• COVID-19: 1,096 new cases, 4 deaths (media) • Kosovo opens doors to Afghan refugees (Koha Ditore) • US: Kosovo joins calls for safe departure of Afghans (media) • Albright thanks Kosovo for offering to refuge Afghan allies (media) • Citaku: Kosovo should shelter some refugees from Afghanistan (RTK) • Kosovo parties ponder joint candidates in Serb-majority areas (BIRN) • Kosovo without protect against Russian propaganda (Radio Free Europe) • COVID-19 spike adds to jitters over new school year in Balkans (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 13, 2021 Albanian Language Media: • COVID-19: 1,128 new cases, three deaths (media) • Vaccination of children and teachers, condition to return to schools (RFE) • Rohde: Implementing court decision on Decan Monastery, long overdue (Express) • Several political parties to announce joint list for Mitrovica North (Klan Kosova) • Kosovo Assembly adopted only seven laws in the spring session (RTK) Serbian Language Media: • “Crime in Gorazdevac must not be forgotten” (Radio KIM) • “KLA” graffiti in Gracanica; 18 yrs on, no one responsible for killing two Serb kids (N1) • Rakic, Petkovic on crime in Gorazdevac (Kosovo-online) • British Embassy welcomes court decision on Dragica Gasic’s flat, condemns attacks against her (Radio KIM) • Flags of “Greater Albania“ displayed on south and north sides of Ibar River (KoSSev) • EU on ‘Open Balkan’: We welcome commitment of leaders to regional cooperation (Kosovo-online) • Serbian police chopper crews continue battling fires in Greece (N1, RTS) Humanitarian/Development: • Half of young Serbians want to leave country (FoNet, N1)

• COVID-19: 1,009 new cases and two deaths (media) • Kosovo to impose new measures amid rising infections (Euronews Albania) • LDK slams government: We are risking going to a total lockdown (media) • Mimoza-Kusari Lila to run for Gjakova mayor (media) • State Department: Common Regional Market, key to progress (VoA) • Kosovo court sides in favour of media-famous Serb returnee (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 12, 2021 Albanian Language Media: • COVID-19: 1,009 new cases and two deaths (media) • Beerfest festival in Prishtina cancelled amid growing COVID-19 cases (media) • Albanian parties to run with one list in northern municipalities (Koha) • Three Serbian nationals arrested in Gjilan, 11 kg of drugs seized (media) Serbian Language Media: • 13 new Covid-19 cases registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Radio KIM) • Ksenija Bozovic appointed deputy minister (Kosovo-online, media) • Attacked Nikola Peric feels well, needs to undergo nose surgery (TV Most) • RFE: Serbian List officials from Kosovo selectively report double salaries (N1) • Cyprus will not change stance on Kosovo (RTS) • Davenport: Decision on Monastery’s land in Decane should be implemented (Kosovo-online) • Tanaskovic: New Pristina’s tactic to appropriate Serbian heritage, UNESCO's decision important (Kosovo-online) • Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Porfirije gets Instagram account (N1) International: • German statement revives Kosovo-Albania tensions about ‘Open Balkan’ project (BIRN)

• COVID-19: 888 new cases, one death (media) • Silence in the face of growing cases of COVID-19 (Radio Free Europe) • Ministry: Start of school year depends on vaccination of teaching staff (Telegrafi) • Court allows Gasic to stay in her apartment (media) • Albanian PM criticises Kosovo leaders about Open Balkan again (media) • Peja municipal director for cadaster and property arrested (media) • Dozens of suspected arsonists arrested in Balkans over blazes (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 11, 2021 Albanian Language Media: • COVID-19: 888 new cases, one death (media) • German government on Open Balkan: Every regional cooperation useful (Express) • Justice Minister: Scenario of vetting process yet to be decided (Indeksonline) • Government adopts five-year strategy for rule of law (Telegrafi) • Wiretap scandal: Special Prosecution now has the audio recordings (Kallxo) • Over 58% of Kosovars say COVID-19 vaccination must be mandatory (media) • US Embassy calls on pregnant mothers to get vaccinated (media) • Women in politics lack support from parties and society (Radio Free Europe) • Government adopts €15 million agreement to distribute vaccines (media) Serbian Language Media: • Trajkovic: Only Serbian health care system functions in Kosovo (Danas) • KFOR to hold 10-day exercises in Kosovo (N1, Radio KIM) • Vucic spoke with Godfrey: Serbian-US relations on rise (Kosovo-online) • Prosecution in Gnjilane launched investigation into attack on Serb in Zebnica village (Radio KIM) Humanitarian/Development: • Foreign tourists can get free vaccine at Belgrade Fair (B92)

• COVID-19: 562 new cases, two deaths (media) • Kurti calls on diaspora to register for voting in October 17 elections (media) • Godfrey: Don’t put demands on table without being ready to compromise (media) • Rama criticises Kosovo leaders; says Open Balkans leads to recognition by Serbia (Express) • Pacolli: Kosovo, Albania leaders to reduce tensions (media) • Open Balkan initiative doomed to fail as agreement in case of natural disasters fails to materialize (Euronews Albania) • KPC: Deputy Minister Sallahu’s accusations, ungrounded (media) • Kurti receives Head of Mission of ICRC in Kosovo (RTK)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 10, 2021 Albanian Language Media: • COVID-19: 562 new cases, two deaths (media) • Prime Minister Kurti calls for vaccination (media) • About 1 million euros abused, forensic experts illegally compensated (media) • Hoxha: Law on Forensic Medicine came into force before I became minister (Klan) • Minister of Interior facing trial for pelting police with rocks while in opposition (Express) • Meta and Basha thank Kosovo for assistance in battling fires (euronews.al) Serbian Language Media: • Vulin: Mitsotakis confirmed Greece will not change its stance on Kosovo (Tanjug, Kosovo-online) • Vucic: Israeli recognition of Kosovo was disappointment for Serbia and its citizens (Politika) • “Background of Washington Agreement rejection by Kosovo Assembly” (Politika) • Young man in Novo Brdo beaten up, incident condemned (Radio KIM) • Petkovic on Viola von Cramon’s statements regarding northern Kosovo (Kosovo-online) • US Embassy in Sarajevo on ‘Open Balkan’ initiative (Kosovo-online) • Four new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev) Humanitarian/Development: • Kosovo Filmmakers Eye Bright Future After Cannes Debut (Prishtina Insight)

• Osmani authorises KSF deployment to assist Albania in extinguishing fires (media) • Von Cramon expects progress Prishtina-Belgrade talks after elections (N1, media) • Elezi: We have received 13 applications from political entities so far (media) • War crimes judges should be disqualified over 'abuse of authority,' say UK lawyers (The Telegraph) • Foreign experts expect parallel structures to be dissolved this year (Klan Kosova) • Be the change you want to see; How Diaspora can contribute to cleaner Kosovo (Kosovo 2.0) • Most Balkan countries cheer Olympic medal scores (BIRN) • COVID-19: 263 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 9, 2021 Albanian Language Media: • Kurti is asked to find “creative” solution for Association (media) • Kusari-Lila: We can discuss other topics with Rama, but not Open Balkan (Koha) • Police Director says vetting in judiciary, including police, is necessary (media) • Kosovo Defence Minister: US Army main guarantor of security in Kosovo (media) • COVID-19: 263 new cases, no deaths (media) Serbian Language Media: • Rakic: Pristina uses passivity of Brussels (Vecernje Novosti) • Incident near administrative line with Kosovo on Friday (Tanjug, Radio KIM) • Patriarch Porfirije: Support to church and people in Greece (Radio KIM) • Vucic and Botsan-Kharchenko – High degree of bilateral cooperation (RTS) • Albanians launch petition against Goran Bregovic (KoSSev) • Five new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM) Opinion: • Zaev: Our peoples have same path, ‘Open Balkans’ demonstration of progress (Kosovo-online, Politika) International: • Diaspora Kosovars flood home after year of absence (BIRN) Humanitarian/Development: • Serbians likely to be able to travel to EU after August 15 (N1)