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UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 23, 2020

Albanian Language Media: • Osmani asks Institute for professional opinion on Assembly session (media) • LDK Minister: We will proceed with non-confidence motion (Express) • Merkel and Kurti to have videocall today (Express) • Swiss MPs: Stop the political games (Koha) • Heldt: Include Kosovo in corona global updates (media) • Kosovo Serbs send COVID-19 tests to Belgrade (RFE, Express) Serbian Language Media: • Petritsch: Kosovo issue put on hold due to pandemic (Kosovo Online) • Borrell: Lajcak will do an excellent job mediating Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Beta, N1) • Jevtic: We are working to provide help, in particular to vulnerable groups in return areas (Kosovo-online) • Vucic and Orban discuss economic cooperation after coronavirus pandemic ends (FoNet, N1, RTS) • 34 new coronavirus cases confirmed - total of 222 infected (B92) • Chinese team: 29 days needed to calm down COVID-19, will present new steps (FoNet, N1, RTS) • DW: People in Balkans fear coronavirus the least (N1) Opinion: • COVID-19: Truth and Viral Consequences (Balkan Insight) International: • MEPs: Western Balkans should be included in EU+ export authorization scheme (EWB) Humanitarian/Development: • Schools emptying in Drenica’s villages (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 23

 
  • Two new cases of coronavirus confirmed, total of 33 (media)
  • First fatality from coronavirus in Kosovo (media)
  • Assembly President calls for unity (media)
  • Vetevendosje's Nagavci: Non-confidence motion is a great irresponsibility (media)
  • Mustafa: I want to judge myself for backing a coalition with Vetevendosje (media)
  • Abazi reacts to non-confidence motion (RTK)
  • Non-confidence motion reached Assembly two days ago, Osmani has yet to call meeting (RTK)
  • LDK blames LVV for the political crisis in Kosovo (RTK

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 21

• Kosovo partially lifts import tariff on Serbian, Bosnian goods (media) • LDK ignores calls, activates non-confidence motion (Koha) • Abazi: LDK pressured yesterday not to vote lifting of the tariff (RTK) • Number of confirmed cases with coronavirus reaches 24 (media) • All parks in Kosovo to be closed from today (media) • Thaci: Lajcak's mission destined to fail (media) • EU spokesman reacts to Thaci tweet (media) • EP member: Fight corona, not each other (RTK) • Meanwhile, America’s Kosovo Strategy Is Melting Down (Foreign Policy)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 20, 2020

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 20, 2020 Albanian Language Media: • EU calls for unity among party leaders (Telegrafi) • Mustafa: Kurti to lift tariff, annul dismissal decision, and apologize (RTK) • Thaci: KPHI and the police are promptly doing their job, KSF ready (RTK) • KDI argues against non-confidence motion (media) Serbian Language Media: • New 15 cases of coronavirus in Serbia - 118 in total (B92) • Serbia closed its borders, intercity traffic stops at noon (B92) • Vucic: Curfew will be extended (B92, RTS) • Most of us will be affected for some months, UN's Antonio Guterres says (N1) • Website of Trustbuilding Platform in Kosovo introduced (KoSSev) • Passengers at Jarinje crossing point told they would have to be quarantined in Pristina? (KoSSev) • COVID-19: Governments must promote and protect access to and free flow of information during pandemic (KoSSev) • Serbian Commissioner says right to information not suspended (N1) • Norway donates to Serbia EUR 5 million to fight coronavirus (RTS) International: • Pandemic Forces Balkan Politicians to Get Serious, At Last (Balkan Insight) • Kosovo seeks help from Turkey to fight coronavirus (aa.com.tr) • Prishtina protests from its balconies (Prishtina Insight) Humanitarian/Development: • Serbia’s virologist: Vaccine is urgent, or coronavirus will be seasonal disease (N1) • Kon: Epidemic will last another six weeks in this regime (Tanjug, B92)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 20

Another case of coronavirus confirmed (media) Health Minister: Infected persons in stable condition (RFE) Prishtina protests from its balconies (Prishtina Insight) Osmani and two other LDK MPs do not sign no confidence motion (RTK) LDK deputy leader: We can continue governance if Kurti removes tariff and returns Veliu (KTV) PDK: We will come up with a statement very soon (KosovaPress) Limaj: NISMA will support no confidence motion (RTK) Haradinaj: I wont be part of any govt that talks about partition (T7) 834 citizens request to return to Kosovo (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 19, 2020

Albanian Language Media: • Haradinaj does not rule out joining a technical government (media) • EP Rapporteur warns against non-confidence motion (Koha) • NATO Chief requests lifting of tariff and resumption of dialogue (RTK) • LVV continues to ignore no confidence motion (Express) • Veliu: LDK does not allow breach of partnership with U.S., Kurti is a coward (RTK) • Number of coronavirus cases in Kosovo reaches 20 (RFE) • Daniel Serwer writes a letter to President Thaci (RTK) Serbian Language Media: • In Serbia, eight new cases of coronavirus - a total of 97 (B92, covid19.rs) • Brnabic: If needed, state of emergency could last four months (B92, Tanjug) • RFE: Agreement reached on Lajcak as EU Special Representative (Kontakt plus radio, RTK2) • Stoltenberg: Tariffs on Serbian goods not helpful, NATO operational in coronavirus circumstances (Tanjug, Kosovo-online) • Rakic responds to Bahtiri: In sea of Bahtiri’s lies, only true thing is that he did not get permit from us (Kosovo-online) • Vucic and Merkel’s video meeting: Fast dialogue resumption (Tanjug, B92) • Radovic: Kosovo police are proceeding according to an operational plan (KoSSev) • Fabrizi: EU will continue helping Serbia (FoNet, N1, Blic) Opinion: • Listening To The Pandemic: Time To Get Real (Balkan Insight) International: • Kosovo’s Crisis-Hit Govt Threatened with No-Confidence Vote (Balkan Insight) • Belgrade Streets Empty as Serbian Curfew Begins (Balkan Insight) • The Latest: Serbia closes main airport for passenger flights (wboc.com) Humanitarian/Development: • As Cities Around the World Go on Lockdown, Victims of Domestic Violence Look For A Way Out (time.com)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 19

LDK initiates motion of no confidence (media) Prime Minister Kurti press conference (media) Veseli: PDK will soon decide on no-confidence motion (Indeksonline) Osmani: Me and Lumir Abdixhiku were against the motion (media) Kurti and Risi discuss security implications of COVID-19 (RTK) Merkel and Vucic for reopening of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue as soon as possible (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 18, 2020

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 18, 2020 Albanian Language Media: • PM Kurti dismisses Interior Minister (media) • Mustafa to Kurti: Cancel Veliu's dismissal, remove tariff (media) • Mustafa: Veliu's dismissal is unacceptable (media) • Thaci: State of Emergency could last 30 days (media) • Veseli supports state of emergency proposal (media) • President’s decree has not reached the Assembly (RTK) • Reactions on Thaci’s request to adopt decree for a state of emergency (social media) Serbian Language Media: • Serbian List: We reject Pristina's hidden intention to deploy troops in northern Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio) • Djuric to Serbs in Kosovo: Respect measures of Serbian Government on coronavirus (Kosovo-online, Radio kontakt plus) • New 11 cases of coronavirus in Serbia, a total of 83 patients (B92) • Serbia introduced new measures last night to fight coronavirus (RTS, B92) • Chinese Ambassador tells Vucic: Aid to battle coronavirus coming (N1) • It's confirmed, new phase: Coronavirus hit the last country in Europe (B92, CDM) • "Europe is epicenter of crisis" (BETA, B92, Bild) Opinion: • Mushkolaj: Politics with people's lives (Express) International: • Serbia Restricts Movement for Migrants, Asylum-Seekers (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 18

Thaci: Get together and ratify state of emergency (RTK) Government does not agree with Thaci’s proposal for state of emergency (Koha) Veliu: State of emergency should be declared (RTK) Kurti and Varhelyi agree to work in solidarity with each other (RTK) Mustafa claims virus is spreading rapidly, urges president to declare state of emergency (Express) Haradinaj on proposal for state of emergency (Indeksonline) Haxhiu: Regrettable if Thaci wants primary role in these circumstances (media) Number of infected with COVID-19 reaches 19 (media) Apostolova calls on Kurti to remove tariff (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 17, 2020

Albanian Language Media: • President Thaci calls for mobilisation of KSF (media) • PM Kurti address to Western Balkans Conference (media) • Western Balkans Prime Ministers meet online (RTK) • All incoming flights with passengers suspended (media) • ContourGlobal halts plans to build “Kosova e Re” power plant (Media) Serbian Language Media: • Conflict between citizens on the Ibar River (RTK2, KoSSev, Kosovo Online) • Djuric: Albanians try to provoke conflicts again (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, TV Pink) • North Mitrovica mayor Rakic urge international community and Kosovo Government to prevent illegal works on Ibar River (Kosovo Online) • Eight new cases of coronavirus in Serbia, a total of 65 (B92) • The Government of Serbia passed the Decree: Constitution guaranteed rights restricted (B92, Tanjug) • Sixteen years since March pogrom in Kosovo (KoSSev, N1) • Djuric: Serbia resolved not to allow repetition of March violence (Kosovo Online) • Brnabic: More drastic measures may be introduced tonight (B92, Tanjug) • Democracy watchdog appeals for election postponement in Serbia, stops monitoring (N1) • Gracanica: Increased measures of precautions (KIM Radio) • In Serb communities in Kosovo Pomoravlje district no infected persons with coronavirus (RTV Puls) Opinion: • Don’t Leave Roma out of EU Enlargement Talks (Balkan Insight) International: • EU to Ban Entry to 26 Schengen Area Countries (schengenvisainfo.com) • Public authorities enforce coronavirus measures (Prishtina Insight) • Lavrov's Visit To Serbia Postponed Over COVID-19 Concerns - Serbian Foreign Ministry (urdupoint.com) Humanitarian/Development: • Experimental COVID-19 Vaccine Test Begins as U.S. Volunteer Receives First Shot (time.com)