Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 21, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• 55 patients are being treated at the Infectious Disease Clinic, one in serious condition (Koha)
• Mustafa: We are waiting for President’s invitation to a meeting (Express)
• Abdixhiku says he’ll respect every decision of LDK Council (media)
• Albanian-American Civic League asks Trump to relieve Grenell (media)
• UNSC to hold a video conference on Kosovo on 24 April (Koha)
• Kosovo ranked five places higher at world press freedom index (media)
• LDK condemns Kurti’s ‘denigrating and insulting discourse’ (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• ''Reviewing of indictments against former KLA members underway'' (Blic, Tanjug)
• Two new Covid-19 infection cases registered in north (Kosovo-online)
• Emergency teams from north refute Pristina’s allegations of 25 new coronavirus cases on Monday (KoSSev)
• UNS: Kosovo media to issue retraction over news that SOC is fighting COVID-19 by using “Russian methods” (KoSSev)
• Borell: EU has to explain its stabilizing role in Western Balkans (N1)

International:

• Kosovo Leaders Tussle Over Plan to Form New Govt (Balkan Insight)
• After the Pandemic: Perils and Promises for Western Balkans (Balkan Insight)
• Some Balkan States Waging ‘Crusade’ Against Media, Report Warns (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• COVID-19 and Domestic Abuse: When Home is not the Safest Place (Balkan Insight)
• Kon: State of emergency annulment before epidemic ends in Serbia (RTS, N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 21

37 new cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo over the last 24-hour period (media)
Kurti speaks Covid-19 and new elections to int’l media reps (media)
Kosovan acting PM accuses Trump envoy of meddling (The Guardian)
Thaci: I’ll take final constitutional steps next week (media)
Grenell denies talk of land swaps between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
Serwer: A really bad deal (media)
Borell: EU to work to resolve differences between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
KOSTT joins European energy operators (media)
Kurti: Veliu was part of Thaci – Vucic plan for Kosovo partition (Express)
Mustafa doesn't rule out PM candidacy (Klan Kosova)
Nagavci: Mustafa has set himself in Thaci’s service (RTK)
Shala: U.S. did not accept Kurti as head of delegation for dialogue (media)
Kurti: Covid-19 tests from Serbia should not be politicised (Telegrafi)
Osmani: No aid from Serbia can erase its committed crimes in Kosovo (RTK)
Krasniqi: Kurti enabled Vucic to try to atone genocidal crimes with tests (Klan)
EU MPs call for visa liberalisation for Kosovo as soon as possible (Express)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 18

• 53 patients with COVID-19 are being treated at hospital, two in serious condition (media)
• Kurti: I will only meet with the President to announce elections and for the pandemic (media)
• Thaci to Kurti: Nominate the prime minister-designate “without delay” (media)
• Kurti and Lajcak agree that dialogue should resume after pandemic (RTK)
• Lajcak: I will continue to cooperate closely with the U.S. (media)
• COVID-19 won’t stop Kosovo war crimes court from filing indictments (Express)
• Konjufca discusses support on visa liberalization with German FM Mass (media)
• Osmani joins campaign against domestic violence (RTK)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 17, 2020

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 17, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti writes to Thaci: Do not use double standards (media)
• Kosnett on political rhetoric in Kosovo: Focus on facts (media)
• Abazi: No substitution of democracy and no democratic legitimacy without elections (media)
• Nagavci: LVV to reply to Thaci once circumstances permit (RFE)
• Haziri: LDK ready to form a new government (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Three new Covid-19 infection cases in northern Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Dacic: UN SC meeting on Kosovo scheduled for April 24 still on the agenda (Kontakt plus radio, TV Prva)
• Three crises in Kosovo (RTK2)
• EU Office supports cooperation of Serbian and Kosovo ministers of health (Kosovo-online)
• Belgrade ready to strengthen relations with Washington in all areas, Dacic says (N1)
• Reporters Without Borders: Authorities to investigate the arbitrary detention of KoSSev editor (KoSSev)
• CoE, NATO, OSCE: Parliaments have key role, they should work (Beta, N1)
• Kon: Percentage of new coronavirus cases in Serbia dropping (N1)

Opinion:

• Trump Is Stirring Chaos in Kosovo at the Worst Possible Time (Foreign Policy)

International:

• Prominent Kosovo Serb Journalist Says Intimidation Worsening with COVID-19 (Balkan Insight)
• Balkan Gangsters ‘Profiting From Pandemic’, Report (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• North Macedonia Leads Region in COVID-19 Tracing App (Balkan Insight)
• Innovation thrives as pandemic continues (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 17

• Kosovo: 26 new cases of COVID-19, eight recoveries, two deaths (media)
• From his balcony, Kurti urges people to respect COVID-19 measures (media)
• Vitia speaks to region's ministers about fight against COVID-19 (media)
• U.S.: Cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia on Covid-19 encouraging (media)
• Osmani to meet parliamentary groups to harmonise COVID-19 legislation (Klan)
• LDK leaves the meeting of Assembly chairmanship (RTK)
• Abazi: Democracy cannot be stolen by abusing with Covid-19 situation (RTK)
• Veseli calls for more testing and for reducing quarantine period (media)
• Lajcak holds telephone conversations with Osmani, Haziri, Limaj (media)
• MEP Fajon supports efforts of Minister Vitia to fight COVID-19 (media)
• UN Women in Kosovo officials say domestic violence has increased (Koha)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 16, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Another patient succumbs to the coronavirus at Prishtina hospital (media)
• Ahmeti: Situation in the capital under control (Klan)
• LDK’s Hoti criticises PM Kurti of “partial legal initiatives” (media)
• German diplomat: U.S. need to be fair on Pristina-Belgrade dealings (Express)
• Kurti: Institutions to step up reactions against domestic violence (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Irinej: We can pray to God from home too, follow experts' advice (Tanjug, B92, RTS)
• “Decisions of government and ministries must be available in Serbian language as well” (Radio KIM)
• 11 new cases of Covid-19 infection in northern Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warns UN about coronavirus press freedom violations (Beta, AFP, N1)
• EFJ warns of reporting restrictions during coronavirus pandemic (N1)
• US Ambassador to Serbia: We’ll write down new chapter of our friendship (FoNet, N1)
• Detention of Marko Rosic extended for two more months (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Pandemic Adds Fresh Uncertainty to Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue (Balkan Insight)
• Why the EU should lead talks between Kosovo and Serbia (ecfr.eu)

International:

• Balkan Economies Expected to Contract in Pandemic, IMF warns (Balkan Insight)
• Várhelyi: New methodology has put the enlargement policy back on track (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Staying at home increased cases of domestic violence (RTK)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 16

• Kosovo: 36 new cases of COVID-19, five recoveries (media)
• Kosovo, Serbia health ministers discuss cooperation against COVID-19 (media)
• UK Embassy urges media to report factually (media)
• Osmani forwards initiative for draft law on fighting COVID-19 (media)
• Von Cramon: Lockdown rules to follow constitutional ones in Kosovo (media)
• MP Berisha writes to embassies: Please help Egyptian community (media)
• Lajcak denies he has knowledge of a Kosovo-Serbia “secret deal” (Klan Kosova)
• Nagavci: LVV will reply to the President after the pandemic (RTK)
• Limaj says his party willing to contribute in a unity government (Kosovapress)
• VV’s Pacolli accuses opposition of creating political crisis during pandemic (Koha)
• “For LDK, health of citizens equally important as health of democracy” (Telegrafi)
• Haxhiu: I was not invited at President’s meeting (Klan Kosova)
• Kosovo Police sends appeal against domestic violence (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 15, 2020

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 15, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• President Thaci sends third letter to Kurti (media)
• Thaci: Kosovo needs government with full mandate (media)
• US Embassy: Follow guidelines issued by government and municipalities (media)
• Heldt: Increase of Covid-19 cases in Kosovo is not a good thing (RTK)
• Another patient succumbs to COVID - 19, total of 9 fatalities (media)
• President Thaci meets heads of judicial institutions (media)
• Latifi: An LDK-led govt formed to reach final deal with Serbia (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• President Vucic says there will be no exception for Easter (B92)
• Crisis headquarters in north said new measures entered in force, movement allowed for 90 minutes (KoSSev)
• Seven new cases of Covid-19 infection in northern Kosovo (Radio kontakt plus)
• Palmer: US aid helped Western Balkans tackle pandemic (N1, VoA)
• European Commission set to change restrictions on export of medical equipment (N1, RTS)
• Ban on export of medication produced in Serbia takes effect (N1, FoNet)

Opinion:

• Fighting COVID-19 in Serbia is not a suppression of democracy (The Washington Post)
• Reality Check: Will COVID-19 Remake The World? (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo Opposition Signals Readiness to Form New Government (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Number of coronavirus cases exceeded two million, US still on top (B92)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 15

• Kosovo: Ten new cases of COVID-19, three recoveries (media)
• Apostolova appeals for institutions to cooperate during pandemic (RTK)
• Stoltenberg: NATO’s mission in Kosovo, maintained (Gazeta Express)
• LDK votes in favour of coalition with AAK, NISMA-AKR, communities (media)
• Mustafa: LVV should not delay the issue of creating new government (RTV21)
• Lekaj: AAK will not set conditions to LDK for a coalition government (Telegrafi)
• Haxhiu: Thaci has no right to interfere in forming of new government (T7/Zeri)
• Haziri: Coalition with LVV, one step forward two steps back (Klan Kosova)
• PDK considering sending movement restriction decision to court (Kosovapress)
• Selmanaj: Ending coalition with LVV, one of the best actions (T7, RTK)
• Balje: We support forming of a new government in Kosovo (RTK)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 14, 2020

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 14, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• PDK withdraws emergency financial package proposal (media)
• Osmani does not put PDK’s additional motion on the agenda (Koha)
• LVV does not participate at Assembly session, Nagavci gives the reasons (RTK)
• Kurti: Emergency fiscal package to be followed with revitalization of economy (Koha)
• Government sets up coordinating group on economy during pandemic crisis (Koha)
• Mustafa: Recent movement restriction measures, concerning (media)
• Mayors: We weren’t contacted by Ministry, new measures causing chaos (media)
• Five Kosovo Police officers infected with COVID – 19 (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Two new cases of Covid-19 infection registered in northern Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• “For Mitrovica citizens decision unclear and astonishing” (Radio KIM)
• Church’s bells tolling in Pristina “primitive Russian model” for some Kosovo media, Eparchy warns on targeting church and unprofessional journalism (KoSSev)
• KoSSev editor-in-chief detained while on assignment (KoSSev)
• Journalists’ associations, civil society organizations react to detainment of Tatjana Lazarevic (KoSSev)
• Mitrovica Innovation Centre donates 100 visors to health institutions (KoSSev)

International:

• Podcast: “The Americans have encouraged friends in Kosovo to get rid of this truculent PM”—a Balkan bust-up (The Economist)
• Democrats In Congress Question Trump's 'Heavy-Handed' Approach To Kosovo (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• WHO: COVID-19 mortality rate ten times higher than 2009 flu pandemic (N1)