UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, 22 April, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti to non-majority communities: You’re a value and identity of our state (media)
• Government: EU should remove unfair measures, Kosovo met its obligation (RTK)
• Kusari-Lila: Serbia is obstructing integration of Kosovo Serbs (media)
• Tahiri: EU should lift measures, people are being penalized (Kallxo)
• AAK: Referendum revealed Vucic’s heavy influence on Serbs (Indeksonline)
• Rohde: Boycott requested by Serbian List, regrettable and destructive (Klan)
• Osmani-Vucic confrontation, Security Council to meet on Kosovo today (RTK)
• Kurti meets Glavchev in Sofia as part of Vienna Economic Forum (media)
• Hoxhaj proposes for Assembly to support UN resolution on Srebrenica (media)

Serbian Language Media: 

• The Ohrid Agreement entered the negotiation framework for Serbia's membership in the EU (RTS)
• Serbian Democracy: EU to look again at its requests for de-escalation which Pristina did not fulfill (KoSSev)
• The UN SC in NY today on Kosovo, Vucic to represent Serbia (Tanjug, media)
• Dacic: The UN SC session another opportunity for Vucic to point out the problems of the Serbs in Kosovo (Tanjug, RTV, Kosovo Online, media)
• Sentic: Special forces in the Leposavic municipality during voting; respecting the rights of Serbs remains a challenge after the failed referendum (KoSSev, KiM radio)
• European Parliament plenary session begins, visa liberalization for Serbs in Kosovo on agenda (Tanjug)
• Roundtable on ''the occupation and (high) treason of Kosovo and Metohija'' (Beta, NMagazin)
• Confiscated weapons and marijuana worth around 70,000 euros in Suhareke/Suva Reka, four people arrested (KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media:

Election Commission: Initiative to remove the mayors in north has failed (media)
Kurti to EU: Removal of mayors was key condition, lift the measures (media)
Osmani: Serbia illegally interfered in elections of another country again (media)
U.S. Embassy regrets that Serbs did not take exercise the right to vote (Klan)
Barbano: EULEX monitoring situation in coordination with KP and KFOR (media)
Szunyog: We are observing the elections in the north (media)
Krasniqi: Serbian List wants monopoly over politics of Serbs in Kosovo (RFE)
Krasniqi: Evident Serbian List, Belgrade ordered boycott, fearing failure (media)
Zubin Potok Mayor: Serbian List does not dare face reality (Telegrafi)
Haziri: Government should be greatly concerned by the boycott (media)
Serbian Minister walks out when Kosovo receives award at Venice Biennale (media)
Police find weapons and ammunition in house in Zvecan (media)
Arifi claims he was “arbitrarily” dismissed from post of Presevo Mayor (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian List: Kurti's farce over; the unity of the Serbian people has been demonstrated (Danas)
Petkovic: Today's fake referendum a picture of Kurti's democracy (Radio Mitrovica sever)
Starovic: Boycott of the fake referendum the best non-violent response of Serbs to oppression (Kosovo Online)
The referendum in the north ended peacefully and without voters (N1, KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
Deutsche Welle on the recall of the mayor: Elected with 100 votes, 6,800 needed for removal (Kosovo Online, DW)
Surlic: The Pristina referendum in the north of Kosovo designed to fail (RTS)
Manojlovic on the failed referendum in the North: Well-coordinated killing of energy (KoSSev)
A lost opportunity to pave the way for the election of new mayors in the north of Kosovo, says Democracy in Action (NMagazin, Beta, KiM radio)
An explosion in the yard of a Serbian house in Kosovska Kamenica (RTS)
Vucic after the meeting with O’Brien: We agree on little regarding Kosovo and Srebrenica (Beta, N1)

International Media: 

Serb majority in N. Kosovo boycotts vote on removing ethnic Albanian mayors (France 24)
North Kosovo Serbs boycott referendum on removing ethnic Albanian mayors (Reuters)
Kosovo*: Its Footnote Is Both A Blessing And A Curse (RFE) 

Albanian Language Media:

• Guterres condemns Banjska attack, calls for authors to face justice (Zeri)
• Presidency confirms Osmani's participation in the UNSC session (Klan)
• Kurti: 2013 agreement violates Constitution of Kosovo (media)
• Serbian army drills at border; Kurti: Serbia poses a threat to Kosovo (RTK)
• Uglanin: Certain that April 21 vote will not be successful (media)
• Zeqiri confident he won’t be dismissed: Serbs don’t trust Serbian List (Nacionale)
• Dutch MEP reacts after the mistreatment of Kosovars in Serbia (RTK)
• “If Association not sent to court, CoE membership postponed for a year” (media)
• Dimic on Serbia stopping Kosovars: Brings back Milosevic’s time (Kosovapress)
• Police confiscate weapons in Mitrovica North (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Eleven years they have been looking for the culprits in Serbs and Serbia, and the essence of the Brussels Agreement has not been implemented (RTS)
• Stano: Brussels Agreement obligation, consequences for Pristina if it does not form the A/CSM (RTS, Tanjug, KiM radio)
• Lajcak: No stronger incentive to resolve the Belgrade, Pristina relations than a clear perspective in the EU (Kosovo Online)
• Eleven years since the Brussels Agreement; Simic: Dead letter (RTS)
• Combating Human Trafficking Director in KP accused of domestic violence (FoNet, N1, Kosovo Online)
• CEC approved 23 locations for voting on April 21 in the north (Kosovo online)
• Surlic: The situation between Belgrade and Pristina would have been more relaxed if the A/CSM had been formed 11 years ago (Kosovo Online)
• Belo Polje struggles with wild landfills, stray dogs and an unbearable stench, no response from the authorities (KiM radio, Radio Gorazdevac)

International:

• North Kosovo Vote to Dismiss Mayors Risks Failure Amid Boycott (BIRN)
• Senior Kosovar Police Officer Released After Detention At Serbian Border (RFE)
• Witness to Violence: Photojournalist Recalls Decades of Documenting Kosovo’s Turbulent Times (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Murati: Kosovo receives €90 million funding from the World Bank (media)
• "Women in focus" photo exhibition: Everything is against women when they strive for a position (KiM radio, KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media:

Lajcak: Efforts for a solution continue next week (RTK)
Bislimi: useless meeting, without result - Serbia not interested in solution for Serb citizens (Reporteri)
Kurti: Our success is unbearable for Serbia (RTK)
Osmani: It is clear where responsibility for blocking free movement should be sought (RTK)
Department of State: Detentions of Kosovo citizens and policemen, escalating actions (RFE)
Gervalla and Hovenier talk about latest developments (RTK)
Barbano: EULEX concerned about detention of deputy director of Kosovo Police in Serbia (Kallxo)
Serbia releases Kosovo Police deputy director (Reporteri)
Maqedonci: Tensions continue, Serbia to test kamikaze drones on border with Kosovo (media)
Diplomatic representatives of several CoE member states congratulate Osmani (media)
Kurti meets deputy mayors of North Mitrovica, Zvecan and Leposaviq (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Guterres: Increased tensions between Belgrade and Pristina, concern over regulation on payment transactions (RTS, Tanjug)
Petkovic: Belgrade has done all to find solution for dinar, Pristina does not want solution (Tanjug)
Lajcak: Chief negotiators to meet again next week (N1)
Petkovic: Kurti the sole factor of instability (Radio KIM, media)
KFOR Commander invited to Serbian Armed Forces exercise (N1)
State Department calls upon Serbia to restrain from unilateral and uncoordinated acts (N1, RFE, Radio KIM, Kosovo Online)
Barbano: EULEX concerned over detention of Jankovic (Kosovo Online, social media)
Serbian List on vehicle arson case in the north: No reactions from responsible bodies and international organizations (Radio KIM)
Moscow: Voting for membership of Pristina in CoE a shame (Kosovo Online)
Vucic, PM of Commonwealth of Dominica discuss development of bilateral ties (Tanjug)
CEC ensured alternative locations for mayoral recall vote (Kosovo Online)

International Media: 

Serbian military drill ramps up as relations with Kosovo deteriorate (euronews)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Serbia has violated several agreements (media)
• Kurti: Vucic is retaliating over Kosovo’s success at CoE (media)
• Osmani: Five Kosovo police officers held hostage by Serbia (RFE)
• Rohde: Detention of Kosovo law enforcement officials is unacceptable (media)
• Hovenier: Concerned over detention of Jankovic by Serbian authorities (media)

Albanian Language Media:

EU: Serbia violated agreement on freedom of movement (media)
Kurti: One day after PACE vote, Serbia retaliates against Kosovo civilians (media)
Osmani says Vucic responsible for Kosovars “held hostage” at border crossings (media)
Bislimi and Petkovic to meet in Brussels, after hold up of Kosovars in Serbia (media)
Kurti: Serbia has a problem with the fact that we exist as people and as state (RTK)
Gervalla: Vucic is carrying out threats after vote for Kosovo’s membership at CoE (RTK)
Bislimi informs Lajcak about “hundreds of Kosovars held hostage by Serbia” (media)
MIA: Serbia is keeping detained the Deputy Director of Police and 4 police officers (RTK)
AmCham expresses deep concern over Serbia blocking Kosovo buses (media)
Kamberi: Serbia with repressive measures against Albanians in Presevo Valley (media)
Ahmeti on Association: It must be addressed after membership in CoE (RTK)
Haxhiu welcomes arrest of leader of group that blackmailed women and girls (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian MIA: Unfounded claims about detention of buses at the borders (RTS, media)
Stano: Avoid actions that may endanger safety (KiM radio, Danas, FoNet)
PKS: We will not participate in the referendum if it takes place violently (KiM radio, KoSSev)
The principals of most schools in the north of Kosovo refused to allow the vote to be held in the schools (Tanjug, media)
Serbian police arrest senior Kosovo Police official (N1, KoSSev, KiM radio)
KFOR on the British Telegraph writing: We do not speculate on any hypothetical scenarios (KoSSev)
The N. Macedonia government to reconsider its participation in the Open Balkans, due to new information on Banjska (KiM radio, Beta)

International Media: 

Kosovo says 10 of its police officers detained in Serbia (Reuters)
Serbia angry after Kosovo gets closer to joining Council of Europe (euronews)
Kosovo Calls on Citizens to Avoid Serbia Travel Amid Reported Border Blockage (Prishtina Insight)
“Blood Awaits Justice”: Kosovo Man Recalls Finding 53 Massacred Family Members (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, 17 April, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Serbia blocks around 300 Kosovars at border with Croatia (media)
• MFA and MIA call on citizens of Kosovo: Avoid at all costs passage through Serbia (media)
• Apart from Croatia, Kosovars are also blocked in Hungary, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs QUINT (media)
• Zulfaj on blocking of Kosovars in Serbia: "little Putin" cannot stand success of Kosovo (Koha)
• Von Cramon: Serbia should release the Kosovars, stop embarrassing itself (media)
• Kusari-Lila: Serbia should be removed from Council of Europe (Klan Kosova)
• Hoxhaj condemns behavior of Serbian Police (media)
• Kandic on PACE vote for CoE: Serbia's opposition is an own goal (EO)
• Pacolli: Parties in Brussels are discussing how to find a way for Serbia to legally bring money to Kosovo (media)
• U.S. Embassy flag at half-mast, Hovenier: Recent killings of women show urgency to do more (media)
• Osmani commemorates Poklek massacre; “six-month-old victim called Liberty” (Telegrafi)
• Police arrest one of the leaders of group that blackmailed women (Koha)
• Retrial: 35 years imprisonment for man who killed his wife in 2022 (media)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Vucevic: Voting in Strasbourg continuation of the festival of hypocrisy (KiM radio, RTS)
• Pantic Pilja: In PACE, it was shown that international law means nothing, they trampled on everything they advocate for (Kosovo Online)
• Elek: Members of the CoE trampled on international law and the rule of law (Kosovo Online, TV Most, Tanjug)
• Kurti from Strasbourg: No need to talk about A/CSM, when Serbs are boycotting the Assembly (Danas, Kosovo Online)
• Gogic: Growth Plan will be reason for another promise from Kosovo to form CSM (Kosovo Online)
• Trajkovic and Gogic on Kosovo and CoE: It’s part of geopolitical regrouping, nothing to do with Kosovo and Serbia (N1)
• Vehicle of a driver of Provisional Authority President in Leposavic set on fire (Kosovo Online)
• Drecun: What follows the CoE adoption of the recommendation for the admission of Kosovo is very dangerous (Blic, Blic TV)
• KP on the shooting on the Gracanica-Laplje Selo road: Attempted murder, two people arrested (Kosovo Online, KiM radio)

Opinion:

• Are the Kosovo media repeating the mistakes of 2004? (KoSSev)
• UN Resolution on the Balkans Would Be a Mistake (Real Clear World)

Albanian Language Media:
• PACE recommends Kosovo to be invited to become member of CoE (media)
• Kurti optimistic about Kosovo’s membership at Council of Europe in May (media)
• Haxhiu: Maximal punishments for killers; hate speech in social media to be monitored (EO)
• Osmani meets Svecla, Haxhiu and Hoxha on latest killings of two women (media)
• Osmani declares Wednesday day of mourning (media)
• Reactions continue after killing of woman in Peja (media)
• Fotovat: Men to be involved in discussions for protection of women in Kosovo (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:
• PACE adopts opinion on Kosovo application to CoE (N1, media)
• Dacic: A day of shame at Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (Kosovo Online)
• Miroslav Aleksic: Admission of Kosovo to CoE consequence of disastrous policy (N1, RTV)
• Brnabic: Maneuvering space in CoE small but truth and justice on our side (Tanjug, media)
• Lajcak: Next steps in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue discussed with Vucic in Mostar (Tanjug, media)
• Serbian List: Kurti continues with repression, denies right to medical treatment for Serbs (Kosovo Online, media)
• Serbian List meets Szunyog and Markovec: EU to act proactively and prevent escalation of situation carried out by Pristina (KoSSev, media)
• Vucic speaks with Aliyev about pressure on Serbia (media)
• UNMIK reacts to another femicide case in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, social media)
International Media:
• Vote Puts Kosovo One Step from Accession to Europe’s Chief Rights Body (Balkan Insight)
• After Another Femicide, Kosovo President Declares Day of Mourning (Balkan Insight)
• Elections and Reporting on Missing Girl Spur Digital Rights Violations Across Region (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani’s message to members of PACE on Kosovo’s membership vote (media)
• PACE committee rejects all amendments of Serbian, Italian members (media)
• Woman killed in Peja, “situation is alarming” (media)
• Hoxha: Radoicic’s group is free; there is threat of another attack in north (KTV)
• Rohde on Palkowitsch appointment: Testament of growing partnership (media)
• EU conditions Serbia’s integration with normalizing relations with Kosovo (RFE)
• Osmani: At first govt meeting, I’ll propose withdrawal from Open Balkan (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: PACE expected to adopt recommendation to admit Kosovo (N1, media)
• PACE Political Committee approved no amendments filed by Serbia, dismissed those from Italy related to CSM (KoSSev, media)
• Biljana Pantic Pilja: PACE Committee voted against our amendments, we will file objection (Tanjug)
• Gathering because of armed persons appearing in Suvi Do village, near Lipljan (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
• Xharra: More than 700 police officers with criminal offenses part of Kosovo police (Kosovo Online)
• Protest over the murder of women, demands to confront Osmani: Enough with the conference, introduce a state of emergency (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic meets with Lajcak in Mostar (Tanjug, social media)
• Dacic, Bayramov discuss strategic partnership between Serbia, Azerbaijan (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: A new round of dialogue on Thursday (Tanjug)
• EU ambassadors adopted the updated text for chapter 35 with Serbia (Tanjug, RTS, media)

International:

• Wider Europe Briefing: Kosovo could finally get in the Council of Europe (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Justice for victims and punishment of criminals is foundation of peace (RTK)
Slovenian President: We support you towards membership in the Council of Europe (RTK)
Begaj: It is Albania’s duty to be a good lawyer for Kosovo (RTK)
Gervalla: Giant step towards CoE membership, on Tuesday (RTK)
​​Zulfaj: Membership in CoE should not be linked to dialogue, we expect positive vote (Koha) 
Svecla meets EU official, raises concerns about Serbia’s successive public threats (Koha)
Settlement of disputes with Kosovo, condition for Serbia also in purchase of armaments (Koha)
Kosovo convenes Security Council: Serbia owns thousands of Iranian drones (Koha)
Palokaj: Italy proposed to introduce Association as condition for Kosovo's membership in CoE (Koha)
MFA: Three Kosovars evacuated from Israel (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian delegation seeks postponement of Pristina's CoE admission (Tanjug, KoSSev)
Pantic Pilja: Through amendments, we are trying to mitigate Opinion of Dora Bakoyannis (Kosovo Online)
Spain will not vote for Kosovo admission to Council of Europe (Kosovo Online, media)
PIK launched investigation into report from a Serb beaten up by Kosovo special police in Zubin Potok (KoSSev)
Bisevac on beating of Stevanovic: Citizens are afraid, result of it is that they are leaving (Radio KIM)
Vucic starts visit to BH on Air Serbia flight to Mostar (N1)

International Media: 

Hague Prosecution Demands 28 Years for Kosovo’s ‘Commander Wolf’ (Balkan Insight)