UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 11, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Lajcak: There is either normalisation or conflict (media)
• Kurti: EU should hold Serbia responsible for ongoing violations of Agreement (Koha)
• The Iber Bridge discussed during the Hamza-Lajcak meeting (media)
• Lajcak crosses Iber Bridge on foot to meet local Serbs (Dukagjini)
• KDI: Court ruling should be basis for drafting statute of Association (Koha)
• Kurti meets UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for Western Balkans (media)
• Haziri: Kurti has excluded Konjufca and Osmani from dialogue (Nacionale)
• Ambassador Hovenier calls for increased cyber and information security (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lajcak: Decision on Ibar River bridge opening should be made within dialogue (Tanjug)
• Visoki Decani Monastery reacts to Osmani’s remarks on monastery land court decision (media, social media)
• Serbian List reacts to decision on land expropriation in north (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Bilcik and von Cramon worried about Pristina's decision on land expropriation (KiM radio, Beta, Kosovo Online)
• Possible re-elections in North of Kosovo: Difficulties in confirming mandate of newly elected mayors (Danas)
• Dacic, Szijjarto: Level of Serbia-Hungary ties highest in recent history (Tanjug)
• Lajcak: Chief negotiators in Brussels on Monday (FoNet, N1)
• Dacic: Constant pressure over Russia sanctions (Prva TV, BETA, N1)

International:

• Petition Urges Kosovo Govt to Cut Period Products Tax (Prishtina Insight)

• Osmani slams Borrell over Association comments, says Vucic can’t be “normalized” (media)
• Kurti meets Council of U.S. Ambassadors, informs them about dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Konjufca: Kosovo will not accept models that aim to undo the state (media)
• Association will also be an administrative authority, with a distinct legal identity, but which does not form a third power (Albanian Post)
• Power: It takes political courage to reach a lasting solution in dialogue (media)
• “Draft statute of Association must be consistent with Kosovo’s laws,” says Serbian minister (euronews.al)
• European Parliament adopted resolutions on Kosovo and Serbia (EWB)
• Svecla on EP report: We share common concerns about challenging situation in north (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

• Lajcak tomorrow in Kosovo, on Friday in Serbia (RTK)
• Von Cramon: Kosovo continues to prove its democratic capacities (Kosovapress)
• The European Parliament approves report on Kosovo (Koha)
• Kurti vows to Kosovo Police not to stop seeking justice for war crimes (media)
• Osmani meets Senate Majority Leader; “gratitude for continued US support” (media)
• Kurti: Local governments in some cases used for opposition against central govt (Koha)
• Bislimi on Berishaj: An intellectual’s name is dragged for political profits (Kosovapress)
• Citaku reacts: A totalitarian mindset is a threat, not the Constitution (Nacionale)

Serbian Language Media:

• Stano: Lajcak in Pristina tomorrow, in Belgrade on Friday (N1)
• Decision on expropriation of land in Leposavic and Zubin Potok adopted (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic reacts to Pristina’s decision on expropriation (KoSSev)
• Pantic's house arrest extended for two months (KoSSev, NMagazin, Beta)
• Cvijetin Milivojevic: ''The West does not mediate, it commands the negotiations, we must be patient, the solution is a real compromise'' (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Vucic announced ‘’the largest ever’’ gathering on 26 May (media)
• Opposition reactions to Vucic’s gathering on May 26 (media)
• Opposition in front of REM submitted printed resignations; announced new protests (N1, nova.rs)
• Opposition requests Parliament session on security situation (FoNet, N1)
• Rasic and Rexhepi dissatisfied with budget allocated for non-majority communities (Radio KIM)
• Odalovic expects a meeting soon regarding the formation of a joint commission on the missing (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Vucic met USAID Administrator Power (Tanjug)
• Bilcik: Serbia needs to improve in some areas (N1)

International:

• Serbia Imposes Tough Restrictions After Mass Shootings (Balkan Insight)

• Osmani: We won’t give Serbia instrument to violate Kosovo (media)
• Kurti informs Radman on Croatian model he proposed for Association (media)
• Varhelyi: Management team’s proposal, starting point for discussions (RFE)
• USAID Director: Biden strongly supports normalisation of relations (Koha)
• Abbott: Time for Kosovo to present draft statute for Association (media)
• Osmani: Kosovo is an embodiment of European values (Euronews)
• Families of missing demand investigations, no faith in agreements (Euronews)
• Head of municipal assembly resigns, to prevent swearing in of mayor (media)
• Domi: As a society, we must work to give more space to communities (Koha)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 9, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Scholz: EU to keep promises for integration of Western Balkans (RFE)
• Abdixhiku: Management Team proposed a state within the state (media)
• Gervalla: One Republika Srpska enough for the region, no need for another one (media)
• Radman: Croatian model for Serbian minority can serve Kosovo (media)
• Szunyog: EU playing crucial role in promoting Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Telegrafi)
• Osmani on Europe Day: Kosovo is an embodiment of European values (media)
• Govt on Europe Day: Step by step, Kosovo is getting closer to EU (media)
• Lajcak: EU and Western Balkans to seriously address enlargement (media)
• Bajqinovci accuses LDK for corruption deals, interest groups with PDK (Paparaci)
• Kica-Xhelili tells what govt is trying to do in the Prosecutorial Council (Nacionale)
• Two people arrested in Zvecan for trying to block the municipality building (Telegrafi)
• Nebi Qena and Associated Press win two Pulitzer Prizes (Albanian Post)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic on northern Kosovo, Council of Europe, mass shootings in Serbia (Kosovo Online, media)
• Protest ‘Serbia Against Violence’ held in Belgrade (N1)
• Serbian Parliament vice-president Bozic after ‘Serbia Against Violence' protest: "Parliamentary and local elections in one term" (Danas, Beta, NMagazin)
• Vucic on protest in Belgrade (N1, media)
• New anti-violence protest on May 12 (N1, media)
• Person suspected of tearing Serbian flags apart at Grabovac hill brought in (Radio KIM, Radio kontakt plus)
• What slows down the European path of the Western Balkans according to Lajcak? (Danas, FoNet, Hina)
• Russian Ambassador: Strategic partnership with Serbia increasingly important (Politika, BETA, N1)
• Giaufret: Serbia’s place is in EU (FoNet, N1)
• Serbian Defense Ministry marks Victory Over Fascism Day (BETA)

International:

• Serbians rally against violence after two mass shootings (Reuters)
• Montenegrins Urged to Hand Over Weapons After Mass Shootings Rock Serbia (Balkan Insight)
• Child Pornography, Hate Speech and Cybercrime Surge in Balkans (Balkan Insight)

Kurti meets Sobotka, emphasizes importance of implementing the Basic Agreement without conditions (media)
At the Vienna Economic Forum, Kosovo is considered a functional state with a vibrant economy (Koha)
USAID chief Power heads to Serbia, Kosovo to lower tensions (Associated Press)
Croatia’s Foreign Minister visits Kosovo, today he meets with Grvalla and Kurti (RTK)
What is next in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue? Mediators visit expected this month (euronews.al)
Hoti: Government's decisions of the past two years are typical of communist systems (Reporteri)
Kamberi: Self-management also for Albanians in Serbia (media)
Postcard Collection Creates Vivid Picture of Bygone Era in Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Konjufca: If dialogue’s price is destroying Kosovo, it is good to say goodbye (media)
• Osmani meets Peach, discuss recent developments, including dialogue (media)
• Kurti welcomes attendees of 20th Vienna Economic Forum (media)
• Sobotka: Challenging political situation in Kosovo, parties should dialogue (media)
• EP members: Evident that Serbia has violated agreement by voting against Kosovo (Reporteri)
• Jackovich: A lot of pressure from Washington, Brussels and Belgrade (EO)
• Dugolli calls on Special Court to initiate investigations into Dubrava massacre (Koha)
• Serwer criticises West for approach toward Balkans (Gazeta Express/VoA)
• Opposition warns it will send law on strategic investments to court (TeVe1)
• Croatian Foreign Minister on two-day visit to Kosovo (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian Education Minister resigns in light of recent school shooting (N1, media)
• Anniversary of NATO bombing of Chinese Embassy in Belgrade marked (N1, media)
• Russian Ambassador: We share grief with kindred Serbian people (media)
• Odalovic: Information about the possible location of a mass grave that has been kept quiet for years (RTS)
• Gornji Livoc: Son of attacked journalist threatened (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
• Serbian opposition calls for gathering on Monday (Danas)
• Ruling party officials blast opposition protest organisers (N1)
• Professor on ‘Croatian model’, says no analogy between Serbs in Kosovo and Croatia (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic, Kurti meeting in the shadow of the great tragedies in Belgrade and Mladenovac (KoSSev)
• Petkovic with the ICRC delegation on the importance of respecting the Declaration on Missing Persons (Kosovo Online, RTS)

International:

• Kurti Outlines Renewable Energy Goals at Vienna Economic Forum (BIRN)
• Hague Court Urges Kosovo to Treat War Victims and Defendants Equally (BIRN)

• Kurti says management team for Association completed its function (media)
• Lajcak: First draft not final, an important starting point for discussions (media)
• Petkovic: Management team mandate team lasts until Association formed (media)
• Kurti presents formation of Kosovo’s Sovereign Fund (Kallxo)
• Osmani meets Steinmeier, updates him on dialogue (media)
• Explosion near police station in north of Kosovo (media)
• Serbia and Kosovo: the west’s ill-fated push to heal the divide (Financial Times)
• Kosovo Ambassador to Brussels publishes list of Serbia’s violations of agreement (media)
• Kosovo Civil Society and Media Form Coalition Against Disinformation (BIRN)
• German company contracted by Kosovo to supply passports suspected of irregularities (BIRN)
• Mirëdita, Dobar Dan Festival in Prishtina Opens With Tribute to Belgrade School Victims (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 5, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Konjufca sends condolences to families of victims of two attacks in Serbia (media)
• Ahmeti: Kosovo’s CoE membership not conditioned with Association (RTV21)
• Kusari-Lila: EU should stick to its own principles (media)
• Szunyog: EU restored focus on Western Balkans (Albanian Post)
• Osmani in the United Kingdom to attend the Coronation of King Charles III (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian President calls for unity following second mass killing (N1, RTS)
• Three-day mourning in Serbian areas in Kosovo, paying tribute to victims of Belgrade school shooting continues (Radio KIM, KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
• EU, CoE, regional officials extend condolences over new mass shooting (N1)
• Serbian Government proposes gun permit moratorium (N1, media)
• “Attempt to enter Serbian institutions latest by May 28”: Danas interlocutors on possible development of events in northern Kosovo (Danas)
• Lawyer Vasic speaks of indictments in absentia for war crimes in Kosovo (RTS)

International:

• Second Mass Shooting in Two Days Stuns Serbia, Killing Eight (BIRN)
• Suspect arrested after second mass shooting in Serbia (BBC)
• Serbian Media Leak Private Details About School Mass Shooting (BIRN)

• Govt: Dismissal of Management Team doesn’t violate agreement (RFE)
• French ambassador encourages govt to work constructively on Association (Koha)
• UK calls on parties to engage constructively, including on Association ASAP (media)
• Abbott calls for quick implementation of Declaration of Missing Persons (media)
• Kosovo indicts Serb for wartime massacre (BIRN)
• Vela reacts to appointment of illegal interim municipal body head in Peja (media)
• Candles lit in Pristina honoring victims of Belgrade school shooting (media)
• Prosecution: Company contracted by Ministry didn’t declare 25,000 passports (Prishtina Insight)
• “Miredita, dobar dan” festival begins in Pristina (Radio Free Europe)
• Indictment filed against former CEO of Kosovo Telekom (media)
• Ben-Meir: Greece’s support for Kosovo’s CoE membership, important step toward eventual recognition (Albanian Post)