UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 21, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

U.S. strongly criticizes closure of Serbian bank branches in Kosovo north (media)
UK: We’re concerned yesterday’s police actions risk escalating tensions (media)
EU spokesperson statement on police operation in Kosovo north (media)
Murati: Every action based on legality (media)
“Law enforcement institutions don’t have to coordinate over legal rights” (media)
Kusari-Lila: EU draft on Association is unacceptable for Kosovo (KTV)
Joseph: Kosovo must establish Association of Serb-majority municipalities (RTK)
Kurti on Sekiraqa’s escape: A scandal of judiciary, reforms are urgent (media)
Anusic: Our forces are in Kosovo to protect peace (media)
Bulgaria to send 100 soldiers to KFOR mission today (media)
Shabiu slams government for “hate discourse” against media, civil society (KTV)
Sandulovic: Radoicic, criminal wanted by Interpol, walking freely in Serbia (media)

Serbian Language Media: 

Stano: The raid of the Pristina police in the north of Kosovo - a move that hinders a lot (N1, Beta)
Dacic: Kurti puts his "foot in the door", thus makes steps against the Serbs (KiM radio, Beta, TV Pink)
Arsenijevic says Serbs under absolute sanctions from Pristina, following closure of Postal Savings Bank (KoSSev, social media)
Sljuka: Closure of Postal Savings Bank branches is another threat to Serbian community in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
New DSS: An attack on Postal Savings Bank is an attack on Serbia (BETA)
Fatherland: A routine agreement, four days ago Belgrade ordered termination of dinar transactions in Postal Savings Banks (KoSSev)
Postal Savings Bank: Despite raids on branches, funds in accounts of all clients are safe (Kosovo Online)
Nastic: German Government must condemn Kurti’s actions, not reward them with membership to CoE (Kosovo Online)
Vuckovic: It’s time to set ourselves free from our lack of freedom, that’s the only cure (KoSSev)
Kosovo police says large amount of money seized, Petkovic – no dinars (N1, KoSSev)
Serbian school in Gojbulja stoned again; Reaction of the Office for KiM (Kosovo Online)
Mrdalj: Kurti seeks physical conflict, which is where his strength lies, while Serbia fails to leverage its advantages (KoSSev)

Opinion:

Serbia’s Lies About UN Srebrenica Resolution are All About Power (BIRN)

International:

Kosovo Closes Six Serbia-Run Bank Offices in North (Prishtina Insight)
NZZ: Kurti is no longer trusted (DW)

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: Every success of Kosovo also bears seal of USA (media)
Kurti meets Chulick, discuss the north and Presheva Valley (media)
U.S. Under Secretary of State: We are deeply committed to security of northern Kosovo (Klan)
Kusari-Lila: EU draft for Association is unacceptable for Kosovo (Koha)
Police close six units of Postal Savings Bank in the north (Koha)
Svecla after closure of Savings Bank units in the north: Rule of law and order, our goal (Koha)
1.6 million euros and over 74 million dinars confiscated in branches of Postal Savings Bank (Koha)
RTK held public debate with journalists and civil society of Serb community (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Postal Savings Bank offices, Treasury Management Office closed in northern Kosovo (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, KoSSev, media)
Reactions to Postal Savings Bank offices closure (N1, Tanjug, Kosovo Online, media)
EULEX on Kosovo police action: We were not informed in advance (Kosovo Online)
Vucic arrives in New York (Tanjug)
Vucic extends condolences to Iran over Raisi's death (Tanjug)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani and Kurti host Qatar's Minister for Social Development (media)
• U.S. official Nicole Chulick visiting Kosovo (Klan)
• Hovenier on reasons for the visit of U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary (Klan)
• Kusari-Lila: No official request to dissolve the Assembly (media)
• Tahiri: May 30 is last date to dissolve the Assembly (Indeksonline)
• AAK’s Tahiri: Government resignation, not Assembly dissolution (media)
• Kosovo government approves agreement with Denmark, Danes will serve their sentences in Gjilan prison (ekonomia)
• LVV MP: With liberalization of visas, we have put an end to isolation (ekonomia)

Serbian Language Media:

• Jevtic: I informed Theodoros Roussopoulos about institutional violence against Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Mijacic on Kosovo membership in CoE (media, social media)
• Vucevic welcomes Gabonese PM in Belgrade (Tanjug, RTS)
• Vucevic: Gabon will not vote for the resolution on Srebrenica (RTS)
• Court in Pristina refuses to commute detention measure of Sladjan Trajkovic (RTS)

International:

• Kosovo Must Learn from Croatia’s Mistakes in War Crimes Trials in Absentia (Balkan Insight)
• Vucic: “I am going to New York to fight for Serbia” (sarajevotimes.com)
• EU Policy. Commissioner touts imminent agreement with Serbia on raw materials (euronews.com)

Albanian Language Media:
• U.S. Under Secretary Allen meets Kurti (media)
• U.S. Under Secretary meets Osmani during Kosovo visit (media)
• Hovenier hails agreement on countering foreign information manipulation (media)
• Lajcak ready to host another meeting if parties willing to reach agreement (media)
• Kurti: Our govt is eliminating discriminatory criteria for social assistance (media)
• New contingent of Croatian army to join KFOR (media)

Serbian Language Media:
• Public discussion today on the report of RTK's work, Rakocevic: Evident enormous pressures (Kosovo Online)
• On Patrol with Turkish KFOR soldiers above Banjska (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic: Only votes for and against are counted when adopting the resolution on Srebrenica (FoNet, TV Prva, N1)
• Andric Rakic: Everyone is ready for elections except Kurti, who is unwilling to resign (Kosovo Online)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 17, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Baerbock another call to achieve required majority for Kosovo at CoE (media)
• French Minister: Kosovo issue can cause division at Council of Europe (media)
• Hasani: Kosovo government should act swiftly to meet its commitments (media)
• Hoxhaj: Failure to admit Kosovo would only benefit Russia and Serbia (media)
• Knaus: It would be fatal to ignore Ahtisaari formula for peace (media)
• Escobar: We should’ve insisted more on implementation of Association (media)
• Forde: EU-facilitated dialogue and CoE membership are linked (Albanian Post)
• E-Municipalities launched; Kurti: Citizens are active part of decision-making (Klan)
• Hovenier: We stand together against any form of violence or hate speech against LGBTQI+ (media)
• Bislimi, Gjeloshaj discuss ways to further Kosovo-Montenegro relations (media)
• Kurti remembers Ukshin Hoti, “perpetrators remain unpunished” (media)
• Challenges and responsibilities of Serbian media in Kosovo (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media: 

• No CoE Committee of Ministers debate on Pristina's membership bid (Tanjug, media)
• Vucic on Kosovo and CoE: It won't be easy for them, now they're trying another trick (Kosovo Online)
• Vogel on letter to CoE: Kosovo Government initiative “a political theater” (Kosovo Online)
• Djuric meets with Allen (media)
• Allen: We won't tell Serbia how to conduct its foreign policy; partnership with the U.S. is more important (Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Trial of Sladjan Trajkovic continues: Different statements of witness (Radio KIM)
• Vucic: UNGA resolution seeks punishment for entire Serbian nation (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• The Escobar Case: A Case Study of How Disinformation Is Created Through the Misuse of Real Events and Data (KoSSev)

International:

• U.S. Ambassador To NATO Calls On Western Balkan Countries To Increase Defense Spending (RFE)
• ‘Here You’re Nobody’: Kosovo Cannes Film Candidate Explores Lure of Migration (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

Scholz, Macron and Meloni letter to Kurti: We support Lajcak's draft (media)
Stano: We cannot assess Association draft, without knowing content (RFE)
Presidency: Government's letter sent to CoE, without consultation with Osmani (RTK)
Knaus: European trio's letter was sent before Kosovo government's letter (RTK)
President Osmani met ambassadors of U.S., Germany and UK (ekonomia)
Prime Minister Kurti met with Prime Minister of Montenegro (ekonomia)
U.S. Ambassador to NATO: Issue of four Alliance countries that do not recognize Kosovo, must be addressed (Reporteri)
Abdixhiku on Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ letter: Spectacular failure, international shame (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic, O'Brien discuss situation in region, Kosovo (Tanjug)
Civil Society Report on Human Rights in Kosovo in 2023 presented (Radio KIM, social media)
Andric Rakic: Kosovo must submit draft CSM statute prepared by EU to Constitutional Court (Kosovo Online)
Mijacic: Any advice to Pristina at expense of existing EU demands won’t lead Kosovo to CoE (KoSSev)
Stano: Content of CSM draft statute proposed by Kosovo government unknown, it was discussed neither with EU nor Serbia (Kosovo Online)
War crimes indictments raised against two Serbs (Radio KIM)
203 requests to switch Serbian to Kosovo driver’s licenses submitted thus far (KoSSev)
Djuric to visit Hungary Friday (media)

International:

Western Balkan Leaders See EU Development Plan For Region As Sign Of Bloc's Commitment (RFE)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 16, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Gervalla: Government to send draft statute to court before end of May (media)
• Govt: Ready to implement Association, if internationals accept our offer (media)
• Gervalla: Letter to Council of Europe, a serious commitment (media)
• German Embassy: Draft should be sent to court before ministers meet (Kallxo)
• Position of U.S. on Association remains unchanged (Klan)
• Knaus, Martens on Kosovo’s move to prepare draft statute for Association (media)
• LDK says Gervalla's letter on Association politically and tactically wrong (media)
• Musliu-Shoshi: Propaganda and deception do not work with CoE countries (media)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo is late with draft statute, doesn’t produce right effect (media)
• O'Brien: Fulfilling its potential, vital for Western Balkans (RTK)
• Kurti: We expect mutual recognition from all countries of region (media)
• Hovenier thanks Escobar for his tireless commitment to dialogue (Koha)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Vucic: Letter to CoE with promises about CSM – new Pristina’s trick (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: The Statute of the CSM is negotiated and adopted in a high-level dialogue (KiM radio)
• Because of CSM draft statute Pristina was late for CoE, yet it will send to Constitutional Court its own draft, not the one prepared by EU (KoSSev)
• Mijacic: Decision on Kosovo admission to CoE is made by member states, Gervalla wrote to PACE which has nothing to do with it any longer (Kosovo Online, social media)
• The Western Balkans six, the EU and the USA representatives today in Kotor on the Growth Plan for the region (Danas, Beta, media)
• Vucic: I believe that with EU membership we can achieve important results (RTS, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Rights of Serbs in Kosovo only on paper: Who and why is bothered by the Serbian flag? (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Orban will sacrifice Kosovo to keep Serbian ally sweet (BIRN)

International:

• BIRN Journalists Awarded for Exposing Public Broadcaster’s Gender Discrimination in Top Job Recruitments (Prishtina Insight)
• From Bosnia to Ukraine: How a Serb Sportsman Became a Russian Fighter (BIRN)
• Trump Son-in-Law’s Company to Renovate Serbia’s NATO-Struck Army HQ (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:
• Another failed meeting between Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels (media)
• Kurti travels to Montenegro for Western Balkans – EU leaders’ summit (media)
• Hamza: PDK will vote in favor of international agreements (Nacionale)
• Haliti does not rule out a coalition between Vetevendosje and PDK (KTV)
• Abdixhiku calls on Kurti to resign: Set the date for new elections (Kosovapress)
• Haziri: For dissolution of Assembly, Vetevendosje has the LDK votes (media)
• Kurti open EXPOKOS 2024 in Pristina, “let’s explore new partnerships” (media)
• Reactions to graffiti painted on walls of orthodox church near Peja (media)
• Kosovo leaders react to assassination attempt on Slovak PM (media)

Serbian Language Media:
• Stano and Lajcak: No willingness of Belgrade and Pristina to find a compromise agreement (NMagazin, Beta, media)
• Petkovic: Pristina rejected all six of our proposals, we will not give up (Tanjug, media)
• UNS protest due to the lack of translation at the Svecla's and Hoxha conference (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• Protest of drama artists in Serbia due to the ban on entry to Kosovo of actor Nenad Jezdic (KiM radio)
• Vucic shocked by Fico assassination attempt (Tanjug)
• Vucevic met Russian ambassador to Belgrade; Azerbaijani Ambassador (Tanjug)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti on elections: Opposition must be ready, we are always ready (media)
• Kurti meets coalition partner, discuss developments and elections (media)
• Muhaxheri: PDK and VV have agreed on date of new elections (media)
• Osmani speaks with Steinmeier on Kosovo’s membership in CoE (media)
• Knaus: There is still a good way for Kosovo to join CoE soon (media)
• Civil society’s open letter to CoE in support of Kosovo’s membership bid (media)
• Damka: Conditioning CoE membership unfair to communities too (RTK)
• Malcolm criticizes EU for stalemate in Pristina-Belgrade dialogue (VoA)
• COMKFOR: Security stable but fragile, ready to respond to any challenge (media)
• Maqedonci to meet British Armed Forces Minister Docherty (media)
• Specialist Chambers: Kilaj released in Kosovo under strict conditions (media)
• Osmani meets “thriving diaspora” in Copenhagen (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Trilateral meeting in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue underway in Brussels (Tanjug, media)
• Vucic meets Allen, says US should step up engagement to help preserve regional stability (Tanjug, media)
• The census ending, and the enumerators did not knock on the doors of the citizens of North Mitrovica (KoSSev, N1)
• Raska-Prizren Diocese: Serbian Orthodox church near Pec desecrated (media, social media)
• Gervalla in Leposavic about the "beauty of the Republic of Kosovo" and the region's "brutal decade-long backwardness" (KoSSev)
• Kosovo authorities bar ‘The Book of Milutin’ crew from entering Kosovo, a move actor condemns as primitive (KoSSev)
• Protest by journalists, cameramen of newsrooms in Serbian language due to the eviction of "Jedinstvo" from its premises (Radio Mitrovica sever, RTS, Kosovo Online, KiM radio)
• UN General Assembly sets date for Srebrenica resolution vote (N1)

International:

• Former Officer Detained As Police Seize Weapons Cache In Northern Kosovo (RFE)
• Kosovo Remembers Village Massacres as PM Urges More War Crime Probes (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

Kosovo Police seize large weapons cache in north (media)
Kosovo, Serbia negotiators to meet in Brussels today on Serbian Dinar (media)
Quint, EU concerned over Kosovo govt decision not to allow Porfirije visit (media)
EU reacts to ban on Porfirije’s visit: Violation of 2014 agreement (Koha)
UNMIK chief closely following denial of Patriarch's entry to Kosovo (Albanian Post)
LDK calls for Kurti’s resignation before early parliamentary elections (media)
Svecla: Regional cooperation resulted with closure of 35 illegal routes (Koha)
Osmani says “Serbia is helping Russia open a new front against West” (media)
Rrustemi: Vetevendosje ready for early elections; will over 51 percent (Dukagjini)
Ahmeti: CoE is being used to pressure Kosovo to accept Lajcak’s draft (media)
Kurti: Made in Kosova platform represents Kosovo’s potential (media)
Turkish KFOR units conduct crowd riot control training at Camp Bondsteel (media)

Serbian Language Media:

During transition period without solution for dinar, uncertainty and anxiety of citizens increasing (Kosovo Online)
UNMIK carefully follows SOC Patriarch’s entry denial (Nova, Blic, RTV, Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
SOC Assembly: Ban on Patriarch, as if Pope is banned from going to Vatican, and Pristina wants to join Council of Europe (KoSsev, media)
Sentic on Patriarch's entry ban: Decision-makers should carefully consider consequences of their actions (Kosovo Online)
Svecla and Hoxha in a conference in Mitrovica North without translation into Serbian language provided, journalists react (KoSSev)
Serbian List on entry ban to theater play The Book of Milutin crew: How far madness of Pristina will go? (Rad