UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 20, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 6 deaths, 48 new cases (media)
• License plates’ reciprocity, Svecla provides details on increase of police forces (RTK)
• Citizens block the roads to Brnjak and Jarinje (media)
• Kurti on action in the North: Serbia agreed to this as well (Ekonomia Online)
• MIA: Do not use Brnjak and Jarinje border points (Koha)
• The road to the Jarinje and Brnjak border points, continues to be blocked (Kallxo)
• EU: Kosovo and Serbia to immediately reduce tensions (RTK/Klan)
• KFOR: The situation in the North is stable (media)
• Serbian media: Vucic to gather National Security Council following Kosovo decision on license plates (Express)
• LDK's Gashi: PM Kurti putting on a 'show' with license plates (Kallxo)
• PDK and LVV clash over Kurti’s role in the KLA (Telegrafi)
• Kurti to undertake U.S. visit in November (Kosovapress/Klan)
• Albanian Assembly Speaker Nikolla to visit Kosovo (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• 38 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio kontakt plus)
• Stano: Lower tensions immediately, sides to refrain from unilateral actions (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• KFOR on events in northern Kosovo: Security situation stable (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic convened an emergency session of the Security Council (B92, Vecernje Novosti)
• ROSU at Jarinje and Brnjak, confiscation of vehicle plates commenced, Rakic urges Vucic to react (RTS)
• Simic called for the restraint of the citizens (B92, TV Prva, Tanjug)
• Issuance of trial RKS vehicle plates has started (KiM radio)
• Replacement of Serbian registration plates started in Gorazdevac (Radio KIM)
• Andric: 9,500 vehicles with Serbian license plates captured in Kosovo (Beta, Danas)
• Stefanovic: ''Explain to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija how you ‘defend’ them '' (Kosovo Online)
• Rada Trajkovic accuses Vucic of misinforming Serbs (Kosovo online)
• Petkovic: Pristina to start issuing temporary license plates for cars with Serb plates as of Monday (KoSSev)
• Milivojevic: By introducing reciprocity, Kurti practically abolishes dialogue (Kosovo-online)
• Lajcak on two-day visit to Belgrade (Radio KIM)
• Lajcak canceled a meeting with civil society in Belgrade (Kosovo Online, Danas)
• Petkovic: Either Brussels agreement will be respected or it shall not exist (Radio KIM)
• Vucic, Erdogan: Friendship with Turkey is guarantee of peace in region (N1)

Opinion:

• Janjic: Vehicle plates are just the beginning of Kurti's measures of reciprocity, Lajcak does not understand, and that leads to war (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Tempers Flare At Serbia-Kosovo Border As Pristina Presses 'Reciprocal' Move Over License Plates (RFE)
• Kosovo deploys police, Serbs protest amid border tension (AP)
• Kosovo Deploys Police as Serbs Protest in Licence Plate Dispute (Balkan Insight)
• Tensions as Kosovo begins removing Serbian licence plates at border (Euronews)

• COVID-19: 10 deaths, 173 new cases (media)
• Government: 35% of adult population is fully vaccinated in Kosovo (media)
• Movement of vehicles with KS license plates to be banned as of today (media)
• Kurti: If we were to sign a final agreement, Serbia would have to change its constitution (euronews.al)
• President Vjosa Osmani insists on concluding dialogue with mutual recognition (euronews.al)
• U.S. Embassy: Discussions with Kosovo government on gas pipeline ongoing (media)
• Serbs consider a possible plan on the north of Kosovo to constitute a threat (Koha)
• President Osmani travelled for official visit to United States (media)
• Rama Links Kosovo’s Membership in ‘Open Balkan’ to Its ‘Dedication to Peace’ (Exit News)
• ‘Relations with Albania Are Cooling,’ Warns Kosovo President (Exit News)
• Albanian PM Rama accepts invitation of Kurti to visit Kosovo (Express)
• Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani: Principled, yet willing to take risks (DW)
• A group of Afghan citizens leave Kosovo for United States (media)
• U.S. Seeks Acceleration Of EU-Balkan Integration, Senior Official Says (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 19 deaths, 279 new cases (media)
• Kosovo making preparations to issue COVID-19 digital passports (RFE/media)
• Kurti: Reciprocity towards Serbia is not an act of revenge (media)
• “Kurti to not debate Washington deal but insist U.S. appoints dialogue envoy” (Euronews Albania/media)
• Rizvanolli: No decisions on gas pipeline without cost information (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• EU envoy Lajcak due in Belgrade on Monday (N1)
• Lajcak met Serbian List’s representatives (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Two more people infected with Covid-19 in Gracanica (KiM radio)
• Resignation after insulting president and prime minister (KiM radio)
• Drecun: Lajcak attempts to give a dynamic to a died down dialogue (RTV Puls, Tanjug)
• Petkovic to Pristina: Plans to conquer North doomed (KoSSev)

International:

• Kosovo Minister Blames Falsified COVID-19 Tests on Wrongly Licensed Labs (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 14 deaths, 368 new cases (media)
• Lajcak expects opposition parties in Kosovo to support the dialogue (media)
• Konjufca: There is only one Kosovo archive and is among world’s most transparent ones (Klan)
• PDK’s Krasniqi: KLA had no archives, it’s world-known fact (media)
• Kosovo not blocking Serbian vehicles’ entry despite agreement expiry (BIRN)
• Human remains recovered at the Kizevak mass gravesite to return to Kosovo (Klan)
• EU deploys 22 long-term election observers to Kosovo (EO/Koha)
• Basha: It is Albania’s duty to support Kosovo (media)
• Death of woman whose family says died after vaccination being investigated (media)
• Two government officials arrested on bribery charges (media)
• Kosovo Urged to Give Syria Returnees More Financial Help (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 14 deaths, 368 new cases (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo, North Macedonia governments’ meeting, a historic moment (media)
• Kosovo and North Macedonia signed 11 agreements today (media)
• Konjufca: Territorial integrity and independence are non-negotiable (media)
• AAK’s Tahiri asks Lajcak to explain issue of KLA archives (Lajmi)
• 117 Afghan nationals expected to fly out of Kosovo today (Radio Free Europe)
• COVID-19 forces parties to avoid conventional campaigns (Indeksonline)
• Rama on Open Balkan: No one can lecture Albania (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Three deaths, 29 newly infected with Covid-19 in Serbian communities (KiM radio)
• "Epidemiological situation in Serb areas in Kosovo serious" (Radio Kosovska Mitrovica, KiM radio)
• Petkovic: Pristina wants to go back ten years and bury the dialogue (RTS)
• The hearing in the case of the murder of Oliver Ivanovic postponed again (KiM radio, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Petritsch: In Washington, the Balkans are increasingly seen as a problem of Europe (Kosovo Online)
• Von der Leyen to visit Belgrade on September 30 (Tanjug)
• Stojanovic: Citizens to decide on their own future (KiM radio)
• Jevtic: Serbian List's victory will be "defeat to the devil" (KiM radio)

International:

• For Kosovo officials, training means travel on taxpayer dime (BIRN)
• European Parliament gives green light to IPA III worth 14.2 billion euro (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• FRONTEX: Illegal Migration Increased by Over 90% in the Mediterranean, Balkan & Western African Route (schengenvisainfo.com)

• COVID-19: 12 deaths, 410 new cases (media)
• Health Institute calls on political parties: Stop rallies with citizens (media)
• Kurti to Lajcak: Kosovo is an equal party in dialogue, not a topic (media)
• Outgoing US Ambassador to Kosovo: ‘Relations Stronger than Stone’ (BIRN)
• ‘Silenced’ Kosovo War Victims Given a Voice at Guerrilla’s Trial (BIRN)
• Kosovo won’t join ‘Open Balkan’, supports ‘Berlin Process’ (Exit News)
• “Germany, steadfast partner of Kosovo’s path to Euro-Atlantic integration” (media)
• Kosovo will be able to appoint liaison officer to Europol (media)
• Haxhiu: Vetting through constitutional amendments, if not Plan B (T7)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 12 deaths, 410 new cases (media)
• Osmani: "Open Balkan" is dangerous (media)
• Balkans towards insecurity without Merkel? (DW Albanian, media)
• Minister Libur Aliu brings details about the Agreement in Belgrade (media)
• Uran Ismaili hands over his MP mandate (media)
• AAK decides to hold only five days of pre-election campaign (RTK)
• Kurti testifies in court about threat he received from Haxhi Hoti in 2019 (Klan)
• Special Prosecutor issues two requests for arrest warrant against three individuals (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic on Kurti's announcement of reciprocity: You cannot influence irrational moves (KoSSev)
• Selakovic: If Pristina launches its recognition campaign, we know what to do (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• The EC president announced a visit to the Western Balkans by the end of the month (Danas, Beta)
• The DFC continues to work with governments to promote economic opportunities in the region (VoA)
• Bieber: Merkel has supported Serbia’s undemocratic regime to some extent (N1)
• Petkovic: ‘’Everything is ready for the celebration of the National Flag Day on KiM’’ (TV Most)
• Dacic on Kurti's announcements: The time of the election campaign (RTK2, Nova S, TV Pink)
• At the Merdare crossing, the reciprocity measure for the vehicle plates from Serbia not applied (KoSSev, KiM radio, RTK2)
• Rakic: The Serbian list and the candidates for mayors received support from President Vucic (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: Elections to be held on April 3 or 17 (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Leaders of dubious motives (KoSSev)

International:

• Kosovo’s Wartime ‘Commander Cali’ Emerges from the Shadows (BIRN)
• Ex-rebel denies war crimes as Kosovo tribunal opens first trial (Reuters)
• Relationship between Berlin Process and Open Balkan discussed during Merkel’s Tirana visit (EWB)
• Serb Unity Day triggers worries across the Balkans (AP)

• COVID-19: 24 deaths, 357 new cases (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo to introduce reciprocity with Serbia (media)
• Merkel: Open Balkans cannot replace the Common Regional Market (Exit)
• Kosovo’s Kurti lists four crucial elements to secure peace and stability in the region (Euronews.al)
• Gervalla: We made it clear to Merkel that Kosovo cannot go back before 2008 (Klan)
• President Osmani met with President of Germany Steinmeier (media)
• U.S. ambassador Philip Kosnett gives interview to Kallxo.com
• EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak visits Kosovo today (media)
• EFJ slams Albanian PM for ignoring questions of Kosovo journalists during press conference with Merkel (Express)
• Kosovo war crimes court begins first case (AFP/France 24)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 24 deaths, 357 new cases (media)
• Lajcak to visit Kosovo to discuss implementation of agreements (RFE)
• Konjufca commends UN’s support in handling of the COVID-19 pandemic (Klan)
• President Osmani begins official visit to Germany (media)
• Election campaign set to begin Thursday, no agreement on its duration (Telegrafi)
• LDK to limit election campaign to five days (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Serbian communities in Kosovo 47 new Covid-19 cases, three deaths (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)
• What did you say, Angela? (B92, Blic)
• Surlic on Merkel's visit: Two topics surprised; Merkel's strong message to Pristina (RTS)
• New US envoy for the Balkans: Belgrade and Pristina should not avoid dialogue (Beta, N1, Danas, MIA)
• Varhelyi warns of possible migrant crisis from Western Balkans (Beta, N1)
• Hearing postponed in the case of the murder of Oliver Ivanovic (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio)
• Serbia, Austria sign military cooperation agreement (FoNet, N1)
• Selakovic with Vitale: Security situation in Kosovo fragile; Belgrade has fulfilled all obligations (Radio Mitrovica sever)

International:

• Merkel in Belgrade: Berlin Process has achieved a lot; Kosovo issue will not disappear (EWB)

• COVID-19: 14 deaths, 259 new cases (media)
• Osmani: 17 October remains the date of the elections (media)
• Serbia, Kosovo urged to publish ‘deal to open up war archives’ (BIRN)
• Merkel: The Balkans have a long way to go toward EU (Radio Free Europe)
• Merkel visits Tirana today, expected to meet Kurti too (Koha)
• Escobar: Kosovo, Serbia should not avoid dialogue (RTK)
• Enlargement standstill, political calendars delaying breakthrough in dialogue (EWB)
• President Osmani received Ambassador Kosnett in a farewell meeting (media)
• Salih Mustafa, first ex-KLA member to stand trial in the Hague (Express)