UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, 17 April, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Serbia blocks around 300 Kosovars at border with Croatia (media)
• MFA and MIA call on citizens of Kosovo: Avoid at all costs passage through Serbia (media)
• Apart from Croatia, Kosovars are also blocked in Hungary, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs QUINT (media)
• Zulfaj on blocking of Kosovars in Serbia: "little Putin" cannot stand success of Kosovo (Koha)
• Von Cramon: Serbia should release the Kosovars, stop embarrassing itself (media)
• Kusari-Lila: Serbia should be removed from Council of Europe (Klan Kosova)
• Hoxhaj condemns behavior of Serbian Police (media)
• Kandic on PACE vote for CoE: Serbia's opposition is an own goal (EO)
• Pacolli: Parties in Brussels are discussing how to find a way for Serbia to legally bring money to Kosovo (media)
• U.S. Embassy flag at half-mast, Hovenier: Recent killings of women show urgency to do more (media)
• Osmani commemorates Poklek massacre; “six-month-old victim called Liberty” (Telegrafi)
• Police arrest one of the leaders of group that blackmailed women (Koha)
• Retrial: 35 years imprisonment for man who killed his wife in 2022 (media)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Vucevic: Voting in Strasbourg continuation of the festival of hypocrisy (KiM radio, RTS)
• Pantic Pilja: In PACE, it was shown that international law means nothing, they trampled on everything they advocate for (Kosovo Online)
• Elek: Members of the CoE trampled on international law and the rule of law (Kosovo Online, TV Most, Tanjug)
• Kurti from Strasbourg: No need to talk about A/CSM, when Serbs are boycotting the Assembly (Danas, Kosovo Online)
• Gogic: Growth Plan will be reason for another promise from Kosovo to form CSM (Kosovo Online)
• Trajkovic and Gogic on Kosovo and CoE: It’s part of geopolitical regrouping, nothing to do with Kosovo and Serbia (N1)
• Vehicle of a driver of Provisional Authority President in Leposavic set on fire (Kosovo Online)
• Drecun: What follows the CoE adoption of the recommendation for the admission of Kosovo is very dangerous (Blic, Blic TV)
• KP on the shooting on the Gracanica-Laplje Selo road: Attempted murder, two people arrested (Kosovo Online, KiM radio)

Opinion:

• Are the Kosovo media repeating the mistakes of 2004? (KoSSev)
• UN Resolution on the Balkans Would Be a Mistake (Real Clear World)

Albanian Language Media:
• PACE recommends Kosovo to be invited to become member of CoE (media)
• Kurti optimistic about Kosovo’s membership at Council of Europe in May (media)
• Haxhiu: Maximal punishments for killers; hate speech in social media to be monitored (EO)
• Osmani meets Svecla, Haxhiu and Hoxha on latest killings of two women (media)
• Osmani declares Wednesday day of mourning (media)
• Reactions continue after killing of woman in Peja (media)
• Fotovat: Men to be involved in discussions for protection of women in Kosovo (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:
• PACE adopts opinion on Kosovo application to CoE (N1, media)
• Dacic: A day of shame at Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (Kosovo Online)
• Miroslav Aleksic: Admission of Kosovo to CoE consequence of disastrous policy (N1, RTV)
• Brnabic: Maneuvering space in CoE small but truth and justice on our side (Tanjug, media)
• Lajcak: Next steps in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue discussed with Vucic in Mostar (Tanjug, media)
• Serbian List: Kurti continues with repression, denies right to medical treatment for Serbs (Kosovo Online, media)
• Serbian List meets Szunyog and Markovec: EU to act proactively and prevent escalation of situation carried out by Pristina (KoSSev, media)
• Vucic speaks with Aliyev about pressure on Serbia (media)
• UNMIK reacts to another femicide case in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, social media)
International Media:
• Vote Puts Kosovo One Step from Accession to Europe’s Chief Rights Body (Balkan Insight)
• After Another Femicide, Kosovo President Declares Day of Mourning (Balkan Insight)
• Elections and Reporting on Missing Girl Spur Digital Rights Violations Across Region (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani’s message to members of PACE on Kosovo’s membership vote (media)
• PACE committee rejects all amendments of Serbian, Italian members (media)
• Woman killed in Peja, “situation is alarming” (media)
• Hoxha: Radoicic’s group is free; there is threat of another attack in north (KTV)
• Rohde on Palkowitsch appointment: Testament of growing partnership (media)
• EU conditions Serbia’s integration with normalizing relations with Kosovo (RFE)
• Osmani: At first govt meeting, I’ll propose withdrawal from Open Balkan (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: PACE expected to adopt recommendation to admit Kosovo (N1, media)
• PACE Political Committee approved no amendments filed by Serbia, dismissed those from Italy related to CSM (KoSSev, media)
• Biljana Pantic Pilja: PACE Committee voted against our amendments, we will file objection (Tanjug)
• Gathering because of armed persons appearing in Suvi Do village, near Lipljan (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
• Xharra: More than 700 police officers with criminal offenses part of Kosovo police (Kosovo Online)
• Protest over the murder of women, demands to confront Osmani: Enough with the conference, introduce a state of emergency (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic meets with Lajcak in Mostar (Tanjug, social media)
• Dacic, Bayramov discuss strategic partnership between Serbia, Azerbaijan (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: A new round of dialogue on Thursday (Tanjug)
• EU ambassadors adopted the updated text for chapter 35 with Serbia (Tanjug, RTS, media)

International:

• Wider Europe Briefing: Kosovo could finally get in the Council of Europe (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Justice for victims and punishment of criminals is foundation of peace (RTK)
Slovenian President: We support you towards membership in the Council of Europe (RTK)
Begaj: It is Albania’s duty to be a good lawyer for Kosovo (RTK)
Gervalla: Giant step towards CoE membership, on Tuesday (RTK)
​​Zulfaj: Membership in CoE should not be linked to dialogue, we expect positive vote (Koha) 
Svecla meets EU official, raises concerns about Serbia’s successive public threats (Koha)
Settlement of disputes with Kosovo, condition for Serbia also in purchase of armaments (Koha)
Kosovo convenes Security Council: Serbia owns thousands of Iranian drones (Koha)
Palokaj: Italy proposed to introduce Association as condition for Kosovo's membership in CoE (Koha)
MFA: Three Kosovars evacuated from Israel (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian delegation seeks postponement of Pristina's CoE admission (Tanjug, KoSSev)
Pantic Pilja: Through amendments, we are trying to mitigate Opinion of Dora Bakoyannis (Kosovo Online)
Spain will not vote for Kosovo admission to Council of Europe (Kosovo Online, media)
PIK launched investigation into report from a Serb beaten up by Kosovo special police in Zubin Potok (KoSSev)
Bisevac on beating of Stevanovic: Citizens are afraid, result of it is that they are leaving (Radio KIM)
Vucic starts visit to BH on Air Serbia flight to Mostar (N1)

International Media: 

Hague Prosecution Demands 28 Years for Kosovo’s ‘Commander Wolf’ (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, 15 April, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• International Forum for Women Peace and Security starts in Prishtina (media)
• Clinton: Kosovo has made “important progress” toward gender equality (RFE)
• Gervalla: Vote tomorrow will pave way to Kosovo’s membership at CoE (RTK)
• MFA: Serbia’s propaganda in full opposition with reached agreements (media)
• Bislimi meets deputy director of European Foreign Service, emphasizes need for removal of EU measures against Kosovo (media)
• Lajcak expects Bislimi and Petkovic to be “open-minded” in the following meeting (Albanian Post)
• Statistics Agency: Census expected to conclude before targeted date (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Vucic: Pristina prepared a trick with A/CSM (KoSSev, RTS)
• Starovic: There is no normalization while north is occupied by Kosovo police (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Lawyer files appeal over Sofronijevic’s detention (RTS)
• Serbian List: Arrest of Sofronijevic and beatings of Stevanovic “new values” for CoE (Radio KIM, Danas, BETA)
• Serbian Democracy: A Serb beaten by special forces in the village of Bube; KP: Case reported, PIK takes over the investigation (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• Why Serbs in the north don’t want to take part in the census? (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Dimitrijevic: Crème de la crème of journalists from Albanian community seek to glorify their values through their reporting, that’s where we differ (KoSSev)

International:

• Prosecution Investigates Claims of Professor’s Sexual Harassment after BIRN Investigation (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti expects Kosovo to join Council of Europe in May (Gazeta Express)
• Knaus: Important week in Strasbourg for Kosovo at Council of Europe (media)
• Participants from 40 countries to attend Women, Peace, and Security Forum (Kallxo)
• Osmani: Traces of sexual violence of Serbian criminals weigh on lives of citizens (Koha)
• Kurti meets Oliphant, discuss strengthening Kosovo-Canada relations (media)
• Reactions to murder of 21-year-old woman in Ferizaj on Friday (media)
• Albanian American Civic League reacts to Vucic’s statement (media)
• Osmani condemns attack on Israel, “peace efforts must prevail” (media)
• Kurti condemns Iran attack on Israel, “world needs to prioritize ending hostilities” (media)

Serbian Language Media:
• Petkovic: Beatings, arrests of Serbs obvious values which Kosovo recommends for the CoE (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, X)
• Vucic: All violators of Serbia's constitutional order will be prosecuted, arrested and tried (Kosovo Online)
• Kurti: "20,000 victims of sexual violence - part of the Serbian genocide"; Petkovic: Stop lying, the number 20 times smaller (KoSSev)
• Ethnic Serb, wounded during a 2021 special police action, arrested at Brnjak; Office for KiM: Sofronijevic’s arrest instigated by the US and the EU (KoSSev)
• SL: The arrest of Sofronijevic continues the terror against the Serbian people (Kosovo Online)
• The “Cuska” case verdicts to be announced at the end of the month (KoSSev)
• Spain against Kosovo's accession to the Council of Europe (Kosovo Online, Blic, Tanjug)
• Dacic with Szijjártó: Hungary will vote against Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe

Albanian Language Media:

• Maqedonci to Viehe: Deployment of Serbian military troops around border, threat to stability (Reporteri)
• Rohde on Kurti-Sarrazin meeting: Berlin process is key element (media)
• Paris conditions Serbia’s purchasing of combat aircraft with normalization of relations with Kosovo (Klan)
• Gervalla calls on diaspora to participate in population census process (Klan)
• Krasniqi repeats call for early elections: main race will be between PDK and LVV (media)
• Specialized Chambers clarify rejection of Thaci's request to replace Judge Guillou (Reporteri)
• Analysts: Dialogue needs mediators from powerful European states (RTK)
• Indictment against a Kosovar for crimes against humanity committed in Syria and Iraq (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic to Troccaz: Pristina's membership in the CoE a reward for discrimination and pressure on Serbs (Kosovo Online)
• Mali: Vucic sent letters to European leaders this morning regarding the reception of Kosovo to the CoE (Tanjug, TV Happy, media)
• Petkovic and Dacic today to meet the head of UNMIK (Kosovo Online)
• Hill: Serbia faces very difficult political issues (N1)
• The British Telegraph editor in bulletproof vest and without a helmet from the Leposavic hill determines whether there will be a "Serbian invasion of Kosovo" (KoSSev, N1, X)
• Vucic met Chinese Ambassador, discussed challenges awaiting Serbia (Tanjug, media)
• Vucic receives Ghanaian FM (Tanjug)
• Serbian leadership with Dodik, Cvijanovic: Vucic to ask UN to review procedures (N1, RTS)

International:

• Police Disperse Protest for Kosovo Professor’s Firing over Harassment Claims (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti says he and Sarrazin talked about Berlin Process and importance of respecting agreements (Klan)
Osmani hosts Sarrazin, highlights importance of Council of Europe membership (media)
Sarrazin: Voting in north, a good opportunity for new momentum (Koha/Telegrafi)
Kurti meets Borg, thankful for OSCE’s continuous contribution (media)
Borg: Continuation of dialogue and implementation of agreements - key for regional security (media)
Osmani: NATO and KFOR have high credibility among Kosovo citizens (RTK)
Haziri: Kurti’s resignation, right way toward new general elections (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic on the Quint criticism of boycotting the vote on April 21: Shame on you (Kosovo Online)
Sarrazin says the referendum boycott call a difficult signal; Non-formation of the A/CSM does not lead to the EU; no hint of invasion plans (KoSSev, KiM radio)
Dacic met French special Western Balkans envoy (Tanjug)
Dacic thanks Ghana for supporting Serbia's territorial integrity, sovereignty (RTS, Tanjug)
Kreni-Promeni movement: "We place in Belgrade posters of Vucic and Hill trading lithium and Kosovo, and call for a protest on April 13 in front of RTS" (Danas)
The KPK proposed temporary ''replacements'' for three months in N.Mitrovica after the resignation of the Serbian prosecutors (Kosovo Online)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, 11 April, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani receives OSCE chairman, discusses Kosovo's membership in the CoE (media)
• Gervalla informs OSCE chairman about situation in the north (media)
• Dinar gathers chief negotiators of Kosovo and Serbia again next week in Brussels (media)
• FH: Serbia's refusal to recognize Kosovo, big challenge in democratization (media)
• KSF receives logistic equipment from Germany worth €2.7 million (media)
• Elezi on placing cameras at polling stations in north: They apply to all election processes (Klan)
• Citaku: Kurti brutally interfering in North Macedonia’s elections (ekonomia)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Vucic refuted that he “was preparing for invasion” of Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Trajkovic: Both Belgrade and Pristina see Radoicic as “a danger if he speaks what he knows about both of them” (KoSSev)
• Dacic: Serbia to contribute to dialogue amid global crisis (Tanjug)
• Djedovic Handanovic: "Elektrosever" and EPS stand behind the citizens, there is a lot of misinformation (Radio Mitrovica sever, TV Pink)
• EU Spokesperson: Still without date for meeting in Brussels next week (Kosovo Online)
• Szunyog meets Bishop Teodosije, discusses SOC matters, including returning land to Decani Monastery (Kosovo Online, social media)
• EU ambassadors supported visa liberalization for holders of Serbian passports from Kosovo (KiM radio, Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Dimitrijevic: Kurti causes animosity among Serbs in Kosovo, the SL decisions not in their interest (KoSSev)

International:

• Serbia: Freedom in the World 2024 Country Report (freedomhouse.org)

Albanian Language Media:

QUINT: Serbian List should reconsider its position on boycotting voting in the north (media)
Rohde: Serbian List should calculate the consequences of the boycott (RTK)
Svecla about incident: Time to place explosives has passed (media)
Serb who found explosive under car says it was a threatening message (Koha)
Kadiu: Serbia's illegal passports violate Kosovo's sovereignty (RTK)
Pahor confirms plans to replace Lajcak, has Golob's support (Koha)
Next OSCE Chairman , to visit Kosovo today (RTK)
Former COMKFOR: Attack in Banjska was terrorist, institutions of Serbia were also involved (Klan)
Vucic met OSCE head: I emphasized consequences of violation of agreements by Kosovo and international community (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

CEC certified voters’ lists for mayoral recall vote in the north, almost 1.500 voters more compared to April 2023 local elections (KoSSev)
Marinkovic: Pristina would directly benefit from referendum boycott, there are no objective conditions on ground for census (KoSSev)
Gogic: If mayors in north remain in power, they will continue to act against interests of local population (Kosovo Online)
Dacic: Eleven years after Brussels deal, Pristina still refusing to form Community of Serb Municipalities (Tanjug)
Greece's position on Kosovo remains unchanged – news report (Tanjug, ANA)
Vucic meets with Chinese minister of commerce (Tanjug, media)
MoD: Purchase of Rafale jets no violation of Serbia's military neutrality (media)
Pahor Slovenia’s candidate for EUSR for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (N1 Slovenia, N1 Belgrade)
KFOR helps Kosovo police remove IED (N1)

International Media: 

Kosovo Urged to Address Concerns About Census Amid Serb Boycott (Balkan Insight)
Kosovo Deplores European Parliament’s Vote to Provide Visa Free Travel to Serb Citizens with Serbian Passports (Prishtina Insight)
Kosovan police load up with weapons on the Serbian border as tensions rise (The Telegraph)
Serbia says it's close to a deal to buy French-made fighter jets. That would be a shift from Russia (AP)