UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 3, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Interior Minister Svecla’s interview with RTK
• Serb civil society calls for peaceful solution to crisis in the north (media)
• Bundestag defence committee to discuss situation in Kosovo today (DW)
• Latvian Defence Minister: Tensions in Kosovo initiated by Serbia and Russia (Zeri)
• Serwer: Kosovo acted rightfully, the ball is now with Serbia on September 1 (Nacionale)
• CDHRF: Any backing down from reciprocity will damage Kosovo (media)
• Working group formed for bureau for verification and confiscation of wealth bill (media)
• Two deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Media: Residents in northern Kosovo report mistreatment by special police units
• Petkovic: Serb arrested in Rudare released (KoSSev)
• Drecun on Kurti and violence against Serbs (RTV, Tanjug)
• Serbian Orthodox Church and Montenegro sign Fundamental Agreement (N1, BETA)
• Kisnica: Name is Serbian covered with black paint, “KLA” board set up (Radio KIM)
• Serbian List reacts to Svecla’s statements (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Op-ed by Veton Surroi: We, the residents of Mitrovica North (Koha)
• Operation Storm Anniversary Highlights Croatia and Serbia’s Bitter Mistrust (BIRN)

International:

• Kosovo War-Era General Elected as Serbian Parliament Official (BIRN)
• Montenegro Govt Faces No-confidence Vote Over Church Deal (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Radio Gorazdevac on fake news: “How did another armed conflict in Kosovo break out on TV Pink?”

• Osmani: Preparations by Serbia to escalate Western Balkans and Kosovo (BBC)
• Kurti: Russia is helping Serbia to destabilize the Balkans (RTK)
• Kurti-Vucic meeting on August 18? (RTK)
• Vucic: I will go to Brussels; I expect nothing from the meeting (media)
• “Moderation is needed, Pristina is doing well by postponing measures” (RTK)
• Kosovo Police issues statement rebutting reports in Serbian media (media)
• Police stops vehicle in the north suspected of smuggling medicaments (media)
• A Dispute Over License Plates Is a Reminder of Deep, Ongoing Kosovo-Serbia Tensions (Time)
• Kosovo: Why is trouble flaring between Serbs and Albanian-led government? (BBC)
• How to stop Serbia spat from spiraling out of control (atlanticcouncil.org)
• How pro-Russian and Russian Telegram channels spread misinformation about Kosovo (The Geopost)
• Hoxhaj: September will shift talks to dialogue on mutual recognition (Nacionale)
• Kosovo Issues Emergency Energy Measures Ahead of Winter (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 2, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Preparations by Serbia to escalate Western Balkans and Kosovo (BBC)
• After the tensions in the north, NATO SG Stoltenberg spoke with Kurti (RTK)
• Hovenier: Decisions on reciprocity were coordinated with internationals (media)
• Kosovo Police Director: We are investigating events in north of Kosovo (media)
• 1,030 new cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Situation in northern Kosovo normalised (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: We will seek in Brussels compromise solution (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic with Botsan-Kharchenko on situation in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Serbia gets new Parliament (N1)
• Dodik: Serbia has right to defend safety of Serbs in Kosovo (N1)
• Sanchez: International law violated by recognition of Kosovo (RTS)
• Hoxhaj: Stance of Spain and Greece ‘buried’ chances of Kosovo to be recognized by five EU member states (Kosovo Online)
• NATO SG speaks with Kurti (Kosovo Online)
• Selakovic spoke with his Saudi Arabian counterpart on regional and geopolitical challenges (Kosovo Online)
• NUNS calls to find out who disables KoSSev portal whenever crisis with Pristina erupt (BETA)
• Kosovo police arrested Serb near Rudare (Kosovo Online)
• Covid-19: 16 new cases in Serbian areas (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Opinion piece by Milenko Vasovic: "Serbia’s Vulin Serves a Purpose, Spewing Hate" (BIRN)

International:

• Manifesta 14: An unflinching look at Kosovo’s fraught history and ambitious future (wallpaper.com)

Svecla: Jarinje and Bernjak border points opened, barricades removed (media)
Opposition boycotts the meeting at the Presidency (Klan)
NATO DSG: KFOR ready to intervene if stability in the north is threatened (media)
EU confirms that Kurti and Vucic have been invited to Brussels (Klan Kosova)
Petkovic: One step away from conflict because of Prishtina (media)
NATO peacekeepers oversee the removal of roadblocks in Kosovo (Reuters)
Serbia, Cyprus discuss Kosovo, Turkey (Cyprus Mail)
Ukrainian MP: Putin's scenario is being repeated in Kosovo (euronews.al)
Social Media Disinformation Spreads Panic About Kosovo-Serbia 'War' (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 1, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We expect all barricades to be removed today (media)
• Kosovo institutions continue coordination on latest developments (media)
• Jarinje, Bernjak remain closed; four cases of mistreatment against Albanians (media)
• Over 1,500 entry-exit documents issued so far at border crossing points (Koha)
• Borrell invites Kurti and Vucic to Brussels to resume dialogue (RFE)
• EU is following events in Kosovo with concern, spokesperson says (media)
• Rama: Kosovo is right in its sovereignty; Vucic mustn’t feed groups in north (media)
• Begaj: Kosovo authorities avoided a serious provocation (media)
• PDK: Unprepared action in the north; government must coordinate with allies (Koha)
• Haradinaj: Security operations must be studied, analysed and explained well (media)
• Majko: Serbia has launched an aggression against the state of Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo government adopts emergency measures in energy supply (Kallxo)
• 513 new cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbs in northern Kosovo spent night at barricades set up in protest (Tanjug)
• Reactions on situation in northern Kosovo, Pristina’s decision (Tanjug, media)
• Visoki Decani: Interethnic relations have never been worse due to attitude of Kosovo authorities (media, social media)
• Obradovic from Dveri Movement to demand session on Kosovo (Danas)
• Dendias on situation in Kosovo: Caution and respect of international law needed (Kosovo Online)
• Kremlin: Rights of Serbs in KiM must be guaranteed with resolution (Kosovo Online)
• Survey: Most people in northern Kosovo unwilling to change licence plates (N1, KoSSev)
• Billboards “Welcome to ZSO” posted in four northern municipalities (Kosovo Online, media)
• Starovic responds to Osmani’s chief of cabinet (Kosovo Online)
• Sanchez: We support Serbia regarding Kosovo (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
• Long vehicles queues at Merdare and Konculj crossing points (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Kosovo police arrested two Serbs, case goes in regular procedure (Kosovo Online, RTS)

International:

• Russia’s war in Ukraine finds echoes in the Balkans (The Washington Post)
• Serb Barricades Still up in North Kosovo Despite Govt Climbdown (BIRN)
• Kosovo delays plan for volatile north as tensions rise near Serbian border (The Guardian)
• Serbia Awards National TV Licences to Pro Govt Stations – Again (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbia Ignores Calls to Free Kurdish Politician on Hunger Strike (Balkan Insight)

• Kosovo agrees to delay new rules after tensions rise at Serbian border (RFE)
• Kurti: Reciprocity will be postponed if all barricades are removed (media)
• Svecla: Decision is being implemented except in Jarinje and Bernjak (RTK)
• Roads in the north of Kosovo remain blocked (RFE/Koha)
• Borell welcomes decision to move measures; “roadblocks to be removed” (media)
• Lajcak welcomes decision to postpone implementation by 1 month (media)
• Osmani: Vucic’s efforts to destabilise Kosovo will fail (media)
• Vela: Repetition of Putin’s playbook by Vucic’s regime (media)
• UNMIK chief Ziadeh calls for calm amid developments in the north (media)
• LDK leader Abdixhiku condemns attack of local Serbs against police (media)
• Turkish FM: Peace, stability in Balkans, always a priority for Turkey (media)
• Russian Foreign Ministry reacts to development in the north (media)
• Nearly 10,000 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 29, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Serbian nationals to be issued entry-exit document for entering Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo on the brink of an energy crisis (RTK)
• U.S. Ambassador Hovenier visits Grand Mosque in Prishtina (media)
• Kosovo elected as member of IASIA management board (Kallxo)
• 1,480 new cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: Pristina main factor of instability (Kosovo Online)
• Office for KiM: New attack on a church near Prizren (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic reacts to Kurti’s statements on dialogue (media)
• Milivojevic: Sanchez’s visit to Belgrade confirmation that Spain will not change stance on Kosovo (RTS)
• Dacic, Vulin met Chinese Ambassador (N1)
• Djuric meets Escobar (RTS)
• Detention of Nikola Nedeljkovic, arrested at Gazimestan, extended for two more months (Radio KIM)
• Stprce: House of Slavisa Vasiljevic searched (Radio KIM)

International:

• Is There a Future for the Kosovo War Truth Commission? (BIRN)
• ‘Communist Informer’ Controversy Hits Albanian Ex-President’s Comeback (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Cruel games of living with dead ones (Radio KIM)
• More than 236.000 unresolved cases in Kosovo courts (Kosovo Online)

• Kurti: Normalization of relations with Serbia, with mutual recognition (VoA, media)
• Prime Minister Kurti meets the Assistant Secretary for Energy, Andrew Light
• Escobar: Kosovo is an extremely good partner in the region (VoA, media)
• Vucic: There is no dialogue in Brussels as long as Kurti is there (Koha)
• EU: IPA agreement enables Kosovo to receive technical and financial assistance (media)
• Over €6 million euros of undeclared cash circulating in Kosovo (euronews.al)
• Justice of Serbia amnesties murderers who committed crimes in Kosovo (RTK)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 28 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Assembly ratifies the energy agreement with the MCC (media)
• President Osmani welcomes adoption of agreement with MCC (media)
• Rizvanolli: More than proud to sign agreement on behalf of Kosovo (media)
• Hovenier happy about the agreement between Kosovo and MCC (media)
• Kusari: Gashi’s statement is speculative; government will not fall (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo Assembly ratifies international agreement for IPA III (Kosovapress)
• UEFA disciplinary body fines soccer club from Kosovo (media)
• Two deaths and 1,603 new cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Constitutive session of new Serbian Parliament scheduled for August 1 (N1)
• Vucic: Why did you abolish KS plates, who did you ask? (Kosovo Online, Danas)
• Survey: 84 percent of Serbian citizens against imposing sanctions on Russia (N1, Nedeljnik, NSPM)
• Visoki Decani Monastery expresses gratitude to KFOR (Radio KIM)
• Covid-19: 23 new cases registered in Serbian areas (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Three days left until August 1: What awaits Serbs in northern Kosovo and what will implementation of new Pristina rules look like? (Kosovo Online)

International:

• High Representative Gives Bosnia Leaders Ultimatum to Change Election Law (BIRN)
• Price Hikes Dent Tourist Industry in Western Balkans (BIRN)
• Montenegro MPs Expected to Condemn WWII Massacre of Serbs as Genocide (Balkan Insight)
• Call to Rebuild Njegos Chapel Divides Montenegro (Balkan Insight)

• U.S., Kosovo Celebrate $202M Energy Grant on Capitol Hill (mcc.gov)
• Osmani: Agreement with MCC seals U.S. support for Kosovo (RTK)
• Kurti: Agreement vital to energy security, social economic transformation (media)
• Gashi: Government may fall in autumn (media)
• Haradinaj indicates Kosovo-Serbia agreement in autumn (Klan Kosova)
• Draft Security Strategy: “Serbia, the main threat” (Radio Free Europe)
• Montenegrin President Djukanovic slams Open Balkan initiative (media)
• Kosovo festival lets artists transform public spaces (Reuters)
• Itinerant exhibit, ‘Ecodesign’, arrives in Kosovo’s capital (ansamed.info)