UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 1, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Biden invites Osmani to second Summit for Democracy (media)
• Kurti: Normalisation of relations with Serbia, with mutual recognition as a central part (Koha)
• Kurti thanks the United Nations agencies for their cooperation (RTK)
• Gjoshi: Article 7 of the agreement, dangerous for Kosovo (Nacionale)
• Entry into force of ETIAS postponed, liberalisation of visas no later than January 1, 2024 (media)
• SPO publishes names of victims that allegedly disappeared or were killed (Koha)
• KLA War Veterans: Another scandal and humiliation (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic to RTS: We can discuss everything, except the recognition and membership of Kosovo in the UN (KiM radio, N1)
• Tadic: This is not agreement offering compromise, but exclusively in Pristina’s favour (Danas)
• Vucic speaks with von der Leyen: Serbia for compromise solution with clearly stated limitations (Kosovo Online)
• The verdict against Todosijevic confirmed in Pristina; It’s contrary to Brussel agreement, says Petkovic (KiM radio, RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Defence lawyer of Todosijevic says he learnt about verdict from media (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian List extends support to Vucic (Kosovo Online)
• Party of Kosovo Serbs calls for resistance against Vucic (Radio KIM)
• Jaksic, Stojanovic on latest meeting in Brussels, fears of Serbs in Kosovo (N1)
• Vucic, Aliyev speak about Brussels dialogue (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Marc Weller: The Brussels Agreement on the Path to Recognition (Koha)

• U.S. welcomes progress on path to Kosovo-Serbia normalization (media)
• Escobar: Discussions about the Association should start immediately (RFE)
• Lajcak, Escobar meet to coordinate steps for next high-level meeting (Koha)
• Lajcak to visit Kosovo soon to discuss implementation modalities (Koha)
• EU spokesperson reveals details of Kurti-Vucic meeting (media)
• Kosovo, Serbia OK EU Plan, ‘But Devil Is in the Details,’ Analysts Say (VoA)
• Countries welcome positive developments between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• U.S. endorses EU plan to ease Serbia-Kosovo tensions (Independent)
• Opposition parties criticise agreement on normalisation plan (BIRN)
• Tensions simmer despite leaders' tacit approval of EU plan (Euronews)
• Serwer: Put away the carrots and take out the sticks (Peacefare.net)
• Bancroft: Serbia-Kosovo - the devil is in the implementation (Euractiv)
• Boycott of Serbian products picks up steam but imports remain high (Euractiv)

Albanian Language Media:

• Government press release on high-level meeting in Brussels (media)
• Osmani: Brussels meeting was a positive moment, but Assembly has the last word (Klan)
• Rama: No one should accuse Kurti of treason; he did the right thing! (Telegrafi)
• “No autonomy” – Bislimi asked about Association at EP committee (Nacionale)
• Gervalla: I see no reason why Spain should not recognise us (media)
• Mandl meets Bislimi and Bajrami, “there remains a long path to go” (Lajmi)
• Von Cramon: This plan will unblock EU membership perspective (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• EU spokesperson: The aim of the dialogue is the normalization of relations, not mutual recognition (Beta, N1)
• Vucic: We will continue talks, EU expects something by March 24 (N1)
• Drecun: We know our red lines; important news from Brussels are different interpretations of what happened (RTS)
• Petkovic: The CSM (ZSO) will not be a non-governmental organisation (RTS)
• Starovic: Nothing has been signed, but also nothing has been rejected in Brussels (RTV, Tanjug)
• Bogdanovic revealed to N1 what is written in the road map that was discussed in Brussels (N1)
• Tadic: Importance of ZSO inflated in order to present defeat in Brussels as victory (Danas, BETA)
• Serbian opposition politicians harshly criticise Vucic over developments in Brussels (media)
• Vucic: Difficult, successful struggle in Brussels, I will respond to all lies (N1)

Opinion:

• A promising day in Brussels, to be followed by non-euphoric days (Koha)
• On the European proposal/agreement: What was (not) lost in translation (KoSSev)

International:

• No Signatures for Big Deal in Brussels, yet (Prishtina Insight)
• Euroactiv: Mixed reactions from Belgrade, Pristina following normalisation of relations meeting

• Serbia, Kosovo leaders back EU plan, top diplomat says (AP)
• Borrell: Kurti, Vucic agreed is no need for further talks on EU plan (media)
• Kurti: I did not sign today, as Vucic was not ready (media)
• Vucic: I insisted for Kosovo to form Association, Kurti refused (Albanian Post)
• EU Proposal - Agreement on path to normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Prior to Borrell, Kurti and Vucic met separately with Escobar (media)
• Abdixhiku: Kurti only has to agree on date of forming Association (media)
• Krasniqi: Kosovo lost recognition, gained association (media)
• Haradinaj: Accepting the French-German plan, a great achievement (media)
• PSD to organise anti-government protest because of Association (media)
• Pacolli: Two big countries will recognise Kosovo soon (Euronews Albania)
• Berlin Process Summit to take place in Tirana (Albanian Daily News)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 27, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Kosovo-Serbia agreement possible before end of year (media)
• State Department: EU proposal, good opportunity for Kosovo and Serbia (RFE)
• Stano: We cannot predict the result, but parties must make compromises (Koha)
• Sarrazin on the European plan: A strong signal for Kosovo and Serbia (Klan)
• Kearns: Why are you looking for entrenchment of ethnic territoriality in Kosovo (Koha)
• Bieber: There is risk of imbalanced agreement (Gazeta Express/Der Standard)
• Mandl: It's time for an agreement (RTK)
• Rama: French-German plan, the best one proposed so far (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• There will be no capitulation, no return to the nineties, says Vucic prior to Brussels trip (media)
• Hill ahead of the meeting in Brussels: I can't say that I expect quick results, Escobar in Brussel (RTS, Tanjug, N1, nova.rs)
• PM Brnabic expects difficult talks in Brussels: It won’t be easy, red lines are clear (FoNet, N1)
• Vucevic: Vucic will almost certainly be under pressure to sign the proposal for Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio, TV Pink, Beta, N1)
• Serbian opposition leaders on Franco-German proposal, meeting in Brussels today (N1, FoNet, media)
• Fatherland: By accepting proposal Serbia opens path for Kosovo to join NATO, creates foundations of “Greater Albania” (KoSSev)
• Stano: Today’s meeting is not last one, Belgrade and Pristina to take step by step (Kosovo Online)
• Serb families robbed in Donja Brnjica (Kosovo Online, Radio KIM)
• Kamberi: A delegation of Albanians from Bujanovac, Medvedja and Presevo in Washington today (FoNet, Danas, Kosovo Online, KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Serwer: How to assess a Pristina/Belgrade agreement (peacefare.net)
• Possible consequences of adoption of Franco-German plan: Recognition? ASM? Withdrawal of bases? Hope? (KoSSev)

International:

• Belgrade-Pristina deal possible by end of year, Kosovo PM Kurti says (Euractiv)

• Serbia, Kosovo leaders to meet about plan to relations on normal footing (RFE)
• Borrell to meet Kurti and Vucic separately, followed by joint meeting (KSP)
• Opposition parties say Kurti will sign Association (Koha)
• Chollet talks to Kurti and Vucic ahead of Brussels meeting (media)
• PSD to hold action in front of govt building before Brussels meeting (media)
• Serbia won’t budge on Kosovo independence ahead of Brussels meet (Euractiv)
• Kosovo media, and regulators, failing on privacy protection (BIRN)
• Kosovo to probe football match fixing claims after French arrests (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• The agreement for "IPA 2023" is signed, Kosovo benefits from 75 million euros (media)
• French ambassador Guerot: Progress is up to Kurti and Vucic (media)
• Turkiye supports Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe and NATO
• Shots fired near Police checkpoint in Zvecan, nine gun cartridges found (Express)
• Tahiri: Osmani, Kurti and Gervalla involved in the Martin Berishaj affair (Reporteri)
• The electricity of Serbs in the north cost Kosovo over 63 million euros in 2022 (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• N1: “Signals both sides will accept proposal, that automatically means the acceptance of CSM, and de facto recognizing Kosovo” (Nova.rs, NMagazin)
• The US expects Vucic and Kurti to be constructive regarding the European proposal (VoA, media)
• The KFOR commander denied Kurti regarding Wagner's presence in Kosovo (Danas, FoNet, KoSSev, KiM radio)
• Lajcak to Tanjug: I expect both sides to accept European plan on Monday (media)
• EU High Representative Borrell address to public on the eve of the anniversary of war in Ukraine (KoSSev)
• Serbia backs UN resolution calling for withdrawal of Russian troops (Beta, N1, NMagazin, KoSSev)
• Defense Minister: Vucic will not give up on the “red lines” (Beta, TV Prva, N1)
• Simic: The President will strongly insist on the CSM (ZSO) in Brussels (RTS)

International:

• EU’s Miroslav Lajcak reveals insider details of French-German Agreement ahead of historic Brussels talks (thepavlovictoday.com)

• Lajcak: Plan will not be negotiated, it is “take it or leave it” (media)
• EU expects Kurti and Vucic to accept proposal on Monday (media)
• Approval of Berlin Process agreement will aid regional integration, benefit Kosovo, experts say (Prishtina Insight)
• Szunyog, Rohde commend Assembly for ratifying agreements (media)
• Who is preventing Serbs in Kosovo from applying for government aid? (RFE)
• Osmani meets Hovenier, discuss developments in Kosovo and region (media)
• Kosovo’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs visits Greece (RTK)
• Pacolli implies two new recognitions of Kosovo (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti on European plan: It will advance Kosovo’s membership in the international system; it contains the de facto recognition (Telegrafi)
• Hoti calls for parliamentary debate before Monday meeting in Brussels (Kosovapress)
• Citaku: Kurti on Monday will sign Association and pledge to give political status to Orthodox Church (media)
• U.S. Ambassador Hovenier’s interview with Klan Kosova
• Eland: Biden will force Serbia to recognise Kosovo independence (media)
• Agreement on recognition of ID cards to be voted in Kosovo and Bosnia today (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lawsuit on expropriation in northern Kosovo filed (Radio KIM)
• Serbian FM Dacic: No new negotiations with Pristina until ZSO is formed (N1)
• Vucic: We will stand by our red lines on Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
• Vucevic: Difficult security situation in Kosovo (RTS, BETA)
• Petkovic: The meeting was organised in the private apartment of a Pristina officer, pure provocation (KoSSev)
• 15 years since Kosovo unilaterally declared independence was marked in Belgrade, and Kurti's advisor was also present (KoSSev, N1, Danas)
• Mali meets with representatives of top US companies (Tanjug)

International:

• ICMM Forgave Millions of Euros’ Debt of ‘Ferronikeli’ Company (Prishtina Insight)

• Tahiri: If Kurti travels to Brussels on Monday, he’ll sign agreement (Dukagjini)
• Another name for the Association? (Radio Free Europe)
• SPO searches apartment of Thaci’s former advisor (media)
• Rohde: We will support, advise and criticize you (media)
• Fajon: Kosovo and Serbia should use this momentum (Dukagjini)
• Will Kurti and Vucic reach an agreement? Hoxhaj answers (euronews.al)
• Opposition sends three laws approved by govt to court (Prishtina Insight)
• Kurti, Osmani welcome ambassadors of Japan and Pakistan (media)
• Vokrri: We do not believe there will be an answer from Brnabic (Klan)
• Ristuccia updates contributing nations on operational situation in Kosovo (Klan)
• Kosovo upholds Serb’s conviction of wartime mistreatment of couple (BIRN)
• Kosovo’s ‘Commander Wolf’ claims prosecution fabricated war charges (BIRN)