UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 17, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• The "cold-hot" relations between Ambassador Hovenier and PM Kurti (Klan)
• OSCE: Ready to provide advice on MLGA administrative guidance for elections in north (media)
• Opposition dissatisfied with government's work towards de-escalation (Reporteri)
• Haxhiu's statement on the Constitution is seen as interference (Koha)
• Grubi: Kurti's visit to North Macedonia, misused (media)
• Reuten praises CNN's article about Vucic (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

• Hovenier: MTS certificate under discussion, Pristina to act cautiously (RFE, Radio KIM)
• Serbs in Leposavic continue protesting entry of Deputy Minister of Communities and Returns to municipal facility (Kosovo Online)
• Court of Appeals in Slovenia dismissed Berishaj’s complaint for slander against journalist (Kosovo Online)
• Jakup Krasniqi’s request for temporary release rejected (KoSSev)
• Opposition leader to sue Pink TV for cloning his voice in video clip (N1)

Albanian Language Media:

• Hovenier: US does not support either "Greater Albania" or "Greater Serbia" (Reporteri)
• Abbott meets Maqedonci, wishes him success in his new task (media)
• Swiss press: Kurti part of SP election campaign in Switzerland, other parties see it as "completely wrong" (Reporteri)
• Minister Aliu meets Ali Ahmeti at Kurti's request, discuss Prizren - Tetovo road (media)
• Peci against the petition: Why should someone else sack us? (Koha)
• Daka: Asking international help to organize elections in north, a step back for Kosovo (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Simic: Each Kurti’s decision is attack on Serbs, new elections not “magical solution” (RTS)
• Odalovic: The process of finding the missing is stopped by Pristina, not Belgrade (Politika, Tanjug)
• KFOR announced the increased movement of vehicles and testing of capabilities (Tanjug)
• The citizens of Leposavic greeted the Deputy Minister for Communities and Return with whistles (Danas, Kosovo Online, KiM radio, KoSSev))
• Peci does not support petition to dissolve mayors, says better to make different agreement (Kosovo Online, media)
• Public parking lot construction started, Pristina sends message it holds power (Tanjug, Novosti)

International:

• Over Half of Kosovo Nationals Don’t Intend to Move to EU After Visa Liberalisation, Survey Shows (schengenvisainfo.com)

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani on penalty measures: They were not in proportion with EU’s dissatisfaction (Koha)
Torres: Kosovo to be treated as sovereign state in EU-facilitated dialogue (Kosovapress)
Serwer: West’s pressure on Kosovo is unfair (TeVe1)
Vetevendosje excludes Besnik Mujeci, arrested in anti-drug operation in Albania (Kallxo)
Haxhiu: Opposition is ridiculous; Mujeci’s actions, individual responsibility (KTV)
Haradinaj: Kurti-led government returned the north to pre-independence period (RTK)
Charges filed against mayors of Tetovo and Cair for Kurti reception (RFE)
Taravari: Kurti is welcome in all Albanian municipalities and lands (media)
Krasniqi proud of municipalities led by PDK (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Hill on Kurti's visit to Tetovo: I'll leave it up to your imagination or ask someone else (RTS)
Petkovic: Pristina is not capable of understanding that the time has passed when Kurti was allowed to do everything (Radio Mitrovica sever)
Beqa: Telekom Serbia illegally bought operators for more than 20 million euros (RTK2, Kosovo Online) 

International Media:

Kosovo Ruling Party Expels Pristina Member Drug Arrest (BIRN)
Newborn Festival in Kosovo unites global cultures through dance (Prishtina Insight)
Telecom, a new Pristina-Belgrade issue, Kosovo government reacts (Euronews Albania)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 15, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Legal basis for petition for elections in north, a matter of days (Albanian Post)
• Osmani comments on reactions to Kurti’s visit in North Macedonia (Dukagjini)
• Gervalla: New recognitions of Kosovo expected (RTK)
• Police confiscate over 1,200 bullets in a village near Zvecan (Nacionale)
• Government comments on media reports about number of Kurti’s advisors (media)
• VV municipal councillor in Pristina arrested in anti-drug operation in Tirana (Koha)
• AJK condemns lynching campaign against Nacionale reporters in Prizren (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Von Cramon: Pristina to meet its obligations, then talk about Serbia, special police to leave municipal facilities (KoSSev)
• Deadline for vacating public spaces in Mitrovica North expired, what will happen with decision (KoSSev)
• Serbian List reacts to Atiq’s decision on free public spaces in Mitrovica North (Kosovo Online, media)
• Odalovic: Kurti playing with fire, Europe on vacation, Belgrade does not suit idling (RTS)

International:

• Kosovo Presses Montenegro Not to Allow Serbia to Sell its Assets (BIRN)

Kurti and Bozay, talk about strengthening Kosovo-Turkiye relations (media)
Osmani invites Erdogan for a visit to Kosovo (media)
Minister Rasic’s meetings in Brussels canceled (Reporteri)
Zeqiri: I see no conditions for holding new elections in the north (media)
Rasic: Hovenier is true friend of Kosovo and communities (Reporteri)
Kearns: A complete lack of balance is being witnessed in the EU's relations with Kosovo (Koha)
Vela: Belgrade is turning into the capital of extreme political ideologies (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

Stanic: The damage caused by the blockade of the import of Serbian goods to Kosovo not only financial (Tanjug, Radio Mitrovica sever)
The indictment against the former deputy mayor of Klokot (KiM radio)
Vujovic: BG lobbies to improve Vucic’s bad image, PR because of the trouble Kurti got them into (KoSSev)
International Media:

The vetting process in Kosovo’s judiciary, where is it stuck? (euronews.al)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti and Bozay, talk about strengthening Kosovo-Turkiye relations (media)
Osmani invites Erdogan for a visit to Kosovo (media)
Minister Rasic’s meetings in Brussels canceled (Reporteri)
Zeqiri: I see no conditions for holding new elections in the north (media)
Rasic: Hovenier is true friend of Kosovo and communities (Reporteri)
Kearns: A complete lack of balance is being witnessed in the EU's relations with Kosovo (Koha)
Vela: Belgrade is turning into the capital of extreme political ideologies (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:
Stanic: The damage caused by the blockade of the import of Serbian goods to Kosovo not only financial (Tanjug, Radio Mitrovica sever)
The indictment against the former deputy mayor of Klokot (KiM radio)
Vujovic: BG lobbies to improve Vucic’s bad image, PR because of the trouble Kurti got them into (KoSSev)
International Media:

The vetting process in Kosovo’s judiciary, where is it stuck? (euronews.al)

Albanian Language Media:

• Abdixhiku: Government has not been able to take a single step in infrastructure (media)
• The Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister meets the head of the PDK (media)
• Thaci's defense asks court to tell that charges in this case are not related to organ trafficking (media)
• Special Prosecutor's Office begins investigations into lack of wheat and oil reserves (Albanian Post)
• Experts advise cooperation with EU and US regarding elections in the north (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Sentic: Citizens and journalists in Kosovo have right to receive documents in Serbian language (KoSSev)
• Covic says some Quint states tolerate Kurti’s behaviour (RTS, Radio KIM)
• Maric: “Kurti is now promoting the “Great Albanian” idea in North Macedonia as well” (TV Most)
• "Kurti is a miracle from God": How is the support group for the Kosovo Prime Minister commented in Kosovo? (Danas)

Opinion:

• Are Kosovo and the "lithium trade" connected? (Danas, FoNet)
• "Kosovo should get a seat in the UN" and Serbia has committed to that, says Todorovic from YIHR (FoNet, Danas, RTK2)

International:

• Serbian Pride Condemns President’s Vow to Veto Law on Same Sex Unions (Balkan Insight)
• Pilot Exhibition Explores Enduring Legacy of Yugoslavia’s ‘Fateful Decade’ (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti gives details about cost and construction of Prizren-Tetovo road (Kallxo)
Symbolics of Kurti’s visit trigger reactions from Pendarovski and Vucic (Koha)
Mustafi reacts to Vucic’s statement against Kurti (media)
Hoti: Serbia not respecting agreement to open missing persons archive (TeVe1)
Kosovo joins Open Government Partnership (RTK)
Trial against former KLA leaders resumes today (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:
Vucic on Kurti’s visit to North Macedonia, says “Greater Albania“ promoted in Tetovo (KoSSev, media)
Kurti’s visit in North Macedonia caused reactions from country and Serbia (KoSSev, media)
Pendarovski condemns display of Albanian nationalist symbols in North Macedonia (N1, Radio KIM, KoSSev)
Office for KiM honors Gorazdevac victims (N1, media)
Serbian List: As per rule, when criminals are not punished, crimes reoccur again (Radio KIM, Kosovo Online, media)
EULEX: Documents handed over, Kosovo authorities have jurisdiction (Radio KIM)
Army of Serbia ranked as 58th in world (N1)
International Media:
As Poverty Rises, More Romany Children In Kosovo Are Being Forced To Beg (RFE)
The West’s ‘see no evil’ approach to Serbia’s Vucic is destabilizing the Balkans (CNN)
Controversial Singer’s Show Stirs Protest Against Kosovo Film Festival (Balkan Insight)
North Macedonia Leftists Slam Renaming of Anti-Fascist Brigade Street (Balkan Insight)
Serbia’s Vucic ’Does Not Think’ Ukraine Will Recognise Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
Bosnia to Investigate Online Admirers of Livestream Mass Shooter (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 11, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Suspects fire shots at Kosovo police during smuggling attempt in the north (media)
• “Lifting ban on Serbian products in exchange for lifting of EU measures” (RFE)
• Rohde: Kosovar lawyers can now register with German bar associations (media)
• Initiative for dismissal; Zeqiri: I see it more problematic and less dignifying (RTV21)
• Ombudsperson treating complaints in the north; reporters deserve attention (EO)

Serbian Language Media:

• Ombudsman in Kosovo opens case of RTS journalist Svetlana Vukmirovic (Radio KIM)
• What could citizens lose without MTS in Kosovo? (RTS)
• Vucevic: Ukraine by recognizing Kosovo would create bigger problem to itself (Tanjug)
• Vucic: We have not given up on UN Security Council session, we are waiting for right moment (Kosovo Online)
• Zeqiri: Coordinated collective resignations of mayors better than petition (Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: The EU should remove the measures as soon as possible (Koha)
Stano: Measures taken because govt didn’t act in European manner (Koha)
Government Spokesman to EU: What more do you want from Kosovo? (Reporteri)
Vetevendosje MP reacts, lists series of Serbia’s “non-European” acts (media)
Osmani meets Hovenier, discuss implementation of Bratislava Agreement (RTK)
Rohde meets with Barbano: Germany stands strongly behind EULEX (Koha)
Rasic: Decision to ban Serbian goods will be lifted very soon (RTK)
Bosch: Serbian govt doing everything to undermine stability in the region (media)

Serbian Language Media:
Lawyer Vasic submitted request for Kurti to testify as defense witness (KoSSev)
Radakovic: In case of MTS.doo closure Serbs in north to remain in media darkness (RTS, Kosovo Online)
Second part of Serbian Armed Forces contingent departs for flood-hit Slovenia (Tanjug)
Stano on measures against Kosovo, says they are possible against Serbia as well, if it fails to de-escalate (N1, media)
Raska-Prizren Eparchy Bishop Teodosije visited arrested Milenkovic in Podujevo (KoSSev)
International Media:

Experts Expect Increased Migration to EU Following Kosovo Visa Liberalisation, Advise Government to Act Now (Schengen Visa)