UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 20 , 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Government cannot be expected to subsidise electricity in the north (media)
• Peach: Kosovo-Serbia agreement necessary as soon as possible; regional initiatives to be inclusive (Klan)
• German MEP: To enter the EU, Kosovo and Serbia must recognize each other (Reporteri)
• Simmons replies to Cramon: Words are not enough, people of Kosovo are tired (Reporteri)
• Government aims to draft law on staple products' prices by August (Koha)
• Construction in Decan zoning area led to indictment of municipal officials (Indeksonline)
• 50 kg of marijuana seized and 6 people arrested at discovered lab in Zubin Potok (Telegrafi)
• Alarming figures; two deaths and 1,793 new cases with COVID-19 (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• President of Egypt welcomed with military and state honours in Belgrade (N1, RTS)
• Selakovic: We are grateful to Egypt for understanding Serbia’s position on Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Statistics Office official says population census in Serbia in October (N1)
• Drecun: Opening negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania good news (Kosovo Online)
• NADA Coalition: Serbia to condemn Edi Rama’s statements on organ harvesting (Kosovo Online)
• Bogdanovic: Serbs in northern Kosovo still don’t know what to do regarding Serbian licence plates (Danas)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo with draft law on sanctioning foreign human rights offenders (RFE)
• Serbian passport visa free in 134 states (N1)

• Lajcak does not see the fact that Kurti and Vucic did not meet as a tragedy (RTK)
• Government informed embassies on license plates and ID decisions (Telegrafi)
• "Elektrosever" misses several deadlines of the energy roadmap (Koha)
• Ukraine War Makes Kosovo-Serbia Deal More Urgent – Enver Hoxhaj (BIRN)
• Janjic not satisfied with Lajcak’s mediation of dialogue (Danas, media)
• The U.S. Department of State publishes the report on human trafficking (media)
• Kurti holds farewell meeting with Swedish ambassador Hernmarck (media)
• RFE on Radoicic: U.S.-sanctioned smuggling politician that 'represents' Kosovo Serbs
• Kosovo’s Online Media Lack Resources to Combat Fake News: Report (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Borrell: European Union not complete without Western Balkans (Klan)
• Rama on accusations against KLA leaders: We want to tell the world that it was a masquerade (media)
• Osmani congratulates Albania, North Macedonia; calls for visa liberalisation (media)
• Haradinaj congratulates Albania and North Macedonia for accession talks (media)
• Krasniqi congratulates Albania, North Macedonia, calls for visa liberalisation (media)
• Analysts sceptical about the success of the dialogue under Lajcak's mandate (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• The Special Prosecutor's Office responded to Svecla's statement on the case in Leposavic (RTK2)
• Serbian List and Petkovic reaction to Svecla's statement about Radoicic (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, Kosovo Online)
• Vlajic: One-month detention to arrested person in Leposavic, charges on ‘attempted murder’ ungrounded (Radio KIM)
• President of Egypt visits Serbia (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Vucic never rejected dialogue (KiM radio, Radio Mitrovica sever, KoSSev)
• Dacic says first session of new Serbian parliament next week (N1)
• Rakic met the head of UNMIK: Permanent peace has no alternative (Radio Mitrovica sever, TV Most, Kosovo Online)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Rapidly escalating COVID-19 cases amid reduced virus surveillance forecasts a challenging autumn and winter in the WHO European Region (who.int)
• Belgrade Bust: Behind the Parties and Plush Condos of Serbia’s Capital (Balkan Insight)

• Kosovo Deputy PM accuses Serbia of sabotaging dialogue (Koha)
• Svecla: Radoicic behind smugglers that attack the police (RFE)
• Kurti meets Swiss Ambassador Kolly, OSCE Ambassador Davenport (media)
• “AKI, Police working with KFOR to apprehend criminals in the north” (media)
• One month detention for suspect of attack against police in north (Kosovapress)
• Kosovo Cultural Heritage Sites Hit by Theft, Vandalism: OSCE Report (BIRN)
• US Judge’s Memoir Delivers Verdict on Justice in Kosovo (BIRN)
• Albania, North Macedonia, Brace for First EU Accession Talks (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 18, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Kosovo most pro-EU country in Western Balkans, yet most isolated (media)
• Rama: Failure to give visa liberalisation to Kosovo, a disgrace for the EU (media)
• Von Cramon calls on EU to grant visa liberalisation to Kosovo (media)
• Lajcak's mandate extended for two more years (Klan)
• Svecla: Kosovo has no fighters in Ukraine (RFE)
• Mehaj: Determination of our police in fighting smuggling makes us all proud (media)
• Murati gives details about Government's employment scheme (media)
• “Opposition doesn’t benefit by presenting government’s successes as failure” (Koha)
• Kosovo asks Serbia to return artefacts (Klan)
• Albanian Parliament with a draft-resolution against Dick Marty’s report on Kosovo war (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• President Vucic: The new government will not be anti-Russian (N1)
• Shooting and police pursuit in Leposavic: Several police officers injured; Suspect’s brother: Excessive force used (KoSSev)
• YUCOM: Serbs in Kosovo in complete legal uncertainty (N1)
• Anniversary of massive kidnapping of Serbs and Roma from Orahovac marked (Radio KIM)
• Brussels sources: In the EU unhappy because of Kurti's stubborn persistent attitude (Beta, N1, KoSSev)
• ETTU: The Kosovo Table Tennis Association withdrew the team, we worked to ensure that Kosovo has equal treatment (KoSSev)
• Milasinovic: Pristina has no right to search for artifacts (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, RTV)
• North Macedonia’s parliament backs French proposal (N1)

International:

• Kosovo Football Fans Criticised for Barring Tourists from Guerrilla Memorial (Balkan Insight)
• Lack of action on Kosovo sarcophagus speaks to wider neglect (BIRN)
• Artists proclaim ‘NSK Territory’ as exploration and challenge of sovereign state (BIRN)
• Serbia Says Crashed Plane Was Carrying Serbian Weapons To Bangladesh (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• 'Besa' - A Bid at Balkan Noir (Kosovo 2.0)

• Five police officers injured during an anti-smuggling operation in the North (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo unable to pay for electricity in the north (media)
• Krasniqi: Kurti should deal with solution to crisis, not with party elections (RTK)
• Haradinaj: Government caused millions of euros damage to civil servants (media)
• Ceku: Europa Nostra has lost credibility, is politically influenced by Serbia (media)
• Serbia bans Kosovo’s participation in table tennis championship (media)
• Government of Kosovo prepares new employment scheme for families (media)
• EULEX chief meets with Kurti: As always, an inspiring discussion (media)
• The former EULEX prosecutor comes as a winner, gets invited as a suspect (Koha/media)
• EULEX reacts to allegations raised by Bamieh in Pristina (media)
• Jashari family reacts to a bus with foreign students not allowed to visit memorial site (media)
• Two more Ukrainian journalists arrive in Kosovo (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• OSCE Chairman-in-Office meets Kosovo leaders (media)
• President Osmani: Kosovo, a constructive party in dialogue with Serbia (media)
• “Kosovo will continue to participate constructively and actively in dialogue” (media)
• Decan mayor on Europa Nostra conclusions: Not based on facts (Zeri)
• Abazi: Companies tied to Grenell registered in the U.S. to control Kosovo assets (T7/G. Express)
• LDK: Ruling parties come and go; media remain caretakers of democracy (media)
• AAK senior member reacts to Baton Haxhiu’s statement (Express)
• PDK: Kurti government is deepening poverty, bankrupting companies (media)
• Over 1,200 new cases with COVID-19 in last 24 hours (media)
• Former Croatian President to be declared Honorary Citizen of Prizren (Indeksonline)
• The U.S. Congress votes on resolution, asking Serbia to punish killers of Bytyqi brothers (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• GrenelI to Politika: I do not expect too much from the Brussels dialogue (media)
• Petkovic with Italian Ambassador on dialogue (Radio KIM)
• New apple of discord: SOC in the dialogue on normalization (KiM radio)
• Stano: We expect Serbia to refrain from intensifying relations with Russia (N1)

International:

• Former inmates of ‘Prison from Hell’ recall its grim secrets (Prishtina Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo could be among places that sells coal to Germany (Radio Kosova/RTK)
• About 700 new students enrolled in ten faculties of Mitrovica North (Radio Mitrovica sever)

• Lajcak, Bislimi meet in Brussels; discuss next steps in dialogue (media)
• Scholz indicates agreement on Berlin Process: Summit in November (Express)
• French ambassador gives positive signals for visa liberalisation (Kosovapress)
• Govt barely gets votes for bureau on confiscation of unjustifiable wealth (Koha)
• OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Rau to meet leaders today (Kosovapress)
• Vetevendosje MP calls for media control, Journalists Association reacts (Koha)
• Kosovo Govt, European heritage network argue Orthodox monastery (BIRN)
• Von Cramon meets Europa Nostra Secretary General (media)
• Observatory in Prishtina reopens after 35-year gap (Prishtina Insight)
• Old, ugly, obsolete, but Pristina satellite dishes part of collective memory (BIRN)
• Hague Court President: Recognising Srebrenica genocide is necessary (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 14, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Lajcak mentioned 3-4 agreements; EU and Kosovo govt don’t give details (Telegrafi)
• Kurti: Political parties should meet to discuss vetting process (Reporteri)
• Muja certain bill on verification, confiscation of unjustifiable wealth, will pass (Telegrafi)
• German MP in Tirana: Open Balkan, only an element of the Berlin Process (Express)
• Ceku says Europa Nostra should apologise to Kosovo for image damage (Klan)
• Aliu: Europa Nostra heavily damaged Kosovo’s image (RTK)
• EU continues to support strengthening of rule of law in Kosovo (media)
• Former Customs Director elected chair of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (Koha)
• Kamberi: Integration of Presevo Valley Albanians in Serbian state institutions (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Kamberi: Coalition of Albanians of the valley has no interest in being in the Government of Serbia (N1, Beta)
• Vucic denies being invited to high-level talks in Brussels; state of emergency but not declared (Beta, FoNet, N1)
• Petkovic's two failed attempts to enter Kosovo; EU: They should have allowed him; Pristina disagrees (KoSSev)
• Europa Nostra after Kosovo visit: V. Decani to continue to be guarded by KFOR due to security challenges (KoSSev)
• Serbian Ambassador: Friendship between Serbia and China ‘steel-strong’ (N1)
• Brnabic with Ukrainian Ambassador: Serbia for respecting international law, peaceful settlement of disputes (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Kosovo Prosecutorial Council Scraps Recruitment Call After Test Leak (Balkan Insight)
• EU Reportedly to Impose Visa Bans on Western Balkan Right-Wing Extremists (schengenvisainfo.com)
• Bosnian Police Arrest Kelmendi’s Son, Elvis, on Organised Crime Charges (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia Mulls ‘Taking Over’ Mainly Russian-owned Oil Company (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Observatory returns to Pristina as a window into space and heritage (Koha)
• Unemployment, Prejudice Await Kosovo Returnees from Syria, Iraq (BIRN)
• My Grandfather’s Memorial Illuminates Holocaust History in Serbia (Balkan Insight)

• Chairman of the OSCE to visit Kosovo (RTK)
• Kosovo Government: Petkovic violated agreement on official visits (media)
• Aliu: Reciprocity is the essence of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)
• Borrell prefers "Open Balkan", Scholz "Berlin Process" (Klan)
• Grenell blames Kurti and EU, says KFOR should withdraw from Kosovo (media)
• Government responds to criticism over Kurti's stay in Greece (Telegrafi)
• Europa Nostra: Reasons for inclusion of Decan Monastery to the endangered list, still valid (Kallxo)
• Pristina Observatory opens for celestial observations (media)
• In the north, RKS license plates covered with KM ones (RFE/Koha)
• EU mulls visa bans on Balkans extremists stirred up by Moscow (EUobserver)
• Hospitals Told to Mobilise as COVID-19 Cases Increase (BIRN)