UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 9, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Scholz: EU to keep promises for integration of Western Balkans (RFE)
• Abdixhiku: Management Team proposed a state within the state (media)
• Gervalla: One Republika Srpska enough for the region, no need for another one (media)
• Radman: Croatian model for Serbian minority can serve Kosovo (media)
• Szunyog: EU playing crucial role in promoting Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Telegrafi)
• Osmani on Europe Day: Kosovo is an embodiment of European values (media)
• Govt on Europe Day: Step by step, Kosovo is getting closer to EU (media)
• Lajcak: EU and Western Balkans to seriously address enlargement (media)
• Bajqinovci accuses LDK for corruption deals, interest groups with PDK (Paparaci)
• Kica-Xhelili tells what govt is trying to do in the Prosecutorial Council (Nacionale)
• Two people arrested in Zvecan for trying to block the municipality building (Telegrafi)
• Nebi Qena and Associated Press win two Pulitzer Prizes (Albanian Post)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic on northern Kosovo, Council of Europe, mass shootings in Serbia (Kosovo Online, media)
• Protest ‘Serbia Against Violence’ held in Belgrade (N1)
• Serbian Parliament vice-president Bozic after ‘Serbia Against Violence' protest: "Parliamentary and local elections in one term" (Danas, Beta, NMagazin)
• Vucic on protest in Belgrade (N1, media)
• New anti-violence protest on May 12 (N1, media)
• Person suspected of tearing Serbian flags apart at Grabovac hill brought in (Radio KIM, Radio kontakt plus)
• What slows down the European path of the Western Balkans according to Lajcak? (Danas, FoNet, Hina)
• Russian Ambassador: Strategic partnership with Serbia increasingly important (Politika, BETA, N1)
• Giaufret: Serbia’s place is in EU (FoNet, N1)
• Serbian Defense Ministry marks Victory Over Fascism Day (BETA)

International:

• Serbians rally against violence after two mass shootings (Reuters)
• Montenegrins Urged to Hand Over Weapons After Mass Shootings Rock Serbia (Balkan Insight)
• Child Pornography, Hate Speech and Cybercrime Surge in Balkans (Balkan Insight)

Kurti meets Sobotka, emphasizes importance of implementing the Basic Agreement without conditions (media)
At the Vienna Economic Forum, Kosovo is considered a functional state with a vibrant economy (Koha)
USAID chief Power heads to Serbia, Kosovo to lower tensions (Associated Press)
Croatia’s Foreign Minister visits Kosovo, today he meets with Grvalla and Kurti (RTK)
What is next in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue? Mediators visit expected this month (euronews.al)
Hoti: Government's decisions of the past two years are typical of communist systems (Reporteri)
Kamberi: Self-management also for Albanians in Serbia (media)
Postcard Collection Creates Vivid Picture of Bygone Era in Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Konjufca: If dialogue’s price is destroying Kosovo, it is good to say goodbye (media)
• Osmani meets Peach, discuss recent developments, including dialogue (media)
• Kurti welcomes attendees of 20th Vienna Economic Forum (media)
• Sobotka: Challenging political situation in Kosovo, parties should dialogue (media)
• EP members: Evident that Serbia has violated agreement by voting against Kosovo (Reporteri)
• Jackovich: A lot of pressure from Washington, Brussels and Belgrade (EO)
• Dugolli calls on Special Court to initiate investigations into Dubrava massacre (Koha)
• Serwer criticises West for approach toward Balkans (Gazeta Express/VoA)
• Opposition warns it will send law on strategic investments to court (TeVe1)
• Croatian Foreign Minister on two-day visit to Kosovo (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian Education Minister resigns in light of recent school shooting (N1, media)
• Anniversary of NATO bombing of Chinese Embassy in Belgrade marked (N1, media)
• Russian Ambassador: We share grief with kindred Serbian people (media)
• Odalovic: Information about the possible location of a mass grave that has been kept quiet for years (RTS)
• Gornji Livoc: Son of attacked journalist threatened (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
• Serbian opposition calls for gathering on Monday (Danas)
• Ruling party officials blast opposition protest organisers (N1)
• Professor on ‘Croatian model’, says no analogy between Serbs in Kosovo and Croatia (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic, Kurti meeting in the shadow of the great tragedies in Belgrade and Mladenovac (KoSSev)
• Petkovic with the ICRC delegation on the importance of respecting the Declaration on Missing Persons (Kosovo Online, RTS)

International:

• Kurti Outlines Renewable Energy Goals at Vienna Economic Forum (BIRN)
• Hague Court Urges Kosovo to Treat War Victims and Defendants Equally (BIRN)

• Kurti says management team for Association completed its function (media)
• Lajcak: First draft not final, an important starting point for discussions (media)
• Petkovic: Management team mandate team lasts until Association formed (media)
• Kurti presents formation of Kosovo’s Sovereign Fund (Kallxo)
• Osmani meets Steinmeier, updates him on dialogue (media)
• Explosion near police station in north of Kosovo (media)
• Serbia and Kosovo: the west’s ill-fated push to heal the divide (Financial Times)
• Kosovo Ambassador to Brussels publishes list of Serbia’s violations of agreement (media)
• Kosovo Civil Society and Media Form Coalition Against Disinformation (BIRN)
• German company contracted by Kosovo to supply passports suspected of irregularities (BIRN)
• Mirëdita, Dobar Dan Festival in Prishtina Opens With Tribute to Belgrade School Victims (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 5, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Konjufca sends condolences to families of victims of two attacks in Serbia (media)
• Ahmeti: Kosovo’s CoE membership not conditioned with Association (RTV21)
• Kusari-Lila: EU should stick to its own principles (media)
• Szunyog: EU restored focus on Western Balkans (Albanian Post)
• Osmani in the United Kingdom to attend the Coronation of King Charles III (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian President calls for unity following second mass killing (N1, RTS)
• Three-day mourning in Serbian areas in Kosovo, paying tribute to victims of Belgrade school shooting continues (Radio KIM, KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
• EU, CoE, regional officials extend condolences over new mass shooting (N1)
• Serbian Government proposes gun permit moratorium (N1, media)
• “Attempt to enter Serbian institutions latest by May 28”: Danas interlocutors on possible development of events in northern Kosovo (Danas)
• Lawyer Vasic speaks of indictments in absentia for war crimes in Kosovo (RTS)

International:

• Second Mass Shooting in Two Days Stuns Serbia, Killing Eight (BIRN)
• Suspect arrested after second mass shooting in Serbia (BBC)
• Serbian Media Leak Private Details About School Mass Shooting (BIRN)

• Govt: Dismissal of Management Team doesn’t violate agreement (RFE)
• French ambassador encourages govt to work constructively on Association (Koha)
• UK calls on parties to engage constructively, including on Association ASAP (media)
• Abbott calls for quick implementation of Declaration of Missing Persons (media)
• Kosovo indicts Serb for wartime massacre (BIRN)
• Vela reacts to appointment of illegal interim municipal body head in Peja (media)
• Candles lit in Pristina honoring victims of Belgrade school shooting (media)
• Prosecution: Company contracted by Ministry didn’t declare 25,000 passports (Prishtina Insight)
• “Miredita, dobar dan” festival begins in Pristina (Radio Free Europe)
• Indictment filed against former CEO of Kosovo Telekom (media)
• Ben-Meir: Greece’s support for Kosovo’s CoE membership, important step toward eventual recognition (Albanian Post)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 4, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• EU: Role of Management Team ends only when statute is adopted (RFE)
• Zulfaj: EU asked to burn the mandates in the north by not swearing in (Koha)
• Indictment filed against a person for war crimes in Kosovo (media)
• Limaj: Kurti cannot wait to sign agreement with Serbia (Lajmi)
• Gervalla: We send our deepest condolences to the families (media)
• Vela: Diplomats closely following Serbia cannot be surprised with NYT article (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Brussels meeting was aimed at tricking us into recognising Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Mitrovica North residents pay tribute to victims of Belgrade school shooting (Kosovo Online, media)
• Foreign, regional officials express condolences over Belgrade school shooting (media)
• Hill: The Serbian-Kosovo issue must be resolved; it is a difficult issue and the tone between the parties is not good (KoSSev)
• Another war crime indictment filed in absentia (KoSSev)
• Dacic: EU officials condemned the dismissal of the Management Team for the formation of the CSM (ZSO) (NMagazin, Beta)

International:

• Grieving Serbs Demand Resignations Over Fatal School Shootout (BIRN)
• The President, the Soccer Hooligans and an Underworld ‘House of Horrors’ (NY Times)

• Escobar: Implementation of Ohrid agreement must start with Association (RFE)
• Rohde: Association statute to be in line with Constitution of Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• EU: Management team should be functional until statute is approved (Kallxo)
• EU insists Association is main issue and biggest priority (Koha)
• Serwer: Bilateral isn’t working, so… (media)
• EFJ calls on Kurti “not to allow further politicization of IMC” (media)
• Osmani, Kurti messages on World Press Freedom Day (media)
• Szunyog: Media institutional setup in Kosovo needs to be enhanced (media)
• LDK: Reporters in Kosovo at threat from attacks and intimidation (media)
• Kosovo rises in World Press Freedom Index, media independence still at risk (Prishtina Insight)
• Balkan, Central European journalists highlight safety concerns on Press Freedom Day (BIRN)
• Haki Abazi expelled from Vetevendosje parliamentary group (media)
• Kosovo solar farm goes even greener, using sheep to mow the grass (Reuters)
• EU, W. Balkans telcos to cut data roaming charges from October (SeeNews)
• Mass shooting in Belgrade school kills nine, shocks Serbia (BIRN)
• Osmani, Kurti, Bislimi send condolences after school shooting in Belgrade (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Konjufca: The management team presented the interests of Serbia, not Kosovo (Koha)
• Presidency: Management team submitted a draft statute similar to one of Vojvodina (Koha)
• Haradinaj believes U.S. and EU have a draft statute for Association in accordance with Constitution (media)
• Reactions on the Declaration on the missing accepted by Kurti (Reporteri)
• Osmani: We defend the role of free and impartial media (media)
• Statement of the AJK Board on the World Press Freedom Day (media)
• Haradinaj: The attacks on the media and journalists are disturbing (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic: Abolishment of Management Team leads to abolishment of ZSO and dialogue (Kosovo Online)
• European officials extend condolences over shooting at Belgrade school (N1, media)
• Association of Kosmet Victims’ Families welcomes adoption of Declaration on Missing Persons (Radio KIM)
• Dacic: Meeting in Brussels confirmed our fears, we must not lose majority in UN (RTS)
• Rakic Andric: By raising opening of Ibar River bridge topic Self-determination wants to score political points (Kosovo Online)
• Reporters Without Borders: Serbia drops 12 places on Press Freedom Index (N1)
• Blakaj: Adoption of the Declaration on the Missing a step forward (KiM radio)
• Lawyer Vasic writes to Quint ambassadors over Trajkovic’s health condition (Kosovo Online)
• Families of the missing on the adopted Declaration: Political camouflage (KiM radio)
• Borrell: Important, symbolic step taken towards forming Community (Tanjug)

International:

• Kosovo, Serbia fall short of diffusing tensions, agree to resolve war missing cases (Euractive)
• Kosovo and Serbia agree to help find war's missing (BBC)
• Southeast, Central Europe – Bar Serbia and Turkey – Rise in RSF Freedom Index (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• World Press Freedom Day: Joint Declaration on Media Freedom and Democracy (article19.com)
• 2023 World Press Freedom Index – journalism threatened by fake content industry (rsf.org)

• Kosovo, Serbia agree to cooperate on resolving cases of missing persons (RFE)
• Borrell: Kosovo, Serbia fail to agree on lowering tensions in north Kosovo (Reuters)
• Kurti: Draft statute fundamentally incompatible with our Constitution (Koha)
• Management team for drafting statute of Association relieved from duty (media)
• Osmani: Kosovo should have its own draft for the Association (RTK)
• Osmani: Declaration, a moment of relief for affected families (media)
• Petkovic: Declaration confirms we have protected Serbian interests (media)
• Vucic: Pristina unwilling to meet commitment; hope dialogue will continue (media)
• Kurti met with Escobar, before meeting with Vucic and Borrell (RTK)
• Konjufca: I don't expect Serbia to change quickly (RTK)
• First indictment filed, for rape during the war in Kosovo (media)
• Serbia ratifies three agreements of Berlin Process, including Kosovo (RTK)