UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 7, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti comments on possible appointment of EU special envoy for dialogue (Klan)
• Thaci announces elections for Podujeve mayor (media)
• CEC replaces 11 MPs that took on government posts (media)
• Weber: Kurti will be an uncomfortable interlocutor for EU (DW)
• Veliu: Kosovo to renew efforts to join international organisations (Zeri)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic to Kurti: things are not that simple (RTS)
• Dogovor: Kurti’s populism becomes a problem, he needs to be prime minister of all in Kosovo (RTV KIM)
• Vucic comments on possible appointment of Lajcak as EU special envoy (Tanjug, B92)
• Vucic: Serbia is allowed to choose (B92, Tanjug)
• EU donates additional EUR 138.5 million to Serbia (BETA, N1)

International:

• New Kosovo Prime Minister Pledges to Remove 100% Serbian Import Tariffs (VOA)
• Kosovo Charges Serb Ex-Policeman with War Crimes (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Windy weather causes disruption across Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)

• PM Kurti gives interview to Voice of America
• Abazi: Kurti-led government will overcome all obstacles (Zeri)
• Veseli says 100 percent import tariff should not be lifted (media)
• EU to appoint Lajcak as special envoy for Kosovo – Serbia talks (Lajmi/Blic)
• Agim Veliu resigns post of Podujeve mayor (media)
• Haxhiu visits detention cell of the deceased LVV activist, Dehari (media)
• Varhelyi: Agreement with Kosovo, crucial for Serbia’a path to EU (Zeri)
• Kurti says approval of budget is first challenge of his government (media)
• Braathu: OSCE will continue to support Kosovo (Koha)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 6, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Mustafa: Reciprocity measures carry consequences, government to find solution (Express)
• Haradinaj writes open letter to Kurti asking him not to lift tariff on Serbia (media)
• Haradinaj meets Pompeo at Washington D.C. event (media)
• Kosovo Assembly to have 14 commissions (media)
• PDK boycotts Assembly presidency meeting (Koha)
• New CEC members sworn in (media)
• KP gives details about recent arrest of officials on corruption charges (media)

Serbian Language Media:

EU Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi visits Belgrade, met with Vucic (B92)
President Vucic answers questions on Facebook about Kosovo, Montenegro, economy (N1, B92)
Odalovic: Continuation of dialogue can’t be conditioned that Serbia gives up struggling for what is its own (Kosovo-online)
Rakocevic: Serbs should build their own system of values, regardless of who is in power in Pristina (RTV Puls)
Joksimovic: Serbia to decide on new EU accession methodology (RTS, N1)
Indictment raised against former Serbian MUP member for “war crimes” (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• EU vs. US: Two sides eager for a win (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Kosovo Finds Asian Ally in Land of Rising Sun (Balkan Insight)
• French change of tone boosts Balkan states' hopes of joining EU (Reuters)
• European Commission Unveils Revised Enlargement Strategy (Balkan Insight)
• Ankara Urges Brussels Not To Separate Turkey From Western Balkans In Accession Talks (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo’s energy market: when will the monopoly end? (Prishtina Insight)

• Kurti says he'll replace tariff on Serbia with full reciprocity (media)
• Osmani: Tax to be replaced with reciprocity measures (media)
• Haradinaj: Tariff defended us from Serbia's aggressive policy (Koha)
• Kurti vows to review all govt decisions following Haradinaj’s resignation (Koha)
• Kusari-Lila: Reciprocity with Serbia would benefit Kosovo (Klan Kosova)
• Putin seeks Kosovo-Serbia agreement to be in line with Resolution 1244 (Koha)
• Varhelyi: EU ready to work with Kosovo (Koha)
• Rama meets Pompeo, Kosovo-Serbia dialogue also discussed (media)
• Griep: No action required for extension of Specialist Chambers mandate (Zeri)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 5, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Tax to be replaced with reciprocity measures (Indeksonline)
• State Department: Looking forward to building on our strong partnership (Express)
• Speaker Osmani meets Albanian Ambassador Minxhozi (media)
• Braathu: Kurti's ambition for work could bring about change (RTK)
• New defence minister Quni offers his predecessor cabinet post (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Putin: Russia helps in maintaining stability in Balkans (RTS)
• Djuric: Kurti does not want agreement, but capitulation of Serbia (RTS)
• Rakic: Kurti started mandate with anti-Serbian statements (RTS)
• Varhelyi: To continue dialogue as soon as possible, tariffs must be lifted (RTS)
• Godfrey: Serbia crucial for maintaining stability in the Balkans (BETA, B92)
• Joseph: Election of Kurti should not necessarily move dialogue backward (Radio KIM, VoA)
• European Commission adopts new accession methodology for Western Balkans (N1)

International:

• Advertising the government’s work online (Prishtina Insight)
• EU Proposes Greater Role For Member States In Enlargement Process (RFE)
• Ready Or Not, Albin Kurti Is Kosovo's Man Of The Moment (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• First civil society organisations forum in Pristina (Radio kontakt plus)

• Kurti: We will be a government of servants not rulers (media)
• Kurti after meeting Kosnett: We will keep our friends very close (media)
• Kurti: We are not here to appease appetites but to heal wounds (RTK)
• Osmani responds to criticism over removing Thaci’s picture (media)
• Haradinaj: New government should not lift the tax (VOA)
• Stano: EU special envoy for dialogue is an idea (media)
• Braathu: Resumption of Dialogue, necessary for peace in the region (Koha)
• EU and Western Balkans to be more sincere in enlargement process (Koha)
• Bahtiri seeks fund for construction of houses in the north (Kosovapress/Klan)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 4, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: A new government for a new beginning, let’s work together (media)
• Kurti: Our governance is a mirror for our citizens (media)
• Kurti to pay homage at Adem Jashari memorial complex today (media)
• Borrell welcomes formation of new Kosovo Government (media)
• New Assembly Speaker Osmani meets U.S. Ambassador Kosnett (media)
• Kosovo Women’s Network hails election of women in government (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Jevtic: We are in government, but we are not in coalition (RTS)
• Serbian officials, lawyer react to Kurti’s statements on genocide lawsuit and army (Tanjug, B92, RTS)
• Stano: Special Envoy for Kosovo an idea only, too soon to talk about name (FoNet, N1)
• Godfrey: Forming of government in Pristina opportunity for progress in dialogue (TV Most)
• Grenell's message to Pristina: Revoke tariffs immediately (B92)
• Serbian analysts on new Pristina government (KoSSev)
• Bajrami: Kosovo will no longer be same with Kurti and Osmani at helm (KoSSev)
• Emini: New generation of politicians, expectations high, no ideas on consensus for dialogue (KoSSev)

International:

• Kosovo approves new government, PM vows to be tough negotiator with Serbia (Reuters)
• Kosovo Parliament Backs New Govt Under Kurti (Balkan Insight)
• Trump’s envoy urges Kosovo to drop taxes on Serbian goods (AP)

• Kosovo MPs approve new government led by Albin Kurti (media)
• Kurti to assume post of prime minister today (media)
• Kurti presents governing programme (media)
• LDK's Vjosa Osmani elected Assembly Speaker (media)
• Kurti presents composition of new government of Kosovo (media)
• Thaci: New government to make up for lost time (Koha)
• Veseli to Kurti: You neither recognise Kosovo nor think of living in it (Koha)
• Kurz: Looking forward to working with Kurti (Koha)
• EU Head of Office welcomes formation of new government (media)
• U.S. Ambassador hails formation of new government (media)
• British Ambassador: There is a hard road ahead (media)
• German Ambassador: Germany will support shared goals (media)
• Citaku: Election of five amazing women as ministers is historic moment (media)
• Christoph Heusgen, new EU special representative in Kosovo? (Klan Kosova)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 3, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti presents governing programme (media)
• Kurti presents composition of LVV-LDK government (media)
• Kurti: Change caused by people’s will, will be institutionalised today (Koha)
• Veseli to Kurti: You neither recognise Kosovo nor think of living in it (Koha)
• Selmanaj: AAK will not vote in favor of Kurti government (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: Cooperation with Pristina government depends on it (Tanjug, RTS)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Urge for quick solution of Kosovo issue is highly concerning (Blic, B92)
• Odalovic: Experience of Serbs in Kosovo made them be cautious (RTS)
• Returnees’ safety: Interethnic incidents or crimes against property (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev)
• Serbian elections on April 26, President Vucic’s chief of staff confirms (Prva TV, N1)
• Injured Serb in stable condition, police looking for suspects (Radio kontakt plus)

Opinion:

• The West’s Declining Relevance has Cast the Balkans Adrift (Balkan Insight)
• My Europe: Trump's Balkan deal sends shivers through southeastern Europe (DW)

International:

• Kosovo parties reach long-awaited deal to form government (AlJazeera)
• Kosovo parties form new coalition government long after snap elections (Deutsche Welle)
• Kosovo parties sign long-awaited deal to form government (Reuters)
• US Jails Former Kosovo Consulate Driver for Arms Trafficking (Balkan Insight)
• Hague Prosecutors ‘Quiz Kosovo War Criminal about KLA Leaders’ (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• ‘Une jam vete grua’ puts trans reality center stage (Prishtina Insight)

• Kurti-led government set to be voted today (media)
• Who will be the ministers of the new government of Kosovo (media)
• Serbian List: We do not support Kurti-led government (Zeri)
• “Belgrade doesn’t want an anti-corruption government in Kosovo” (media)
• Osmani rejects Speaker’s post, seeks MIA and Deputy PM post (media)
• LDK elects new deputy leaders, Gashi to head parliamentary group (Telegrafi)
• New govt to inherit series of financial obligations and illegal decisions (Koha)
• Leaders from Albania hail LVV – LDK coalition (Koha)
• Kurti has yet to reach an agreement with the minorities (Epoka)
• Haradinaj to hand over his mandate not through ceremony but via call (RTK)