UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 17, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 25 new cases, one death (media)
• Hoti: About 10 thousand citizens were vaccinated during the weekend (media)
• Kurti: For 55 days of government, we have done a lot of work (media)
• Trendafilova: KSC is not an ethnic court, victims are of different ethnic backgrounds (Klan)
• President Osmani met with Croatian President Zoran Milanovic (RTK)
• Gresa Caka-Nimani elected president of the Constitutional Court (media)
• Protest in front of Ministry against violence of girls in schools (media)
• Kosovo authorities seize over 2 tons of cocaine? (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Seven new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• Vucic: Serbia has always advocated for inviolability of UN recognized borders (Kosovo-online)
• Stano: The dinner will be a sign of wider political engagement of the EU and the Western Balkans (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Western Balkans leaders' summit today in Brioni, Vucic after that in Brussels with Stoltenberg (Radio Mitrovica sever, RTS)
• Brnabic-Kurti meeting in Brussels tomorrow, geopolitics on the "menu" of the working dinner (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Serbia’s Vucic will skip Western Balkans leaders’ working dinner in Brussels (N1)
• All municipal boards of the SNS in Kosovo for the removal of Stefanovic from party and state functions (KoSSev)
• Vucic: I would rather lose my head than give up Serbia, seizure of Kosovo is end of everything (KoSSev)
• Enthronement of Patriarch Porfirije in Pec Patriarchate postponed (KoSSev)
• Bishop Teodosije requested OSCE support for survival of Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo (RTS)
• Montenegro is not sending infantry platoon to KFOR (KoSSev)
• Dacic: Request for KFOR withdrawal more threat, than it is realistic (Kosovo-online)
• Health ministry official: More than 42 percent fully vaccinated in Serbia (N1)
• Petkovic: Kurti deceives public with statements on lawsuit against Belgrade (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Catalysing anti-corruption in the WB achievable only by an alliance of stakeholders, latest report highlights (EWB)
• Montenegro Scraps Plan to Join NATO Mission in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Another "weekend" series of domestic violence and violence against women (KoSSev)
• PM Brnabic: Celebrations as of June 21 if 50 pct of population is vaccinated (N1)
• How IDAHOBIT came to Kosovo (Kosovo 2.0)

• COVID-19: 47 new cases, 3 deaths (media)
• Kurti to travel to Brussels this week (media)
• Osmani to participate in Brdo-Brijuni process (media)
• Dialogue and regional cooperation, criteria for approximation with EU (Koha)
• Haziri: Dialogue, only way to resolve problem with Serbia (media)
• "Serbia demanding broad autonomy for Serb-majority areas in Kosovo" (RFE)
• Serwer: Serbia can still be sued for genocide in Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• LDK slams Kosovo Government's foreign policy strategy (media)
• Kosovo Government says Israel has a right to defend itself (Express)
• Palokaj: We dream about the day when NATO would leave Kosovo (Koha)
• Robelli: Russian and Serbian special war through “Zuerst” (Koha)
• Protest today for safety of girls in schools (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 49 new cases, 2 deaths (media)
• Decisions on UNMIK are “made by the Security Council” (RFE)
• German Ambassador on genocide lawsuit against Serbia (Koha)
• Demiri: All Kosovars living in Israel are safe (Albanian Post)

Serbian Language Media:

• Nine new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas (KoSSev)
• NATO: We remain committed to the region; we make all decisions by consensus (Kosovo Online)
• Zakharova: Only one state does not decide on the withdrawal of KFOR, it is a collective decision (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, KiM radio, Beta)
• Vucic with Pahor: High level of cooperation, Serbia for respecting borders as determined by UN decision (RTS)
• Odalovic: Excavations will begin at several locations in Kosovo (RTK2)
• PM Brnabic: Only dialogue, compromise can ensure long-term solution (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: Osmani either does not want dialogue, or doesn’t understand concept of politics of peace (TV Most)
• Petkovic: None of international community models for return of displaced persons made significant success (Kosovo-online)
• State Department on religious freedom: Decision on V. Decani’s land still ignored, 57 incidents targeting religious sites (KoSSev)
• HLC: No chance of ICJ ruling against Serbia for genocide in Kosovo (FoNet, N1)
• Office for KiM calls for investigation into all missing persons (N1)

Opinion:

• Western Balkans economic integration – why is it needed? (EWB)

International:

• Israel-Gaza Fighting Leaves Balkan Migrants Vulnerable (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• A special budget line for shelters for victims of domestic violence (Koha)
• Ivanusa: Serbia shows how mass vaccination could affect epidemic (N1)

• COVID-19: 112 new cases, 1 death (media)
• EU’s Balkan strategy losing local support, internal paper warns (Reuters)
• Pahor: Western Balkans must join EU, this avoids border changes (media)
• Osmani: Full coordination on genocide lawsuit against Serbia (media)
• Rohde: Mutual recognition must be part of final solution in dialogue (Koha)
• Kosovo government pledges not to allow a monoethnic association (Koha Ditore)
• Vucic says great power to demand withdrawal of KFOR, UNMIK (N1)
• Greek Foreign Minister and Lajcak discuss Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• Israeli ambassador’s defence of Kosovo recognition riles Belgrade (BIRN)
• Muslims throughout Balkans gather for Eid al-Fitr prayers (BIRN)
• Kosovo war video collector seeks to preserve evidence of crimes (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 12, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 113 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Over 38,000 doses of COVID vaccine arrive in Kosovo (media)
• NIPK encourages citizens to get vaccinated against COVID-19 (media)
• Distance learning fails to reach disadvantaged pupils (Prishtina Insight)
• Pahor: Final time for Western Balkans to integrate into EU (Telegrafi)
• LDK slams government programme as 'hollow' (media)
• Police recover casings from shooting incident in Zubin Potok mountains (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Israeli Ambassador: The decision to recognize Kosovo was made under the coercion of the US (TV Prva, KoSSev)
• Palestinian Ambassador: Against the relocation of embassies to Jerusalem (Danas, TV Prva)
• PM Ana Brnabic to attend dinner hosted by Borrell on May 18 (Tanjug, RTV Puls)
• EU: New enlargement methodology for Montenegro and Serbia (N1)
• Kosovo Albanians vaccinate in Serbia, Pristina media report (N1
• Dodik: No processes being implemented towards secession of Bosnia’s RS entity (N1)
• Selakovic: Constant support of Indonesia (RTS)
• Rakic demands urgent protection of returnees in Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)

Opinion:

• Without the EU, third actors will fill the void in the Western Balkans (politikon.me, EWB)

International:

• EU's Balkan strategy losing local support, internal paper warns (Reuters)
• Democracy is in distress, finds the Council of Europe Secretary General’s annual report for 2021 (coe.int)
• Serbia, Kosovo, Greece Express Hope for Sustained Interest, Investment Through US Agency (VOA)
• In North Kosovo, Mining for Bitcoin on ‘Free’ Electricity (Balkan Insight)
• “Investment in the Western Balkans is an investment in the shared, value-oriented future of Europe” (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• ‘Women’s Work’: COVID-19 Deals Blow to Gender Equality in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
• International Nurses Day: nurses in northern Kosovo receive awards (KoSSev)
• Three Serbian hospitals to step out of COVID system (N1)

• COVID-19: 57 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Government publishes four-year programme and legislative plan (media)
• Government to condition final agreement with UN seat and recognition from EU five (Koha)
• Aliu: Kosovo to introduce reciprocity measures towards Serbia (Klan)
• What status is being sought out for Orthodox Church in Kosovo? (Klan)
• FM Gervalla denies authoring governing plan posted on Instagram (media)
• Croatia to deploy 150 peacekeeping troops to Kosovo (media)
• Hoxhaj reacts to Serbia awarding Handke highest state honour (RTK)
• Kosovo Court Confirms Indictment in Oliver Ivanovic Murder Case (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 11, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 49 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Before confronting Vucic, Kurti plans to invite party leaders to a meeting (media)
• Maas to Kurti: Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, decisive for European perspectives (media)
• Gervalla publishes 20 key government program points (RTK)
• Hoti publishes evidence that he handed over the dialogue file to Kurti (Kallxo)
• CDHRF: Strengthening justice in Kosovo, most effective method to tackle Serbia's crimes (media)
• Minister Mehaj talks to Montenegrin Defense Minister (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian areas: 8 new cases, one death (KoSSev)
• Borrell: Western Balkans has key geostrategic role for the European Union (Beta, N1)
• Vucic invited to Brussels (B92)
• Diocese of Raska-Prizren concerned over attacks on religious sites (KoSSev)
• Father Sava with Szunyog on Visoki Decani Monastery problems (Kosovo-online)
• Jutarnji List: Forget Bosnia-Herzegovina, it is a nightmare; EU has a priority, and that is Serbia (B92, Blic)
• Grubjesic: EU to convince Kurti that dialogue is a priority (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Court of Appeals rejects appeals filed by defense in Oliver Ivanovic murder trial (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian official says almost four million doses of vaccine administered (N1)
• Petkovic: Two returnees’ families in Dubrava village attacked (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Balkan Muslims Find Second Pandemic Ramadan a Challenge (Balkan Insight)
• Landmine Blasts on Albania-Kosovo Border Blight Survivors’ Lives (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia Honors 2019 Nobel Prize-Winner For Literature, Who Denies Srebrenica Genocide (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbian Chamber of Commerce to organize info day on Western Balkans common market action plan (Kosovo-online)

• COVID-19: 47 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Borrell: Kosovo – Serbia dialogue to resume before end of June (media)
• “Debate on Western Balkans result of serious difficulties in region” (EWB)
• German Foreign Minister: If not careful, we will lose Western Balkans (media)
• “Shadows of nationalism hindering cooperation in Balkans” (media)
• Opening Pandora’s Box: The EU’s dangerous Bosnia game (euractiv.com)
• Dialogue, key issue to advance toward EU (Koha Ditore)
• Kurti government aims Kosovo to have candidate status by 2025 (Koha Ditore)
• Balkan migrant-smuggling business ‘worth €50m a year’: Report (BIRN)
• China increases its influence in Balkans through universities in Serbia (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 47 new cases, two deaths (media)
• New shipments of Covid vaccines to arrive to Kosovo in coming days (media)
• Swedish FM: Kosovo and Serbia to treat dialogue as priority (media)
• Croatian FM pledges support for Kosovo in visa liberalisation process (Koha)
• Police begin interviewing witnesses of yesterday's incident in Zubin Potok (Klan)
• Human remains recovered from Kizevak grave site (EO)
• Annual budget exceeding €100 million allocated to Ministry of Defence (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 13 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Kontakt plus radio)
• EU: Chance for an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, no time to lose (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, RTS)
• EU Ministers to Discuss Urgent, Reinforced Engagement in Western Balkans (Beta)
• Fabrizi: Urgent need of rule of law reforms in Serbia, BG-PR dialogue not a condition for opening more chapters (RTS, Beta, N1)
• Selakovic informed Davenport on the position of the Serb population in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, RTV)
• Office for KiM: Stoned church in Kosovska Vitina (Kosovo Online, RTV)
• Radman: Recognition of Kosovo is a reality; Vulin: What the reality is in Republika Srpska? (Hina, N1, KoSSev)
• Patriarch: Persecution of believers, occupation of their homes, and destruction of churches is a culturcide (KoSSev)
• Vucic awards Austrian writer Peter Handke the Order of Karadjordje’s Star (N1, RTS)

Opinion:

• Resuming Kosovo – Serbia Dialogue: What can be expected over next six months? (KoSSev)

Humanitarian/Development:

• EU kicks off year-long Conference on Future of Europe (N1)
• Visoki Decani and Pec Patriarchate open to limited number of visitors (Radio KIM)

COVID-19: 98 new cases, 5 deaths (media)
Shots fired in direction of mountain climbers near Zubin Potok (media)
Incident near Zubin Potok draws condemnation in Kosovo (media)
Brussels hope current governments may reach an agreement (Koha Ditore)
No return of reciprocity or review of Brussels agreement (Koha)
Szunyog: Kosovo's future is in European Union (media)
Kurti: EU is more than structures and institutions for Kosovo people (media)
Hoxhaj: Former opposition wavered citizens' trust in EU (media)
Kosnett: Washington agreements should be basis for work forward (media)
Borrell: Ideas for new borders are dangerous and unacceptable (Zeri)
Victims of the Kosovo war should be at the heart of the dialogue (BIRN)
Shrinking state funds stunt Kosovo’s award-winning film industry (BIRN)