UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 25, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kosovo, Serbia don’t agree on moving forward toward normalization (RFE)
Kurti, Barduani: “Importance of regular communication and coordination” (media)
Osmani: Steadfast commitment to principles that define our democracy (media)
Chief prosecutor: Kajtazi and Mehmetaj are not being investigated (media)
AJK expresses concern regarding the investigations against journalists (media)
Rasic: Association does not constitute a threat to Kosovo sovereignty (media)
Svecla meets Bulgarian counterpart, discuss security and challenges (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Petkovic: We insisted on CSM, pointed out Pristina's behaviour against Serbs (Tanjug, N1, media)
Lajcak: We agreed about next steps (Radio kontakt plus, social media)
Vucic: Government reshuffle, including mayors, company directors (N1, BETA)
Petkovic, Serbian List condemn apprehension of Uljarevic: Interference of politics into sport (KoSSev, media)
Sports Minister on apprehension of Uljarevic: Pristina authorities are crossing ‘line of reason’ (Kosovo Online)
Tusk: Poland supports Serbia's EU path, EU incomplete without Serbia (media)
Radar: Serbia pays 1st instalment for French Rafale fighters (N1)

International Media:

Controversy erupts over hybrid warfare claims after audio recording leak involving Kusari-Lila and Radoicic (Sbunker, Disinfo)
Workshops: Kosovo youth united against radicalism (Sbunker)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti repeats the demands toward Serbia in the dialogue (RTK)
• Barduani meets Kurti: Dialogue only way to compose ongoing issues (media)
• Reuten: Punitive measures against Kosovo must be removed (media)
• Kurti on terrorist attack in Turkey: Let’s work together to combat terrorism (media)
• Haradinaj condemns terrorist attack in Ankara; “attack against peace” (media)
• Osmani: Courts in Kosovo set a very good example of rule of law (RTK)
• UNMIK: In north of Kosovo, still potential for escalation (Albanian Post)
• Hovenier calls for fair, open, and inclusive selection process in call of KPC (media)
• Citaku: Investigations against Kajtazi and Mehmetaj, orchestrated scandal (media)
• First two projects of Kosovo Prosperity Fund signed in Mitrovica North (RTK)
• Murati meets head of IMF Mission for Kosovo (media)
• Police arrest person, find visit cards, shirts with nationalistic signs (media)
• United Nations Day (Kosovapress)
• Kearns: Vucic continues to seek closer ties to Putin (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Meeting of Serbian delegation with Lajcak ended in Brussels, uncertainty about "tripartite" meeting (Beta, N1)
• KoSSev: North Mitrovica omitted from ID cards, technical mistake or intention?
• Students: This is beginning of our non-violent and democratic struggle for rights of Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, media, social media)
• Lawyer: Prosecution opened proceeding against President of Football Association in Kosovo over jerseys (Kosovo Online)
• Subaric informs British Ambassador about appropriation of municipal land, seeks his support (Radio KIM)
• Vulin: Belgrade will not impose sanctions on Moscow (N1)
• Less: In long term, border changes are prerequisite for stabilization of Balkans (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic recalled Serbian Ambassador to the UN Nemanja Stevanovic (NMagazin, Beta, Danas)
• Vucic and Tusk meeting: Strengthening bilateral relations, EU integration, situations in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio, media)

Opinion:

• NIN on story which is kept quiet about: Serbian women from Kosovo suffer sexual harassment (NIN, Blic)

International:

• Serbian, Kosovar negotiators meet with EU envoy to jump start stalled talks (RFE)
• Ethnic tensions dominate life in divided Kosovan city, decades after war (Reuters)
• Lost in Translation: Open Balkan ID initiative yet to take off (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 24, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani concludes visit to U.S. “with powerful event” (media)
Wood, Osmani discuss dialogue and need for war victims to find closure (media)
Bislimi: With Growth Plan, Kosovo gets one step closer to the EU (media)
Kurti hosts President of Eurochambers Vladimir Dlouhy (media)
Osmani’s message on 25th anniversary of USAID in Kosovo (media)
Kosovo leaders condemn terrorist attack in Turkey (media)
Barduani meets Mojsilovic, discuss regional security and cooperation (media)
German MP calls for accountability for the attack in Banjska (media)
Orav meets Specialist Prosecutor Kimberly West in Pristina (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian PM: Potential government reshuffle to be considered in spring (Tanjug, media)
Djuric met with Giaufret (Tanjug)
Mojsilovic, new KFOR commander discuss security situation in Kosovo (N1, Beta, Tanjug)
Counsellor of the rector of the University in North Mitrovica interrogated over the student protest (RTS, N1, media)
The KP punished young men in Zvecan for "vandalism"; a parent complains about the violation of rights: They redid crossed-out graffiti (KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media:

EC adopts reforms agenda of Kosovo and four countries of region (RFE)
Kurti: The Berlin Process was crowned successfully (Gazeta Express)
Krasniqi: Iber bridge should be opened, no reason for it to remain closed (media)
Aliu: I have no official information from the Special Prosecution (media)
Stano: Focus of the meeting, urgent need to implement the agreement (media)
Svecla hails police operation that seized over 10 kilos of cocaine (media)
Haradinaj meets Kasanof, asks for speedy NATO membership for Kosovo (media)
Slovakia to close its liaison office in Kosovo by December 31 this year (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Donald Tusk and Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Belgrade today (RTS)
A new round of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina tomorrow in Brussels (RTS, media)
Lajcak, Lorkowski on WB integration to EU in context of normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina (Tanjug, Blic)
Silent protest in North Mitrovica: University students march with mouths taped (KoSSev, media)
First hearing in throwing tear gas in Kosovo Assembly case, Konjufca and others were not present (Kosovo Online)
ARTICLE 19 launches news fact-checking campaign (N1, KoSSev)
EC approves reform agendas of Serbia, other W Balkan partners (Tanjug)
EP Rapporteur Picula insists on Serbia meeting EU accession criteria (N1, Hina)

International:

IMF keeps Kosovo's 2024 GDP growth projection at 3.8% (Seenews)
Biserko: Vucic has given up on Kosovo (Albanian Daily News)
'Feces Everywhere': Balkan lake must clean up or lose UNESCO status (RFE)
Balkan criminals planned murders using encrypted phones from Canadian startup Sky Global (OCCRP)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 23, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani meets Wood, talk “Kosovo success and importance of cooperation” (media)
Bislimi calls for lifting of penalty measures against Kosovo (media)
Haradinaj: Association in return for guaranteed fast membership in NATO (media)
Hargreaves: Iber Bridge must be opened, question is when and how (media)
Nic: Germany should engage more seriously in the Balkans (RFE)
Haziri: We cannot implement a bad agreement (media)
Becirovic wants Bosnia and Herzegovina to lift visa regime for Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Number of migrants down by 80 pct compared to 2023 (media)
Fico: Serbia protected Hungary, Slovakia and entire EU from illegal migration (Tanjug)
N1 on Pristina media reports: “Milan Radoicic approved voting for election of Vjosa Osmani as Kosovo president”
Vucic on new EP Rapporteur: His views are problematic, not his nationality (N1)
Vucevic: Serbia ready to work on boosting relations with friendly Montenegro (media)
Djuric met Craxi, thanked her for Italian contribution to peace and stability (media)
Slovenian MFA on uncoordinated decision-making, punitive measures (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

Serbia’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive growth (The Washington Times)

International Media:

Kosovo youth inherit ‘burden of war’ from ‘secondhand memories’, report says (Balkan Insight)
Witness accuses Kosovo’s Thaci of naming his brother a Serbian collaborator (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti opposes replication of Italy-Albania migration deals in Balkans (media)
• Kurti: We already have an agreement, not only dialogue (Telegrafi)
• US Embassy: O’Brien had important conversations with govt leaders (media)
• Osmani emphasizes “importance of never giving up on freedom” (media)
• Osmani meets Lawler, “strong partnership ensures regional stability” (media)
• EU Office: Von der Leyen will visit Kosovo on October 26 (media)
• Torres: Kosovo, American success story of democracy in the Balkans (media)
• Terras from Estonia expected to be appointed EP Rapporteur for Kosovo (RFE)
• Murati travels to U.S. for annual meetings of IMF and World Bank (media)
• Govt, ICO with strategy to address challenges of communities in Kosovo (EO)
• “SL silence about Rakic backs theories Radoicic’s people beat him up” (Express)
• ARKEP authorizes Starlink to offer services in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Aljazeera on construction of 200 houses in northern Kosovo: Residents are asking for information about the future tenants
• Tonino Picula the new rapporteur of the European Parliament for Serbia (N1, FoNet)
• O'Brien: Pristina to send CSM draft to Constitutional Court (Kosovo Online)
• Director of Telekom in Pristina: If they do not give us a license, damage will be paid (RTS)
• Croatia to strengthen its presence in KFOR (Beta, Kosovo Online)
• Selimi: Kurti signed agreement with Denmark to allocate prison, and criticizes Rama (Kosovo Online, social media)

Opinion:

• From girlhood to womanhood through public spaces (Kosovo 2.0)
• Instead of a round of drinks - harsh glares (Radio kontakt plus)

International:

• Kurti opposes replication of Italy-Albania migration deals in Balkans (Euractiv)
• Serbia hints at new long-term deal on Russian gas (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 22, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti meets O’Brien, calls for full, fair implementation of Basic Agreement (media)
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James O’Brien interview with Kanal 10
Businesses affected by queues in Merdare (RFE)
Discussions in Vienna on OSCE report about situation in Kosovo (Koha)
Hacker: If Serbia wants to join the EU, it needs to recognize Kosovo (Express)
Aliu: Not notified about investigations, ready to cooperate for justice (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Kurti only accepted entry of Serbian goods 'pro forma,' he was ‘forced’ by Germans and Americans (Kosovo Online, RTS, media)
Vucic confirms absence from BRICS summit (N1)
Brnabic meets Craxi (Tanjug)
SRSG Ziadeh met Boven, discussed current situation and dialogue (Kosovo Online, social media)
Documentation from Srbica Municipal Provisional Authority sent to Kosovo Archive and Trepca (Kosovo Online)
Convoy of trucks with Serbian goods at Merdare one kilometre long (Radio KIM)
Political analyst: Government to push Jadar project (N1)

International Media:

Albania’s ex-president Ilir Meta arrested on corruption charges (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 21, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti publishes agreement and declarations from Berlin Process (media)
Osmani meets Torres; grateful for unwavering support for Kosovo (media)
O’Brien: Establishment of Association, an important step (media)
Kurti: Diplomacy played a key role in changing the status quo (RTK)
AJK establishes Network of Women Journalists of Kosovo (media)
“Unemployment rate among women has dropped to 10.7%” (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

Petkovic: We insist on all agreements reached over last 11 years (Kosovo Online)
O’Brien: It is most important that Serbs in Kosovo live like normal, European people (Tanjug)
Gerxhaliu: Ordinary people and private sector of Kosovo and Serbia suffering due to politicization (KiM radio)
Gerxhaliu: We can't make young people stay with stories about war, we need to restore their lost hope (Kosovo Online)
An explosive device thrown in a private yard in Zubin Potok (Radio KIM, KoSSev)

Opinion

What does Milorad Djokovic's case say about the judiciary in Kosovo? (KoSSev, Kontakt plus radio)
Choose carefully what you call “victories” (Sbunker)
Beyond sovereignty and reforms: Safeguarding Kosovo’s multi-ethnicity and promoting a civic identity (New Social Initiative)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 21, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

O’Brien and Eichhorst today in Pristina, expected to meet Kurti (Gazeta Express)
Lajcak: It’s time to start the implementation of agreements (media)
Kurti: Kosovo is accelerating forward in key sectors (media)
Osmani begins visit to U.S., will attend activities related to WPS Agenda (media)
Ursula von der Leyen in Pristina on Saturday, will meet Osmani and Kurti (RTK)
Reuten: No one in Serbia was held accountable for attack in Banjska (media)
Shukri Buja summoned by the Specialist Chambers in the Hague (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic with O'Brien and Eichhorst: I expressed concern about the challenge of the Serbs in Kosovo (RTS, Tanjug)
Vucic expressed to Putin the hope that Serbia will not impose sanctions on Russia (NMagazin, Beta, RTS, Tanjug, media)
Djuric: Serbia has backed letter of support for Guterres (Tanjug, media)
Former Serbian List leader Goran Rakic allegedly beaten in North Mitrovica (N1, nova.rs)
A man suspected of attacking the Aleksic family in Gracanica arrested (KiM radio)
SVN adopted "Strategy framework for survival" (KiM radio)
Visits of Serbian Artists to Kosovo - Obstacles on the road, but at the destination, pure joy (Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media:

• Von der Leyen in Western Balkans next week, in Pristina on Oct 26 (media)
• Rohde: Six countries of Western Balkans benefited from Berlin Process (media)
• World Bank issues regular economic report on Western Balkans (media)
• Kurti meets with Haddad, “strong Kosovo-France relations reaffirmed” (media)
• Tahiri: Normality will return to Kosovo after February 9 (media)
• Haradinaj travels to U.S., for meetings at Pentagon, State Department (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian PM Vucevic with UNMIK Head Ziadeh on the current situation in Kosovo (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, RTS, media)
• Petkovic meets Ziadeh: The irreplaceable role of the UN Mission in Kosovo in preserving peace (Kosovo Online, RTS, Tanjug, media)
• Vucevic: Kurti continues to make life difficult for Serbs in Kosovo (Danas, Kosovo Online, TV Pink)
• Blanar: Serbia has the full support of Slovakia regarding Kosovo (Tanjug, Politika)
• Vucic meets Blanar (Tanjug, media)
• Posters about the KP, Self-Determination and plasma biscuits in the north of Mitrovica (KiM radio, Alternativna, KoSSev, Kontakt plus radio)
• Von der Leyen next Friday in Belgrade, a day later in Pristina (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)

International:

• Kosovo sees red in pupils’ self-harm amid limited school psychologists (BIRN)
• Sanctions and trials help Bosnian Serb leader win big at polls (BIRN)