UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, 24 April, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Serbia will try to destabilize Kosovo again, such plans are constantly being made (VoA)
• Most of EU countries are in favor of lifting measures against Kosovo (RFE)
• European Parliament approves plan of 6 billion euros for Western Balkans (Koha)
• Von Cramon: Passivization of Albanians’ addresses in the Valley must be stopped immediately (Koha)
• Freedom House: Kurti government faced a corruption scandal in 2023 (ekonomia)
• Knaus: number of Kosovo Serbs decreasing rapidly, but there is no "terror" towards them (ekonomia)
• Deliu-Kodra: Kurti government was labeled as 'government of corruption' in Department of State Report (Klan)
• Belgrade court sentences Toplica Miladinovic to 20 years in prison for war crimes in Kosovo (Klan)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Vucic: Important that we have more votes against and abstentions, which would be a heroic political success (RTS)
• The Judicial Council of Kosovo calls Serbian judges and prosecutors from the North to return (KiM radio, KoSSev, Kontakt plus radio)
• UNS submits two draft resolutions to EFJ, on murders of journalists in Kosovo and independent public channel in Serbian (KoSSev, Radio KIM, UNS)
• Belgrade-Pristina talks on use of dinar to continue tomorrow in Brussels (Tanjug)
• Belgrade war crimes court sentences former army officer for war crimes in Pec area (N1, FoNet, media)
• Pavlos: Bakoyannis in Council of Europe hasn't only harmed Serbian people, Greece could also suffer consequences (Kosovo Online)
• Drecun: Pristina, Sarajevo campaigning to portray Serbs as criminals (Tanjug, RTS)
• State Dept to VOA: US sponsoring Srebrenica resolution (N1, VoA)
• Former Kosovo FM calls Belgrade, Pristina officials to show respect (N1, social media)
Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy: EPS invested 40 million euros in a subsidiary company for supplying electricity to the north of Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Danas)

Albanian Language Media:
• Macron calls Kurti, support for Kosovo at CoE and mentions Association (media)
• Kurti thanks Macron for France’s unwavering support (media)
• Rohde: Tangible steps needed on Association in order to join CoE (KTV)
• Lajcak: I believe we have managed to narrow the gap (media)
• Croatia supports Albania’s EU membership, Kosovo at Council of Europe (Klan)
• Mothers of Srebrenica thank Osmani for statement at UN Security Council (media)

Serbian Language Media:
• Petkovic speaks with German envoy, discusses problems Serbs in Kosovo face (Tanjug)
• Lajcak announces resumption of talks on use of dinar in Kosovo (N1)
• Macron speaks with Kurti: Progress in establishing CSM important for Kosovo membership in CoE (Kosovo Online)
• BiH Presidency without consensus on Kosovo membership in CoE (Radio KIM)
• Djuric: Osmani’s ‘tasteless performance’ at UNSC session, none of women present is her adviser (N1, Kosovo Online, social media)
• Citizens of North Mitrovica on visa liberalization: Thank God, something in our favor (Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Kosovo-Serbia agreement must be binding for both parties (media)
• Osmani: Kosovo is proud to have so many friends and allies by its side (media)
• Atiq: Serb citizens feel safer than in the past (Klan Kosova)
• Radomirovic: Serbs don’t want their lives led by Radoicic and Serbian List (media)
• Biserko: Serbia has not relinquished idea for Kosovo partition (media)
• Balje stopped by Serbian police: Took my documents for one hour (media)
• Deliu-Kodra: Report revealed govt’s inability to build uncorrupt institutions (Koha)
• Hoti: Report highlights govt corruption, attacks against media, judiciary (media)
• Gervalla signs decision prohibiting employment of relatives in ministry (Kallxo)
• Ukrainian MP: Serbia to renounce imperial tendencies, recognize Kosovo (RFE)
• Kamberi meets Von Cramon, talk discrimination of Albanians in the Valley (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic and SL: Vucic clearly stated in NY that it is necessary to protect the Serbs in Kosovo (KiM radio)
• By advocating for the A/CSM, Belgrade working to create an independent Kosovo, says Trajkovic; No government in Pristina has treated Serbs worse, says Vorgucic (N1, KoSSev, Danas )
• The indictment for war crimes against Dragisa Milenkovic confirmed (KiM radio, RTS)
• Radomirovic “has no time” to comment on audio recording, Serbian List demands accountability (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
• Mojsilovic: Protection of fundamental human rights of Serbian people in Kosovo is still inadequate (Radio Mitrovica sever, Politika)
• European Parliament approved visa liberalization for Serbian passport holders from Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Commemoration for victims of NATO bombing at RTS (N1, RTS)
• Holocaust Remembrance Day marked in Serbia (N1, media)
• State Department: Serbia still faces problems with corruption, judiciary, media freedom (N1)

International:

• Kosovo, Serbia Trade Accusations At UN Security Council Meeting (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:
• UN Security Council meets to discuss situation in Kosovo (media)
• EU: Vote result in north of Kosovo does not contribute to reducing tensions (RFE)
• Kurti hosted in Sofia by his Bulgarian counterpart Dimitar Glavchev (media)
• U.S. State Department publishes country report on human rights for Kosovo (media)
• Over half a million citizens registered in Kosovo census so far (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:
• UN Security Council discussed report on Kosovo, SRSG Ziadeh addressed the SC (FoNet, N1, Tanjug, RTS)
• Vucic: Pristina creating unbearable living conditions for Serbs, other non-Albanians (N1, RTS, Tanjug, FoNet)
• Vucic reacts to Osmani’s remarks, terms it political theater (RTS, N1, Novosti, Kosovo Online)
• Russian Representative: Who are the persons sitting behind Vjosa Osmani and who do they represent? (RTS)
• China calls upon Pristina to retract unilateral acts leading to destabilization (RTS, media)
• Serbian List demands Radoica Radomirovic be prosecuted (Kosovo Online)
• Vucevic meets with German MFA's envoy (Tanjug)
• Vucic calls on UN members to vote against resolution on Srebrenica (N1)
International Media:
• Police Intervenes as Protesting Students Push University’s Council of Ethics to Decide on Sexual Harassment Claims (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, 22 April, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti to non-majority communities: You’re a value and identity of our state (media)
• Government: EU should remove unfair measures, Kosovo met its obligation (RTK)
• Kusari-Lila: Serbia is obstructing integration of Kosovo Serbs (media)
• Tahiri: EU should lift measures, people are being penalized (Kallxo)
• AAK: Referendum revealed Vucic’s heavy influence on Serbs (Indeksonline)
• Rohde: Boycott requested by Serbian List, regrettable and destructive (Klan)
• Osmani-Vucic confrontation, Security Council to meet on Kosovo today (RTK)
• Kurti meets Glavchev in Sofia as part of Vienna Economic Forum (media)
• Hoxhaj proposes for Assembly to support UN resolution on Srebrenica (media)

Serbian Language Media: 

• The Ohrid Agreement entered the negotiation framework for Serbia's membership in the EU (RTS)
• Serbian Democracy: EU to look again at its requests for de-escalation which Pristina did not fulfill (KoSSev)
• The UN SC in NY today on Kosovo, Vucic to represent Serbia (Tanjug, media)
• Dacic: The UN SC session another opportunity for Vucic to point out the problems of the Serbs in Kosovo (Tanjug, RTV, Kosovo Online, media)
• Sentic: Special forces in the Leposavic municipality during voting; respecting the rights of Serbs remains a challenge after the failed referendum (KoSSev, KiM radio)
• European Parliament plenary session begins, visa liberalization for Serbs in Kosovo on agenda (Tanjug)
• Roundtable on ''the occupation and (high) treason of Kosovo and Metohija'' (Beta, NMagazin)
• Confiscated weapons and marijuana worth around 70,000 euros in Suhareke/Suva Reka, four people arrested (KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media:

Election Commission: Initiative to remove the mayors in north has failed (media)
Kurti to EU: Removal of mayors was key condition, lift the measures (media)
Osmani: Serbia illegally interfered in elections of another country again (media)
U.S. Embassy regrets that Serbs did not take exercise the right to vote (Klan)
Barbano: EULEX monitoring situation in coordination with KP and KFOR (media)
Szunyog: We are observing the elections in the north (media)
Krasniqi: Serbian List wants monopoly over politics of Serbs in Kosovo (RFE)
Krasniqi: Evident Serbian List, Belgrade ordered boycott, fearing failure (media)
Zubin Potok Mayor: Serbian List does not dare face reality (Telegrafi)
Haziri: Government should be greatly concerned by the boycott (media)
Serbian Minister walks out when Kosovo receives award at Venice Biennale (media)
Police find weapons and ammunition in house in Zvecan (media)
Arifi claims he was “arbitrarily” dismissed from post of Presevo Mayor (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian List: Kurti's farce over; the unity of the Serbian people has been demonstrated (Danas)
Petkovic: Today's fake referendum a picture of Kurti's democracy (Radio Mitrovica sever)
Starovic: Boycott of the fake referendum the best non-violent response of Serbs to oppression (Kosovo Online)
The referendum in the north ended peacefully and without voters (N1, KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
Deutsche Welle on the recall of the mayor: Elected with 100 votes, 6,800 needed for removal (Kosovo Online, DW)
Surlic: The Pristina referendum in the north of Kosovo designed to fail (RTS)
Manojlovic on the failed referendum in the North: Well-coordinated killing of energy (KoSSev)
A lost opportunity to pave the way for the election of new mayors in the north of Kosovo, says Democracy in Action (NMagazin, Beta, KiM radio)
An explosion in the yard of a Serbian house in Kosovska Kamenica (RTS)
Vucic after the meeting with O’Brien: We agree on little regarding Kosovo and Srebrenica (Beta, N1)

International Media: 

Serb majority in N. Kosovo boycotts vote on removing ethnic Albanian mayors (France 24)
North Kosovo Serbs boycott referendum on removing ethnic Albanian mayors (Reuters)
Kosovo*: Its Footnote Is Both A Blessing And A Curse (RFE) 

Albanian Language Media:

• Guterres condemns Banjska attack, calls for authors to face justice (Zeri)
• Presidency confirms Osmani's participation in the UNSC session (Klan)
• Kurti: 2013 agreement violates Constitution of Kosovo (media)
• Serbian army drills at border; Kurti: Serbia poses a threat to Kosovo (RTK)
• Uglanin: Certain that April 21 vote will not be successful (media)
• Zeqiri confident he won’t be dismissed: Serbs don’t trust Serbian List (Nacionale)
• Dutch MEP reacts after the mistreatment of Kosovars in Serbia (RTK)
• “If Association not sent to court, CoE membership postponed for a year” (media)
• Dimic on Serbia stopping Kosovars: Brings back Milosevic’s time (Kosovapress)
• Police confiscate weapons in Mitrovica North (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Eleven years they have been looking for the culprits in Serbs and Serbia, and the essence of the Brussels Agreement has not been implemented (RTS)
• Stano: Brussels Agreement obligation, consequences for Pristina if it does not form the A/CSM (RTS, Tanjug, KiM radio)
• Lajcak: No stronger incentive to resolve the Belgrade, Pristina relations than a clear perspective in the EU (Kosovo Online)
• Eleven years since the Brussels Agreement; Simic: Dead letter (RTS)
• Combating Human Trafficking Director in KP accused of domestic violence (FoNet, N1, Kosovo Online)
• CEC approved 23 locations for voting on April 21 in the north (Kosovo online)
• Surlic: The situation between Belgrade and Pristina would have been more relaxed if the A/CSM had been formed 11 years ago (Kosovo Online)
• Belo Polje struggles with wild landfills, stray dogs and an unbearable stench, no response from the authorities (KiM radio, Radio Gorazdevac)

International:

• North Kosovo Vote to Dismiss Mayors Risks Failure Amid Boycott (BIRN)
• Senior Kosovar Police Officer Released After Detention At Serbian Border (RFE)
• Witness to Violence: Photojournalist Recalls Decades of Documenting Kosovo’s Turbulent Times (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Murati: Kosovo receives €90 million funding from the World Bank (media)
• "Women in focus" photo exhibition: Everything is against women when they strive for a position (KiM radio, KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media:

Lajcak: Efforts for a solution continue next week (RTK)
Bislimi: useless meeting, without result - Serbia not interested in solution for Serb citizens (Reporteri)
Kurti: Our success is unbearable for Serbia (RTK)
Osmani: It is clear where responsibility for blocking free movement should be sought (RTK)
Department of State: Detentions of Kosovo citizens and policemen, escalating actions (RFE)
Gervalla and Hovenier talk about latest developments (RTK)
Barbano: EULEX concerned about detention of deputy director of Kosovo Police in Serbia (Kallxo)
Serbia releases Kosovo Police deputy director (Reporteri)
Maqedonci: Tensions continue, Serbia to test kamikaze drones on border with Kosovo (media)
Diplomatic representatives of several CoE member states congratulate Osmani (media)
Kurti meets deputy mayors of North Mitrovica, Zvecan and Leposaviq (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Guterres: Increased tensions between Belgrade and Pristina, concern over regulation on payment transactions (RTS, Tanjug)
Petkovic: Belgrade has done all to find solution for dinar, Pristina does not want solution (Tanjug)
Lajcak: Chief negotiators to meet again next week (N1)
Petkovic: Kurti the sole factor of instability (Radio KIM, media)
KFOR Commander invited to Serbian Armed Forces exercise (N1)
State Department calls upon Serbia to restrain from unilateral and uncoordinated acts (N1, RFE, Radio KIM, Kosovo Online)
Barbano: EULEX concerned over detention of Jankovic (Kosovo Online, social media)
Serbian List on vehicle arson case in the north: No reactions from responsible bodies and international organizations (Radio KIM)
Moscow: Voting for membership of Pristina in CoE a shame (Kosovo Online)
Vucic, PM of Commonwealth of Dominica discuss development of bilateral ties (Tanjug)
CEC ensured alternative locations for mayoral recall vote (Kosovo Online)

International Media: 

Serbian military drill ramps up as relations with Kosovo deteriorate (euronews)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Serbia has violated several agreements (media)
• Kurti: Vucic is retaliating over Kosovo’s success at CoE (media)
• Osmani: Five Kosovo police officers held hostage by Serbia (RFE)
• Rohde: Detention of Kosovo law enforcement officials is unacceptable (media)
• Hovenier: Concerned over detention of Jankovic by Serbian authorities (media)

Albanian Language Media:

EU: Serbia violated agreement on freedom of movement (media)
Kurti: One day after PACE vote, Serbia retaliates against Kosovo civilians (media)
Osmani says Vucic responsible for Kosovars “held hostage” at border crossings (media)
Bislimi and Petkovic to meet in Brussels, after hold up of Kosovars in Serbia (media)
Kurti: Serbia has a problem with the fact that we exist as people and as state (RTK)
Gervalla: Vucic is carrying out threats after vote for Kosovo’s membership at CoE (RTK)
Bislimi informs Lajcak about “hundreds of Kosovars held hostage by Serbia” (media)
MIA: Serbia is keeping detained the Deputy Director of Police and 4 police officers (RTK)
AmCham expresses deep concern over Serbia blocking Kosovo buses (media)
Kamberi: Serbia with repressive measures against Albanians in Presevo Valley (media)
Ahmeti on Association: It must be addressed after membership in CoE (RTK)
Haxhiu welcomes arrest of leader of group that blackmailed women and girls (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian MIA: Unfounded claims about detention of buses at the borders (RTS, media)
Stano: Avoid actions that may endanger safety (KiM radio, Danas, FoNet)
PKS: We will not participate in the referendum if it takes place violently (KiM radio, KoSSev)
The principals of most schools in the north of Kosovo refused to allow the vote to be held in the schools (Tanjug, media)
Serbian police arrest senior Kosovo Police official (N1, KoSSev, KiM radio)
KFOR on the British Telegraph writing: We do not speculate on any hypothetical scenarios (KoSSev)
The N. Macedonia government to reconsider its participation in the Open Balkans, due to new information on Banjska (KiM radio, Beta)

International Media: 

Kosovo says 10 of its police officers detained in Serbia (Reuters)
Serbia angry after Kosovo gets closer to joining Council of Europe (euronews)
Kosovo Calls on Citizens to Avoid Serbia Travel Amid Reported Border Blockage (Prishtina Insight)
“Blood Awaits Justice”: Kosovo Man Recalls Finding 53 Massacred Family Members (Prishtina Insight)