• COVID-19: 297 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Abdixhiku: Changes in LDK have started and nothing will stop them (media)
• AAK responds to Trajkovic’s vote abuse claims, “a pure lie” (Indeksonline)
• CDHRF: Opposition to vote for Kurti 2 and Osmani as President (media)
• Kosovars take to streets to mark state’s 13th birthday (BIRN)
• The sacrifice for the state that did not deliver justice (Koha)
• Qerkini: Serbia is playing with fate of missing persons (media)
• Where does the fight against corruption begin? (Radio Free Europe)
• Special Court: There is no leak of information (Klan Kosova)
• Bus with Kosovo tourists pelted with stones in Montenegro (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 17, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 297 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Kosovo's political leaders congratulate anniversary of independence (media)
• Blinken congratulates Kosovo on independence anniversary (media)
• MEP Von Cramon calls for visa liberalisation, continuation of dialogue (media)
• German MP Beyer calls on EU to grant Kosovo visa liberalisation (media)
• Elezi: CEC assessing ballot packages from diaspora (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Jarinje: Journalists' protest due to the prevention of the RTS crew to enter Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio, TV Most, Radio Gracanica, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Are Serbs really integrated into Kosovo society? (RTK2)
• Anniversary of Kosovo declaration of independence: Survival of Serbs endangered more than before (Radio kontakt plus)
• Maliqi for Danas: The Serb community still lives either in segregation or in the ghetto (Kosovo Online)
• Beqaj: Kosovo far below expectations of citizens (Radio KIM)
• RTS on February 17 in Kosovo, former Serbian diplomat terms it “failed project” (RTS)
• Lajcak: I still believe that it is possible to find a solution for Kosovo (Danas)
• Vucic to German “Bild” on Kosovo issue, Merkel (B92)
• Senior Duma official says Russia, Serbia have closest possible relations (N1)
• NUNS condemn an obstruction of journalist Dejan Kozul's work in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Canadian Ambassador, Serbian President hope for direct flights (N1)
• Romanian ambassador calls for joint infrastructure and energy projects (N1)

Opinion:

• What were the elections like for Kosovo Serbs? (Kosovo 2.0)
• In Serbia, State’s Ties to Crime Become Hard to Miss (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Historic Images of Kosovo Peace Talks Go on Display (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 277 new cases, three deaths (media)
• World leaders congratulate Kosovo on independence anniversary (media)
• U.S. to encourage new government to continue dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Biden says Kosovo holds ‘special place’ for his family (AP)
• Kurti: I would vote to unify Albania and Kosovo (euronews)
• Vetevendosje does not want to co-govern with PDK, LDK, and AAK (Koha)
• LDK's Mustafa calls LVV's victory damaging for Kosovo (Koha)
• Abazi declares Mini-Schengen dead under LVV governance (RTK)
• Brnabic: Regrettable that dialogue is not Kurti's priority (media)
• International analysts say Kurti may face pressure on dialogue (Telegrafi)
• Albin Kurti has promised to change Kosovo. He has a fight on his hands (euronews)
• Kurti has no limitations for being prime minister, opposition may dispute it (KP)
• Judge at Kosovo court alerts EU diplomats to attempts to undermine court's work (RFE)
• Kosovo Ex-Guerrillas Claim Prosecution is Hampering Their Defence (BIRN)
• Kosovo and Italy sign security agreement for the first time (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 249 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Kosnett meets Kurti and Osmani (media)
• Former KLA leaders face the Special Court (media)
• DiA: February 14 elections in line with democratic standards (Koha)
• KSF in a six-month peacekeeping mission in Kuwait (Express)
• Italian President congratulates Kosovo on 13th anniversary of independence (media)
• Italian Ambassador congratulates LVV (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 28 newly infected in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• UNS: Detention of RTS crew at Jarinje a blow to the freedom of press (Kontakt plus radio, Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Office for KiM: It is inadmissible to prevent journalists to report (Danas)
• Office for KiM: 20 long years there is no justice for the crime in Livadice (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic: No government in Pristina is to the liking of the Serbian people, but Serbs should be in institutions (Kontakt plus radio, TV Pink)
• RTK: Leaders of Bosniak parties on Adrijana Hodzic’s victory, she unavailable for comment (KoSSev)
• Fila: Campaign against Special Court empty story, the West decides, not Albanians (Kosovo Online)
• McCarthy: Not only Serbia to blame for the increasingly difficult accession to the EU, but also Brussels and the United States (Danas, VoA)
• Bilcik: Vote on Serbia report next week (N1)

Opinion:

• Kosovo’s next foreign policy: A wish list (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Will Biden bring changes to the Western Balkans? (EWB)
• Facebook, Twitter Struggling in Fight against Balkan Content Violations (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 219 new cases, two deaths (media)
• CEC updates election results: LVV leads with 47.85 (media)
• Albin Kurti gives interviews to AP, AFP (media)
• Citizens of Kosovo congratulated for holding orderly elections (media)
• Blinken: Kosovo-Serbia agreement requires readiness for compromise (RFE)
• Haxhiu: Dialogue with Serbia not a priority for LVV (Koha)
• Haziri congratulates LVV, Osmani, vows LDK's comeback (Koha)
• Gervalla insists they will have votes to elect new president of Kosovo (Klan)
• "AKR will never contribute to institutional blockade" (Kallxo)
• Ahmeti: Power for LVV came at the worst possible time (media)
• Prelec: Kurti's victory leaves aside dialogue with Serbia (RFE)
• Kosovo’s leftwing party polls record score in elections (FT)
• Kosovo could try to move war crimes court to Pristina, judge warns (euronews)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 15, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 178 new cases, one death (media)
• With 99% of votes counted, LVV stands at 47.88 (media)
• LDK leader Isa Mustafa resigns post (media)
• EU issues statement on the early legislative elections in Kosovo (media)
• Lajcak: I am looking forward to working with new government of Kosovo (media)
• Pacolli: Important to accept election result (media)
• Limaj congratulates Vetevendosje on election result (Klan)
• LDK's Quni congratulates LVV on its victory (media)
• Albanian president, prime minister congratulate Kosovo on democratic elections (media)
• Presevo Valley's Mustafa congratulates Kosovo on free and fair elections (RTK)
• Spahiu: Expected election outcome (Klan)
• ECAP has yet to receive any complaint over election process (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Serbian communities in Kosovo, 41 new cases of coronavirus, one deceased (Kontakt plus radio)
• EU: New authorities of Pristina to continue dialogue with Belgrade (Tanjug, B92, RTV Puls)
• Lajcak: I look forward to cooperation with incoming government in continuing Brussels dialogue (Kosovo-online)
• Vakat coalition gets a large number of votes (RTK2)
• Simic: 95 percent of votes for Serbian List (Tanjug, RTV Puls)
• Reactions after the election (KiM radio)
• Selakovic: We do not agree that the recognition of Kosovo is the only choice (RTV Puls, Vecernje Novosti, Tanjug)
• Blinken congratulates Serbian Statehood Day: ''Comprehensive agreement aimed at mutual recognition, with compromise on both sides'' (Kosovo Online)
• Statehood Day marked in Serbia (N1)
• Bishop Grigorije: I will never be a politician, but will always speak the truth (N1, DW, KoSSev)
• Dusan Janjic: Verdict of Zoran Djokic must be discussed in Brussels (N1)
• Lawyer Pantovic in open letter to Haradinaj-Stublla: You violated the presumption of innocence (KoSSev)
• Russian Deputy PM Borisov visits Belgrade (N1)
• Emini: Vote for LVV is punishment for old ruling elite for how they governed Kosovo (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• The end of an inglorious era (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Ex-Kosovo PM Stages Comeback That May Hurt Serbia Ties More (Bloomberg)
• Serbia Donates Thousands Of Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccine To North Macedonia (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• New doses of Pfizer’s vaccine arrived in Serbia, almost 850.000 people inoculated (Tanjug)

Albanian Language Media:

CEC: 47.08 percent voter turnout in Sunday’s election, Vetevendosje leads
Kurti, Osmani pledge for justice and equal opportunities for all (media)
Vetevendosje on course for landslide victory (Prishtina Insight)
Political leaders react to initial election results (media)
Leaders in the region congratulate Kosovo for successful elections (media)
Kosovo leaders urged people to exercise their right to vote (media)
International officials called on people of Kosovo to go out and vote (media)
Skenderaj mayor boycotts voting in protest of CEC’s stance on security cameras (media)
Allegations of ballot absence reported in several polling stations (media)
Voting irregularities confirmed during Kosovo’s snap elections (BIRN)
Serbia claims two TV crews banned from entering Kosovo (BIRN)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian List: Convincing victory, we won all ten mandates (RTS)
President Vucic congratulates to Serbian List (RTS)
Selakovic congratulates Serbian List, wished happy Statehood Day (RTS)
Petkovic: Policy of Serbian unity has won (RTS)
Djuric: I am looking forward to success of brothers and sisters from Serbian List (RTS)
Capussela: Tectonic change for Kosovo and hope for other movements in the region (KoSSev)
Janjic:"If the Albanian political scene is changing, the autochthonous change of the Serbian one should be allowed" (KoSSev)
Surlic: Kurti and Haradinaj will form government (Sputnik, Kosovo Online)
Office for KiM strongly condemns Pristina’s decision not to allow TV Pink and RTV Kraljevo teams to enter Kosovo (media)
Djordjevic: By calling Serbs to participate in elections Vucic endangered integrity and independence of Serbia (KoSSev)

Opinion:

Political analysts comment on election results (media)

International:

Early results point to Kosovo opposition party win in parliamentary vote (Reuters)
Leftist opposition party heads to victory in Kosovo election (AP)
Kosovo left-wing opposition set to win election: exit polls (DW)
Opposition Vetevendosje Movement eyes landslide win in election (BIRN)
Kosovo election: Exit poll gives victory to left-wing party Vetëvendosje (euronews)
Kosovo voters choose a new parliament amid the pandemic (AP)
Ousted ex-PM wins historic victory in Kosovo election (politico.eu)
Kosovo Anti-Establishment Party Set for Landslide Win (VoA)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 372 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Parties in Kosovo to hold final rallies, as Friday marks last day of election campaign (Euronews.al)
• Selimi and Lumezi meet to discuss the flow of the election process (Koha)
• EU expects transparent election process in Kosovo (RFE, media)
• Vetevendosje and LDK split over DC deal (Prishtina Insight)
• Hoxhaj for Die Presse: My government will be pro-Western (RTK)
• LVV claims it has support of the Socialist International (RTK)
• AAK: Vucic gets anxious from Haradinaj’s candidacy for President (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Putin congratulates Serbia’s National Day: Fraternal friendship (N1, RTS)
• “Political options that offer nothing new” (Radio KIM)
• Krasniqi: Voters expect changes and for the old guard to be removed from power (KoSSev)
• Petkovic: No one was held accountable for murders of Serbs, families have been waiting for justice 20 years (Kosovo-online)
• Office for KiM: Djokic’s verdict trampling on justice and law (RTS)
• “Convicted along with absence of evidence” (Radio KIM)
• HLC: Amendments to indictment in Djokic’s case submitted to court without elaboration (Radio KIM)
• No political pluralism among Serbs in Kosovo (N1)
• Rakic: Pressures from Pristina will not cut our ties with Belgrade (Politika, TV Most)
• Rasic: Our task is to bring back the normalcy (RTK2)
• AstraZeneca vaccine in Serbia soon, confirmation awaited, Brnabic says (N1)

Opinion:

• Dialogue, knowledge and social progress (KiM radio)
• Kosovo can thrive with help from Britain (The Times)
• How does Kurti see the dialogue? (EWB, Novi Magazin)
• Key Challenges for the Incoming Government of Kosovo (Democracy Speaks)

International:

• Kosovo heads for political shake-up in elections on Sunday (Reuters)
• Economy, not Serbia, dominates Kosovo election campaign (AP)
• Geoană: The future of the Western Balkans lies with the Euro-Atlantic community (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• RCC and UNDP: Women’s empowerment is essential to Western Balkans’ efforts to build back better from the pandemic (EWB)
• UNESCO: Pandemic Has Worsened Minorities’ Schooling in Balkans, Central Europe (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 381 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Ministry: Latest COVID measures in line with our recommendations (media)
• Curfew scrapped amid controversy (BIRN)
• NGOs concerned recent Covid rules curtail rights of diaspora voters (media)
• Quint ambassadors call for fair and safe elections (Klan)
• In a video message, Kurti urges citizens to vote (media)
• Hoxhaj: PDK raised Kosovo flag; won’t allow an authoritarian system (media)
• Osmani to youth: Let's turn 14 February into a true celebration (media)
• LDK’s Veliu predicts his party will get 31 MPs, VV 27 and PDK 25 (media)
• Predictions of analysts on T7 about Sunday’s elections (Gazeta Express)
• Abbott: In any negotiation there needs to be a readiness to compromise (Gazeta Express)
• KSC judge turns down applications of alleged Mustafa's victims (media)
• Selimi's defence requests 'JCE' be struck from indictment (media)
• NATO announces opening of a new lower airspace route over Kosovo (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 11, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 344 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Kosovo Government to ease coronavirus rules (media)
• Hoti: LDK's victory becoming increasingly evident (Koha)
• Kurti: Sunday's victory to be a landslide (Klan/RTK)
• Haradinaj: With me as president, KLA will not remain orphaned (RTK)
• CEC has received nearly 15,000 of ballot packages from diaspora (Kallxo)
• FAZ: Major political change expected in Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Von Cramon: France not yet convinced to support visa liberalisation (Albanian Post)
• Former Serb fighter sentenced to 12 years in prison for war crimes (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 37 new cases, one deceased in Serbian communities in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Jevtic: House of Vuckovic family in village of Berkovo looted (KoSSev)
• Billboard “Freedom has a name – KLA” placed in Caglavica, Office for KiM condemns act (KoSSev)
• Zoran Djokic from Pec sentenced to 12 years in prison (RTV Puls)
• Kamberi to Vulin: By insulting minorities in Serbia, you are insulting your own country! (KoSSev)
• Half a million doses of the Chinese vaccine have arrived (B92)
• Petar Petkovic: Only Serbian List guaranties remain of Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• “This is quasi-democratic process in which people are told who to vote for” (Radio KIM)
• Prorokovic: Coordination between the USA and the EU on the issue of Kosovo is not enough for a final solution (Vecernje Novosti, Kosovo Online)
• Milojevic: Organized transportation from Kraljevo for IDPs who will vote in elections (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Good relations with France important for Serbia (N1)

International:

• COVID: Using AstraZeneca vaccine is ‘right thing to do’ for everyone, says WHO expert panel (UN News)
• Kosovo Parties’ Glittering Promises Leave Many Voters Cold (Balkan Insight)
• New air routes established over Kosovo with NATO support (nato.int)
• No “Navalnying” in the Balkans is the uncompromising message from Russia (intellinews.com)
• ‘We had to take care of ourselves’ in COVID-19 vaccine rollout, says Serbian president (euronews.com)
• 2021 Early Elections on Kosovo: Chance for New Beginning? (ifimes.org)