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UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 5, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Borrell: Agreement on the missing, the first step in fulfilling the commitments (media)
• Lajcak and Chollet: Urgent implementation of agreements reached, necessary (RTK)
• KIA: exercises for destabilisation of north are being conducted in Raska (media)
• ‘I Expect Acquittal’: Thaçi Launches War Crimes Defence (Prishtina Insight)
• Finnish ambassador: We support Kosovo in its membership in EU, CIS and NATO (media)
• Hoxhaj: incidents in the north, Serbia's message of obstructing the agreement (Reporteri)
• Tahiri: Kurti government violated Kosovo's sovereignty by talking with Serbia about Association (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic meets with French Senate delegation (Tanjug, media)
• Sarazzin met Brnabic: Implementation of what was agreed in the dialogue is crucial (Beta, N1)
• Sarrazin: Association of Serb majority communities accepted in Pristina (KoSSev, N1)
• James Rubin: It is a time of great hope in the Balkans (N1)
• NATO: Stoltenberg in regular contact with Vucic (FoNet, N1)
• Milatovic: Not realistic for Montenegro to withdraw the recognition of Kosovo, and it is a matter that is very clear (KoSSev, nova.rs)
• Petkovic: Concrete steps to Community discussed for first time (Tanjug)
• People’s Party officials Jovanovic and Aleksic on initiating referendum on French-German agreement (KiM radio, Beta, Nova S)

International:

• Serbia, Kosovo Discuss Establishing Serb Municipalities Body (BIRN)
• War Crime Allegations ‘Absurd’, Kosovo Ex-Guerrilla Tells Court (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 5, 2023

• Ex-Kosovo leader Thaci tells war crimes court he will be exonerated (Reuters)
• Petkovic: We agreed on text of declaration for missing persons (RFE)
• Chollet meets Lajcak; “strong support for EU-led dialogue” (media)
• Varhelyi and Bislimi meet, discuss tasks ahead (media)
• Osmani on NATO anniversary: It is our future (media)
• Kurti meets Guerot, discuss developments in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• UN Special Rapporteur Khan visits RTK (RTK)
• Serbia must implement agreements, compromise with Kosovo to see EU progression (Euractiv)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 4, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti met with emissaries of Germany and Austria for the Western Balkans (RTK)
• Chief negotiators in Brussels: Lajcak first meets Bislimi then Petkovic (Klan)
• Varheleyi meets Bislimi prior to the meeting in Brussels (Reporteri)
• Kurti meets Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates (ekonomiaonline)
• Two years as President, Osmani: My guide remains the citizen’s and the Republic’s interest (media)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo has its place in NATO, next to its friends (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: Pristina will do all to obstruct formation of CSM (BETA, Blic, N1)
• Petkovic meets with Lajcak in Brussels (Tanjug)
• Lawyer: M.B. from Zubin Potok sent to one month detention (KoSSev, Radio KIM, RTS)
• Vucic: The pressure will continue, but Serbia knows how to fight (Politika, Tanjug)
• Brnabic meets with Atlantic Council delegation (Tanjug)
• Leader of the CI "For Zubin Potok'' on the current crisis in Kosovo (Danas)
• Mladenovic: Complain or interrupt the conference when there is no translation (KoSSev, Kontakt plus radio, UNS)
• Representatives of the Serbian List with special representatives for the Western Balkans, Sarazzin and Aigner (Radio Mitrovica sever, FB)

International:

• Thaci's Lawyers Say He Didn't Hold Command Power As Guerrilla Leader During Kosovo War (RFE)
• Trial of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci gets underway in The Hague (euronews)
• Serbia/Kosovo: Start of ex-Kosovo president’s trial for war crimes “an important step along the long road to justice” (amnesty.org)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 4, 2023

Kosovo ex-president Hashim Thaci pleads not guilty to war crimes (BBC) 
Albanians rally for ‘liberators’ outside Hague war crimes court (BIRN) 
Police refute claims by SL that officers distressed woman in Zvecan (media) 
Lajcak hosts Bislimi and Petkovic in Brussels today (Gazeta Express) 
Vela reacts to Vucic, “attempts to destabilise institutions will be thwarted and stopped” (media)  
Szunyog: European models for association don’t threaten Kosovo (teve1) 
UN Special Rapporteur Khan meets media representatives (Klan Kosova) 
Begaj decrees appointment of Vlora Hyseni as head of Intelligence Service (online media)
Is EU running out of steam on Kosovo/Serbia? (EUObserver) 

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 3, 2023

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 3, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Prosecutor says KLA not on trial: Only what four defendants have done (media)
• Rohde: It is not the KLA which is on trial (media)
• Abbott: Neither KLA nor Kosovo struggle for freedom is on trial (media)
• Rama on trial of KLA leaders: They fought against ethnic cleansing (media)
• PDK’s Hoxhaj certain of innocence of former KLA leaders (EO)
• AAK’s Tahiri: Two years of Kurti government most difficult for the country (EO)
• President Osmani appoints Donika Kadaj-Bujupi as advisor (media)
• UN Rapporteur: More progress needed; Assembly should adopt code of ethics (EO)

Serbian Language Media:

• Prosecutor: We will prove that Thaci and others are guilty of crimes in Kosovo and Albania (KiM radio, Beta, media)
• Tensions in the north of Kosovo should not affect the continuation of the dialogue, according to Stano (Radio Free Europe)
• Who threw an explosive device at Kosovo police and set fire to cars of Serbs who re-registered vehicles from Serbian to Kosovo plates? (Danas)
• Serbian officials’ reactions to arrest of M.B. in Zubin Potok (RTS, KoSSev, media)
• People’s Party started collecting signatures for referendum on Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Vucic to Milatovic: Serbia a reliable partner to Montenegro (FoNet, N1)

Opinion:

• Vasic: There is a matrix in Kosovo that usurpers of Serb properties report owners for war crimes (KoSSev, Radio KIM)
• Janjic: Possible demonstrations, barricades, and even armed conflicts in the north of Kosovo (Beta, N1)

International:

• Former Kosovar President Thaci Opens War Crimes Trial With Plea Of Not Guilty (RFE)
• Milatovic claims victory in Montenegro as longtime leader Djukanovic concedes (BIRN)
• Views of Kosovo Women Often Unheard on TV, Attacked Online (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

The Presidency and the Assembly lit up in blue on World Autism Day (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 3, 2023

• Protesters come out in support of Thaci, others on eve of war crimes trial (RFE)
• Thousands rally in support of ex-Kosovo leader before war crimes trial (France24)
• Thaci was a freedom fighter, not a war criminal: Defence Lawyer (BIRN)
• U.S. and Germany condemn burning cars in the north (media)
• Vela: Serbia, Serbian List will be responsible for any escalation (Reporteri)
• Svecla: Serbia protects criminals who commit terrorist acts (media)
• Stun grenade thrown at Kosovo police in the north (media)
• Kosovo-Serbia tensions spike significantly over weekend (Euractiv)
• Rama: We have major disagreements with Serbia over Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo denied participation in Balkan Mathematical Olympiad, Serbia violates Ohrid agreement (media)
• The importance of fact-checking and maintaining credibility in a world of virtual truths (Prishtina Insight)
• Novice politician Jakov Milatovic wins Montenegro presidency (AP)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 31, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Another three vehicles of Serbs with RKS plates burnt in the north (media)
• Vela: Serbia’s illegal structures continue campaign of intimidation (media)
• Szunyog: We condemn the act, those responsible should be identified (media)
• Von Cramon: Both Kosovo and Serbia guilty for lack of progress in dialogue (Klan)
• KFOR ready to deal with any scenario during the elections in the north (Express)
• Haradinaj: The Brussels agreement reflects the return of normality in the north (media)
• PDK invites citizens to join the "March for Justice" (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: Kurti's senseless statement that the Open Balkans is not according to EU rules (Kosovo Online)
• Odalovic: The indictment against Thaci mentions 445 imprisoned, tortured and killed persons (NMagazin, RTS, Beta)
• Petkovic: “Kurti cannot forbid Vucic from visiting Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, he is not asked anything” (NMagazin, Beta)
• Bregu thanks Serbian gov't for supporting RCC (Tanjug)
• Pisonero: Serbia’s EU accession depends on judiciary, relations with Pristina (N1, EWB)
• Kurti on Klan Kosovo: I won’t give Vucic permission to come to Kosovo (KoSSev)
• “KM remains“: Deadline for (re)registration expires today? Queues in front of AMSS (KoSSev)
• Last night, three more vehicles with RKS license plates burned in the north (KoSSev)
• Stano: The agreement on plates has no deadline or expiration date (N1)
• The Milic family in Plemetina robbed (KiM radio, Medija Centar Caglavica)

International:

• Fake News ‘Virus’ Needs ‘Vaccine’, BIRN Media Conference Concludes (BIRN)
• Kosovo: War Crimes Trial to Begin in The Hague (hrw.org)
• Witnesses Claim Kosovo’s ‘Commander Wolf’ Tortured Their Relatives (Balkan Insight)
• Report Warns of Challenges in Western Balkans’ Energy Transition (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 31, 2023

• Kurti: Self-management will not be self-government (TV Klan)
• Osmani: Integrated Kosovo, stability for the region (media)
• Hovenier: Part of agreement has already started to be implemented (Reporteri)
• Vela: Serbia is violating the Brussels agreement (Reporteri)
• US ambassador to Serbia pushes for Ohrid Agreement (Albanian Daily News)
• Spain welcomes Kosovo-Serbia agreement; “don’t miss opportunity” (Telegrafi)
• Krasniqi: This is not about Association at all, but about autonomy (KTV)
• Haradinaj: Ohrid agreement paves way to Kosovo’s NATO membership (media)
• Time for Kosovo to Show Its Full Potential (The Geopolitics)
• Kosovo Albanians skeptical about Hague trial of liberation fighters (BIRN)
• Hate speech and disinformation fuel digital rights abuses in Balkans (BIRN)
• BIRN, NGOs, win court battle against ministry on power plant construction (BIRN)
• Over 65% Serbs don’t believe Kosovo can return under Serbian rule (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 30, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Konjufca at Summit for Democracy: Kosovo has made extraordinary progress (media)
• Vela on reports that Constitutional Court "will bring down" Osmani: attempted coup against institutions (Klan)
• KSF will have a military airport (media)
• Two vehicles with RKS license plates burned in Zubin Potok (media)
• Vela reacts to vehicles of Kosovo Serbs set on fire in Zubin Potok (RTK)
• Haradinaj after meeting Szunyog: Parties should fulfill obligations arising from Ohrid agreement (Klan)
• GLPS with a report on achievements and setbacks in second year of Kurti government (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• ''If the Constitutional Court accepts the request of the former MP Berisha, it may lead to the dismissal of the President of Kosovo'' (NMagazin, Beta)
• Hopes and fears of families regarding the Declaration on Missing Persons in Kosovo (RFE)
• Dveri: Serbs in the north left to themselves, they are re-registering their cars massively (NMagazin, Beta)
• Pantovic: Every Serb accused of a war crime in Kosovo accused in advance (KoSSev)
• Serbian Chamber of Commerce chief says EU needs stable Western Balkans (N1)
• Petkovic: Pristina has no intention of allowing the CSM (ZSO), it wants to deceive Brussels again (Blic, Tanjug)

International:

• Kosovo Guerrilla Chiefs’ Landmark Trial: What are the Charges? (Balkan Insight)
• Four Western Balkan countries launched “100% Alignment with CFSP” platform (EWB)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 30, 2023

Kurti: Agreement is de facto recognition, that’s why Serbia is not signing (media) 
EU doesn’t talk about Kurti’s offer for Association, mentions consequences in case of non-implementation of agreement (Koha) 
Osmani calls on non-recognising countries to recognise Kosovo (media) 
Government: Term “forcibly disappeared persons” will be part of Kosovo-Serbia Declaration (Koha) 
Elections in north, KFOR: No indicators of security threats (Gazeta Express) 
Kurti: Government made concrete steps for gender equality (EO) 
Rafuna: We will meet the Serbian Chamber of Commerce tomorrow (Klan)
Bashkim Nurboja takes post of Central Bank temporarily (Kallxo) 
Rakic meets UNMIK chief, calls for formation of Association (media)