UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 5, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: It will be known within this week about claims on weapons in the churches (Koha)
• KFOR: No evidence of weapons in churches; Kosovo responsible for rule of law (Koha)
• Kurti: There is no solution because the agreement is not being implemented (Koha)
• Lajcak on meeting with Osmani (media)
• Szunyog: Measures to be lifted when Kosovo contributes to de-escalation of situation in the north (Reporteri)
• Kurti refuses to meet with Rama without a meeting of the governments (Koha)
• Citaku slams Kurti for refusing to meet Rama (media)
• Kurti appreciates the role that the UN has played in Kosovo (Klan)
• Jablanovic detained for illegal crossing of the border (Koha)
• Journalists Associations head express concern about Klan Kosova situation (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic to Lajcak: Serbian people in Kosovo exposed to worst torture in last 15 years (NMagazin, N1)
• Vucevic: Peter Stano makes irritating statements, empty shell of bureaucratic vocabulary (Beta, NMagazin, TV Pink)
• Dacic with the chargé d'affaires of the Great Britain Embassy regarding the statement of MP Kearns (Kosovo Online, Danas)
• KFOR: There is no evidence of the alleged smuggling of weapons into Orthodox churches (KiM radio, RTS)
• Cvijanovic: Even KFOR has to refute lies of “ferocious Albanian lobbyists in Britain” (RTRS, Kosovo Online)
• Serbian Minister of Defence: Serbian Orthodox Church target of Albanian lobbyists (N1, FoNet)
• Elek: We are threatened by humanitarian disaster, we can’t deliver medicines, let alone weapons (Novosti, Kosovo Online)
• Krasniqi: New directors have been appointed in the Municipality of Leposavic (Kim Radio)
• Sretena Bojovic denies that she took over the position of director in the Municipality of Leposavic (KiM radio)
• While the public’s attention is on three other northern municipalities, what is happening under the table in N.Mitrovica? (Part II, KoSSev)
• Muhaxheri compares Kurti’s approach to north with that of Milosevic on Kosovo in 1989 (KoSSev)
• Jablanovic refutes being at illegal crossing (Tanjug)
• KFOR Commander visits Leposavic today (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Moving—bottom-up—beyond the crisis in Kosovo (socialeurope.eu)

International:

• First effects of EU sanctions sting Kosovo (Euractive)

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti to Lajcak: Unfair measures make the dialogue asymmetrical (RTK)
Lajcak meets Osmani and Kurti: There is understanding of EU's demands (RTK)
Konjufca: Vucic directly responsible for situation in north; measures unfair (T7)
Davenport: There is an urgent need for de-escalation (media)
EU excludes Kosovo, Montenegro, and Republika Srpska from grants (RFE)
Sunak: I am particularly concerned about situation in north of Kosovo (Klan)
Kearns: Weapons smuggled from Serbia were placed in Serb churches (media)
Haliti: Mayors of northern municipalities can help de-escalate the situation (KTV)
IMC asks MPs to address by law the concentration of media ownership (KTV)
Serbian Language Media:
Vucic meeting Lajcak today in Belgrade (RTS)
Diocese of Raska-Prizren: Urgently investigate the dangerous accusation of the British MP (RTS, media)
Sunak: Great Britain condemns attacks on members of KFOR; leaders of Kosovo and Serbia in charge of reducing tensions (Danas, Kosovo Online)
EC President, Serbian PM discuss importance of normalizing relations with Kosovo (Beta, N1)
Michel calls for de-escalation in north Kosovo, continued dialogue (Tanjug)
Jevtic and Sekulic detention extended for another month (RTS)
Serbian List: No indictment has ever been filed against Milan Radoicic (NMagazin, Beta)
International Media:
Opposition Calls for Overthrow of Government Amid EU Sanctions (BIRN)
Lajcak presents a plan to Kosovo, out of 12 points 3 are problematic (euronews.al)
Kosovo: Dutch, Luxembourg PMs urge de-escalation (DW)
Standoff over Kosovo’s Top Prosecutor Hurts Crime Fight, Experts Warn (BIRN)
The leaders of the Netherlands and Luxembourg tell Kosovo and Serbia to normalize ties for EU hopes (AP)
EU wants concrete steps by Kosovo to ease tensions before lifting sanctions –envoy (Reuters)
NGOs Fear EU Measures Against Kosovo Could Hit Civil Society Funds (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Kosovo has demonstrated its will for de-escalation (media)
• Kurti: Allowing Basic Agreement to go without signatures, a big mistake (Koha)
• Kosovo leaders’ messages on July 4 (media)
• Kurti confirms meeting with Lajcak today (Nacionale)
• Albanian PM Rama to stay in Pristina and Belgrade this week (Kosovapress)
• Stoltenberg’s term as NATO SG extended until October 2024 (media)
• Krasniqi meets Rasic: Four Serbs become part of Lulzim Hetemi’s office (Albanian Post)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic on the Serbian List appeal: A political message demanding the reaction of the state of Serbia (Beta, Kontakt plus radio, B92)
• Ambassador Tolkach: Ukraine will not change stance on Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Lawyer files appeal for protection of legality to Supreme Court in case of Dalibor Spasic (Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic met PMs of Netherlands, Luxembourg (Tanjug, media)
• Petkovic: Rada Trajkovic attacking Serbs with same forcefulness as her boss Kurti (Kosovo Online)
• Rada Trajkovic: Kurti in a conflict with the EU and USA (KiM radio, N1)
• Brnabic, Michel discuss in Brussels stability in W. Balkans, EU integration (Tanjug)
• EC launches new Western Balkans investment package (FoNet, N1)
• Stano: Lajcak arrives to finally achieve de-escalation (Beta, Danas)

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti: Our path is clear, it is the European one (media)
Osmani to meet Lajcak, and Dutch and Luxembourg PMs today (media)
EU confirms Lajcak’s visit to Pristina, at Borrell’s request (Reporteri)
PDK calls for early elections, suspends communication with Kurti, Osmani (media)
Clinton: Stop the nonsense in the north of Kosovo (Koha)
Osmani: There is serious potential for escalation in north of Kosovo (RTK)
“Police actions in north in line with mandate; we are treating complaints” (Koha)
Svecla comments the arrests for misuse in the MIA (Koha)
North municipalities aim to join Kosovo Association of Municipalities (Reporteri)
Serbian Language Media:
PMs Rutte, Bettel concerned about tensions in Kosovo, Vucic says Serbia will do its best to preserve peace (FoNet, N1, RTS)
Bill Clinton urges Kosovo government to change behavior toward Serbs (BETA, N1)
FM Dacic discusses bilateral relations with Russian Ambassador Botsan-Kharchenko (media)
FM Dacic: Ties between Serbia and Egypt date back to 13th century (media)
International Media:
Dutch and Luxembourg PMs urge Serbia and Kosovo to defuse tensions under shadow of war in Ukraine (AP)
Former U.S. President Clinton Visits Albania, Urges Solution To Crisis In Northern Kosovo (RFE)
Bill Clinton tells Kosovo: stop 'foolishness' in Serb-majority north (Reuters)
Serb Soldier Given Alibi in Kosovo Wartime Massacre Trial (BIRN)
Geopolitical Strife Fuels Dangerous Parallel Crises in Balkans (BIRN)
Press Council of Kosovo Dismisses RTK Board’s Complaint against Kallxo (Prishtina Insight)
Femicides in Kosovo: a product of a society that normalises gender violence (New Eastern Europe)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 3, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Other measures against Kosovo have been warned (Koha)
• Lajcak this week in Kosovo and Serbia (RFE, media)
• Kurti: Vucic regrets saying 'yes' to the basic agreement (Klan)
• Kurti: 45 persons identified so far for attacks against KFOR, police, reporters (media)
• Kusari-Lila: Kosovo has passed the stage of holding International Conferences (media)
• Abdixhiku to start meetings this week “on new path of Republic of Kosovo” (media)
• Jablanovic: Kurti should have met us instead of dealing with street rumours (AP)
• The LDK boycotts the meeting of Assembly Presidency due to EU measures (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lajcak in the coming days in Pristina and Belgrade (RFE)
• Serbian List: Citizens upset, a shock bomb in northern Mitrovica (NMagazin, N1)
• Kurti: ''We have identified 45 persons who are in the terrorist organisations Civil Protection and the Northern Brigade'' (Danas, Kosovo Online)
• Serbian List requests Serbian Government to designate all special police units Kurti sent to north as “terrorist” (Kosovo Online, KoSSev)
• SNF: Kurti opened ‘hunting season for Serbs’, everybody assessed as member of CP or NB will be arrested (KoSSev)
• Slavisa Ristic: Kurti’s aim is expulsion of Serbs, and Belgrade has no response to it (BETA, N1)
• While the public's attention is on three other northern municipalities, what is happening under table in Mitrovica North? (KoSSev)
• President of the CI “For Zubin Potok”: I will not take part in the new elections unconditionally (KiM radio, medijacentar.info)
• Ponos: Serbs in Kosovo have no support in Belgrade (Danas, FoNet, Nova)
• Drecun: Kurti implementing Western goals (Tanjug)

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti says EU penalty measures are “unfair” (Radio Free Europe)
EU: Measures entered into force; we informed government on June 28 (Express)
Lajcak: Despite steps to successfully deescalate, situation fragile (media)
Powerful blast in the north – no injuries reported (Telegrafi)
Kurti on Rama proposal for conference: We have February 27 agreement (media)
Kadiu: Kosovo Serbs to integrate, Vucic wants to destroy democratic order (Koha)
KFOR will conduct three-day trainings in several municipalities (Koha)
SPO will review Dugolli’s request to investigate Dubrava Prison massacre (media)
Pacolli writes public letter to Kurti: Your actions are damaging Kosovo (media)
Serbian Language Media:
Vucic: I expect additional offensive by Kurti and even stronger terror (RTS, media)
After Atic’s proposal, N.Mitrovica MA adopts decision to join Association of Kosovo Municipalities (KoSSev, Radio Mitrovica sever)
Kosovo government paid 101 thousand euros for salaries of 20 integrated Civil Protection members (KoSSev, media)
French Embassy, KFOR, not consulted about Pristina’s decision on “terrorists organizations” (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
Lavrov says Dacic visit being prepared (N1, BETA)
Police found 35 kilograms of narcotics in Djakovica (media)
Zvecan: Metal fence near side entrance to Zvecan municipal building removed (Kosovo Online)
Former President of Serbia, Milan Milutinovic dies (RTS)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We don’t strengthen army to attack others, but to defend ourselves (media)
• EU leaders demand de-escalation in the North according to Borell's 3 points (Express)
• Germany: Designating of terrorist organisations in the north, not in coordination with us (Klan)
• Day two of EU Summit: Situation in Kosovo must be de-escalated fast (RFE)
• Gervalla on EU measures: Unnecessary and a dangerous message (Kosovapress)
• Two prime ministers from EU to visit Kosovo and Serbia next week (Express)
• North Mitrovica decides to join the Association of Municipalities of Kosovo (Koha)
• Kurti's advisor reacts to Lajcak (Express)
• “If sanctioned, Kosovo first country in WB with measures from EU” (Klan)
• Buxhovi warns: If we refuse internationals, the north will declare autonomy (T7/Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Bartolome: We support European plan, but stance of Spain on Kosovo remains unchanged (RTV)
• Weapons confiscated near Podujevo, suspect arrested (KoSSev)
• The SL reaction to declaration of the "Northern Brigade" and "Civil Protection" as “terrorist organisations” by Pristina (KiM radio)
• The EC with a measure against Pristina, withdrew the invitation to participate in the Digital Europe program (RTS, Tanjug)
• Lawyer: The case of Sladjan Trajkovic before the Supreme Court in Pristina (Kontakt plus radio)
• UK Embassy in Pristina: The United Kingdom was not consulted (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• FM Dacic announces “resetting of relations” with Israel (Beta, N1, TV Pink)
• Serbian Armed Forces contingent to join US troops in peacekeeping mission in Sinai (N1)

Opinion:

• Janjic: The decision to declare Northern Brigade and Civil Protection as terrorist is the “worst possible response” (KoSSev)
• AI Models-R-Us Has Big Implications for Democracy (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti presents eight points for de-escalation in north (media)
Govt: Measures against Kosovo would be unfair, we insist on rule of law (Koha)
Kusari-Lila: EU is also responsible for old and new mistakes in dialogue (Koha)
Hovenier: Surprised why no positive response to our requests for north (Klan)
U.S: Designating two organisations in the north as terrorist, uncoordinated (RFE)
Plenkovic: Create conditions for new and comprehensive elections in north (Klan)
Rama: Kosovo must prove the region belongs to the Berlin Process (media)
Haziri: International conference can damage Kosovo (Klan)
Serwer: Vucic is rejecting agreements as soon as he leaves the meeting (media)
Serbian Language Media:
Reactions to Pristina decision to declare “Civil Protection” and “Northern Brigade” as “terrorist organizations” (KoSSev, Kosovo Online, social media)
State Department: Decision of Kosovo to declare two organizations in north as terrorist ones made without coordination with US (RFE, Kosovo Online)
Hill says US and Serbia friends with complex relations (N1, Kosovo Online)
Vucic: Serbs in Kosovo denied very same rights enshrined in US Declaration of Independence (RTS)
Patriarch Porfirije served memorial service at Gazimestan yesterday (Radio KIM)
Petkovic accuses Svecla of lying, says Kosovo police did stop Vucic’s son three times (Radio KIM, Kosovo Online, social media)
International Media:
Kosovo's prime minister offers to hold new elections in tense Serb-majority municipalities (ABC News)
Kosovo designates two Serb groups as terrorist organisations (Reuters)
Kosovo Declares Serb Groups in North ‘Terrorists’ (BIRN)
Kosovo designates two Serb groups as terrorist organisations (The Irish Times)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 29, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• “Civil Protection” and “Northern Brigade” declared terrorist organisations (media)
• Kurti on measures: EU finds in Kosovo most honest ally and partner in region (media)
• Kusari-Lila reacts to the measures that the EU may eventually impose on Kosovo (RTK)
• Borrell: If there is no contribution for de-escalation, there will be costs (media)
• Stoltenberg: Situation in Kosovo demonstrates importance of NATO-EU cooperation (Koha)
• Charles Michel supports Rama's idea for an international conference (RTK)
• Svecla: Kosovo's borders are being protected better than ever before (media)
• Scholz calls for new elections in the municipalities of northern Kosovo (DW, media)
• Svecla: Vucic is a chronic liar; his son was stopped only once (Koha)
• Explosive device thrown at KP in north, a static point/container burned (Express)
• Abdixhiku: We’ll soon present LDK plan to overcome isolation and crisis (media)
• Haradinaj: Government should listen to Secretary Blinken’s advice (media)
• Weapons and licence plates of Novi Pazar in North Mitrovica confiscated (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Situation in northern Kosovo calm but tense, Patriarch Porfirije visits Pec Patriarchate (RTS)
• Serbian List reacts to Kurti’s visit to north (Radio KIM, media)
• Molliqaj: Kosovo police arrested Serbs without court order (Kosovo Online)
• Pristina declared "Northern Brigade" and "Civil Protection" as “terrorist organisations” (KiM radio, Danas)
• Arsenijevic: "Civil Protection" and "Northern Brigade" do not exist in the north of Kosovo (KiM radio)
• NGOs Aktiv and KIPRED published report on institutional responses to incidents targeting non-majority communities in Kosovo (media, social media)
• Pyrotechnic device with “inflammable material” thrown at police kiosk in Mitrovica North (KoSSev)
• Kosovo special police pursued a car in Mitrovica North, disturbing local residents (KoSSev)
• Vucic says guns pointed at his son, his jersey was not taken off (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Lawyer: The Pristina court extended Dusan Obrenovic's detention for another two months (NMagazin, Beta, Kosovo Online)
• The EU demands de-escalation in northern Kosovo, warns of negative consequences (Radio Mitrovica sever, RTS)
• A new international conference on Kosovo? (Danas, FoNet)
• Ilazi: Equating protests with criminal gangs means you don't know the situation in the north (KiM radio)

International:

• BIRN Presents ‘Telco Accountability Research Using Ranking Digital Rights Methodology’ (Balkan Insight)
• Balkan Mobile Users Roam Freely – Unless They’re in Kosovo (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:
Kosovo government responds to EU on penalty measures (media)
EU leaders: Failure to de-escalate tensions will have consequences (RTK)
U.S. administration shares Congress’ concerns on tensions in north Kosovo (VoA)
Kurti visited the north of Kosovo on Wednesday (media)
Osmani: There’s a solution for the north; we are contacting internationals (RTK)
Kurti concludes his visit to London: I met the supporters of Kosovo (RTK)
Lajcak: Kurti and Vucic agreed on elections, but not on extension (media)
Stoltenberg: Kosovo and Serbia must return to dialogue (media)
KFOR calls for de-escalation, reiterates its mission (RTK)
Palokaj: Albania is joining the dance for Kosovo’s isolation (Koha)
Police stop Vucic's son to remove his jersey with anti-Kosovo slogans (media)
Hate speech against Albanians and calls for Vucic’s resignation (RFE)
Serbian Language Media:
Lajcak: Vucic and Kurti agreed on new elections, Blinken and Von der Leyen deal with solving the crisis (Euronews Serbia)
Vucic: Many difficulties await us in Kosovo (N1, Beta)
Petkovic: West united in condemning Kosovo’s Kurti (N1, RTS, Beta)
Patriarch in Gracanica on St.Vitus: Kosovo is a holy land where there is room for everyone and for every type of prayer (KoSSev)
Gathering for Kosovo Serbs in central Belgrade (N1)
Pasalic: St. Vitus determined the path and destiny of the Serbian people throughout history (NMagazin, Beta)
Journalist Svetlana Vukmirovic's appeal on the ban on entering Kosovo rejected (KiM radio, UNS)
The Serbian National Council invite individuals and parties to participate in its constitution (KiM radio)
Trajkovic: Excessive caution spreads defeatism and apathy among our people (KoSSev)
International Media:
Kosovo Convicts Wartime Guerrilla of Kidnapping Suspected Collaborator (BIRN)
EU warns of punitive measures against Kosovo (European Western Balkans)