Albanian Language Media:

• Minister calls on MPs to support emergency measures in energy sector (media)
• Kosovo's energy sector experiencing one of major challenges in last twenty years, KEDS says (media)
• Kurti: Sustainable progress brings together democracy and science (Koha)
• COVID-19: 13 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• "Sad indicator of religious and ethnic intolerance" (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• 17 cases of COVID-19 in Serb areas (KoSSev)
• Borrell: The rhetoric of divisions in 2021 hampered the Western Balkans' path to the EU (Danas, Beta)
• Vulin, Petkovic with Teodosije on the position of Serbian people in Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Balkan Security Network: Serbia has largest army of all ex-Yugoslav republics (Beta, N1)
• Holiday message to negotiators in Pristina, Belgrade, and Brussels (KiM radio)

• Kosovo Assembly to hold extraordinary session to discuss electricity crisis (media)
• Haradinaj blames Vetevendosje, Kurti for electricity crisis (media)
• Kosovars Protest Against Electricity Cuts, Demand Sackings (BIRN)
• Turkish minister to visit Kosovo today (Koha)
• Serbian official not permitted entry to Kosovo (Koha)
• Borrell: 2021, a year of transitions (RTK)
• Russia Is Playing With Fire in the Balkans (FA/Klan)
• Kosovo: Guerrillas’ Trials Begin at Hague War Crimes Court (BIRN)
• COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• PM Kurti on energy situation: There are almost no power cuts (media)
• “Government has taken measures; but consequences are inevitable” (Kosovapress)
• Haxhiu: Agreement with Denmark; no need for constitutional amendments (EO)
• Minxhozi: Kosovo-Albania railroad construction in 2024 (EO)
• PAI leader refutes party member: We remain part of government (Gazeta Express)
• Ministry: Vaccination remains most effective protection from COVID-19 (media)
• COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: ''I see I am to blame for the lack of electricity in Kosovo also, but the results are winning'' (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Serbian families of the missing uninformed about the Brussels dialogue (KiM radio)
• Veljko Odalovic banned from entering Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever, RTK2)
• Jeremic: Opposition should be ready to defend election results on streets (N1, Beta)
• Ambassador Godfrey: America’s goal is same as Serbia’s (N1, Beta, RTS)
• Petkovic: Since Kurti came to power, number of incidents against Serbs 50 percent higher (Kosovo Online)
• Tombstones in Kisnica village desecrated, condemnations of the act (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, gracanicaonline.info)
• "Stop Hate Speech" (KiM radio)

• Kurti blames past governments about energy crisis (RTK)
• Kosovo reports first cases of COVID-19 Omicron (media)
• Citizens warn protests over power outages (euronews.al)
• German expert arrives; repair of Kosova B block underway (Koha)
• Serbia blocks transit goods, Kosovo still without any action (Kosovapress)
• US-sanctioned Serb’s company subcontracts work to Kosovo Albanians (BIRN)
• “Easier to decipher Da Vinci Code, than EU position on Open Balkan” (Koha)
• Haziri: Serbia is playing a political game in Open Balkan (euronews.al)
• BIRN Kosovo Won Prize After Prize in 2021 (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Serbia’s militarization reveals Vucic’s objective in Open Balkan (Koha)
• Milanovic: Open Balkan, useless if Kosovo is not treated equally (media)
• Health Institute: Tests that can detect Omicron expected to arrive today (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• Botsan-Kharchenko: Moscow urges Pristina for normal dialogue with Belgrade (Kosovo-online)
• EU Ambassador Giaufret exchanges views with Patriarch Porfirije (N1)
• EU: Serbia aligns with policy on Belarus (N1)
• Serbia pursuing responsible policy, Vucic tells Austrian ORF (Tanjug)
• France and Germany continue to co-operate on an initiative to help Serbia-Kosovo dialogue (RFE)
• Covid-19: nine new cases registered in Serbian areas (RTS)

Opinion:

• The curse of the “Open Balkan” (Koha)
• Vucic’s New Pose as Serbia’s ‘Protector’ Shouldn’t Fool Anyone (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Serbian Minister Faces New Legal Challenge for ‘Insulting Albanians’ (Balkan Insight)
• Rio Tinto controversy: Has the EU designated Serbia as a “sacrificial zone” for lithium extraction? (EWB)
• Montenegro Close to Choosing Bechtel to Build Adriatic Highway (Balkan Insight)
• Hope Fades for Missing Victims of Albania’s Communist Regime (Balkan Insight)

• EU voices support for "Open Balkan” initiative (Koha)
• Zulfaj: Four freedoms of the "Open Balkan" embodied in the common regional market (Koha)
• Konjufca: This is the "Open Balkan" they're trying to sell to us (media)
• RECOM: Unacceptable Conduct of the BIA towards Regional Reconciliation Activists (media)
• AJK condemns conduct of Serbian authorities towards journalist, Adriatik Kelmendi (media)
• Kelmendi reveals details of his encounter with Serbia’s security authorities (Klan)
• Croatian President Milanovic to begin Kosovo visit today (media)
• Kosovo Ex-Mayor Suspected of Taking Over €1 Million in Bribes (BIRN)
• Kosovo Experts Refute Danish Prison Cell Renting Plan (Exit News)
• COVID-19: Twenty new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kosovo introduces power cuts due to energy crisis (Reuters)
• EBRD extending 4 mln euro loans to Kosovo's KEP Trust (SeeNews)
• North Macedonia’s prime minister formally steps down (AP)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 22, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• New German Government supports efforts to strengthen regional cooperation in WB (Expres)
• Hungary May Become Kosovo’s Big EU Foe (Prishtina Insight)
• Gervalla does not report to the integration committee, due to a trip (media)
• Haxhiu on the agreement with Denmark: We have the right to reject any prisoner (Klan)
• Court in Serbia legalizes derogatory term for Albanians, says Ragmi Mustafi (Express)
• Draft of the Code of Ethics for Assembly proposed after the Musliu-Peci incident (Koha)
• COVID-19: Twenty new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Failure to hold a referendum on changing the Constitution of Serbia in Kosovo is an introduction to the election ban? (Danas)
• Vucic receives invitation to attend UN conference taking place in Doha end of January (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian List Board in Strpce: Brutal intrusion and intimidation of officials’ families (Radio kontakt plus)
• Vujicic and Maric on arrests in Strpce: Continuation of policy of force against Serbs (Kosovo-online)
• Trajkovic, Rasic on arrests in Strpce (Radio KIM)
• Putin in a greeting card to Vucic: We have outlined new perspectives, I am counting on the continuation of joint work (RTS)
• Kosovo police special unit conducted search in Serbian house in Silovo (Kosovo-online)
• KiM Office reaction to Kosovo police search in Silovo village (Kosovo Online)
• Covid-19: three new cases registered in Serbian areas (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Handling Segregation: Village School Tries to Tackle Kosovo’s Ethnic Divisions (Balkan Insight)
• EU working to amend genocide denial law that is blamed for Bosnia crisis (The Guardian)
• Kosovo experts oppose Denmark prison outsourcing (Euractiv)

• Kosovo arrests ten for corruption, including ex-mayor (BIRN)
• Svecla: Action in Brezovica did not target specific ethnic groups (media)
• Leaders sign new ‘Open Balkan’ agreements in Albania (BIRN)
• Rama: Open Balkan will continue even if others refuse to join (euronews.al)
• Varhelyi invites Kosovo to join Open Balkan; PM advisor reacts (Telegrafi)
• Von Cramon denounces Serbia deregistration of Albanians from civil registry (Exit News)
• COVID-19: Nine new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kurti receives booster shot, encourages citizens to get vaccinated (euronews.al)
• Kosovo film ‘Hive’ shortlisted for Oscars’ international feature (Express)

Albanian Language Media:

• Open Balkans invite Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina to join (RTK)
• Open Balkans member countries sign five cooperation agreements (RTK)
• Varhelyi urges WB countries to return the Common Regional Market initiative (Express)
• Ten people arrested, among them former mayor of Shterpce (media)
• Qelaj: ERO's decision to pay for electricity in the north is discriminatory (media)
• 300 cells foe 210 million euros, complete agreement document (RTK)
• COVID-19: Nine new cases, no deaths (media)
• Albania, Kosovo sign agreement to use joint ABC textbook in schools (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 12 new cases registered in Serbian areas (Radio KIM)
• Vucic on possible participation of Pristina in “Open Balkans” initiative (Kosovo-online)
• Varhelyi: Any regional cooperation based on EU values is welcome and useful (NMagazin, Beta)
• Protest in Tirana against ‘Open Balkan’ Initiative (KoSSev)
• Serbian PM says protest in Tirana had support from Belgrade (FoNet, N1)
• Reactions on setting Serbian flags on fire in Tirana (media)
• Ten persons arrested in Strpce, including former mayor; Petkovic reacts (RTS)
• Serbian List: We condemn brutal demonstration of force in Strpce (Kosovo-online portal)
• Journalist on the Strpce case: Possible arrests of people from the Kosovo government and ministries (N1)
• Vucic on action in Strpce: “Kurti did it because of Open Balkans” (B92)
• US set to name Resident Legal Advisor for Western Balkans (N1)
• N1 documentary on Kosovo Serb “Asphalt Kings” (N1)

Opinion:

• Legal framework for Kosovo Serbs tailored to Pristina (part four): Regional and/or Albanian integration (KoSSev)
• Hill’s Return to Belgrade Spells Challenge for Serbia (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Rival Albania Opposition Leader Leads Protest Against ‘Diabolical’ Serbia (Balkan Insight)
• Leaders of “Open Balkans” seek Germany’s support (Albanian Daily News)
• Kosovo Arrests Ten for Corruption, Including Ex-Mayor (Balkan Insight)
• Former UN Spokesperson Writes Novel About Kosovo Guerrilla (BIRN)

• Kosovo Police conducting operation in Shterpce area (media)
• Kosovo, Denmark sign prison rent agreement (media)
• Ministry urges refrain from actions that "could undermine Kosovo recognition process" (Klan)
• U.S. removes from blacklist Croatian-based company (Koha)
• A convoy of KFOR vehicles to arrive in Kosovo (media)
• Rival Albania Opposition Leader Leads Protest Against ‘Diabolical’ Serbia (BIRN)
• Protesters burn Serbian flags in rally called by former DP leader Sali Berisha (euronews.al)
• COVID-19: Three new cases, no deaths (media)