UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 26, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Thaci to deliver address on Sunday, following war crimes accusations (media)
• Thaci: No one can rewrite Kosovo's history (media)
• Weber: Specialist prosecutors proved to be independent (DW)
• British Embassy concerned over increased attacks against Kosovo Serbs (Klan)
• Two new coronavirus-related deaths reported in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic from Brussels: I expect that Serbia will become a member of the European Union by 2026 (B92, Tanjug)
• Vucic met von der Leyen, Varhelyi and Lajcak in Brussels (B92, media)
• Deutsche Welle: Thaci hoped that Washington would save him? (B92)
• Covic: It is completely clear now that EU, Germany and France work directly against Trump (Kosovo-online)
• "There were indications they'll sign an agreement, why meet at White House?" (Tanjug, B92)
• Kosovo ambassador demands explanation from KSC; Hoti claims his government will not comment on KSC processes (KoSSev)
• Fabrizi: Vucic's visit to Brussels shows readiness for talks with Pristina (N1)

Opinion:

• Op-ed: Kosovo should suspend participation in dialogue (Koha)
• Serwer: Kosovo needs to hedge (Peacefare.net)

International:

• After Kosovo President War Crimes Indictment, Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue Uncertain (VOA)
• Thaci Trial ‘Should Have Happened Before’, Victims’ Families Say (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kon: Situation with coronavirus is getting worse (Tanjug, B92)

• White House meeting between Kosovo and Serbia postponed (media)
• Albanian FM Cakaj in Washington for Kosovo-Serbia agreement (Koha)
• Grenell reacts to NYT story on Washington mtg, says it has ‘lots of errors’ (media)
• Hoti: Now is the right momentum to conclude the dialogue (media)
• French Embassy: France, Germany expect dialogue to resume soon (media)
• President’s Office: EULEX’s mandate in Kosovo over (media)
• Haradinaj comments on indictment against Thaci, Veseli (Telegrafi)
• Former KLA fighter sent to The Hague (media)
• Kosovo PM to visit Tirana next week (media)
• Covid-19: 69 new cases over last 24 hours (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Hoti from Brussels: Dialogue has no alternative (RTK)
• Mustafa: Let us sit together once again prior to meeting Vucic (RTK)
• Hoti: Government engaged in advancing democratic processes (RTK)
• Osmani hosts a meeting with Quint Ambassadors, discuss latest developments (RTK)
• Bildt not surprised if efforts to shut down Specialist Chambers intensify (Koha)
• 106 patients with Covid-19 are being treated at Infectious Disease Clinic (RTK)
• Der Standard: Thaci and Grenell were about to reach a ‘dirty deal’ (Koha)
• Scandalous: The Specialized Prosecutor's Office violated work regulations, professional ethics and its own laws (Indeksonline)
• Association of KLA Veterans: We will ask abrogation of KSC Law in August (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• EU expects Belgrade-Pristina dialogue to resume in July (B92, Tanjug, RTS)
• EC head says will meet Kosovo’s Hoti, Serbia’s Vucic as planned (N1)
• Drecun: They wanted to “trade” in Washington to be excluded from indictments (RTS)
• Two new cases of Covid-19 infection in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Kandic: I expect the indictments to be confirmed, the first on the list is the Drenica group (N1, FoNet, KoSSev)
• Former Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor Vukcevic on Thaci and Veseli’s indictment (KoSSev)
• KLA graffiti and robbed house in Serb villages in Istok municipality (Kosovo-online)
• Stefanovic: Kosovo issue can’t be resolved by agreement of those indicted for war crimes and autocrats (Danas)
• “That was not fight for freedom, but brutal attack against Serbs” (RTS, Radio KIM)
• Judah: Thaci’s legs have been cut off, Vucic has no equal with whom to talk (KoSSev)
• Ahmetaj: I don’t expect resignations or protests (KoSSev)
• Petritsch doubts US success in Belgrade – Pristina talks; Sooner or later elections in Kosovo (N1, Tanjug, B92)
• Rakic and Popovic discussed strengthening of cooperation (TV Most)

Opinion:

• Two Decades on, Kosovo’s Guerrilla Boss Thaci May Finally Face Trial (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovan president’s war crimes indictment puts West in a bind (Politico)
• Presentation of Balkan barometer 2020: The shape of things to come (Regional Cooperation Council)

International:

• Kosovo scraps White House talks with Serbia after leader indicted (Reuters)
• Kosovo: War Crimes Indictment Advances Justice (HRW)
• Thaci Charges ‘Timed’ to Prevent Amnesty Deal in Washington (Balkan Insight)
• Five Things Kosovo Must Know Before Doing a Deal with Serbia (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi indicted on war crimes charges (The Guardian)
• EU-backed court wrecks US plan for Kosovo summit (EUobserver)
• Telekom Srbija places 155 mln euro bid for Kosovo's IPKO - Pristina mayor (SeeNews.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• COVID-19’s far reaching impact on global drug abuse (news.un.org)
• WHO to N1: Classification of Covid-19 cases up to national authorities (N1)

• Thaci, Veseli and others accused of war crimes by Specialist Prosecutor (media)
• Thaci cancels trip to Washington amid filing of war crimes charges (media)
• Hoti cancels Washtington trip (media)
• Veseli calls indictment against him 'political' and ‘groundless’ (media)
• Hoti: No one can be considered guilty without final decision of the court (media)
• Osmani calls for maturity and unity (media)
• Kurti: Indictment, new consequence of older mistakes (media)
• Mustafa: Hoti to decide himself if he will go to Washington (media)
• Haziri: There will be no White House meeting (Syri TV/Telegrafi)
• Collaku: Disgusting to try freedom fighters in the name of justice (media)
• Limaj: KLA fighters being politically persecuted (media)
• Konjufca: Dialogue to stop until Specialist Chamber completes its work (Koha)
• Ahmeti: Events ahead of White House meeting have no good intentions (media)
• EU does not comment on indictment against Thaci and Veseli (Koha)
• State Department: Indictment, step forward in justice and reconciliation process (VOA)
• Former SITP prosecutor comments on indictment against Thaci (media)
• Rama on indictment: Cannot find words to express indignation (RTK)
• Op-ed: A planned Kosovo-Serbia meeting at the White House is falling apart. It was always a bad idea. (WaPo)
• Weber: Specialist Prosecutor feared Thaci plans to negotiate amnesty (RFE)
• Serwer: Kosovo is in trouble (Peacefare.net/Koha)
• Op-ed: Anatomy of a Kosovo Summit Catastrophe (Foreign Policy)
• 95 new coronavirus cases in last 24 hours (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 24, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: EU has not delivered on visa liberalisation promise (KP/Koha)
• PDK submits request for creation of committee on privatisation (Klan)
• Zemaj: We are trying to pursue mass testing for Covid-19 (Klan)
• 85 coronavirus patients receiving treatment at Infectious Clinic in Pristina (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbia's army among participants, Vucic among guests at Moscow parade (Beta, FoNet, N1)
• Vucic: I spoke with Macron, I expect swift continuation of Brussels dialogue (Tanjug)
• NGO: Concern over increase in incidents in Serb communities in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio, KIM radio)
• Gracanica: First case of coronavirus infection recorded- unofficial (RTK2)
• Godfrey: America offers Serbia and Kosovo a chance (Danas)
• Grenell denies NYT report Trump will meet Vucic on June 27 (FoNet, N1)
• Vucic after meeting Putin: "We discussed issues I cannot talk about in public" (B92)
• Priluzje residents: Four people dead after ‘consuming suspicious brandy’; KP and Prosecution: Waiting for autopsy results (KoSSev)
• Lajcak: Belgrade-Pristina talks in July, EU insists on implementation of deals (N1, FoNet)
• Detention of Marko Rosic extended for two more months (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Serbia, Kosovo Leaders Expected in Brussels before Washington Meeting (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo talks to focus on economy, less likely to affect US military role (Stars and Stripes)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Western Balkans coal power plants are still breaching pollution limits (emerging-europe.com)
• Vucic: Claims on reduced number of dead and infected in Serbia hypocritical (BETA, N1)
• Serbian anti-Covid-19 Crisis Team: Face masks mandatory in public transport (N1)
• OpisMEDIJavanje: Public service broadcasters should reflect pluralism of society (KoSSev)

• 52 new cases of coronavirus in last 24 hours (media)
• Another patient succumbs to COVID – 19 (media)
• Air transport in Kosovo to resume on June 28 (media)
• Thaci: No land swap discussions in Washington (media)
• Hoti: Visits to Brussels doesn’t substitute meeting in Washington (media)
• Veseli: Kosovo’s negotiating position is very weak (Telegrafi)
• EU confirms continuation of Kosovo – Serbia dialogue in July (Lajmi)
• Stoltenberg: No one can dictate a solution for Kosovo and Serbia (Koha)
• Assembly fails to endorse international financial agreements (media)
• Internationals want Serbs to try Serb cases in Kosovo (Koha)
• U.S. Embassy calls on government to appoint experienced professionals (media)
• Vucic: We talked about things you cannot discuss publicly (media)
• Kosovo government declares Hezbollah a terrorist organisation (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Grenell: We will try to build an economic zone between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Hoti meets Thaci prior to his travelling to Brussels (media)
• EU borders may remain closed for Western Balkans (media)
• Osmani requests voting of international agreements (media)
• Assembly has no quorum to vote on the million-dollar agreements (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic and Hoti at the end of the week in Brussels, but not about the dialogue (RTS)
• Vucic: We are dealing with painful issues, compromise is not easy for Serbia (Tanjug, B92)
• New round of Belgrade – Pristina dialogue on June 25 in Brussels (N1)
• Djuric: SNS in Kosovo won 86 percent of votes (KoSSev)
• Returnee family robbed in the village of Veliko Krusevo (Kosovo Online)
• MEPs: Mocking of democracy in Serbia, stop opening negotiating chapters (N1, EWB)

Opinion:

• Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia's stabilocrat (DW)
• Serbia’s Strongman Wins Big in Election Boycotted by the Opposition (The New York Times)
• Serwer: Vucic's victory convincing but stained (VoA, N1)

International:

• Serbia's Vucic To Discuss Kosovo With Putin In Moscow On Wednesday – Ambassador (urdupoint.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Number of COVID-19 hospitalisations peaks (Prishtina Insight)
• Serbia’s anti-COVID-19 Crisis Team: Face masks mandatory in public transport (N1)
• OpisMEDIJavanje: Sometimes a politician’s refusal to answer a question will be the answer (KoSSev)
• Serbia Under-Reported COVID-19 Deaths and Infections, Data Shows (Balkan Insight)
• SO2 emissions in Western Balkans coal plants six times above limit in 2019 (balkanenergynews.com)

• Covid-19: 47 cases reported over last 24 hours (media)
• Kosovo, Serbia leaders to meet in Brussels on Thursday (media)
• Hoti reveals details of upcoming trip to Brussels (media)
• Thaci: Washington meeting will be very difficult (RTK/Telegrafi)
• Borrell insists only “structured dialogue” is led by EU (Zeri)
• Lajcak in Belgrade: Dialogue to continue without delay (RFE)
• U.S. Ambassador Kosnett’s interview to Klan Kosova
• Haradinaj: Three key principles in dialogue with Serbia (media)
• VV MP: Thaci has violated Constitution, Hoti unprepared for dialogue (Klan)
• “Thaci’s another term in office believed to be damaging” (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

• Presidents Thaci, Vucic to lead delegations in Washington (Indeksonline)
• Collaku: Economy and other issues that may arise to be discussed at White House (RFE)
• Hoti's cabinet: Mainly economic issues to be discussed in Washington (Klan)
• Kosovo-Serbia final agreement to go through four stops (Klan Kosova)
• Competition between EU and U.S. on Kosovo-Serbia agreement (Koha)
• Weber: Kosovo and Serbia could get closer to final agreement by end of year (media)
• Serbian man sentenced to 22 years in prison for war crimes (media)
• One more coronavirus-related death reported in Kosovo (media)
• Ministry of Health denies contact tracing will not be pursued anymore (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Kommersant: Vucic now must make a choice (Danas)
• New REC data: 62.73 percent of electorate processed, 3 lists passed threshold (B92)
• Vucic’s SNS scores landslide victory in Serbia’s general elections (media)
• What kind of proposal does Lajcak bring to Belgrade today? (B92, Tanjug)
• President Vucic: Let's not be arrogant in forming government; experts say turnout 49 pct (N1)
• OSCE: Final turnout in Kosovo was 55.178, respectively 57.88 percent of registered voters (Kosovo-online)
• SzS: Fake elections have not succeeded, boycott did, turnout less than 50 percent (N1, BETA, FoNet)
• Director of Factor Plus: Turnout expected, boycott failed (Prva TV, B92)
• Varhelyi: "Important day for Serbia" (RTS, B92)
• N. Macedonian President: Kosovo issue could lead to domino effect (RFE, N1, FoNet)
• Newsmax TV founder: Trump is man who can bring peace to Balkans (Newsmax, N1)

Opinion:

• Serbia elections: Who's left besides Vucic? (DW)
• Wanted: EU-US cooperation on Kosovo (EUobserver)
• ''Trump and the Kremlin know very well who they are dealing with'' (KoSSev)
• Kosovar politics needs rebellious women (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Serbia President’s Party Scores Landslide in Election Boycotted by Opposition (Balkan insight)
• Ruling Conservatives Set to Win Serbian Parliamentary Vote (VoA)
• Serbian parliament left without clear opposition as the ruling party wins partially boycotted elections (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• BIRN Videos Tell Emotional Stories of Missing Fathers (Balkan Insight)
• 22 years since kidnapping of Belacevac miners (TV Most)

• 96 new cases of coronavirus in last 24 hours in Kosovo (media)
• Hoti to report to MPs on Washington visit and reciprocity on Tuesday (media)
• Several senior LDK members voted against Osmani’s dismissal (Koha)
• Kurti: Allowing Serbian elections, cancelling local ones, unacceptable (media)
• Braathu: Only ballot collection for Serbian elections conducted in Kosovo (Klan)
• Serbia President’s Party Scores Landslide in Election Boycotted by Opposition (BIRN)
• Veseli: Kosovo Army, best argument for those that deny success (media)
• North Macedonia President: Kosovo-Serbia deal would help the region (media)
• Pushing for Serbia-Kosovo Peace Deal, U.S. Roils Allies (NYT)