UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 18, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 57 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Quint countries call on Kosovo not to discredit Specialist Chambers (media)
• Kosovo Assembly fails to pass resolution on dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Schütz: Unimaginable for two EU members not to recognise one another (Koha)
• EU has not set timeline for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue but is against delays (Koha)
• Osmani asks Specialist Chambers to assess Thaci's proposed amendment (media)
• Abrashi: Trump himself demanded mini-Schengen (Prishtina Insight)
• AAK insists Haradinaj becomes future president of Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Court finds former Lipjan mayor guilty of abusing power (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Six new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serb areas in Kosovo, three persons recovered (KoSSev)
• Drecun: Pristina wants to play us false, Lajcak succumbs under pressure (RTS)
• Beqaj: The formation of the ZSO is an obligation that needs to be implemented, Hashim Thaci more dangerous for Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Belgrade & Pristina clash over the Community of Serbian municipalities in Brussels (Beta, N1)
• Palestine won't change policy towards Serbia – yet, envoy tells N1 (N1)
• Djuric: Viola von Cramon false fighter for democracy, blames Serbia without arguments (Kosovo-online)
• Cramon: What was signed in Washington is hard to call an agreement; and it is "not historical" (KoSSev, Danas)
• Petkovic instead of Djuric at helm of Office for KiM? (Danas)

International:

• Spain to recognise Kosovo if it gets Serbia deal (euobserver.com)
• Serbia vows to deepen telecommunication cooperation with China despite agreement signed in Washington (globaltimes.cn)
• Kosovo veterans handed more 'leaked witness files' from Hague court (AFP)

Humanitarian/Development:

• A year of big losses (Prishtina Insight)
• Southeast Europe’s Schools Face COVID-19 Challenge as Pupils Return (Balkan Insight)

• COVID – 19 report: Three deaths, 43 new cases (media)
• Kosovo awarding Trump highest honor after Serb economic deal (Reuters)
• Opposition criticises PM Hoti for “concessions” in Washington (RFE)
• Krasniqi to Hoti: You signed an A4 letter with yourself (media)
• EU: Kosovo must propose way to implement Association (media)
• Tahiri: Kosovo, Serbia were equal before most powerful president (media)
• “Merkel, Macron told us to conclude dialogue by year’s end” (media)
• Abrashi: Ujman is politicised like demarcation with Montenegro (Kallxo)

Albanian Language Media:
• COVID – 19 report: Three deaths, 43 new cases (media)
• EU: Kosovo must propose way to implement Association (media)
• War Veterans hand over files to Specialist Chambers officials (Indeksonline)
• Gashi: Indictment shouldn’t be confirmed; it would damage Kosovo! (media)
• Limaj: EU must keep its word on visa liberalisation for Kosovo (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Komsic and Dzaferovic voted for BiH to recognize Kosovo, Dodik was, as expected, against (Tanjug, B92, Klix.ba)
• Stano: Kosovo has international obligation to implement CSM (Tanjug)
• EP Rapporteur Viola von Cramon: Serbia should show more commitment to EU (N1)
• Bilcik: Serbia didn't open any chapter with EU in 2020 - that speaks for itself (N1)
• Fr. Sava: It is deplorable that media are still spreading rabid nationalism and ethnic and religious hatred (KoSSev)
• Polish Ambassador: Serbia and region should quickly enter European family (N1)
• Trial of Krstic and Shabani continues (Radio KIM)
• Trajkovic: Djuric to lobby for Vucic in Washington (Danas)
• Schools in Serb areas in Kosovo to commence work on Monday (KoSSev)
Opinion:
• Where are the women? (EWB)
• How Trump’s Balkan Deal Might Harm Israel (algemeiner.com)
International:
• Will Kosovo and Serbia establish embassies in Jerusalem? Not if the EU has its way (jns.org)
• What did Serbia and Kosovo sign in Washington? (EWB)
• Kosovo President Savages Govt’s ‘Grave Mistakes’ in Serbia Talks (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Kosovo’s Human Capital Index Lower Than Regional Average, but Higher Than Average for Its Income Group (miragenews.com)
• Ditching Dinars: Will the Balkans Take to Cryptocurrency? (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 76 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Kosovo, Serbia to hold new meeting in Brussels today (media)
• Lajcak: We will discuss mutual financial claims on Thursday (media)
• “Thaci trying to block Brussels dialogue through opposing Association” (Koha)
• Selmanaj: We are obliged to form the Association (T7)
• LVV calls Thaci's position on Association 'hypocrisy' (Koha)
• Djuric rebuts Hoti: Association will be discussed tomorrow (RTK)
• Mustafa: If AAK conditions President post, we’ll go to elections (media)
• Krasniqi: PDK backed Hoti in U.S., hoping he’ll bring mutual recognition (media)
• Trajkovic: Washington agreement, a political earthquake for Vucic (N1, RTK)
• KLA associations claim they received more documents (media)
• Israel’s deal with Kosovo and Serbia is window-dressing by Trump and Netanyahu (Times Now)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 16, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 76 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Hoti: There will never be an association with executive competencies (media)
• Thaci: no one has mandate to speak on behalf of Kosovo on already closed topics (media)
• Pacolli: Thaci should call on PDK to bring down Hoti’s government (RTK)
• GLPS: Hoti’s government failed to create unity of political spectrum (media)
• Minister Haradinaj to visit Netherlands, skeptical state on visa liberalization (RTK)
• “Kosovo is not a Muslim country, but a country with Muslim majority” (Alsat)
• Violence against women: Political activists disrupt Kosovo PM Hoti’s speech (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Two newly infected with Covid-19 in Serb areas, eight people recovered (Kontakt plus radio)
• US DFC, EXIM Bank express interest in financing Nis-Pristina highway (N1)
• Von der Leyen: Future of Western Balkans in European Union (N1)
• Marko Djuric to take over as Serbia’s ambassador in Washington (N1, nova.rs)
• Vucic: Serbs, united and unanimous, can overcome all adversities (B92)
• Djuric tomorrow in Brussels on ZSO and property (Kosovo-online)
• UNS: Kosovo police banned journalists to report on desecration of church in Babin Most (Danas)
• New Israeli Ambassador to Serbia welcomes White House Agreements (N1)

Opinion:

• "America made a time bomb on European soil," and it's in Serbia (B92, Sputnik)
• Diplomacy is not “The Apprentice”. Serbia-Kosovo issue requires A long-term commitment (neweasterneurope.eu)

International:

• The Western Balkans: Between the EU and a hard place (balkancrossroads.com)
• Kosovo President Thaci Hires US Diplomat as Consultant (Balkan Insight)
• US Signs Pledges on Building Serbia-Kosovo ‘Peace Highway’ (Balkan Insight)
• Israel’s deal with Kosovo, Serbia is diplomatic charade (Asia Times)

Humanitarian/Development:

• International Democracy Day: UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations recalls ''OpisMEDIJavanje'' campaign and fight against misinformation (KoSSev)
• Serbian citizens still not allowed free entry into EU (B92, Tanjug)

• COVID-19: 71 new cases, one death (media)
• Thaci warns of danger from Thursday's meeting in Brussels (media)
• PM's advisor dismisses Thaci's warnings about Brussels meeting (Klan)
• Netanyahu to Kosovo people: I extend the hand of friendship (media)
• Haradinaj-Stublla accuses Vucic for breach of agreement (media)
• Osmani: Wrong for closed issues to be readdressed with Serbia (media)
• Konjufca: Serbia, not the U.S., drafted parts of Washington agreement (Klan)
• Kosovo conditions Serbia on Association: Implementation after recognition (RFE)
• Hoti to discuss Washington Agreement with civil society (RTK)
• Limaj requests from opposition to be part of dialogue with Serbia (RTK)
• Letters of intent signed in Washington for construction of new highway (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 71 new cases, one death (media)
• Zemaj urges parents, teachers to adhere to COVID-19 measures (media)
• Trump: Vucic and Hoti made their countries, Balkans and world safer (media)
• "Grenell says Trump plans to visit Kosovo" (Klan Kosova)
• Osmani: Democracy in Kosovo undermined by minority governments (Telegrafi)
• Romania's position on Kosovo's independence remains unchanged (Zeri)

Serbian Language Media:

• State Department posts Trump praise of Vucic, Hoti (media)
• Palestinian ambassador conveys to Vucic the concern over embassy relocation to Jerusalem (Beta, N1)
• Grenell: Vucic is tough negotiator, fights for Serbian people (RTS, Serbian Radio Chicago)
• EU: Washington documents mean Belgrade & Pristina commitment to US (N1)
• Belgrade to Berlin: US talks open room for ordinary people reconciliation (FoNet, N1)
• Vucic spoke with Patriarch Irinej, informed him on Kosovo negotiations (RTS)
• Fatherland Movement on Washington agreement (Radio KIM)
• Church in Babin Most, near Obilic, desecrated (Kosovo Online, B92, KIM radio)
• North Macedonia PM: Meeting with President Vucic about 'mini-Schengen’ (N1)

Opinion:

• Trump’s Balkan agreement does Israel more harm than good – opinion (The Jerusalem Post)

International:

• Kosovo’s Legal Aid for War Crimes Suspects Raises Concerns (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 55 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Hoti to report to MPs on dialogue with Serbia (media)
• “Agreement with Serbia, in complete coordination with the U.S.” (media)
• Kurti: Serbia's projects are old, Kosovo's concessions new (media)
• Bajrami: Only Israel’s recognition is historic in Washington agreement (Koha)
• Coalition partners gathered again on Monday (media)
• Haradinaj: We won’t vote any other candidate except Ramush (media)
• Gjini: Vetevendosje initiated no-confidence motion to trap the PDK (KTV)
• Beqiri: No one in the LDK is celebrating Osmani’s departure (media)
• Djuric: Serbia will insist on speedy creation of the Association (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 14, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 55 new cases, four deaths (media)
• PM Hoti calls for maximal caution from pupils and teachers (media)
• PM Hoti: €10 mil to municipalities as part of economic revival program (media)
• PDK is not pleased with Washington agreement, complains about Hoti (media)
• Plenkovic: Kosovo-Serbia dialogue with two wings, in Brussels and Washington (Koha)
• William Walker contracted to advise President Thaci (Prishtina Insight)

Serbian Language Media:

• Five new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serb areas in Kosovo, one person passed away (Radio KIM)
• Stano: Continuation of talks on non-majority communities and property (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Vucic decided on the government? (media)
• Kosovo Serb Orthodox Diocese on Koha’s text: It spreads ethnic and religious hatred (KoSSev)
• Father Sava: Claims of those calling us usurpers, unworthy of Albanian people sons who respected others (KoSSev)
• Koha: ''Appropriation of medieval Arberian monuments in Kosovo by Serbs'' (KoSSev)
• Leaks of dossiers from The Hague – covering up KLA crimes (Politika)
• Pompeo hails Serbia's announcement to label Hezbollah a terrorist organization (N1)
• Vucic: Lack of reaction to Pristina's unfulfilled obligation shameful (BETA, N1)
• Vucic: Excellent phone talk with Netanyahu (SRNA, N1)
• Detention of four Serbs arrested at Mokra Gora Mountain extended (RTS)

Opinion:

• Belgrade professor to Grenell: Nobel Prize nomination sounds like mockery (N1)
• After Trump’s Serbia-Kosovo Deal, it’s Over to Brussels (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Serbia-Kosovo Deal Behind Trump Nobel Prize Nod Dismissed As 'Photo Opportunity' by Ex-Serbian FM (Newsweek)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Womens’ Network, MPs react against court decision (media)

• COVID-19: 71 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• Kosovo government meets today (media)
• Kosovo Assembly Presidency to meet today (media)
• Mustafa: Prime minister guided by Constitution not coalition partners (media)
• LVV and PDK to oppose Mini-Schenghen with all means (RTK)
• Borrell: Only Europeans can stabilise the Balkans (FT/Kosovo media)
• Fabrizi: Next rounds of dialogue, even more difficult (media)
• Israel's Netanyahu to address Kosovo in remarks from White House (Klan)
• Serwer: Washington Agreement does not even enable start of economic normalisation (Koha)