UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 15, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• President Thaci sends third letter to Kurti (media)
• Thaci: Kosovo needs government with full mandate (media)
• US Embassy: Follow guidelines issued by government and municipalities (media)
• Heldt: Increase of Covid-19 cases in Kosovo is not a good thing (RTK)
• Another patient succumbs to COVID - 19, total of 9 fatalities (media)
• President Thaci meets heads of judicial institutions (media)
• Latifi: An LDK-led govt formed to reach final deal with Serbia (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• President Vucic says there will be no exception for Easter (B92)
• Crisis headquarters in north said new measures entered in force, movement allowed for 90 minutes (KoSSev)
• Seven new cases of Covid-19 infection in northern Kosovo (Radio kontakt plus)
• Palmer: US aid helped Western Balkans tackle pandemic (N1, VoA)
• European Commission set to change restrictions on export of medical equipment (N1, RTS)
• Ban on export of medication produced in Serbia takes effect (N1, FoNet)

Opinion:

• Fighting COVID-19 in Serbia is not a suppression of democracy (The Washington Post)
• Reality Check: Will COVID-19 Remake The World? (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo Opposition Signals Readiness to Form New Government (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Number of coronavirus cases exceeded two million, US still on top (B92)

• Kosovo: Ten new cases of COVID-19, three recoveries (media)
• Apostolova appeals for institutions to cooperate during pandemic (RTK)
• Stoltenberg: NATO’s mission in Kosovo, maintained (Gazeta Express)
• LDK votes in favour of coalition with AAK, NISMA-AKR, communities (media)
• Mustafa: LVV should not delay the issue of creating new government (RTV21)
• Lekaj: AAK will not set conditions to LDK for a coalition government (Telegrafi)
• Haxhiu: Thaci has no right to interfere in forming of new government (T7/Zeri)
• Haziri: Coalition with LVV, one step forward two steps back (Klan Kosova)
• PDK considering sending movement restriction decision to court (Kosovapress)
• Selmanaj: Ending coalition with LVV, one of the best actions (T7, RTK)
• Balje: We support forming of a new government in Kosovo (RTK)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 14, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• PDK withdraws emergency financial package proposal (media)
• Osmani does not put PDK’s additional motion on the agenda (Koha)
• LVV does not participate at Assembly session, Nagavci gives the reasons (RTK)
• Kurti: Emergency fiscal package to be followed with revitalization of economy (Koha)
• Government sets up coordinating group on economy during pandemic crisis (Koha)
• Mustafa: Recent movement restriction measures, concerning (media)
• Mayors: We weren’t contacted by Ministry, new measures causing chaos (media)
• Five Kosovo Police officers infected with COVID – 19 (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Two new cases of Covid-19 infection registered in northern Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• “For Mitrovica citizens decision unclear and astonishing” (Radio KIM)
• Church’s bells tolling in Pristina “primitive Russian model” for some Kosovo media, Eparchy warns on targeting church and unprofessional journalism (KoSSev)
• KoSSev editor-in-chief detained while on assignment (KoSSev)
• Journalists’ associations, civil society organizations react to detainment of Tatjana Lazarevic (KoSSev)
• Mitrovica Innovation Centre donates 100 visors to health institutions (KoSSev)

International:

• Podcast: “The Americans have encouraged friends in Kosovo to get rid of this truculent PM”—a Balkan bust-up (The Economist)
• Democrats In Congress Question Trump's 'Heavy-Handed' Approach To Kosovo (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• WHO: COVID-19 mortality rate ten times higher than 2009 flu pandemic (N1)

• Kosovo: 393 cases with COVID-19, nine deaths and 65 recovered (media)
• New measures announced to contain spread of COVID-19 (media)
• Osmani: We can win battle against COVID-19 only by staying at home (media)
• Gashi: Kurti is endangering state over personal battle with President (media)
• PDK opposes latest measures on movement of citizens (media)
• Haradinaj: New measures, a grave violation of the constitutional order (media)
• Ahmeti: Stopping all economic activities would have grave consequences (media)
• Abrashi: Govt is assuming excessive power with measures and force (media)
• Former minister criticises govt’s approach in fight against COVID-19 (media)
• Gjini: Another violation of the Constitution (Gazeta Express)
• Hasani: New measures on movement, totally anti-constitutional (media)
• NISMA’s Shala: Government is totally out of constitutional control (media)
• RAE communities stand defenseless in the face of COVID – 19 (RFE)
• UNICEF: Children in detention to be released due to COVID-19 threat (media)
• Kurti replies to Thaci, accuses him of trying to impose unconstitutional solution (media)
• Assembly to discuss today PDK’s emergency package (media)
• Svecla issues permits for MP’s participation at the Assembly session (media)
• Mustafa: No coalition talks before LVV exhausts constitutional options (media)
• Engel, Menendez express concern about Trump Administration approach to Serbia & Kosovo (media)

• Thaci implies he will sidestep Vetevendosje on PM candidate (Koha)
• Nagavci: No new government without winner of elections (media)
• Health Institute confirms 23 new cases of coronavirus (media)
• IMF approves US$56.5 million in support to Kosovo to address COVID – 19 (media)
• First case of Covid-19 within KFOR – no details on patient’s condition (Express)
• Djuric: All movement restricted during weekends in Zvecan and Mitrovica North (media)
• Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian cemeteries damaged in Rahovec (media)
• Four former ministers charged for “giving away” four hydropower plants (Koha)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 10, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Coming weeks, critical in coronavirus fight (Telegrafi)
• Thaci writes to Kurti, says he is waiting for reply for PM candidate (media)
• Lajcak writes to Thaci about his engagement in dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Croatia remains in support of visa liberalisation for Kosovo (media)
• Slovakia supports visa liberalisation for Kosovo (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• UNSG Guterres: "COVID-19 Pandemic threatens international peace and security" (B92, Tanjug)
• Mitrovica North and Zvecan: New movement restrictions in place (Radio kontakt plus)
• Two new Covid-19 infected cases in northern Kosovo (Radio kontakt plus)
• Crowding in Mitrovica North increases, citizens differently on new measures (Kosovo-online)
• Spiric: Press conference live streamed without our consent (KoSSev)
• Western Balkans call for EU exemption on exports of medical gear (N1, Politico)
• ''Coronavirus death rates in the former Yugoslav republics'' (N1)

International:

• Naming New PM Not A Priority During Pandemic, Kosovo's Kurti Tells RFE/RL

Humanitarian/Development:

• Civil Rights Defenders released report on Internet freedoms in the Western Balkan Region (crd.org)
• Teachers make the push for distance learning (Prishtina Insight)

• Kosovo: Three new cases of coronavirus, one death (media)
• Ministry of Health announces new measures to contain pandemic (media)
• Kosovo Acting PM Kurti's interview to RTV21
• Kurti: Alliance with US very deep; elections after the pandemic (RFE)
• President dismisses Kurti's "negotiation team" (Prishtina Insight)
• “Kurti will play his constitutional role until new PM is elected” (Kosovapress)
• Assembly Presidency to decide on PDK-proposed emergency financial package (media)
• Surroi: Forming new gov’t without LVV consent is unconstitutional (Klan)
• AAK would support LDK in forming new govt (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti discussed pandemic, dialogue with Serbia in telephone call with Macron (media)
• Kurti plans to have two teams for dialogue with Serbia (Koha)
• Kurti in Malisheva: April, decisive in fight against COVID – 19 (media)
• Vitia: Malisheva will lack no protection kits (media)
• “COVID - 19 could result in long-term loss at work and production” (media)
• MEPs: After the crisis, new elections may be the right way forward (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Possibility of further restriction of movement, Vitia: No decision will be made without 100% coordination with Rakic (KoSSev)
• Two new Covid-19 infection cases in Serb-populated areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Jevtic in strongest terms condemns Rasic’s statement (Radio kontakt plus)
• Bilčík: Freedom of expression, media to be guaranteed during state of emergency (N1, Danas)
• Dr Kon: Total ban on any contact; 219 new cases of coronavirus in Serbia yesterday (B92)
• EU earmarks 800 million Euro in pandemic aid for Western Balkans and Turkey (N1)

Opinion:

• World Powers Use Pandemic to Flex Muscles in Balkans (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo's Kurti Assures EU Of Commitment To Dialogue With Serbia (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• China takes new measures fearing that the epidemic might reappear (B92, Tanjug)
• Kosovo Company Manufactures 3D Ventilator to Fight COVID-19 (Balkan Insight)
• ‘Destructive’ hydropower construction continues despite lockdown (Prishtina Insight)

• 14 new cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo (media)
• Health Minister: You will save lives by following the rules (media)
• Health minister to take decisions to prevent spread of COVID-19 (media)
• Kurti, Lajcak exchange views on pandemic, dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Veliu reacts to Osmani, calls her "Thaci's translator" (Koha)
• “Kosovo battling two pandemics: COVID-19 and irresponsible politicians” (media)
• PDK's Veseli on possible coalition with Vetevendosje (Indeksonline)
• Op-ed: Why Lajcak is wrong choice for EU envoy (EUObserver)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 8, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti visits Klina, Peja and Gjakova (media)
• Thaci thanks Erdogan for medical aid to Kosovo (media)
• Veseli welcomes World Justice Project index ranking Kosovo on 54th place (media)
• Police lieutenant arrested for failing to respect government measures (media)
• Kurti on Roma Day: We will fight poverty through education (media)
• Germany supports Kosovo with two grants worth over €13 million (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Serbian areas three new cases, a total of 36 infected individuals (Kosovo Online)
• Rasic: Belgrade ignored rise of infection in northern Kosovo (RTK2, Kontakt plus radio, Beta, N1)
• Serbian List: Rasic once again showed he is disgrace of Serbian people (TV Most)
• VoA: Serb majority municipalities received insufficient medical assistance; a difficult situation at the clinic in Laplje Selo (Kontakt plus radio)
• USAID Director Magno: US assistance targets everyone in Kosovo (KIM Radio)
• WHO warns against easing coronavirus measures 'too early' (B92. VoA)
• Three more deaths in Serbia; "We will reach peak now, next 10 days are crucial" (B92)
• Weekend coronavirus related curfew extended from Friday to Monday in Serbia (RTS, N1, Tanjug)
• Djuric: Hospital in Mitrovica North to receive respirator and 1000 protective garments (KoSSev)
• Lawyer: Health condition of Zlatan Krstic rapidly deteriorates (Kosovo-online)
• EU and Western Balkans leaders’ summit postponed over Covid-19 (RTS)

Opinion:

• Applauding Kurti’s Fall, the US is Testing Kosovo’s Loyalty (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kon: If we want to impose more drastic measures, we should do it now (B92)