UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 31, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Reprimand measures for drivers with illegal licence plates start tomorrow (RTK)
• Kurti calls for international monitoring of census process in the Valley (media)
• Scholz to meet with the Presidents of the Balkans this week (Express)
• Over 100,000 Albanians living in Presevo Valley, census shows (media)
• CDHRF slams both government and opposition (media)
• Limaj calls for united democratic front against Kurti-led government (Kallxo)
• “Kurti put pride before national interests” (Zeri)
• Haziri on French-German proposal: Govt must use the momentum (Albanian Post)
• Analysts: Government not transparent regarding the French-German document (RTK)
• PDK: Government has started seizure of the Public Administration (media)
• Sheholli: Kurti disappointed the U.S.; Serbian List is installing fear among Serbs (EO)
• Kosovo govt signs memorandum with Albanian Council from Presevo Valley (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• EC spokeswoman: The decision on the plates not in accordance with the agreements from the dialogue (N1)
• Radojevic: We do our utmost to maintain peace, but we do not accept unilateral decisions (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic: New withdrawals of recognition real and possible; With full force against the admission of Kosovo to CoE (KoSSev, Kurir)
• Kosovo cannot get more than 83 votes for UN membership, says Dacic (FoNet, N1, TV Happy)
• Djuric: If Pristina starts Council of Europe process, de-recognitions notes would surface (N1)
• Petkovic: We wait concrete action of Washington and Brussels (Tanjug)
• Office for KiM: Pristina bans holding of elections for national minority councils (Kosovo Online)
• Botsan- Kharchenko: The introduction of sanctions would disappoint us, no trade of Kosovo for Donbass (media)
• Serbian List on latest decision on re-registration (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic, Brnabic with the US economic delegation (FoNet, N1)
• Lazarevic about license plates: The police in the north of Kosovo have not received any instructions (N1)
• Von der Leyen announces 160 mln euro energy assistance to Serbia (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Restrictive EU visa policy risks further Western Balkan disillusionment (BIRN)
• In Josep Borrell’s garden utopia, Balkan savages are a threat (Sbunker.net)
• Rada Trajkovic: "Kurti's punishment of Serbs reminiscent of Milosevic's disciplining of Albanians" (KiM radio)

International:

• Family First: The Rise of the Anti-Gender Movement in North Macedonia (BIRN)
• Richard Grenell: Republican or Democrat, Albin Kurti has rejected every idea that the Americans have put forward (The Pavlovic Today)
• Does Spain Support Proposal to Link Kosovo’s Visa Liberalisation Process With the Operationalisation of ETIAS? (schengenvisainfo.com)
• US Sanctions towards Western Balkan entities: “Red flags” without much effect on the ground (EWB)

• Kurti: Implementation decision ensures rule of law, peace and security (media)
• Kosovo PM postpones controversial licence plate change for Serbs (BIRN)
• Kosovo backs off from Serb car plate rule after West warnings (Reuters)
• Kosovo should give Serbs more time to change car plates, EU says (Reuters)
• The U.S. urges Kosovo to extend licence plate implementation deadline (media)
• Calm situation in north, "reprimand measures" start on November 1 (media)
• Serbs ask Belgrade to allocate €2 million for license plate fines (Telegrafi)
• PDK: Decision not serious; Kosovo turning into destructive party (RTK)
• Haradinaj: Decision on plates not coordinated with strategic partners (Telegrafi)
• Bislimi speaks about the Franco-German draft (Klan)
• European capital where Kosovo-Serbia deal will be signed, selected (AP)
• Serbia continues efforts to block Kosovo path to the Council of Europe (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• EU: Parties to respect the agreement on official visits (media)
• Osmani: Serbia wants tensions (media)
• LVV MP asks to postpone deadline for licence plates for another two months (Koha)
• The opposition demands licence plate issue coordinated with internationals (EO)
• “Let’s solve issue of licence plates in partnership with U.S.” (Gazeta Express)
• Besnik Bislimi will participate online in the conference held today in Serbia (media)
• Szunyog: Kosovo is on the right track (RTK)
• Zemaj: Kurti-led government incapable of managing healthcare sector (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Official Kyiv - Goncharenko is not authorised to represent the position of Rada in Kosovo (Politika, Tanjug, Interfax Ukraine)
• Mojsilovic met with Bauer (Tanjug)
• Vucic meets Bauer (Kosovo Online)
• Hovenier: Important to postpone implementation of new rules on licence plates (Kosovo Online)
• Bishop Teodosije: We are facing a serious crisis, we appeal to everyone to preserve peace (Kosovo Online)
• European Commission: Deadline for re-registration expires in three days, we hope for solution (Tanjug)
• People in northern Kosovo complain of mistreatment by special police, Kosovo police say its officers do not provoke but ensure safety (KoSSev)
• Police confirms stoning of bus transporting Serbs in Mitrovica South (KoSSev)
• Dacic: There will be no pogrom, do not force us to defend ourselves (TV Pink, Danas, FoNet)
• Trajkovic on Bislimi’s cancelled visit (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Trajkovic: “CSM last stone in foundation of independent Kosovo, yet Kurti doesn’t want it either, but emigration of Serbs”
• How Karadzic tried to dodge justice, claiming US ‘immunity deal’ (BIRN)
• Jovana Radosavljevic: In Kosovo, there is silence, and not the good kind of silence (Insajder)
• Mijacic: "If the decision on the plates is not postponed next week, a conflict in Kosovo is possible" (N1)

International:

• EU revisits Balkans to win friends, seek more influence (AP)
• Open Balkan and Berlin Process for successful regional cooperation (EWB)
• ‘I never imagined this could be done also to men’ (Kosovo 2.0)
• To US Concern, Turkish-Russian Trade Flourishes in Face of Sanctions (Balkan Insight)

• Blinken’s advisor calls for postponement of licence plates deadline (media)
• Kurti thanks Von der Leyen for supporting Kosovo (media)
• Serbs warn they will block roads if license-plate deal not extended (RFE)
• Sources: “Northern Brigade”, criminal group terrorising Serbs in north (media)
• Incidents on eve of expiry of deadline for re-registration of vehicles (RFE)
• Bislimi banned from his visit shortly before arriving to Belgrade (media)
• Hovenier congratulates Kosovo on progress in rule of law index (RTK)
• “Erdogan may mediate in dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia” (media)
• Haradinaj: Final agreement will regulate Kosovo-Serbia relations (Express)
• Kurti: Kosovo stands in support and solidarity with Ukraine (media)
• Kurti meets with EULEX chief Lars Gunnar Wigemark (media)
• Art world came to Kosovo. What happens when it leaves? (NYT)
• Manifesta: Turning rubble into art (Prishtina Insight)
• Albania opposition parties join forces for 2023 local elections (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 27, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti calls again on Serbs to convert their licence plates to RKS (media)
• Osmani: We fight against gangs, not citizens, we expect support (media)
• Von der Leyen on licence plates: Very short and very clear, the rules must be respected (media)
• Kurti meets Von der Leyen: Kosovo to apply for EU membership this year (media)
• NATO: If stability is endangered, KFOR is ready to intervene (Klan)
• Interior Ministry: Three incidents in the north related to RKS licence plates (RFE)
• Serwer: Kurti wielding sovereignty; hope he is ready to face consequences (Express)
• Rohde: Kosovars deserve visa liberalisation (RTK)
• Bajrami: LVV ignores WJP report, goes to page 40 to find something to be proud of (Express)
• A car burned in Leposaviq after the conversion of licence plates (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Ambassador Hill: We are disappointed by Pristina's refusal to extend the deadline for re-registration (Blic, N1)
• Stano: Kosovo's decision on the plates is legitimate, avoid increasing tensions and violence (N1)
• Vucic: We fully stand by the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija (RTS, media)
• New Serbian Government elected (N1)
• Djuric urges international community to maintain peace in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Zarrazin: Kosovo to demonstrate flexibility on licence plates (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic with Serbs from Kosovo, Rakic: “If Pristina starts violently, we will block the roads” (media)
• Serbian Minister of Defense: Kurti’s threats undermine peace (Kosovo Online)
• Office for KiM: Bus transporting Serbs pelted with stones in Mitrovica South (Kosovo Online)
• COM KFOR meets Raska-Prizren Eparchy Bishop Teodosije (Kosovo Online)
• Von Cramon: "The Kosovo government does not hold a dialogue with the Serbs, and it promised that" (Kosovo Online, Blic, Kallxo)
• Moscow’s Kommersant: Serbia’s new Government turned toward East (N1)

International:

• In Race to Lure Russian Talent and Capital, Serbia Emerges as Front-Runner (The Wall Street Journal)
• EU announces €500 million energy support package for Western Balkans (euractive.com)
• North Macedonia Pays Dear for Cancelled Power Plants (BIRN)
• Kosovo will not delay Serbian car plate rule despite calls by the West (eureporter)

• Escobar: Franco-German plan details expected to be made public soon (VoA)
• Osmani: Request to postpone license plate deadline is not pressure (media)
• Serbia and Russia ‘using licence plate dispute’, Foreign Minister says (BIRN)
• Ursula von der Leyen to meet with Kosovo leaders today (RTK)
• U.S. intends to implement the license plate ruling peacefully (RFE)
• EU: Kosovo, Serbia should refrain, we don't want escalation (Klan)
• Kurti: Our justice reforms are working fast (RTK)
• Haradinaj: I’ve seen Franco-German plan, it includes recognition (RTK)
• Vehicle of Serb who converted licence plates to RKS, set on fire (media)
• Grenades, equipment seized during anti-drug operation in Leposavic (media)
• Corruption File: How 150,000 euros was paid to sway court verdict (BIRN)
• EU assesses food safety situation in Western Balkans (Food Safety News)
• EU gives €80 million to North Macedonia to tackle energy crisis (Reuters)

Albanian Language Media:

• KFOR: We have no changes in our presence in the north (media)
• EULEX confirms there were armed people during July 31 tensions in the north (Kallxo)
• EULEX: We have not seen armed people in the north since July 31 (Gazeta Express)
• Contingent of Serbian and Russian forces in Kosovo north, security expert says (EO)
• Car of Serb police officer, who was attacked three days ago, set on fire (Kosovapress)
• Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi, tomorrow in Belgrade (RTK)
• Special Prosecution starts investigations into major bribe affair (media)
• Kosovo government adopts co-funding agreement for Prizren-Tetovo road (Telegrafi)
• Police arrest person for burning Serbian flag in Gjakova sports hall (Koha)
• Mustafi accuses Vucic of trying to distort number of Albanians in Serbia (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic scheduled a session of the National Security Council (Kosovo Online, Vecernje Novosti)
• President Vucic will respond to the invitation of the Serbian List within the most urgent deadline, says Petkovic (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian List: We demand an urgent meeting with President Vucic (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian List and the new KFOR commander on the situation in the north (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic, Rama and Kovacevski on the energy situation (media)
• Brnabic to MPs: Serbia’s interests and independence are the red lines (N1)
• Petkovic cuts his visit in Kosovo short, says most of his program not approved (Kosovo Online)
• European Commission wants new Frontex agreements in Western Balkans (N1, Tanjug)
• Former US ambassador: Serbia seems to be siding with Russia (N1, FoNet, VoA)
• IPKO: SMS requested by the Kosovo MIA; The Deputy Ombudsperson demands an investigation (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Major military exercise underway in Serbia (Tanjug)
• Von Cramon visited Gorazdevac, spoke with local Serbs (Radio KIM)
• “In a wave of fake news, Serbian media in Kosovo are more careful” (Radio KIM)
• Von der Leyen to visit Western Balkans (N1)

International:

• Armed Persons ‘Worryingly Present’ in North Kosovo in July, EULEX Confirms (BIRN)
• Rape Used as Weapon During Kosovo War, Says NGO (BIRN)
• “The Other Serbia” Srdja Popović (Sbunker.net)
• Serbia Shuns Ukraine’s Crimea Summit After Russian Diplomat’s Plea (BIRN)
• Why Putin has proposed an energy hub in Turkey (arabnews.com)
• Electricity prices in Balkans: highest in Montenegro, lowest in Kosovo* (balkangreenenergynews.com)
• Authoritarianism as a Cause of War and a Duty to Resist (EWB)

• Kosovo will not delay Serb car plate rule despite calls by West (Reuters)
• Hovenier: Dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia to end as soon as possible (Koha)
• Kurti: Now isn’t the time for neutrality but for solidarity (media)
• Bislimi: The United Kingdom is a powerful ally of Kosovo (RTK)
• Ministry invites Serbs to convert license plates through text-messages (Euronews)
• 18 Serbs converted their illegal number plates to "RKS" (RTK)
• Surroi: Association is not possible within our constitutional system (Klan Kosova)
• Swiss keep an eye on tensions in Kosovo (Swissinfo)
• December deadline for European Council’s vote on Kosovo visa (Euractiv)
• Four key takeaways from EU’s Kosovo report (Prishtina Insight)
• Who should the government help? (Kosovo 2.0)
• Presevo Valley Albanians want to be part of Kosovo-Serbia agreement (RTK)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 25, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• The Western Balkans Summit starts in Prishtina (media)
• Kurti: We have achieved a lot during a year and a half of governance (media)
• Peach: UK supports Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe (media)
• Hovenier: Kosovo should be in NATO (Klan)
• Kurti confirms, there is no postponement of deadline for license plates (RTK)
• “There are hopes for positive response on visa liberalisation by year’s end” (Telegrafi)
• Deputy PM: Another solution must be found for the Association (Kosovapress)
• PDK supports government on license plates if it is in coordination with the USA (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• About phone messages from Kosovo MIA, Vucic says: ''We are facing a difficult time'' (KoSSev)
• Petkovic on licence plates issue, says Kurti changes tactics in vain (Kosovo Online)
• Survey: Two thirds of Serbs in northern Kosovo ready for protests and civic disobedience (Kosovo Online)
• The Kosovan MIA calls for vehicle re-registration via SMS in the Serbian language
• (KoSSev, media)
• Survey says most Serbs against sanctions on Russia (N1, Blic)

International:

• LNG Alliance ensuring energy security for landlocked Balkan nations (gasworld.com)
• Fiscal pressure grows in Western Balkans as region heads into new storm (intellinews.com)

Blinken: Pristina, Belgrade to peacefully resolve their dispute (media)
Kosovo-Serbia relations, topic of discussion between Kurti and Peach (media)
Osmani: Kosovo remains committed to peace and security (media)
Kosovo authorities don’t expect quick agreement with Serbia (Koha)
Osmani received Albanian representatives from Presevo Valley (media)
Visas scrapped between Kosovo and Bosnia (BIRN)
Von Cramon: Franco-German proposal should be considered (media)
Ischinger: Because of history, Balkan region carries explosive potential (Klan)
Ischinger: I believe a final agreement will be reached by 2024 (T7)
Hasani: German-German model would be a disaster for Kosovo (media)
Summit on security, economy, and peace to be held today in Pristina (Telegrafi)
Mustafi: No Kosovo-Serbia agreement without U.S. involvement (Koha)
Rohde: Germany will support Kosovo in building a solar park (media)
Discussions over Kosovo-Serbia intensify, whispers of snap elections emerge (Exit)
Military service could become compulsory in Kosovo (euronews.al)
Greek, Kosovar ministers meet to enhance economic collaboration (Ekathimerini)
Russia hopes to exploit conflicts in Balkans, British expert warns (BIRN)