UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 19, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Head of RTK Board and member resign their positions (RFE)
OSCE calls on Assembly to elect new RTK board members as high priority (media)
Kurti: Report shows Kosovo ranks 2nd in Emerging Europe (media)
Police, Kosovo Security Force and PM Kurti targeted by fake news (RFE)
Opening of Iber Bridge “for several hours a day” as the first phase? (Nacionale)
KSF supporting civilian authorities in managing fires (media)
Kurti: Fascinating excavations taking place in ancient city of Ulpiana (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: I expect KFOR to keep its word that without agreement there will be no opening of Ibar bridge (Kosovo Online, media)
Group of women from north met KFOR representatives, thanked them for swift reaction (Kosovo Online, Alternativna.com, social media)
K-Serbian civic leaders question validity of Kurti’s Ibar bridge consultation (KoSSev)
OSCE: Appointment of new members and director at RTK should be transparent and merit based (Kosovo Online, social media)
Rukiqi: False claims of successful development of Kosovo, Kurti discouraged foreign investors (Kosovo Online)
Serbian officials accuse West of backing protests amid controversy (N1)

Opinion:

Is Driving Across the Iber Bridge worth this much trouble? (Sbunker, social media)

International Media:

Kosovo, North Macedonia Book Collaboration Challenges LGBTQ+ Stigma (BIRN)
EU Warns Kosovo as Mitrovica Bridge Standoff Goes On (Balkan Insight)
Culture Wars: The Fate of Churches in Kosovo (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

EU: Kosovo will remain alone if it does not listen to its friends (media)
LVV proposes February 2 as date of elections (Koha)
Abazi: Kurti is using the Iber Bridge for pre-election campaign (ekonomia)
Haliti: Kurti often acts like a child in politics, seeks attention by creating problems (ekonomia)
About six thousand residents converted their driver's licenses (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Situation on main Ibar River bridge unchanged, Carabinieri, KFOR and EULEX patrols present (Kosovo Online)
Drecun: Kurti needs bridge for political reasons, not for traffic (Kosovo Online, Kurir)
Gogic: Relations between Kosovo and Quint in crisis, bridge has become problem between Kurti and international community (Kosovo Online, Danas)
Kosovo police launches “I Am a Kosovo Policeman“ initiative amid bridge tensions (KoSSev)
Kosovo companies are branching out to the north (RFE, media)
Vukadinovic: Kurti achieved in Kosovo “practically everything” (Radio KIM, KoSSev, Nova.rs)
Anti-lithium mining activist says protests will continue (N1, Danas)

International:

Europe’s Electric Car Industry Lines Up for Lithium from Serbia (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

Government officials ask Lajcak why EU changed its stance on Iber bridge (Koha)
Patel: USA will do "everything" to protect American soldiers in Kosovo (Albanian Post)
Kearns: It's unfair to punish Kosovo for opening a bridge, ignoring Banjska (Koha)
Kupchan: Kosovo has right to unilaterally open Iber Bridge, but better to resolve issues through dialogue (Kallxo)
MoJ: Serbia's request on Banjska case illegal, we demand international investigation (media)
Serbia demands an explanation from North Macedonia on Ramadani's escape (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

Main bridge: Graffiti and murals created by Serbs and Albanians to cover hate messages have been painted over (Alternativna.com, social media)
Arsenijevic reacts to Osmani’s remarks about EU official (social media)
5.982 requests for conversion of Serbian driver’s licences submitted thus far (Radio Mitrovica Sever)
Former KLA members welcome Ramadani’s escape from detention, one claims he is in Kosovo (KoSSev)

Opinion:

Gazivode, a Lake of Cooperation or Conflict (Kosovo Online)

International Media:

Kosovo and Serbia Trade Blows Over Deadly Banjska Attack Probe (Balkan Insight)
Vedant Patel: U.S. Will “Not Hesitate” To Protect American Troops In Kosovo (The Pavlovic Today)

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: EU spokesperson's statements are racist, Serbia has nothing to do with Iber Bridge (media)
Osmani on date of elections: a week more or less, is not a big difference (RTK)
CEC approves Regulation on election campaign, monitoring and financial declaration (media)
Kurti met head of CoE office in Kosovo, Mary Ann Hennessey (RTK)
Former KLA member Blerim Ramadani escapes from house arrest (media)
Blerim Ramadani's measures were changed, from house arrest to return to custody (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

“Those are situations we heard about from our mothers” – Andric Rakic on unpleasantries women in north face lately (Danas, Vreme)
Dacic: “Escape of terrorist and war criminal Ramadani scandalous” (Kosovo Online)
Vucevic: Opening of Ibar Bridge endangers security of Serbs, makes dialogue meaningless (Kosovo Online)
Ibar Bridge reopening faces local opposition, poll indicates (KoSSev)
Work continues on the main Ibar Bridge (KiM radio, Radio Mitrovica sever)
Shahini: EU sanction threats are real, consequences could be catastrophic (Kosovo Online)
Vulin meets Lavrov, Patrushev in Moscow (N1)

Humanitarian/Development:

‘We Manage Somehow’: Kosovo’s Pensioners Struggle as Cost of Living Rises (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Lajcak: Claims that EU is against opening of Iber Bridge, misleading (Koha)
• The U.S. has shared with Osmani risk assessments for American soldiers (Kallxo)
• EU says Iber Bridge deal should be fully implemented, but requires restraint (Klan)
• Rohde supports KFOR's red lines on bridge over Iber river (Koha)
• EULEX does not have constant static security presence on the Iber bridge (Klan)
• Labour Friends of Kosovo and Western Balkans pro opening of bridge, but caution on negative impact (media)
• Kosovo does not accept Radoicic’s prosecution in Serbia (Klan)
• Elshani: After the deadline for conversion of drivers' licences, fines will be imposed (RTK)
• Government of Kosovo decides to host more Ukrainian journalists (RFE)
• Miners cancel protest announced for Thursday (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Media: A former member of the KLA, wanted by Serbia, escaped from house arrest in North Macedonia (N1, Beta)
• German Ambassador backs KFOR’s stance on the Ibar bridge (KoSSev)
• Sutanovac: KFOR will not move from the Ibar Bridge even if the Pristina government decides to open it (Kosovo Online)
• Colonel Rocco Mundo visited Visoki Decani monastery (KoSSev)

International Media:

• Balkans: We urge Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to refrain from attacking journalists (europeanjournalists.org)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Opening Iber Bridge is not against anyone and even less against our partners (Klan)
Bislimi on opening of Iber Bridge: It is not unilateral decision nor unresolved issue of dialogue (Klan)
Krasniqi: The EU should tell Kosovo why it has changed its position on the Ibri bridge (media)
Tahiri: Opening Iber bridge to hide Association, Kurti has prepared draft statute (Reporteri)
Iber bridge ‘armored’ by KFOR and EULEX vehicles (Klan)
After request of MFA, Orban's advisor corrects post where Kosovo was presented as part of Serbia (Albanian Post)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucevic: Kurti plans to violently merge northern and southern parts of Mitrovica (Radio KIM)
Petkovic: Pristina did not fulfill obligations related to bridge opening, Kurti and Bislimi want conflicts only (Kosovo Online, social media)
EULEX on the Ibar bridge situation: A new unit formed; reconnaissance patrols are being carried out (euronews.rs, Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
Milenkovic from NSI says people in the north want bridge to remain closed (Kosovo Online)
Mijacic: If Kosovo Government opens bridge, EU will not lift punitive measure, nor make first installment from Growth Plan (Kosovo Online, social media)
Gracanica: The mayor initiated several court cases against individuals; Central institutions sued the Municipality for the decision to display the Serbian flag (KiM radio)
Associations from Kosovo announce the blockade of administrative crossings if the arrested Serbs are not released (NMagazin, N1, Beta)
Trajkovic: Arrest of Radoicic being prepared, Belgrade requested material on Banjska from Kosovo (N1, NMagazin, Danas)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: The Iber bridge must be opened, it is not a matter of discussion (media)
• Kurti informs COMKFOR about works and results of report on Iber Bridge (media)
• KFOR on Iber bridge: Unilateral actions can create tensions (RTK)
• Hovenier: Opening Iber bridge could endanger American soldiers (RFE, media)
• Durmishi: The bridge is stable, durable and functional (RTK)
• Haradinaj: Anyone who endangers U.S. soldiers in Kosovo will be treated as an enemy, will be in prison or will run away and hide (media)
• Osmani talks with head of CEC about preparations for date of new elections (media)
• Trepca miners to protest in front of government building on Thursday (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• KFOR calls for restraint, says decision on Ibar River Bridge to be made in dialogue (Kosovo Online, media)
• Petkovic: Kurti only wants war and chaos; I hope this is clear to everyone (Kosovo Online, media)
• Gogic: By opening Ibar Bridge Kurti would get into conflict with international community (N1, Kosovo Online)
• Hovenier: Opening the bridge could endanger American soldiers in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic: “Haxhiu’s monstrous statement glorifies terrorism” (N1, BETA, KoSSev, media)
• Leposavic mayor hosts “Illyrian Eagles” promoting “Greater Albania”, says they brought warmth to our “red-and-black municipality” (KoSSev)
• Serbian Orthodox Church in Lipljan robbed (KoSSev)

International Media:

• U.S. Ambassador Says Partnership With Kosovo 'Not What We Would Hope' (RFE)
• State Department Tells The Pavlovic Today: U.S. Does Not Support Any Moves To Change Mitrovica Bridge Status In Kosovo (The Pavlovic Today)

Albanian Language Media:

• EU: We plan to put status of Iber Bridge on agenda of next meeting in Brussels (Reporteri
• Kurti meets UNKT coordinator, discuss joint projects (RTK)
• Durmishi: We are waiting for report on stability of Iber Bridge (media)
• Maqedonci rewards KSF members who participated in training of Ukrainian army (media)
• Abdixiku: LDK is working, others attack the media, businesses, embassies... (media)
• Diaspora individual enters Iber Bridge, carabinieri and police stop him (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• 21 years since the Bistrica crime (KoSSev, media)
• Srbljak on the crime in Gorazdevac: I still relive that August 13, the injustice hurts even more (Kosovo Online)
• Petition of women from the North requesting from Ulutas not to open the bridge (KoSSev, N1)
• Gornje Korminjane: Physical attack and shooting in Nenad Jovanovic's yard (Kosovo Online, RTV Puls, N1)
• Marinkovic: Is the Kosovo government trying to change the ethnic structure in the North of Kosovo? (KoSSev)
• Elek: Kurti's intention is not to open the bridge, but to create tensions and expel the Serbs (KiM radio, Vecernje Novosti)
• EULEX: We continue to monitor the security situation in Kosovo (RTS, Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Bugajski: What to expect in Balkans from President Harris (The Geopost)

International:

• Jihadists specifically recruit children from the Balkan diaspora (Der Standard)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani meets Hovenier, discuss security issues (media)
• KFOR: We regularly conduct patrols along the boundary line (RTK)
• Works on Iber bridge continue, KFOR increases its presence there (Reporteri)
• Opposition calls criminal LVV’s lack of mentioning loss of Dehari's samples and burning of the IFM (Koha)
• AJK condemns Kurteshi's statements in relation to media (media)
• Bislimi supports protest: Serbia violates rights of Albanians (RTK)
• PDK action in front of government: Youth is running away, Albin what about you (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Representatives of the Office for KiM visited Novake and promised help in the reconstruction of houses (Tanjug, RTS, KiM radio)
• SL: It is urgent to find the perpetrators of the attack on Dragica Gasic's apartment and the fire in the village of Novake (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)
• Gerxhaliu: While the public looks at the Ibar, new rules and import quotas will destroy the economy and citizens (Kosovo Online)
• The Kosovo police detained a Serb (70) for questioning based on a report more than a decade old (Kosovo Online)
• Coordination body of the Government: The meeting in Bujanovac represents abuse of the Albanians from the south of Serbia (RTS)
• In Gorazdevac today a memorial service for the children killed in Bistrica (KiM radio, Radio Gorazdevac)

Albanian Language Media:

• KFOR: Any decision on opening of bridge over Iber should be made within dialogue in Brussels (Koha)
• Armed Forces of Albania with KSF and Kosovo Police test reaction skills (media)
• Stradner: Vulin will visit Russia amid warnings of chaos in Kosovo (Albanian Post)
• Haliti: EU measures have not been decided against Kosovo, but against government (Reporteri)
• LVV implicates Thaci and Veseli in the "murder" of Astri Dehari (Koha)
• Three houses burned in Novak, Prizren, they were owned by Serbs (Koha)
• Agreement for construction of over 200 houses in northern municipalities, signed (Klan)
• Albanians of Presheva Valley protest against discrimination from Belgrade (media)
• Osmani: Youth is greatest potential of Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: Serbian diplomacy in constant offensive with the aim of shedding light on the true intentions of Kurti's regime (Kosovo Online, Politika)
• Increased presence of KFOR on the Ibar bridge (Kosovo Online)
• The Office for KiM: Broken window at Dragica Gasic's apartment in Djakovica (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Djordjevic: A/CSM (ZSO) by itself does not solve all problems, but it is an important step (FoNet, Danas, N1)
• Albanians protest in Bujanovac, increased police presence (Danas, bujanovacke.rs)
• German State Secretary: Lithium will not bring Serbia a discount on its way to the EU (Beta, N1, TAZ)

International:

• ‘Not Real Facts’: In Court, Chroniclers of Kosovo’s Guerrilla Fight Disavow Writings (Balkan insight)