UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 31, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: Five new cases, no deaths (media)
• Palmer arrives in Pristina, meets Kosnett (media)
• Palmer meets Kosovo opposition leaders (media)
• Palmer or Montgomery expected to replace Grenell's role in dialogue (Klan/RTK)
• Sources: Spain expected to open liaison office in Kosovo (Demokracia)
• Kusari-Lila says more on Kosovo’s position on dialogue will be known soon (media)
• United States plans to allocate USD 200 million for Kosovo (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• One new case of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• Vucic says he won’t recognize Kosovo; talks about dialogue, non papers (KoSSev)
• SOC to the Serbian Ministry of Culture: Postpone the adoption of the Law on Cultural Heritage (media)
• Dacic in Moscow: Serbia will never join sanctions against Russia (RTS)
• Selakovic: Firm relations between Serbia and China reflected in all areas (N1)
• Zivojin Rakocevic elected president of the Association of Serbia's Journalists (UNS) (B92, N1)
• Zecevic: European values important, but one cannot escape national interests (RTS)
• Djuric: Biden administration fully accepts Washington Agreement (N1)
• The road sign to Draganac damaged again; the KiM office recorded it as the 13th incident since the beginning of the year (KoSSev)
• US SFAB unit in military exercise in Balkans to curb Russian, Chinese influence (N1)
• Parliamentary party SPAS joins ruling SNS in Serbia (N1)
• Serbia donates more than 100.000 Pfizer vaccines to Czech Republic (Kosovo-online, Tanjug)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Balkan Investors Join Crypto Trading Craze (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 23 new cases, no deaths (media)
• New COVID-19 measures enter into force on Monday (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo buys first coronavirus vaccines as it speeds up rollout (Reuters)
• Final agreement in 2021, during Slovenian EU Presidency, EU report (Express)
• EU denies writing document that circulated in Kosovo media (media)
• Behrami: The EU document is authentic (RTK)
• Lajcak and Palmer to visit Kosovo on 31 May, 1 June (media)
• Western diplomats support dialogue, analysts don’t rule out surprises (Koha)
• LDK nominates award-winning architect to run for Pristina mayor (Express)
• Kosovo Police detain police officer suspected of inciting hatred (media)
• Kosovo feminists aim to climb rural town’s ‘patriarchal’ walls (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 18 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Osmani and Kurti visit KSF participating ‘Defender Europe 21’ military exercise (media)
• Palmer to visit Kosovo next week (media)
• German Minister: Kosovo has fulfilled visa liberalization criteria (Express)
• Greek Foreign Minister to visit Kosovo next week (democracia.com)
• Kurti introduces the new RAEPC Board (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic after meeting with the patriarch and bishops: The ''play'' of Kurti; Hillary's ''idea'' of Kosovan heritage (KoSSev)
• Diocese: Without previous respect of judicial decisions and the rule of law, pointless to answer Kurti’s letter (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM: With series of attacks message sent to Serb returnees they are not welcome (RTS)
• Gogic: By recognizing Kosovo, Greece would create itself problem with Cyprus (RTK2, Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic informed the French ambassador about the position of the Serbian people and the SOC in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Simic, Ceranic with Szunyog on political situation, work of Assembly and challenges in Kosovo (TV Most)
• Kurti learned a lesson, the right decision to give up reciprocity towards Serbia (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic with Botsan-Kharchenko: Difficult days await our country (Kosovo-online)
• Lajcak and Palmer next week in Belgrade also (Tanjug, Kosovo-online)

International:

• Mystery plans to redraw Balkan borders alarm leaders (BBC)
• Is Kosovo taking a harder line with Serbia? (emerging-europe.com)
• Problems in Greek-Serbian relations over Kosovo? (greekcitytimes.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Balkan countries are source of most of SO2 emissions in Europe (balkangreenenergynews.com)
• Why we must show feminist solidarity with people on the long road West (Kosovo 2.0)
• Kosovo reports alarming figures of domestic violence with a staggering 500 cases in 5 months (euronews.al)

• COVID-19: 23 new cases, one death (media)
• Kosovo receives 100,620 doses of Pfizer vaccines (Koha)
• Kurti vows to dissolve PAK, Assembly dismisses agency's board (media)
• Kurti: This is first step toward dissolution of PAK (media)
• Orthodox Church responds to Kurti's request to visit Decan Monastery (media)
• Sources: Palmer, Lajcak to visit Prishtina on Monday (Klan Kosova)
• Haziri: Presevo Valley to be part of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Zeri)
• Osmani, Kurti to visit KSF soldiers taking part in “Defender Europe 21” (media)
• Rama: Kosovo kept hostage to visa liberalisation (Koha/Klan)
• Mimoza Kusari-Lila could run again for Gjakova Mayor (T7)
• Life imprisonment for man accused of Donjeta Pajazitaj’s murder (BIRN)
• “Brussels must revive its weakened ‘power currency’ in Balkans” (BIRN)
• Simmons wants to testify to Kosovo Assembly “how EU perverted justice” (media)
• New status conference in Haradinaj and Gucati case to be held today (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 27, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 23 new cases, one death (media)
• Kurti: Reciprocity will happen, but gradually (Klan)
• U.S. Army supports KSF’s transition to a defense army (RTK)
• Kamberi: We expect inclusion of Presevo Valley Albanians in dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Albin Kurti: I don’t believe KLA members are war criminals (Express)
• Health Minister: We will start with massive vaccination from 15 June (Telegrafi)
• Life imprisonment for man accused of Donjeta Pajazitaj’s murder (Prishtina Insight)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serb communities: Four new cases (KiM radio)
• Vucic with Falconi: Serbia for compromise with national interests (Tanjug, Blic)
• Important consultations, then dialogue continuation; Greece assures us that it will not recognize Kosovo, Vucic said (KoSSev, TV Pink)
• US Commerce Secretary’s tweet about Serbia draws varied reactions (N1)
• Pentagon: Serbian-Russian exercises sovereign right of two states (RTS)
• Iranian Ambassador: We fully support territorial integrity of Serbia (RTS)
• Kosovo Police launched operational "Kulti" plan to protect the SOC property (Kosovo Online)
• Serbia receives final shipment of Chinese coronavirus vaccine (N1)
• Frequented thefts affect remaining Serbs in Ceranovici village (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• "If it can't be demolished, then it is appropriated" (KiM radio)

International:

• Slovenia’s Janša describes plans to Balkanize the EU (politico.eu)
• Money laundering pushes up property prices in Western Balkan cities (intellinewes.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The closure of Kizevak (Kosovo 2.0)
• The end of the epidemic is in sight (DW, B92)

• COVID-19: 44 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Ministry of Health speaks about plan to relax COVID-19 rules (media)
• PM Kurti writes to Father Sava, asks to visit Decan Monastery (media)
• Lajcak meets Palmer, discuss Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• Kosovo PM Faces Pressure to Involve US in Serbia Dialogue (BIRN)
• Haziri: LDK will not attend any more meetings called by Kurti (Klan)
• VV MP says reciprocity measures towards Serbia will be applied (Klan)
• Greek FM Dendias to visit Kosovo in June (Albanian Post/RTK)
• Vucic: We have been assured Greece will not recognise Kosovo (media)
• Gerxhaliu: Exhumations in Serbia accompanied by many challenges (Klan)
• Slovenia to host EU-Western Balkans summit in October (RTK)
• CEC resumes work, minus two members (media)
• Belgrade court refuses to amend detention measure against Mehmetaj (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 44 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Curfew expected to be lifted as part of new measures against COVID-19 (media)
• Abdixhiku: Kurti has changed position on several topics of dialogue (Koha)
• Opposition call for US involvement in the dialogue (Prishtina Insight)
• Remains of at least nine people exhumed from mass grave in Serbia (BIRN)
• Konjufca: Identities of perpetrators of massacres to be revealed (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Tanaskovic: Pristina's attempts have no chance of success (RTS)
• Vecernje Novosti: Kurti has visions of tanks in Medvedja (Kosovo Online)
• Jovanovic: US created Kosovo; they can ‘break it up’ if it is in their interest (Kosovo-online)
• Kamberi: Only the United States can force Vucic (B92, Kosovo Online, Euronews)
• Brnabic: Serbia supports Swedish OSCE priorities (N1)
• Exhumation process in Kizevak concluded (Radio KIM)
• ''The obligation that 50 percent, of registered voters must go to the polls for the referendum, will be abolished'' (Vecernje Novosti)
• The second protest held in Stanisor village in Novo Brdo municipality (Kontakt plus radio)
• Western Balkans a Priority of Slovenia's EU Council Presidency (Beta, STA)
• Rakic, Mladenovic on implementation of law on use of languages (Kontakt plus radio)
• Serbian Government to financially support families affected by floods in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Western Balkan Border Changes Must Remain An EU Red Line (globalsecurityreview.com)
• Spain’s Impact on Kosovo’s Accession Process into the EU (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• City official says almost half of Serbian capital’s adults vaccinated (N1)
• Brnabic: Environment, green economy are priorities (N1)

• COVID-19: 11 new cases, one death (media)
• Kosovo to receive additional vaccines from EU states (RFE)
• After Croatia, other countries too promise to donate vaccines to Kosovo (Koha)
• Kosovo government “no hand” in drafts of two regional agreements (Koha)
• Opposition asks government for US envoy in dialogue with Serbia (Exit News)
• PM Kurti to meet LDK leader Abdixhiku at 11:00 today, source say (Telegrafi)
• Rohde praises government’s stance to improve regional cooperation (media)
• Hajdari: I was misinterpreted (media)
• Svecla: Poor presence of the state in the north (Kallxo)
• President Osmani meets representatives of Heinrich Böll Stiftung (media)
• Recommendation to dismiss the Privatization Agency of Kosovo Board (media)
• Surroi: I will be advisor to negotiating team in dialogue with Serbia (media)
• “Mini-Schengen and regional cooperation” research to be published today (RTK)
• Civil Registration Agency head dismissed (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 25, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 11 new cases, one death (media)
• Kosovo to receive additional vaccines from EU states (RFE)
• Kurti hails Kosovo’s participation in U.S.-led military exercise (media)
• Haradinaj calls for greater U.S. involvement in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• Hoxhaj asks Kurti: What will be your next present to Serbia? (media)
• Foreign Minister Gervalla reports to Assembly's foreign affairs committee (media)
• Hajdari: We want to exhaust regional tools to resolve problems with Serbia (KP/Koha)
• Serbian authorities release Kosovo man, arrested months ago (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: Two new cases, one death (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic does not expect NATO would ever apologize for bombing of FRY (N1)
• The mayor of Kamenica confirms the desecration of St. Petka: Such vandalism is unacceptable (KoSSev, Gracanicaonline)
• Office for KiM: Twelfth Orthodox church desecrated since beginning of year (Kosovo-online)
• Protest in Stanisor over trucks (Kontakt plus radio, RTK2)
• Petkovic visits Church of Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Istok (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Kurti's approach to church property is not new, but public (Danas)

Opinion:

• How to Improve the Process of Integrating the Western Balkans into the European Union (The National Interest)

International:

• Albanians Question Benefit of US Ban on Berisha (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Stop sexual harassment and abuse in Kosovo's schools (Kosovo 2.0)
• Efforts to strengthen the WHO (B92, AP)

• COVID-19: 14 new cases, one death (media)
• New measures against COVID-19 to be discussed Wednesday (media)
• Croatia confirms donation of 10,000 COVID-19 vaccines to Kosovo (media)
• Gjilan receives 133 food and hygiene packages from UNMIK (media)
• Travel to the region to be made possible through one visa (Koha)
• PM Kurti meets Presevo Valley representatives (media)
• Ministry corrects social media post following backlash (media)
• Conflicting reports about damage to Orthodox church in Shipashnica (Klan/Kallxo)
• Petkovic begins visit to Kosovo after permission from Foreign Ministry (media)
• Gjilan, Kamenica, Vitia sign MoU to support shelter for domestic violence victims (media)