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UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 14, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: The Iber bridge must be opened, it is not a matter of discussion (media)
• Kurti informs COMKFOR about works and results of report on Iber Bridge (media)
• KFOR on Iber bridge: Unilateral actions can create tensions (RTK)
• Hovenier: Opening Iber bridge could endanger American soldiers (RFE, media)
• Durmishi: The bridge is stable, durable and functional (RTK)
• Haradinaj: Anyone who endangers U.S. soldiers in Kosovo will be treated as an enemy, will be in prison or will run away and hide (media)
• Osmani talks with head of CEC about preparations for date of new elections (media)
• Trepca miners to protest in front of government building on Thursday (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• KFOR calls for restraint, says decision on Ibar River Bridge to be made in dialogue (Kosovo Online, media)
• Petkovic: Kurti only wants war and chaos; I hope this is clear to everyone (Kosovo Online, media)
• Gogic: By opening Ibar Bridge Kurti would get into conflict with international community (N1, Kosovo Online)
• Hovenier: Opening the bridge could endanger American soldiers in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic: “Haxhiu’s monstrous statement glorifies terrorism” (N1, BETA, KoSSev, media)
• Leposavic mayor hosts “Illyrian Eagles” promoting “Greater Albania”, says they brought warmth to our “red-and-black municipality” (KoSSev)
• Serbian Orthodox Church in Lipljan robbed (KoSSev)

International Media:

• U.S. Ambassador Says Partnership With Kosovo 'Not What We Would Hope' (RFE)
• State Department Tells The Pavlovic Today: U.S. Does Not Support Any Moves To Change Mitrovica Bridge Status In Kosovo (The Pavlovic Today)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 13, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• EU: We plan to put status of Iber Bridge on agenda of next meeting in Brussels (Reporteri
• Kurti meets UNKT coordinator, discuss joint projects (RTK)
• Durmishi: We are waiting for report on stability of Iber Bridge (media)
• Maqedonci rewards KSF members who participated in training of Ukrainian army (media)
• Abdixiku: LDK is working, others attack the media, businesses, embassies... (media)
• Diaspora individual enters Iber Bridge, carabinieri and police stop him (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• 21 years since the Bistrica crime (KoSSev, media)
• Srbljak on the crime in Gorazdevac: I still relive that August 13, the injustice hurts even more (Kosovo Online)
• Petition of women from the North requesting from Ulutas not to open the bridge (KoSSev, N1)
• Gornje Korminjane: Physical attack and shooting in Nenad Jovanovic's yard (Kosovo Online, RTV Puls, N1)
• Marinkovic: Is the Kosovo government trying to change the ethnic structure in the North of Kosovo? (KoSSev)
• Elek: Kurti's intention is not to open the bridge, but to create tensions and expel the Serbs (KiM radio, Vecernje Novosti)
• EULEX: We continue to monitor the security situation in Kosovo (RTS, Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Bugajski: What to expect in Balkans from President Harris (The Geopost)

International:

• Jihadists specifically recruit children from the Balkan diaspora (Der Standard)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 13, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani meets Hovenier, discuss security issues (media)
• KFOR: We regularly conduct patrols along the boundary line (RTK)
• Works on Iber bridge continue, KFOR increases its presence there (Reporteri)
• Opposition calls criminal LVV’s lack of mentioning loss of Dehari's samples and burning of the IFM (Koha)
• AJK condemns Kurteshi's statements in relation to media (media)
• Bislimi supports protest: Serbia violates rights of Albanians (RTK)
• PDK action in front of government: Youth is running away, Albin what about you (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Representatives of the Office for KiM visited Novake and promised help in the reconstruction of houses (Tanjug, RTS, KiM radio)
• SL: It is urgent to find the perpetrators of the attack on Dragica Gasic's apartment and the fire in the village of Novake (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)
• Gerxhaliu: While the public looks at the Ibar, new rules and import quotas will destroy the economy and citizens (Kosovo Online)
• The Kosovo police detained a Serb (70) for questioning based on a report more than a decade old (Kosovo Online)
• Coordination body of the Government: The meeting in Bujanovac represents abuse of the Albanians from the south of Serbia (RTS)
• In Gorazdevac today a memorial service for the children killed in Bistrica (KiM radio, Radio Gorazdevac)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 12, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• KFOR: Any decision on opening of bridge over Iber should be made within dialogue in Brussels (Koha)
• Armed Forces of Albania with KSF and Kosovo Police test reaction skills (media)
• Stradner: Vulin will visit Russia amid warnings of chaos in Kosovo (Albanian Post)
• Haliti: EU measures have not been decided against Kosovo, but against government (Reporteri)
• LVV implicates Thaci and Veseli in the "murder" of Astri Dehari (Koha)
• Three houses burned in Novak, Prizren, they were owned by Serbs (Koha)
• Agreement for construction of over 200 houses in northern municipalities, signed (Klan)
• Albanians of Presheva Valley protest against discrimination from Belgrade (media)
• Osmani: Youth is greatest potential of Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: Serbian diplomacy in constant offensive with the aim of shedding light on the true intentions of Kurti's regime (Kosovo Online, Politika)
• Increased presence of KFOR on the Ibar bridge (Kosovo Online)
• The Office for KiM: Broken window at Dragica Gasic's apartment in Djakovica (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Djordjevic: A/CSM (ZSO) by itself does not solve all problems, but it is an important step (FoNet, Danas, N1)
• Albanians protest in Bujanovac, increased police presence (Danas, bujanovacke.rs)
• German State Secretary: Lithium will not bring Serbia a discount on its way to the EU (Beta, N1, TAZ)

International:

• ‘Not Real Facts’: In Court, Chroniclers of Kosovo’s Guerrilla Fight Disavow Writings (Balkan insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 12, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Stano: Opening of Iber Bridge should be resolved through dialogue (media)
• Government: Addition of measures by EU deepens injustice towards Kosovo (Koha)
• Government says tests are done and bridge should open (media)
• Works on central bridge of Iber continued also on Saturday (Koha)
• Vucic claims Iber Bridge will "violently open" on August 14 or 15 (media)
• Kusari-Lila: Chances of overthrowing government lost, VV will again win 50% of votes (media)
• Albanians of Presheva Valley protest today against discrimination from Belgrade (media)
• Kurti invites young people to apply for paid internships (media)
• LVV calls a press conference for today in front of Special Prosecutors Office (media)

Serbian Language Media:
• Serbian President warns of possible provocations over bridge opening in Mitrovica (KoSSev)
• Three houses of Serb returnees burnt near Prizren (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• EC Spokesperson Stano: Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is constantly in crisis mode (N1)
• Kosovo’s Infrastructure Minister: There is no reason not to open the Ibar river bridge, technical inspection completed (N1, KoSSev)
• Survey reveals overwhelming opposition to opening main Ibar Bridge in Mitrovica (KoSSev)
• Hundreds gather to mourn Faton Hajrizi in Donja Klina amid controversy (KoSSev)
• Kosovo Police halt road construction in Suncana Dolina (Sunny Valley) (KoSSev)
• Red ribbon for the police station, what else is the Kosovo government building in the north? (Kosovo Online)
International Media:

• Kosovo – Rise in unilateral actions by the Kosovo authorities (diplomatioe.gouv.fr)
• Huge lithium-mining protest triggers crisis meeting in Serbia (politico.eu)
• Serbia’s populist president says lithium protests are part of a ‘hybrid’ warfare against his country (AP)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 9, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Presidency: In no country in the world do they take phone of head of state for scanning (media)
• North Macedonia’s Civil Aviation Agency issues official report on incident with Kosovo president (ekonomia)
• Murati: We are supporting businesses in the north, for new jobs (RTK)
• Ministry of Internal Affairs issues new notice on conversion of driver's licenses (Reporteri)
• Maqedonci: KSF is capable of protecting the territory (media)
• MFA: Forensic procedures being carried out to identify person killed in Loznica (Koha)
• Fejza: Government has not taken any action to create counterposition with USA (Koha)
• Musliu-Shoshi: Kurti aims to keep Kosovo isolated and condemned (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Between southern and northern Mitrovica, traffic over two bridges functions without problems (Danas, Beta)
• Kabasic: Placement of cameras in the north is political control of the people (Kosovo Online)
• Residents of the North on police surveillance cameras: It's a lie that they do it for security reasons (Kosovo Online)
• Popov: Kurti is forcing Serbs to leave the north of Kosovo; if the reactions were sharper, Kurti would have behaved differently (Danas, Blic)
• The body of Faton Hajrizi handed over at the Merdare crossing (N1, KoSSev, media)

Opinion:

• ‘Open Secret’: The Growing Scourge of Labour Exploitation in the Western Balkans (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo Further Alienates Minority Serbs, Straining Status As 'Reliable Partner' (RFE)
• Analysts predict that About half a Million People will leave Kosovo this Year (Sarajevo Times)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 9, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti calls on Serb residents to convert their driver's licences (RTK)
• Kryeziu responds to Stano: Adding measures would only deepen injustice (Express)
• LVV MP: We cannot give up internal affairs due to threat of measures (Reporteri)
• KFOR: We have fixed presence on the bridge, any decision to open it must be made in dialogue (media)
• MFA: Belgrade Prosecutor's Office gave permission to withdraw body of Kosovar killed in Loznica (media)
• The person killed in Loznica is Faton Hajrizi (Koha)
• Hamza: To cover up failures, government only deals with Serbia (media)
• Hamza continues with meetings in the USA (media)
• Abdixhiku: We have a prime minister for propaganda (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• KFOR: Not true that the technical inspection of the Ibar bridge was conducted in coordination with us (Kosovo Online)
• Arsenijevic: We defend what is ours, political tricks will not distract us ; the KP announcement rebuttal (Kosovo Online)
• Mijacic: The messages from the USA to Kosovo are clear, but do something about it (Kosovo Online)
• How can KFOR react if Pristina opens the Ibar bridge? (Danas)
• Joseph: Kurti doing everything contrary to what was written in the New York Times, closing post offices undermines peace (Kosovo Online, Kontakt plus radio, Danas)
• KoSSev Portal and several Pristina journalists targeted by disturbing photoshopped images (KoSSev, KiM radio)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 8, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• The EU warns of new measures against Kosovo (Koha)
• USA Embassy echoes statement of Department of State: Kurti should return to cooperation (Albanian Post)
• Krasniqi: It is absurd that bridge over Iber continues to be closed (RTK)
• Elshani: Security is no reason for Iber Bridge to remain closed (media)
• Durmishi: Within two or three days we will have report on stability of bridge (media)
• Police arrest then release two Serb politicians for "obstructing workers of north Mitrovica municipality" (media)
• Hamza after meetings in Washington: USA stands by us (media)
• Deadline for conversion of driver's licenses postponed until August 23 (RTK)
• Haradinaj advises fellow combatants: Serbia has renewed persecution of citizens who were part of war (Reporteri)
• AJK: Dangerous photo-montages with pictures of journalists and media (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Aleksandar Arsenijevic and Stefan Veljkovic arrested (KoSSev, media)
• KP: Arsenijevic and Veljkovic released (medijacentar.info)
• Protest of Serbs in front of the police station in North Mitrovica due to the arrest of Arsenijevic and Veljkovic (KoSSev, media)
• Civil society demands the immediate release of Arsenijevic and Veljkovic (KiM radio, media)
• Office for KiM: Kurti continues with arrests until he arrests the last Serb (Kosovo Online, media)
• Kosovo Serb political parties condemn the removal of national symbols and the actions of the police (KiM radio, media)
• Heavy trucks 'testing' the Ibar bridge, after Svecla did (KoSSev)
• In North Mitrovica, the discussion of the municipal committee for "multi-ethnic cooperation", i.e. bridge: Huge interest from Pristina (KoSSev)
• EXFIS and Google show that they know more than the Privatization Agency of Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Montgomery: Kurti's long-term goal the departure of all Serbs from Kosovo; and his short-term goal to provoke the Serbian Government (Kosovo Online, N1, FoNet)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 8, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Let's make Iber bridge symbol of normalisation (RTK)
• USA: Uncoordinated actions endanger opportunities we helped create (media)
• Krasniqi: Bridges are to connect citizens (media)
• Vokrri: Iber bridge will open during this summer (Klan)
• KFOR monitored protests in Mitrovica, guarantees safety for everyone (media)
• Citaku: Bridges that Kosovo needs are bridges with USA, EU, NATO (media)
• KFOR commander meets chief of Serbian army, discuss security (media)
• Vucic introduces "pogrom" of Serbs from Kosovo into discourse out of nowhere (Klan)
• Dimic: Iber Bridge should open for integration and cooperation of citizens (RTK)
• Analysts: Coordination with allies, inevitable (RTK)
• Tahiri: Government started and will end mandate with violations, leaving chaos in state administration(media)
• A positive case of West Nile virus recorded in Kosovo (RFE, media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Pristina is not interested in dialogue; it wants conflict between Serbia and NATO (Kosovo Online, RTS, media)
• Kabasic clams Kosovo authorities and demands fair treatment for Serbs in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Jevtic: Full support for the Serbs in the north, fight against Kurti's regime - a matter of life (Kosovo Online)
• CASA NGO: The government in Pristina wants to threaten the education, health and social system of the Serbian community in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, KiM radio)
• The Chief of the General Staff and the Commander of KFOR discussed the security situation in Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
• Albanians announced a protest in the south of Serbia (Danas, Jugpres)

International Media:

• Closure Of Serbian Post Offices threatens U.S. support for Kosovo (the pavlovictoday.com)
• Kosovo Serbs Protest In North Mitrovica Against Opening Of Main Bridge (RFE)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 7, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Vucic is trying to create an atmosphere of fear with false accusations (RTK)
• Members of EULEX and KFOR stationed on buildings near Iber bridge (media)
• French Embassy against closure of Serbian post offices in the north: Unilateral and uncoordinated step (Reporteri)
• Haradinaj appeals to Serbs: Do not protest against free movement (RTK)
• Serbs gather at Iber Bridge, this is what they want from KFOR (Klan)
• Police on protest: Ended peacefully – we looked after safety of protesters until the end (Klan)
• Svecla says Iber Bridge will open: It is not a matter of dialogue at all (media)
• Minister Haxhiu visits woman who was injured by her husband in Fushe Kosove (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• A protest held in the northern part of Mitrovica: "On the bridge we defended survival, now we defend disappearance!" (KoSSev, media)
• The Serb protest ended, Svecla again drinking coffee in C'est la Vie caffe (KoSSev)
• Minister Starovic on the opening of the Ibar bridge: Potentially a major point of escalation (NMagazin, N1, TV Prva)
• Elshani: Educational and health institutions are a challenge for KP, but that does not mean that we will close them - politics will decide (KoSSev)
• Davenport: The closure of post offices and the proposals to open the bridge in Mitrovica must be resolved through dialogue (Kosovo Online)