UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 24, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 331 new cases, 9 deaths (media)
• “Healthcare workers, people with chronic illnesses to get first vaccines” (media)
• Mustafa: Court’s ruling was unjust and unprofessional (media)
• Vetevendosje’s Haxhiu: We don’t plan to talk about coalitions (media)
• PDK’s Haliti does not rule out coalition with Vetevendosje (media)
• Serwer: Fall of Hoti-led government doesn’t produce political instability (Koha)
• Pause in the Kosovo – Serbia dialogue (Radio Free Europe)

Serbian Language Media:

22 new cases of Covid-19, three deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
Brnabic first European PM vaccinated against coronavirus (KoSSev, N1)
Vasic: I expect verdict of acquittal in Arsic’s case (Radio KIM)
Dusan Janjic: I would not exclude possibility of Serb being Kosovo Prime Minister (Kosovo-online)
Viola von Cramon: Vučić’s statement on independence of Kosovo is not his final say (Kosovo-online)
Petković reacts to latest statement of von Cramon (Radio Mitrovica sever)
Majority of Serbian citizens support EU membership (N1)

Opinion:

• Kosovo can’t allow the dialogue to continue in this form (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Kosovo pins U.N. membership hopes on Biden presidency (Reuters)
• Switzerland, Serbia set to vaccinate before EU (Politico)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo Opera and Ballet Law Dances Around Hall Issue (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 271 new cases, 12 deaths (media)
• Travel restrictions tightened (Prishtina Insight)
• Osmani concludes consultations with political parties (media)
• Hoti: LDK is a favourite to win upcoming elections (media)
• Mustafa: We will not make pre-election coalition with any of the parties (RTK)
• Enver Hoxhaj announced PDK's candidate for prime minister (media)
• Hoxhaj: PDK is competing for the first place (T7/RTK)
• Poll projects Vetevendosje winning elections (Klan)
• Challenging path in formation of new Assembly, Government (Koha)
• Tahiri urges political parties to adopt 2021 budget (media)
• Von Cramon: Bringing down Kurti-led government was a mistake (DW)
• Petkovic attacks von Cramon for saying Serbia will recognise Kosovo (Express)
• Dacic: Osmani ten times worse than Citaku (Koha)
• GLPS survey indicates half of Kosovo citizens ready to migrate (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 23, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 271 new cases, 12 deaths (media)
• Mustafa: LDK to announce candidate for prime minister after elections are set (media)
• Bislimi: Polls indicate LVV stands to win 55 MP seats (media)
• PDK spokesperson reacts to LVV's poll (Kallxo)
• LDK blames CEC for the downfall of Hoti-led government (Kosovapress/Koha)
• NISMA: We have no red lines towards any party (media)
• AKR open to prospects of a pre-election coalition (media)
• Osmani meets representatives of 6+ Group, Serbian List (media)
• Kusari-Lila to run alongside LVV in upcoming elections (media)
• Haradinaj: I would drop presidential candidacy in favour of Jashari family (Zeri/RTK)
• Barrie Lynne Freeman from USA appointed deputy head of UNMIK (media)
• EU supports Kosovo with 24 million euros (media)
• Kosovo suspends flights with UK over coronavirus variant concerns (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Serbian communities 39 new cases of Covid-19, four deceased (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: State official to get vaccine first (N1, FoNet)
• Reeker: The Balkans are a geopolitical field (KiM radio, Tanjug)
• EU: Pristina to respect and implement the agreements from the dialogue with Belgrade (Tanjug, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Belgrade-Pristina agreement within next couple of months impossible (Radio KIM)
• Jevtic: No PCR test needed to enter Kosovo from Serbia (KoSSev)
• RTS: Murders and disappearances of journalists in Kosovo - crimes that everyone is silent about (Kosovo Online)
• Office for KiM reacts to stoning of school in Vitina (TV Most)
• Serbian List: EULEX, UNMIK and KFOR to ensure safety for all citizens (Kosovo-online)
• The Fatherland Movement: Vucic to say loud and clear whether he sold or gave away the energy system (nspm.rs)
• Serbian List: Fabrications that someone sold the electricity system in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• A New EU Deal for the Balkans: Time to Remake the Anteroom (geopoliticalmonitor.com)

International:

• Kosovo Finds 11 War Victims in Hidden Graves in 2020 (Balkan Insight)

• COVID - 19: 137 new cases, ten deaths (media)
• Acting President Osmani meets four parties, meetings to continue today (media)
• Constitutional Court preparing to publish decision (Koha)
• Kurti: No delays in declaring new elections (media)
• Sources: Enver Hoxhaj, PDK’s candidate for Prime Minister (Telegrafi)
• Vetevendosje’s Konjufca doesn’t rule out coalition with PDK (media)
• PDK responds to Konjufca: Too early to talk (media)
• Krasniqi: PDK heads to elections to win (media)
• Limaj: We don’t rule out a coalition with the PDK (RTK)
• Pacolli: AKR has no red lines for other parties (Lajmi)
• EU: This Assembly must approve the budget (media)
• Assembly expected to be dissolved (Koha)
• Orlando: Kosovo to have free and fair elections (media)
• Gashi: Vetevendosje will come first in the elections, PDK second (media)
• Hasani: New Assembly cannot abolish the Specialist Chambers (media)
• Police arrest Serb war crimes suspect in Peja (media)
• OSCE condemns assault on reporter in Prishtina (media)
• Online media in Balkans ‘need regulation, not censorship’ (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 137 new cases, ten deaths (media)
• Hoti to announce new anti-Covid measures (media)
• Hoti vows to respect Constitutional Court's ruling (media)
• US Embassy calls on parties and institutions to respect court’s decision (media)
• Acting president Osmani meets head of EU Office Szunyog (Koha)
• Kurti: Elections to be held as soon as possible (media)
• LDK's Abrashi: We are ready for elections (media)
• Hoxhaj: PDK to soon announce candidate for prime minister (media)
• LVV: Constitutional Court ruling does not prevent Kurti from running for election (RFE/Koha)
• Isufi: AAK ready for elections, will run on its own (media)
• Daka: CEC ready to organise the elections (media)
• “Only final court decision excludes MP candidates from running” (media)
• Hasani: Constitutional Court's ruling, strange (Telegrafi)
• Tahiri: Law clearly sets out who can run for election in Kosovo (Indeksonline)
• Gerxhaliu: Budget must be adopted before we go to elections (RTK)
• Journalist Valon Syla assaulted in Pristina (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• In the Serbian communities in Kosovo, 46 new cases, four died (Kontakt plus radio)
• First shipment of Pfizer vaccine reported to have arrived in Serbia (Nova.rs, N1, Tanjug)
• Dacic: Unserious attitude of Pristina, most important to have peace in Kosovo (Danas)
• Father Sava: Decisions of Constitutional Court selectively implemented, justice applied on ethnic basis (Kosovo-online)
• Lazarevic: Kosovo politics demonstrated its irresponsibility and lack of seriousness (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic: Serbia and Vucic did not hand over anything to Albanians (Kosovo-online)
• Rada Trajkovic: Vucic handed over one part of Serbian energy network (Danas)
• Father Sava reacts to Suvo Grlo village church case (Kontakt plus radio)
• A Serb came to Pec for documents, arrested for a "war crime" and taken to Pristina (Kosovo Online)
• Office for KiM: Arrests aim to keep Serbs in constant fear and uncertainty (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Kosovo to hold early election after court ruling (AP)
• Kosovo's highest court rules parliamentary vote electing government was illegal (Reuters)
• Kosovo Heading For Fresh Elections After High Court Rules Parliament Vote For Government Was Illegal (RFE)
• Kosovo Faces New Elections After Court Rules Govt Illegitimate (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• NGO Link only in December donated 15.000 protective visors to health workers in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Serbia Leads Region in Expecting COVID-19 Vaccines Within Days (Balkan Insight)
• Share This Now! How Conspiracy Theories Swamped North Macedonia (Balkan Insight)

• Constitutional Court annuls election of Hoti Government (Prishtina Insight)
• Acting President to summon political parties today to set election date (media)
• Haziri: The country is going to new elections (Kallxo)
• PDK: Elections are welcome because coalition lacked majority (media)
• NISMA implies it could join PDK before new elections (media)
• AAK’s Gjini says budget must be adopted before going to new elections (media)
• COVID - 19: 264 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Confidential negotiations for the vaccine (Radio Free Europe)
• Vetevendosje MP slams government for poor management of pandemic (media)
• Hoti: Some differences with Serbian List; we’re trying to overcome them (media)
• The failed attempts to resolve the Kosovo President post (Koha)
• DFC to open office in Prishtina soon (Klan Kosova)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 21, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 264 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Hoti: Kosovo among countries that have best managed the pandemic (media)
• Zemaj: No new measures without coordination with relevant institutions (media)
• PDK's Haxhiu accuses government of trying to present false picture of COVID-19 cases (media)
• Hoti on president's election: January is too late (Koha)
• Tahiri: Vucic's statements, continuation of his provocations (Telegrafi)
• Government of Kosovo adopts anti-corruption strategy (media)
• Kosovo, North Macedonia governments to hold joint meeting (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• 33 new cases of Covid-19, two deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• Kosovo leaders react to Vucic’s position on recognition, Macron announces a meeting (KoSSev)
• Vulin visits the SAJ in Batajnica, the YIHR reacts, the US ambassadors call for the prosecution of all war crimes (KoSSev)
• New restrictions in place at Serbian border crossings (N1, SRNA)
• Serbian List also today didn’t take part at government’s session in Pristina (Kosovo-online)
• ''Our Church'' sign in Albanian and English placed on the road leading to the church in Suvo Grlo village (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Office for KiM: We are concerned over yet another brutal attack against Serbian religious and cultural heritage (Kosovo-online)
• Selakovic: UN of special importance for the protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity (Danas)
• Milivojevic: Walker claims Thaci was innocent out of fear from his own responsibility for KLA crimes (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• A year that exposed the entrenched violence against women (Prishtina Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• WHO: There is no evidence that a new strain of COVID-19 is more dangerous (Tanjug, B92)
• Holiday traffic clogs Balkan borders despite virus warnings (AP)

• COVID – 19: 378 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
• Between death and hope: Nurses reflect on a long year (Prishtina Insight)
• Hoti and Vucic clash in distance, far from the table of talks (media)
• Musliu: Hoti is a weak prime minister, LDK is seizing the state (media)
• Rexhepi: New elections, if compromise on President post isn’t found (media)
• Shala: Haradinaj’s election for President would suit PDK too (Epoka)
• “The frustrating failure of the German EU presidency” (Koha)
• Walker: I haven’t seen any proof against Thaci and the others (media)
• Serbia: Exhuming the skeletons of the Kosovo war (Balkan Insight)
• Vucic says no to recognition of Kosovo (Euronews Albania)

• COVID-19: 385 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• Health minister warns of new measures next week (Prishtina Insight)
• Covid vaccine to reach the Balkans the same time as the EU (Koha)
• LDK’s Abrashi: First president then elections (media)
• Vucic: While I am president, Serbia will not recognise Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo FM Haradinaj-Stublla reacts to Vucic's statement (media)
• Leader of Kosovo War Veterans Pleads Innocent at Hague Court (Balkan Insight)
• Kadri Veseli's family establishes fund for his defence (Klan)
• Remains of 2 war missing Kosovars found (AP)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 385 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• Ex-KLA members appear today before Hague Court (Gazeta Express)
• Osmani suspends secretary Driton Gashi on suspicion of violations (Koha)
• LVV objects Selmanaj’s presence, Assembly session interrupted (media)
• LVV relates Selmanaj’s presence at session with Hoti’s motion on Ujman Lake (media)
• Gashi responds to LVV: Selmanaj will be present at the hearings (media)
• PDK: Time for new elections, LDK’s and LVV’s behavior, unacceptable (media)
• Basha pledges new Assembly to adopt resolution condemning Serbian genocide (Euronews.al)
• One year and six months prison for terrorist call against Ambassador Gashi (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 29 new cases of Covid-19, three deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Varhelyi: We are working to make vaccines available to the Western Balkans (RFE)
• Kosovo minister says Serbia blocking power transfers (Beta, N1)
• What does Biden bring? (TV show Agreement, KiM radio)
• Import of Pfizer vaccine in Serbia approved (B92)
• NATO, US plan 2021 military exercise in Serbia's neighboring countries (Beta, N1)

Opinion:

• Unlocking Kosovo in 2021: last chance to right the wrong (EWB)

International:

• Czecks, Slovaks, Reject Bulgaria’s ‘Historical’ Twist to Enlargement Criteria (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Fires Intelligence Chief Over ‘Raid on President’s Safe’ (Balkan Insight)
• Unlocking Kosovo in 2021: last chance to right the wrong (European Western Balkans)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Neglecting Society’s Little Ones (Kosovo 2.0)