ 1.6 bn (BETA, N1)

Opinion:

• Latifi suggests referendum on Association of Serb-majority municipalities (Nacionale)
• Janjic: Deep security crisis in northern Kosovo (KiM radio, Beta, Demostat)
• Enlargement: The EU’s imperative (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Gervalla meets Blinken: Kosovo and USA with deep ties (media)
• Kurti meets with representatives of minorities in Serbia (media)

• EU does not indicate whether it is in line with US on Association (RFE)

• Hovenier: Establishment of Association, one of initial steps for Kosovo (RFE)

• Lajcak meets Begaj, appreciates his views on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Klan)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 21, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Escobar wants Kosovo government to have “new approach” to dialogue (media)
• Osmani meets Biden in New York; “alliance of freedom, eternal alliance” (media)
• Opposition, ruling party MPs clash over inquiry committee for state reserves (Telegrafi)
• Stano on arrests of Serbs for war crimes: We’re monitoring situation (Gazeta Express)
• Begaj: We’re together with Kosovo at UN; Kurti-Rama relations are very good (media)
• “Pressure against Serbs in north comes directly from BIA and Vucic” (Kosovapress)
• German deputy ambassador: EU is not complete without Western Balkans (EO)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo Army has capacities to protect peace with NATO anywhere (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Escobar: Kosovo should change "take it or leave it" approach, Milatovic agrees with American position on government (VoA)
• Vucic informed Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan about violence against Serbs in Kosovo (NMagazin, Beta)
• Rada Trajkovic: Arrest of Serbs deliberate destabilisation, Kurti wanted to be Zelensky, but I'm afraid he went the way of Aliyev (KoSSev)
• Miletic resigned from position of adviser in Kosovo PM’s cabinet (KiM Radio, KoSSev)
• Radakovic: Every autumn in north is "hot", I am afraid of mass arrests (Kosovo Online)
• Hill: US does not have many details about yesterday's arrests of Serbs in Kosovo (KiM Radio, Tanjug, RTV)
• Stano: EU closely monitors situation in northern Kosovo (RTS, Tanjug, Radio KIM)
• FM Dacic holds bilateral meetings on sidelines of UNGA (N1, BETA)

International:

• Kosovo and Taiwan Eye an Alliance of Outsiders (Foreign Policy)
• Fact-Check: Kosovo Is Attracting More FDI, But Not Where It’s Needed (BIRN)
• Romania FA sanctioned over 'Serbia' chants in Kosovo match (Reuters)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, September 21, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Hovenier: Association needs to be one of the first steps (RFE)
• Osmani meets Blinken, “alliance with U.S. existential and unbreakable” (media)
• Osmani and Lajcak meet in New York (media)
• Kosovo conveys its position on dialogue through note verbale (RFE)
• Turner: Washington to engage more in breaking Kosovo-Serbia stalemate (VoA)
• Special Prosecution confirms arrest of three Serbs on war crime charges (media)
• Kallxo journalist wins EU first prize for investigative journalism (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic accuses Kurti of starting ethnic cleansing (N1)
• Vucic: We will request urgent UNSC session over situation in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Serbia's position stable, no chance of Pristina joining UN (Tanjug, media)
• Arrested Serbs remanded to 48-hour custody (KoSSev, media)
• Lawyer of Serb arrested in Priluzje: There is not even reasonable doubt that he committed act he is accused of (Kosovo Online)
• Pristina prosecution confirms arrest of 3 Kosovo Serbs (N1, KoSSev)
• Petkovic reacts to latest arrests of Serbs in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: Serbia to demand urgent UN session on Kosovo (Radio KIM, N1)

Albanian Language Media:

• Hovenier: We have full confidence in EU as facilitator of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RFE)
• Konjufca supports Kurti: Key of dialogue recognition and formation of Association (EO)
• Lajcak’s advisor: Disagreements, not proof that the envoy sides with Serbia (EO)
• Borrell: Preparing for next enlargement wave (media)
• Szunyog: Hate speech falls in same group with terrorism (Gazeta Express)
• Increasing hate speech, Konjufca: Politicians not a good example (Kosovapress)
• Hoti: The degradation of dialogue during Kurti-led government (media)
• Posselt: Vucic, the political son of Milosevic! (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Three months without Serbian press in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• FM Dacic: Serbia condemns Russia’s attack on Ukraine, it is not neutral (N1, FoNet, VoA)
• Two Serbs arrested in northern Kosovo (KoSSev, RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Serbian List reacts to arrests in Mitrovica North and Zvecan (Radio KIM, social media)
• Office for KIM on arrests: New deterioration and causing uneasiness among Serbs (Radio KIM, Kosovo Online)
• ACDC research: Trust in police and judiciary in northern Kosovo on drastic decline (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Nervous Kurti (KiM Radio)
• PACE: Legal team to come to Kosovo and prepare a report on the compliance of the legal system with the standards of the CoE (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: I will continue to fight for what is the best possible for Serbia (Tanjug)
• PM Brnabic on elections: Opposition says one thing, writes another (N1, BETA)

International:

• Kosovo, North Macedonia Sign Agreement for Common Border Crossing Point (BIRN)
• Serb Fighter Beat Kosovo Albanian for Aiding Journalists, Court Told (BIRN)
• Andoni: Kurti lost time with Association, this is his only mistake (Euronews Albania)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: EU measures towards Kosovo do not contribute to advancement of dialogue (media)
• The USA, Germany and Britain side with the EU, Kurti refuses to comment (Koha)
• Stano: EU has made problem in dialogue clear, it is 'definitely' not Borrell and Lajcak (media)
• Gervalla: Basic Agreement without de jure recognition, "biggest compromise" (VoA))
• Ristuccia: Everything related to security in Kosovo must be coordinated with KFOR (media)
• Svecla: Arsenal of weapons found in the north belong to "Severna Brigada" organization, it is the latest generation weaponry produced in Serbia (media)
• Begaj thanks Borrell for engagement in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Albanian Post)
• Kamberi: Serbia should follow Kosovo’s example for treatment of minorities (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: We will be strongly protecting Serbia's position at UNGA session (Tanjug, media)
• Vucic: Many meetings in New York with almost all European leaders (Tanjug, media)
• KFOR commander in farewell visit (N1)
• Ristuccia: KFOR and NATO support the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, only political solutions bring peace (Tanjug, RTV, Kosovo Online)
• Odalovic: By filing a criminal complaint against me, Kurti blocking the process of searching for the missing (Blic, Kosovo Online)
• The first hearing in the case of MTS in Kosovo ended, both sides remained in their positions (RTS)
• Office for KiM: KLA graffiti on the elementary school in Klokot (KiM radio)
• Poll shows Serbian ruling coalition lead (N1)
• People's Party: The goal of fake surveys is to create a false picture of the popularity of parties in Serbia (Beta, NMagazin)

International Media:

• ‘Reform or rupture’ says Guterres, calling for multilateralism to be remade for the 21st century (news.un.org)

Albanian Language Media:

• Borrell on EU expectations from Serbia and Kosovo (media)
• Chollet: Good discussion with President Osmani (media)
• Lajcak meets Chollet, Escobar; “same reading of situation in Western Balkans” (media)
• Osmani meets MCC CEO Albright (media)
• Osmani: Proud of unwavering Kosovo-Germany partnership (media)
• Krasniqi: Request for resignations of mayors comes from Belgrade (EO)
• Kurti to visit ministry led by Nenad Rasic today at 15:00 (Gazeta Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• EU calls on Belgrade, Pristina to fulfil their commitments (N1, media)
• Schole: Pristina to urgently engage in dialogue with Belgrade (Radio Mitrovica sever, Tanjug)
• Lajcak discussed Western Balkans with “good friends” Cholet and Escobar in New York (N1)
• Mijacic: A note in which Kosovo complains to EU members about Lajcak ‘unprecedented amateurism’ (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Stano: Without comment on Kurti’s statement, all 27 EU member states extend full support to Lajcak (Kosovo Online)

International:

• EU Warns Kosovo, Serbia of Repercussions if Deals Not Implemented (Balkan Insight)
• In a Kosovo Mountain Resort, Villas, Bribes and a Big-Name Scandal (BIRN)
• German-French working group proposes reforms to make the EU ready for enlargement by 2030 (EWB)