UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 17, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Kosovo representatives to be unified in foreign policy (media)
• Thaci: Kosovo enters second decade with faith, hope and belief for better future
• Serwer says Kurti will not change Kosovo’s position on Serbia (media)
• Osmani: Kosovo’s independence is irreversible (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: 12 years ago, international law was trampled, but Serbia was not defeated (Serbian media)
• ''Everything that Albanians believed in have failed'' (KIM Radio)
• Almost two decades after, still no punishment for the crime in Livadice (Radio kontakt plus)
• Borrell: We are working on appointing envoy for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (N1, SRNA, RFE, RTS)
• EU hosts informal dinner with Western Balkans leaders (Tanjug, B92, RTS)
• Vucic said debate with Kurti was fierce (N1, RTS, Kosovo-online)
• Vucic on talks with Pristina, Carpenter’s statements (B92)
• Rada Trajkovic: Murder of Oliver Ivanovic will be clarified (KIM Radio, Free Serbian)

Opinion:

• Reviving Enlargement in Balkans Means Changing More than Methodology (Balkan Insight)

International:

• EU Says Accession For Balkan Countries Still Possible (RFE)
• Twelve Years In Dependence Leave Kosovo Facing Foggy Future (Balkan Insight)

Thaci: Inter-institutional coordination required for dialogue (media)
Kurti: I have reservations about agreements, I was not part of talks (RFE)
Borrell: Dialogue to continue as soon as we appoint envoy (media)
Kurti meets international representatives at MSC sidelines (RTK)
Kurti for Blick: To Kosovo, Serbia’s recognition is not sufficient (Blick/Lajmi)
Hoti and Grenell discuss dialogue with Serbia (Kallxo)
Haxhiu: From now on, politicians will fear the prosecution (Kosovapress/RTK)

“Agreement in Munich signed by unauthorised Kosovo officials” (media)
Kurti and Vucic have their first encounter at MSC (DW)
Kurti says he did not have a meeting with Vucic (RFE)
Borrell: Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is the only solution (Koha)
Minister Hajdari meets CEFTA representatives (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 14, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia on motorway and railway signed (media)
• Thaci: Railway agreement, a message of peace (media)
• Who signed the agreement for the railway between Kosovo and Serbia? (Express)
• Grenell calls today’s signed agreements historic (Express)
• Haradinaj applauds agreement between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• LDK's Hyseni: Agreement in Munich, a step in the right direction (Zeri)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic met Grenell in Munich (B92, Tanjug)
• Vucic happy to see progress, thanks Trump for support (Tanjug)
• Djuric on railway agreement: We took care everything to be in line with Constitution (BETA, N1)
• Rakic: Better communication, faster transport of goods and services (Radio KIM)
• Blakaj: To identify 400 bodies that are still in Pristina (N1)

International:

• France, US, Pile Pressure on Kosovo to Scrap Tariffs (Balkan Insight)
• Further transport agreements reached between Kosovo and Serbia (Prishtina Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• BIRN Launches ‘If You Were Here’ Missing Persons Campaign (Balkan Insight)
• Kurti: There never was a more education-dedicated government (Koha)

• Grenell meets Thaci and Vucic in Munich (media)
• Haxhiu: Munich Conference is very important (RTK)
• Borrell could propose Lajcak for EU envoy on Monday (Koha Ditore)
• Lajcak confirms he is considering a post in the Balkans (Gazeta Express/RTK)
• Hoti: Reciprocity only in coordination with U.S. and EU (Zeri/Express)
• Haziri: Reciprocity will be applied (T7/RTK)
• Meta: Border change is never a solution (Epoka e Re)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 13, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Pompeo writes to Kurti: Lift the tariff for Kosovo and Serbia dialogue to resume (Express)
• Albin Kurti defers a bit to Thaci: Invites him for consultation (Express)
• Thaci travels to Germany to participate at Munich Security Conference (RTK)
• Kurti nominates Jusuf Thaci as Deputy Minister for education (RTK)
• Swiss president congratulates Kurti on election (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: Compromise is our greatest concession towards Kosovo (Danas)
• "Moscow will find a solution if Belgrade calls on Russia" (Sputnik, B92)
• Carpenter: No progress on Kosovo issue before elections in Serbia (VoA, N1)
• Brnabic: The situation is unstable; Vucic was forced to react promptly (B92)
• Djuric discussed with Falconi security situation in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Returnee interviewed by Special Prosecutor’s Office, denied being arrested (KoSSev, Kosovo-online)
• Serbian media: Another country to withdraw recognition of Kosovo (B92, Sputnik)

Opinion:

• Why 2019 was Year Kosovo will Want to Forget (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo's new PM, cabinet accept halving of their salaries (Reuters)
• Kurti’s Ambitious Promises Will Test Kosovo Govt’s Resolve (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Detains Serb Ex-Policeman as War Crime Witness (Balkan Insight)

• PM Kurti's interview for KTV's Rubikon (Koha)
• Macron: Kurti government, political alternative and a hope (Kallxo)
• Berlin request immediate lifting of the tariff (Gazeta Express)
• Russia ready to find solution for Kosovo, if requested from Serbia (Sputnik/Lajmi)
• Finance Ministry publishes vacancy announcement for Customs director (media)
• Kosnett meets Konjufca, discuss advancing of Kosovo’s diplomacy (media)
• Veliu meets Apostolova, discuss also visa liberalisation (media)
• Assembly to convene today to discuss parliamentary groups (Gazeta Express)
• Kosovo Police detains then releases former Serb policeman (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 12, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Konjufca proposes not to apply for INTERPOL this year (Gazeta Express)
• Haxhiu: Government annulled two unjust decisions (media)
• Haradinaj slams decision to cancel salary raise, calls it “senseless” (media)
• Government dismisses national coordinators appointed during Haradinaj's term (media)
• Kurti to participate at Munich Security Conference together with Grenell and Vucic (Klan, RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• “Trump sent Grenell to ask Vucic, Thaci and Kurti a single question” (Tanjug, B92)
• Vucic to meet Grenell in Munich, Kurti will probably be in Germany (Tanjug, Radio KIM, N1)
• Reeker: We'll stand by Serbia as partner and friend on its path to EU (VoA, N1)
• Odalovic: Revoking tariffs major challenge for Kurti (RTS)
• Returnee in Istok arrested over alleged war crime, Office for KiM, Serbian List condemn arrest (Tanjug, RTV)
• Milena Ivanovic: Fact that Silvana Arsovic is indicted is scandalous (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Kosovo's New PM Visits Albania in First Official Trip Abroad (AP/NYT)
• Journalists’ Abductions, Killings in Kosovo ‘Not Properly Investigated’ (Balkan Insight)
• Suspects Plead Not Guilty to Kosovo Serb Politician’s Murder (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo Faces Challenge to Resolve Battles over University Accreditation (Balkan Insight)

• Custin: Grenell never said U.S. investments in Kosovo will be cancelled (VOA)
• Grenell: Drop the tax to let investments work (media)
• Kurti: Visit to Tirana was not part of foreign policy (media)
• KFOR supports Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)
• Kurti to meet Vucic in March? (Gazeta Express)
• Wigemark: There is political interference in Kosovo judiciary (Koha Ditore)
• Italian FM requests from Kosovo resumption of dialogue (Epoka e Re)
• EP draft resolution urges visa liberalisation for Kosovo (media)
• Government expected to annul decision on salary increase (Telegrafi)
• EULEX requests for the rule of law to be priority in Kosovo (RTK)
• Kurti nominates Avni Zogjani Deputy Minister (media)
• Ivanovic’s former associate accused as accomplice to his murder (Zeri)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 11, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo and Albania set up commission for intergovernmental agreements (media)
• They start with disagreement: Kurti seeks Albanian macro-Schengen, Rama regional mini-Schengen with Serbia (Express)
• In Tirana, Kurti meets Speaker Ruci, President Meta, opposition leader Basha (media)
• Palmer: Russia wants Balkans with an element of chaos in it (RFE)
• Osmani meets heads of UN Agencies (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: I hope Pristina will revoke tariffs soon (RTS)
• "Germany wants to get directly involved in solving Kosovo issue" (Sputnik, B92)
• Dacic: Serbia wants to know if EU will expand to Western Balkans (BETA, N1)
• US hopes EU will open talks with Skopje, Tirana in March, worries about Russia (RFE, N1)
• UNS presents research on missing and murdered journalists in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Jevtic: I expect government to work in interests of all citizens (RTV Puls)
• Stefanovic comments on US calls to Pristina to revoke tariffs (RTS)
• Indicted in Oliver Ivanovic’s murder case pleaded not guilty (RTS)

Opinion:

• Embracing Europe’s Power (Project Syndicate)

International:

• U.S. Envoy Urges Kosovo To Drop Tariffs On Serbian Goods 'With No Reciprocity' (RFE)
• Why Europe Cannot Afford To Get It Wrong On The Western Balkans (Forbes)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Winter Sports Festival Hopes to Thaw Kosovo’s Ethnic Freeze (Balkan Insight)
• Gifted but ‘ignored’ (Prishtina Insight)