UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 7, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We don’t have any time for political ping pong (media)
• Kurti on Russia’s reaction: Reciprocity derives from concept of equality (Koha)
• Kosovo's foreign ministry reacts to Russia’s statement on reciprocity measures (Koha)
• PDK’s Veseli calls for extraordinary session of Assembly on Friday (media)
• Ramadani: Difficult days to come, respect recommendations (RTK)
• Pristina with three additional measures to prevent spread of COVID-19 (RTK)
• Haradinaj doesn’t trust Lajcak, says he supports U.S. envoys (Gazeta Express)
• Five new coronavirus cases confirmed in Kosovo, one death (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• World Health Day: 'Support nurses, midwives' fighting COVID-19; UN SC to meet (N1)
• Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs comments on Pristina’s tariffs (media)
• Kosovo Customs: Serbian goods worth EUR 1.6 million entered Kosovo since April 1 (RFE, RTK)
• Rakic handed over KFOR’s donation to health facilities and police in Mitrovica North (Radio kontakt plus)
• No new Covid-19 infected cases in Serb-majority areas in Kosovo (Radio kontakt puls)

Opinion:

• 'The impossible has already happened': what coronavirus can teach us about hope (The Guardian)
• Lajcak’s clock is already ticking (Prishtina Insight)
• How Democracies Can Beat The Pandemic (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Germany Urges Kosovo Politicians to Focus on COVID-19, Not Divisions (Balkan Insight)
• How Multi-ethnic is Kosovo? (Balkan insight)
• How the coronavirus pandemic is making strongmen stronger, from Hungary to Serbia to the Philippines (theglobeandmail.com)

• 20 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Kosovo (media)
• Apostolova: EU can allocate €160 million for Kosovo (RTK)
• Osmani discusses inter-institutional cooperation with Vitia (RTK)
• Limaj calls on Kurti to undertake urgent measures in Malisheva (media)
• Lajcak to start consultations on Pristina-Belgrade dialogue this week (Express)
• Thaci: Kurti a serious violator of Kosovo's Constitution (media)
• Svecla: There were tendencies to increase tensions in the north (Koha)
• Haradinaj warns of Serbian and Russian agents (Indeksonline)
• Science and Arts Academy calls on parties to overcome divisions (media)
• Moscow opposes Kosovo’s reciprocity toward Serbia, criticises EU (Koha)
• Von Cramon to Mustafa: EP is on Kosovo’s side on its EU aspirations (media)
• Thaci sues Bahtiri for assault on Kosovo’s constitutional order (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Two patients affected by COVID-19 die at Pristina hospital (RTK)
• Kurti: We are entering the critical stage in the fight against coronavirus (media)
• Thaci: Battle against coronavirus pandemic is not over (media)
• EU engaged in dialogue, urges resumption of Pristina-Belgrade talks (media)
• Abbott: There are no politics in the virus (media)
• Vucic talks on the phone with the UNMIK chief, says he is ready to cooperate with "Pristina" against Covid 19 (RTK, Beta)
• Norway pledges aid to Kosovo to fight coronavirus pandemic (media)
• Slovakia offers assistance to Kosovo to fight COVID-19 outbreak (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Six new cases in Serbian communities in Kosovo, total of 33 cases (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: 248 trucks entered Kosovo, eight Albanians from Novi Pazar taken care of in Belgrade (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Djuric: Coronavirus positive persons will be placed in isolation centers (Kontakt plus radio, KIM radio)
• President Vucic had phone call with SRSG Tanin, discussed coronavirus and Kosovo (Tanjug, Kosovo-online)
• Journalists’ associations, international and local officials react to violation of right to privacy, personal data (Kosovo-online)
• EFJ: COVID-19 – political interference in the media in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Serbia enters second month of pandemic with 1.908 infected and 51 dead (RTS)
• Four new coronavirus cases in Serb-populated areas in Kosovo, 27 in total (KoSSev)
• Movement ban between Mitrovica and Zvecan until further notice (Radio kontakt plus)

Opinion:

• Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic Is Navigating a Highway to Uncertainty (The National Interest)

International:

• Kosovo Leaders Feud Over COVID-19 Outbreak in North (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovar Media Urged Not To 'Intensify' Tensions During Coronavirus Crisis (RFE)
• Washington fiddles in the Balkans while COVID flames engulf the world (The Hill)
• Did America help oust Kosovo’s reformist government? (The Economist)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Djuric: Decision to employ all doctors and 200 nurses from Kosovo Serb communities entered into force (KoSSev)

• Five new cases of coronavirus infections in Kosovo (media)
• Kurti: We need to fight together, we will all be triumphant (media)
• UNMIK chief calls to uphold human rights in fight against COVID-19 (media)
• EU Head of Mission calls for cooperation and solidarity (media)
• U.S. Embassy Statement on continued cooperation in fighting COVID-19 (media)
• Heldt praises ministers for cooperation, slams ‘tendentious’ journalism (media)
• Interior Minister Svecla visits Bosniak Mahalla in the north (media)
• KFOR: We are closely monitoring the situation (Koha)
• Qalaj: No one can act against laws in any part of Kosovo (T7, RTK)
• Vitia: We’re in official coordination with northern municipalities (media)
• Thaci: Situation in the north unacceptable (media)
• Govt justifies quarantine in the north: There are 16 cases of coronavirus (media)
• Abazi says Thaci has split the north of Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• LDK issues press release about situation in the north (media)
• Hoti: Problems are resolved with political means (RTK)
• PDK: Kurti yielded to Belgrade in the north (media)
• Haxhiu calls for calmness, criticises other parties for panic and division (media)
• Vetevendosje MP warns of improvised tensions in Kosovo north (media)
• HRW's Roth: Trump administration backed Kurti's ouster (media)
• EFJ criticises political interference in the media in Kosovo (media)

• Three new cases of coronavirus in Kosovo (media)
• UNICEF delivers supplies to Kosovo to support COVID 19 response (media)
• Switzerland pledges funds to help Kosovo fight COVID-19 virus (media)
• Lajcak: Western Balkans has a special place in my heart (media)
• UK welcomes appointment as EU special representative for dialogue (media)
• PDK's Hoxhaj congratulates Lajcak on new post (Telegrafi)
• Kurti defends new appointments to public enterprises’ boards (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 3, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• EU officially appoints Lajcak as Special Representative for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (media)
• Germany congratulates Lajcak on his appointment (social media)
• France: Lajcak can count on our support (media)
• Italy welcomes appointment of EU special representative for dialogue (Klan/RTK)
• Haradinaj: EU stalling the Kosovo-Serbia agreement process (Kallxo)
• Kosovo think tank welcomes Lajcak’s appointment as EU special representative (Koha)
• Heldt happy with trucks from Bosnia entering Kosovo, says this should be two-ways (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• International support does not reach Serb municipalities (Radio KIM)
• A misinformation: Goran Rakic did not say the number of infected; Bahtiri, Rakic and KFOR Commander urged citizens to respect curfew (crnobelisvet.com, KoSSev, KIM radio)
• Vucic: Curfew from 1 pm on Saturday till 5 am on Monday (B92)
• Vucic spoke with Putin and Macron: "Significant assistance and support for Serbia" (B92)
• New 111 infected, three more deaths of COVID-19, total 1171 infected (B92)
• No prisoner infected with Covid-19 in Mitrovica North (Radio KIM)
• Man arrested in Mitrovica North for attacking journalist on March 23 (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• US Burns Credibility in Grenell Quest for Foreign Policy Win, as Kosovo Government Falls (justsecurity.org)
• Washington is stoking a new Balkan crisis (thehill.com)

International:

• Balkan Private Sector Workers Hardest Hit by Coronavirus Fallout (Balkan Insight)
• On Top of COVID-19, Kosovo Faces Constitutional Crisis (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• UNICEF delivers 3.6 tons of supplies to Kosovo to support COVID 19 response (media)
• NATO and EADRCC help Western Balkans countries counter COVID-19 pandemic (EWB)
• Rejecting Criticism, Commissioner Says EU Was 'Very Quick' In Helping Neighbors Fight Coronavirus (RFE)

• No cases of COVID-19 on the second testing (media)
• Acting PM Kurti meets COMKFOR Risi, discuss COVID-19 response (media)
• Bahtiri, Rakic joint conference: 17 infected in the north (media)
• Kurti: Thaci showed disregard for article 82.2 of Kosovo Constitution (media)
• MEPs hail lifting of tax, call for visa liberalisation (Koha)
• Former U.S. ambassador supports Kosovo's decision on reciprocity (media)
• Bislimi specifies what reciprocity with Serbia implies (Kallxo)
• Osmani: The government intended to sue Serbia for genocide (media)
• Veseli: I would not have initiated no-confidence motion at this time (RTV21)
• Haradinaj: Cooperation with Vetevendosje is impossible (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• UK: Now is not the time for political maneuvering, but cooperation (media)
• Thaci set to form new government, demands from Kurti PM candidate name (Express)g
• Haradinaj: Impossible to hold elections at this time (media)
• Limaj: We could be part of broad based government (RTK)
• 6+ parliamentary group against new elections at a time of pandemic (media)
• Surroi: Kosovo politics not to take side in Quint countries’ divisions (Koha)
• Kurti’s adviser to the U.S. Embassy: Why siding with Serbia?
• Vitia, Jevtic call for cooperation at a time of pandemic (RFE/Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dr Elek: There are currently 12 coronavirus infected people in the north (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic today with Macron and Putin, prior to Crisis Staff (B92)
• Djuric: No blockade for lorries from Kosovo (FoNet, N1)
• Dacic: Pristina authorities with reciprocity measures banned trade again (Danas, TV Pink)
• New measures in Mitrovica North, Zvecan and Leposavic (KoSSev)
• Serbian PM: Government withdrawing decree limiting release of information (N1)
• New 160 infected, total 1060 infected, five more deaths of COVID-19, total 28 deaths (B92)
• Patient from Leposavic infected with Covid-19 passed away (Radio kontakt plus)
• Lawyers question legality of state of emergency in Serbia (FoNet, N1)

International:

• U.S. calls on Kosovo to drop restrictions on Serbians (Reuters)
• Despite good news, the Western Balkans are in trouble (AlJazeera)

Humanitarian/Development:

• VoA: Where is the international assistance for health care institutions in Serbian communities? (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, Kosovo Online)
• No drug approved yet in treating COVID-19, expert says (N1)
• Wakeup call for the Western Balkans (balkangreenenergynews.com)

• The number of persons recovered from COVID-19 reaches ten (media)
• Two correctional service officials test positive for coronavirus (media)
• WHO: Kosovo to take speedy measures, situation can worsen (media)
• Kurti: Reciprocity towards Serbia to be gradually implemented (media)
• President Hashim Thaci's interview to T7
• Thaci to continue with consultation of political parties today (media)
• Hasani: Thaci should nominate winning party to form institutions (Kallxo/KTV)
• German Ambassador hails tariff removal (media)
• France welcomes tariff removal (media)
• Italy welcomes removal of tariff (media)
• Von Cramon to Thaci: Don’t play around with Constitution while people are dying (Koha)
• Abazi claims he does not understand actions of LDK leadership (RTK)
• Haziri: Tariff lifted without any coordination (media)
• PDK: Kurti is lying to the public about reciprocity measures (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 1, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Thaci: We'll act based on previous practices (Indeksonline)
• Kurti: Kosovo to head to fresh elections following no-confidence motion (media)
• Mustafa: This is not the time for new elections (media)
• Veseli: Hypocrisy to speak of extraordinary elections at this time (media)
• Kurti sends letter to Thaci, after their meeting (RTK)
• US Embassy statement on the tariffs (media)
• Fields in which Kosovo is considering to introduce reciprocity measures (RTK)
• Judah: Tariff lifted to be replaced with what equalizes Kosovo-Serbia relationship (RTK)
• Vitia, Abbott discuss measures to contain coronavirus spread in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Borell: The complete abolition of taxes is an important decision in these times of crisis (KoSSev)
• Djuric: Fees have not been lifted; Pristina continues to play games (Beta, B92)
• Gerxhaliu: Kosovo more damaged by tariffs than Serbia (KIM radio)
• Stefanovic: Fake news that 24-hour curfew starts on Wednesday (N1, Nova S)
• The first death in the Serbian Government of a coronavirus: State Secretary deceased (media)
• Doctors: The worst day in Serbia: Seven more dead, 115 new cases of coronavirus (N1)
• Five persons infected with Covid-19 in Mitrovica North, 7 in total in Serb-populated areas (Radio kontakt plus)
• Taxi associations in Zvecan and Mitrovica suspended work until April 15 (Radio kontakt plus)
• Spiric: Contact epidemiologist if you were in contact with infected individuals (Radio Mitrovica sever)

Opinion:

• Surroi: Constitutional coup is being prepared (media)
• Coronavius is Not the Only Disease Afflicting the Balkans (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo Lifts 100 Percent Tariff On Serbia; Belgrade Calls It 'Fake News' (RFE)
• Party leaders divided over steps to form Kosovo’s next government (Prishtina Insight)
• New enlargement strategy of the EU: a new chance for the Balkans (neweasterneurope.eu)
• COVID-19 pandemic as a threat to the rule of law in the Western Balkans (EWB)
• Serbian Govt Takes Control of Information Flow About Pandemic (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Roma: Europe’s Neglected Coronavirus Victims (Balkan Insight)
• Balkan Tech Enthusiasts Deploy 3D Printers against COVID-19 (Balkan Insight)
• Center for Peace and Tolerance launches new cycle for graduates from non-majority communities (TV Most)