UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 11, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti meets Albanian representatives of Presevo Valley, discuss Serbia's elections (media)
• Kusari-Lila expresses scepticism over progress in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (EO)
• Citaku: Serbia continuing attempts to stain the truth about Kosovo and KLA (media)
• KCB governor complains to a Quint ambassador of political pressure (Kallxo)
• COVID-19: 14 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Escobar: Serbia more and more interested in relations with Europe than with the East (N1)
• Unfulfillment of the Brussels agreement provisions should lead to consequences, says Petkovic (Kontakt plus radio, Kosovo online)
• Serbian security agency refutes allegations on Marty’s murder threats (Tanjug, Danas)
• Office for KiM: Church in Ropotovo robbed (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic reacts to Kusari Lila statement on dialogue (Radio KIM)
• Djuric in White House: We highly appreciate gesture of respect towards Serbia (N1)
• Civil society: KP and EULEX to clarify the murder of Selver Haradinaj (KiM radio)
• Selakovic speaks with Chinese counterpart Wang (Tanjug)

International:

• BIRN Offers Grants to Explore War Crimes Archives (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Rukiqi warns of economic recession threat, calls on Government to take measures (EO)
• Unseen, Unpunished: The Endurance of Economic Violence in the Balkans (Balkan Insight)
• World Bank warns of economic decline in Western Balkans (N1)

• In Greece, Kurti has meetings with Lajcak, Escobar (media)
• Escobar: Western Balkans countries belong in the EU (media)
• Kurti urges Greece to recognise Kosovo (media)
• No Solution in Sight as License Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia Set to Expire (Exit)
• Kosovo Government writes to EU, requests visa liberalisation (Koha)
• Vela, Hoxhaj react after reports that China has shipped weapons to Serbia (media)
• Dodik: Kurti to stop destabilisation of Kosovo (Koha)
• Murder threat against Dick Marty, Swiss politician to Vucic: Stop inciting violence and hatred (media)
• Court suspends ERO's decision on new electricity tariffs (Kosovapress)
• COVID-19: 34 new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Mehaj: Kosovo’s objective is NATO membership (media)
• Operation against Kosovo Police and Customs officers suspected of bribery (media)
• PIK: police superiors who participated meeting with Vucic, will be interviewed (Kallxo)
• Minister Krasniqi: Advancing the rights of communities is a priority (RTK)
• Kosovo union members protest demanding higher wages (media)
• Kosovo Police anti-smuggling operation in the north (Express)
• COVID-19: 26 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic met UNMIK Head, the continuation of cooperation discussed (Tanjug, media)
• Russia suspended from the UN Human Rights Council; Serbia voted yes (media)
• Serbia to be exempted from EU sanctions on Russian oil, gas (Tanjug)
• Serbian PM Brnabic met the new UNMIK chief Ziadeh (Tanjug, media)
• Escobar, Lajcak and Cadez at the economic forum in Delphi (KiM radio, FoNet)
• Petkovic: Kurti again trying to intimidate the Serbian people in Strpce (KiM radio)

Opinion:

• The War in Ukraine and the Western Balkans (visegradinsight.eu)

International:

• Did Serbia’s Elections Signal a Further Tilt to the Right? (Balkan Insight)
• Opinion poll: Leading EU countries want Ukraine more than Western Balkans (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• International Roma Day (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• KWN presents report on gender-based discrimination and labour in Kosovo (media)
• Food prices hit record high in March, U.N. agency says (Reuters)

• Lajcak: It is urgent to reach an agreement on license plates (media)
• Vela: New dynamic in dialogue after elections in Serbia (Klan Kosova)
• Osmani finds Russia's influence in Balkans disturbing (ABC Australia, media)
• Kosovo NGOs, EU, US blast proposal for top prosecutor (Exit)
• President Osmani meets U.S. Ambassador Hovenier (media)
• Gervalla to represent Kosovo at UN Security Council session on April 20 (media)
• Krasniqi: PDK supports election reform (media)
• Konjufca indicted for releasing teargas in Assembly while in opposition (media)
• Will China challenge the US on the Kosovo issue? (The Diplomat)
• Kosovo, Bosnia prepare their NATO membership request (Greek City Times)
• Albanian President decrees laws on Kosovo agreements (Albanian Daily News)
• COVID-19: 27 new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• U.S., German ambassadors react to nomination of new Chief State Prosecutor (media)
• Prime Minister Kurti participates in the Delphi Economic Forum (Klan)
• Kurti and Dzaferovic talk about cooperation between Kosovo and BiH (RTK)
• Kusari-Lila comments on why Serbian elections weren’t held in Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Serbian List MPs return to Kosovo Assembly (Zeri)
• Haziri: If government is ready, we can go to new elections (media)
• COVID-19: 27 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic met UNMIK chief: Human and political rights of Serbs in Kosovo drastically regressed (Kontakt plus radio, media)
• Vucic scores 81 pct of Kosovo Serbs’ votes on Sunday presidential elections (Beta, N1)
• How did the Serbian citizens in Kosovo vote: Turnout severely affected by impractical voting arrangement (New Social Initiative)
• Vucic to respond to opposition call for talks on new vote in Belgrade (Danas, N1)
• ODIHR chief observer notes positive and negative aspects in elections (Beta, RTV, N1)
• Abbott: I regret the refusal of the Government of Kosovo to hold Serbian elections (Kosovo Online, RTK2, TV Most)
• Von der Leyen asks Sofia to enable start of EU talks with Skopje (Beta)
• Dzaferovic: Without consent on the recognition of Kosovo in BiH (RTV, Kosovo Online)

International:

• EU, Civil Society, Criticise Kosovo’s Choice of Chief Prosecutor (Balkan Insight)
• BIRN Fact-Check: Can Kosovo reopen its border deal with Montenegro? (BIRN)
• UN to Vote on Expelling Russia from Human Rights Council (VoA)

Humanitarian/Development:

• 62% of citizens experienced worsening of socio-economic situation due to COVID-19, report suggests (media)

• Abbott: I believe that dialogue should be part of a broader context (RTK)
• Kosovo President criticises Open Balkan, Serbia, and Albanian indifference (Exit)
• Szunyog disappointed with KPC’s nomination for new chief prosecutor (media)
• Head of EU Office Szunyog responds to President Osmani criticism for bias (Express)
• President Osmani receives credentials of first Israeli Ambassador (media)
• Thaci's appeal against continued detention rejected (Koha)
• Social Democrats sue Kurti: He was in the KLA, but not a soldier (euronews.al)
• Still hope for an Albanian to sit at the Serbian Parliament, says Kamberi (euronews.al)
• Five KSF members experience poison-like symptoms (media)
• COVID-19: 29 new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Szunyog: Normalisation agreement with Serbia, first step towards EU membership (EO)
• Five EU ministers seek urgent debate on Western Balkans (RFE)
• Osmani begins tour of Kosovo municipalities (media)
• Gara: Increased dynamics in the excavation process is expected (RTK)
• Haradinaj: I invite the prosecution to look into recent electricity bills (media)
• KPC nominates Blerim Isufaj to the post of chief prosecutor (media)
• COVID-19: 29 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Final elections results in Serbia postponed due to repeat voting (media)
• Von Cramon, Petkovic on elections in Serbia (media)
• Functions are more important than citizens (KiM radio, FoNet, N1)
• Putin and Vucic by phone about Ukraine, gas, Serbia’s EU path (N1, media)
• Hungarian FM: Regional stability can be secured only by Serbia’s EU membership (FoNet, N1)

Opinion:

• Bieber: Rightists growth suits Vucic to present himself to West as moderate (VoA, N1)

International:

• Borrell and Varhelyi joint statement on the Serbia general elections (ec.europa.eu)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Employment and departure of young people problems of Serbs and Albanians in the villages of Banje and Suvo Grlo (KoSSev)
• Almost everyone now breathing polluted air, warns WHO (news.un.org)

• Osmani to EP President Metsola: Kosovo has proven itself as a reliable ally (media)
• Kosovo and Israel ready to expand and deepen cooperation (media)
• Bislimi and team present level of dialogue agreements' implementation (Klan)
• Gervalla kept secret meeting with al-Maliki, Palestine demands Kosovo remove embassy from Jerusalem (Express)
• Kamberi requests repeat of elections in Presevo Valley (media)
• Von Cramon on Serbian elections: Denying Albanians the right to vote unacceptable (Express)
• Albanians risk losing representation in Serbian Parliament (euronews.al)
• Kosovo, Bosnia call for NATO membership as war rages in Ukraine (Aljazeera)
• Kosovo commemorates 98 slain in Rezalle massacre in 1999 (AP)
• PM Kurti urges fight against discrimination towards Roma community (Koha)
• Rama and Haradinaj leave aside disagreements, meet in Tirana (Kallxo)
• Kosovo health care staff protest over working conditions (euronews.al)
• COVID-19: 20 new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• UN: Kosovo on the Security Council agenda in April (Deutsche Welle)
• Osmani hails the resolution calling on Islamic countries to recognize Kosovo (media)
• Kurti: Rezalla massacre, proof of Serbian genocide in Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo and Albania discuss coordination possibilities (RTK)
• Israeli Ambassador Tamar Ziv visiting Kosovo today (Express)
• Serb judges in Mitrovica court return to work after 7-day boycott (Betimi per Drejtesi)
• EULEX: Merdare and Mutivode Common Crossing Points, fully operational (media)
• Weidinger: Austria firmly supports Kosovo's EU integration and visa liberalisation (Telegrafi)
• Mustafa: If Association is formed, it will be based on 2013 agreement (Teve1)
• COVID-19: 20 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• The US welcomed the election results and reminded that Serbia condemned the war in Ukraine (VoA)
• Serbian election commission releases preliminary results for parliament (N1, media)
• Borrell, Bilcik, Sheikh Mohammed congratulated Vucic on winning the election (B92, NMagazin)
• Ambassador of Palestine to Serbia: We are not changing our position on the issue of Kosovo (Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Petkovic: ''Kurti to save his nerves because Vucic will defend Serbian interests in Kosovo and Metohija for a long time'' (KoSSev)
• International election observers warn of shortcomings (N1)
• Ukraine crisis won’t spill over to W. Balkans, Biden’s envoy says (Hina, N1)

Opinion:

• On the track of the proposal to abolish the visa regime between BiH and Kosovo (oslobodjenje.ba)

International:

• Regional Policy Forum about anticorruption in the Western Balkans will take place on 7 April in Skopje (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• ''Howdy, neighbor'' series – The lives of Serbs in Cernica (KoSSev)

• Osmani: Kosovo stands determined on its Euro-Atlantic path (media)
• Prime Minister Kurti’s interview with CNN
• Osmani: Kosovo remains committed to joining NATO family (media)
• Escobar: Ukraine crisis renews Europe’s interest in the Balkans (media)
• Kurti: KSF a modern force for security in Kosovo and the region (media)
• EU expects Serbia to be more constructive in dialogue after elections (Koha)
• Haxhiu: Everyone’s wealth can be checked (media)
• Kosovo criticised for slow progress in prosecuting war crimes (BIRN)
• COVID-19: 27 new cases, no deaths (media)