UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 21, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 506 new cases, five deaths (media)
• PM Kurti to visit Brussels next week, meet EU officials (media)
• German FM Maas to visit Kosovo and Serbia (RFE)
• Britain's PM Johnson congratulates Kurti on election, pledges support to Kosovo (media)
• Roth: No one in Europe can support border changes phantasies (DW)
• Hoxhaj accuses government of 'abstaining from responsibility' (media)
• State prosecutor and police: Avoid investigations against media and reporters (media)
• Musliu reacts after sexist graffiti: This is not in the culture of PDK (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Antonijevic: The situation more favorable, but there is no room for relaxation (Kosovo Online, RTK)
• Kosovo media: Vucic, Kurti to go to Brussels and Paris (N1, KoSSev)
• Vaccination with Pfizer without registration available in Serbia as of Wednesday (Kontakt plus radio)
• Embassy of Slovakia: We are not changing our position on Kosovo (Politika, Blic, B92)
• Selakovic: Gratitude to Iran for not recognizing Pristina’s separatism (Kosovo-online)
• Selakovic: Serbia plans to start producing Sinopharm vaccine as of October (N1)
• Vucic meets with WHO Europe Director Kluge (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: With budget rebalance we have earmarked 4 billion dinars for assistance in KiM (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Media Freedom Deteriorated In Europe Amid Pandemic, Report Warns (Balkan Insight)
• North Macedonia to Upgrade Army Despite Economic Concerns (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Belgrade Mayor: Herd immunity soon to be reached in capital (N1)

• COVID-19: 478 new cases, 16 deaths (media)
• Government silent over “difficult compromises” with Serbia (RFE)
• Tahiri: Government must not make compromises in dialogue (media)
• Koha publishes 2015 draft statute of Association of Serb-majority municipalities
• Collaku: Kurti deserves everyone’s respect if he can reject Association (media)
• Gorani: Kurti government will be forced to accept compromise (media)
• Kurti: Cultural differences must unite us, not divide us (media)
• Albanians from Presevo Valley expect Kurti to include them in dialogue (media)
• Rama: Mini-Schengen aimed to dissolve border with Kosovo (Euronews Albania)
• PDK denies it is behind offensive graffiti against its former MP (media)
• Editor: Brussels confirmed they received document from Jansha (media)
• Bosnian Serbs urge talks on Country’s potential ‘disintegration’ (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 442 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• EU to send 95,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine to Kosovo (media)
• Vitia signs administrative instruction paving way for vaccine purchase (media)
• President Biden writes to Osmani: Our partnership is rooted in common values (media)
• Aliferi: Greece supports Kosovo's European integration path (RFE)
• Kusari-Lila: Government to soon present position on dialogue with Serbia (Telegrafi)
• LVV calls for end to government paying electricity bills for the north (Koha)
• Haxhiu: Vetting of judiciary, biggest challenge for Ministry of Justice (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: Two people died, 36 new cases (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Serbia will not recognize Kosovo to get Republika Srpska (N1)
• Brnabic meets WHO Europe Director Klugge (Tanjug)
• Palestine requests Islamic states to cease relations with Pristina (RTS)
• Kosovo dropped eight places on media freedom list (RTV Puls)
• Journalism, a high-risk profession in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Serbia’s ranking unchanged on World Press Freedom Index (N1)
• Varhelyi: 651.000 vaccines for Western Balkans, Serbia was first to extend help to the region (Kosovo-online)
• Gracanica: Performance ''Contribution to the tax'' (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Biden urges to Kosovo continue ‘essential’ talks with Serbia (AP)
• Serbia’s Marko Đurić urges ‘just solution’ to bitter Kosovo dispute (washdiplomat.com)
• Balkans rocked as leaked memo explores redrawing Bosnia’s borders along ethnic lines (euronews.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovar biologist calls newly found insect after coronavirus (AP)
• Mediation as a form of reconciliation in schools (UNICEF, social media)
• Brain drain? In Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia there are signs of ‘brain gain’ (Emerging Europe)

• COVID-19: 277 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• Poll respondents: Government to be more transparent about vaccines (media)
• “Dialogue has so far been treated with priority but not seriousness” (Telegrafi)
• Kurti, Wigemark stress need to fight crime and corruption (media)
• Macron to Osmani: France will support you in essential reforms (media)
• 8 years later, first Kosovo-Serbia agreement partly implemented (Koha)
• Kosovo Foreign Minister to visit Greece (media)
• Tahiri: Vjosa Osmani is a marionette of Albin Kurti (media)
• Kosovo Ex-Guerrilla Pleads Not Guilty to War Crimes (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo spent €4 million in first year of pandemic for salaries of MPs (Koha)
• Kosovo falls eight places lower in Reporters Without Borders’ report (RFE)
• Weller: Cultural Heritage in Kosovo: Why do international organisations fail to adhere to their own policies? (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 19, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 277 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• To date, over 16,000 Kosovo citizens got vaccinated against COVID-19 (media)
• Almost half of Kosovo businesses declare unsatisfactory situation (media)
• Bars and cafes reopen as COVID-19 measures eased (Prishtina Insight)
• PM Kurti urges Slovakia to recognise independence of Kosovo (media)
• On anniversary of Kosovo-Serbia agreement, KDI tackles its implementation (media)
• Szunyog: Government to take concrete steps to attract foreign investors (EO/Koha)
• Legislation committee approves draft law paving way for trial in absentia (media)
• SPO argues for extending detention to Gucati and Haradinaj (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic says he never saw alleged non-paper on redrawing borders in WB (Beta, N1)
• Serbia’s FM: Iran supports Serbia on the issue of Kosovo (Beta, N1)
• Dacic on alleged non-paper on WB: We do not support ideas that cause instability (FoNet. N1, TV Prva)
• Bishop Teodosije warns of aggressive pressure and negative media campaign against SOC and Decani Monastery (KoSSev)
• Djuric: Brussels agreement enabled years of peace (Radio KIM, Tanjug)
• Petkovic: Disrespect of Brussels agreement indicates what attitude Pristina or EU would have on some other reached agreement (Kosovo-online)
• Bogujevci: The issue of the missing both a human and a political issue, but it should be a humane (KiM radio, Slobodno srpski)
• EU: Brussels agreement must be implemented, agreement on ZSO has never been recalled (Kosovo-online, Tanjug)
• Gracanica: "Police are asleep, blow the horn to wake them up" (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio)
• Entry door of Serbian school in Obilic damaged (Radio KIM)
• Tamara Grujic denies that she was detained; Kosovo Police said it was just an identity check (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, RTK2)

Opinion:

• It's time for transparency in Kosovo's COVID-19 numbers (Kosovo 2.0)
• Palokaj: Border changes, Belgrade’s attempt to implement Milosevic goals (Koha)
• The Abbot today, Kosovo tomorrow (KoSSev)
• DW: Serbia’s Vucic not in pre-election mode only when in deep sleep (N1)

International:

• Kosovo’s New President Has Major Crises To Take On (theowp.org)
• Hague Tribunal Urged to Report Serbia to UN Security Council (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Vucic announces new shipments of vaccines to Serbia (RTS)
• Loncar: Serbia avails itself at disposal of WHO, will help immunization in Europe (N1)

• COVID-19: 521 new cases, 8 deaths (media)
• Government announces new measures against COVID-19 (media)
• Health Minister Vitia meets PDK MP Haxhiu (media)
• Additional uncertainties in the Kosovo – Serbia dialogue (Koha Ditore)
• Croatian President slams idea of border changes in the Balkans (media)
• Russian Foreign Minister reacts to Slovenian non-paper (media)
• Kosovo civil society criticise monastery’s inclusion on endangered list (BIRN)
• Kosovo authorities “withdraw from investigations against Insajderi” (RFE)
• Confiscation of unjustifiable wealth; EU calls for respect of human rights (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 537 new cases, 15 deaths (media)
• “Cannot talk dialogue, while our people are dying from lack of vaccines” (media)
• Germany against border changes in the Balkans (media)
• Slovenian President: I’m strongly against border changes (media)
• European Council has no comment on Slovenian non-paper (Express)
• Tahiri: PDK initiated three parliamentary debates on the pandemic (media)
• Kurti confirms he will attend Prespa Summit (media)
• Reactions follow after Lajcak does not refer to Kosovo in tweet (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: 17 new cases, one death (Kontakt plus radio)
• Petkovic banned from entering Kosovo, explanation is that he endangers the health and safety of people (Beta, Novi Magazin, RTS)
• Office for KiM: Incidents in Serb areas in Kosovo a consequence of systematic non-response (KiM radio, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Young men waving Albanian flag in Mitrovica brought in (Radio KIM)
• Serbian List urges international missions and security institutions to preserve peace and prevent incidents (Kosovo-online)
• Commander of the Gracanica police station: I am not thinking of resigning, regardless of the pressures (KiM radio)
• Auto protest over beating of Luka Dimitrijevic in Gracanica (KoSSev)
• Dodik: Separation of Kosovo from Serbia inseparable from the Bosnian state survival (KoSSev)
• Vucic to Quinta envoys and EU: I’m sure Serbia can move faster towards EU (N1)
• Beqaj: The Balkans are a "powder keg"; Jansa's idea against the values of the EU (Kosovo Online)
• Committee on Constitutional Affairs: Amending the Constitution does not change the preamble on KiM (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, RTS)

International:

• Slovenia Raises Uncomfortable Questions With Talk Of Bosnia's 'Dissolution' (RFE)
• Anti-Semitism Used as Tool in Balkan Disputes: Report (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 612 new cases, 17 deaths (media)
• U.S. Ambassador Kosnett gives interview to Klan Kosova
• Kurti urges Greece to recognise Kosovo (media)
• President Osmani meets representatives of UN agencies in Kosovo (media)
• Lajcak and Bislimi hold virtual meeting (media)
• Gashi: LDK will not be part of dialogue with Serbia (ATV/Telegrafi)
• Kosovo FM Gervalla invited to address EP Foreign Affairs Committee (media)
• Surroi thinks Kosovo's membership in NATO more plausible than in UN (Koha)
• Pjeter Shala transferred to The Hague pursuant to confirmed indictment (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 15, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 599 new cases, 17 deaths (media)
• Kosovo ministries discuss anti-Covid measures with Kosovo mayors (media)
• Petrit Ajeti appointed head of Kosovo Intelligence Agency (media)
• Kosovo leaders meet representatives of missing persons (media)
• KDI calls on Kosovo leaders to prepare for dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Fight of organised crime and corruption, domestic violence priorities of Justice Ministry (media)
• Ministry of Infrastructure cancels tender worth €44 million (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: 13 newly infected (Kontakt plus radio)
• Thus far, 15.000 citizens from Serbian areas in Kosovo inoculated (Kosovo-online)
• EU on the Western Balkans on May 10th (RTS)
• Vucic: We expect Putin in Serbia by end of year, I will go to Brussels soon (Kosovo-online)
• Simic: One violence gives birth to another, Serbs unprotected in Kosovo (RTS)
• Sava Janjic bothers both Belgrade and Pristina (Danas)
• Rakic met Kosnett, and pointed out problem of frequent attacks against Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Protest due to the beating of the young man, demand for the resignation of the police commander (KiM radio)
• Spahiu: Gervalla's appearance at UNSC session complete collapse of the new Kosovo government (Kosovo Online)
• Alleged non-paper on WB leaked: Merging of RS and Serbia, Kosovo and Albania (N1)
• Kharchenko: Russia ready for new aspects in resolving the Kosovo issue, if Serbia wishes so (Kosovo Online, Sputnik)

Opinion:

• The arrival of vaccines doesn't mean the pandemic is over (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

• Palestinians Demand Cutting Ties with Kosovo (english.aawsat.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Greece to lift quarantine for visitors from Serbia (B92)

• COVID-19: 715 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• Kosovo new president says Serbia must answer for ‘genocide’ (The Irish Times)
• Kosovo implies reciprocity with every state (Radio Free Europe)
• Haxhiu: Misused funds must be confiscated, they belong to the people (media)
• EU: Dialogue, Kosovo’s most important foreign policy priority (media)
• Kurti replies to Court on request of Serb MPs (media)
• Kurti government reviewing decisions of Hoti government (Koha Ditore)
• Bogujevci: We’ll push forward draft law on domestic violence (media)
• Collaku: Internationals will strongly impose dialogue on Kurti (media)
• “Either we accept Association, or we have to talk about land swap” (media)