UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 20, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• EU calls for unity among party leaders (Telegrafi)
• Mustafa: Kurti to lift tariff, annul dismissal decision, and apologize (RTK)
• Thaci: KPHI and the police are promptly doing their job, KSF ready (RTK)
• KDI argues against non-confidence motion (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• New 15 cases of coronavirus in Serbia - 118 in total (B92)
• Serbia closed its borders, intercity traffic stops at noon (B92)
• Vucic: Curfew will be extended (B92, RTS)
• Most of us will be affected for some months, UN's Antonio Guterres says (N1)
• Website of Trustbuilding Platform in Kosovo introduced (KoSSev)
• Passengers at Jarinje crossing point told they would have to be quarantined in Pristina? (KoSSev)
• COVID-19: Governments must promote and protect access to and free flow of information during pandemic (KoSSev)
• Serbian Commissioner says right to information not suspended (N1)
• Norway donates to Serbia EUR 5 million to fight coronavirus (RTS)

International:

• Pandemic Forces Balkan Politicians to Get Serious, At Last (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo seeks help from Turkey to fight coronavirus (aa.com.tr)
• Prishtina protests from its balconies (Prishtina Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbia’s virologist: Vaccine is urgent, or coronavirus will be seasonal disease (N1)
• Kon: Epidemic will last another six weeks in this regime (Tanjug, B92)

Another case of coronavirus confirmed (media)
Health Minister: Infected persons in stable condition (RFE)
Prishtina protests from its balconies (Prishtina Insight)
Osmani and two other LDK MPs do not sign no confidence motion (RTK)
LDK deputy leader: We can continue governance if Kurti removes tariff and returns Veliu (KTV)
PDK: We will come up with a statement very soon (KosovaPress)
Limaj: NISMA will support no confidence motion (RTK)
Haradinaj: I wont be part of any govt that talks about partition (T7)
834 citizens request to return to Kosovo (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Haradinaj does not rule out joining a technical government (media)
• EP Rapporteur warns against non-confidence motion (Koha)
• NATO Chief requests lifting of tariff and resumption of dialogue (RTK)
• LVV continues to ignore no confidence motion (Express)
• Veliu: LDK does not allow breach of partnership with U.S., Kurti is a coward (RTK)
• Number of coronavirus cases in Kosovo reaches 20 (RFE)
• Daniel Serwer writes a letter to President Thaci (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Serbia, eight new cases of coronavirus - a total of 97 (B92, covid19.rs)
• Brnabic: If needed, state of emergency could last four months (B92, Tanjug)
• RFE: Agreement reached on Lajcak as EU Special Representative (Kontakt plus radio, RTK2)
• Stoltenberg: Tariffs on Serbian goods not helpful, NATO operational in coronavirus circumstances (Tanjug, Kosovo-online)
• Rakic responds to Bahtiri: In sea of Bahtiri’s lies, only true thing is that he did not get permit from us (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic and Merkel’s video meeting: Fast dialogue resumption (Tanjug, B92)
• Radovic: Kosovo police are proceeding according to an operational plan (KoSSev)
• Fabrizi: EU will continue helping Serbia (FoNet, N1, Blic)

Opinion:

• Listening To The Pandemic: Time To Get Real (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo’s Crisis-Hit Govt Threatened with No-Confidence Vote (Balkan Insight)
• Belgrade Streets Empty as Serbian Curfew Begins (Balkan Insight)
• The Latest: Serbia closes main airport for passenger flights (wboc.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• As Cities Around the World Go on Lockdown, Victims of Domestic Violence Look For A Way Out (time.com)

LDK initiates motion of no confidence (media)
Prime Minister Kurti press conference (media)
Veseli: PDK will soon decide on no-confidence motion (Indeksonline)
Osmani: Me and Lumir Abdixhiku were against the motion (media)
Kurti and Risi discuss security implications of COVID-19 (RTK)
Merkel and Vucic for reopening of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue as soon as possible (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 18, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• PM Kurti dismisses Interior Minister (media)
• Mustafa to Kurti: Cancel Veliu's dismissal, remove tariff (media)
• Mustafa: Veliu's dismissal is unacceptable (media)
• Thaci: State of Emergency could last 30 days (media)
• Veseli supports state of emergency proposal (media)
• President’s decree has not reached the Assembly (RTK)
• Reactions on Thaci’s request to adopt decree for a state of emergency (social media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian List: We reject Pristina's hidden intention to deploy troops in northern Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Djuric to Serbs in Kosovo: Respect measures of Serbian Government on coronavirus (Kosovo-online, Radio kontakt plus)
• New 11 cases of coronavirus in Serbia, a total of 83 patients (B92)
• Serbia introduced new measures last night to fight coronavirus (RTS, B92)
• Chinese Ambassador tells Vucic: Aid to battle coronavirus coming (N1)
• It's confirmed, new phase: Coronavirus hit the last country in Europe (B92, CDM)
• "Europe is epicenter of crisis" (BETA, B92, Bild)

Opinion:

• Mushkolaj: Politics with people's lives (Express)

International:

• Serbia Restricts Movement for Migrants, Asylum-Seekers (Balkan Insight)

Thaci: Get together and ratify state of emergency (RTK)
Government does not agree with Thaci’s proposal for state of emergency (Koha)
Veliu: State of emergency should be declared (RTK)
Kurti and Varhelyi agree to work in solidarity with each other (RTK)
Mustafa claims virus is spreading rapidly, urges president to declare state of emergency (Express)
Haradinaj on proposal for state of emergency (Indeksonline)
Haxhiu: Regrettable if Thaci wants primary role in these circumstances (media)
Number of infected with COVID-19 reaches 19 (media)
Apostolova calls on Kurti to remove tariff (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• President Thaci calls for mobilisation of KSF (media)
• PM Kurti address to Western Balkans Conference (media)
• Western Balkans Prime Ministers meet online (RTK)
• All incoming flights with passengers suspended (media)
• ContourGlobal halts plans to build “Kosova e Re” power plant (Media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Conflict between citizens on the Ibar River (RTK2, KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
• Djuric: Albanians try to provoke conflicts again (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, TV Pink)
• North Mitrovica mayor Rakic urge international community and Kosovo Government to prevent illegal works on Ibar River (Kosovo Online)
• Eight new cases of coronavirus in Serbia, a total of 65 (B92)
• The Government of Serbia passed the Decree: Constitution guaranteed rights restricted (B92, Tanjug)
• Sixteen years since March pogrom in Kosovo (KoSSev, N1)
• Djuric: Serbia resolved not to allow repetition of March violence (Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic: More drastic measures may be introduced tonight (B92, Tanjug)
• Democracy watchdog appeals for election postponement in Serbia, stops monitoring (N1)
• Gracanica: Increased measures of precautions (KIM Radio)
• In Serb communities in Kosovo Pomoravlje district no infected persons with coronavirus (RTV Puls)

Opinion:

• Don’t Leave Roma out of EU Enlargement Talks (Balkan Insight)

International:

• EU to Ban Entry to 26 Schengen Area Countries (schengenvisainfo.com)
• Public authorities enforce coronavirus measures (Prishtina Insight)
• Lavrov's Visit To Serbia Postponed Over COVID-19 Concerns - Serbian Foreign Ministry (urdupoint.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Experimental COVID-19 Vaccine Test Begins as U.S. Volunteer Receives First Shot (time.com)

Number of confirmed coronavirus cases reaches 16 (media)
President considering state of emergency (Indeksonline)
Thaci urges citizens to stay at home (media)
Health Institute: Go out only for emergency cases (media)
KSF raises readiness due to coronavirus (Koha)
Pristina Mayor: Stay at home! (Klan Kosova)
US Embassy calls on leaders to set aside differences (media)
Malisheva Mayor: Every village has visitors from Italy (media)
Hundreds of Kosovars from Italy came to Restelica (Indeksonline)
"If citizens aren't totally isolated, disastrous consequences" (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 16, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• 13 confirmed coronavirus cases in Kosovo (media)
• Health Institute: Please stay at home (media)
• Pristina Airport with additional explanations (media)
• The infected with CoronaVirus, in a stable condition (RFE, RTK)
• US Embassy in Pristina cancels visa appointments (media)
• Haradinaj: Government unprepared in case of escalation of situation (RTK)
• Mayor: Dumnica village in quarantine (Express)
• Podujeva’s zone with first COVID-19 case disinfected, three villages quarantined (RFE, RTK)
• Kurti nominates government Spokesperson (gazetaexpress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Government of Serbia: Measures introduced during a state of emergency (media)
• Vucic urged citizens: Respect state's recommendations, we have to win this battle (media)
• Mitrovica North: There is enough food and medications, no case of coronavirus registered (TV Most, Kosovo-online)
• Seven new cases, 55 in total (B92)
• "Don't make us impose a curfew" (B92, Prva TV)
• Trial in Oliver Ivanovic’s murder case postponed until further notice (B92, Kosovo-online)
• Vucic-Merkel video-conference postponed (Tanjug)
• Montenegro closes borders over coronavirus pandemic (BETA, N1)

Opinion:

• Coronavirus: The Pandemic Stress Test (Balkan Insight)
• Preventing panic (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Tight-Lipped Balkan Governments Scramble to Defend Against COVID-19 (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia Imposes State of Emergency, Pleads for China’s Help (Balkan Insight)
• Albania Adopts Punitive Fines for Breaching Coronavirus Restrictions (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Coronavirus: Live Updates (Balkan Insight)
• HIV: prejudice that endures (Prishtina Insight)

Four more affected with COVID-19, 13 patients in total (RTK)
Government new measures against coronavirus (media)
Health Minister calls on PM to declare state of emergency (media)
Kosovo govt declares state of emergency for public health (media)
Kurti to people: Once I called you to protest, now it is brave to stay home (media)
PM Kurti thanks MPs for adopting budget (Koha)
Osmani: We passed budget, avoiding govt shutdown (media)
EU Special Representative welcomes budget adoption (media)
PDK's Krasniqi replies to Apostolova on budget (media)
Kosovo Assembly adopts resolution on dialogue (media)
Opposition leader criticizes resolution on dialogue (media)
Hoti: Tariff must be lifted fully and immediately (media)