UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 27, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Haxhiu: We need to be united for reforms in judiciary (Ekonomia Online/Koha)
• Tahiri: Not enough for Lajcak to feel bad about lack of visa liberalisation (Telegrafi)
• President Osmani meets with President of Singapore Halimah Yacob (media)
• Supreme Court chief denies political pressure in case of new energy fees (Kosovapress)
• Serbian reporter talks about Serbia’s crimes in Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Kostilnik: Reaching a final Kosovo-Serbia agreement is urgent (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic on Serbia's membership in the EU: Everything depends on the geopolitical situation (RTS)
• Director of the Office for IT and e-government not allowed to cross Jarinje (RTS, Tanjug)
• New construction near Gazimestan Monument (Radio KIM)
• Vucic, Donfreid discuss bilateral relations, EU integration, Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (N1)
• Kalin: Turkiye will not impose sanctions on Russia (Kosovo-online)
• Leader of opposition initiative from Mitrovica North invites Lajcak for meeting (Danas)
• Fatherland: Facilities were relinquished to Pristina (Jugpress)

International:

• Total foreign remittances to Kosovo up 5.4% y/y in Jan-Apr (seenews.com)
• How Turkey’s Extremist ‘Grey Wolves’ Built a Cell in Bosnia (BIRN)

• Lajcak to meet Kurti and opposition leaders during his visit today (media)
• Svecla: No Kosovar is fighting in Ukraine (euronews.al)
• “No room for disappointment; visa liberalization was never closer” (Koha)
• Kurti meets mayors; discuss rule of law and respect for human rights (media)
• President Osmani visits Thailand (media)
• ERO licenses Serbian electricity supplier in north Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)
• EU has finally buried Balkan dreams of membership (BIRN)
• Croatian MEP appointed Rapporteur on new EU Enlargement Strategy (media)
• Online learning in Kosovo left kids and parents frustrated (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Interior Minister accuses Serb parallel structures of Elektrokosmet attack (Klan Kosova)
• Lajcak sides with Western Balkans; “this generates disappointment” (Gazeta Express)
• President of Specialist Chambers to visit Kosovo on July 4 (media)
• President Osmani on working visits to Thailand and Singapore (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• EU Council calls for faster accession of Western Balkans (N1)
• Brussels: War in Ukraine puts EU enlargement front and center (N1)
• Vucic at the Summit: Strong pressure over Russia and Ukraine (Beta, N1)
• Vucic met leaders of France, Austria in Brussels (N1, Beta)
• No consensus on Kosovo's accession to NATO (Politika, Tanjug)
• Patriarch Porfirije in Gazimestan on Vidovdan (Tanjug)
• Ilic: ''Belgrade and Pristina energy agreement a solution to problems of electricity supply in the north of the province'' (Danas, FoNet, Insajder TV)
• Bulgarian MFA: Rama to adapt vocabulary for politician from an EU candidate country; Rama replies (Kosovo Online)
• Bulgaria lifts the veto on North Macedonia (Tanjug, B92, RTS, N1)
• Rakic: Members of the Egyptian community are an important part of Kosovo society (Kosovo Online)

International:

• What Will the Serbia-Kosovo Energy Deal Achieve? (Balkan Insight)
• Police Probe Explosion at Electricity Distributor in North Kosovo (BIRN)
• Serbian Security Officials’ War Crime Verdict Set for 2023 (BIRN)
• EU awards Ukraine and Moldova candidate status (BBC)
• Greece is Proposing 2033 as the Deadline for the Western Balkans to Join the EU (novinite.com)

• Western Balkans Leaders Voice Frustration over EU Summit Failure (BIRN)
• Borrell: There might be a high-level meeting in late June (Zeri)
• Palokaj: Visa liberalization in autumn or by the end of the year (Koha)
• Bajrami: Long but eventful and ultimately very good day (media)
• “Kosovo should apply for EU candidate status this year” (Koha)
• Bislimi: Next week we’ll decide how to address issue of license plates (media)
• Explosive device thrown at “Elektrokosmet” facility in the north (Kosovapress)
• Serbia’s Lone Albanian MP Fights Fourth Time for Seat (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani to EU leaders: This has just gone too far, my citizens feel discriminated (media)
• Osmani meets with EU leaders (RTK)
• Metsola: Visa liberalization for Kosovo must happen (Kallxo)
• Kajari: Kosovo-Serbia agreement brings stability to region (Klan)
• The Dutch Parliament votes in favor of abolishing visas for Kosovo (media)
• Osmani: No country can follow both Russia’s and EU’s path (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

• EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels ends (NMagazin, Beta)
• Vucic: We believe in the European future of Serbia and the region (RTS, Tanjug)
• Nehammer: No double standards in the accession process (Tanjug)
• Dzaferovic asked Michel to support BiH's candidacy (RTS, N1)
• Michel: The Western Balkans is an EU priority (RTS, Tanjug)
• Borrell: Consensus problem, good thing there is progress in the dialogue (Tanjug)
• Scholz: Western Balkans need ‘realistic opportunity’ for EU membership (Hina, N1)
• Rama: Shameful "kidnapping" of two countries on the way to the EU (RTS)
• Petkov: Solution should be found in Bulgarian parliament (RTS, Tanjug)
• Varhelyi: The time for responsible decisions, Western Balkans to be part of the EU (RTS)
• The main topics of the summit in Brussels (RTS)
• “Who is switching off the lights in the north” protest in Mitrovica North tomorrow (Kontakt plus radio)
• Lazarevic: Citizens from the North disappointed with the agreement - new confirmation of Serbia’s withdrawal (KoSSev, N1)

International:

• EU will 'stand by its promises' on Western Balkans enlargement (DW)
• Western Balkans leaders will attend EU summit, dropping boycott threats (Politico)
• Bulgarian government ousted in blow to EU enlargement hopes (Financial Times)

• Osmani: EP’s support - a guarantee for Kosovo's European path (media)
• The Netherlands gives positive signals for visa liberalization (Telegrafi)
• Slim chances for decision-making on visa liberalization at EU Summit (Koha)
• Shala: Kosovo-Serbia agreement on energy must be implemented (KTV)
• Rohde on Open Balkan: It doesn’t seem to be a comprehensive initiative (Kallxo)
• Majority, opposition trade blames for interruption of Assembly session (media)
• Osmani and Konjufca most liked politicians, according to poll (media)
• Germany extends military deployment in Kosovo (Euractiv)
• Balkans losing hope of progress on EU membership (VOA)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Member states leaders to reflect Parliament will for visa liberalisation (media)
• Kurti on energy agreement: We’re doing our best with what we inherited (Koha)
• Osmani confirms her participation in the EU Summit for the Dutch media (RTK)
• Albanian PM confirms Western Balkans leaders will attend EU Summit (RFE)
• Kosovo Foreign Minister to EU: If you do not act, others will (media)
• Kurti ready to review demarcation with Montenegro, doesn’t say when (Kallxo)
• Pendarovski: Kosovo should join the "Open Balkans" (Reporteri)
• Schneeberger writes to Macron, sends petition with 16 thousand signatures demanding visa liberalisation for Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• EU Ambassador Giaufret: No new obstacles, Serbia to take key decisions (Beta, Kurir, N1)
• Vucic, Rama, Kovacevski to attend the Brussels summit tomorrow (RTS)
• Petkovic: ''Now everything is in our hands, no one can break into Valac'' (RTS)
• Emilija Redzepi: Albin Kurti is not against Kosovo Serbs (Radio Gorazdevac, KiM radio, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Kurti addressed minority communities in Serbian, asking for proposals from businessmen (Kosovo Online)
• Slavisa Ristic: The Government of Serbia and the Serbian List are not dealing with the return of Serbs (Beta, Danas, KiM radio)
• Jevtic: Ristic gives an alibi to those who do everything to prevent the return of Serbs (KiM radio, Beta, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• "Energy as a gift" (FoNet, KiM radio)
• Environment report warns of heavy coal plant pollution in Western Balkans (N1, bankwatch.org)
• Tuesday's round of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue concludes in Brussels (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Where does the Brussels “roadmap” lead? (KoSSev)

International:

• Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia could snub EU integration summit (euronews.com)
• With Police Connections, Serbian-Syrian Translator Turned People-Smuggler (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kurti: Strategy for Roma community will be published soon (Klan Kosova)
• Kosovo’s Deaf Community Feel Unheard in Society (Prishtina Insight)
• Decades old problem unsolved: Gracanica not visible from the dust from the tailings pond (KiM radio)
• NGOs concerned over lack of progress on Western Balkans Green Agenda (N1)

• Reactions to the Kosovo-Serbia agreement on energy (media)
• Serbia, Kosovo agree ‘Road Map’ to energy dispute solution (BIRN)
• Manuel Sarrazin: The EU enlargement promise is valid (DW, media)
• President Osmani: I go to Brussels with hope but not great expectations (media)
• Prime Minister Kurti: Survivors of sexual violence need our support (Kallxo)
• Haxhiu: Venice Commission skeptical on in-depth vetting (Koha)
• Kurti holds online meeting with US Deputy Secretary of Commerce (media)
• Kurti meets civil society representatives from Serbia in Prishtina (media)
• Three Balkan countries could boycott EU summit (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo and Serbia reach agreement on energy (media)
• Prime Minister Kurti: Agreement on energy, a result of our work (Koha)
• Germany welcomes Kosovo-Serbia Energy Agreement (Kallxo)
• Cakolli: Agreement on energy in the north has symbolic importance too (Nacionale)
• PSD: Agreement on energy in the north legalises Serbia in Kosovo (media)
• Lajcak optimistic that Kosovo-Serbia final agreement will be reached in his mandate (Koha)
• Konjufca: Former KLA members in The Hague concerned over procedural violations (media)
• Kurti: I am here to listen to the remaining challenges (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic spoke with Borrell (Danas, FoNet)
• Vucic talked with Rama and Kovacevski; tomorrow decision on participation in the summit in Brussels (RTS, KiM radio, FoNet)
• Belgrade and Pristina delegations agreed guidelines for the implementation of the energy agreement (RTS, media)
• Petkovic says the road for talks on the formation of CSM opened; EU welcomes the adoption of the roadmap (N1)
• Energy agreement reached: Elektrosever received a licence, KEDS and KOSTT access to Valac (KoSSev)
• Dacic after CoE Parliamentary Assembly: “Seems to suit everyone at the moment that Kosovo is not on the agenda” (RTS, Tanjug)
• Besiri: Tough questions in autumn (RTK2)
• Demostat claims Belgrade changing status of Serbian-Russian humanitarian center (N1, FoNet, Demostat)

Opinion:

• Online Hate Speech Remains Unmoderated in Balkans (BIRN)

International:

• Albania PM to Submit Resolution in Strasbourg Against Marty Report (BIRN)

• Chief negotiators of Kosovo and Serbia to meet today (media)
• Hoti: Declaration, not agreement, on missing persons expected (Klan)
• Rama vows to submit resolution to Council of Europe about Marty's claims (media)
• Kurti does not visit detainees in The Hague, but meets with their lawyers (RTK)
• Prime Minister Kurti met with Ukrainian journalists housed in Kosovo (media)
• RTK Board selects broadcaster’s new general director (media)
• Albania-Kosovo to temporarily facilitate border crossings (euronews.al)
• Critical Voices in the Balkans Still Feel the Heat (BIRN)
• Media watchdogs blast EU funds for Balkans 'mouthpieces' (EUobserver)
• FactChecker Kosova presents report on fighting misinformation (KP/Telegrafi)