UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 9, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• EU working to condition Serbia’s membership with implementation of agreements with Kosovo (RFE)
• 72 cases of attacks and threats against reporters in Kosovo in 2023 (VoA in Albanian)
• Murati: Capital investments in 2023 increased by 32 percent (media)
• “Possible attacks from Serbia”; Haziri: Leaders’ camouflage to hide failures (EO)
• Musliu: Serbia can use local Serbs; another attack as Banjska not excluded
• Sources: Police raids against several Tax Administration officials (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucevic: Time to decide about compulsory military service, debate ahead (Tanjug, TV Pink)
• Kosovo Chamber of Commerce: We lost €300mn to EU sanctions (N1, BETA)
• Hearing in case of Milorad Djokovic from Vitomirica held today (Kosovo Online, media)
• Serbian prosecution still conducts investigation on Banjska case (Radio KIM, Euronews)
• Ponos: New opposition protest on January 16 (N1)

Opinion:

• Dialogue and Kosovo’s European integration in the year of mega-elections (Koha)
• AI’s Arrival in Higher Education in Balkans Has Huge Implications (BIRN)

International:

• Was Kosovo’s First Transitional Justice Strategy Worth the Wait? (BIRN)
• Spanish opposition fears Kosovo passport recognition could set a precedent for Catalonia (Euractiv)

Albanian Language Media:

• EU expects Brussels agreement to be implemented this year (Koha)
• Italian KFOR troops patrol Kosovo-Serbia administrative boundary line (media)
• Spain on recognizing Kosovo passport: Doesn’t imply Kosovo recognition (media)
• U.S. approach toward Vucic criticized; Serbia wants Congress to punish Kosovo (Koha)
• Hoxha: Early elections could happen in spring; “no other solution” (Telegrafi)
• Krastev: Kurti could look for compromise before U.S. elections (Express)
• Kosovo leaders’ messages for Orthodox Christmas (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Stano: High-level dialogue possible when there is willingness, agenda (Tanjug)
• Patriarch Porfirije served liturgy at Pec Patriarchate, met with mayor (KoSSev, social media)
• Visoki Decani Monastery react to Koha article on Holy Virgin of Ljevis Church, say it represents misrepresentation of history (KoSSev, Kosovo Online, social media)
• Vucevic: SNS to request mandate to form next government (TV Pink, Tanjug)
• ODIHR spokesperson: Final report on elections expected by end-February (N1)
• Svecla visits northern Kosovo twice in two days (KoSSev)
• Arsenijevic on Svecla’s visit to northern Kosovo (social media)
• Former KLA member arrested at Merdare last week sent to one-month detention (KoSSev, Klan Kosova)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 5, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Serbia recognized plates to cover rejection of Brussels agreement (Koha)
• Rohde welcomes “ditching of sticker regime” between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Konjufca condemns “despicable violence” against Sandulovic (media)
• Haxhiu: International community must condemn beating of Sandulovic (media)
• After being beaten, Sandulovic’s apartment raided (RTK/Dukagjini)
• Kusari-Lila: There could be parliamentary elections this year (RTK)
• Kosovo candidate status, Belgian EU Presidency: We’ll seek consensus (Express)
• Police confiscate 689 bullets of different calibers in Banjska of Zvecan (Nacionale)
• Ahmeti: There are successes in foreign diplomacy; security is a priority (KSP)
• EU measures inflicted material damage and further damaged Kosovo’s image (AP)
• Kosovo allowed visit by Serbian Patriarch, one day later Serbia did the opposite with Svecla (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• One year since wounding of two Serb boys in Gotovusa, near Strpce (Kosovo Online)
• Jevtic: Injustice at stake, Serbs unprotected in legal sense (media)
• Kosovo Government decision to revoke stickers had not taken effect yet (Kosovo Online)
• Raska-Prizren Eparchy Bishop Teodosije with believers in Mitrovica North tomorrow (KoSSev)
• Djuric: US support to Pristina conditional upon Community of Serb Municipalities (Tanjug)
• Drecun: Serbs in Kosovo concerned over Pristina's military service plans (Tanjug, RTS)
• Kosovo police found ammunition in Banjska near Zvecan, it is believed it was there since September (KoSSev, N1)

Opinion:

• Serbia’s Elections – Defeat for Far Right, as well as Moderate Opposition (BIRN)

International:

• Kosovars Finally Get The Visas They've Longed For (Along With A Host Of New Problems) (RFE)
• Kosovo’s Houses of Culture, Fading Relics of the Yugoslav Past (BIRN)
• Kosovo's amputee soccer stars overcome legacy of conflict (RFE)
• Serbian opposition leader brutally beaten by secret services (MSN)

Albanian Language Media:

Cameron offers support for Kosovo's security and new recognitions (Koha) 
Government decides to remove stickers for vehicles with Serbian license plates (RTK)
Svecla from border zone in north: Police are vigilantly protecting borders (RTK) 
Sinani: Stopping Svecla's visit to Valley proves that Serbia does not want normalization with Kosovo (Klan) 
Kosovo warns of reciprocity with Serbia in permits for official visits (Koha) 
KFOR publishes footage of Italian carabinieri training for crowd and riot control (Reporteri) 
Serbian opposition politician says he was beaten by Radoicic (media)
Haziri warns of EU’s "collective measures” if Kosovo does not fulfill its obligations in dialogue (Dukagjini) 
Aliu reacts to claims of three NGOs regarding Kelkos' environmental permit (Klan) 

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic thanks Mitsotakis for Greece's respect of Serbia's integrity, sovereignty (Tanjug, media)
Serbian Patriarch: We should forgive, pray for peace with Albanians (N1, FoNet, media)
Cameron visits Gracanica Monastery (Kosovo Online, Raska-Prizren Eparchy)
Tanjug reporter: Claims by Kosovo police I was allowed to enter Kosovo untrue (media)
Kosovo Government revoked decision on stickers for Serbian license plates (KoSSev)
Cameron says what happened in Banjska must not happen again (N1, KoSSev)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 4, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani informs Cameron on “Serbia’s constant destabilization efforts” (media)
• Gervalla meets Cameron: West needs new approach towards Balkans (media)
• Kearns: It is time to stand together, unwavering against irredentism (Reporteri)
• Serbia authorities refuse Svecla’s visit to Presevo Valley (media)
• Svecla after denied visit to Serbia: We will act on principles of reciprocity (Koha)
• Kamberi: Govt in Belgrade remains paranoid and hateful against Albanians (RTK)
• COMKFOR: KFOR presence in north quadrupled, patrols tripled (AP)
• Peci: Serbia’s military mobilization means more NATO troops in region (Koha)
• Environmental NGOs sue ministry, claim it secretly gave permits (Express)
• ICK: Task against New Year celebration, mistake that shouldn’t be repeated (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• What is written in Serbian Government decision on Kosovo license plates (KoSSev)
• Bislimi on Constitutional Court decisions, police bases in northern Kosovo, dialogue (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev, Radio KIM)
• Dacic: I expect strongest pressure on Kosovo issue by March (Tanjug, TV Pink)
• Serbian Army General Staff launches initiative to introduce military service again (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Cameron’s statement on helping Kosovo gain new recognitions deserves strongest condemnation (Kosovo Online, RTV)
• Andric-Rakic: Bill for U.S. to suspend all aid to Kosovo an additional guarantee for implementation of agreement (Kosovo Online)
• Marinkovic: CASA does not take part in initiative to recall mayors (Radio KIM)

Albanian Language Media:

Cameron starts 2024 with a visit to Kosovo: We want to help you (media) 
Svecla to visit Presheva Valley today (RTK) 
Bislimi criticizes Constitutional Court: Incompetent and unreliable - corrupt environment (media) 
Government to decide soon on Serbian license plates (Koha) 
Rasic: I am ready to participate in the drafting of the Association's statute (VoA)  
AAK breaches coalition with PDK in Prizren (Klan) 
Tahiri: The sooner this government leaves, the better for Kosovo (media) 
Third day without visas, no significant increase of demand for abroad tickets (media) 

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Porfirije begins visit in Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
Visoki Decani Monastery: Visit of Patriarch Porfirije holds great symbolic significance for Serbian people in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, social media)
Tanjug reporter denied entry in Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
Serbian journalists’ associations condemn entry ban to Tanjug reporter (KoSSev, Kosovo Online, media)
Citaku on Bislimi’s statements on Constitutional Court (Kosovo Online, social media)
SNS to have 49 seats in Belgrade local assembly, Serbia Against Violence follows with 43 (media)

International Media:

Kosovo in 2024: Kurti in Race Against Time to Deliver on Real Problems (Balkan Insight)
Serbia Publishes Official Election Results – Only Question is Belgrade (Balkan Insight)
Spread of biometric devices spark fears over surveillance in Serbia, Kosovo (Biometric) 
Kosovo Passport Makes Historical Jump by 90 Positions Up in VisaGuide Passport Index (visaguide.world) 

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 3, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo and Turkiye ready to expand relations in 2024 (media)
• Haxhiu criticizes opposition, KPC and KJC: They oppose reforms (KSP)
• Szunyog: Attack in Banjska turned all eyes to Kosovo (AP)
• Less: Association, the only solution – Trump will return with idea for partition, now with backing from Europeans (Express)
• Petritsch: Internal dialogue with Serbs in Kosovo, basis for normalization (RFE)
• Krasniqi: Early elections in 2024, 2023 was lost year for Kosovo (media)
• LDK MP: Kurti has postponed visa liberalization for six years (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian Election Commission releases parliamentary election results (N1, Nova.rs)
• Kurti for second time in last couple of days on Bujanska conference about unification of Kosovo with Albania (KoSSev)
• Lajcak: We expect new local elections in north of Kosovo without further delay (Politika, Kosovo Online)
• Brigadier says NATO, Serbia closer than people think (Demostat, N1, Danas)
• Djilas for Politico: West should support values or say nothing (N1)
• Dveri: National Gathering ceased to exist (RTS)
• Protests over elections to continue in 2024 (N1)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Christmas convoy in Kosovo concluded, ten tons of humanitarian aid distributed (Radio KIM, Euronews, media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Maqedonci: Kosovo at risk from Serbia’s continuous threats (Kosovapress)
• KFOR publishes video of Italian Lagunari specific training in north (media)
• LDK’s Haziri criticizes Kurti, says he has “no merit for visa liberalization” (media)
• Hasani: Serbia is shifting pressure on Kosovo (Gazeta Express)
• Vogel: Trump’s return would be a misfortune for Kosovo (AP)
• The Guardian view on state capture in Serbia: a problem for Balkans, EU (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic: I do not care about reports by foreign media, but only about Serbians (Tanjug)
• Branimir Stojanovic, Milazim Krasinqi on situation in northern Kosovo, dialogue (RTK2, Radio kontakt plus)
• Nastic on exclusion of Serbs from Kosovo from visa liberalization, terms it as farce and shameful act (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic rejects opposition demands for international investigation (N1, BETA)
• Haziri on statements about attacks from Serbia, Kurti and Osmani are trying to divert attention from other problems (Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media:

• KOSTT: From today electricity in north to be paid as elsewhere in Kosovo (RFE)
• AAK gears up for elections; Haradinaj says they could be held in spring (KSP)
• Gruda: Govt thinks winning by 50% means they can go beyond Constitution (EO)
• Reuten: Next processing application for candidate status (media)
• Kovatchev: Association must not be a Republika Srpska (Klan Kosova)
• Latifi: 2024 an election year; won’t be any historic step in dialogue (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• "Kosovo Serbs - the only Europeans who need a visa" (KiM radio, DW, FAZ)
• Information hormones: How adrenaline took precedence over serotonin in news from the north (KoSSev)
• Maliqi: The position of Self-Determination has always been that there must be unification with Albania (Kosovo Online)
• Mijacic to Borrell: Not good to start the New Year with false statements (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Person of the year 2023: Journalists Reporting in the North (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

Borrell: EU also benefits from liberalization of visas for Kosovo (Koha) 
Osmani congratulates Belgium on EC presidency: We will work for EU membership (Koha) 
Bislimi: Three processes have started today, we will take others throughout the year (RTK) 
Germany welcomes visa-free travel (RTK) 
French ambassador: EU proposal makes association less worrying for those who feared it was unconstitutional (Klan) 
Szunyog: EU is closely following debate on possibility of another attack in Kosovo (AP) 
From Monday, vehicles with RKS license plates can move freely in Serbia (RTK) 
Avdyli warns: Serbian extremists are asking Serbian drivers with RKS license plates to have a distinctive sign (Klan) 

Serbian Language Media:

Dacic: Pressure on Serbia over Kosovo expected to focus on February (Tanjug)
Free movement for vehicles from Kosovo took effect on Monday (media)
Citizens of Serbia in Kosovo the only ones denied the right to visa-free travel through Schengen (Danas, KoSSev)
Kosovo takes a step towards the EU with visa liberalization, parties to implement the agreement without preconditions, including the ASM (KoSSev)
SNV demands the arrest of a part of the Serbian state leadership along with Goran Rakic for "treason" (KoSSev)

International Media:

Serb Party Demands International Intervention Over New Disputes in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
Serbia will take over the Presidency of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (Sarajevo Times)