UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 18, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 9 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Austria to donate 1 million COVID-19 vaccines for Western Balkans (Kosovapress)
• Lajcak about the dialogue: No reason to be pessimistic (Koha)
• EFJ calls on VV to stop harassing journalists (Express)
• Council of Albanian Ambassadors hails continuation of dialogue (Klan Kosova)
• Informal Coalition to Face the Past reacts to VV MP remarks (Kallxo)
• RTK Deputy Director General insults Vetevendosje MP (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: Region frustrated over EU’s attitude towards enlargement (RTS)
• EU Commissioner: We want Serbia in EU, reforms and implementation needed (N1)
• Brnabic: Vjosa Osmani referred to Brussels agreement (Radio KIM, B92)
• Godfrey: Great nations face mistakes from past (N1)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Rakic announces closure of collective centre in Leposavic (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Belgrade website and UNDP promote city as attractive location for digital nomads (N1)

• COVID-19: 10 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kurti against ethnically-based Association, Quint ambassadors visit Bislimi (Koha)
• Association is putting Kurti in a difficult position, analysts argue (Telegrafi)
• Mounting pressure on the Association/Community (Radio Free Europe)
• Osmani demands Kosovo’s recognition by participating states at SEECP (media)
• Osmani demanded footnote to be removed from SEECP statement (Koha)
• Marred by tensions, Kosovo–Serbia dialogue awaits new momentum (BIRN)
• PDK MP: LDK has not given signatures to send Osmani to court yet (T7)
• Kurz: Kosovo, Serbia must find way to an agreement (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 10 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kurti responds to Kosnett on the issue of the Association (KosovaPress)
• President Osmani to participate in the annual SEECP Summit (media)
• Abbott, Konjufca and Kurti sign memorandum of understanding (media)
• Kusari-Lila and Citaku react to Lajcak, call his statement arrogant (media)
• Pacolli: We will not vote on any statement if Kosovo is marked with a footnote (Telegrafi)
• PDK has signatures to send Daka’s dismissal to the Constitutional Court (RTK)
• Prime Minister Kurti received head of American-Jewish Committee, Avital Leibovich (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• No new Covid-19 cases in Serbian communities (KoSSev)
• Diocese of Raska and Prizren: Essential that KFOR continues to protect Visoki Decani (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Raska-Prizren Eparchy: Kurti’s statement in Brussels yet another in series of insults and lies (Kosovo-online)
• Brnabic and Selakovic attend SEECP Summit (RTS)
• Denial of crime - The peak of problems in public discourse (RTV Puls, KiM radio, Sporazoom)
• Jevtic: Return difficult with no support from other institutions (RTK2)
• Dacic: Serbia grateful to Morocco over support to its territorial integrity (RTS)
• Ambassador: Romania’s stance not to recognize Kosovo remains (N1)
• Odalovic: I remain the head of the Commission for Missing Persons - I was not elected by Kurti, but by the Government (N1)

International:

• GLOBSEC: Need for a restart of the enlargement policy discussed by officials (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Dasar and Filip fierce rivals on the tennis court, off the field good friends (Kosovo Online)

• COVID-19: 15 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kosnett: It is Kosovo's duty to establish Association of Serb-majority municipalities (media)
• UK supports establishment of Association of Serb-majority Municipalities (Kallxo)
• Croatian FM calls on five EU states to recognise Kosovo (media)
• A joint formula for minorities in Western Balkans sought out (Koha)
• Hoxhaj: Osmani serves Kurti, Daka’s dismissal part of authoritarian mentality (Telegrafi)
• Limaj: Opposition should consider election boycott (Klan)
• Jevtic: Kurti started local elections campaign in Brussels (Tanjug, Klan)
• Pyper poll: 49% of citizens think dialogue concludes during Kurti's term (Telegrafi)
• Serbian President Confirms 11 Bodies Found in Mass Grave (BIRN)
• SPO argues in favour of extending detention for Krasniqi, Selimi (media)
• Assembly scheduled to vote on privacy commissioner today (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 16, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 15 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Lajcak: If you don't trust the EU, go somewhere else (Koha)
• Kosnett: Kosovans can achieve peace by working together (media)
• Hyseni slams Kurti's appearance at Brussels meeting (media)
• Budget committee recommends dismissal of RTK board (Kallxo)
• Opposition boycotts meeting of CEC, called by new chief (Telegrafi)
• Konjufca expresses Kosovo's goal to join OSCE (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Pristina wanted to avoid dialogue, report to the Assembly on June 22 (RTS, Blic)
• The only news from the Belgrade - Pristina dialogue was that a meeting was held (RTS)
• Odalovic: Kurti’s statement about me for internal use (N1)
• Spahiu: Kurti should not use derogatory terms for Odalovic; Kandic: Odalovic can't lead Commission for Missing Persons (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic on Kurti, dialogue in Brussels (Kosovo-online)
• Serbia’s MFA: Pristina delegation shows ''frivolity, irresponsibility'' (N1)
• Serbian List conveyed security concerns in meeting with US Ambassador (RTS)
• Selakovic: ''Viola von Cramon increasingly lobbying for a self-proclaimed Kosovo'' (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)

International:

• Serbia, Kosovo restart EU-brokered talks, remain far apart (AP)
• Serbia, Kosovo remain at loggerheads as talks resume (DW)
• Kosovo President Osmani: Today’s challenges require ‘an entirely different governing mindset’ (Atlantic Council)
• Serbia, Kosovo Leaders’ First Meeting Marred by Disagreement (Balkan Insight)
• National Digital Transformation: A Conversation With Serbia’s Prime Minister Ana Brnabic (forbes.com)
• Carla Del Ponte: "I Keep Telling Myself that Justice Will Prevail" (spiegel.de)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Finding shelter in Kosovo (Kosovo 2.0)

• COVID-19: 13 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kurti and Vucic clash in first Brussels meeting (Prishtina Insight)
• Bislimi: Churches issue was neither raised nor will it be discussed (Koha)
• PDK accuses Kurti of breaking promise on dialogue with Serbia (Koha/Klan)
• Haradinaj to Kurti: Withdraw from many points, seek only recognition (RTV21)
• Haziri: There were no negotiations, only a meeting (Klan Kosova)
• Presevo Valley Albanians request from Kurti to be part of the dialogue (media)
• Konjufca: Serbia using double standards in the dialogue process (media)
• EU, U.S. at Brussels Summit make commitment to Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)
• Haradinaj: Vjosa Osmani is a servant of Kurti (Zeri)
• Abrashi: Idea of Association won’t be implemented, it would be fatal (media)
• President Osmani extends technical mandate of EULEX (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 12 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Vitia: Mass vaccination process begins today (media)
• Local elections will be held on October 17 (media)
• Borrell pleased that Kurti-Vucic meeting is happening the day US President Biden is in Brussels (Express)
• Kurti: Serbian party with old ideas, we made four new proposals (media)
• Lajcak: Kurti and Vucic confirmed there is no other way but normalization (RTK)
• Daka: My dismissal was illegal and ordered (media)
• EU Office in Kosovo reacts after Osmani sacked CEC chair Valdete Daka (Express)
• Women’s Network reacts to Valdete Daka’s dismissal (media)
• Kosovo Police chief: We had no information about the liturgy (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian areas: One new case, no deaths (Kosovo Online)
• Lajcak about the Vucic, Kurti meeting: It was not easy, but it is important that it happened (N1)
• Kurti after meeting with Vucic: Meeting without incident; it will be difficult, but I am optimistic (N1)
• Vucic after talks with Kurti: I have not attended a meeting like this yet; continuation by the end of July (RTS,media)
• Petkovic: Belgrade emphasized its commitment to the continuation of the dialogue (Blic, TV Pink)
• Jevtic: Those who are bothered by liturgies, today in Brussels said that they are bothered by Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Borell: Belgrade and Pristina to use the new momentum in the dialogue (media)
• Problem or solution? (B92, DW)
• Vucic arrived in Brussels (Tanjug, B92)
• EU expects Vucic and Kurti to continue dialogue, not start new talks (Beta, N1)
• NATO leaders value partnership with Serbia (N1)
• KFOR on inquiries of British soldiers in Gorazdevac: Routine activities, to feel the pulse of the population concerning different topics (KoSSev)
• Lawyer Pantovic: I filed an appeal; Djokic was sentenced based on false statements (Beta)

International:

• EU foreign policy chief urges Serbia, Kosovo to move forward (AP)
• Without consent within EU on opening new chapters with Serbia in June (EWB)
• Nora Visoka-Weller: “Silence is a victory for every genocide” (BIRN)
• Serbia Commemorates 1999 Battle Against Kosovo Guerrillas (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: Five new cases, no deaths (media)
• The first Kurti-Vucic meeting to be held today in Brussels (media)
• NATO leaders urge a lasting political solution between Kosovo and Serbia (Koha)
• Biden-EU summit has Kosovo-Serbia dialogue on the agenda (Klan)
• Konjufca: The dialoguing manner needs to change (media)
• Vucic says he does not expect Pristina to implement Brussels agreement (N1)
• Central Election Commission head sacked (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo President appoints Judge Kreshnik Radoniqi as new head of CEC (media)
• PDK, AAK react to Osmani's decision to replace CEC head (media)
• Civil society organizations oppose the dismissal of the CEC Chairperson (media)
• Mayor of Istog sentenced to one year imprisonment (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 14, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: Five new cases, no deaths (media)
• Osmani: Whereabouts of missing persons, top priority in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• Konjufca: Kosovo's internal issues will not be raised in Brussels (Telegrafi)
• Minister Aliu cleared of abuse of power charges (media)
• Sources: Osmani asked Daka to step down from CEC post (media)
• Hungary expected to take KFOR command in November (Klan Kosova)
• EU plans to invest €2 million in Janjeva, to boost tourism (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian areas in Kosovo without newly infected (Radio kontakt plus)
• Petkovic: We are going to Brussels to defend the position of Belgrade (RTS, N1)
• Dacic: Pristina puts dialogue in the background by an announcement of a lawsuit for genocide (N1, FoNet, Beta)
• Brnabic: No talks, accords or joint agreements with Kurti (Radio KIM)
• Dacic: Cultural heritage in Kosovo endangered, attempts to revise history (Kosovo-online)
• Serb cemetery in Orahovac desecrated (Kosovo-online)
• Bilčík: Army Exercise with Belarus, Russia doesn’t help Belgrade’s road to EU (RFE, N1)
• NATO summit starts (Tanjug, B92)
• "Serbs in Kosovo do not have institutional protection" (KiM radio, RTK2, Kosovo Online)
• Two busses from central Serbia banned from entering Kosovo (RTS)

Opinion:

• Can Albin Kurti reshape the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue? (Prishtina Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbia allows Pfizer-Biontech vaccine for 12-15 years olds (N1)

• COVID-19: Seven new cases, one death (media)
• Half of NATO troops in Kosovo already fully vaccinated (Koha)
• Kurti on unification of Albanians: Our goals remain unchanged (media)
• Kurti's chief of staff comments on Orthodox Church liturgy (media)
• Ceku: Interfaith harmony is a quality that distinguishes Kosovar society (media)
• Von Cramon: Association to be part of the final agreement package (KP)
• Quint had asked Hoti to explain delays in discussing Association (Koha)
• COMKFOR, Quint ambassadors discuss security situation in Kosovo (media)
• KLA veterans react to picture of Serbian flag t Koshare, police refute news (media)
• Police: Buses with passengers from Serbia did not submit request to visit Kosovo (media)
• CEC ready for local elections estimated to cost €7.5 million (media)
• LDK's Veliu rejects decision to remove him from party branch's top post (media)
• Biden’s Balkans Test Has Arrived (Foreign Policy)