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UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 28, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 327 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Kurti will not be part of 11 May dialogue meeting (media)
• Kurti kicks off Brussels visit by meeting Belgian PM (media)
• Germany reiterates it has not authored latest non-paper (media)
• Kosovo needs systematic vetting process, U.S. Embassy says (RFE)
• Thaci congratulates Albania's Rama on projected election win (media)
• Kosovo to take part in multinational military exercise (media)
• Following petition, Netflix includes Kosovo to the list of countries (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Kurti: A new round of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina will not be held on May 11 (N1)
• Freedom House says situation in Serbia continues to deteriorate (N1)
• Serbia donated to North Macedonia additional 13.000 vaccines (Kosovo-online)
• Office for KiM: Pristina cannot attribute non-paper to Belgrade (Beta, Novi Magazin)
• Vucic on non-paper, Osmani’s statement, Netflix (Kosovo-online)
• Jeremic: Non-paper trial balloon for Serbian Orthodox Church (KoSSev)
• Stojanovic: Non-paper on Kosovo not acceptable for Serbian citizens (N1)
• The idea of the autonomy of the North close to both Berlin and Paris (Danas)
• Trial to former minister Rikalo and others continues (Kontakt plus radio)
• Army of Serbia donates anti-Covid equipment to EU missions in Africa (N1)
• Djuric with Reeker: Confirmation of Serbia-US partnership (RTS)
• Kandic: ''Why is the Special Court of Kosovo controversial?'' (Kosovo Online, Twitter)

Opinion:

• Dangerous map games in the Balkans (ekathimerini.com)
• The baleful phantom of border changes haunts the Balkans (Financial Times)

International:

• Kosovo recalls war victims on National Missing Person’s Day (AP)
• Kosovo War Survivors Nervous About Participating in Guerrillas’ Trials (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia’s Vucic ‘treating the EU as if stupid were its middle name’ (euractive.com)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 28, 2021

• COVID-19: 217 new cases, 8 deaths (media)
• “We want vaccines fast – not coffins for our parents” (RTK)
• EU: Non-paper does not present the position of the EU (RFE)
• Osmani: Every destabilising idea originates from Serbia (media)
• Bajrami: Points described in non-paper are talked about in dialogue (media)
• Content of non-paper not denied (Koha Ditore)
• Bislimi: Kurti will have informative meeting with Lajcak (media)
• Vetevendosje MP reacts to non-paper (media)
• Government plans “long-term” solution for paying electricity in north (Koha)
• Kurti pays homage to missing persons: Our future misses them (media)
• Freedom House: Kosovo marks decrease in level of democracy (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 27, 2021

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 27, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 194 new cases, 8 deaths (media)
• Rohde: Non-paper published by Koha Ditore is fake news! (media)
• French Embassy: We are not the source of the non-paper (media)
• Kosovo government reacts to non-paper (media)
• Kosnett: Dialogue essential to Kosovo economic success and integration (media)
• Michel to Kurti: Looking forward to working together (media)
• Kosnett: Fate of missing persons should not be hostage to politics (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian areas: 23 new cases, one death (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Non-paper composed by somebody “very, very smart” (N1)
• Deimel: No one, including Berlin officials, knows about the non-paper, maybe the test balloon (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Imagine sanctions on Russia and its support of us in return (Beta, N1)
• EU to Serbia: Improve rule of law, media freedom; adjust foreign policy (N1)
• US State Dept: Speculation on redrawing Balkan borders may foster instability (VoA, N1)
• BCSP: Majority of Serbian citizens want broad autonomy for Kosovo, but they know it is unrealistic (KoSSev)
• Serbian List condemns attack on Lazar Djordjevic in Gojbulja (TV Most)
• Bilcik: Vucic commitment to reforms crucial (N1)
• Vucic: Kosovo Serbs want to be vaccinated, Pristina authorities ban our help (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Gerxhaliu: Excavations in Kizevak will start again on May 5 (Kosovo Online, RFE)

Opinion:

• Demands to relocate the Specialist Chambers are unlikely to be met (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

• Serbia, Kosovo Must Make Missing Persons a Priority: Report (Balkan Insight)
• Brussels steps up pressure on Serbia over Kosovo talks (euronews.com)
• Small is Beautiful: Citizens’ Movements Are Bringing Democratic Change to Balkans (Balkan Insight)
• Edi Rama declares victory in Albanian elections, 92% polling stations counted (EWB)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 27, 2021

• COVID-19: 154 new cases, 11 deaths (media)
• Non-paper: Kosovo and Serbia to recognise each other’s sovereignty (Koha)
• U.S.: Speculation about border changes, unnecessary threat to stability (RFE)
• Osmani speaks with US Assistant Secretary of State Reeker (media)
• Kosovo government questions meeting with Serbia announced by EU (media)
• PDK MP: Vetevendosje will do everything it rejected while in opposition (KTV)
• Rama takes narrow lead in Albania’s slow election count (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 26, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 154 new cases, 11 deaths (media)
• Vaccine rollout gets off to a shaky start (Prishtina Insight)
• EU confirms PM Kurti's upcoming visit to Brussels (Kallxo)
• Kosovo has written to Romania about the killing of two VV activists (media)
• Assembly adopts in principle bill easing trial in absentia procedures (Kosovapress)
• AAK accuses government of having no vision (media)
• VV's Kusari-Lila responds to AAK's criticism against government (media)
• EC stresses position against border changes in the Balkans (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• 23 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• Vucic’s two-day visit to Brussels (media)
• Vucic: Ready for dialogue, we understood Kurti's messages (Tanjug, RTS)
• Petkovic: Kurti showed his aim is to create “Great Albania” (Radio KIM)
• Djuric: Dialog is not a priority, but voting in Albania is (Kosovo-online)
• Drecun: Continuation of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is not disputable; but agenda is (RTS)
• Godfrey: Unresolved relations with Pristina are obstacles to Serbia's European integration (KiM radio, Novi Magazin)
• Liberation Movement forms Council for Kosovo and Metohija (BETA)
• Health Ministry official: Epidemic measures and mass vaccination in Serbia still necessary (N1)
• Half a million doses of Sinopharm vaccine arrived in Serbia (RTS)
• Serbian Army Chief of Staff: Mandatory military service a long-term solution (N1, Politika)
• Dodik: Idea of RS seceding from Bosnia-Herzegovina discussed in Europe (N1)

Opinion:

• West should stop pushing Kosovo on new Serbian entity (euobserver)
• Kosovo Needs Rescuing From its Middle Eastern Imbroglio (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kurti’s vote in Albanian elections – controversial but not unprecedented in the Balkans (EWB)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 26, 2021

• COVID-19: 227 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Assembly to discuss management of COVID-19 pandemic (media)
• Kurti slammed for decision to vote in Albania's elections (media)
• Kurti pledges to present programme upon return from Brussels (media)
• Kosovo without political consensus towards the grand finale (Koha)
• Klan Kosova: Surroi, Shala invited to join Kosovo negotiating team (media)
• Gervalla: Petkovic to respect Brussels Agreement during Kosovo visit (Express/Klan)
• Lajcak and Vucic meet in Brussels (media)
• Op-ed: Kosovo should rule out any further compromise (BIRN)
• Pjeter Shala: Kosovo Liberation Army’s Shadowy ‘Commander Wolf’ (BIRN)
• Exit polls: Tight race in Albania’s parliamentary vote (AP)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 23, 2021

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 23, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 356 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• PM Kurti meets North Macedonian FM Osmani (media)
• Osmani: We reject ideas that affect our borders (media)
• Kosovo FM Gervalla against redrawing of Balkans borders (media)
• North Macedonia's FM pledges support to Kosovo (media)
• Austria opposes border changes (Koha)
• Szunyog commends minister for publishing list of recovery aid recipients (media)
• Ministry launches disciplinary procedures against correctional service chief (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic travels to Brussels on Sunday (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Pristina will have to respect Brussels agreement (Kosovo-online)
• Maas: The right time to continue the dialogue; no need to reset (media)
• Mojsilovic: Construction of the base in northern Kosovo causes concern, we monitor the situation (Danas, Beta, Politika)
• Selakovic and Petkovic: Scandalous political audacity of Vjosa Osmani (RTS)
• Selakovic with Maas: Germany one of the most important Serbian economic partners (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic says Belgrade not interested in creating Greater Serbia (N1)
• Commemoration for 16 killed during 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia’s state TV (Beta, N1)
• Rakocevic: KFOR must open its eyes; lies being told nowadays only encourage extremists (Kosovo-online)
• Bishop Irinej writes to Blinken about violence against Serbs in Kosovo (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Organic networking: a Balkan awakening (KoSSev)
• A ‘Greying’ Western Balkans Must Look to Robots (Balkan Insight)

International:

• German diplomat says time is right for Serbia-Kosovo talks (AP)
• Germany rejects idea of redrawing Western Balkans borders - minister (Reuters)
• Serbian Leader Talks Up Ties To Biden, Says 'No Interest' In 'Greater Serbia' (RFE)
• Disputed memo on partitioning Bosnia sparks fears of violence (Al Jazeera)
• Serbian Court Tries Kosovo Albanian for Wartime Killings (Balkan Insight)
• Vučić: Serbia wants stronger relations with Bosniaks and Croats in Bosnia (euractive.com)
• Suspicions Persist About NATO’s Deadly Bombing of Serbian TV (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• We want to breathe (EWB)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 23, 2021

• COVID-19: 408 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Maas: Ideas for border changes, unrealistic and dangerous (media)
• Government to announce topics of Kurti-Vucic meeting, when date is set (KTV)
• Hoxhaj won’t accept Kurti’s invitation to dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Kurti’s backing down on reciprocity with Serbia (Koha)
• Environment Ministry implies reviewing permits for hydropower plants (Koha)
• North Macedonia Foreign Minister to visit Kosovo today (media)
• Selakovic: Osmani’s statements show Prishtina doesn’t want dialogue (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 22, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 408 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Maas: Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia hinder their progress (Klan)
• Osmani thanks Szunyog for EU-donated vaccines (media)
• Opposition slams government's decision affecting pensions (media)
• KFOR: No significant security incident was recorded in the last 10 years against Decan Monastery (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: 26 new cases (KoSSev)
• EP’s Fajon: Ideas about new borders extremely dangerous, especially for Bosnia (NIN, N1)
• Patriarch Porfirije: I appreciate the efforts of Bishop Teodosije, who is falsely accused by those who want to bring unrest (KoSSev)
• Aliferi: Greece doesn’t recognize Kosovo; its stance remains unchanged (Radio KIM)
• Dejan Dimitrijevic from Gracanica fined with EU 2300 over protest gathering (Vecernje Novosti)
• Serbian minister says intergovernmental conference with EU in June (N1)

Opinion:

• Can Kurti use the moment to start genuine inter-ethnic cooperation? (K2.0)

International:

• Disputed Non-Paper is Stirring Dangerous Dreams in the Balkans (Balkan Insight)
• EU action awaited as phantom paper further unhinges Western Balkans (euractive.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Vucic discusses new arrangement with IMF (N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 22, 2021

• COVID-19: 506 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Majority of COVID-19 patients infected with British variant (BIRN)
• Immunisation before the recovery plan (Koha)
• Kurti will visit Brussels, but not to meet with Vucic (Koha)
• Kosovo, Serbia leaders won’t meet on visits to Brussels (BIRN)
• Hajdari on reciprocity measures: We will first exhaust CEFTA tools (Koha)
• German Foreign Minister to visit Kosovo today (media)
• Kurti: People of Kosovo and Israel share a historical tie (media)
• Lajcak speaks with OSCE Head of Mission in Kosovo (media)
• Agron Llugaliu appointed General Director of Kosovo Customs (media)
• Press Council, AJK criticise call for state regulation of online content (BIRN)