UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 29, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: The fundamental values of CoE naturally fit our government (RTK)
• Kurti: We are not stopping aid to Serbs, but they should be in euros (media)
• Kurti called on prosecution to do more about Podujeva massacre (RTK)
• Maqedonci: "Bayraktar" drones fly in the skies of Kosovo every day (media)
• Serbian Minister of Defense says they are strengthening military capacities (Klan)
• Bujar Osmani expects Kosovo to be admitted to CoE in April (RTK)
• Tahiri: Single-source contracts were signed without any transparency, figure goes up to €200 million (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• “Evidence Death”, “Permission Funeral”, “Certificate Ofcitizensip” – Linguistic nonsenses in Kosovo official documents in Serbian (KoSSev, Media Center Caglavica. Radio KIM)
• Dacic: Recommendation of Kosovo admission to CoE represents violation of Serbia’s interests (Tanjug, media)
• Petkovic: Those deciding should think if Pristina membership to CoE would contribute to peace, stability or whether it would have opposite effect (KoSSev, media)
• Dveri: Council of Europe violates its own fundamental principles (Danas, BETA)
• Tadic: In negotiations on Kosovo, Serbian authorities are giving everything (Radio KIM)
• Vucevic: We are strengthening defense capabilities to protect our sovereignty (Tanjug, media)
• Stojanovic: Closure of three EPS branch offices in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• KFOR: There were no joint activities with the KSF (Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media:

Council of Europe approves report on Kosovo's membership (media)
Ahmeti: Kosovo's membership in CoE without any additional preconditions (media)
Kurti: Kosovo has fulfilled all prerequisites for Council of Europe (RTK)
Gervalla: Today's vote confirms that Kosovo fulfills the conditions for CoE (media)
Osmani received member of German Bundestag, Florian Hahn (RTK)
Plenkovic: Croatia will support Kosovo in all international organizations (media)
Serwer: I fear USA has promised Serbia the Association (media)
Krasniqi introduces Hamza as candidate for prime minister (RTK)
Hoxha: Serb criminal groups are preparing an attack in the north (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

PACE committee recommends Kosovo be invited to become CoE member (N1, FoNet)
Dacic slams decision to accept recommendation for CoE membership for Kosovo (Tanjug)
Grubjesic: CoE undermines its own integrity, becoming political organization more and more (Tanjug, media)
Aleksic: Vucic’s disastrous policy lead Kosovo to Council of Europe (Danas, FoNet)
Gogic: Vote in PACE Committee sends message that precedents are being set again because of Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
Djukanovic sends protest letter to NATO PA president (Tanjug, media)
Von Cramon: VV digital army limits freedom of speech (KoSSev)

International Media:

Kosovo Edges Closer to Council of Europe Membership (Balkan Insight)
Serbia Uses ‘Amber Alert’ for First Time After Girl Disappears (Balkan Insight)
Kosovo Guerrilla Leadership Didn't Order Abductions, US Diplomat Testifies (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 27, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Serbia's dark forces are still very active today (ekonomia)
• Osmani on Association: Commitment also made with Basic Agreement (Koha)
• Hovenier: NATO had moral imperative to act, use of force was necessary and legitimate (Klan)
• Kurti: Waiting period for review of Law on Office for Confiscation of Unjustified Assets continues for more than a year (Ekonomia)
• Davenport visits Lajcak in Brussels, discusses "expectations for coming months" (Klan)
• Memli Krasniqi expected to propose Bedri Hamza as candidate for prime minister (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucevic: Kosovo CoE application breaks all rules (Tanjug, media)
• Who decides on Kosovo's admission to the Council of Europe and when – procedure, precedents and principles (RTS)
• Why is the path to membership in the Council of Europe being paved for Kosovo? (Kosovo Online)
• Surlic: Criticism of Lajcak, preparation for parliamentary elections, Pristina suspended dialogue already (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: I had long, open discussion with Quint and EU representatives (Tanjug, media)
• Brnabic meets with Hill (Tanjug, media)
• Lajcak meets Davenport, discusses latest developments in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, social media)

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani talks with French envoy about Kosovo's membership in Euro-Atlantic institutions (Koha)
Gervalla: No tension in Kosovo’s relations with the United States (VoA in Albanian)
Konjufca: Kosovo unwavering in efforts for European integration, democracy and equality (Klan)
Association and elections in U.S. possible catalysts of early elections (RFE)
Maqedonci: Javelin missiles will arrive soon; payment is being done (Koha)
LDK denies meeting between Konjufca and Abdixhiku (media)
Government allocates over 31,000 euros to Albanians of the Valley (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Surlic: Through Postal Savings Bank, material security for Serbs can be institutionally ensured (media)
Botsan-Kharchenko: West hysterically blocked UNSC session on NATO attack against Yugoslavia (Tanjug, media)
Russia requests new session of UNSC on NATO bombing of Yugoslavia (Kosovo Online)
Drecun: Support for Kosovo aimed at getting it into NATO (Tanjug, media)
NATO Parliamentary Assembly: Final decision on Kosovo associate membership expected by end of May (Kosovo Online)
SRSG Ziadeh met new British Ambassador, reaffirmed support to EU-facilitated dialogue (Kosovo Online, social media)
British Ambassador visited Gracanica Monastery (Radio KIM, social media)
French diplomats visited Visoki Decani Monastery, Pec Patriarchate and Gorazdevac village (KoSSev, Kosovo Online, social media)
Orlic: New government to be formed within legal timeframe (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 26, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Gervalla: Russia alone in its effort to distort the truth (media)
• Haradinaj on letter to Bakoyannis: Big pledges, concrete obligations (Telegrafi)
• Burning of properties in the north of Kosovo remains unpunished (RFE)
• COMKFOR meets Montenegrin interior minister, discuss Kosovo (RTK)
• Shea: There will be no war in Kosovo (media)
• Bajrami to Kurti: You announced departure, better resign (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: We are disappointed with silencing of truth about 1999 NATO bombing (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Council of Europe session aimed at securing “independence of so-called Kosovo” (Tanjug)
• Pantic-Pilja on vote of PACE Political Committee on Kosovo: Serbia's maneuvering space narrowed (Kosovo Online)
• Bystron: There is immense pressure for Kosovo to join Council of Europe (Kosovo Online)
• Patriarch Porfirije: There is room for everyone in Kosovo, we invite Albanians to dialogue (Radio KIM, media)
• Surlic: Without international pressure one can not expect Pristina to change stance (Tanjug)
• Court hearing of four special police officers in relation to wounding of Serb at Bistrica bridge held (KoSSev)
• Vucic to meet Quint ambassadors tomorrow (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• It’s Time Kosovo’s Govt Condemned its Army of Cyber-Bullies (Balkan Insight)

International:

• In Wartime Village Massacre, Kosovo’s Ashkali Minority Suffered Too (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia ‘Disappointed’ as UN Security Council Rejects NATO Bombing Debate (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Involvement of Youth in Crime and Extremism in Kosovo: Community Challenges and Solutions (Prishtina Insight)
• Shahini: 400 companies closed in three months, Kosovo unattractive for new businesses (Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media:

No agreement on dinar, next meeting on April 4 (media)
Lajcak: Important details were clarified, we will meet again next week (media)
Government: Content of CBK Regulation is not being discussed in Brussels (Koha)
Kurti remembers 25th anniversary of Serbian massacres in Gjakova and Rahovec (RTK)
Russia's proposal for an UNSC extraordinary session for Kosovo does not pass (RTK)
Gervalla: Security Council session, attempt at absurd parallels (media)
Konjufca on elections: It remains to decide whether summer or autumn is better (RTK)
Von Cramon to Brnabic: Agreements do not affect Kosovo's path to CoE (RTK)
Civil society against registration of portals in IMC, demands ownership and financial transparency (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

Petkovic: Other side wants no solution, dialogue to continue on April 4 (Tanjug, media)
Lajcak: We will reconvene next week to find solution for cash operations (Tanjug, media)
Discussion on NATO bombing of Serbia not included on UN Security Council agenda (Tanjug, media)
Nebenzya: Shameful day for UN SC, those who bombed Yugoslavia did not wish to hear truth (Tanjug)
Ambassador Shuang on UNSC session and refusal to include 25th anniversary of NATO bombing of FRY in agenda (Kosovo Online)
Council of Europe session on Kosovo membership bid on Wednesday (Radio KIM)
Montenegrin DNP supports head of delegation to vote against Pristina admission to Council of Europe (RTS)  

International Media:

Council of Europe Rapporteur Backs Kosovo’s Membership Bid (Balkan Insight)
Cyberattacks and Ethnically-Fuelled Harassment Mark Start of Year (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 25, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: A rule of law governance for all and without difference (media)
• Kurti commemorates Kosovo Albanian civilians killed in Kacanik in 1999 (media)
• 25 years since the massacre at Krusha e Madhe (Albanian Post)
• Meeting about the dinar has started in Brussels (media)
• German ambassador demands full implementation of agreements (RTK)
• Joseph: CoE membership would be a start for both Serbs and Albanians (media)
• Kusari-Lila: We do not support motion of no confidence (RTK)
• The PDK demands investigative commission for single-source contracts (media)
• AAK demands parliamentary debate and Kurti’s resignation (media)
• Hovenier meets leaders of economic chambers of Kosovo and Serbia (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

• Meeting of Belgrade, Pristina delegations begins in Brussels (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• UN SC session on NATO bombing anniversary scheduled, format still unknown (RTS)
• Mijacic on Pristina’s letter to Bakoyannis: They promised to implement everything that should have been implemented already (Kosovo Online, social media)
• CBK decision makes lives of persons with disabilities additionally difficult (Radio KIM)
• Movable fence in front of Zvecan municipality removed, Cyrilic signboard as well (Radio KIM, Radio konakt plus)
• Vucic: Pristina and international community worked together all the time (Kosovo Online, media)

Opinion:

• Recalling a Bombing 25 Years Ago (RealClearPolitics)

International:

• Love Under Fire: How an Ethnically-Mixed Couple Survived the Kosovo War (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:
• Kosovo leaders’ messages on 25th anniversary of NATO aerial campaign (media)
• Kosovo authorities: Kosovo’s status in NATO PA advanced (media)
• O’Brien: We made it clear to Serbia that use of force against Kosovo unacceptable (media)
• Kosovo pledges to form Association after Council of Europe membership (Koha)
• Bislimi: Serbia destructive approach by refusing to sign agreement (media)
• Kosovo, Serbia chief negotiators to meet in Brussels today (media)
• Kurti hosts ambassadors of Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Finland, Luxembourg (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Serbia marks 25 years since beginning of NATO bombing (N1, BETA, RTS, media)
• Vucic speaks at Remembrance Day ceremony, says Serbia will not join NATO (Kosovo Online)
• Anniversary of NATO bombing of Serbia commemorated in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, media)
• Vucevic: Global views on 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia changing (Tanjug, FoNet)
• Anniversary of NATO bombing of Serbia, Western ambassadors mourn innocent victims (N1, Hina)
• Russian MFA: NATO intervention against FRY an act of gross violation of international law (RTS)
• Von Cramon reacts to Vucic’s statement that Serbia will leave Council of Europe (N1, FoNet)
• Dacic, Brnabic react to von Cramon’s statement on Serbia and Council of Europe (N1, FoNet, social media)
• Dacic: No threat of terrorism in Serbia (N1)
• Serbian flag on the Zvecan fortress was taken down then returned, again (KoSSev)
• Dacic concludes visit to Moscow (Tanjug, media)
International Media:
• ‘I thought it Was a Celebration’: Six Months On, Kosovo Citizens Recall Banjska Bloodshed (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 22, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Hovenier on NATO raids in ‘99: Let’s remove every doubt, the world witnessed an ethnic cleansing, use of force was necessary (Gazeta Express)
• Citaku: We’ve called for early elections since July last year (Nacionale)
• Tahiri: 3rd year of bad governance, Kurti gives up and calls for elections (media)
• Pacolli comments on if he would vote for ousting Kurti government (Indeksonline)
• U.S. Embassy: Honored to have Robinson visit Kosovo this week (media)
• Musliu: After failure in Banjska, Serbia may provoke with official troops (Telegrafi)
• 50 organizations send open letter to Kurti on “critical situation of rivers” (Kallxo)
• AmCham comments on “political interference in justice institutions” (media)
• Hoxhaj hails decision for membership negotiations with Bosnia (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Starovic: Kurti invents invasion to continue mistreatment of Serbs in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Ministry of Defence: Kurti’s allegations on movement of Serbian Army near administrative line continuation of disinformation campaign (Kosovo Online, Danas, media)
• Pantic-Pilja: Bakoyannis recommended Kosovo's admission to the CoE (Kosovo Online, Blic)
• Sentic: Serbian is one of the two equal official languages in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• KDI Director: Serbs have right to Cyrillic, populist behavior of authorities instead of promoting dialogue, cooperation and integration (KoSSev, media)
• Media Center Caglavica journalists received accreditation from Presidency, in Albanian language (medijacentar.info)
• Dacic: Serbia-Russia intergovernmental committee to meet in autumn (Tanjug)
• Pristina: Both Kurti and the opposition ready for early elections (RTS)

Opinion:

• Timothy Less on burst of fire from Pristina: Mix of nervousness and excessive efforts (Blic)
• Tatal: Super Election Year May Hold Key to Bosnia’s Fate (BIRN)

International:

• Yugoslavia’s NATO Bombing Victims: Official Death Toll Unclear, 25 Years Later (BIRN)
• Serbia Mulls Scrapping Ban on Nuclear Power Production (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• CHC in Gracanica responded positively to request that women in labor be accompanied during childbirth (Radio KIM, KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Serbian forces have approached the border, we are observing carefully (media)
Kurti: Relations with USA are very good (RTK)
Bislimi accuses EU for "failure" of agreement: Serbia is not the only one to blame here (media)
Sarrazin on dinar issue: Good work is being done in Brussels (RTK)
Robinson on resigned policemen and judges in north: They should return to their jobs (media)
Robinson meets President of Constitutional Court (Klan)
U.S. Mission to OSCE: NATO intervention in Kosovo was necessary (VoA)
Opposition reacts to Kurti’s statement on early elections (media)
Serbia thanks Russia for not recognising Kosovo's independence (RTK)
Russia initiates Serbia's session at UN for 25th anniversary of NATO's intervention, the West: "You will come in vain" (Klan)
U.S. Department of State reacts to the meeting between Dacic and Lavrov (RFE)
Krasniqi from Brussels: Kosovo is the most pro-EU country in the region (Reporteri)
Haradinaj: We are not interested on dinar, we are interested about NATO (Klan)
Mehaj: Vucic's threats are permanent and evidence that Serbia is continuing with hegemonic policy of Greater Serbia (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

Dacic: Bakoyannis statement culmination of hypocrisy (Tanjug, KoSSev, media)
Bakoyannis: Protection of Serbian and other minorities in Kosovo will improve if Kosovo becomes a CoE member (N1, KoSSev)
Dacic: Vital issues for Serbia discussed with Lavrov (Tanjug, media)
UNS: It is high time that Osmani stops discriminating journalists, preventing and limiting their work violates right to information (KoSSev, Radio KIM, Kosovo Online)
Vucevic on Kurti’s request that NATO strengthens its presence in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
Djuric: Serbia abhors idea of another regional war (Kosovo Online, WSJ, Danas, FoNet)