UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 14, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 279 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Vetevendosje and Osmani's list to run under joint ticket (media)
• Hoti: Kosovo entered dialogue with Serbia on clear principles (media)
• ECAP rejects VV's complaint over verification of Diaspora voters (media)
• CEC warns of an unauthorised online application form (media)
• Votes from Serbia to arrive through transit post (RFE)
• Former Kosovo Police director, Rashit Qalaj, joins PDK (media)
• AAK to present candidates for MPs on Friday (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Eight newly infected persons, two deaths in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: Reeker and Lajcak very important, but to change the Washington agreement someone must ask Serbia too (KoSSev)
• Dacic: Kosovo is also mine, as it is Thaci’s and Kurti’s (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic banned from entering Kosovo to deliver aid (N1)
• Serbian List: EU to react to violation of agreement on freedom of movement (KiM radio)
• EC: EU’s position on Kosovo status is known and unchanged (RTS, Tanjug)
• On eve of 3rd anniversary of Oliver Ivanovic’s murder, Serbian weekly publishes book (KoSSev)
• The Tanjug team after seven hours of waiting allowed to enter Kosovo (Tanjug, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Serbian power company buys shares in Montenegrin counterpart (N1)

International:

• Erdogan’s great game: Turkish intrigue in the Balkans (Financial Times)
• Kosovo State Radio Accused of Censorship and Discrimination (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Denmark Allocates €6 Million to Western Balkans Countries to Help Them With Border Controls & Repatriation of Migrants (schengenvisainfo.com)

• COVID-19: 299 new cases, one death (media)
• Osmani rejects Lajcak's remarks on Kosovo's recognition (RFE/Koha)
• Hoti: We will spare no one during election campaign (Koha)
• VV announces candidates from Pristina, Kurti leads the ticket (media)
• Hoxhaj says PDK will emerge as the most voted party (media)
• CEC: 888 polling stations to be open on election day across Kosovo (media)
• Von Cramon speaks about election challenges Kosovo faces (DW)
• Ombudsperson: CEC to avoid any action that undermines right to vote (media)
• Phillips: Time for the West to give ultimatum to Serbia (Telegrafi)
• Hamza: PDK would have negotiated a better deal in Washington (Klan)
• Petkovic refused permission to visit Kosovo (Klan)
• Hoti appoints Muharrem Nitaj acting Minister of Economy (media)
• Has an SPO indictment been rejected by pre-trial judge? (Lajmi/RTK)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 299 new cases, one death (media)
• Acting President Osmani visits the Belgian Parliament (media)
• Sassoli firm: Fighting corruption and crime brings Kosovo closer to EU (Koha)
• Human Rights Watch Annual World Report (HRW)
• Kosovo minister of Economy offers resignation (Gazeta Express)
• Samedin Mehmeti elected director of the Kosovo Police (media)
• Police: Three police officers injured during PSD protest yesterday (RTK)
• Radio Kosova stops broadcasting audio plays after story of Serb woman (Koha)
• Kurti: The rain highlighted the failures of 20 years of misgovernance (media)
• AAK is aiming president position with an economic governing program (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Ten new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• WHO official in Serbia: End of epidemic far away (N1)
• US Embassy in Belgrade: Regional cooperation and BG-PR dialogue remains a priority (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• “More pressure on Serbia about Kosovo pushes it closer to Russia and China” (RFE, FoNet, N1)
• Father Sava: The Church position on Kosovo is united (KiM radio)
• European Commission service deleted disputable post on Twitter about Vjosa Osmani (RTS)
• Sava Janjic: I hope EU would remind Kosovo to implement Constitutional Court decision on Decani (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic: Let’s meet half-way with Pristina (N1, Happy TV, Kosovo-online)
• Two minority pre-election coalitions have applied for upcoming Kosovo elections (RTK2)

Opinion:

• How Biden can make a big difference in the Western Balkans (ECFR)

International:

• Albania carries out 1st vaccinations with donated doses (AP)
• Bishop with Attitude Threatens to Shake Up Serbian Politics (Balkan Insight)
• Last Despatches: Mystery Shrouds British Reporter’s Death in Kosovo Border Shelling (Balkan Insight)

• COVID – 19: 303 new cases, 5 deaths (media)
• Kosovo accused of limiting Diaspora voting rights (Balkan Insight)
• Haradinaj asks for votes to become President of Kosovo (media)
• Limaj: PDK didn’t want a coalition; we won’t join them after elections (T7)
• Lajcak: New government in Kosovo first before we resume dialogue (media)
• Osmani: Justice is a precondition for peace and reconciliation (media)
• Osmani meets EU MPs in the Kosovo Friendship Group (media)
• Osmani meets EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak (media)
• Palmer: Elections are the foundation of democratic practices (RTSH)
• PSD leader Molliqaj and 16 activists arrested by police (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 12, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 279 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Zemaj: We’re looking into the possibility of relaxing some measures (RTK)
• Osmani begins official visit to Brussels (media)
• Haradinaj reacts to Vucic: Kosovo will join NATO (media)
• LDK – AKR, the first pre-election coalition? (media)
• PDK to run alone in elections, other parties free to join its ticket (Kallxo)
• Daka: We verified Diaspora votes before, will do so with applicants in Serbia too (EO)
• VV appeals CEC's decision on Diaspora voter registration (Klan)
• NGO Germin to appeal CEC’s decision on Diaspora voters (media)
• CDHRF: Constitutional Court cannot ban Kurti or others to run for election (Koha)
• Qatar pledges continued support for Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Serbian communities in Kosovo 24 new cases of Covid-19, one death (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: Albanians and Europeans want defeat of Serbia; frozen conflict is a danger (TV Happy, KoSSev)
• Selakovic: Serbia expects continuation of China’s support regarding Kosovo (N1, FoNet)
• Petkovic: No one talks to Serbia with language of blackmail (BETA, N1)
• Spahiu: Citizens already know who they will vote for, campaign won’t have an impact (Kosovo Online)
• Lajcak and Reeker on the Western Balkans (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• How to fight disenfranchisement, Kosovo style (Prishtina Insight)
International:

• Kosovo Parties Flout Ban on Gatherings Ahead of Election (Balkan Insight)
• EU and the Western Balkans in 2021: Searching for a Way Back to Normal (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• More than 85.500 citizens have applied for vaccination (B92, Tanjug)

• COVID – 19: 206 new cases, 6 new deaths (media)
• CEC: Diaspora voters cannot register to vote if they don’t answer phone (media)
• Osmani calls on CEC to review decision on diaspora voters (media)
• Haradinaj-Stublla: Daka said decision on Diaspora voters was unanimous (media)
• VV's Haxhiu: CEC imposes unconstitutional criteria on Diaspora voters (media)
• Haradinaj says an AAK - Vetevendosje government is possible (Klan Kosova)
• Poll on political parties’ candidates for Prime Minister (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo FM reacts to Serbia’s anti-lobbying request to Qatar (media)
• Kosovo parties flout ban on gatherings ahead of election (Balkan Insight)
• Pristina municipality to fine any party that holds election rally (Klan)
• “We won’t pay any fines; political parties are not respecting the measures” (EO)
• Ismaili: Municipalities, government must shelter those affected by floods (media)
• “Mental disorders during pandemic very similar to those from the war” (Koha)
• Lushtaku: I will run for Skenderaj mayor (Kallxo)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 206 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Hoti warns of possibility to return reciprocity with Serbia (RFE, media)
• Hoti: Agreement for the Office at Presevo Valley, to be signed on Monday (RTK)
• CEC decides on political entities’ campaign expenses (Indeksonline)
• Hoti: We are in the process of finalizing MP list (RTK)
• Enver Hoxhaj reveals PDK offer for Presevo Valley (RTK)
• Justice Party boycotts elections (media)
• Hoti monitors closely the situation after the recent floods (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Seven new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Election calculations in Kosovo: Kurti the favorite; what the Serbian list will do (KoSSev, N1)
• Jeremic: Firm stance on Kosovo status precondition for normalization of living circumstances (Danas)
• Petkovic: To Jeremic Kosovo is a prey, to us highest value (TV Most)
• Serbian Crisis Team: Anti-coronavirus measures unchanged, schools open Jan 18 (N1, RTS)
• Serbia launches platform for citizens to apply for vaccination (N1, BETA, FoNet)
• Poll: Over 40 pct of Serbia’s people believe in coronavirus conspiracy theories (BETA, N1)
• Office for KiM promised assistance to families affected by floods (Radio KIM)

International:

• Shaped by Kosovo’s war, Vjosa Osmani won’t blink in her battle to cut out the rot (The Times)
• Apparent Body-Shaming Shows Even Kosovo's Top Official Must Endure 'Disgusting Misogyny' (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Floods across Kosovo cause disruptions and evacuations (Prishtina Insight)
• Floods throughout central Kosovo, Grabovac village in the north under the water (KoSSev, KiM radio, RTV puls, Radio Mitrovica sever)

• COVID – 19: 260 new cases, 2 deaths (media)
• Zemaj: Kosovo has secured over 1 million Covid vaccines (media)
• PDK says Government's approach to Covid vaccines is ‘alarming’ (media)
• VV assembles General Council, Kurti to lead ticket and run for PM (Koha)
• LVV: Kurti not denied the right to run for MP or prime minister (media)
• Haziri: LDK prefers a joint ticket not pre-election coalition (Telegrafi)
• Isufi: AAK will be in the new government regardless of who wins (EO/media)
• Mustafa: Polls are propaganda, LDK will be the first party (Express)
• Political parties hold rallies, fail to respect anti-COVID measures (Kallxo)
• Prishtina municipality warns to fine parties for organising rallies (Zeri)
• Acting President Osmani to visit Brussels this week (Klan)
• “Election rallies are rendering the anti-COVID measures useless” (media)
• LVV vows to reapply reciprocity towards Serbia (Koha)
• War veterans’ deputy leader boycotts Hague court hearing (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 8, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 321 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Ministry of Health insists it has secured Pfizer vaccine (media)
• Vetevendosje says Constitutional Court ruling is not about Kurti (Koha)
• CEC announces a ten-day campaign for extraordinary elections (media)
• Rama: Two KSF units to be deployed to peacekeeping missions (RFE)
• Petkovic's visit clashes PM Hoti and FM Haradinaj-Stublla (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• 13 new cases of Covid-19, three deaths in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Over 30 families from Mitrovica North got new apartments on Christmas Eve (KoSSev)
• Petkovic: Serbia is doing its best to strengthen health care system in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Specialist Prosecution: Thaci undermined court, we are not in favor of lifting detention (Radio KIM)
• Vucic: Serbian people face hard challenges (N1)
• Fabrizi hopes Serbia could open more chapters in 2021 (N1, Blic)
• Serb house in Babin Most burglarized (KIM Radio)

Opinion:

• Stop using the Balkans as a synonym for chaos (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Balkans feel abandoned as vaccinations kick off in Europe (AP)
• Thirteen countries call on EU to support Eastern Partnership vaccine efforts (EurActiv)
• Serbia Starts Inoculations With Russia's Sputnik-V Vaccine (RFE)
• COVID vaccine: EU orders 300 million more BioNTech-Pfizer doses (DW)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo: Infant-toddler centres and preschools are not yet a priority (Balcanicaucaso)

• COVID – 19: 322 new cases, nine deaths (media)
• Kosovo parliamentary election to be held on February 14 (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo ‘should rethink Serbia agreements’ with Biden in power (Balkan Insight)
• Gucati, Haradinaj to appear before Specialist Chambers today (media)
• Kurteshi: Kurti will be part of Vetevendosje’s list in new elections (Kallxo)
• Haradinaj: AAK aims for post of President in the elections (media)
• Poll: Vetevendosje has 41.10 percent, PDK 20.80 percent (media)
• “Very small chances for Kosovo to get visa liberalisation this year” (media)