UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 21, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• UN hails agreement between Serbia and Kosovo (media)
• Kurti: I expect international factors to reprimand Serbia (media)
• Musliu: For PDK, the agreement is unacceptable (Kallxo)
• Krasniqi: State Department report shows failure of Kurti’s government (media)
• Rexhepi on Association: Doesn’t have to do with minority rights (KTV)
• “Bad ending”; Selimi, Ischinger and Maliqi predict failure of Ohrid agreement (Express)
• Mustafa: Kosovo didn’t win anything; deal helped avoid instability in the north (media)
• What is self-management? (Albanian Post)
• Serwer: Ohrid agreement did not have any major content (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Legally binding for Serbia when it signs or verbally agrees (KiM radio, N1, FoNet)
• Todic on expropriation, international organisations’ responses (Kosovo-Online)
• Belgrade and Pristina complicate life for Serbs from the North of Kosovo with moves around vehicle plates: Is a new crisis approaching? (Danas)
• Vucic: Italy a sincere friend, has never put Serbia under grave pressure (Tanjug)
• Tajani: Balkans has strategic significance (Tanjug, media)
• Dacic: Serbia has set aside 1.5 mln euros more in aid to Syria, Turkey (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Power Has Corrupted Vetëvendosje’s ‘Operating Map’ (BIRN)

International:

• After Agreement, Kosovo and Serbia Argue Over Implementation (Balkan Insight)
• 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (state.gov.)

• Borrell: Ohrid Agreement creates new status-quo in dialogue, Association is an urgent matter (media)
• Kurti: We have enough votes for membership in the Council of Europe (TeVe1)
• Murati: Kosovo wasn’t allowed at donors' conference without a footnote (media)
• State Department: Government corruption and gender-based violence, among key problems in Kosovo (media)
• Guerot: There will be consequences if agreements are not respected (media)
• Hovenier thanks Osmani for sharing experiences and thoughts (RTK)
• Haradinaj: Three objectives must be achieved in first phase of implementation of agreement (TeVe1)
• Serbia, Kosovo ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ on EU-backed deal unpacked (euractiv)
• Serbia and Kosovo Weren’t Desperate Enough for an Ohrid Breakthrough (BIRN)
• UAE welcomes Serbia-Kosovo agreement on plan to normalise relations (wam.ae)
• Analysts on Ohrid meeting: It did not bring what was expected, there is no agreement without compromise (eoronews.al)
• Prosecution Case in Kosovo Ex-Guerrillas’ Trial ‘Could Take Six Years’ (BIRN)
• Serbian List: We won’t take part in elections without Association (gazeta10)
• Suspect for Arson Attack on Kosovo Journalist’s House Detained (BIRN)
• Francophonie Week Starts in Peja (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Escobar: Implementation of normalisation agreement must start immediately (RFE)
• Hovenier: Kurti to work with us on implementation of Association (Koha)
• Kurti: EU to find mechanism to make agreement legally & internationally binding (media)
• Kurti to report about Ohrid agreement to Assembly on Thursday (media)
• Ischinger: Implementation will require constant supervision, and nudging (media)
• PDK calls for dismissal of Minister Rozeta Hajdari (Telegrafi)
• Tahiri reacts to Osmani: Easiest to criticise internationals when you fail (EO)

Serbian Language Media:

• Civil society: Work to build trust so that political agreements take root and benefit society (Kontakt plus radio)
• Dacic: Serbia managed to protect its national interests in Ohrid (Kosovo Online)
• Jeremic on consequences of European proposal on Kosovo (N1)
• Metropolitan Joanikije: Agreement is unacceptable if it means that Kosovo is treated as an independent state (KoSSev)
• Gathering against EU plan on Kosovo took place on Friday in Belgrade (N1, media)
• SNS top official criticises opposition gathering over Kosovo issue (BETA, TV Pink)
• Opposition calls for new protest against European proposal (Radio KIM)
• Drecun: Progress made in Ohrid, ‘traps’ of EU proposal avoided (Tanjug, TV Pink)
• Montgomery: Vucic deserves full support in fighting against pressure (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Three Serbian houses in Kosovo burglarized (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Serbia and Kosovo Weren’t Desperate Enough for an Ohrid Breakthrough (BIRN)
• Nenezic on the annex to the European agreement: A lot of bureaucracy about a little bit big obligations (KoSSev)
• Lazarevic: These negotiations distance Serbia from Kosovo (N1, KoSSev)
• Hoxha: For the USA more important not to waste time then the signature; inevitable formation of the CSM (ZSO) or whatever it's called (KoSSev, Nova S, News Max Adria)
• Ognjen Gogic: Lower probability of the formation of the CSM (ZSO) after the Ohrid meeting (Danas)
• In the north, "confused" after Ohrid, they don't know anything about plates, institutions... (N1)

• United States welcomes accord between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• State Department urges Kosovo and Serbia to immediately implement their agreement (The Pavlovic Today)
• EU publishes Implementation Annex of Kosovo-Serbia agreement (media)
• Osmani: Accommodative approach towards Serbia should change (media)
• NATO: Kosovo and Serbia to implement what they agreed on (RTK)
• Hovenier on talks in Ohrid: An important agreement has been reached (media)
• Germany congratulates Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• UNMIK chief Ziadeh welcomes progress made in Ohrid (media)
• Ohrid Agreement, Slovak Foreign Minister promises support (RTK)
• Turkey welcomes Ohrid agreement between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Kosovo and Serbia agree to EU plan to normalise relations (Financial Times)
• Despite 'Difficult' Talks, Kosovo And Serbia Reach Agreement On Normalizing Ties (RFE)
• Krasniqi: Kurti accepted everything he had promised not to accept (media)
• PSD to protest on Saturday, demands Kurti's resignation (media)
• Smoke and mirrors make confusion, not peace (peacefare.net)
• Petritsch: Implementation leads to normalisation and recognition (RFE)
• “Kurti couldn’t refuse!” Analyst: He grew politically with the Association (euronews.al)
• Vucic: Serbia ready to work on implementation up to its red lines (Tanjug)
• Opposition criticizes Vucic after Ohrid talks: Citizens are deceived (N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 17, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• EU: The meeting in Ohrid will focus on finalising the Annex to the Agreement (media)
• Escobar optimistic about Ohrid: USA, the biggest supporter of Kosovo in the world (media)
• PM Kurti meets U.S. Envoy Gabriel Escobar (Klan)
• Osmani: Any tendency of Serbia to hinder agreement through conditionality damages dialogue (media)
• Konjufca meets with Escobar: Kosovo is constructive, unlike Serbia as an undermining party (media)
• March 22, deadline for applications for certification of political entities for elections in the north (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 19 years since March violence, organisers not held responsible yet (N1, KoSSev, media)
• Activities to commemorate anniversary of March violence in Kosovo (KoSSev, media)
• Serbian officials on March violence (media, social media)
• US Ambassador Hill on March violence (Kosovo Online, Kurir)
• Vucic: We have still not received draft paper on what EU wants (Tanjug)
• KSF member suspected of wounding Serb youth in Gotovusa sent to house arrest (KoSSev)
• Reactions to send KSF member suspected of wounding Serb youth in Gotovusa to house arrest (Radio KIM, media)
• Vucic thanks Cuba for supporting Serbia's territorial integrity (Tanjug)
• Obradovic: Vucic never said he is against Kosovo membership in UNESCO, Interpol (BETA)
• Vucic: We will preserve integral Serbia as written in Constitution (BETA, N1)

Humanitarian/Development:

• KoSSev director wins award for a story about life in Cernica, award money to be donated to a family in Koretiste (KoSSev, media)

Borrell: Western Balkans can celebrate ‘big step’ if Kosovo and Serbia agree on document (RFE)
Osmani to meet Escobar today (media)
Gjini: We support signing of agreement; it includes recognition (Klan Kosova)
Krasniqi: There will be no agreement on Saturday in Ohrid (media)
Haziri: The agreement does not deserve the LDK’s support (Indeksonline)
Vucic: I don’t plan to sign anything in meeting with Kurti (RFE)
Escobar will take part in Ohrid meeting (RFE)
“Failure to reach agreement increases risk of unrest in north of Kosovo” (VoA)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 16, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Borrell: Time to take responsibility and move towards the EU (media)
• Kurti: We continue to be constructive and committed to open dialogue (media)
• Escobar to visit Kosovo, meet Kurti, one day before Ohrid meeting (Indeksonline)
• Krasniqi: We don’t support agreement in its current version (Kosovapress)
• Haliti: I don’t believe there are people in PDK that will oppose EU plan (media)
• Bunjaku: LDK has not changed position on agreement (EO)
• Fehlinger calls on Romania to recognise Kosovo (Nacionale)
• Albanian representatives in Presevo Valley issue joint statement (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic, Escobar discuss Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Tanjug, media)
• Escobar: EU proposal about normalisation, not recognition (Tanjug, N1)
• People’s Party launches initiative to call for referendum on EU proposal (KoSSev, media)
• Serbian opposition call for protest against EU Plan on March 17 (N1)
• Bishop of Backa Irinej: Church expressed stance on Kosovo (Danas, Kosovo Online)
• A new version of annexes is being drawn up, to be discussed in Ohrid, said Lajcak (FoNet, N1)
• Serbian anti-western media financed by foreign companies (N1, CRTA)
• Hovenier: “According to the European proposal, Serbia not obliged to remove Kosovo and Metohija from the constitution” (RTS, Tanjug, ATV)
• Vucic thanks China for persevering friendship, support to Serbia (Tanjug)
• Civil society appeals to Kurti and Vucic to sign the agreement: “Compromise is a pillar of democracy, not a concession” (KoSSev)
• The last person arrested in the case of murder of Oliver Ivanovic, released from the custody (KoSSev)

International:

• German Ambassador To Kosovo Upbeat On Prospects Of Normalisation Plan Between Kosovo, Serbia (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• KEK chief unionist: If wages not increased, we’ll leave Kosovo in the dark (Nacionale)
• Too Many Children Suffering Abuse in Kosovo Schools, TV Show Hears (BIRN)

• Advisers to European leaders: Form Association, avoid reinterpretations (Koha)
• Geoana: It is time for Kosovo and Serbia to make compromises (Koha)
• Lajcak: Stability of Western Balkans more important than ever for EU (media)
• U.S. Envoy to Kosovo says EU Plan for normalizing relations with Serbia is 'significant step' (RFE)
• Rohde: With an ideal result in dialogue, non-recognizers will get to recognize Kosovo (RFE)
• Kurti meets European Parliament President Metsola (media)
• Kurti: Implementation plan of agreement must contain concrete details (media)
• Mandl: Historically Serbia was aggressor, and Kosovo the victim (Klan Kosova)
• PDK presents to Sarrazin its reservations about French-German plan (media)
• Kosovo's application will not be considered at CoE May summit (Koha)
• President Osmani asks India to reconsider decision on Donjeta Sadiku (media)
• Kosovo streets filled with garbage after cleaning workers' strike (Anadolu Agency)
• 5 million euros per year spent on artificial fertilization in private clinics (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Hovenier on European plan: There is no better agreement (RFE)
• Exclusive: Critical notes from the Agreement (Albanian Post)
• EU: Kurti-Vucic confirmed participation, meetings in Ohrid start at 10:00 (Kallxo)
• Kurti: EU plan must contain concrete details and be comprehensive (Nacionale)
• Kurti seeks support for EU integration in Strasbourg (media)
• Krasniqi meets head of UNMIK, expresses his reservations about EU proposal (media)
• Kurti meets head of LIBE Committee, he assures him of visa-free movement from 2024 (media)
• PDK and LDK ask Kurti for more details about European plan (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Starovic: Important that Belgrade is not recognized as the culprit in the event of the failure of the agreement on Kosovo (Danas, RTS)
• Obradovic: There is a potential for a general rebellion against the government (KiM radio, RTV, Beta)
• NGO: On the horizon are the first signs of declining support for the Serbian List (Danas, Beta, RFE)
• The court in Pristina extended the custody of Sladjan Trajkovic for another two months (Kosovo Online)
• Political graffiti war continues in Belgrade (N1, FoNet)
• Dacic with the CoE Commissioner for Human Rights: Recognized limitations for the sustainable return of Serbs to Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Remembering the First Days of Pandemic (Prishtina Insight)
• Bread for Drenica: When Kosovo Women Marched to Break a Serbian Siege (BIRN)

• Kurti responds to Lajcak: Success of agreement does not depend on me (media)
• Osmani: I expect the internationals to put pressure on Serbia (media)
• Borrell: EU and U.S. cooperate effectively on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Klan)
• Escobar this week in Kosovo and Serbia (Koha)
• U.S.: Kosovo, Serbia to use March 18 meet to prove their commitment (Express)
• German emissary: Kosovo is always strong when it manages to say yes (RTK)
• Prime Minister Kurti travels to Strasbourg (media)
• Abdixhiku: Kosovo needs an agreement with mutual recognition (media)
• Haradinaj: Partnership with the USA is long-term and strategic (RTK)
• Slain Politician Ivanovic’s Widow ‘Afraid to Testify’ in Kosovo Court (BIRN)
• Serbian rightists protest again against the European proposal (RFE)
• Kosovo refuse to compete at IBA Women's Boxing World Championships over "discriminatory" conditions (Inside the Games)