• Assembly session three days away, LDK insists on ‘balancing’ of posts (Zeri) • LVV, LDK to make final efforts for an agreement (Koha) • Veliu: No agreement until president’s post is defined (Express/Bota Sot) • Hamiti: People with authoritarian mentality want absolute power (RTK) • Albanian PM Rama defends Mini-Schengen in face of criticism from Kosovo (Koha) • Palokaj: Yes to meetings with Serbian leaders, but with dignity (Koha) • Basha: No Mini-Schengen without Serbia apologising to Kosovo (Kallxo) • Meta: Serbia to stop campaigns against Kosovo’s integration (Zeri) • Haradinaj justifies depleting Kosovo’s reserve fund (Klan Kosova) • Gashi: 15 witnesses are being interviewed on Astrit Dehari’s case (media) • Railways in Kosovo north under Serbia’s administration (media)

• LVV-LDK without agreement despite international pressure (media) • Kurti optimistic after the meeting with Mustafa (RTK) • Bislimi: Support for LVV is increasing (RTK) • Hyseni: LVV is threatening with new elections (RTK) • Special Prosecution files charges against two women repatriated from Syria (media)

Albanian Language Media: • Abazi: Rama handing over Albania to Vucic’s Mini-Schengen (media) • Kurti: We do not have concrete results, agreement possible (media) • Tahiri: Kosovo right not to take part in Mini-Schengen initiative meeting (Zeri) Serbian Language Media: • NGO ''ÇOHU!'' reports that 8 media outlets violate the code of ethics, including KoSSev ''due to readers’ comments'' (KIM radio, KoSSev) • “Solution for Kosovo based on UN SC Resolution 1244” (Radio KIM) • Poster of Vucic ‘persona non-grata’ in Tirana (BETA, N1) • Analysts on Thaci’s refusal to attend “mini-Schengen” summit (Sputnik, B92) • “Pristina became political loser” (Tanjug, B92) • Joksimovic: Serbia committed to EU accession (BETA, N1) • Lawyer Vasic: The indictment is 'a far-fetched construction', especially in the sections related to organized criminal group (Kosovo Online, RTV Puls) • Vucic: Tahiri threatens with war and nobody reacts (RTV, Tanjug) International: • What Macron plans for Europe (Politico) Humanitarian/Development: • Strpce residents in the fight against MHPPs: We only have one Shara Mountain (KoSSev) • British ambassador visits KSF members attending Serbian language course (Koha)

• Int’l community steps up pressure on LVV, LDK to form new government (media) • “Visa liberalisation might happen next year” (RTK) • Nagavci: LVV said it prefers to govern with LDK, we stand behind this (media) • Basha: LDK is keeping hostage the agreement (RTK) • Abrashi: LVV hesitates to take over PM’s Office (RTK) • Gashi: For now constitution guarantees only Assembly President to LVV (media) • Vetevendosje in Albania to protest against Vucic’s visit (media) • Rama: Kosovo mistaking for refusing Mini-Schengen initiative (Klan Kosova) • Citaku's complaint against Dacic not included in UN SC agenda (Klan Kosova)

Albanian Language Media: • EU Office: A swift government formation is needed in Kosovo (media) • Osmani: New elections if institutions are not formed (Ekonomia Online) • Veliu: Both prime minister and president are too much for LVV (media) • Haradinaj: Vetevendosje to end process of forming institutions (Koha) • Beyer: Dont talk through media, arrange a meeting, form coalition (Express) • Kurti and Bislimi meet German MPs, discuss new government (RTK) • VV leader Kurti talks government program during visit to Rome (media) Serbian Language Media: • Oliver Ivanovic's 10,000-page indictment in Albanian language only (RTV Puls, Kosovo Online, Vecernje Novosti) • Serbian military chief says KFOR only legitimate armed formation in Kosovo (N1, Beta, KIM radio) • Kosovo Law Institute: How did Pacolli obtain documents about crimes? (Kosovo-online) • KRIK editor banned to enter UAE returns to Belgrade; Serbian MIA issued statement on his case (B92, Serbian media) • North Macedonia PM: I support 'mini-Schengen', Vucic’s initiative beneficial (FoNet, N1, TV Pink) • Former CIA Chief: Washington returns to the Balkans, which is not good news (Nedeljnik, B92) International: • Moscow Points Out Hypocrisy In Ex-NATO Commander's Remarks On Russian Interests In Balkans (urdupoint.com) • Marinelli: Serbia is becoming an increasingly important partner to NATO (European Western Balkans) Humanitarian/Development: • Kosovo Journalists Condemn Minister Accused of Punching Reporter (Balkan Insight)

• LDK ready to 'sacrifice' additional ministry for president's post (Zeri) • VV, LDK barricaded over post of Kosovo President (Koha) • Haxhiu: No thanks, LDK wants half of government and everything else (RTK) • Haziri: LVV should have faith in LDK (T7/Zeri) • Merkel sends envoys in a final effort to secure LVV-LDK coalition (media) • Constitutive session of new Kosovo Assembly next Thursday (media) • Kurti meets British Ambassador Abbott (RTK) • Thaci turns down invitation to Balkans Mini-Schengen summit (media) • Haradinaj “exhausts” Reserve Fund (Koha) • Trial on Oliver Ivanovic’s murder to start on 30 December (media) • Investigation launched against minister Shala for attack on journalist (Zeri)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 18, 2019 Albanian Language Media: • Constitutive session of new Kosovo Assembly next Thursday (media) • Thaci turns down invitation to Balkans Mini-Schengen summit (media) • Kurti: Let us see if LDK barricades further or we reach agreement (Express) • “Mustafa, Kurti to overcome obstacles before new assembly session” • “Kosovo, Serbia to implement agreements before finale of dialogue” (Koha) • Tahiri: War, if Serbia doesn’t recognise Kosovo in current borders (Klan Kosova) • Fajon on visa liberalisation for Kosovo (Gazeta Metro) • Trial on Oliver Ivanovic’s murder to start on 30 December (RTK) • Veseli: “Syri i popullit” activated to hide failure of LDK – LVV agreement (Express) Serbian Language Media: • Serbian List: Edita Tahiri's statement raises unrest and incites hatred among communities in Kosovo (TV Most) • Balkans 2020: No brightening (DW, B92) • UNMIK Head Zahir Tanin reacts to desecration of Orthodox cemetery in Lipljan (Social media) • OSCE Mission in Kosovo condemns desecration of Serban Orthodox cemetery in Lipljan (Social media) • Zyberaj: Pacolli forwarded evidence of Serbia’s genocide to prosecution; Djuric: Primitive chauvinist campaign (KoSsev) • Dacic: Albanians frustrated because of incoming indictments (Tanjug, TV Happy) • Serbian List won’t prevent forming of Kosovo institutions (Beta, N1) • Politika: Calling the elections on March 8th, to the polls on April 26th (NMagazin, Beta) • UAE: Serbia’s journalist is on ‘blacklist’ on some other Govt. request (N1, B92, Beta, Tanjug) • Ivanovic’s nephew: There is no indictment for execution and organization of murder (Radio kontakt plus) • Oliver Ivanovic murder trial on December 30th (Kosovo Online, RTV Puls) • Lawyer Vasic: Prosecutor proposes house arrest measure for Markovic, Jovanovic and Arsovic (Kosovo online) • Lawyer Halimi: No new evidence against Rosic (KoSSev) • Odalovic: Serbia cannot shed light on destinies of missing persons alone (RTS) • Ombudsman: There is no improvement in the accountability of institutions (RTV Puls) • Lawyer Vlajic: We will appeal when the Todosijevic verdict arrive (Kosovo Online) International: • BIRN Launches Updated Map of Balkan War Crime Verdicts (Balkan Insight) • Belgrade Appoints Serb Officials in Northern Kosovo (Balkan Insight) Humanitarian/Development: • Gorazdevac: Young people are most disappointed and most dissatisfied part of society (KoSSev, Radio Gorazdevac) • Serbian Museum Puts Mestrovic’s Vidovdan Sculptures on Display (Balkan Insight)

• Assembly prepares for constitutive session, VV-LDK no agreement yet (media) • Hoti: If we don’t get post of President, we will go in opposition (Indeksonline) • Arben Gashi: Negotiations for a coalition take time (RTK) • Bahtiri: LVV- LDK coalition will be reached, never with PDK (Telegrafi) • Nagavci: LVV structures did not discuss post of President (Kallxo) • Rakic: Serbian List will not impede creation of institutions (RTK) • Land swap idea damaged Kosovo’s position in dialogue, poll shows (media) • Rama invites Thaci to summit on Balkans Mini-Schengen (media) • Pacolli submits war crime files to the prosecution (RTK) • NISMA leader Limaj’s advisor wounded in Pristina (media)

Albanian Language Media: • Kurti: We will not form a coalition with the Serbian List (media) • Muhaxheri: Chances of no coalition with LVV are zero (media) • Bosch mentions candidates for future Kosovo President (Koha) • Turkey deports two Kosovar nationals (media) • Kurti and Konjufca at prosecution tomorrow for criminal charges against Thaci and Veseli (RTK) • German Ambassador: Election process took too much time (RTK) • LDK continues to insist on the post of the President (media) • Haradinaj: The winner should create institutions (media) Serbian Language Media: • Tombstones at Orthodox cemetery in Lipljan demolished again, Djuric condemns the incident (RTS) • Hodzic in strongest terms condemned desecration of Orthodox cemetery in Lipljan (Radio KIM) • Fabrizi: Region needs normalization of Belgrade-Pristina relations (Beta, N1) International: • How Brexit sent Kosovo to back of the EU queue (The Times) • Kosovo ‘enslaved from within’ by corruption, says incoming PM (FT) • War Criminals Given Respect in Balkan Societies, Activists Warn (Balkan Insight) Humanitarian/Development: • The warnings of the Gracanka River and tailings (KoSSev, Gracanicaonline.info)

• Mustafa: Talks have not stalled; mutual trust is fundamental (media) • Kurti: Serbs to have a minister; we won’t form coalition with Serbian List (media) • Muhaxherri reveals which five ministries belong to LDK (RTV Dukagjini) • Haradinaj calls on winning parties not to delay formation of government (Zeri) • Albanian PM insists on Balkans Mini-Schengen (Koha) • KSF continues to be most trusted institution by Kosovo people (Epoka)