UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 28, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• SRSG Ziadeh meets Sarrazin, dialogue is only viable way forward (Express)
• Osmani certain Ukraine’s recognition will come with victory over Russia (Koha)
• State Department: Talks on the CBK regulation must continue urgently (RFE)
• U.S. disappointed with no progress on implementation of Basic Agreement (Koha)
• German Embassy: Kosovo to make next step, form Association (Koha)
• UNDP publishes Public Pulse Brief, “decreased satisfaction with leaders” (media)
• CBK high delegation holds meeting at Kosovo embassy in Brussels (media)
• Bislimi meets Sarrazin, calls for lifting of EU measures (media)
• Konjufca meets delegation of the German Bundestag Defense Committee (media)
• Zubin Potok mayor: We don’t rule out possibility of tensions in Zvecan (media)
• UNICEF, EU publish study of children in street situations in Kosovo (media)
• Bislimi meets United Nations Office for Project Services representative (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic from the Tirana Summit: Important topics ahead, and a conversation with Zelensky (RTS)
• “We haven’t faced our own crimes“ (KoSSev)
• Youth in Strpce employed through programme My First Salary gathered in front of post office hoping to withdraw their salaries (Kosovo Online)
• Queues in front of Zvecan Postal Saving Bank office, citizens say they feel endangered (Kosovo Online)
• Surlic: Brussels meeting showed that there is no dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (Tanjug)
• ODIHR report on Serbian December 17 elections (N1)
• Brnabic: ODIHR recommendations show elections were fair, democratic (Tanjug)
• Lazovic: ODIHR report is just what Serbian opposition expected (N1, BETA)
• Tepic: ODIHR final report confirms election fraud (N1)
• Belgrade, Pristina dialogue without progress; this year crucial to preserve peace and security (Kosovo Online)
• Konrad: EU has pressure mechanisms, but Belgrade and Pristina must reach solution (Kosovo Online)
• Members of German Bundestag visit Visoki Decani Monastery (KoSSev)
• Without Kosovo Serbs living dignified lives, there can be no peace and stability in the Western Balkans (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Separate Kitchen, Private Gym – Life Behind Bars Comes with Perks for Albania’s VIP Prisoners (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

Lajcak indicates more meetings, “many political questions remain unanswered” (media)
Ismaili: We didn’t negotiate regulation; it is in force and does not change (Koha)
CBK says new regulation was not contested (media)
Agreement reached a year ago not implemented, EU considers both parties responsible (Koha)
Osmani: We remain united in our support for Ukraine (RTK)
Sarrazin and Ahmeti discuss Kosovo's membership in CoE (media)
Krasniqi and Abdixhiku meet German emissary, make requests and promises (Kallxo)
Britain requests from Kosovo and Serbia to implement agreements (Koha)
KFOR: Bondsteel, main pillar of mission throughout Kosovo (media)
EU to present soon mandatory roadmap for implementation of Basic Agreement as condition for integration of Kosovo and Serbia (Albanian Post)
RTK publishes video showing Radoicic punching Serb (media)
Kamberi: No peace in Balkans without Kosovo-Serbia normalization (Kosovapress)
Janjic says CBK regulation is legal (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Petkovic: Belgrade demonstrated full commitment, solution at political level a must (Tanjug)
Lajcak: Many political questions remain unanswered, additional meetings needed (Tanjug, media)
Milivojevic: Results in Brussels expected, Pristina is not for progress in dialogue (Kosovo Online, RTV)
Serbian politicians from north meets Sarrazin, criticize attitude of Kurti towards Serbs, demand reaction from international community (KoSSev)
Poll: One year after EU agreement, majority of respondents say things have changed for worse (KoSSev)
Stano: Kosovo and Serbia will not progress towards EU unless they implement agreements (Kosovo Online, RFE)
Dacic receives his Central African Republic's counterpart Baipo-Temon (media)
Serbia Against Violence refuses consultations with President Vucic (N1)
Vucic to attend Ukraine-SEE summit in Tirana (Tanjug)

Albanian Language Media:

• Bislimi: Serbia is refusing to sign and implement the Basic Agreement (media)
• Why did the Dinar spark Kosovo-US tension? (Atlantic Council)
• Gerxhaliu on the Dinar: Biggest gift for Serbia, it speeds up the Association (EO)
• EULEX: Security situation in the north is stable but fragile (Gazeta Blic)
• U.S. European Command on meeting with Maqedonci (media)
• Svecla meets head of Institute of Crimes committed during War in Kosovo (EO)
• Maqedonci: Kosovo alongside UK continues to train Ukrainian recruits (media)
• Kastrati: Ready for census; online registration system for diaspora (media)
• Kusari welcomes European Parliament’s adoption of anti-SLAPP directive (media)
• Osmani: We are grateful for Turkiye’s enduring support (media)
• Sandulovic to Lajcak: You were silent about my assassination attempt (media)
• 16 anniversary of Kosovo independence to be celebrated in Belgrade today (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Momir Stojanovic elected the new president of the Serbian National Council in KiM (Blic, N1, media)
• Members of KFOR in Prizren threatened, the police arrested one person (N1, KoSSev, Kallxo)
• Workers of Jumkos in Z.Potok, Kindergarten teachers in Leposavic, Roma in Gracanica, in front of Postal Savings Bank branches (Kosovo Online, KiM radio)
• Petrovic and Obrenovic admitted their guilt for participating in the conflict in Zvecan (KiM radio)
• Attorney Arsic: The Prosecution did not provide strong material evidence for Djokovic's guilt (Kosovo Online)
• Mijacic: The last year's agreement expected to calm the tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, but it didn't happen (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Zarkovic: Don’t Ignore the Real Causes of Kosovo Serbs’ Population Decline (BIRN)

International:

• Turkish Women's Cup 2024 football: India finish runners-up after late heartbreak against Kosovo (olympics.com)
• BIRN Crew Attacked While Covering Church-Building Initiative in Kosovo (BIRN)
• Serbia Investigates Allegations of Police Assault on Two LGBT People (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti signs MoU with EBRD for €400 mil in investment funding (media)
• CBK leaders to represent Kosovo at meeting on Serbian Dinar in Brussels (media)
• Hoti: Government didn’t want agreement with allies in Pristina (media)
• Citaku: Instead with allies, our institutions coordinating with Belgrade (media)
• Buland hosts US – Kosovo bilateral defense consultations (media)
• KFOR: We don’t interfere with freedom of movement of individuals (media)
• Gervalla meets Hovenier, discuss efforts to strengthen security, stability (media)
• Ukrainian MP message for Kosovo: Arm yourself, no one will defend you (media)
• “Radoicic brutally beats opponents” (RTK)
Serbian Language Media:
• Trend Analysis: The majority of surveyed Serbs concerned about security (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• The Office for KiM: The auxiliary building on the property of a returnee near Klina set on fire (RTS)
• SL: The international community must prevent the expulsion of the Serbs from their ancestral homes (Kosovo Online)
• KFOR denies that it forbade certain Pristina officials to visit the North (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• Vucic, Sarrazin discuss upcoming Brussels meeting, situation in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Brnabic at Western Balkans Investment Summit (N1)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: EU is our trade partner; don’t want to cooperate with Russia (RFE)
• Osmani: Women, Peace, and Security Forum in Pristina on April 15-16 (media)
• Borrell: Meetings with Kurti and Vucic in Munich were unsuccessful (RFE)
• CBK confirms it will attend “informative meeting” in Brussels (Nacionale)
• EU confirms Kosovo and Serbia to attend meeting on Dinar in Brussels (RFE)
• Osmani to represent Kosovo at summit for Ukraine in Tirana on Wednesday (Klan)
• AAK wants assembly debate on health insurances, healthcare system (media)
• “Five months after Banjska, no indictment against Radoicic yet” (media)
• Kamberi: We don’t want posts; we want more rights for Albanians (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Continuation of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina: Both sides confirmed participation (FoNet, N1)
• The Office for KiM: The attack on the SOC priest in Prizren a direct consequence of tolerating hatred (NMagazin, Beta, Danas)
• Consultations for the new prime minister have begun with Vucic (NMagazin, Beta, media)
• Dacic: No one has the right to teach Serbia what kind of foreign policy to pursue (Beta, NMagazin, Danas, TV Pink)
• N1 learns unofficially: ODIHR report on December elections on Monday in the government of Serbia (NMagazin, Beta)
• Stojanovic: With abolishment of the dinar an attempt made to abolish the entire system that functions in Kosovo (KiM radio)
• EULEX still patrolling in front and around municipal buildings in the North, the situation stable but still fragile (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Xi's visit to Serbia confirmed for this year (Tanjug)
• "We expect more decisive action from the international community": Dacic at the UN about the Serbs in Kosovo (N1, Beta, KiM radio)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: One year after ‘agreement’, Kosovo, Serbia further from reconciliation (Koha)

International:

• Kosovo Artist Turns Post-War Labour Inequalities Into Sculpture at Venice Biennale (BIRN)
• ‘Not an Utopia’: Talat Xhaferi Outlines His Election as North Macedonia’s First Ethnic Albanian PM (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:
• After KFOR withdrawal, Kosovo Police in front of municipality of Zvecan (media)
• Kosovo rejects political representation at meeting on Dinar in Brussels (Koha)
• PDK: Kurti made CBK regulation a topic in the dialogue (Kosovapress)
• Vetevendosje: Hundreds of facts for Banjska attack, still no indictment (media)
• Serb businessmen complain about economic conditions in Kosovo (RFE)
• Unknown persons set Kosovo flag on fire in Zvecan (media)
• Police find drug lab in Leposavic, suspect arrested in Jarinje (Kosovapress)
• Osmani in Qatar: Economic diplomacy in action! (media)
• Geerts: Certain Kosovo will become a member of Council of Europe ASAP (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Petkovic leads the Belgrade delegation at the new round of dialogue in Brussels (KiM radio, Tanjug)
• A priest physically attacked in the center of Prizren; the suspect detained (Radio Gorazdevac, Kosovo Online, media)
• Eparchy of Raska-Prizren condemned the attack on a priest in Prizren (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• Vokrri on the V. Decani's land: The CC made a mistake, the decision cannot be "cruelly implemented", needed a dialogue with the SOC (KoSSev, Slobodno Srpski)
• KFOR members withdrawn from securing the Zvecan municipality building (KiM radio)
• Knife threats and harassment of Serbian boys in Laplje Selo (RTS, Kontakt plus radio, Kosovo Online, media)
• Office for KiM: The attack on Serbian young men direct consequence of the politics of hatred generated daily by Pristina (Danas, FoNet)
• Impressions from the north: “Terribly scared and disappointed people, who talk about leaving, but they are also an opportunity in and of themselves” (KoSSev, N1)
• REKOM: Region far from truth and reconciliation (KoSSev)
• Serbia’s PM rejects a possibility of international investigation into December 17 elections (N1, FoNet)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 23, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: When removal of mayors is confirmed, I’ll set election date (media)
• Osmani: Women are the axis of the history of the people of Kosovo (RTK)
• Konjufca: Greater involvement of women in politics is needed (Klan Kosova)
• Citaku: Kurti creating crises with allies to cover up government scandals (media)
• Defence Ministry: We’re waiting for American offer for Javelin missiles (Express)
• Sandulovic: I experienced hell; I was close to ending up like Navalny (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Health workers in Gracanica: Our livelihoods in danger, patients particularly at risk (Kosovo Online)
• Queues in Mitrovica North, persons with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities wait for payments (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic says USA wants Serbia as a key partner, but under one condition (Danas, Kosovo Online)
• Starovic: Situation in Kosovo complex, it is high time for reaction of international community to follow (RTS)
• Petrich: Unacceptable rejection of talks, Pristina put the EU in a difficult position (Kosovo Online)
• The Serbian flag removed from the Zvecan fortress (Beta, NMagazin, KoSSev)
• Thieves shot at returnee in Bica in attempt to steal his sheep (Radio KIM)
• Threats, attacks, pressure: State of media freedom in Serbia has not improved (N1)
• Sutanovac: “Rama feels the need to show he's a greater Albanian than Kurti” (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Two Years On, Balkan States Remain Divided Over Ukraine War (BIRN)
• Does the EU Growth Plan provide anything new for Western Balkans countries? (Kosovo 2.0)

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani and Hovenier discuss transition plan for CBK regulation (RTK)
Kurti met Ambassador Al Dosari, discussed Kosovo-Qatar cooperation (media)
Kurti's adviser to Stano: Implementation of Basic Agreement, priority (RTK)
Lajcak in Rome, talks about dialogue (RTK)
Maqedonci: Attack in Banjska, also influenced by Russian secret service (Klan)
Government to prepare citizens for protection and security (A2 CNN)
Qerkini: Specialized Chambers, the only that keeps most of sessions closed (RTK)
PIPOS poll: LVV 40.9%, close race between LDK and PDK for second place (Klan)
LVV MP Rrahmani did not vote draft law on reproductive health (media)
Tahiri: LVV coordinated and in direct connection with Radoicic (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

Queues at Jarinje crossing point yesterday evening (KoSSev)
After CBK’s decision: In search for dinar (Radio kontakt plus, Radio KIM)
Maliqi: CBK decision without coordination with partners – a mistake (Kosovo Online)
EU calls for respecting IMC independence, elimination of politically motivated interference (KoSSev)
Vucic, Chinese Ambassador discuss strong momentum in bilateral ties (Tanjug)
Vucevic with AIPAC representatives: Irrational decisions by Pristina worsen security situation (Kosovo Online)

International Media: 

Former Kosovo Guerrilla Officer Bolsters Defence Case in Hague Trial (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Stano confirms meeting on dinar issue on February 27 (media)
• Municipal elections in north flowing according to administrative instructions (ekonomia)
• Tahiri: We do not vote on international agreements, we aim to send country to elections (media)
• Krasniqi asks Szunyog and Guerot to lift sanctioning measures (Albanian Post)
• Lawyer Arsic contests CBK Regulation in Constitutional Court (Koha)
• Second meeting of Partnership Council between Kosovo and United Kingdom, held (Klan)
• "Share the Equality" awareness campaign advocating employment of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians, launched (Reporteri)
• Bujar Osmani, DUI's candidate for president of North Macedonia (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lines of people to withdraw dinars in Kosovo also today; all categories affected (RTS)
• Radojevic: Tens of thousands of people left without wages, pensions (Tanjug)
• Stano on planned meeting in Brussels, Bislimi’s remarks (Kosovo Online, RFE)
• Andric Rakic: If Pristina continues to refuse talks, Kosovo will be discussed more often in Security Council (Kosovo Online)
• Hasani: Serbian lawyers right about the abolition of the dinar issue, but the Constitutional Court not the place for such an appeal (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic receives new Portuguese ambassador (Tanjug)

International:

• Kosovo's Serbs hit by lines, limited withdrawals after currency ban (AFP)

Albanian Language Media:
• Bislimi: 10 measures for transitional phase of regulation enforcement (media)
• Kosovo rejects EU invitation to discuss the Serbian Dinar in dialogue (media)
• Rasic not against the CBK regulation; “I’m worried about the timeline” (media)
• COMKFOR and EU ambassadors discuss range of topics (media)
• EULEX chief: Situation in north can easily deteriorate (media)
• Schallenberg meets Gervalla; dialogue key to unlocking EU’s doors (media)
• Threats against Kurti during recent stay in Skopje confirmed (RTK)
• Ahmeti: Association will have executive competencies (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Bislimi: ''I received an invitation from the EU about the dinar - I will not go, it is not a topic for dialogue with the chief negotiator (KoSSev, KiM Radio, media)
• Djoric: GoK decisions not in favor of the Serbs; Radosavljevic: A solution can be found; Rasic about quick return to cities (KiM radio)
• Concerns grow as citizens in Kosovo cannot fully withdraw wages, pensions and social benefits issued by Serbia (KoSSev)
• There was no labeling of NGOs, the message was for Lajcak, says Bislimi (KiM radio)
• Stano: EU expects Serbia to implement ODIHR recommendations (N1, nova.rs)
• Brnabic: We will never accept international investigation into elections (Beta, N1)