UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 23, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 705 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
• Albin Kurti officially assumes duties as new prime minister of Kosovo (Express)
• Kurti: It is time to prove that we deserve our positions (media)
• Quint to MPs: The first task is to elect the president (media)
• Congratulations for Kurti and the new government continue (media)
• U.S. Ambassador visits LDK offices (media)
• Z.K and D.Sh. found guilty of war crimes (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: 67 new cases, three people died (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: Pristina brutally violated its own highest legal act (Danas, Beta)
• Petkovic: Kurti's demands absurd and undermine Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (TV Most)
• Simic: Two ministries belong to the Serbian list according to the law; we will not vote for Kurti's government (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Jevtic handovers duty to Rakic today, announces continuation of a joint struggle for betterment of Serbs (TV Most)
• Rada Trajkovic to Kurti: Citizens place their hopes in you and your promise of equality for all (Kosovo Online)
• Zlatan Krstic sentenced to 14 years in prison, Shabanaj to seven years (Kosovo-online)
• Epidemiological situation in Zvecan deteriorates, authorities urge citizens to vaccinate (Kosovo-online)
• Miftaraj: The constitution is clear, the Kosovo president is elected first, then the government (KoSSev)
• Surlic: Serbs acceptable for Pristina if decision-making does not depend on them (KoSSev)
• Krasniqi: The government that consolidated the majority, with the highest number of women, I expect the president to be elected (KoSSev)
• Only open debate on Kosovo "allowed" (Danas)
• Serbian DefMin concerned over Kosovo participation in NATO exercise (N1, FoNet)
• EU top diplomat says debate on Western Balkans at next meeting of EU FMs (N1, Beta)
• RFZO: Serbia has 5.800 doses of US new anti-coronavirus drug (N1)
• WHO Belgrade representative: Epidemic situation serious, measures to remain until results seen (N1)

Opinion

• Western Balkans’ Plight is Wake-up Call for Europe (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Balkan Countries Lacking Vaccines Look to Neighbours for Jabs (Balkan Insight)
• Vaccine makers should license technology to overcome 'grotesque' inequity: WHO (Reuters)
• Coronavirus digest: EU commissioner says herd immunity by summer is possible (DW)
• NATO, US to stage large-scale military exercises around Serbia until summer (euractive.com)

• COVID-19: 827 new cases, 16 deaths (media)
• Kosovo elects new Government with Kurti Prime Minister (media)
• Congratulations pour in for new Government of Kosovo (media)
• Kurti expects to take new post today, calls for swift election of president (Telegrafi)
• Hoti to hand over duty to Kurti today (media)
• Hoxhaj: We will not send Kurti’s mandate to the Constitutional Court (EO)
• Haziri: LDK has not discussed approaching Constitutional Court (T7/Klan)
• “Constitution does not oblige PM to offer two ministries to Serb community” (Koha)
• Rama does not mediate dialogue, says he defends Kosovo’s interests (RTK)
• Zemaj writes to COVAX concerning lack of vaccine rollout in Kosovo (media)
• Vulin: Serbia to work incessantly to prevent Kosovo from joining Interpol (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 827 new cases, 16 deaths (media)
• Glauk Konjufca elected Kosovo Assembly Speaker (media)
• Konjufca requests Vetevendosje's proposal for prime minister (media)
• Kurti-led government set to be voted this afternoon (Telegrafi/Koha)
• PDK expects swift formation of government, reiterates position against Osmani for president (media)
• Turkish community MPs to vote for Kurti-led government (Klan)
• Ambassadors congratulate election of Assembly speaker, presidency (media)
• Kurti: There can be no monoethnic association in Kosovo (KP)

Serbian Language Media:

• 19 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Sunday (KoSSev)
• Konjufca elected Assembly Speaker, Serbian List didn’t support his election (Kosovo-online)
• Slavko Simic elected vice president of the Assembly (Kosovo Online)
• Miletic: New elections do not suit anyone at this moment (RTK2)
• Baxhaku: The votes of the Serbian List also needed for the election of the president (RTK2)
• Jeremic: Vaccination process in Serbia commendable (Dnevnik)
• Serbian Government partially eases anti-coronavirus measures (N1)
• Additional 55.990 doses of Pfizer vaccine arrived in Serbia (Tanjug)
• Additional 100.000 Sputnik V vaccines arriving in Serbia on Tuesday (N1)

Opinion:

• Say Her Name (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

• Kosovo’s new parliament starts, vote on new govt expected (AP)
• Coronavirus: EU 'not ready' to share COVID vaccines with poorer countries (DW)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Vetevendosje's women MPs dress in white, in nod to gender equality (Kallxo)
• Kosovo Slow to Build Monuments to its Female Heroes (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 812 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Health-Care Workers From Kosovo Receive COVID-19 Vaccines In Albania (RFE)
• Still no vaccines in Kosovo, Zemaj criticizes the EU (euronews.al)
• KBA: Around 20,000 Kosovo businesses closed due to COVID-19 (Klan)
• Kosovo Assembly to hold constitutive session today (media)
• PDK meets ahead of the constitutive session of the Assembly (Klan)
• Von Cramon speaks of EU expectations for Osmani and Kurti (RTV Dukagjini)
• Association of Serb-majority communities, challenge for incoming government (KP)
• Borrell to report on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• German ambassador to Serbia calls for sustainable Kosovo-Serbia solution (Koha)
• LDK elects party leadership, snub Veliu, Rugova (media)
• Balje: With Kurti, Kosovo-Albania unification idea being revived (media)
• New head of OSCE for Kosovo assumes post (Koha)
• Kosovo Court Reopens Sensitive Murder Trial Following BIRN Findings (Balkan Insight)
• Arrests Shake Up a Soccer Scene in Serbia Ruled by Gangsters and ‘Gravediggers’ (NYT)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 19, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 828 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Abdixhiku and Shala meet Kurti and Osmani (media)
• Vucic publishes the map of Kosovo immersed in Serbian flag, US embassy reacts (euronews.al)
• EU comments on Vucic’s photo with the map of Kosovo (Express, media)
• Swedish MEP says EU should not threaten Kosovo for its Embassy in Jerusalem (Express)
• Majko to Vucic: Serbia should not capitulate in face of its inabilities (RTK)
• LDK to elect new chairmanship on Saturday (RTK)
• Osmani holds a virtual meeting with USAID Director (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 36 new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian areas (KoSSev)
• Vucic: We are looking for a compromise, but I am not sure that Albanians are ready (media)
• Petkovic: Hysterical assaults by Albanian politicians the only answer to Vucic’s peaceful policy (Kosovo-online)
• EU: Serbia and Kosovo to refrain from statements that do not serve normalization of relations (Kosovo Online)
• More than two million people in Serbia received first dose of vaccine (Danas)
• North Mitrovica Hospital Center sends staff to help the Batajnica Covid hospital (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM demands a higher level of security for the religious heritage in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Church in Silovo village broken into (RTV Puls, Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)
• Protests of a group of people in Gracanica continue over hiring in the Clinical Hospital Center (KiM radio)
• Minister tells German Ambassador thousands leaving Serbia every year (N1)
• CRTA: Citizens of Serbia moderately interested in politics, mostly in Kosovo (KoSSev, N1)
• Croatia establishes contact with Chinese COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers (N1)

Opinion:

• What are the new Kosovo government biggest priorities? (euractiv.com)
• Serbia’s vaccine diplomacy in China’s shadow (Al Jazeera)

International:

• EU agency: AstraZeneca vaccine safe, will add clot warning (AP)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Between life and death, artists articulate the pandemic (Kosovo 2.0)
• No more! Kosovars hold vigils for latest femicide victim (Prishtina Insight)

• COVID-19: 747 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Fist Covid vaccines set for Kosovo from India (Koha)
• Syla: Albania has secured 500 vaccines for healthcare staff in Kosovo (media)
• Kosnett urges opposition to put needs of people above political partisanship (media)
• Haziri: LDK should have a vote for Vjosa Osmani president (RTV21/Telegrafi)
• Haradinaj: AAK will not vote for Osmani nor will it make necessary quorum (Telegrafi)
• Vucic's post of Serbian flag on Kosovo map backdrop sparks reactions (media)
• Russia says Kosovo has no right to open a mission in Jerusalem (EO)
• SGG condemns the killing of Sebahate Sopi, calls for concrete actions to protect women (Klan)
• Kosovo’s Kurti Urges Albanians Abroad to Join North Macedonia Census (Balkan Insight)
• 'I want to live not just survive': Kosovo and its chronic brain drain problem (euronews)
• Kosovo Police probe threat to BIRN team filming disputed property (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 704 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Kosnett meets Kurti: U.S. committed to helping new government succeed (media)
• Nagavci confirms Konjufca's nomination for Assembly Speaker (Koha)
• Hoxhaj: PDK will not take part in voting Osmani for president (media)
• Abdixhiku: LDK's position on Osmani's candidacy to be taken by chairmanship (media)
• Hoti: We will vote for no president, we are an opposition party (Koha)
• PDK and LDK MPs to register today (RTK)
• Italian ambassador calls Abdixhiku, talk about creation of institutions (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• 43 new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian communities (KoSSev)
• RTK2 : Serbian List can influence election of Kosovo President
• United Balkans for Clean Air: Shut down coal-fired power plants as soon as possible (Danas)
• 'Sporazoom' TV Show: Ten years of negotiations (RTV Puls)
• Serbia signed agreement to purchase additional two million doses of Sinopharm vaccine (Tanjug)
• Serbian Crisis Team doctor says partial lockdown will be extended (N1)
• Serbian ministers welcome EU coronavirus certificates (N1)

Opinion:

• No internal dialogue is possible without the Serb List (d4d-ks.org)

International:

• WHO European Region: COVID-19 case incidence on the rise as deaths edge towards 1 million (euro.who.int)
• EU plans to have vaccine certificates ready by summer (DW)
• As Vaccinations Speed Along in Serbia, the Country Basks in the Glow of a Successful Campaign (The New York Times)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The Security and Gender Group condemns the killing of Sebahate Sopi and calls for concrete actions to protect women
• Transforming the thrift shop (Prishtina Insight)

• COVID-19: 709 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Kurti: First task of new government will be securing COVID-19 vaccines (media)
• Zemaj discusses Covid situation with Israeli counterpart (media)
• Lul Raka: The pandemic exposed Kosovo’s weak healthcare system (Prishtina Insight)
• Koha, Indeksonline reveal who they say will be members of new government
• PDK will not support Osmani for president (media)
• Abdixhiku: Osmani to clarify her position on LDK (Telegrafi)
• Abbott: Kosovo needs greater public debate on dialogue (Koha)
• Lajcak briefs EU ambassadors on Western Balkans visit (media)
• Serwer: U.S. to convince Russia on Kosovo joining UN (Klan)
• “Turkey's reaction over Kosovo's embassy, attempt to expand influence” (VOA/media)
• Hasani: Konjufca cannot mandate Kurti for Prime Minister (media)
• In addition to the Assembly, the government is expected to be voted on Monday (Koha)
• High number of deaths during the pandemic year in Kosovo (Koha)
• Kosovo, EU discuss energy, environment and other issues (Gazeta Express)
• Serbs Commemorate Dead on Anniversary of Kosovo Unrest (Balkan Insight)
• In Latest Award-Winning Kosovo Film, a Coming-of-Age Story (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 17, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 709 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Osmani on national unity: Kosovo is here to stay (BBC, media)
• Kosovo discusses securing of anti-COVID-19 vaccine with Israel (media)
• Abbott meets Abdixhiku, discuss LDK and its role as opposition (media)
• Kurti and Osmani meet representatives of Gorani and Roma entities (media)
• Next status conference in Thaci et al. case on 24 March (Express)
• Abdixhiku accuses Kurti ahead of negotiations for Kosovo’s new president (euronews.al)
• Chairman of LDK in Kllokot resigns (media)
• Kosovo paralyzed, public transportation on strike asking subsidies for the pandemic (euronews.al)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Serbian areas 29 new cases of Covid-19 (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• 17th anniversary of March pogrom commemorated (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
• Patriarch Porfirije: Prayer for peace for all people in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic says Serbia won’t allow repeat of Kosovo violence (N1)
• Serbian Foreign Affairs Ministry on March 2004 pogrom (Kosovo-online)
• Remembering victims of March pogrom in Mitrovica North (Radio Mitrovica sever, TV Most)
• Even after 17 years, the images of the pogrom still live (KiM radio)
• Ratovac Siamasvili: UNESCO aware of the peculiarities and significance of the Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• CI SDP: Pogrom is a crime no one was held responsible for (Radio kontakt plus)
• COM KFOR: Security situation stabilized after 2004 (RTS, Kosovo-online)
• Four principles of the new methodology of EU for Serbia's accession (media)
• Raska-Prizren Eparchy requests those in charge to prevent attacks against religious objects (Radio KIM)
• Office for KiM: Continuous endangerment of Serbian heritage (Radio KIM)
• Vucic met Chen Bo, focus on Sinopharm factory construction (RTS)
• Montenegro PM tells N1 he wants better relations with Serbia (N1)

International:

• EU regulator ‘convinced’ AstraZeneca benefit outweighs risk (AP)
• Belgium Arrests Kosovo Ex-Guerrilla on War Crime Charges (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 608 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
• Education deputy minister says schools will be off for one week (Kallxo)
• Social networks flooded with appeals for convalescent plasma donations (Koha)
• Kurti, Osmani meet leaders of communities, discuss formation of new institutions (media)
• VV's Konjufca, candidate for Kosovo Assembly Speaker (media)
• Osmani's list aims to get two ministerial posts and deputy prime ministry (Koha)
• Abdixhiku on Osmani's election: We do not want instability (T7/media)
• Haradinaj: LVV does not have AAK’s support to govern on its own (RTK)
• Haxhiu announces review of all Hoti-led government's decisions (Koha)
• Citaku: Opening of Embassy in Jerusalem should not be part of political debate (media)
• Former KLA fighter arrested on Specialist Chambers warrant (media)
• Dissatisfaction of Kosovo Serbs about party employments (RFE/media)
• Kosovo’s Kurti Seeks to Form ‘No Compromise’ Government Quickly (BIRN)