UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 2, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 17 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Ahmeti: Almost half of Prishtina residents have passed COVID-19 (Telegrafi/KP)
• Kosovo and Albania have differing stances on Mini-Schengen (Koha)
• Kurti meets Lajcak at the Prespa forum (RTK)
• Kosovo purchases Turkish-made armoured vehicles (Zeri)
• Kllokot mayor indicted on charges relating to February elections (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: Regional cooperation improves quality of citizens’ lives (Kosovo-online)
• Reeker: US supports Lajcak and the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (Blic, Tanjug)
• Rakic and Stoltenberg on the security situation in Kosovo (KiM radio)
• Office for KiM: Boy beaten up in Gojbulja village (Radio KIM)
• Brnabic attends the first Prespa Forum Dialogue today (Tanjug, B92)
• Stefanovic: ''Better for Kurti to prepare for Brussels, instead of going to the north'' (Kosovo Online, Vecernje Novosti, B92)
• Dacic: Compromise in dialogue is real situation on ground (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• The time is ripe for substantial electoral reform in Kosovo (Gazeta Express/Kossev)
• Kurti vs Vucic or the continuation of the fight by (international) legal means (KoSSev)

International:

• Stoltenberg: Kosovo force important for the region and NATO (AP)
• Serbian President Voices Hesitation Over Embassy’s Jerusalem Move (Balkan Insight)
• Slovenia Takes Over EU Presidency Amid Wave of Criticism (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Manifesta 14: how the art biennial is set to reclaim Pristina’s abandoned public spaces (The Calvert Journal)

• COVID-19: 10 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian communities 'excluded' from vaccination (Koha)
• Denmark, Croatia donate vaccines to Western Balkans countries (media)
• Kurti: There is pressure to implement damaging agreements with Serbia (RTK)
• Kurti: Ujman was built in ex-Yugoslavia; was considered a closed issue (media)
• NATO SG reaffirms commitment to KFOR and Western Balkans stability
• Osmani: Kosovo's future is in EU, NATO, UN (media)
• Stoltenberg: KSF cannot go to north without agreement with KFOR (Telegrafi)
• Gervalla: Serbia to recognise reality (media)
• Vetevendosje to join forces with Osmani’s Guxo and Kusari’s party (Kallxo)
• Enver Hoxhaj decides not to run for post of PDK leader (media)
• Kosovo court orders detention for media commission duo for bribery (BIRN)
• Pack: Border changes in the Balkans would be devastating (Klan Kosova)
• Osmani and Kurti appoint new intelligence deputy director (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 10 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Palmer: Kosovo citizens need freedom of movement (media)
• PDK against sacking of RTK board expected to happen next week (media)
• LDK’s Gashi: Sacking of boards, anti-constitutional act (Indeksonline)
• Serbia violates the Washington agreement (Koha)
• Calls for freedom and equality echo across Prishtina (Prishtina Insight)

Serbian Language Media:

• Since June 17 no new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian areas (KoSSev)
• What could await Kurti if he goes to the north of Kosovo? (Danas)
• Petkovic reacts to Kurti’s possible visit to north (Radio KIM)
• Rakic writes to Quint ambassadors, seeks protection for Dragica Gasic (Radio KIM)
• Reconstruction of religious buildings financed by the EU and implemented by UNDP (KiM radio)
• Gracanica Mayor: We call on KFOR to protect Serbs because the police cannot or will not (KiM radio)
• "KLA" on a billboard in Gracanica; "Youth prevented from placing hoops'' in Lipljan (Kosovo Online)
• Video of burning SOC flag appeared on social networks (Kosovo-online, social media)
• Dacic: Serbs in Kosovo most endangered Christian community in Europe (Tanjug, Kosovo-online)
• Protest in Podgorica over one-month detention to Jovanovic (Radio KIM)
• Vucic tells Merkel regional cooperation Serbia’s top priority (FoNet, N1)
• Vucic: Israel recognized Kosovo in meantime, so our interests have changed (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Kosovo’s new political leadership and the dialogue with Serbia: The battle between the little ram and the big fish (EWB)

International:

• Germany, UK Reaffirm Commitment to Western Balkans (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• No roaming charges across Western Balkans (N1)

• COVID-19: Nine new cases, no deaths (media)
• US expect Kosovo and Serbia to respect Washington Agreement (media)
• Kurti: There can be studies, but Ujman belongs to Kosovo (media)
• Kurti on the dialogue: Ask those that made concessions (Koha)
• Germany, UK reaffirm commitment to Western Balkans (BIRN)
• NATO Secretary General to visit Kosovo on Thursday (media)
• Vetevendosje MP says reciprocity is part of negotiations (KTV)
• “Government must convince skeptical countries on visa liberalisation” (media)
• Kurti: Serbia today must distance itself from Milosevic’s Serbia (media)
• Serbian state security chiefs convicted of aiding war crimes (BIRN)
• Simmons’ report to Assembly on alleged wrongdoings, without legal effect (RFE)
• PDK’s Uran Ismaili to run for Prishtina Mayor (media)
• Police arrest 21 persons for suspected corruption in agricultural grants (media)
• Independent Media Commission head arrested (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 30, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: Nine new cases, no deaths (media)
• EU to remove Kosovo from red travel list (RFE)
• Government stands by SEFTA proposal, as alternative for Balkans mini-Schengen (Koha)
• Gervalla: Luxembourg continues to support visa-free travel for Kosovo citizens (media)
• LDK criticises Kurti-led government's performance in first 100 days (media)
• Kurti and Osmani sack intelligence deputy director (media)
• Anti-corruption agency rejects claims of errors in asset declaration forms (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Rada Trajkovic: Expertise on the circumstances of the murder of Oliver Ivanovic arrived from Germany (Novi Magazin, Beta, Danas, N1)
• Vucic: Serbia's position - Kosovo will never get a seat in the UN (KiM radio, Tanjug, Euronews TV)
• Detention of Risto Jovanovic expires tomorrow (Radio KIM)
• Rakic: The latest events in Djakovica a bad message to the displaced persons (Kontakt plus radio)
• Office for KiM: Inspectors confiscated security door of Dragica Gasic (Radio KIM)
• Jevtic: Will anyone react to the torture of the Kosovo Police in Djakovica? (Kosovo Online)
• SOC flag at Gracanica Monastery entry gate taken away (Kosovo-online)
• 30 days detention for Risto Jovanovic (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Albania and Kosovo: Unification through the back door? (Emerging Europe)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Majlinda Kelmendi: Judo superstar who unites Kosovo (AFP/France 24)
• New plays from the Balkans (Kosovo 2.0)

• COVID-19: Six new cases, no deaths (media)
• First cases of COVID-19 Delta variant confirmed in Kosovo (media)
• More anti-COVID vaccines arrive in Kosovo (media)
• EU helps Norway to deliver vaccines to Kosovo (media)
• Borrell writes to Kurti, says he looks forward to close cooperation (media)
• Schuetz: All countries are equal in the Berlin Process (Koha)
• Voss: "Mini Schengen" and visas, main topics of Berlin Process summit (Klan)
• PM Kurti meets COMKFOR Federici (media)
• Abdixhiku criticises government's performance in first 100 days (media)
• PDK on Government's first 100 days: Poor performance (Kosovapress)
• Former EULEX judge to report to Kosovo Assembly (RTK)
• Hasani: Osmani violated the Constitution in firing Daka (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: Six new cases, no deaths (media)
• Von Cramon expects rapprochement in dialogue, criticises France on visas (Koha)
• Rama, Zaev and Vucic discuss “Mini-Schengen” (Klan Kosova)
• Von Cramon “advises” Kosovo leaders to visit the north (Klan Kosova)
• Gasic not wanted in Gjakova, the government keeps silent (RFE)
• Church on university campus should be genocide museum, historian says (KTV)
• Vehicle of Serb confiscated, after he posted insulting messages (Indeksonline)

Serbian Language Media:

• No new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Montenegrin MFA: The Embassy of Montenegro in Kosovo will take all necessary activities to protect its citizen (KoSSev)
• PIK: Police officer who wanted to prevent arrest under investigation (Radio KIM, Kosovo-online)
• Grenell, Citaku clash on Twitter over St Vitus Day celebration (N1)
• Stanojevic: 450 Serb families want to return to Djakovica (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Kandic on NGOs petition to evict Serb returnee from Djakovica (KoSSev)
• Milena Popovic left the session of the Assembly of Serbia on Kosovo because of Milan Radoicic (N1, Beta, Novi Magazin)
• Participants of EP-Western Balkans Speakers’ Summit adopt joint Declaration (BETA, N1)

International:

• Chicago Mayor Hails Serbian Religious Holiday of Vidovdan (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Majority of Kosovo Citizens Support Rights of Same-Sex Couples, Poll Finds (Civil Rights Defenders)

• COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media)
• New shipment of COVID-19 vaccines arrives in Kosovo (media)
• Kurti: Serbia to open archives and reveal location of mass graves (media)
• President Osmani meets European Parliament officials (media)
• In Brussels, Konjufca underscores importance of EU's approach to Western Balkans (media)
• Von Cramon says Macron made a mistake in a meeting with Kurti (Klan)
• Memli Krasniqi announces candidacy for PDK leader (media)
• Gjakova mayor says return of Serb woman should not be politicised (Koha)
• FM Gervalla confuses NATO with UN in Twitter post (media)
• Ceremony marks the launch of Pride Week in Kosovo (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 28, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media)
• Gervalla at anti-DAESH coalition meeting reaffirms Kosovo's comittment to fight terrorism (media)
• Konjufca in Brussels for EP summit (media)
• CEC chief calls for conclusion of election reform (EO/Koha)
• Koci: The Serb woman should be allowed to live in Gjakova (G. Express)
• AI calls on Kelkos to withdraw lawsuit against environmental activists (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbs commemorate Saint Vitus Day (Radio KIM)
• Thousands of people at Gazimestan, police searched and confiscated Serbian symbols (RTS)
• Patriarch Porfirije: "Kosovo and Metohija home of Orthodox Serbs; Albanians as brothers" (N1, KoSSev)
• Vucic: Don’t leave conflicts to future generations (N1)
• Several NGOs from Djakovica demand eviction of Serb returnee (KoSSev)
• Reactions to demand to evict Serb returnee from Djakovica (media, social media)
• “Dragica Gasic is no threat to anyone” (Radio KIM)
• Jeremic to Minister Selakovic: Support to Albania as a non-permanent member of the UNSC, 'incautious step' (Danas, Vreme)
• Vucic: We are not interested in wars but in country’s defence (BETA, N1)
• Czech FM: Western Balkans a priority of Czech EU Presidency (N1)
• Financing leaves Western Balkans lagging EU neighbors (N1, Beta)

Opinion:

• Claims an association would advance the rights of the Serb community in Kosovo are misleading (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

• Kosovo War Crimes Court’s First Trial Will Set a Precedent (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo: Slapp suits seeking to silence environmental activist must end (Amnesty International)

• COVID-19: 14 new cases, one death (media)
• Kurti: Talks not about status, but about Kosovo-Serbia relations (media)
• Kosovo President says ethnic borders are a dangerous idea (media)
• Government analysing Ujmani report, legals experts warn of consequences it is not implemented (Koha Ditore)
• Kurti: I have not changed my position on Ujmani Lake (Koha Ditore)
• EC President: We want Kosovo to advance fast in European path (media)
• KFOR Commander: KSF in the north only if KFOR permits (Klan Kosova)
• Protest and indignation over return of Serbian national to Gjakova (media)
• Von Cramon in Prizren: Great place for multiethnic life (media)
• Stanisic and Simatovic, Belgrade’s security strongmen (BIRN)