• COVID-19: 500 new cases, 9 deaths (media)
• PM Hoti asks intelligence chief Gashi to step down (media)
• Osmani comments on decision to relieve of duty KIA chief (media)
• Former KIA chief addresses attempts to obtain classified documents claims (media)
• Peci reacts to Gashi's statement on attempts to open safe in President's Office (media)
• “The red line on talks with Serbia”, acting President Vjosa Osmani on Euronews Albania
• Hoti: Missing persons, priority issue in dialogue with Serbia (media)
• LDK adds budget to the anticipated meeting of political parties (Koha)
• Hoxhaj: LVV to make serious invitation to bring down government (media)
• Haxhiu: No need to experiment by making Haradinaj president (Telegrafi)
• Jashari: Our family ready to take presidential responsibilities (Klan)
• Constitutional Court decides on LVV's complaint against Thaci (media)
• Health Minister calls for measures to be taken after BIRN investigation (Prishtina Insight)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 18
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 17, 2020
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 17, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID – 19: 500 new cases, 9 deaths (media)
• Osmani: We must cooperate so truth about Kosovo is not overturned (media)
• Osmani at Albanian Parliament: We are forever grateful (media)
• Defense of KLA leaders insists on postponing trial at The Hague (RFE)
• Kosnett: Excellent news, MCC reaffirmed support for Kosovo (media)
• Haradinaj-Stublla: Kosovo ready to join Adriatic Charter (media)
• Citaku returns as Kosovo’s ambassador to Washington (RFE)
• Inclusion of non-majority students at UP remains low (Prishtina Insight)
Serbian Language Media:
• 47 new cases of Covid-19, one death registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• "It's not just about Serbia" (B92, Tanjug, VoA)
• EU Delegation official says Serbia should step up efforts to align with Brussels (Beta, N1)
• Selakovic: EU membership is key priority (FoNet, N1)
• Serbian Health Minister: We are ready to produce vaccines with Russia (B92, Tanjug)
• Serbia does not even know its energy border with Kosovo (Danas)
• Mitrovica North MA session on electricity, water supply, non-compliance with COVID-19 measures (Kontakt plus radio)
• NGO Aktiv presented trend analysis on attitudes of Serbian community in Kosovo (social media)
Opinion:
• EU dream fading in Western Balkans, a local's view (euobserver.com)
International:
• Clientelist Networks Lie Behind Western Balkans State Capture – Transparency (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Serbian epidemiologist: More expensive PCR test economic move and should reduce travels (N1)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 17
• COVID – 19: 348 new cases, 5 deaths (media)
• Hoti: Situation with COVID – 19 in Kosovo under control (media)
• EU Head of Office: Kosovo will get free vaccines for over 300,000 people (media)
• Osmani: Going to elections helps further democracy (Radio Free Europe)
• Hoti: New elections are not excluded (RTK)
• Gashi: No political readiness to resolve President issue (media)
• Konjufca: We expect to win up to 50 percent of votes (media)
• Xhemajli: PDK has a candidate for post of Kosovo President (media)
• Palmer: US, EU working together on Kosovo – Serbia dialogue (Indeksonline)
• Ruecker denies knowing of any corruption affair while heading KTA (EO/Koha)
• WHO vaccine scheme risks failure, leaving poor countries with no COVID shots until 2024 (Reuters)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 16, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 296 new cases, five deaths (media)
• PM Hoti's Office issues statement on Government's work plan draft (media)
• Kosovo Government not to apply to join international organisations until 2023 (Koha)
• Kosovo authorities allowed to visit Maqastena in Prokuplje, Serbia (Koha)
• Kosovo and Serbia representatives clash at CEFTA's virtual meeting (media)
• Kurti writes to KSC judge to support Selimi's bail request (Telegrafi)
Serbian Language Media:
• 52 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Vucic met Serbs from Kosovo, EMS and EPS directors – conclusions in two, three days (KoSSev)
• Serbia won’t impose sanctions on Moscow, says Vucic; Resolution 1244 the basis for every agreement, says Lavrov (Beta, N1)
• German State Secretary: EU and Germany supported process which resulted in KOSTT independence (KoSSev)
• Jeremic: “Albanian finger” on a power supply switch in northern Kosovo as of yesterday (Danas)
• Covic: I do not believe Albright would be in negotiations, Serwer completely irrelevant (KoSSev)
Opinion:
• Who gave electricity to Pristina (Nova S)
International:
• Balkan States Race to Secure COVID-19 Vaccine Supplies (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Politicians Divided Over How to Choose Next President (Balkan Insight)
• Europe set to approve COVID-19 vaccine in Christmas week (Reuters)
• Mini-Schengen, Regional Economic Area and Common Regional Market: What is what? (EWB)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Last Despatches: News Team Killed the Day After Kosovo War Ended (Balkan Insight)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 16
• COVID – 19: 350 new cases, 18 deaths (media)
• Hoxhaj: President post belongs to the PDK (media)
• Konjufca: Vetevendosje doesn’t want post of Kosovo President (T7)
• Mustafa: Vetevendosje is seeing dreams that it can win 50% of votes (media)
• Bytyci: Red lines in politics are being removed (media)
• Kosovo Acting President Osmani begins 3-day visit to Albania (media)
• Serbia cuts off energy transmission to Kosovo (RFE)
• Russian Foreign Minister: EU to be impartial in the dialogue (media)
• Serbian List to meet Serbian President Vucic (Gazeta Express)
• Captured states in Western Balkans and Turkey (Transparency International)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 15, 2020
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 15, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• No ease of lockdown measures for Christmas and New Year in Kosovo (media)
• Hoti: Mustafa is dealing with the meeting on president issue (media)
• Haradinaj’s initial appearance at Special Court rescheduled to 18 December (media)
• Ambassador Jan Braathu nominated OSCE chief of the mission in Serbia (Koha)
• Kosnett and Tan support local war crime prosecution (media)
• Osmani to travel for a three day visit to Albania (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• In Serbian communities in Kosovo 56 new cases and one death (Kontakt plus radio)
• Brnabic: I'm against curfew, celebrate at home; Vucic: vaccination soon (N1, BETA)
• Russian FM arrives in Belgrade; talks to include bilateral relations, economy (N1)
• Serbia's Foreign Minister: Close relations with Russia (N1)
• Serwer to N1: Vucic won't recognise Kosovo, we'll have to wait for one who will (N1)
• Trajkovic: Albright unlike Serwer recognizes opportunity for better US-Serbia relations (Kosovo-online)
• Energy agreement vaguely implanted (Danas)
• Mihajlovic: Opposition is spreading falsehoods and scaring Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian List: Incomprehensible and unacceptable need to denigrate one’s own state (Radio Mitrovica sever)
Opinion:
• The EU and Kosovo a decade on (opendemocracy.net)
International:
• Kosovo Truth Commission’s Future in Doubt After Thaci’s Indictment (Balkan Insight)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 15
• COVID-19: 353 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Zemaj: New anti-COVID measures to be coordinated with all stakeholders (media)
• Hoti: Threatening statements from Belgrade do not help dialogue (media)
• Still no date set for discussions on Kosovo’s next president (Prishtina Insight)
• "Kosovo heading towards snap elections" (RFE)
• Aide refutes reports Osmani will call parties to discuss president post (media)
• Haradinaj: If my candidacy is not endorsed, we head to elections (Telegrafi)
• 100 days since signed, Washington agreement remains in paper only (Koha)
• Serwer: Albright to become involved in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• Kosovo War Veterans’ Leaders Indicted for Obstructing Justice (Balkan Insight)
• Status conference in case against Mustafa held at The Hague (media)
• Joint defence requests variation of time limit for preliminary motions (media)
• One of two Kosovo men arrested by Serbian authorities, released (Klan)
• Blast reported at police officer's home in Leposavic municipality (Kallxo)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 14, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID - 19: 353 new cases, 9 deaths (media)
• Hoti: If solution on President isn’t found, Kosovo goes to new elections (media)
• Nagavci: President post to be discussed after new elections (media)
• KOSTT to operate independently; PM Hoti calls it “a joint success” (media)
• Haradinaj: Decision to form Army was not easy, but most important (media)
• Pacolli: Army was a gift from the U.S. for our people (media)
• The shocking results of a study in Serbia (Klan Kosova)
Serbian Language Media:
• 24 new cases of Covid-19, four deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: There will be more pressure (Vecernje Novosti, B92)
• Lavrov to visit Belgrade on Tuesday (Tanjug, TV Most)
• The public does not see how much NATO and Serbia work together (cfsp.rs)
• "When it comes to Serbia and Kosovo, the status quo is unsustainable" (Tanjug, B92, RFE)
• Abbot Janjic: Kosovo grotesque picture of what international community allegedly wanted to achieve 21 years ago (KoSSev)
• Brnabic: Vaccines by end of year (B92)
• Serbian Orthodox Church warns of false accounts under its name (BETA, N1)
• Mladjan Djordjevic once again urged Vucic to say to whom they handed over energy system in northern Kosovo (Direktno.rs)
• KOSTT started working as a regulatory area within the Kosovo-Albania bloc; no explanation to the citizens of the North (KoSSev)
Opinion:
• What Will a Joe Biden Presidency Mean for the Balkans? (nationalinterest.org)
International:
• Transparency concerns over Serbia’s growing military outlay (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo’s ‘The Flying Circus’ wins debut prize in Cottbus Film Festival (Exit.al)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Reading through the pandemic (Prishtina Insight)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 14
• COVID – 19: 462 new cases, 12 deaths (media)
• Hoti: We’re preparing necessary measures for New Year holidays (media)
• No mass vaccination in Kosovo until 2022, according to The Economist (RTK)
• Serbian Police arrests two Kosovars, suspected of entering Serbia (media)
• Podujeva Mayor calls for release of persons arrested by Serbian Police (media)
• Abrashi: If no agreement on President, new elections in January (Kosovapress)
• Tahiri: New elections in Kosovo will be held on February 28 (media)
• No consensus on a candidate for Kosovo President post (Deutsche Welle)
• Osmani: I will run with my own list in new parliamentary elections (media)
• Palokaj: With this pace, the dialogue won’t end even in 2031 (Koha)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 11, 2020
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 11, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 590 new cases, 13 deaths (media)
• Hoti: Parties to agree on either the president or election date (Telegrafi)
• Mustafa doesn't view elections as way to resolve president's issue (Koha)
• Foundation set up to support Thaci's legal defence in The Hague (media)
• KFOR Commander expresses readiness to continue cooperation with KSF (Koha)
• Austrian MEP Mandl urges EU to grant Kosovo visa liberalisation (Klan)
• Residents of Krusha demand Tasic be retried for war crimes (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• In Serbian areas in Kosovo 66 new cases of Covid-19, one death (Kontakt plus radio)
• Visoki Decani one of 12 most threatened heritages sites, shortlisted for the 7 most endangered (KoSSev)
• Father Sava: 200.000 Serbs have not returned to Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• “Everyone has right to truth” (Radio KIM)
• The hearing on the case of Ivanovic's murder postponed indefinitely (Kontakt plus radio, KoSSev)
• Radojevic took oath: It is now up to me to live up to expectations (TV Most)
• Pristina Mayor: "The biggest problem of Serbs is that when they turn 18, they leave" (RTK2)
• Montgomery: Fixed stances on multiethnic societies in Kosovo and B&H will bring no solution (Kosovo-online)
International:
• COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Grip West Balkans, Survey Reveals (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Reidentifying the dead (Prishtina Insight)
• Homeless in their homes (Kosovo 2.0)