UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 21, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Minister of Health: 124 new cases of COVID - 19, no deaths (media)
• Hoti: We have taken over the government at the worst situation (RTK)
• Hoti justifies dismissals of heads of Police, KTA and Customs (RTK)
• “Pausing from membership bids, so we don’t fail in the future” (media)
• Rohde reacts to disbanding of Anti-Corruption Task Force (media)
• NISMA and AKR with a joint parliamentary group (media)
• Tahiri invites the U.S. to open defense department office in Kosovo (RTK)
• Haxhiu: Vetevendosje members are being accused without facts (media)
• Kosovo’s Ambassador to France reacts amid threats (media)
• Budget committee doesn’t adopt economic recovery bill (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 17 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serb areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Security Council today on the report of the UN Secretary General on Kosovo (media)
• Vucic: Elections latest by April 3, 2022, Dacic Assembly Speaker (RTS)
• Brnabic: Authorities face risk with early elections (BETA, N1)
• Reactions to Serbia's early vote (N1)
• Djilas: Vucic admitted that boycott succeeded (Danas)
• BETA's editor: Vucic starts campaign for early vote in Serbia he sets for 2022 (N1)
• Vucic and Medvedev on Moscow-Belgrade relations, coronavirus pandemic (N1)
• Djuric: Future government will deal with protection of state and national interests in Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Where is Biden's plan for Serbia? (B92)
• Hoti: No ZSO with executive powers (KIM radio, RTV Puls)

Opinion:

• Vucic Announced New Elections Even Before New Government Constitution (Balkan Insight)

International:

• BSF: Western Balkans is influenced by strong anti-Western narratives (EWB)
• EU-Western Balkans: Time is of the essence (eureporter.co)

Humanitarian/Development:

• New UN gender study: Women ‘far from having an equal voice to men’ (news.un.org, N1)
• Andjelka Cup received award for reporting on poverty (Radio KIM)
• Kon: Face mask and physical distance – 99 pct protection (N1)
• Coronavirus second wave: Which countries in Europe are experiencing a fresh spike in COVID-19 cases? (euronews.com)
• For Kosovo’s Judo Stars, Medals Must Wait (Balkan Insight)
• EU commissioner advocates joint migration management with Western Balkans (N1, Hina)

• COVID-19: 130 new cases, one death (media)
• SPO: Thaci trying to abolish Specialist Chambers (media)
• U.S. officials: Economic agreements don’t replace political talks (media)
• Mustafa: Association is a closed topic (RTK)
• “If we don’t have agreement on President, we’ll go to new elections” (media)
• Haradinaj: Easier to replace Lajcak than change the constitution (media)
• Caplan: Association may destabilise Kosovo (media)
• Ceku: President’s decision on elections in Podujevo, strange (KTV)
• EU: We are studying decision to dissolve anti-corruption task force (Koha)
• Hearing session for Salih Mustafa confirmed for October 28 (media)
• Foreign Ministry to declare on Ambassador’s case today (Klan Kosova)
• Serbia mulls Russian Defense Ministry presence (AP)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 130 new cases, one death (media)
• Hoti: Unified character of Kosovo will not touched (media)
• Thaci announces date for mayoral elections in Podujeve, Mitrovica North (media)
• PM Hoti gives consent to opening diplomatic mission in Israel (media)
• Surroi: No conditioning the issue of missing persons (Koha)
• Former U.S. ambassador welcomes Biden program on Kosovo, Albania (media)
• Vetevendosje leader in Albania arrested by police (media)
• GLPS: Dissolving anti-corruption task force, attempt to interfere in judiciary (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Guterres called on Belgrade and Pristina for flexibility and creativity in overcoming differences (Danas, NMagazin, Beta, N1)
• Stano: Kosovo must fulfill obligations, if it has ambition to eventually join EU (Kosovo-online)
• Serbia's Vucic among 11 politicians awarded by Israel (N1)
• Belgrade marks 76th anniversary of liberation in WWII (BETA, N1)
• Journalists’ Association of Serbia and its branch in Kosovo condemned the attack on journalist Shkumbin Kajtazi (Kosovo Online)
• Rakic met with US delegation to discuss Washington agreement (Radio kontakt plus)
• Raska-Prizren Eparchy informs public on new protective measures ahead of festivities season (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Serbian PM-designate met potential coalition partners, no statements (N1)

Opinion:

• Will Belgrade give in to Western demands & shift toward ‘mutual recognition’? (rt.com)

International:

• EWB panel: “Anti-Western Narratives in the Western Balkans” on the Belgrade Security Forum (EWB)
• Can Serbs determine the course of the American election? (Wall Street International Magazine)
• Joe Biden Woos America’s Bosnian, Albanian Voters Before Polls (Balkan Insight)
• Relations between Russia and Serbia are the best in history, says minister (TASS)
• How the EU candidate countries in the Western Balkans stand with fight against corruption? (EWB)

• COVID - 19: 118 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Kosovo, Serbia ‘Reach Draft Agreement to Find Missing Persons’ (Balkan Insight)
• Hyseni: No Association without final agreement on mutual recognition (RTK)
• Lajcak: Italy is a key partner in the Western Balkans (media)
• Italy will support the Kosovo – Serbia dialogue (media)
• Haxhiu: Vetevendosje was never asked to implement Association (media)
• Government adopts implementation plan for Washington Agreement (Koha)
• U.S. delegation visits Kosovo for Ujman Lake (Klan Kosova)
• Palokaj: Kosovo should at least respect Lajcak’s honesty (Koha)
• Hehir: Constitutional changes don’t guarantee anything in exchange (Telegrafi)
• Hamiti: Association does not require constitutional changes (RTK)
• Djuric: Association must have executive powers (Klan Kosova)
• EULEX publishes monitoring report on Kosovo justice system (media)
• Government decides to dissolve anti–corruption task force (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 19, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 118 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Zemaj warns on stricter measures (media)
• Lajcak misinterpreted, constitutional changes apply to Belgrade as well (RFE)
• Horti: Government taking necessary steps to implement Washington Agreement (media)
• Kosovo marks the EU Anti-Trafficking Day (media)
• PDK MP writes public letter to Lajcak (media)
• Basha: Ahtisaari’s package is Kosovo’s compromise (T7, RTK)
• Thaci and Daka discuss election dates for Podujeva and North Mitrovica (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 11 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serb-areas in Kosovo on Saturday (Radio kontakt plus)
• “ZSO must be formed as it was agreed” (Radio KIM)
• Odalovic: Brussels has instruments to make Pristina establish ZSO (RTS)
• Lavrov to visit Serbia later this month (N1)
• Dmitrijevic to Serbian journalists’ associations: “Novosti” daily jeopardized safety of SOC clergy and Serbs in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• UNS: Could truthful reporting jeopardize Serbs in Kosovo? (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Kosovo Leaders Condemn Gun Attack on Journalist’s Car (Balkan Insight)
• ‘Easy Money’: Fake Forex and Fraudulent Balkan Call Centre (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Epidemiologist Kon: Situation unfavorable, especially in Belgrade (Prva TV, N1)
• The "corona generation" is coming and it will not be good (DW, B92)

• COVID-19: 137 new cases, one death (media)
• Hoti calls for caution after increase in COVID-19 cases (media)
• Zemaj urges for implementation of COVID-19 preventive measures (media)
• Osmani: Battle against COVID-19 is not over (media)
• PDK, VV and SL to start talks for ousting Hoti government (Indeksonline)
• Vetevendosje doesn’t trust Hoti about the Association (media)
• Biden: A settlement that respects Kosovo’s territorial integrity (media)
• Hoti wants assault on reporter to be resolved (media)
• Journalist association condemns attack on Kajtazi in strongest terms (media)
• Jashari: Serbia, not Kosovo, must change its constitution (media)
• Serbia continues to invest in Mitrovica North, builds football field (Lajmi)

COVID - 19: 104 new cases, two deaths (media)
Kosovo FM reacts to Lajcak remarks (media)
Nitaj: Prishtina can ask for Lajcak’s dismissal (media)
Balje: Lajcak’s request to amend constitution, unacceptable (media)
PM Hoti replaces heads of police, customs and tax administration (Koha)
What does the UN report on Kosovo contain? (media)
Victims of violence don’t find long-term shelter from the state (RFE)
U.S. Embassy: Civil Code to include rights of marginalised communities (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 104 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Zemaj: No lockdown, we will take tough measures to combat COVID-19 (Telegrafi)
• Osmani slams Lajcak's statement calling it 'concerning' (media)
• Tahiri: Serbia to change its Constitution, not Kosovo (Klan/Kallxo)
• CDHRF: Lajcak inciting another war in Kosovo (media)
• Draft law on KLA values, dialogue resolution fail to pass Assembly (media)
• New U.S. troops to join NATO in Kosovo (media)
• Hoti: Kosovo to ban use of 5G equipment from untrusted sellers (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: Tahiri can change the constitution if she wins the elections in Serbia (Radio Mitrovica sever, Tanjug)
• Petkovic with Bocan-Kharchenko on Belgrade - Pristina dialogue (RTS)
• Petkovic with Lajcak: European Union's ability as a mediator being tested (RTS)
• "If true, it was done behind Belgrade's back and means betrayal by the EU" (B92, Sputnik)
• Vucic: This is a plan that is little talked about in the Serbian public (Tanjug, B92)
• "For eight years I have been listening about Vucic preparing to betray Kosovo" (B92, Vecernje Novosti)
• Father Sava: The priest from the video has nothing to do with the Diocese (KiM radio)
• Redzepi: I expect elections in a month and a half (RTK)
• EIB helping revive Serbian railways, regional office chief says (Beta, N1)
• Unclear whether Bosnian Presidency voted against recognition of Kosovo (N1)

Opinion:

• Pribicevic: Albanian side missed its momentum in dialogue with Serbia (N1, Kontakt plus radio)
• Thousand Days After: Why the Murder of Oliver Ivanovic Should Be Brought to an International Tribunal? (KoSSev, zorancicak blog)

International:

• Brussels Vows to Settle Kosovo Serb Municipal Association’s Status (Balkan Insight)
• The EU needs a step-by-step integration plan for the Western Balkans (emerging-europe.com)
• Serbia expects Russian foreign minister’s visit soon — president (TASS)

• COVID-19: 77 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Thaci: Association will be established; no executive competencies (media)
• Hoti warns of early elections if there is no agreement on President (media)
• Hoti: Association is a closed issue, we entered dialogue only for recognition (media)
• Osmani: I will start a civic initiative with new faces (media)
• LDK leader publishes Mogherini’s letter on Association (media)
• VV's Haxhiu reacts to Mustafa regarding Mogherini's letter (media)
• “Lajcak same as Belgrade, wants Association without final agreement” (media)
• Vucic, Lajcak: Dialogue continues, implementation of agreements (N1)
• Bosnia Presidency Fails to Agree on Recognition of Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
• Minister Krasniqi calls on CEFTA to drop "UNMIK-Kosovo" tag (RTK/Telegrafi)
• PM Hoti meets UN Kosovo Team (media)
• Venice Commission rebuts statements about receiving draft law on government (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 77 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Lajcak: Association has to establish, you committed in 2015 (RTK)
• Mustafa and Lajcak discuss conclusion of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)
• Americans want Kosovo in OSCE (Gazeta Express)
• Whyte: There will be no Republika Srpska in Kosovo (RFE, Koha)
• Krasniqi reacts after Lajcak's statements on Association (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lajcak: Pristina must show consistency by implementing the agreement on ZSO (RTS)
• Russian ambassador denies media claims about Putin visit (N1)
• Andjelkovic: Putin's visit cannot be canceled, because it was not even scheduled (N1, Nova S)
• Gracanica Mayor: We have the right to withdraw from the institutions if the ZSO is not formed (RTS)
• Was progress made with Lajcak's visit? (KIM radio, Danas)

International:

• Lajčák: International organizations are “eyes and ears” in Kosovo (EWB)
• Snarky Facebook post sparks diplomatic incident between Russia and Serbia: What’s behind it? (neweasterneurope.eu)
• Mariano: Western Balkan states could contribute to security and defense of NATO (EWB)
• EU and the Western Balkans, a long engagement (balcanicaucaso.org)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The Latest: WHO: European cases rocket, strong limits needed (apnews.com)
• International Day of Rural Women: I love the countryside, I love to produce (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev)
• Platform Initiative launched to support clean energy transition in coal regions in Western Balkans and Ukraine (balkangreenenergynews.com)
• Femart’s 8th edition celebrates resilience and solidarity in challenging times (Prishtina Insight)