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UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 27, 2020

• COVID-19 report: Three deaths, 205 new cases (media) • Hoti meets Quint ambassadors, EU Special Representative (media) • Thaci speaks about his interview with Specialist Prosecutor (media) • Konjufca: Osmani could soon exercise president's functions (media) • Borrell: Normalisation agreement, key for European path of Kosovo and Serbia (RFE/media) • Association knot blocks Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Koha) • Stano: Next rounds of dialogue in line with Belgium’s anti-Covid measures (media) • Haziri: LDK has no candidate other than Isa Mustafa (KP/Koha) • Osmani: Assembly planning to apply to join an international organisation (Klan)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 26, 2020

Albanian Language Media: • COVID-19 report: Three deaths, 205 new cases (media) • KSC doesn't comment if indictment against Thaci, Veseli is confirmed (KP) • Specialist Chambers' mandate: KLA associations meet parliamentary parties (Telegrafi) • Selimi: We are not afraid of justice but concerned when it tries to act politically (Klan) • "Outcome of U.S. elections decisive for continuation of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue" (RFE) • Albania's Assembly Speaker Ruci urges Cuba to recognise Kosovo (media) • Suspect in the €2 million illegal transaction case surrenders to police (media) Serbian Language Media: • 20 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serb areas in Kosovo on Saturday (Radio KIM) • New ministers in Serbian government (media) • Vucic: Vote on new government not unanimous, Covid-19 vaccine in March (N1) • “Numerous attempts to change and revise centuries-long history” (Radio KIM, KoSSev) • Petkovic: Serbia is UN member, Kosovo can’t be that (Danas) • Serbs For Trump Initiative: Grenell visits Serbian Orthodox Church in Milwaukee (N1) • Vucic: In 10 days, PCR laboratory in Mitrovica North (Radio Mitrovica sever) • Spahiu: Americans have power in Kosovo; only the agreements they implement are valid (Kosovo Online) • Petkovic with Braathu on dialogue and situation in Kosovo (Radio KIM) • Kommersant: Lavrov visit intended to maintain influence in region (Beta, N1) International: • Next Serb Government Among Most Gender-Balanced In the World (Bloomberg) • Mudde: Trump’s re-election would mean continuing support for populists around the world (EWB) • Why the Balkan region should be on investors’ radar screens (intellinews.com) Humanitarian/Development: • Kosovo joins global call to action on women's economic empowerment (Koha/RTK) • The limits in the checks and balances system enable informal governance to be effective in the WB (EWB) • "Serbia needs to consider introducing new measures relating to Covid-19" (B92) • Western Balkans suffocating from air pollution as heating season starts (balkangreenenergynews.com)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 26, 2020

• COVID-19 report: Two deaths, 166 new cases (media) • PDK refutes report it is joining Hoti-led government (media) • Grenell: The agreement is being implemented (media) • Rama gathers Balkans leaders, invites Kosovo to Schengen initiative (media) • Task force was investigating three tenders signed by Interior Minister (Koha) • Hoti, Haradinaj clash over decision on anti-corruption task force (RFE) • Miftaraj: If Kosovo had state of law, Hoti would be in detention (media) • Thaci: Time for Kosovo to become full member of United Nations (media) • UN Day marked with planting 100 trees near Sitnica river (media) • UN Day, Kosovo in unfavorable position, without hope for membership (Lajmi) • Osmani: We need to be closer to victims of sexual violence in conflict (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 24, 2020

• COVID-19: 169 new cases, two deaths (media) • Hoti announces joint projects with North Macedonia during visit (media) • "Indictment against Thaci and Veseli believed to have been confirmed" (Koha) • Kosovo demands immediate release of citizen arrested by Serbian authorities (media) • Von Cramon opposes Lajcak's proposal for constitutional amendements (media) • Mustafa after meeting coalition partners: President's post not discussed (Koha) • US, North Macedonia, and Kosovo sign 5G deal (AP) • Step up action to achieve COVID-19 ceasefire, Guterres says in UN Day message (UN News)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 23, 2020

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 23, 2020 Albanian Language Media: • COVID-19: 169 new cases, two deaths (media) • Szunyog: Kosovo and Serbia should make constitutional amendments (media) • Selimi: European Union, Kosovo’s priority and strategic goal (media) • Haradinaj withdraws slightly from the issue of future president (Express) • CEC decides on five day election campaign in Podujeva (RTK) • The government requests from the thieves return of 2.1 million euros (media) • Suspect pleads not guilty for abuse of Kosovo’s treasury (Telegrafi) Serbian Language Media: • Specialist Chambers: The indictment against Thaci and Veseli remains confidential (Kosovo Online) • Borell and EULEX to submit opinion on Thaci’s proposal to change the mandate of the Specialist Chambers by November 2 (KoSSev) • Serbian Parliament Speaker: UNMIK to continue implementing its mandate (BETA, N1) • Borrell: WB leaders should refrain from statements that add political divisions (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, N1) • Vucic: Things more complicated than how Pristina imagines them (RTS) • "Gone are the days when everything was decided by Russia and the United States" (B92, Tanjug) • Lavrov canceled visit to Zagreb, but not Belgrade (B92) • Grubjesic: Stance of German Ambassador Heusgen can’t be stance of EU (Vecernje Novosti, Kosovo-online) • Mihajlovic: Albanian politicians should not hinder the projects from the Washington agreement (Kontakt plus radio, Kosovo Online) • Invitations to Belgrade and Pristina to join PTEC as observers (Kontakt plus radio) • Stano: Serbia expected 'to progressively align its policies with EU' (N1) • US Energy Department delegation visits Belgrade (N1, Kosovo-online) International: • Kosovo Minister Under Pressure Over Cash Stolen from Budget (Balkan Insight) • BSF: Stability, security and prosperity of the WB closely linked to the EU (EWB) Humanitarian/Development: • In Montenegro, Hopes Fade for News of the Wartime Missing (Balkan Insight) • UN chief says G20 leaders must coordinate to fight COVID-19 (AP)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 23, 2020

• COVID-19: 159 new cases, no deaths (media) • Kosovo-Serbia dialogue discussed at the Belgrade Security Forum (Koha) • Belgrade-Pristina: No clear vision of the compromise (BSF) • Kurti says Washington agreement is unimplementable (RTK) • U.S. committed to ensure success of Washington agreement (Telegrafi) • Kosovo PM Hoti to visit North Macedonia today (media) • VV calls Hoti to report about abolishment of anti-corruption task force (media) • UK concerned over dissolving of anti-corruption task force (Koha) • New Testimony Emerging on Kosovo Activist’s Death, Dehari Lawyer Says (Balkan Insight) • Serb police block right-wing disruption of event with Kosovo (AP)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 22, 2020

Albanian Language Media: • COVID-19: 159 new cases, no deaths (media) • Hoti: Abusers of power have no place in public institutions (media) • EU doesn't know when Kosovo-Serbia dialogue will continue (RFE) • Thaci, Veseli, Haradinaj meet in downtown Pristina (media) • Kosovo FM Haradinaj-Stublla announces visit to Israel (media) • Government to disburse €2mil to non-majority communities as part of economic recovery package (media) • Osmani and two MPs propose amendment to economic recovery draft law (media) Serbian Language Media: • Continuation of the Belgrade Security Forum, Vucic, Várhelyi, Lajcak, Hoti among the participants (Kosovo Online, Danas) • The UN SC permanent members welcomed the resumption of dialogue; differ on the future of UNMIK (media) • Dacic: Serbia patiently advocates dialogue, implementation of agreements reached (media, GoS) • Dacic: Pristina misused online format of UN SC session (Kosovo-online, Tanjug) • UNMIK chief says recent meetings on Kosovo show potential for solution (media) • Petkovic: Hoti by threatening will not force Belgrade make concessions (RTS) • Stano: Lajcak on daily basis works on continuation of dialogue (Tanjug) • Djuric on the announced protests against „Mirëdita, dobar dan“: Nationalism flourishes in both Serbia and Kosovo (KoSSev) • DFC Office chief says solve political problems to normalize relations (N1, Nedeljnik) Opinion: • Letter to the EU From the Western Balkans (Balkan Insight) International: • Kosovo: Show solidarity in face of COVID, UN Mission chief urges (UN News) • Russia Moves to Open Defense Ministry Office in Serbia (The Moscow Times) Humanitarian/Development: • Life of Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo: Can an application help neighbors understand each other (BBC, Kosovo Online, B92, Vesti.rs, KIM radio) • Study on divided narratives in Serbia and Kosovo (Radio KIM) • Serbian anti-epidemic Crisis Team: No new measures, WHO: Lockdown last resource (N1) • Kosovo Albanian Actor’s Spirit Lives on at Belgrade Festival (Balkan Insight) • Marcos and Soldado: Colombian Shootout Sheds Light on Balkan Drug Ties (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 22, 2020

• Minister of Health: 124 new cases of COVID-19, no deaths (media) • Media coverage of United Nations Security Council session on Kosovo • Hoti and Vucic to meet virtually on Thursday (Klan Kosova) • Hoti pledges not to allow constitutional order to be threatened (media) • Osmani: Agreement of 2013 and 2015 is neither the Bible nor Quran (media) • “Constitution neither Bible nor Quran, let’s change it for uniting with Albania” • EU concerned over abolishment of anti-corruption task force (media) • Finance Ministry official arrested over €2 million transaction (Prishtina Insight) • Minister Bajrami defiant in face of calls for her resignation (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 21, 2020

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 21, 2020 Albanian Language Media: • Minister of Health: 124 new cases of COVID - 19, no deaths (media) • Hoti: We have taken over the government at the worst situation (RTK) • Hoti justifies dismissals of heads of Police, KTA and Customs (RTK) • “Pausing from membership bids, so we don’t fail in the future” (media) • Rohde reacts to disbanding of Anti-Corruption Task Force (media) • NISMA and AKR with a joint parliamentary group (media) • Tahiri invites the U.S. to open defense department office in Kosovo (RTK) • Haxhiu: Vetevendosje members are being accused without facts (media) • Kosovo’s Ambassador to France reacts amid threats (media) • Budget committee doesn’t adopt economic recovery bill (media) Serbian Language Media: • 17 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serb areas in Kosovo (KoSSev) • Security Council today on the report of the UN Secretary General on Kosovo (media) • Vucic: Elections latest by April 3, 2022, Dacic Assembly Speaker (RTS) • Brnabic: Authorities face risk with early elections (BETA, N1) • Reactions to Serbia's early vote (N1) • Djilas: Vucic admitted that boycott succeeded (Danas) • BETA's editor: Vucic starts campaign for early vote in Serbia he sets for 2022 (N1) • Vucic and Medvedev on Moscow-Belgrade relations, coronavirus pandemic (N1) • Djuric: Future government will deal with protection of state and national interests in Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever) • Where is Biden's plan for Serbia? (B92) • Hoti: No ZSO with executive powers (KIM radio, RTV Puls) Opinion: • Vucic Announced New Elections Even Before New Government Constitution (Balkan Insight) International: • BSF: Western Balkans is influenced by strong anti-Western narratives (EWB) • EU-Western Balkans: Time is of the essence (eureporter.co) Humanitarian/Development: • New UN gender study: Women ‘far from having an equal voice to men’ (news.un.org, N1) • Andjelka Cup received award for reporting on poverty (Radio KIM) • Kon: Face mask and physical distance – 99 pct protection (N1) • Coronavirus second wave: Which countries in Europe are experiencing a fresh spike in COVID-19 cases? (euronews.com) • For Kosovo’s Judo Stars, Medals Must Wait (Balkan Insight) • EU commissioner advocates joint migration management with Western Balkans (N1, Hina)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 21, 2020

• COVID-19: 130 new cases, one death (media) • SPO: Thaci trying to abolish Specialist Chambers (media) • U.S. officials: Economic agreements don’t replace political talks (media) • Mustafa: Association is a closed topic (RTK) • “If we don’t have agreement on President, we’ll go to new elections” (media) • Haradinaj: Easier to replace Lajcak than change the constitution (media) • Caplan: Association may destabilise Kosovo (media) • Ceku: President’s decision on elections in Podujevo, strange (KTV) • EU: We are studying decision to dissolve anti-corruption task force (Koha) • Hearing session for Salih Mustafa confirmed for October 28 (media) • Foreign Ministry to declare on Ambassador’s case today (Klan Kosova) • Serbia mulls Russian Defense Ministry presence (AP)