UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 4, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: Seven new cases, one death (media)
• Resolution for pardoning COVID-19 fines fails to pass Assembly (Koha)
• Dendias: Greece supports visa liberalisation, Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• Kosovo President Osmani meets Greek FM Dendias (media)
• Gervalla: Independence of Kosovo is irreversible (media)
• Konjufca meets Dendias, discuss Kosovo's EU integration path (media)
• The Netherlands on visa liberalisation: Fight corruption and organised crime (KP)
• Court clears former FM Haradinaj-Stublla of charges (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic on Kosovo: We do not advocate for frozen conflict, dialogue will continue (RTS)
• Lajcak: I came to prepare dialogue (Tanjug, Radio KIM)
• "Kosovo is not ready to negotiate borders" (Blic, B92)
• Palmer says meetings in Belgrade successful (N1)
• Vucic: Serbia – Hungary relations never better (FoNet, N1)
• Kandic: The Tribunal did not find any indications of genocide in Kosovo (Al Jazeera)
• Petkovic: “Great Albania” graffiti written on wall of Vitosevic’s house (Radio KIM)
• Rakic with international and non-governmental organizations on the return of displaced persons (Kontakt plus radio)
• KFOR remains in Kosovo as long as needed, NATO official says (N1)
• Von der Leyen: The future of the Western Balkans is in the EU (Tanjug, B92)
• Vucic asks vaccination of North Macedonia citizens be enabled in Serbia (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Serbian president says EU-brokered Kosovo talks to resume (AP)

• COVID-19: 12 new cases, no deaths (media)
• U.S. to donate vaccines to Kosovo (media)
• Bulgaria to provide up to 150,000 COVID vaccines to Balkan countries (Reuters)
• Greek FM Dendias visits Kosovo today (media)
• Kurti-Vucic meeting between 14 and 17 June (Klan/Telegrafi)
• Government of Serbia not happy with Kurti's remarks on dialogue (Koha)
• After Kosovo, Top U.S., EU Envoys Visit Serbia To Press For Renewed Dialogue (RFE)
• Can EU-US coordination salvage the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue? (Prishtina Insight)
• Assembly adopts draft law to try war crimes in absentia (media)
• Kosovo Post CEO sacked by board (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 12 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Prime Minister Kurti received a delegation from Austria (RTK)
• The EU sees dialogue as a continuation and not as a new beginning (RFE, media)
• Greek FM Dendias discusses with Lajcak prior to visiting Kosovo (Klan)
• German MEP, Ernst: I am against KFOR, Kosovo must be disarmed (Klan)
• Assembly debates on education organising during COVID-19 pandemic (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Antonijevic: No new coronavirus cases in Serbian areas (KiM radio)
• Europa Nostra to Pristina: Nomination and decision on V. Decani in line with professional standards (KoSSev)
• Lajcak: "Kurti knows that, as well as Vucic" (Tanjug, B92, KiM radio)
• Greek minister talks with Lajcak ahead of tomorrow's visit to Kosovo (Beta, Danas)
• West launches "idea of two Germanys" again (Danas)
• Selakovic with Palmer: Pristina avoiding its obligations, insist only on recognition (N1, FoNet, Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic with Palmer: Dialogue with Pristina in the focus of the Government, full support of the USA (RTS)
• Grubjesic: No essential dialogue if ZSO is not on table (Kosovo-online)
• Simic: Kurti is running away from dialogue, the West should direct pressure on Pristina (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, TV Pink)
• RTS: Community of Serb-majority Municipalities on hold for 3000 days (RTS)
• Dveri Movement: We’ll alert public in case of treason over Kosovo (N1)
• New non-paper about the Balkans has arrived in Brussels; Five countries joined forces (B92, Klix.ba)
• Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina can vaccinate in Serbia free of charge (Tanjug)

International:

• Serbia: New Internal And External Challenges – Analysis (eurasiareview.com)
• 17 military exercises in the Balkans and in Serbia’s neighbourhood from May to June (euractive.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The Kosovo government to provide better protection of religious sites and full enforcement of the Law on SPZ (KoSSev)
• BIRN Launches Database of Mass Graves from Yugoslav Wars (Balkan Insight)
• ‘Coffee and Cigarettes’: Albanian Miners Seek Special Status, Fair Pension (Balkan Insight)
• Kopač tells Kosovo* there is no future for coal power plants (balkangreenenergynews.com)

• COVID-19: 18 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Palmer assures Kosovo: U.S. is a stakeholder in dialogue process (RTK)
• Greece: We support visa liberalization, but we will not recognize Kosovo (TV Dukagjini)
• Presidency: date of the local elections is to be set in the following days (RTK)
• LDK to vote for Association if it passes Court’s filter (Koha)
• Palmer, Lajcak to meet Serbian President Vucic today (media)
• Another non-paper on the Balkans submitted to the EU (Koha)
• Editor of the Swiss newspaper responds to Gervalla (RTK)
• Poll: 44% of respondents believe Gervalla is defending KLA (Telegrafi)
• KLA War Veterans call for Gervalla’s resignation (T7)
• The Hague summons witness who was 8-years-old during Kosovo war (Exit News)
• Serbia and Kosovo leaders to meet for reconciliation talks, says Miroslav Lajcak (Euronews)
• Top U.S., EU envoys tell Kosovo that better ties with Serbia will open door to Europe (RFE)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 2, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 18 new cases, no deaths (media)
• EU supports Kosovo in dealing with COVID-19 pandemic (media)
• Kurti on Brussels meeting: It is about the future dialogue, not the previous one (media)
• On third day of visit to Kosovo, Palmer meets Konjufca (media)
• Von der Leyen: EC will advocate for a positive decision on visa liberalisation (media)
• Bislimi: France, the Netherlands, Belgium have visa liberalisation concerns (media)
• Abdixhiku: Kurti-led government is weak (media)
• Haradinaj urges government to adopt new recovery measures (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: If Kurti doesn't want to talk about ZSO, but about Kosovo's recognition, they don't even have to invite me for talks (KoSSev, RTS)
• Vucic tomorrow with Palmer and Lajcak (media)
• Kurti's lawsuit - between law and political points (RTS)
• US envoy Palmer meets Bishop Teodosije at Visoki Decani monastery (N1)
• Serbian Railway: Since pandemic trains operate up to Rudnica only (KoSSev)
• Petkovic congratulates Rakocevic on his election as UNS President (Radio KIM)
• APA: EU do not want to publish "non-paper" on Western Balkans, where border change is proposed (Tanjug, Blic, Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Jevtic on attacks against SOC, non-provision of vaccines to Serbs and ‘good relations’ in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Indictment for assassination of Oliver Ivanovic confirmed, defence lawyers ‘embittered’ (TV Most)
• Popovic: Production of Russian Sputnik V vaccines starts in Belgrade this Friday (Dnevnik)

Opinion:

• Palestine, Kosovo and the dilemma faced by ‘small states’ (Kosovo 2.0)

• COVID-19: 19 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Principal Deputy PM Bislimi meets Palmer and Lajcak (media)
• Parties encouraged in dialogue; compromises considered necessary (Koha)
• Lajcak briefs EU heads of missions on new dialogue meeting (media)
• Palmer calls for respect on court’s ruling on Decani Monastery Land (media)
• Serb minister says position of his superior, PM Kurti, is hypocritical (media)
• Involvement of Russia and China is impossible, civil society argues (Koha)
• Serwer skeptical about mutual recognition soon (media)
• President Osmani to meet political parties for date of local elections (media)
• Kosovo minister and Serbian official clash on Twitter (media)
• “Four trains from Serbia operating illegally in Kosovo” (Koha)
• Deprived of a childhood (Prishtina Insight)
• Balkan corruption risks derailing bid to join European Union (VOA)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 19 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Vitia: we will provide two million vaccines until the end of the year (media)
• Kurti: Dialogue to be held in middle of June (RTK)
• Lajcak and Palmer meet with international community in Kosovo (media)
• EU is optimistic about the Balkans, U.S. wants Serbia to recognize Kosovo (Koha)
• Lajcak informs heads of EU missions on the future meeting (RTK)
• Palmer and Kosnett meet Haradinaj (media)
• Mehaj: Defender Europe 21 fortifies Kosovo’s path to NATO (euronews.al)
• Four northern municipalities do not pay for consumed water, debt reached 15 million (RTK)
• GAP: Over 190 thousand job seekers registered during March-September (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• No new Covid-19 cases in Serbian communities in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Lajcak and Palmer in Pristina, ''normalization of relations with Serbia is a key factor in attracting US investments'' (KoSSev)
• Vucic: EU, US increasing pressure to recognize Kosovo (N1)
• Moscow will support solution for Kosovo that suits Belgrade (N1)
• Serbia’s Min: Kosovo lacks knowledge, willingness to guard Serb heritage (N1)
• Kostic: Letter from Kosovo leaders to UNESCO - provocation (KiM radio, N1)
• Serbian Orthodox Church Holly Assembly of Bishops concluded in Belgrade (SOC, media)
• Dacic: Russia and China would have to get involved in resolving Kosovo issue (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic and Davidoiu on situation in Kosovo, dialogue (Radio KIM)
• Greece: We do not recognize Kosovo; our position remains unchanged (media)

International:

• Top U.S., EU Envoys Tell Kosovo That Better Ties With Serbia Will Open Door To Europe (RFE)
• EU, US Push for ‘New Dynamics’ in Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue (Balkan Insight)
• Civil Society Forum kicks off by taking stock of the eight years of Berlin Process (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Children's book "Nature colours with Uta and Miljana" published (Kallxo)
• Civil society organisations issue report on human rights in Kosovo (Koha)
• The trails in the Western Balkans worth the trek (euronews.com)

• COVID-19: 5 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Health Minister to report today about management of COVID-19 (media)
• President Osmani meets Palmer and Lajcak (media)
• Prime Minister Kurti meets Lajcak and Palmer (media)
• Foreign Minister Gervalla meets Lajcak and Palmer (media)
• Palmer meets Serbian List representatives, discuss dialogue (media)
• Palmer: Kosovo-Serbia agreement, crucial to attracting US investments (media)
• US Embassy says Palmer’s meetings were constructive (media)
• Palmer, Lajcak to hold joint press conference today at 10:45 (media)
• Spanish Foreign Ministry: No plan to open liaison office in Kosovo (Express)
• Government wants direct communication with Serb Orthodox Church in Kosovo (Koha)
• Local Government Minister: Association is anti-constitutional (media)
• Former judge: EU mission in Kosovo politically handled KLA Cases (Exit News)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 31, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: Five new cases, no deaths (media)
• Palmer arrives in Pristina, meets Kosnett (media)
• Palmer meets Kosovo opposition leaders (media)
• Palmer or Montgomery expected to replace Grenell's role in dialogue (Klan/RTK)
• Sources: Spain expected to open liaison office in Kosovo (Demokracia)
• Kusari-Lila says more on Kosovo’s position on dialogue will be known soon (media)
• United States plans to allocate USD 200 million for Kosovo (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• One new case of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• Vucic says he won’t recognize Kosovo; talks about dialogue, non papers (KoSSev)
• SOC to the Serbian Ministry of Culture: Postpone the adoption of the Law on Cultural Heritage (media)
• Dacic in Moscow: Serbia will never join sanctions against Russia (RTS)
• Selakovic: Firm relations between Serbia and China reflected in all areas (N1)
• Zivojin Rakocevic elected president of the Association of Serbia's Journalists (UNS) (B92, N1)
• Zecevic: European values important, but one cannot escape national interests (RTS)
• Djuric: Biden administration fully accepts Washington Agreement (N1)
• The road sign to Draganac damaged again; the KiM office recorded it as the 13th incident since the beginning of the year (KoSSev)
• US SFAB unit in military exercise in Balkans to curb Russian, Chinese influence (N1)
• Parliamentary party SPAS joins ruling SNS in Serbia (N1)
• Serbia donates more than 100.000 Pfizer vaccines to Czech Republic (Kosovo-online, Tanjug)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Balkan Investors Join Crypto Trading Craze (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 23 new cases, no deaths (media)
• New COVID-19 measures enter into force on Monday (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo buys first coronavirus vaccines as it speeds up rollout (Reuters)
• Final agreement in 2021, during Slovenian EU Presidency, EU report (Express)
• EU denies writing document that circulated in Kosovo media (media)
• Behrami: The EU document is authentic (RTK)
• Lajcak and Palmer to visit Kosovo on 31 May, 1 June (media)
• Western diplomats support dialogue, analysts don’t rule out surprises (Koha)
• LDK nominates award-winning architect to run for Pristina mayor (Express)
• Kosovo Police detain police officer suspected of inciting hatred (media)
• Kosovo feminists aim to climb rural town’s ‘patriarchal’ walls (BIRN)