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UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 20, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 142 new cases over the last 24 hours, four deaths (media)
• Zemaj sets up advisory board in the fight against COVID-19 (media)
• Ministry of Health reacts to COVID-19 'cure' being shared on social media (media)
• Task force recommends doctors diagnose COVID-19 without testing (Koha)
• Hoti: Dialogue coordinator to travel to Brussels for final agreement (media)
• Thaci: Dialogue not to in mutual recognition not technical aspect (media)
• EU expects parties to confirm delegations for experts' meeting (RFE)
• Hoti: There is no technical dialogue with Serbia (media)
• The U.S. Foreign Affairs Committee calls for visa liberalisation for Kosovo (RFE/Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• 31 new cases of Covid-19 infection in Serb areas in Kosovo (Radio kontakt plus)
• 7 new cases of Covid-19 in the municipality of Gracanica (KIM radio)
• Gnjilane: 21 more people infected (RTV Puls, KIM radio)
• Persons positive on Covid-19 obliged to be in isolation (RTV Puls)
• "Aleksandar Vucic and Edi Rama lead the dialogue" (Danas, FoNet, KIM radio)
• Anniversary of Serb and Roma killings in Orahovac in 1998 marked (Radio KIM)
• Vucic continues consultations on new Serbian government with Dacic (N1)
• Djuric (YIHR): Resolving missing persons issue means revealing hitherto unknown crimes (KoSSev)
• Savkovic: Little maneuvering room for Serbia to avoid agreement; Recognition unrealistic (KoSSev)
• Ilazi: Brussels meeting was symbolic, more important for the EU than for Kosovo or Serbia (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Kosovo needs an election (Transconflict/Koha)
• Why “Kosovo i Metohija” offends (KoSSev)

International:

• COVID-19 Fuels Prejudice towards People of Asian Descent in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Muddy Waters: The Pollution Killing Kosovo’s Lakes and Rivers (Balkan Insight)
• France bans travelers from Serbia (N1, FoNet)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, 20 July

• COVID-19: 118 new cases in last 24 hours, five dead (media)
• Health minister: New measures resulting successful (media)
• CDHRF: Health authorities preferentially testing people for COVID-19 (media)
• UN chief: We are at the breaking point (media)
• President Thaci calls for civic and political unity (Kallxo)
• Thaci defends war record, calls for unity after return from Hague court (RFE)
• State Department backs EU-brokered talks between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Collaku: Resumption of technical dialogue, not in Kosovo’s interest (media)
• Tahiri criticises EU for lack of visa liberalisation (media)
• Ischinger calls for visa liberalisation: EU credibility at stake (media)
• Haziri says Hoti’s meeting in Brussels “catastrophic” (media)
• Dacic: Serbia has suspended derecognition campaign (Koha)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, 18 July

COVID-19: 137 new cases in Kosovo (media)
• Thaci returns to Kosovo (media)
• Hoti: I did not go to Brussels to take pictures with Vucic (T7, media)
• Viola Von Cramon values highly work of the Specialist Chambers (RTK)
• Hoti cannot predict if PDK is to join the government (media)
• Assembly aims online sessions after increase of COVID-19 cases (Koha)
• Gucati: The Hague Special Court is biased (RTK)
• Crowds Welcome Kosovo President Returning From Questioning (NYT)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 17, 2020

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 17, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 103 new cases in the last 24 hours (media)
• Clashes between Presidency and PM’s Office over the dialogue (Express)
• Von Cramon to visit Specialist Chambers in the Hague (Ekonomia Online)
• Vetevendosje: Meeting in Brussels was not productive (media)
• Weber hopes on a new flow of Pristina-Belgrade dialogue (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• 34 infected with Covid-19 in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: We aren't negotiating here only with Pristina; Two principles have been agreed (Tanjug, B92)
• Covic: KLA archives to open, EU to conduct dialogue based on chapter’s system (Kosovo-online)
• "Kosovo authorities intend to abolish Special Court" (Kosovo Online, B92)
• Russian FM spokeswoman says Moscow supports Vucic on Kosovo (Beta, N1)
• Djuric reacts to Haradinaj-Stublla’s statement on book in Serbian Mission in Brussels (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian opposition calls EU to help resolve political crisis (N1)
• MEPs call on EC to form expert group to publish reports on situation in Serbia (EWB, N1)

International:

• Serbia ‘Ready to Help Find Missing Kosovo Albanians’: Vucic (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo President ‘Pleased’ after Four-Day War Crimes Questioning (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia and Kosovo resume rocky road towards an accord (Euractiv)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Dokufest and Anibar go online for 2020 (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, 17 July

• EU High Representative Borrell’s remarks prior to high-level meeting (media)
• Hoti: A difficult meeting on two topics – missing persons and economy (media)
• Hoti: Mutual recognition and normalisation of relations, final objective (media)
• Lajcak: Next high-level meeting in September (media)
• Vucic: The meeting was not easy (media)
• Serbia accuses Kosovo of 'blackmail' after talks in Brussels (DW)
• EU diplomat: Three stages of talks between Kosovo and Serbia (Klan Kosova)
• Tahiri: Hoti has constitutional obligation to go to Brussels (media)
• President Thaci concludes interview with Specialist Chambers (media)
• Kosovo FM reacts to book displayed at Serbian mission in Brussels (Telegrafi)
• "WHO does not recommend serology testing for diagnosis purposes" (Koha)
• Kuci: 56 percent of businesses risk bankruptcy (Koha)
• Pandemic reveals ‘systemic’ issues faced by Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities (Prishtina Insight)
• A land swap won’t solve Serbia – Kosovo conundrum (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 16, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 132 new cases recorded in last 24-hour period (media)
• One new coronavirus-related death reported in Podujeve (media)
• Italy closes border to Kosovo and region (media)
• Pristina begins serology testing for COVID-19 (Kallxo)
• Thaci’s advisor says Hoti has no consensus for dialogue (Telegrafi)
• Gazeta Express: PDK could decide to join Kosovo's ruling coalition

Serbian Language Media:

• 39 new cases of Covid-19 infection registered in Serb-populated areas (Kosovo-online)
• Gracanica: Six more people infected with coronavirus (KIM radio)
• European Commission: In the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on all open issues (Danas, Kosovo Online)
• McAllister: The positions of Belgrade and Pristina still very distant (Kosovo Online, DW)
• Bilcik: No easy solution to Kosovo issue (Beta, N1)
• Timothy Less: EU has nothing to offer to Serbia (Tanjug, B92, Kontakt plus radio)
• MIA: The North Mitrovica municipality closed due to Covid-19 among its staff (Kontakt plus radio)
• Jevtic welcomes inclusion of displaced persons as topic in Brussels dialogue (RTV Puls, RTV KIM)
• Council of Europe expresses concern over protests in Serbia (N1)

Opinion:

• Kosovo’s Disunited Negotiators can’t Compete With ‘Monolithic’ Serbia (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Serbia and Kosovo to resume rocky road towards an accord (France24)

Humanitarian/Development:

• EU provides EUR one million aid to finance pandemic medical teams in Serbia (N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, 16 July

• Four more people die from COVID-19 on Wednesday (media)
• Kosovo – Serbia dialogue to continue Thursday (media)
• In Brussels, PM Hoti meets Commissioner Varhelyi (media)
• Thaci interviewed for third day by Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (media)
• Beqaj: Specialist court will lead to the 'cleaning' of political spectrum (Koha)
• Koci: Thaci should’ve been more transparent about interview (media)
• Former Dutch Ambassador: KLA fought an honorable war (RTK)
• Klinaku: MPs can change law on Specialist Chambers (Telegrafi)
• “German EU Presidency no magic wand for the Balkans” (Balkan Insight)
• North Macedonia Election Returns No Clear Winner (NYT)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 15, 2020

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 15, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 119 new cases in last 24 hours (media)
• 1,192 active COVID - 19 cases in Prishtina, 35–44 age group most affected (media)
• COVID - 19, Kosovo tested only 1.61 of the population (RTK)
• Von Cramon: Grenell wanted to bypass EU and Kurti’s government (media)
• EULEX chief praises PM Hoti for traveling economy class (media)
• Who are candidates for PDK leader if Veseli indictment is confirmed? (Express)
• Bytyci: Kadri Veseli is PDK leader, media speculations are ill-willed (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 37 new cases of Covid-19 infection registered in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• In Gracanica 24 infected with Covid-19, results to come for fifteen more (KIM radio)
• Radovic: KP to control if persons positive on Covid-19 respect self-isolation measures (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Missing persons and internally displaced first topic of dialogue in Brussels (N1)
• Destinies of missing and displaced persons from Kosovo unresolved for 21 years (Tanjug)
• Brussels no longer can ignore reality: There is no solution of Kosovo issue without Russia (Sputnik)
• Jaksic: Negotiations in Brussels will not bring anything good to the Kosovo Serbs (KIM radio, Beta)
• Serbian Military Union official says protest coming against Defense Minister (N1)
• Mutiny within Serbia's Socialists, main Vucic's partners, its leader says (N1)
• Serbia's NGO's asks UN to react to police actions during anti-regime protests (N1, RFE)
• Vucic starts talks about Serbia's new government, Albanians ask for four posts (FoNet, N1)

Opinion:

• Serbia-Kosovo deal: Can the EU succeed where Trump failed? (AlJazeera)
• Kosovo’s perplexing indictment and its effects (EWB)
• The EU Needs a New Balkan Strategy (Foreign Policy)

International:

• Trump Ex-Adviser Bolton Laments Lost Opportunity on Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• EU removes Serbia, Montenegro from travel-safe list (B92, Tanjug, N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, 15 July

• Four more dead from coronavirus on Tuesday (media)
• Assembly lacks votes to pass law on pandemic (Koha)
• Hoti in Brussels with his office and associates, Weber calls for unity (Koha)
• President Thaci ends second day of interviewing at The Hague (media)
• Were prosecutors right to publicise charges against Thaci? (Balkan Insight)
• Haradinaj: Charges against Thaci, a blow to Kosovo’s freedom (Klan Kosova)
• War veterans’ leader: Specialist Chambers are attacking KLA directly (T7)
• Serwer: Be prepared (media)
• Presevo Valley Albanians ask to lead a ministry in Serbian government (Koha)
• Government defends decisions to appoint minister to extra post (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 14, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Two more patients die from COVID – 19 (media)
• Hospital in Vushtrri transformed into hospital for COVID – 19 patients (media)
• Osmani: PM’s Legal Office endorsed Anti – COVID 19 Law (media)
• PDK calls for urgent increase of salaries of healthcare professionals (media)
• Justice minister Selimi to be part of Kosovo negotiating team (EO/Klan Kosova)
• Roth: Western Balkans at the centre of Germany's engagement (DW)
• UK welcomes resumption of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• KSF ready to support efforts to fight COVID-19 (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Elek: 93 persons hospitalized at Clinical-Hospital Center in Mitrovica North, one person passed away (KoSSev)
• Gracanica: New measures and announcement of fines, and the old problem (KIM radio)
• Hashim Thaci's indictment will remain unknown until October (B92, RTS)
• PM Brnabic denies lack of transparency during coronavirus pandemic (N1)
• Vucic congratulates Macron, convinced in his support of Serbia's EU path (BETA, N1)
• Samardzic: ''Vucic is going to Brussels again without a strategy'' (KIM radio, Beta, N1)
• Maas: I will travel to Belgrade and Pristina, dialogue is priority (RTS)
• Serbian NGOs call on the EU to insist on core values in Serbia (KIM radio, EWB)

Opinion:

• A manual: how to lose the battle with COVID-19 (Prishtina Insight)
• Surroi: Kosovo yet to realise how dramatic situation with COVID – 19 is (Koha)

International:

• Corrupt clans or startups? Kosovo must now choose (Die Welt)
• Serbia ‘Provided War Crimes Evidence’ Against Kosovo President (Balkan Insight)
• Public anger rises across Balkans as coronavirus toll grows (Financial Times)

Humanitarian/Development:

• New restrictive measures added following jump in coronavirus cases (Prishtina Insight)
• Austria bans flights from Western Balkans (N1, DW)