UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 28, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 334 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Zemaj: No relaxation of Covid rules is expected (Telegrafi)
• Biden administration supports the EU-facilitated Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RFE)
• Hoti: Kosovo committed to reaching normalisation agreement with Serbia (media)
• VV's Nagavci rules out possibility of a coalition with PDK (Gazeta Blic/Klan)
• Balje: Srpska Lista interfering in elections (Prishtina Insight)

Serbian Language Media:

• 18 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Dacic: Serbia and US “didn’t push under the rug” disagreements over Kosovo, however, relations have positive trend (Kosovo-online)
• Mihajlovic: We need strategic partnership with Washington (N1)
• Vucic: We will open discussion on compulsory military service (B92)
• Trial of Krstic and Shabani continues (Radio KIM)
• Dacic thanked Botsan-Kharchenko for Russian help during pandemic (RTS)
• Sputnik on White House foreign policy priorities, including Western Balkans (B92)
• Court of Appeals confirmed indictment against former minister Rikalo and others (KoSSev)
• "We don't need Serbia's permission to unite with Albania" (B92, Kosovo-online)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Corruption Perceptions Worsening In Balkans, Central Europe, Transparency Says (Balkan Insight)
• Container in refugee camp in Mitrovica engulfed by fire, six seek medical assistance (media)
• Journalist association and UN Women hold workshop on gender responsive budgeting (RTK)

• COVID-19: 301 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Hoti: The country to return to normality by early spring (RTK/Kallxo)
• Kurz says vaccine to roll out in all Western Balkans at the same time (media)
• Zemaj appeals for respect of Covid rules, days after flouting them (Koha)
• Lajcak warns against land swap idea, calls it 'dangerous' (media)
• Parties appeal ECAP decision with Supreme Court (media)
• Mustafa says he would prefer to see Kurti lead VV's ticket (Lajmi/RTK)
• Haradinaj: Not allowing Kurti to run is not good for democracy (media)
• Rasic accuses Serbian List of vote theft in the north (Kallxo)
• CEC has so far approved 46,000 voter requests from Diaspora (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo justice institutions put in service of Veseli's defence (Koha)
• Kosovo Must Take Three Crucial Steps During Biden’s Presidency (Balkan Insight)
• Ceremonies Mark Holocaust Remembrance Day Across Balkans (Balkan Insight)
• TI: Kosovo and Albania have made no progress in fighting corruption (Telegrafi)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 27, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 301 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Interim release denied for Thaci, Selimi and Krasniqi (media)
• Klinaku: Rejection of former KLA leaders’ conditional release, political (media)
• Kosovo leaders congratulate U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (media)
• Minister Haradinaj-Stublla: Kosovo is ready for dialogue with epilogue (media)
• Joint Kosovo-North Macedonia governments meeting postponed (Gazeta Express)
• Osmani: Today we are proud of help that Albanians gave to Jewish people (RTK)
• Kosovo’s Acting President receives death threat on Facebook (Gazeta Express)
• Hoti: Those who have problems with the law cannot take public office (Koha)
• Hoxhaj: LVV intends to overthrow the legal system (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: War for human lives, but also for future of our country is being waged (B92)
• Vucic: Serbia has no right to irresponsible statements (Kosovo-online, RTS)
• Silva: Enlargement remain in focus during Portuguese EU presidency (N1)
• Serbian Defense Minister: KFOR only legitimate force in Kosovo (N1, FoNet)
• “Allies will support unification with Albania“ (KoSSev)
• Petkovic: Why is international community silent at Haradinaj’s threats (Kosovo-online, KoSSev)
• Andjelkovic: ICG provokes, offers Serbia capitulation, division of Kosovo real compromise (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Government providing another EUR 2.5 billion in aid to population and economy (N1, RTS)
• Holocaust Remembrance Day marked in Belgrade (N1)
• Health House in Kursumlija receives 800 requests for vaccination from Kosovo residents (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Eastern Europe wakes up with Trump hangover (EUobserver)

International:

• Europe Is Flirting With a Vaccine Disaster (Bloomberg)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Financial Times ranks Serbia 2nd in Europe on vaccination list (N1)

• COVID – 19: 313 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• Kosovo ex-PM Albin Kurti barred from running in election (BIRN)
• CEC spokesman: We’ll wait for decisions from Supreme Court (Indeksonline)
• Kosnett: Respecting court decisions vital to Kosovo’s democratic future (media)
• VV: ECAP acted in line with Daka, LDK and PDK (media)
• Haradinaj: Albin Kurti must not be stopped from running in elections (Kallxo)
• Kosovo’s prime time TV debates are becoming a farce (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosnett: Washington agreement remains in force until eventual change (media)
• Hague judge extends detention for Kosovo ex-commander (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 26, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 313 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• U.S. Ambassador Kosnett gives interview to Gazeta Blic (media)
• Sannino: Political turbulences in Kosovo have not helped dialogue (RFE)
• Kurti: Dialogue with Serbia to take place without presidents and maps around (media)
• AAK replaces names of candidates convicted by courts (media)
• KWN calls on parties to refrain from intimidating and offensive language (media)
• KSC judge extends detention for Salih Mustafa (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 25 new cases of Covid-19, two deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• 11.700 doses of Pfizer vaccine arrived in Serbia (media)
• There won’t be “poisoned” envelopes from Serbia (Danas)
• Rakic, Simic and Jevtic visit Gracanica municipality (Radio KIM)
• Selakovic: Serbian foreign policy adjusted to new situation in world; priorities remain (N1)
• Kurz: Political will and courage of Belgrade and Pristina needed for agreement (Kosovo-online, Kurir)
• Merkel and Biden on strengthening cooperation and Western Balkans (Kosovo-online, RFE)

International:

• Don't Call Us, We'll Call You: Kosovo's Vetting Strategy For Diaspora Voters Adds To Election Chaos (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• EU calls for global coal power phase out (Politico)

• COVID – 19: 311 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
• Quint: CEC to ensure transparent process free from political interference (media)
• Orlando: Future of the country depends on free and fair elections (media)
• ECAP to decide today on the complaints of political parties (media)
• Kurti: Things will be different with the Biden administration (media)
• LDK’s Hoti presents government plan: €6 billion for investments (media)
• Haradinaj: We will create 30,000 new jobs (media)
• LDK’s Haziri on possible coalition with PDK (media)
• Haxhiu: With PDK in power, we will vaccinate all citizens in six months (media)
• Impact, fairness of Kosovo pre-election ‘transfer window’ questioned (BIRN)
• Political parties hide pre-campaign expenses (Koha)
• “Cooperation with Biden administration will bring results in Balkans” (media)
• Lajcak welcomes France’s support in the dialogue process (media)
• Serbia’s ethnic Albanians fear Belgrade silently deleting addresses (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 25, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 311 new cases, 10 new deaths (media)
• Deadline on ECAP decision on LVV, AAK and NISMA complaints, tomorrow (Telegrafi)
• Over 122,000 people still with UNMIK documents, removed from the voter list (Koha)
• Political entities violate anti-COVID measures, Inspection imposes fines (Telegrafi)
• Varhelyi: Western Balkans to have quick access to anti-Covid vaccine (media)
• Hoti compares LDK to Liverpool: It is not a team of the seasons (Koha)
• Kurti and Osmani promise students in Lipjan equality in labor market (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• 18 new cases of Covid-19, two deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo on Saturday (Kontakt plus radio)
• Loncar: 217.000 people vaccinated so far, half a million doses of vaccine more at disposal (KoSSev)
• Protest walk of health workers in Mitrovica North, end to harassment demanded (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: “I am a ‘coward’ because I am protecting Kosovo and Kosovo Serbs” (KoSSev, Prva TV)
• Call to internally displaced persons from Kosovo to vote in February 14 elections (Kosovo-online)
• Selakovic: Gratitude to Slovakia for consistent and principled position on Kosovo issue (Kosovo-online)
• Russia: Haradinaj’s statement impermissible political blackmailing (RTS)
• Petkovic replies to Rada Trajkovic: State gives equal opportunity to its citizens to be vaccinated (Kosovo-online)
• International Crisis Group: Three options to resolve Kosovo issue, none of which is ideal (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Can America Be Trusted Again? (Project Syndicate)

International:

• EU playing a zero-sum game in Kosovo (Modern Diplomacy)

Humanitarian/Development:

• 67 cases of domestic violence registered in north in 2020, women and children most common victims (KoSSev)
• Serbian awarded expert in emergencies dies from COVID-19 (media)
• Media: WHO plans to approve two Chinese vaccines (N1)

• COVID – 19: 392 new cases, six new deaths (media)
• First-time voters hoping for a change (Prishtina Insight)
• Osmani says “integrity of Central Election Commission will be protected” (media)
• Three scenarios in final decision for candidates list (Koha)
• CEC: We’ll act based on decisions by ECAP and Supreme Court (Telegrafi)
• Mustafa: If we fail to elect president, we’ll go to new elections (media)
• Haradinaj: February 14 is a referendum for Kosovo in NATO (media)
• Another former KLA soldier summoned by Specialist Chambers (media)
• “Kosovo-Serbia dialogue needs compromise to move forward” (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 22, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 289 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• Hundreds of Kosovo citizens travel to Bujanovac to get Covid vaccine (Koha/Klan)
• Daka says she does not intend to resign from CEC post (Kallxo)
• France expects credible, inclusive and transparent elections (media)
• Ahead of elections, government pledges stimulus package for teachers (media)
• Osmani: Prosecutors to impartially exercise their duties (media)
• Szunyog: Asset confiscation, crucial in fighting economic crime (media)
• Kosnett to prosecutors: Do not fear accountability – embrace it (media)
• Selimi: Specialist Chambers took political actions and showed bias (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: Serbian List guarantor of preserving interests of Serbian people in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Godfrey: New administration will continue improving relations with Serbia (N1)
• EC comments of Haradinaj’s statement on unification with Albania (media)
• “Biden has bigger problems, he will not embark on adventures in Balkans” (Sputnik, Kosovo-online)
• Central Election Commission introduces new procedure - Todosijevic's candidacy under question mark (Radio Mitrovica sever, Vecernje Novosti)
• Dimkic: No ecological disaster, news of Leposavic tailings spill exaggerated by media and malicious individuals (KoSSev)
• Preparatory hearing in Oliver Ivanovic’s murder case continues on February 5 (Radio KIM)
• Albania’s citizens may enter Serbia with IDs only (KoSSev, N1)
• Fmr Dean: Sarajevo Performing Arts Academy formed sexual harassment commission (N1 BiH)
• Moscow: Expulsion of Russian diplomat from Tirana shall not remain without response (Kosovo-online)
• Hoti announces investments, with an aim to make Serbian property an international ski resort (Vecernje Novosti)
• Detention of Bacevic extended for two more months (Radio KIM)

International:

• Vaccines Turn Into Geopolitics in Europe’s Most Volatile Region (Bloomberg)
• Kosovo Commemorates 15th Anniversary of First President’s Death (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The EU to secure vaccine for Western Balkans, says Von der Leyen (Beta, N1)
• Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines' reduction in supplies causes dissatisfaction within EU (Tanjug, B92)
• Albania expels Russian diplomat, citing lockdown breaches (AP)
• North Macedonia’s Naivety About Vaccine Procurement Costs Country Dear (Balkan Insight)
• EU proposes dark red areas for Europe's epidemiological map (N1, Hina, B92)

• COVID – 19: 312 new cases, 7 deaths (media)
• Hoti: Washington Agreement will be implemented with President Biden (media)
• Mustafa: Not right and intolerable to blame and accuse Daka (media)
• Konjufca: Daka in the service of organised crime (Koha)
• Kosnett: Respect the decision of courts (media)
• Rohde: Pre-electoral procedures are still ongoing (media)
• Hoxhaj: We’re in a race with Vetevendosje and Kurti (media)
• Reporters threatened by the language of political parties (Radio Free Europe)
• Von Cramon: Kosovo needs stable government, reforms in several areas (media)
• EC: Haradinaj must not threaten with unification with Albania (media)
• Hoxhaj: 30% pay raise for doctors and nurses in first months in power (media)