UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 10, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Albanians of the Valley have their unwavering support (media)
• Kurti: All evidence of crimes committed during war is being collected (RTK)
• Lajcak meets with DiCarlo, discuss the Western Balkans (ekonomia)
• EC: Progress in dialogue, condition for financial benefits for Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Rohde urges Kosovo to take bold decision: the agenda in CoE can change (Koha)
• Osmani in Texas visits the 'Bell' helicopter company (RTK)
• Kosovo inaugurates General Consulate in Poland (media)
• Conversion of illegal driver’s license to RKS, Italy congratulates Kosovo (Koha)
• Biserko: Serbia "Trojan Horse" of Russia and China in Europe (Albanian Post)

Serbian Language Media: 

• EU: Serbia and Kosovo risk missing out on funds from the Growth Plan due to lack of dialogue (RFE, KiM radio)
• Joint statement of presidents Vucic and Xi: Objecting imposition of solution on Kosovo issue and call for compliance with Resolution 1244 (Kosovo Online, Novosti)
• Djuric: Awarding Kosovo membership in Council of Europe would be an international scandal (Kosovo Online, euronews.rs)
• Serbian List: Displaying and posting national symbols is an internationally recognized right, even according to the Kosovo constitution (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Novosti daily on new incriminating video in Leposavic municipality (Kosovo Online)
• Two Serbs arrested at Jarinje crossing point (KoSSev)
• RCC: The Western Balkans citizens' support for EU membership has declined significantly (Beta, KiM radio)
• KFOR gets new Chief of Staff (N1)
• Vucic receives UAE defense minister (Tanjug)
• Djuric meets ambassador of Mexico, expresses gratitude for support on Kosovo issue (Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti on Europe Day: Kosovo should join EU to contribute even more (media)
• Kastrati: Kosovo expected to have 1.5 million residents (KTV)
• Rohde: Kurti was aware of our positions on the Association (media)
• Reuten: Kosovo deserves to become a member of the Council of Europe (media)
• UK Ambassador to OSCE calls for establishment of Association (Klan)
• Knaus: The text is next week. Will Germany fail it? (media)
• Serwer: Farewell to failure (media)

Serbian Language Media:
• Europe Day marked in Belgrade (Tanjug, media)
• Serbia marks WWII Victory Day (Tanjug)
• Lajcak met Guterres, discussed situation in Western Balkans (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Djuric: Strengthening ties with US among Serbia's foreign policy priorities (media)
• Djuric thanks his Cypriot counterpart for consistent stance on Kosovo (Kosovo Online, media)
• Brnabic: Xi's visit additional impetus to relations with China (media)
• FSS: Serbia and Albania jointly applied to host European Championship for junior football players (Kosovo Online, B92)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani congratulates first woman president of RNM: I am looking forward to deepening cooperation (RTK)
• Gervalla: Kosovo supports Ukraine unconditionally, even though it does not recognize us (Albanian Post)
• Kosovo not on next week’s agenda of Council of Ministers (Koha)
• Belgian presidency in favor of lifting measures against Kosovo (media)
• Basha: Europe committed to keeping Kosovo out due to lack of favors to Serbia (Reporteri)
• Serwer: The U.S. should reevaluate its policy towards Serbia (RTK)
• Hoti: When Kosovo coordinates with its allies, it becomes member, it is not conditioned (media)
• Hoxhaj: Kosovo without a single recognition in four years (media)
• Haxhiu: Kurti divided Albanians in North Macedonia, unified Macedonians around VMRO (ekonomia)

Serbian Language Media:

• Hasani: The French and the Germans conditioned Kosovo because of distrust towards Kurti (KiM radio, KoSSev, Beta)
• Press Council of Kosovo rejected the UNS appeal regarding the RTK's repeated fake news (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio, Kosovo Online)
• Giafreut: Focus on expansion (N1, RTS)
• Blakaj on European of the Year award – Confirmation that we are doing right (Radio KIM)
• Vitia with the managers of the health sector in the North, appointed in the Kosovo system (KoSSev)
• Vucic congratulates new North Macedonian President on election win (Tanjug)
• Mali: Xi's visit opens new chapter of cooperation and Serbia's economic growth (Tanjug, media)

International:

• Russian Hackers Accused of Cyberattacks on Kosovo Government Websites (Prishtina Insight)
• North Macedonia's Right-Wing Nationalists Win Both Presidential And Parliamentary Polls (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:
• Escobar: There are concerns Kosovo might not have votes for CoE (RFE)
• Italy: Only sending draft to court includes Kosovo on Committee’ agenda (Express)
• Association – an obstacle on Kosovo’s path toward CoE (Radio Free Europe)
• O’Brien, Escobar and Lajcak coordinate strategies for Kosovo and Serbia (Koha)
• Osmani: Kosovo, success story of values of freedom and democracy nurtured by U.S. (media)
• Osmani meets Bush, “staunch champion of Kosovo” (media)
• Online platform for communities inaugurated (media)
• Kurti: Reducing administrative burden, important step for all citizens to have equal opportunities to benefit from government services (media)

Serbian Language Media:
• Italian ambassador: Not the time for Kosovo to join the Council of Europe; the A/CSM is condition (N1, Tanjug)
• O'Brien, Escobar and Lajcak: USA supports dialogue leading to productive relations (Kosovo Online)
• Switching to Kosovo driver's licenses: Additional costs, Serbian health certificate unacceptable (N1, KoSSev)
• Vucic: China to back Serbia on all issues raised in UN (Tanjug)
• Vucic, Xi sign joint statement, 28 agreements on cooperation exchanged (Tanjug, media)
International Media:

• Gabriel Escobar Unveils The Message Miroslav Lajcak Will Convey To Belgrade And Pristina From Foggy Bottom (thepavlovictoday.com)
• Kosovo PM Hits Out At 'Conditions' To Join European Rights Body (barrons.com)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, 8 May, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Conditioning membership in CoE with the Association is absurd (media)
• Hacker: Linking Kosovo CoE membership with Association, grave mistake (media)
• Kurti on the Dinar: I cannot put myself above the Central Bank Governor (Express)
• Zulfaj: EU must lift measures in order not to damage its credibility (EO)
• Kosovo Police, EULEX and KFOR conclude “Golden Sabre 2024” exercise (KSP)
• Police find camera on mountain road on eastern border with Serbia (RFE)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Vucic: We are making history today, Xi's visit historic (Tanjug, media)
• Xi Jinping: China supports Serbia’s efforts to preserve territorial integrity regarding Kosovo issue (Tanjug)
• Rajic: We can expect China's support both on the issue of Kosovo and on the issue of the Resolution on Srebrenica (Radio Mitrovica sever, RTS)
• RTK website changed name of page in Serbian, instead of “RTK2” it now says “Serbian” (Radio KIM)
• The State Department had insight into the draft amendments of the Montenegro to the resolution on Srebrenica (KiM radio, Beta, N1)

Opinion:

• EU’s ‘Foreign Agent Law’ is Misguided (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Berlin hints at insistence of Serb association in Kosovo before CoE membership (Euractiv)
• Austria plans to deport convicts to Kosovo (politico.eu)
• China's Xi Arrives In Belgrade In Push For Greater Influence In Europe (RFE)
• Montenegro Accused of Kowtowing to Serbs on UN Srebrenica Resolution (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani meets  U.S. ambassador to UN, talk about advancement of Kosovo in international arena(media)
Stano: Borrell's report on lifting of EU measures towards Kosovo,  finalizing (Klan)
Kosovo not on agenda of CoE Committee of Ministers’ meeting  (Telegrafi)
Lajcak and President Biden's assistant discuss Western Balkans (RTK)
Osmani: Kosovo, special guest at US-Africa Summit (RTK)
Russian hackers attacked websites of Kosovo institutions (media)
Gervalla: Russia is carrying out hybrid attack on Kosovo (RTK)
Maqedonci: Serbia is continuing with aggressive approach towards Kosovo (Reporteri)
Austria also wants to send prisoners to Kosovo (media)
Kosovo not in CoE Committee agenda, Musliu-Shoshi: To Kurti, propaganda is important (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived to Belgrade, welcomed by Vucic at airport (Tanjug, RTS, media)
Mali welcomes Chinese ministers at Belgrade airport (Tanjug)
Djuric: Full membership in the EU remains Serbia's strategic priority (Kosovo Online, media)
Petkovic to continue heading Office for KiM (RTS, Tanjug, media)
Lawyer: Most important witnesses in Trajkovic’s case may be heard in May (Radio KIM)
UNS laid wreaths at place where Chinese journalists were killed in NATO bombing (Radio KIM, media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Germany expects from Kosovo “other concrete steps” on Association (Koha)
• France: Sending draft statute to court would secure membership support (Koha)
• France calls for postponed decision on Kosovo CoE membership (Albanian Post)
• Osmani: U.S. decisive role for Kosovo’s fate; U.S. in DNA of our success (media)
• 1,204,560 citizens registered in Kosovo so far (EO)
• Govt enables Serbs to replace drivers’ licenses with Kosovo licenses (media)
• Kosovo Police installing cameras in Zvecan municipality today (Indeksonline)
• Numerous graffiti inciting hatred in Mitrovica North (Kosovapress)
• Osmani meets President of Liberia, discuss furthering cooperation (media)
• Lajcak meets Escobar, “in-depth discussions” (media)
• Kurti meets Jashari, praises him for “unprecedented growth” of KSF (media)
• Pahor won’t give interviews until completion of EUSR selection (media)
• Albanian President meets Pope Francis, mentions Kosovo’s progress too (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• For Kurti, Serbs killed in domestic violence are "proof" that violence against Serbs is propaganda from Belgrade (KoSSev)
• Petkovic: By criminalizing north, Kurti justifies violence against Serbian people (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, social media)
• SL: Ethnically motivated attacks on Serbs are not propaganda (KiM radio)
• Surveillance cameras installed in Zvecan (Radio kontakt plus)
• Xi in Belgrade on anniversary of embassy bombing (N1)
• Kosovo families dependent on remittances (N1)

International:

• Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans adopted (consilium.europa.eu)
• FDI Alone Won’t Close Gap Between Balkan and EU Economies (BIRN)
• ‘A Special Voice’: How a Much-Loved Kosovo Singer Was Silenced Forever (BIRN)
• 53 Civilians Were Massacred In This Home In Kosovo. Now It's A Museum (RFE)
• Chinese-Made Surveillance Cameras Are Spreading Across Eastern Europe, Despite Security Concerns (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti meets ambassadors of QUINT, asks for their support in CoE (Klan)
Kurti meets with Davenport and Sprecher, talk about the Control Office (media)
Kurti: Serbia propagandizing violence against Serbs in Kosovo, facts say the opposite (Koha)
O'Brien and Escobar to  meet this week with Lajcak (Koha)
Osmani: The MCC is bringing important benefits to the people of Kosovo (media)
Gervalla in Warsaw, participates in the "Defence24 Days" conference (media)
Maqedonci: Serbian security structures are supporting terrorist groups (RTK)
Prosecution requests deportation of Russians arrested in Jarinje (media)
Police investigating suspected case of attempted murder in the north (RTK)
Police reports on an incident against Kosovo Police and U.S. KFOR in Leposavic (RTK)
Citaku on reactions to Escobar: Political misery (media)

Serbian Language Media:

For now, Kosovo's admission not on the agenda of the CoE's May meeting (NMagazin, Beta, N1)
Petkovic: Serb municipalities backbone of Brussels Agreement (Tanjug, Blic, Radio Mitrovica sever, N1)
Vucic met Chinese ambassador ahead of Xi's visit (Tanjug, RTS, media)
Djuric: New Serbian government looking to future (Tanjug, TV Pink)
Lavrov spoke with Brnabic, Djuric, and Dacic about the situation in Kosovo, BiH (Kosovo Online)
State Department denies claims Escobar dismissed (N1, Tanjug)
RTK2: The channel in Serbian language does not have a website, a Facebook page, or a YouTube channel under its authority (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, 3 May, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Press freedom is a basic human right, crucial for democracy (media)
• US Embassy: A strong democracy encourages a free press (media)
• Reactions to Reporters without Borders latest report on Kosovo (media)
• Nissen: Kosovo’s membership in NATO will become reality (media)
• Kurti meets Yildirim, thanks his group for choosing to invest in Kosovo (media)
• Osmani joins dedication ceremony of U.S. embassy conference rooms (media)
• Petkovic says Kosovo authorities rejected his visit request (RFE)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Vucic: I believe in new government, challenging times are ahead (Tanjug)
• Yet another illegal expropriation in the north of Kosovo? New road through Banov Do village, residents say they did not need it at all (Radio kontakt plus, Alternativna)
• Vucic: Eswatini's support especially important amid pressure on Serbia (Tanjug)
• Kosovo drops 19, Serbia 7 points on RSF Press Freedom Index (KoSSev)
• Matic: Commission for investigating murders of journalists in Kosovo must have an international mandate (Kosovo Online)
• A year of pain: Serbia marks school shooting anniversary (N1, media)

Opinion:

• Mujanovic: The Case for Admitting Kosovo to the Council of Europe (media)
 
International:

• An Artist From Kosovo Takes Flight (The New York Times)
• Serbian Media ‘Lost Public Trust’ Amid School Shooting Hysteria (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:
• Osmani meets Hovenier: EU’s measures are unfair and must be removed (media)
• Stano: EU decides on lifting of measures, not government of Kosovo (media)
• Government reacts: De-escalation took place, measures must be lifted (media)
• Zulfaj: By not lifting measures against Kosovo, EU loses credibility (RTK)
• British Parliament approved Alicia Kearns' motion for Kosovo (media)
• Reporters without Borders latest report on Kosovo (media)
• Kurti’s “digital army” on the frontline against reporters (RFE)
• Bajqinovci: Serbia is training 400 extremists in Kopaonik (KTV)
• Ministry changes article on marriage, doesn’t say when govt will vote on it (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:
• Parliament elects new Serbian Government (Tanjug)
• Stano: Serbian Government expected to show commitment to EU (N1)
• Stano: EU members, not Kosovo politicians, decide on abolition of punitive measures (Kosovo Online, KoSSev)
• SRSG Ziadeh meets Bishop Teodosije in Gracanica (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Kosovo Assembly on State Department report, opposition harshly criticized government over corruption (KoSSev, Radio KIM)