UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 10, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani on Association: I support any initiative with no executive powers (RFE)
• Major General Angelo Ristuccia takes over command of KFOR (media)
• Osmani: Thanks to NATO, Kosovo a peaceful and prosperous country (media)
• Kurti: Maintaining security, a shared objective with NATO (media)
• Osmani meets Joint Force Command Naples Commander Munsch (media)
• Kurti signals solution for 24 hectares of Decani Monastery (Gazeta Blic)
• Kosovo to attend and address CoE plenary session for first time (Express)
• Abdixhiku: During Kurti’s governance, some of worst economic records broken (Kallxo)
• AAK’s Lekaj sceptical about visa liberalisation, says process linked to dialogue (EO)
• 23rd anniversary of PDK: Ready to make Kosovo more modern and developed (media)
• Mustafa says Abdixhiku ashamed of LDK’s past (Teve1)
• Bislimi condemns attack on Kosovo bus travelling through Serbia (Lajmi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Kosovo recognition in exchange for EU membership proposed (media)
• Petkovic: Kurti spreads ‘frightening’ disinformation (Radio KIM)
• Visoki Decani Monastery: Unfounded accusations endanger security of Serbian Orthodox Church (Radio KIM)
• Serbian Ministry of Culture and Information: Pristina continues to misinform the public (Blic, NMagazin, Politika)
• For 85% of citizens important Kosovo’s preservation within Serbia; cooperation with the EU supported but not the membership (KoSSev)
• KFOR concerned about the weak interest of Serbs in re-registration (Politika, Tanjug)
• Selakovic: Out of 200.000 internally displaced Serbs, less than two percent returned in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Hill on sanctions to Russia, Kosovo issue (RTV, Kosovo Online)
• Schmidt: Vucic’s opinion completely different than Dodik who thinks like Putin (Beta, N1)
• Vucic: I am not worried about pressure groups (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• German-French document; referendum (Danas, N1, KoSSev)
• “Kosovo’s recognition by Serbia is baseline” (Albanian Daily News)

International:

• Serbian Orthodox Monastery Demands Land Awarded by Kosovo Court (Balkan Insight)
• Belgrade, Pristina Confirm German-French Proposal for Kosovo Deal (Balkan Insight)
• Kamberi: Some MPs want my arrest; I said Kosovo independent (Euronews Albania)
• Lenny Emson: Women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights are on the frontline (Kosovo 2.0)
• Russia’s sham Ukraine vote undermines Serbia’s Kosovo claims (Kyiv Post)
• ‘Remembering Yugoslavia: Further than thought’ (BIRN)
• Albania moves towards declassifying communist-era security files (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Brnabic: EU has provided 200 million euros to Serbia for migration management (Tanjug)

Osmani: Erdogan can convince Vucic to recognize Kosovo independence (media)
Kurti: I am optimistic about Prishtina-Belgrade agreement (euronews.al)
“Parallel structures more aggressive after Ukraine invasion” (euronews.al)
Kajari: Ukraine war brought tensions in Kosovo too, situation now calm (media)
Bislimi: The distance between Kosovo and Serbia is now bigger (RTK)
Gervalla: Europe has not asked Serbia to meet duties from dialogue (media)
Szunyog: Non-recognising states expect progress in dialogue (RTK)
Kosovo health minister quits after mounting criticism (BIRN)
Vucic says French, Germans squeezing Serbia to swap Kosovo recognition for quick EU entry (RFE)
Bus from Kosovo attacked with stones in Serbia (Kallxo)

Albanian Language Media:

• EC writes to EU member states about visa liberalisation for Kosovo (Radio Free Europe)
• Osmani: Membership in Council of Europe, a necessity (RTK)
• Tahiri: After teachers’ salaries are paid, we will return to normality (Nacionale)
• Finance Ministry will process teachers’ salaries today if lists are reconfirmed (Koha)
• Citaku: Kosovo deserved visa liberalisation since adopting demarcation (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• PM Brnabic: Vucic to announce strategic decisions (N1, Beta, TV Prva)
• Vucic: Decision on Russian oil imports postponed until December 1 (Tanjug, media)
• Plenkovic from Prague: Vucic did not fight for a delay (N1)
• Von Cramon says EU cannot tolerate Serbia’s behaviour, Selakovic responds (N1, nova.rs)
• Poll: The majority of respondents believe that local institutions in K.Serb communities are not transparent (KoSSev)
• Vucic to address the nation tomorrow (Politika, Tanjug)
• Another monument in Klokot desecrated (KiM radio, RTV Puls)
• Petkovic reaction to Osmani’s statement in Prague (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)
• Osmani: Albanians are not the problem of Serbs in Kosovo, but "gangs paid by Vucic'' (KoSSev, N1, Beta)

Opinion:

• Preliminary reflections on the Bosnian elections (EWB)

International:

• Serbia welcomes EU delay to decision on Russian oil ban exemption (BIRN)
• Protest in support of Republika Srpska opposition over alleged vote rigging (N1 Sarajevo)
• Introducing the European Political Community (Emerging Europe)
• European leaders giddy with new forum — as long as they overlook lingering tension (Politico)

Humanitarian/Development:

• RTK1 and RTK2 channels available in the north of Kosovo since this year (KoSSev)

• Osmani meets President Macron and Chancellor Scholz (media)
• Osmani: Optimism for visa liberalisation, but we need to be cautious (media)
• Kurti talks with UK Special Envoy Peach (media)
• Kosovo’s Minister of Health resigns (media)
• EU spokesman Stano explains delays from Elektrosever (Albanian Post)
• PDK presses charges against Minister Murati (media)
• Kosovo customs point opens in Albanian port (Euractiv)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani before ECP summit: Today is an important day for our continent (Express)
• Osmani to meet Scholz and Macron in Prague today, sources say (Koha)
• Progress Report on Kosovo to be published on October 12 (RTK)
• Mandl: We need to give visa liberalisation to Kosovo fast (Lajmi/APA)
• Teachers’ salaries, Kusari-Lila: There will be a solution soon (Nacionale)
• PDK boycotts assembly sessions, will press charges against Finance Minister (Klan)
• Education union will wait until Friday for teachers’ salaries to be paid (Telegrafi)
• Svecla hails anti-extortion operation: We won’t stop fighting crime (Nacionale)

Serbian Language Media:

• Giaufret calls for joint response to war in Ukraine (RTS, N1)
• RTS: EU puts off decision on ban on Russian oil imports to W. Balkans (N1)
• Vucic meeting Macron, Scholz in Prague (Tanjug)
• No Russian oil for Serbia as of November 1, Brnabic: Croatia’s ultimatum (FoNet, N1, Happy TV)
• Still no decision to start Kosovo's CoE admission procedure (Tanjug)
• RFE: No exemption for Western Balkans because of Serbia (N1)
• Gracanica mayor: The procedure for annulment of the decision on land exchange is being initiated (KoSSev, KiM radio)
• Rohde: The licence plates decision legitimate but deadline short; Petkovic: It jeopardizes the dialogue process (KoSSev)
• Enthronement of Patriarch Porfirije in the Patriarchate of Pec on October 14 (media)

International:

• Europe is quietly launching a new political club — with hopes Brexit turmoil can be forgiven (CNBC)
• Macron’s New Europe Debuts in the Shadow of War (The New York Times)
• Sceptical Liz Truss attends first meeting of European Political Community (The Guardian)
• Macron's European Political Community summit opens in Prague (rfi.fr)
• China Index: Beijing’s Influence Expands in Southeast Europe (BIRN)
• BiH elections: Republika Srpska opposition claims 65,000 votes ‘contaminated’ (N1)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Politika: 17,000 Russians and Ukrainians in Serbia (FoNet, N1)

• President Osmani at first summit of European Political Community (RTK)
• Avoiding tensions in the north, a priority for the UN Security Council (Koha)
• Rohde calls on government to make proposals for Association (Telegrafi)
• Hovenier highly appreciates KFOR's contribution to security in Kosovo (media)
• ERO is expected to withdraw the license of 'Elektroseveri' (RTK)
• Abdixhiku: There is no hope that this government can bring change (RTK)
• Hasani: Govt is not employer of teachers; cannot block their salaries (media)
• AJK condemns Vetevendosje MP post against two reporters (media)
• Kosovo’s metamorphosis reflected in eyes of an American researcher (BIRN)
• KFOR conducts large-scale multinational crisis exercise (Army.mil)
• Indiana National Guard task force deploys to Kosovo for peacekeeping (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Teachers’ salaries not expected today; Minister: We will enforce the law (Kosovapress)
• Union implies new actions if teachers’ salaries are not paid by 16:00 (Indeksonline)
• PDK leaders calls on government to pay teachers’ salaries (media)
• Municipalities call on government to urgently pay teachers’ salaries (media)
• Bislimi: Kurti and Vucic expected to meet in October, but no confirmation yet (Koha)
• EU doesn’t have date for new meeting between Kurti and Vucic (Kallxo)
• Council of Europe: The issue of Kosovo, confidential (Klan Kosova)
• Kurti: Youth is still in the focus of our government policies (media)
• Muja: Kosovo with high drop in unemployment rate during Kurti’s governance (EO)

Serbian Language Media:

• RFE: Gracanica municipality and businessman exchange land despite protests (KiM radio)
• Brnabic: New gov't to be formed within constitutional timeframes (Tanjug)
• Stefanovic: The signatories of the Proclamation for the Defense of KiM want the removal of Vucic (Beta, NMagazin)
• Opposition, intellectuals publish declaration on Kosovo (N1)
• Vucic’s 'renunciation' of Dodik (RFE)
• Djilas: Neutrality on Russia’s aggression no longer exists (Beta, N1)
• Vucic meets with Saudi FM (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Rama and Rutte: The European Political Community is a good idea (media)
• At the Prague Summit, the family photo is the message (politico.eu)

International:

• CoE Report: Pandemic Worsened Backlog in Balkan Courts (BIRN)
• ‘These are not factories – these are sadistic torture chambers’ (Kosovo 2.0)
• As Europe’s leaders meet, some fear for EU membership hopes (whec.com)
• Europa Nostra presents the Prague Manifesto “For a Value-based and Culture-driven Europe” (europanostra.com)
• China Builds A New Symbol In The Balkans -- At The Site Of A NATO Bombing (RFE)
• After Russia, now Turkey questions Europe’s territory (euractive.com)
• EU prepares for possible power cuts and other emergencies as energy crisis intensifies -RND (Reuters)

• Truss writes letter to Kurti, UK-Kosovo relations on focus (media)
• Kurti: Poll shows 2/3 of citizens support for vetting and the Bureau (media)
• Lajcak meets NATO DSG Geoana, talk about Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• Advance payment proposed for teachers who compensate lost hours (Kallxo)
• Jasharaj says teachers will not respect decision to compensate classes (Koha)
• Clark: Kosovo must control the north (media)
• Krasniqi: The World Bank confirmed government’s failure in economy (Koha)
• European Quality Assurance Association grants Kosovo Accreditation Agency Affiliate Status (BIRN)
• Balje comments on possibility of joining LDK parliamentary group (Klan)
• Feasibility study on hospitals: Surplus of 200 doctors and 1,500 nurses (Koha)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 4, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Nagavci on teachers’ salaries: Compensation only for the work done (Koha)
• Government reiterates: No salaries for those who were on strike (Gazeta Express)
• Jasharaj: Only teachers are not paid; Kurti is trying to ruin SBASHK (T7)
• Parents’ Council: We will raise funds to financially aid the teachers (Nacionale)
• Poll: Over 3,000 respondents say teachers who were on strike shouldn’t get paid (Klan)
• Osmani received outgoing COMKFOR Kajari in farewell meeting (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbia in the midst of the raging gas war between Russia EU and US (serbianmonitor.com)
• Radojevic: By small turnout Serbs showed re-registration process is doomed to fail (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic, Vulin on Ukrainian Ambassador’s statement (N1)
• Ukrainian Embassy: We support sovereignty and European aspiration of Serbia (N1)
• Manojlovic (DS): With the land exchange in Gracanica, citizens at lost, Serbian List silent (Danas, KiM radio)
• Protest over land swap in Gracanica (Radio KIM)
• Jeremic: American measure of retortion - encouraging Pristina's membership in the CoE (Danas, TV Nova S)
• Eurojust: Serbia reliable partner in fight against organised crime (N1)
• Opposition leader: EU stand on Serbia hypocritical in many cases (N1)
• Vucic meets Giaufret (Tanjug)

International:

• Bosnia Elections: One Loser, no Clear Winners – Uncertain Prospects (Balkan Insight)
• Hungary, Austria and Serbia leaders outline plan to curb migration (euronews.com)
• Putin Is Pushing Serbia and Bosnia to Back His Ukraine War (The Washington Post)
• Orthodox Christians to Rally Against LGBT Pride March in Montenegro (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

School Strike Suspended but Not Over, Union Warns (Prishtina Insight)
Eight young journalists from northern Kosovo and Pristina completed OSCE Media Fellowship program (KoSSev)

• The strike that left the teachers without salaries (Koha Ditore)
• Will Kosovo’s teachers get paid for strike time? (BIRN)
• Osmani to attend European Political Community inaugural meeting (RTK)
• Kosovo visa liberalisation on agenda of EU summit (Exit)
• UNSC to discuss Kosovo (Security Council Report)
• Kurti thanks COMKFOR especially for reducing tensions in north (Koha)
• LVV slams all who governed Kosovo in the past, praises itself (Klan)
• LDK: Vetevendosje should stop the propaganda (Koha)
• Krasniqi: Kurti showed he will never become a leader (media)
• Kurti meets representatives of Goran community (media)
• Musk compares Kosovo with Crimea and Donbass, reactions follow (media)
• Davenport: OSCE will support preservation of rich cultural legacy (media)
• Iranian hackers leak database of Albanian criminal suspects (BIRN)
• US sanctions PM of Bosnia’s Federation for ‘undermining democracy’ (BIRN)