UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 15, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 599 new cases, 17 deaths (media)
• Kosovo ministries discuss anti-Covid measures with Kosovo mayors (media)
• Petrit Ajeti appointed head of Kosovo Intelligence Agency (media)
• Kosovo leaders meet representatives of missing persons (media)
• KDI calls on Kosovo leaders to prepare for dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Fight of organised crime and corruption, domestic violence priorities of Justice Ministry (media)
• Ministry of Infrastructure cancels tender worth €44 million (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: 13 newly infected (Kontakt plus radio)
• Thus far, 15.000 citizens from Serbian areas in Kosovo inoculated (Kosovo-online)
• EU on the Western Balkans on May 10th (RTS)
• Vucic: We expect Putin in Serbia by end of year, I will go to Brussels soon (Kosovo-online)
• Simic: One violence gives birth to another, Serbs unprotected in Kosovo (RTS)
• Sava Janjic bothers both Belgrade and Pristina (Danas)
• Rakic met Kosnett, and pointed out problem of frequent attacks against Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Protest due to the beating of the young man, demand for the resignation of the police commander (KiM radio)
• Spahiu: Gervalla's appearance at UNSC session complete collapse of the new Kosovo government (Kosovo Online)
• Alleged non-paper on WB leaked: Merging of RS and Serbia, Kosovo and Albania (N1)
• Kharchenko: Russia ready for new aspects in resolving the Kosovo issue, if Serbia wishes so (Kosovo Online, Sputnik)

Opinion:

• The arrival of vaccines doesn't mean the pandemic is over (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

• Palestinians Demand Cutting Ties with Kosovo (english.aawsat.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Greece to lift quarantine for visitors from Serbia (B92)

• COVID-19: 715 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• Kosovo new president says Serbia must answer for ‘genocide’ (The Irish Times)
• Kosovo implies reciprocity with every state (Radio Free Europe)
• Haxhiu: Misused funds must be confiscated, they belong to the people (media)
• EU: Dialogue, Kosovo’s most important foreign policy priority (media)
• Kurti replies to Court on request of Serb MPs (media)
• Kurti government reviewing decisions of Hoti government (Koha Ditore)
• Bogujevci: We’ll push forward draft law on domestic violence (media)
• Collaku: Internationals will strongly impose dialogue on Kurti (media)
• “Either we accept Association, or we have to talk about land swap” (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 701 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• Mayors want new anti COVID measures to be lifted (media)
• Osmani: We’ll make sure women are involved in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• Szunyog: EU ready to support Kosovo government on its EU path (media)
• Lajcak: Very useful meeting with Phil Reeker (media)
• Osmani: April 14, the day of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (media)
• Gervalla-Schwarz: Childhood emigrant becomes Kosovo’s top diplomat (BIRN)
• PDK MP: Gervalla was on same line with Russia and Serbia (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 14 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Tanin: Opening the door to the future requires transformation (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, RTK2)
• Serbian FM tells UN SC Albanian political extremism rising in Kosovo (N1)
• Brnabic and Yamashita on situation in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• SOC: Unfounded and malicious accusations against Sava Janjic (Radio KIM)
• Serb CSOs: Kosovo government and international representatives to condemn CDHRF’s hate speech and protect Fr. Sava (KoSSev)
• Kandic: It is shameful what CDHRF is writing about Fr. Sava (KoSSev)
• Family of Zoran Djokic from Pec seeks fair trial (KoSSev)
• Greek stance on Kosovo remains unchanged (Tanjug)
• RTV KiM: Physical attack on a young man in Gracanica (KoSSev, Blic, RTS)
• Protest in Gracanica due to the beating of a Serb; An ethnically motivated attack or a misunderstanding? (RTV KiM)
• Rakic: Should our children live in everyday fear that someone would attack them in the street? (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Latest incident consequence of irresponsible politics and anti-Serbian rhetoric (Kontakt plus radio)
• Sava Janjic: The church in Samodreza turned into a public toilet, so much for religious tolerance in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, FB)
• Message from Brussels: Travel to EU countries with any vaccine (B92)

Opinion:

• Inter-ethnic cooperation in Kosovo: Can Kurti make use of this critical juncture? (newsocialinitiative.org)
• Mushkolaj: Let us not become allies of disinformation (Kallxo)
• Bounty of Serbian vaccine diplomacy shames the EU (Financial Times)
• How Serbia Can Learn from Germany’s Post-War Remorse (Balkan Insight)

International:

• When libraries burn (balcanicaucaso.org)
• Alleged Slovenian proposal for a peaceful dissolution of BiH creates controversy (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Rolling Film Festival puts fresh spotlight on anti-roma prejudice in Kosovo (BIRN)
• Sputnik V production to begin soon in Serbia, Iran, Italy (TASS)
• Bosnian journalists vaccinated in Serbian capital (N1)
• Hundreds of millions of women living lives ‘governed by others’, UN report shows (news.un.org)

• COVID-19: 544 new cases, 12 deaths (media)
• UN Security Council discusses situation in Kosovo (media)
• Russia tries to ban Kosovo flag at UN – unsuccessfully (AP)
• Government spokesperson: No date yet on reciprocity with Serbia (media)
• Osmani and Kurti in talks to appoint new intelligence chief (RTK)
• Anti-mafia law gets the green light (Koha Ditore)
• Varhelyi in letter to Kurti: Continuation of dialogue is crucial (media)
• EU no comment on reports of Jansha’s alleged letter on border changes (RFE)
• Should Kosovo’s ruling party play opposition politics in Albania? (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 12, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 345 new cases, 8 deaths (media)
• Kurti: Governing programme to be technically finalised soon (media)
• PDK: Kurti focusing on Albania's election rather than securing vaccines (media)
• LDK’s Abdixhiku slams Kurti government (media)
• Kosovo officials accused of ‘irresponsible’ meddling in Albania election (BIRN)
• “Government to treat vaccination of teachers as priority” (media)
• Expert: Youth more threatened by UK variant of the virus (media)
• Caplan: There will be pressure on Kurti for dialogue (Radio Free Europe)

Serbian Language Media:

• Eight new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Sunday (Kontakt plus radio)
• Father Sava reacts to accusations: Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you (social media, KoSSev)
• Brnabic, Office for KiM, Serbian List react to accusations against Father Sava (Radio KIM)
• Europa Nostra: Decani should not be a source of conflict, but a valuable link between citizens (KoSSev)
• Harsh reactions in Kosovo media to Decani Monastery’s inclusion in 7 Most Endangered 2021 (KoSSev)
• Fr. Sava: Paradox that Church must remind Kosovo to respect its own laws and Constitution (KoSSev)
• Health house in village of Gojbulja broken into (RTS)
• Kurti posts about LVV candidates in Albanian elections; the media and the opposition accuse him of running a campaign (KoSSev)
• Petkovic: There is no place at the negotiating table for guns (KiM radio)
• Gogic: Stability while the "honeymoon" lasts (KiM radio, Slobodno Srpski)
• Russian Ambassador says partnership with Serbia has ''cosmic prospects'' (N1, Beta)
• Lajcak: Agreement possible in a few months if there is political will in Belgrade and Pristina (Beta, Kosovo Online)

International:

• Generations of Albanians lived off cannabis production. Can they stop? (BIRN)
• Thousands rally in Serbia to protect the environment (AP)
• Death of British Queen’s Husband Severs a Balkan Link (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Digital Trustbuilding Week (RTK2)
• Rakic with UN and IOM representatives on return of displaced persons (Kosovo-online)

• COVID-19: 537 new cases, 12 deaths (media)
• Disturbing influx of Kosovo citizens towards Albania during weekend (media)
• Dialogue with Serbia considered key issue in foreign policy (Koha)
• Analysts: Greece more likely to recognise Kosovo independence (media)
• The fear of Kosovo women to report sexual harassment at work (BIRN)
• Hoxhaj: Government strategy to respond to Serbia’s propaganda (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 684 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• Kurti, Osmani react to Decan Monastery included in endangered religious sites list (media)
• Europa Nostra reply to Kurti and Osmani's letter (media)
• Kosovo leaders mark Constitution Day by underlining document's importance (media)
• Stano: Kosovo to focus on dialogue with Serbia (Koha)
• Almost half a million euros allocated for defence of KSC accused (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: 16 new cases, one death (KoSSev)
• UN Security Council on April 13 on Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Zakharova: Meeting of Lavrov and Selakovic on April 16 in Moscow (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, TASS)
• Brnabic: I am glad if Pristina wants to continue the dialogue (RTS)
• Father Sava on the situation of Visoki Decani Monastery (social media)
• Office for KiM: Kurti and Osmani reaction confirmation of Serbian cultural and religious heritage endangerment (Kosovo-online)
• Constitution with the greatest rights for minorities, but only on paper (KiM radio)
• Vucic. Schieb said nothing new (B92)
• Schieb: The 1999 bombing was justified, inadmissible comparison with the Second World War (Danas)
• Bogujevci: Justice is important for all victims, the burden of the past should not be left to future generations (Nova S, KoSSev, RTK2)
• RCC: Tourism key strategic sector in Western Balkans (FoNet, N1)
• Popovic, Rakic with Devenport and Salijevic discussed COVID-19 (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio)

Opinion:

• Balkans in the EU: a future to be designed together (balcanicaucaso.org)

International:

• How EU enlargement apathy could push Kosovo and Albania to join forces (euronews.com)
• Serbian media on the assistance in the pandemic: China the savior, EU left Serbia stranded (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The fear of Kosovo women to report sexual harassment at work (Prishtina Insight)
• From Belgrade to London, Roma Girl Band Sings for Female Empowerment (Balkan Insight)
• The ruling of the ECHR: Compulsory vaccination is legal (B92)

• COVID-19: 897 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• Health Minister: Vaccine is safe, I call on all citizens to get vaccinated (media)
• Kosovo restaurant stages silent protest against COVID-19 restrictions (BIRN)
• Kurti government implies it will reintroduce reciprocity toward Serbia (Koha)
• Blinken to Kurti: You will have our full support (media)
• Szunyog: Kurti has been officially invited to Brussels (media)
• “If President not elected, maybe UN would appoint new administrator” (Telegrafi)
• Szunyog: We are not satisfied with Kosovo’s implementation of SAA (media)
• Kosovo prosecution promises rapid verdict after BIRN investigation (BIRN)
• “Decani Monastery under threat”, a triumph of Serbia, Kosovo silent (Koha)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 8, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 897 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• Blinken to Kurti: You will have our full support (media)
• Osmani: Dialogue with Serbia cannot have priority over vaccines (media)
• PDK criticises government: Implement law on economic recovery (media)
• Osmani holds telephone conversation with Slovenian counterpart (media)
• Minister Haxhiu meets some of the representatives of UN Organisations (media)
• EU in Kosovo congratulates Roma community in their International Day (media)
• Popovic asks Schieb to apologise about genocide remarks (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian municipalities: 26 new cases, two people died (KoSSev)
• Roma Day - the position of the Roma community (RTK2, KoSSev)
• Odalovic: It is good Albanians emphasize missing persons issue; we also want locations to be searched and identification of 300 bodies in Pristina
• "Continuation of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina has no alternative" (RTK2)
• For one hundred days, Vucic is silent about energy system in Kosovo (BETA)
• An apology sought for the statement of the German ambassador on the bombing of the FRY (Beta, KoSSev)
• Father Sava: Decani Monastery on list of seven the most endangered sites in Europe (Kosovo-online)
• Dr Antonijevic: The epidemiological situation is better, but still serious and unfavorable (KiM radio)
• WHO and EMA on AstraZeneca: Safe vaccine (KoSSev)
• In Serbia, 1.130.000 citizens fully vaccinated (RTS)

International:

• International Roma Day: Remembering history to ensure a brighter future (CoE)
• Eyeing re-election, Albania’s Rama touts earthquake recovery effort (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Belgrade vaccinates homeless persons (N1)

COVID-19: 714 new cases, 15 deaths (media)
Health Minister: UK variant of coronavirus dominating in Kosovo (Kallxo)
Finance Minister: We’ll support businesses on rents and salaries (media)
Human rights worsened in Central, Southeast Europe, in pandemic (BIRN)
Kurti and Osmani coordinated on dialogue with Serbia (Radio Free Europe)
Long list of officials that must justify their wealth (Koha Ditore)
LDK deputy leader: We didn’t help Vetevendosje, we helped institutions (media)
No visa liberalisation for Kosovo before 2022 elections in France (Zeri/dtt-net)
Justice Minister reacts to corruption scandal(media)
Schieb: 1999 bombing to stop genocide in Kosovo (media)
Kosovo war rape survivors’ painful road to recognition (BIRN)