UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 22, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Thaci: LVV has not proposed candidate for PM (Koha)
• EC proposes €3 billion aid package for the region, Kosovo to get 100 million (media)
• LDK, AAK leaders meet to discuss new government formation (media)
• Ahmeti: A functioning govt, broad consensus in time of pandemics (Indeksonline)
• Kosnett: Corruption made many young people go to Syria (RTK)
• 58 patients at Infectious Disease Clinic (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• One new case of Covid-19 infection in northern Kosovo, six persons healed (Kosovo-online)
• CoE Human Rights commissioner warns of state of human rights in Europe (N1)
• Office for KiM: Pandemic must not be reason to spread propaganda and lies (Kosovo-online)
• "No end in sight to instability in Kosovo, even the relationship among Albanians deteriorated'' (RTS, B92, RTV Puls, KIM radio)
• Covic: Serbia to maintain active approach and not rush with solution for Kosovo (Prva TV, Kosovo-online)
• Reporters Without Borders: Serbia drops to 93rd, Kosovo moves up to 70th place (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Danas: Kosovo equation with many unknowns

Humanitarian/Development:

• NGO calls on mayors to assist communities in distance learning courses (Telegrafi)
• Balkan Countries Start to Lift Some Coronavirus Restrictions (Balkan Insight)

• Kosovo: Six new cases of COVID-19 reported yesterday (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo faces three crises - health, economic, political (media)
• Waiting for President Thaci’s decision (Radio Free Europe)
• LDK to depend on PDK and Serbian List votes (Kallxo)
• Veseli says PDK will neither join LVV nor LDK in forming new govt (media)
• Muhaxheri: Mustafa sent letter to potential partners (media)
• Mustafa writes to Haradinaj about the new government (RTK)
• PDK names conditions for forming new government (Koha/Kallxo)
• Krasniqi: We will not vote Mustafa for Prime Minister (RTK)
• Kusari-Lila: New govt will depend on votes of Serbian List and PDK (Klan K.)
• “Mustafa isolated Osmani, she is now just an individual with votes in LDK” (media)
• Journalist association condemns publication of victims' personal details (Telegrafi)

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)

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)

• 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

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)

• 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)

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)

• 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

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)