UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 27, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Dialogue with Serbia to end in mutual recognition (EO)
• Hovenier reacts to Russian foreign minister's statement on Recak (media)
• EU and Kosovo sign IPA Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (media)
• Kurti underlines importance of Switzerland's support for Kosovo (albinfo.ch/media)
• Kusari-Lila to opposition: The state does not collapse because you lost power (media)
• COVID-19: 4 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic to meet with von Cramon on Monday (Tanjug, media)
• Varhelyi: EU should step up engagement in Western Balkans (N1)
• Jeremic: If Vucic imposes sanctions on Russia it will move Serbia from Europe even further (Danas)
• Vucic: We are preparing big things for Open Balkan countries (Tanjug)
• The Embassy of Ukraine on Klitschko's statement on Kosovo (N1)

International:

• Book Review: Conflict Resolution in the Shadow of Putin’s War (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Women in Albanian Media: From Secondary Victimisation to ‘Slut-Shaming’ (Balkan Insight)
• Overlapping crises in the Western Balkans (brookings.edu)
• Guarantees of origin scheme ready to go live in Energy Community markets (greenenergynews.com)

• UK to invest $100 million in Western Balkans (Klan)
• Liz Truss warns Russian meddling could reignite conflict in Western Balkans (telegraph.co.uk)
• Lavrov: Events at Bucha, part of the same scheme as Recak (media)
• Kurti: The vote for Shaip Kamberi is a patriotic task (RTK)
• Abdixhiku: Kosovo needs a clear political project (media)
• Abazovic to go to Ohrid for the 'Open Balkans' Summit (media)
• ERO and U.S. Embassy discuss energy tariffs (media)
• IMF staff concludes visit to Kosovo (RTK)
• COVID-19: 9 new cases (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Smith: NATO concerned about peace and stability in Western Balkans (RFE)
• Germany initiates extension of military presence in Kosovo (media)
• Protesters demand withdrawal of pension trust funds (media)
• KSC judge admits 12 victims to participate in Thaci et al. trial (media)
• KSF and Albania's army perform joint exercise (media)
• COVID-19: 9 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Odalovic: Pristina authorities’ shameful announcement on the Stavalj mine search offends all the victims (Kosovo Online)
• In Davos, Vucic calls for understanding for Serbia's position (Tanjug)
• Vucic to take oath on May 31, Serbian new parliament in July (N1, media)
• Vucic: Important meetings in Davos, I was open about problems (Tanjug)
• Zakharova to Brnabic: "Such assessments are inappropriate" (Danas, FoNet, Sputnik)
• Vucic: Talks with Putin on Sunday, topics include gas as well (RTS, N1)
• National Convention on the EU: Minister Vulin insults the dignity of the Albanian national minority and the Albanian people as a whole (Danas, Radio KiM)

International:

• Kandic Faces Life Sentence After Conviction in US for Assisting ISIS (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Ministry allocates funds to municipalities for community projects (media)

• Kurti participates at the World Economic Forum panel on Western Balkans (media)
• Meta meets Osmani: Coordination in the fight against trafficking required (RTK)
• Kosovo reacts to conclusion of excavations in Serbia (media)
• Kosovo's Defence Minister Mehaj meets U.S. Ambassador Hovenier (Telegrafi)
• Serbia-Kosovo Reconciliation Festival Opens Despite Rightist Fury (BIRN)
• Florian Qehaja, Kosovo's new ambassador to North Macedonia (media)
• PDK appoints a "Minister" of Defence in the "Shadow Government" (media)
• KOSTT seeks court's assistance for electricity not paid for by north's consumers (Kallxo)
• Protest for allowing the withdrawal of the Pension Trust funds (media)
• Judge Faces Fresh Disciplinary Proceedings After BIRN Investigation (BIRN)
• COVID-19: 8 new cases (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 25, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• KDI: Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, necessary and of national interest (EO)
• Abazi resigns from parliamentary inquiry committee on energy (media)
• Excavations in Serbia end, no human remains uncovered (RFE)
• Osmani participates at international conference on trafficking of human beings (media)
• Blerim Kuci leaves AAK, resigns from all structures (Reporteri)
• Chairman of Kosovo-Israel Friendship Group Avdullah Hoti, sends request to PM Kurti (Express)
• COVID-19: 8 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• No remains found near the Stavalj mine (KiM radio, Nova S)
• Jevtic: Serbs do want Community of Serbian Municipalities (Jedinstvo)
• Jeremic: Imposing sanctions on Russia could lead to Kosovo membership in UN (KoSSev)
• SOC recognizes autocephaly of Orthodox Church in North Macedonia (KoSSev)
• Russian official praises Vucic for resisting pressure on sanctions (N1)
• Gracanica mayor met UNMIK chief (KiM radio)
• Vucic, Pendarovski discuss Open Balkan (Tanjug)
• Vucic with Mitsotakis: We thanks Greek people for support to territorial integrity of Serbia (Kosovo-online)
• UNS and DNKiM: Enable journalists to report on protest in Osojane (KoSSev)
• Stefanovic met Wiermann (Tanjug)
• Selakovic speaks with ASEAN Secretary General (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• A distillate of regional fears (KoSSev)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Halt to Waste Collection Leaves Prishtina Covered by Garbage (BIRN)

• Scholz's office on the messages that the Chancellor will bring to the Balkans (RTK)
• Kurti urges Greece to join other EU countries in recognising Kosovo (media)
• Kurti meets Abazovic in Davos (media)
• Vucic about Kurti: He will say terrible things about Serbia (media)
• Kosovo’s diplomatic corps visit Decan Monastery (media)
• Albania's ambassador to CoE: We will do all it takes to support Kosovo joining (Telegrafi)
• Muja: The north will begin paying electricity bills very soon (Koha)
• Police officer in the north arrested damaging evidence charges (media)
• Arrest warrant issued for former Kosovo Police senior official (Kosovapress)
• Petkovic brings Vucic’s message to Prizren, calls Kosovo "our province" (Klan)
• U.S. Begins Denying U.S. Entry to Afghans Housed on Military Base in Kosovo (WSJ)
• COVID-19: 12 new cases (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti meets Vice President Berset: Switzerland strongly supports Kosovo's CoE membership (media)
• Austria supports visa liberalization for Kosovo (media)
• Serbian Ministry of Interior uses derogatory term for Albanians ‘Siptari’ (Kallxo)
• Suspicions of possible explosion in UP Rectorate, Police surround the building (Kallxo)
• MPs suspect in KEK procurement process, Board admits there was mismanagement (Koha)
• COVID-19: 12 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic in World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, Wednesday (Tanjug, media)
• Petkovic: Bislimi's statement confirms that we are fighting resolutely in Brussels (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Vucic: Serbia's position on Ukraine conflict unchanged (Tanjug)
• Petkovic on the protest in Osojane: We solve problem by problem, we follow priorities (Kontakt plus radio, gracanicaonline.info)

International:

• Serbia buying our homes to kick us out, say Albanians living in Mitrovica (euronews.al)

• German Chancellor Scholz to visit Kosovo early June (media)
• Bislimi: Serbia leads with number of non-implemented agreements (Koha)
• Kosovo Police bust cannabis farm in the north (media)
• Mehaj attends meeting of Ukraine Defense Contact Group (RTK)
• Svecla talks to Johansson, calls for visa liberalization (RTK)
• Hague prosecutors to quiz intelligence chief on wartime whereabouts (BIRN)
• Local Serbs block Serbia-run administration offices in Istog (Koha/Klan)
• Kosovo welcomes two more Ukrainian journalists (Prishtina Insight)
• Crops and carcinogens: Kosovo’s market for unsafe, illegal pesticides (BIRN)
• Vucic and Hill: Efforts to focus on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• COVID-19: One new case (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti pays homage at graves of Bytyqi brothers (media)
• Kurti to attend World Economic Forum in Davos (media)
• Assembly to hold session this week, opposition highlights energy tariffs (media)
• KESCO: Energy Regulatory Office's decision in not clear (media)
• Kosovo's Ombudsperson: ERO’s decision on energy tariffs, discriminatory (media)
• SPO sends witness summons to General Inspector of AKI (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo’s Justice Minister clashes with Serbian State Secretary of Justice (Telegrafi)
• Montenegro to join the Open Balkan initiative? (RTK)
• COVID-19: 1 new case (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Bilcik: There is no alternative to dialogue because we have nothing else (Kosovo Online)
• Ambassador Hill's interview with Politika: No third way - East or West (media)
• ''The EU and the US very dissatisfied with Kurti's refusal to renew the Dialogue with Belgrade'' (Beta, NMagazin, Danas)
• Vucic, Hill meeting: All efforts should be directed towards the dialogue under the EU auspices (RTS)
• Petkovic in a two-day visit to Kosovo (KiM radio, Kosovo Online)
• ''Property of Decani, hotels in Brezovica, and Brezovica Ski Centre go into the Sovereign Wealth Fund'' (KiM radio)
• Scholz in Serbia on June 10 (KiM radio, DW, N1)
• Vucic to speak with Putin about gas supplies on Wednesday or Thursday (Tanjug, media)

International:

• Berisha claims he’s back in charge of Albania’s Democratic Party (BIRN)
• Albanian PM supports new community for non-EU countries (Euractiv)
• US would defend Taiwan if attacked by China, says Joe Biden (The Guardian)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Krasniqi: 14 municipalities to benefit from the €8 million performance grant (EO)

• Kurti at World Affairs Forum: Kosovo to become part of NATO's PfP (media)
• Biden to Vucic: Normalise relations with Kosovo (Koha/Telegrafi)
• U.S. Ambassador to Belgrade: Kosovo and Serbia are neighboring countries (media)
• President of Albania, Ilir Meta, to visit Kosovo (Klan)
• Two more Ukrainian journalists arrive in Kosovo (media)
• Mehaj: 600 new soldiers to be admitted this year; purchase of weapons, priority (media)
• Concerns raised over possible human rights violations at KSC (Koha)
• Chief State Prosecutor not decreed yet (RTK)
• Afghans lacking complete security checks won’t be able to travel to U.S. (BIRN)
• COVID-19: Nine new cases (media)