UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 7, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• EU on Rama’s proposal: Any such initiative should be coordinated (Reporteri)
• Kurti meets new head of EULEX, discuss developments in Kosovo (media)
• Germany temporarily suspends cooperation with Kosovo (DW, media)
• Swiss MPs writes to EC: Stop measures against Kosovo, blame is more on Serbia (KSP)
• Haziri: LDK will propose a draft for the Association (media)
• Krasniqi: Serious situation due to crises produced by Kurti, we demand early elections (media)
• Davenport: Klan Kosova case, watched closely in Kosovo and internationally (media)
• Kearns receives support after Vucic threatens her with investigations (Telegrafi)
• Pristina Mayor accuses Minister of Finance of blocking projects for Pristina (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Drecun: Situation in KiM is entering into a dramatic phase of development (RTS)
• Kosovo to lose up to 500 million euros if the measures last until the end of the year (KoSSev, RTK2)
• 'Announcements' of arrests and false lists scare Serbs in Kosovo (RFE)
• Kurti did not get the floor at US Independence Day celebration in Pristina (RTS, Tanjug)
• Kosovo customs confirms that ban on Serbian goods is still in force (Radio KIM)
• Berlin: Germany could send additional troops to reinforce KFOR forces in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, RTV)
• Vucic: I conveyed Serbian stances on situation in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• US Embassy calls for justice for Bytyqi brothers (N1)

Opinion:

• When will the elections take place in the north of Kosovo and will the Serbs turn out unconditionally? (Danas)

International:

• Joseph: Failure of the Serbia-Kosovo agreement would be a failure of Brussels and Washington (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Learning history and culture of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities – means against discrimination (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:
Osmani: Kosovo demonstrated will for de-escalation in north (media)
Konjufca: Rama's proposal for Association contains territorial autonomy (media)
Rama on draft statute: Konjufca hasn’t read it - how can he comment on it? (Klan)
U.S. Ambassador Hovenier meets Albanian PM Rama (media)
Hovenier: Kosovo should fulfill ideals of its Declaration of Independence (media)
Italian Ambassador: EU measures towards Kosovo are reversible (RTK)
Kosovo, Albania governments sign 13 agreements (media)
Kurti meets Abbott, discuss current developments and bilateral relations (media)
Serbian Language Media:
Petkovic: Kosovo police again entered Serbia proper (N1, KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
Dacic says Kurti can do anything and face no consequences (BETA)
Pavicevic says ‘hunting season on Serbs’ opened in Kosovo, everybody can be arrested (RTS, Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
Botsan-Kharchenko: We share assessments of President Vucic regarding situation in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
Strpce Municipality freezes cooperation with Kosovo Privatization Agency (media, social media)
Kosovo police stopped ambulance vehicle in Grabovac, near Zvecan (Kosovo Online)
Montenegrin President to pay official visit to Serbia (N1, BETA)
International Media:
Belgrade to Stop Arms Exports ‘In Case of Aggression Against Serbia’ (BIRN)
Serbia to seek meeting with NATO chief, UN Security Council session on Kosovo tensions (AP)
Serb hardliners make a comeback in northern Kosovo (Financial Times)
NATO denies claims ambulances are smuggling weapons into North Kosovo (EU-OCS)
EU wants concrete steps by Kosovo to ease tensions before lifting sanctions, envoy says (Reuters)

Albanian Language Media:

• Albania signs 13 agreements with Kosovo; Rama expects meeting with Kurti (media)
• Sanctions, Germany reduces cooperation in security with KSF (Albanian Post)
• Tahiri: Other opposition parties said they’re ready to sign no-confidence motion (media)
• Kearns: Attacks against KFOR and reserves found by KP prove presence of illegal weapons (Kallxo)
• EULEX: Government didn't coordinate in designating organisations as terrorists (Koha)
• Kovacevski calls on Kurti and Vucic: Politicians are obliged to act as statesmen (Klan)
• Szunyog: Free and independent media are essential part of democratic society (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Underway silent ethnic cleansing of Serbs; we will demand an urgent session of the UN SC (Danas, RTS)
• Raska-Prizren Diocese warns of possible set up, says ‘continuation of March pogrom by different methods’ (KoSSev)
• Dacic: Accusations against SPC (SOC) part of a propaganda war; we asked Foreign Office for explanation (Kosovo Online, TV Pink, RTV)
• Djuric: Accusations against Serbian Orthodox Church deeply concerning (Tanjug)
• Vucic informs Erdogan about escalation of violence against Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Germany terminates cooperation with Pristina in several areas (RTS, RFE, Blic)
• Doctor Todorovic sentenced to 10 months in prison “for the attack against Kosovo police officer” (Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti: Kosovo government is committed to full cooperation with NATO (media)
Osmani: Kosovo will continue to work closely with NATO (media)
Goffus: It is urgent to take concrete steps for de-escalation (media)
Osmani: Kosovo committed to the rule of law (RTK)
EU: Declaring two organizations in north as terrorists, unilateral decision (Koha)
German and French Ambassadors interview with Klan Kosova
President Osmani to meet Albanian PM Rama today (media)
Haradinaj: We are for a government of national unity, including LVV (media)
Kusari responds to Haradinaj: The citizens have decided differently (TeVe1)
Zvecan Deputy Mayor meets Kurti, discuss investments and projects (media)
Serbian Language Media:
Vucic to address the public at noon today (RTS)
Lajcak: Meeting with Vucic helped to get clarity about next steps (Tanjug)
OSCE chairman presents in Strasbourg nine-point plan for Kosovo (N1, Beta)
After British MP’s Accusations, Ambassador Abbott meets with Teodosije: The Church plays an important role in improving relations between communities (KoSSev)
Jevtic: Sasa Spasic's appeal was accepted, but he is still in custody (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)
Less: Kearns has a history of making inaccurate comments on the Balkans, in Britain they are not responding to her claims (Kosovo Online, Blic)
International Media:
Kosovo and Serbia show no progress in defusing tensions -NATO (Reuters)
KFOR Denies Weapons are Smuggled in Ambulances Into North Kosovo (BIRN)
Kurti: Elections in northern municipalities should not be boycotted again (euronews.al)
Moving—bottom-up—beyond the crisis in Kosovo (Social Europe)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 5, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: It will be known within this week about claims on weapons in the churches (Koha)
• KFOR: No evidence of weapons in churches; Kosovo responsible for rule of law (Koha)
• Kurti: There is no solution because the agreement is not being implemented (Koha)
• Lajcak on meeting with Osmani (media)
• Szunyog: Measures to be lifted when Kosovo contributes to de-escalation of situation in the north (Reporteri)
• Kurti refuses to meet with Rama without a meeting of the governments (Koha)
• Citaku slams Kurti for refusing to meet Rama (media)
• Kurti appreciates the role that the UN has played in Kosovo (Klan)
• Jablanovic detained for illegal crossing of the border (Koha)
• Journalists Associations head express concern about Klan Kosova situation (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic to Lajcak: Serbian people in Kosovo exposed to worst torture in last 15 years (NMagazin, N1)
• Vucevic: Peter Stano makes irritating statements, empty shell of bureaucratic vocabulary (Beta, NMagazin, TV Pink)
• Dacic with the chargé d'affaires of the Great Britain Embassy regarding the statement of MP Kearns (Kosovo Online, Danas)
• KFOR: There is no evidence of the alleged smuggling of weapons into Orthodox churches (KiM radio, RTS)
• Cvijanovic: Even KFOR has to refute lies of “ferocious Albanian lobbyists in Britain” (RTRS, Kosovo Online)
• Serbian Minister of Defence: Serbian Orthodox Church target of Albanian lobbyists (N1, FoNet)
• Elek: We are threatened by humanitarian disaster, we can’t deliver medicines, let alone weapons (Novosti, Kosovo Online)
• Krasniqi: New directors have been appointed in the Municipality of Leposavic (Kim Radio)
• Sretena Bojovic denies that she took over the position of director in the Municipality of Leposavic (KiM radio)
• While the public’s attention is on three other northern municipalities, what is happening under the table in N.Mitrovica? (Part II, KoSSev)
• Muhaxheri compares Kurti’s approach to north with that of Milosevic on Kosovo in 1989 (KoSSev)
• Jablanovic refutes being at illegal crossing (Tanjug)
• KFOR Commander visits Leposavic today (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Moving—bottom-up—beyond the crisis in Kosovo (socialeurope.eu)

International:

• First effects of EU sanctions sting Kosovo (Euractive)

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti to Lajcak: Unfair measures make the dialogue asymmetrical (RTK)
Lajcak meets Osmani and Kurti: There is understanding of EU's demands (RTK)
Konjufca: Vucic directly responsible for situation in north; measures unfair (T7)
Davenport: There is an urgent need for de-escalation (media)
EU excludes Kosovo, Montenegro, and Republika Srpska from grants (RFE)
Sunak: I am particularly concerned about situation in north of Kosovo (Klan)
Kearns: Weapons smuggled from Serbia were placed in Serb churches (media)
Haliti: Mayors of northern municipalities can help de-escalate the situation (KTV)
IMC asks MPs to address by law the concentration of media ownership (KTV)
Serbian Language Media:
Vucic meeting Lajcak today in Belgrade (RTS)
Diocese of Raska-Prizren: Urgently investigate the dangerous accusation of the British MP (RTS, media)
Sunak: Great Britain condemns attacks on members of KFOR; leaders of Kosovo and Serbia in charge of reducing tensions (Danas, Kosovo Online)
EC President, Serbian PM discuss importance of normalizing relations with Kosovo (Beta, N1)
Michel calls for de-escalation in north Kosovo, continued dialogue (Tanjug)
Jevtic and Sekulic detention extended for another month (RTS)
Serbian List: No indictment has ever been filed against Milan Radoicic (NMagazin, Beta)
International Media:
Opposition Calls for Overthrow of Government Amid EU Sanctions (BIRN)
Lajcak presents a plan to Kosovo, out of 12 points 3 are problematic (euronews.al)
Kosovo: Dutch, Luxembourg PMs urge de-escalation (DW)
Standoff over Kosovo’s Top Prosecutor Hurts Crime Fight, Experts Warn (BIRN)
The leaders of the Netherlands and Luxembourg tell Kosovo and Serbia to normalize ties for EU hopes (AP)
EU wants concrete steps by Kosovo to ease tensions before lifting sanctions –envoy (Reuters)
NGOs Fear EU Measures Against Kosovo Could Hit Civil Society Funds (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Kosovo has demonstrated its will for de-escalation (media)
• Kurti: Allowing Basic Agreement to go without signatures, a big mistake (Koha)
• Kosovo leaders’ messages on July 4 (media)
• Kurti confirms meeting with Lajcak today (Nacionale)
• Albanian PM Rama to stay in Pristina and Belgrade this week (Kosovapress)
• Stoltenberg’s term as NATO SG extended until October 2024 (media)
• Krasniqi meets Rasic: Four Serbs become part of Lulzim Hetemi’s office (Albanian Post)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic on the Serbian List appeal: A political message demanding the reaction of the state of Serbia (Beta, Kontakt plus radio, B92)
• Ambassador Tolkach: Ukraine will not change stance on Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Lawyer files appeal for protection of legality to Supreme Court in case of Dalibor Spasic (Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic met PMs of Netherlands, Luxembourg (Tanjug, media)
• Petkovic: Rada Trajkovic attacking Serbs with same forcefulness as her boss Kurti (Kosovo Online)
• Rada Trajkovic: Kurti in a conflict with the EU and USA (KiM radio, N1)
• Brnabic, Michel discuss in Brussels stability in W. Balkans, EU integration (Tanjug)
• EC launches new Western Balkans investment package (FoNet, N1)
• Stano: Lajcak arrives to finally achieve de-escalation (Beta, Danas)

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti: Our path is clear, it is the European one (media)
Osmani to meet Lajcak, and Dutch and Luxembourg PMs today (media)
EU confirms Lajcak’s visit to Pristina, at Borrell’s request (Reporteri)
PDK calls for early elections, suspends communication with Kurti, Osmani (media)
Clinton: Stop the nonsense in the north of Kosovo (Koha)
Osmani: There is serious potential for escalation in north of Kosovo (RTK)
“Police actions in north in line with mandate; we are treating complaints” (Koha)
Svecla comments the arrests for misuse in the MIA (Koha)
North municipalities aim to join Kosovo Association of Municipalities (Reporteri)
Serbian Language Media:
PMs Rutte, Bettel concerned about tensions in Kosovo, Vucic says Serbia will do its best to preserve peace (FoNet, N1, RTS)
Bill Clinton urges Kosovo government to change behavior toward Serbs (BETA, N1)
FM Dacic discusses bilateral relations with Russian Ambassador Botsan-Kharchenko (media)
FM Dacic: Ties between Serbia and Egypt date back to 13th century (media)
International Media:
Dutch and Luxembourg PMs urge Serbia and Kosovo to defuse tensions under shadow of war in Ukraine (AP)
Former U.S. President Clinton Visits Albania, Urges Solution To Crisis In Northern Kosovo (RFE)
Bill Clinton tells Kosovo: stop 'foolishness' in Serb-majority north (Reuters)
Serb Soldier Given Alibi in Kosovo Wartime Massacre Trial (BIRN)
Geopolitical Strife Fuels Dangerous Parallel Crises in Balkans (BIRN)
Press Council of Kosovo Dismisses RTK Board’s Complaint against Kallxo (Prishtina Insight)
Femicides in Kosovo: a product of a society that normalises gender violence (New Eastern Europe)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 3, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Other measures against Kosovo have been warned (Koha)
• Lajcak this week in Kosovo and Serbia (RFE, media)
• Kurti: Vucic regrets saying 'yes' to the basic agreement (Klan)
• Kurti: 45 persons identified so far for attacks against KFOR, police, reporters (media)
• Kusari-Lila: Kosovo has passed the stage of holding International Conferences (media)
• Abdixhiku to start meetings this week “on new path of Republic of Kosovo” (media)
• Jablanovic: Kurti should have met us instead of dealing with street rumours (AP)
• The LDK boycotts the meeting of Assembly Presidency due to EU measures (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lajcak in the coming days in Pristina and Belgrade (RFE)
• Serbian List: Citizens upset, a shock bomb in northern Mitrovica (NMagazin, N1)
• Kurti: ''We have identified 45 persons who are in the terrorist organisations Civil Protection and the Northern Brigade'' (Danas, Kosovo Online)
• Serbian List requests Serbian Government to designate all special police units Kurti sent to north as “terrorist” (Kosovo Online, KoSSev)
• SNF: Kurti opened ‘hunting season for Serbs’, everybody assessed as member of CP or NB will be arrested (KoSSev)
• Slavisa Ristic: Kurti’s aim is expulsion of Serbs, and Belgrade has no response to it (BETA, N1)
• While the public's attention is on three other northern municipalities, what is happening under table in Mitrovica North? (KoSSev)
• President of the CI “For Zubin Potok”: I will not take part in the new elections unconditionally (KiM radio, medijacentar.info)
• Ponos: Serbs in Kosovo have no support in Belgrade (Danas, FoNet, Nova)
• Drecun: Kurti implementing Western goals (Tanjug)

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti says EU penalty measures are “unfair” (Radio Free Europe)
EU: Measures entered into force; we informed government on June 28 (Express)
Lajcak: Despite steps to successfully deescalate, situation fragile (media)
Powerful blast in the north – no injuries reported (Telegrafi)
Kurti on Rama proposal for conference: We have February 27 agreement (media)
Kadiu: Kosovo Serbs to integrate, Vucic wants to destroy democratic order (Koha)
KFOR will conduct three-day trainings in several municipalities (Koha)
SPO will review Dugolli’s request to investigate Dubrava Prison massacre (media)
Pacolli writes public letter to Kurti: Your actions are damaging Kosovo (media)
Serbian Language Media:
Vucic: I expect additional offensive by Kurti and even stronger terror (RTS, media)
After Atic’s proposal, N.Mitrovica MA adopts decision to join Association of Kosovo Municipalities (KoSSev, Radio Mitrovica sever)
Kosovo government paid 101 thousand euros for salaries of 20 integrated Civil Protection members (KoSSev, media)
French Embassy, KFOR, not consulted about Pristina’s decision on “terrorists organizations” (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
Lavrov says Dacic visit being prepared (N1, BETA)
Police found 35 kilograms of narcotics in Djakovica (media)
Zvecan: Metal fence near side entrance to Zvecan municipal building removed (Kosovo Online)
Former President of Serbia, Milan Milutinovic dies (RTS)