UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 25, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Varhelyi: Parties to implement reached agreements, including Association (Koha)
• New mayors of northern municipalities sworn in (Radio Free Europe)
• Kurti calls for full, swift and unconditional implementation of agreement (media)
• Exclusive: These are four steps of implementation of the agreement, needs to end by autumn, otherwise “consequences will be immediate” (Albanian Post)
• Haxhiu: Kosovo needs a professional and brave state chief prosecutor (media)
• Radoica Radomirovic appointed Deputy Minister for Communities and Returns (media)
• AJK: Sami Kurteshi’s language against us is very dangerous and unacceptable (Klan)
• Who is Srdjan Jurisevic, Montenegrin arrested in Gjilan on international warrant (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic receives US senators (Tanjug, media)
• ‘KLA’ graffiti appeared on children’s playground in Ugljare village (Tanjug, RTS, N1)
• Freedom House: No change for Serbia (N1)
• Radoica Radomirovic appointed as Rasic’s deputy (KoSSev)
• UNS: In four months 43 cases of attacks, pressure on journalists in Serbia (Beta, N1)
• Without presence of Serbian councillors, with flags of Kosovo and Albania: Mayor of Zubin Potok took oath (Danas)
• Hetemi took oath as Leposavic mayor in Saljska Bistrica (Kosovo Online)
• Zvecan Mayor, Ilir Peci, after taking oath, made statements next to grave of Isa Boletini (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic receives farewell visit from Cypriot ambassador (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Serbia wishes more active presence of OSCE in Kosovo (RTS)

International:

• Kosovo Ruling Party Criticised for Electing Supporter to Media Regulator Board (BIRN)
• Activists Advocate for Lower Taxes on Menstrual Products in Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)

• Three mayors of northern municipalities to swear in today in public buildings (media)
• Rasic on swearing in of mayors: I don’t see any obstacle (media)
• Hovenier: Government to urgently prepare draft statute of Association (RTV21)
• Varhelyi to visit Kosovo today, will meet leaders and opposition (media)
• Reactions to Aliu election as member of Independent Media Commission (media)
• Kosovo to invest €1.77 mil to improve railways, water infrastructure (SeeNews)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Three mayors in the north will swear in tomorrow in public premises (media)
• Krasniqi: New mayors will exercise mandates in their municipalities (Albanian Post)
• Osmani on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue: There is more pressure on Kosovo (Dukagjini)
• Freedom House report: War deepens a regional divide (media)
• Senior western diplomat: If Kosovo doesn’t propose statute for Association, facilitators could seek solutions outside the Constitution (Albanian Post)
• LDK proposal for own source revenues will go to the Assembly (Koha)
• LDK’s Lumir Abdixhiku goes to party elections, certain of another mandate (Express)
• Faton Bislimi resigns from LDK presidency (Paparaci)

Serbian Language Media:

• Diplomatic corps visits Visoki Decani Monastery, recalls unimplemented Constitutional Court decision (KoSSev, media)
• Jevtic: The Constitutional Court assessed that Kostic, the defendant in the "Brezovica" case, was unjustifiably detained (Radio Mitrovica sever, Blic, KiM radio)
• Pristina: Ceremony of signing memorandum to organise European judoka championship without translation in Serbian (Radio KIM)
• General Mojsilovic met Brig Gen Romano (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: Strong willingness of Serbs from Kosovo to come to Belgrade, despite Pristina’s threats (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Momcilo Trajkovic called on fellow citizens of Kosovo not to go to the counter rally on May 26 (N1, FoNet, KiM radio)
• Peci to take the oath at the "Tower of Isa Boletini", Zeqiri in Cabra, Hetemi in Bistrica (Kontakt plus radio, Koha)
• Orlic receives Theophylactou (Tanjug)
• Vucic: Escobar should read Brussels Agreement again (Tanjug, RTS)
• Poll: Majority of respondents believe that BG and PR authorities benefited after Serbs withdrew from Kosovo institutions (KoSSev)

International:

• Germany’s Unique Opportunity to Locate Kosovo War Mass Graves (BIRN)
• Freedom House: Democratic institutions in the Western Balkans continued to falter in 2022 (EWB)

• Extension of UK commitment to NATO's Kosovo Force announced during ministerial visit to Western Balkans (gov.uk)
• 2 US Senators promote closer Serbia-Kosovo ties in Balkans visit (AP)
• Atic appoints four directors - one Albanian, one Bosnian, one Serb and one Egyptian (media)
• Mayors in northern municipalities expected to swear in on Thursday (media)
• June 1, “trap” for destabilization of the north (Radio Free Europe)
• Why is Mogherini silent about the letter she once sent to Mustafa? (RTK)
• Vucic: Kosovo has no competence to propose statute for Association (Reporteri)
• Decani Monastery says visit of diplomats is support for 24 hectares (Reporteri)
• Kosovo Ex-Guerrilla Leaders’ Trial Hears Allegations of Assault (BIRN)
• Director of Visametric in Kosovo Detained by Prosecution (Prishtina Insight)
• Inverted neon house installed in Kosovo pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale (Dezeen)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 23, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Konjufca: No Association without Serbs returning to institutions (Koha)
• Kurti: Judicial and prosecutorial system must be freed from political influence (Koha)
• Gervalla: The region doesn’t need another Republika Srpska (media)
• Krasniqi: Elected mayors will exercise their mandate according to law (media)
• New mayors of northern municipalities expected to swear in this week (RTK)
• EULEX on swearing-in of mayors: We are on standby 24 hrs to react (Front Online)
• Citaku: This government acts as a weak administrator of our taxes (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Radio Gorazdevac: House of a returnee in Vitomirica demolished despite Supreme Court ruling in his favour (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
• US Senators: Good faith should be a demand of negotiations, while joint action is key to the implementation of the agreement (KoSSev)
• Dacic: There was no pronounced pressure on Serbia (Tanjug)
• Former North Mitrovica mayor: Situation in north Kosovo extremely difficult (Tanjug, TV Pink)
• KP: Three minors arrested for shooting in Ugljare (Kosovo Online)

International:

• UK Ambassador Urges Kosovo to Draft Statute for Association (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• From the fields of Nivokaz (Kosovo 2.0)

• Murphy: Association will lead to mutual recognition (RFE)
• Kurti: We have strengthened partnership and alliance with USA (media)
• Borrell: Tensions and mutual provocations have to reach an end (media)
• Mehaj met with US Senator, discuss about advancements of KSF (Euronews)
• Abbott: Vucic’s statement that Kurti plans to expel Serbs from north is ridiculous (Kallxo)
• Kosovo towards completion of genocide lawsuit against Serbia (media)
• Balkan Countries Host ‘Immediate Response’ NATO Exercise (BIRN)
• Witness at Thaci Trial ‘Found Body of Victim of Kosovo Guerrillas’ (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Membership in EU and NATO remain our common objectives (EO)
• Gervalla to take part in meeting of EU foreign ministers (media)
• Exclusive details for swearing-in of the other three mayors in the north (Indeksonline)
• Tahiri: Meeting of Assembly Presidency failed because there was no quorum (Klan)
• PDK: Government doesn’t care that parliamentary agenda is blocked (Klan)
• Kosovo leaders commemorate anniversary of Dubrava Prison massacre (media)
• Court extends for two months detention measure for Nagip Krasniqi (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic on arrest and subsequent release of a Serb at Jarinje (RTS)
• Milan Radoicic and Danilo Vucic visited Serbs from Kosovo who took on foot to attend gathering in Belgrade (Danas, KoSSev, Politika)
• Atiq started appointing directors of departments in Mitrovica North municipality (Kosovo Online)
• Kurti on “cultural wealth of Kosovo“, shares photo of Gracanica monastery: “We restored mosques, Catholic and Orthodox churches” (KoSSev)
• Starovic: Military exercise in Kosovo is violation of SC Resolution 1244 (N1, RTS)
• Dacic to meet with EU and Western Balkan FMs in Brussels (Tanjug)

International:

• Assessing Kosovo-Serbia Agreement: Implementation Challenges and Potential Benefits (Prishtina Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Work begins on 150 MW capacity solar thermal power plant in Gjakova village (media)
• Rasic attends laying of foundation for house of Jovanovic family (Klan)

Osmani: Implementation of agreements should be complete (RTK) 
Escobar: Agreement should be implemented by end of summer (media) 
Quint with an urgent call regarding Decani Monastery land (media) 
OSCE calls on institutions to “register land in Monastery’s name” (media) 
Institutions silent to the calls of internationals for Monastery of Decan (Koha) 
Kurti to host US senators Chris Murphy and Gary Peters today (media) 
Osmani attends inauguration of newly elected Montenegro President (media) 
Largest military exercise “Defender Europe ‘23” starts in Kosovo (Euronews) 
Lajcak: Our discussions will continue again in the weeks to come (media) 
Serb Ex-Policeman Charged with Wartime Rape of Kosovo Man (BIRN) 
A Flourishing Oasis: Unveiling Botanical Garden Amidst the Historic Walls of University of Prishtina (Prishtina Insight) 

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 19, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• New Mitrovica North mayor swears in, deputy mayor from Serb community (RFE)
• Mitrovica North deputy mayor: Time to sit down together and work (Kallxo)
• Krasniqi: We’ll have new mayors who will engage on daily basis to improve lives of citizens regardless of their ethnicity (Telegrafi)
• Decision on opening Iber Bridge is at Ministry of Local Government (Gazeta Express)
• Howell: Kosovo very close to joining CoE; needs some lobbying (TeVe1)
• Osmani meets Wieland, expresses gratitude for continuous EP support (media)
• Kurti after Italy floods: Ready to extend our help where needed (media)
• Kurti: Next meeting of Kosovo and Albania governments in June (media)
• Surroi: Everyone entitled to baptise their children in Kosovo churches (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian List calls for institutional violence against Serbs to stop (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic on situation in northern Kosovo, says Vucic talks to Lajcak (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Kosovo police confiscates KM licence plates, issues 150 EUR fine (Kosovo Online)
• Atiq's first meeting as mayor with Sladjan Trajkovic'c wife (KoSSev)
• The new mayor of North Mitrovica sworn in, his mandate officially began (N1, KoSSev, RFE)
• Diocese on Ceku’s message to Djokovic: What messages for peace and understanding are being sent in Kosovo by such an inappropriate comment? (KoSSev, KiM radio)
• Vucic to attend several meetings because of situation in Kosovo (RTS)
• Party of Kosovo Serbs: West decisive to preserve peace in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Jovovic family robbed several times in Gorazdevac, preparators still remain unknown (Radio KIM)
• Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church: There must be no indirect or direct acceptance of Kosovo independence (NMagazin, Beta, N1)

International:

• US Senate: Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue Remains Key Issue in Western Balkans (Balkan Insight)
• Chollet and Escobar remain optimistic about Western Balkans progress towards the EU (EWB)

• Quint: All parties should refrain from use of force or actions that inflame tensions or promote conflict (media)
• New mayor of Mitrovica North expected to be sworn in today (media)
• Hovenier: Do not use violence to enter municipal buildings in the north (media)
• Vucic: We will not accept the mayors in the north (media)
• Despite challenges, negotiators optimistic about next steps of Western Balkans countries toward EU (RFE)
• Osmani thanks Menendez for “unwavering commitment to democracy” (media)
• Serwer: What the State Department forgot to say (peacefare.net)
• Kosovo govt against Lajcak's ‘methodology’ for Article 7 implementation (Koha)
• Mustafa: Borrell must respect Mogherini’s commitment on Association (RTK)
• Limaj: Association will have executive powers; devil is in Article 7 (media)
• Kosovo court jails Naser Kelmendi for drug trafficking (BIRN)