UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 24, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• European Council welcomes agreement on path to normalisation (media)
• Gervalla: We don’t have agreement, Serbia refused to sign (Nacionale/Diario de Noticias)
• American Chamber of Commerce welcomes Kosovo-Serbia agreement (Klan Kosova)
• Osmani: NATO prevented extermination of people of Kosovo (Klan Kosova)
• U.S.: NATO’s use of force was both necessary and legitimate (media)
• Kurti to visit Tirana on March 26, will meet Rama and Nikolla (media)
• Krasniqi: Increase of energy tariffs, latest blow against Kosovo families (media)
• PDK spokesperson: We’ll get visa liberalisation as Kurti yielded on Association (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 24th anniversary of NATO bombing commemorated (N1, media)
• Serbian List: We do not take part in elections because of institutional violence against Serbs (RTS, media)
• Brigadier General Giampiero Romano: We do not forget past, but we can go forward (Tanjug)
• Ambassador Hill offers condolence to families of those killed in war and NATO bombing (KoSSev, social media)
• Gasic met Botsan-Kharchenko (Tanjug)
• Four Serbian opposition parties send letter to EU officials and non-recognizers on European plan (Radio KIM)
• Vucic met Dendias (Tanjug)
• Bishop Grigorije: Great Problems Require Great Men to Solve Them (KoSSev)
• Members of opposition parties block traffic in front of Serbian Government (BETA)
• Grenell: No one signed "agreement" (media, social media)
• Chollet thanks Vucic for constructive engagement in Ohrid (Tanjug)
• Jovanovic: Authorities avoid discussion on Kosovo, that is why there is no assembly session (KoSSev)

International:

• Kurti demands condemnation of Serbian List by EU, after their boycott of local elections (BIRN)
• In pictures: 24 years from NATO’s bombing of Yugoslavia (Prishtina Insight)
• As NATO Bombed Yugoslavia, Fear Gripped Serbs in Kosovo (BIRN)

• Borrell: Any attempt to question the agreement is futile (media)
• U.S. expects agreement to pave way to recognition by 5 EU members (Koha)
• Kosovo will implement measures agreed on with Serbia, PM says (Reuters)
• If Association with executive powers becomes mandatory, Kosovo faces new elections, Assembly Speaker says (Prishtina Insight)
• Kurti: SL decision not to take part in elections, sign of Belgrade control (media)
• Von Cramon calls on Serbian List to take part in elections (RFE)
• Vela: Serbia is violating the agreement, sanctions should follow (Albanian Post)
• Hill: Talks for a Kurti-Vucic meeting to explain several things (media)
• U.S. Ambassador to EU meets Kosovo Ambassador to Brussels (media)
• Osmani: NATO membership, one of main objectives (Albanian Daily News)
• Kosovo and Serbia must keep their promise on missing persons (BIRN)
• In Serbia, cooperation with Kosovo scientists can bring threats of violence (BIRN)
• Hovenier: Kosovo remains a champion of Religious Freedom (media)
• Kosovo dervishes welcome spring with centuries-old mystical practices (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: The EU must ensure that the agreed agreements are implemented (media)
• Osmani: Borrelli cannot agree on behalf of Vucic (media)
• Kurti lists “obstacles” in his two-year mandate as prime minister (Koha)
• Abdixiku: Letters of U.S. presidents talked about a final agreement with recognition (media)
• Ziv: Israel and Kosovo committed to opening new chapters of cooperation (RTK)
• Government allocates around €300 thousand for Ukrainian and Afghan journalists in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Simic: ZSO and withdrawal of special police preconditions for Serbs’ return to institutions (N1, FoNet, Politika)
• Vucic: KFOR acted professionally during crisis in Kosovo (N1, media)
• Vucevic: Impression is that Serbia was more constructive partner in Ohrid (Tanjug)
• Sekulic: I am afraid of the unfolding of an extra-institutional nature, elections are also very possible (N1)
• Students opposing the European agreement announced participation in the blockades of institutions (KoSSev, Danas, Beta)
• Hill: Signing the agreement is not very important, implementation is the real issue (NMagazin, FoNet, N1)
• Andric Rakic: If Pristina remains consistent - from April 1, Serbs with KM licence plates will not be able to drive in Kosovo and use crossings (Danas)
• The first test of the Ohrid agreement is the Serbian List participation in the elections on April 23 (Danas, FoNet)
• Dacic meets with OSCE's Schmidt in Vienna (Tanjug)
• Kurti: The degree of self-management will not be the same as the CSM (ZSO) (RTS)

Humanitarian/Development:

• How did Crossplag go global? The success story of a Kosovar start-up (BIRN)
• Every village in Kosovo now connected to high-speed broadband internet, with World Bank support (worldbank.org)

• EU Envoy says agreement reached by leaders of Kosovo, Serbia is turning point on road to normalisation (Radio Free Europe)
• Kurti: Vucic declined generous offer of self-management for K-Serbs (media)
• Starovic reacts to Kurti’s offer for self-management for K-Serbs (media)
• Vela reacts to Vucic saying Serbia won’t agree to Kosovo UN membership (media)
• NATO chief on Ohrid agreement: Parties to fully implement it (Klan Kosova)
• Kurti: We’ll address shortcomings identified in State Department report (media)
• State Department report: Domestic violence still a problem in Kosovo (BIRN)
• Szunyog meets Krasniqi, discuss opposition’s support for agreement (media)
• Lajcak, ICRC President discuss missing persons cases in Balkans (Express)
• Hasani: South Tyrol can be a model for the Association in Kosovo (T7)
• Kurti meets generals Hoppe and Hammerstein (media)
• COMKFOR Ristuccia meets Mojsilovic in Belgrade (media)

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)