UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 14, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Ismaili: CBK regulation has not banned any currency (RTK)
• Murati on CBK regulation: Belgrade propaganda creating confusion (Klan)
• Kurti meets Davenport, discuss transition phase for CBK regulation (media)
• Kurti only words of praise for his government on 3rd anniversary of victory (Koha)
• Bajrami: Because of Kurti, U.S. questioning partnership with Kosovo (media)
• Serwer: EU, U.S. were wrong to appease Serbia and punish Kosovo (Kallxo)
• Kanin: Kurti’s actions make everyone forget about Banjska (RFE)
• Ex UNMIK chief: Kosovo Serbs, hostage of Belgrade destabilizing policies (media)
• “Darling, you’ve failed” – LDK with symbolic action in front of govt building (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• NATO SG urges all sides in Western Balkans to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric and actions (Tanjug)
• Yet another shipment of dinars for Kosovo stopped at Jarinje (RTS)
• Serbian List meets French MEPs (Kosovo Online)
• Biden congratulates Vucic and the Serbian people the Statehood Day (NMagazin, Beta, media)
• Exhibitions, events to mark Serbian Statehood Day (N1)
• Vucic meets Russian Ambassador Botsan-Kharchenko (Tanjug)
• Nova: Marko Djuric the new head of diplomacy? (Danas, FoNet)
• Djuric: US companies condemn Pristina's blockade of Serbian goods (Kosovo Online)
• Ugljanin: There are no flyers calling for violence against Kosovo police on streets of Mitrovica, my statement was misinterpreted (Danas)
• Lucic: Signal for users in northern Kosovo to be restored today, criminal complaint against Hetemi filed (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Advertising inequality (Kosovo 2.0)
• New Gas Supplies For the Western Balkans Facilitates a Geopolitical Game Rather Than the Green Energy Transition (visegradinsight.eu)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: There is risk of new attacks (Koha)
European Parliament starts formalization of growth plan for Western Balkans (media)
O'Brien: We will not treat Kosovo government as partner if we are not treated the same (VoA)
Rohde: Kosovo and Serbia have satisfied local audience, but they have not come close to common goal such as EU (media)
Kurti's adviser to Rohde: Serbia is rejecting and fighting signing of agreement (media)
Osmani: Ambassador Abbott supported many important causes for Kosovar society (Klan)
Abdixhiku meets Hovenier: Coordination serves advancement of national interest (Klan)
Brush: Vucic's self-perception as president of 'Serbian world' does not contribute to dialogue(Reporteri)
Police on leaflets distributed in the north: It is not serious threat (Koha)
Croatian PM on Banjska attack: Kosovo-Serbia war almost started (Reporteri)
Sandulovic after CBK decision: Radoicic, Veselinovic, Rakiqi and other criminals will no longer get rich (Reporteri)
OSCE: Draft law on IMC should not have restrictions and unfair influence on media (RFE)
The New York senator proposes a resolution for February 17 (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

O'Brien’s message to Pristina: If you do not treat us as partner, we won’t treat you as a partner either (Kosovo Online, KoSSev, media)
Petkovic: If Kurti truly cared about peace, he would first form Community of Serbian Municipalities (Kosovo Online, media)
Members of National Convent on EU and Serbs from Kosovo visit Brussels to discuss challenges of Serb community (media, social media)
MTS.doo team prevented to repair malfunction at Leposavic municipal building roof (Kosovo Online)
Telekom Serbia director general announced filing criminal charges against Leposavic mayor (media)
Radakovic: Kurti is buying time; three months insufficient for solution (Kosovo Online)
Derikravic went on hunger strike, demands Tax Office return more than 310,000 euros he claims were illegally seized (KoSSev)
“When Kosovo Cadastral Agency changes your identity, gender and origin“ (KoSSev, N1, Radio KIM)
Dacic receives new Slovak Ambassador (Tanjug)
Vucic: Time has come to establish large movement for people and state (Tanjug)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Vucic wants to leave open the possibility of invading Kosovo (media)
• State Department: Kosovo can continue procedures to purchase Javelins (Klan)
• New pamphlets in north, police initiate case for call to resistance (Koha)
• Uglanin: Pamphlets calling for resistance, threat to population (Telegrafi)
• EU: IMC draft law should not negative effect on media freedom (RFE)
• "Postponed prohibition" of dinar, Rohde surprised "how deadlines are given without a plan?"(Nacionale)
• Gjoshi: CBK has become a shelter of Kurti’s militants (media)
• Shala: Situation in north can escalate; protest led by Belgrade-backed SL (EO)

Serbian Language Media:

• Elek: Kurti’s goal is to displace Serbs, I hope reason will prevail (Radio KIM)
• Gogic: CBK measures are phrases, they won’t ensure stable flow of funds to Serbs and Serbian institutions (Kosovo Online)
• Escobar: Unilateral moves in Kosovo will have consequences (Tanjug, RTS, KiM radio)
• Hill: We were clear about the concerns regarding the dinar ban (Tanjug, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Leaflets for “resistance to Kurti’s police” allegedly appeared in Mitrovica North (KoSSev)
• How will elections in the USA affect Serbia? (Danas, FoNet, ipese.rs)
• Szijjarto: Serbia ready to join EU tomorrow, membership not to be conditioned with Kosovo issue (Kosovo Online, Insajder)
• Livadice victims' commemoration on Friday (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, radio Mitrovica sever)
Opinion:
• How a German journalist misinterprets unrelated facts: Dragutin Nenezic’s answer to Mihael Martens (Danas)

International:

• Former Allies Argue Over Prishtina Coalition Crisis (Prishtina Insight)
• As Serbian Journalist’s Murder Goes Unpunished, Verdict Comes Under Scrutiny (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani meets German ambassador, talk also about implementation of CBK regulation (Klan)
CBK's 10-point plan for the dinar that must be implemented within three months (Express)
Governor Ismaili: CBK has not postponed deadline for implementation of Regulation (TV Dukagjini)
Abbott: CBK regulation should not be seen only as a matter of sovereignty (Koha)
Government and opposition worried about situation in north (Koha)
KFOR observed protest in north, says it was peaceful (media)
New organization appears in north, instructs citizens how to oppose police (Koha)
Maqedonci: Equipment of KSF with Javelin, a fait accompli- waiting for USA offer (Klan)
Visiting restrictions for Thaci and others lifted (Koha)
Measure for employment of citizens in four northern municipalities, launched (media)
Haradinaj meets Hovenier, talk about political developments in Kosovo (media)
Krasniqi meets Danish minister, discuss developments in Kosovo (media)
Abdixiku: Kosovo is collective hostage to symbolic populism, people are leaving (Albanian Post)
Tirana hosts the EU-Western Balkans roundtable on the growth plan (RTK)
Kervan and Ahmetxhekaj discuss community programs at RTK (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian List calls on citizens not to fall for provocations of alleged "People's Defense" (Kosovo Online, N1, BETA)
Problems pileup but solutions are not at sight (N1)
Bishop Teodosije: Many are turning away from Serbs; there is danger of disappearing from these areas (Kosovo Online)
Abott meets Konjufca, discuss CBK decision as well (media, social media)
CBK issues instructions for implementation of cash regulations (N1, KoSSev)
Djuric on transition period of CBK decision on dinar (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, media)
KFOR Multinational Specialized Unit conducted security patrol at margins of protest in Mitrovica North (Kosovo Online, social media)

International Media:

Kosovo Serbs Protest Euro-Only Policy as Bank Offers Transition Period (Balkan Insight)
Trend of Albanian Women Suicides Caused by Men ‘Worrying’, Experts Say (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti to Bloomberg: Euro rules won’t be reversed (media)
• Prime Minister Kurti travels to United Kingdom (media)
• Kosovo Police initiate case for new graffiti in the north (Koha)
• Rrahmani on the Dinar: Every action must be in agreement with U.S. (Gazeta Blic)
• Serbs protest: Cancel the decision on dinar (media)
• 108 million euros used for armament of KSF during 2023 (media)
• Journalists’ Association condemn threatening messages against reporter (media)
• Lack of progress in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, one of main challenges of EU Growth Plan (Albanian Post)
• Hoti: Data from 2023 budget report create impression that there is no master of house (media)
• Tahiri: PDK to propose establishment of two Inquiry Parliamentary Commissions (media)
• Tahiri: The average salary in the public sector should be 1000 euros (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbs protest in Mitrovica North: CBK’s decision means end of life for Serbian people (Kosovo Online, N1, media)
• Kurti on 17th anniversary of demonstrations against Ahtisaari: We rightly opposed mono-ethnic concessions (KoSSev)
• Arsenijevic: The more Kurti speaks in Serbian; the more Serbs get beaten (Danas)
• “People are frustrated, situation on the brink of survival” – Atmosphere ahead of protest in Mitrovica North (N1)
• Serbian National Council (SNV) supported protest in North Mitrovica (Danas, KiM radio)
• President of Trade Union of Private Sector: 140,000 workers have left Kosovo since visa liberalization (Kontakt plus, N1, FoNet)
• Orban: ‘I’m afraid we’ll lose Serbia, it is key for entire EU’ (N1)
• Vucic: Serbia, Greece have always supported each other's territorial integrity (Tanjug)
• Mitsotakis: Our position on Kosovo unchanged, dialogue only path (Tanjug)
• Dacic speaks by phone with FMs of Romania, Spain, Cyprus (Tanjug)
• North Macedonia rejects allegations from Pristina regarding Kurti’s assassination (N1, BETA, media)

International:

• ‘Kurti Hates The United Nations,’ Declares President Vucic In Interview (The Pavlovic Today)

Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti with video address for Serb community in the issue of the Dinar (media)
• Central Bank: The Dinar has not been banned (media)
• New graffiti signed by Northern Brigade in the north of Kosovo (media)
• Protest for Dinar can escalate the situation, municipal officials say (Koha)
• Serwer: Serbia is the problem, Serbs the solution (media)
• Biserko: Vucic under pressure, especially because of Banjska (media)
• Seven persons investigated for maintaining illegal structures in Dukagjin (media)
• Osmani congratulates new President of Finland (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Petkovic: The Serbs in Kosovo will not accept 'meaningless lies' and propaganda of Albin Kurti (Tanjug)
• Pensioners in the north of Kosovo call for a public rally, SL shares its support (KoSSev, TV Most)
• Diocese: We have a duty to raise our voice against terror; appeal to Serbs to show courage, national unity, and patience (KoSSev)
• NGOs respond to statements by Albin Kurti's party (media)
• Derikravic announced a hunger strike, demanding that TAK return more than 310,000 euros of “illegally seized VAT” (KoSSev)
• How many more times residents of Miroce village must seek intervention? (KoSSev)
• New graffiti in the north: “When the army returns to Kosovo, the Northern Brigade lives” (KoSSev)
• Seven Serbs under investigation after the closure of the PA of the municipalities of Pec, Klina and Istok (Kosovo Online)
• After the Security Council session (KoSSev)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 9, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• CBK launches the toll-free line for citizens 0800 222-55 (media)
• Prime Minister Kurti’s address at the UN Security Council session (media)
• Zulfaj: Kurti asked for the fourth time for the agreements to be signed (media)
• Kadiu: Broadcast in Serbia stopped when Kurti started his speech (media)
• Rama: A pointless session of the UN Security Council (media)
• PDK: Kurti’s wrong policy made western powers agree with Russia, China (Koha)
• Hoti: Last night for first time allies criticized us at a UNSC session (media)
• Kupchan: Kurti and Vucic are making solution difficult by playing nationalist cards (RFE)
• Rohde calls for a four-month transition phase for dinar prohibition (RTK)
• Ramadani: U.S. named group that attacked on September 24 as paramilitary (RTK)
• WB security discussed between Kosovo MPs and German delegation (Koha)
• Juratovic: Serbs manipulated by Kosovo and Serbia, Vucic under tension (Ekonomia)
• OSCE: Resignation of Serb judges and prosecutors, setback for justice system (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• CBK opened ‘toll-free line’ for Serbs to get informed about regulation, but we were unable to get a line (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Serbia spoke with facts about problems in Kosovo, Kurti responded with personal insults (Kosovo Online, media)
• Elek: Vucic pointed out everything Kurti does to our people in Kosovo (Danas, Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic: Thursday's UNSC session historic, truth about Kosovo was heard (Tanjug)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: UNSC session a glimpse of hope (Tanjug)
• Szunyog: EU expects that Pristina does more on de-escalation and implementation of agreements (Tanjug)
• Rohde: Kosovo Government to postpone CBK for four months (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Abbott: CBK regulation unilateral and harmful action (Kosovo Online)
• Member of Serbian Gendarmerie arrested at Jarinje (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Kosovo Looks to Commercial Banks to Enable its Euro-Only Rule (Balkan Insight)
• Hoti: Momentum for Kosovo-Serbia Agreement Has been Lost (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• UN Security Council session on situation in Kosovo (media)
• Gashi: Banjska showed Serbia orchestrated, and funded the attack (Paparaci)
• Bislimi meets MPs from German Bundestag (media)
• Serbian reporter Radomir Dimic arrives in Kosovo (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Albanian Language Media:

• UN Security Council to discuss Kosovo today following Serbia’s request (Koha)
• Kurti travels to U.S., expected to take part in UNSC session on Kosovo (media)
• Tahiri: Partners earlier advised us for PM or President not to go to UNSC (Express)
• Citaku criticizes Kurti for issue of Dinar being discussed at UNSC (media)
• Konjufca: Serbia used the Dinar to blackmail the Kosovo Serbs (Koha)
• Muja: Don’t expect Dinar issue to threaten Kosovo’s partnership with allies (KTV)
• “Romas in north can be blackmailed via uncontrolled entrance of Dinar” (Koha)
• Serbian List MPs return to Assembly to ensure continuation of mandates (media)
• “The fabricated exodus’ of Serbs from Kosovo (Deutsche Welle in Albanian/FAZ)
• Aliu: Contract signed to expand and finalize Pristina-Mitrovica road (Koha)
• KFOR MSU conducts live firing exercise (media)
• Svecla: Kosovo’s security is challenged by Russia’s satellite, Serbia (RTK)
• Danish Justice Minister to visit Kosovo on February 12-13 (Klan Kosova)
• Bregu launches new platform of Regional Cooperation Council in Pristina (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian List writes to Quint, requests prevention of Serbian people exodus from Kosovo (Tanjug)
• CSOs: Blatant violation of media freedoms and direct attack on civil society (Radio KIM)
• NBS: Commercial Bank was forced to close branch office in Mitrovica because of pressure (KoSSev)
• Gogic: It is only matter of time when Pristina will go against schools and hospitals (Kosovo Online)
• Andric Rakic: Kurti is intimidating Serbs with his moves, West can prevent that, but it balances (Kosovo Online)
• Jevtic says KSF member who shot at Serbian children on Christmas Eve pressed lawsuit against him (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Serbian products expelled from the shelves in the north of Kosovo, Mitrovica residents say they "live like in a ghetto" (N1)
• Deputies of the Serbian List at the session of the Kosovo Parliament in order not to lose their mandates (NMagazin, Beta)
• Office for KiM: Fire in Odanovce village most probably planted, pressure continues (Tanjug)
• Serbian List: About a dozen Serbian families in the village of Odanovce attacked by arsonists (Kosovo Online)
• European Court of Auditors wants better protection for growth plan (N1)
• European Parliament adopts Resolution on Serbian elections (N1)

International:

• ‘Stability is fragile’: An overlooked European conflict zone is at a tipping point between peace and combat (CNBC)
• Sandulovic: I was beaten by 10 persons, Radoicic was present (Euronews Albania)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Dinar is not banned but euro is legal currency (AFP, media)
Bislimi: Serbia intends to create artificial tension (RTK)
Murati: We cannot allow billions of Serbian dinars to enter without authorization (Koha)
Customs: We do not allow importation of dinars without CBK’s authorization (RTK)
Pisonero: Dialogue framework is clear, Kosovo and Serbia know their obligations (media)
German minister answers to Vucic about why Germany is arming Kosovo (Koha)
Rohde: We have special relationship with Kosovo, friends like us should be listened to (Reporteri)
Gervalla in Italy: Kosovo is ready for CoE membership (RTK)
Haxhiu meets with British Minister of Justice, support for Kosovo reconfirmed (RTK)
Serwer: Pristina authorities should be more careful with Serbs (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

Dacic: The UN SC session an opportunity for Serbia to present its arguments, pressure on Guyana (Tanjug)
Office for KiM: Continuing harassment and intimidation of Serbs in Gorazdevac (Tanjug, Danas, Radio Mitrovica sever)
Serbian List: Kurti does not give up intimidation; the international community must react more harshly (Tanjug, KiM radio)
Radio Gorazdevac: Action by KP in Gorazdevac Post of Serbia, one computer seized (KoSSev)
NBS to N1: Pristina turned away Dinar cash transport (N1)
Vucic to Pistorius: ready to accept OSCE/ODIHR recommendations (N1)
Petkovic said the stopped NBS vehicle at Jarinje was another attack by Kurti on the Serbs (Tanjug, media)
Zaklin Nastic: Pristina authorities trying to expel the few Serbs who remained in Kosovo (Tanjug, Adria, Kosovo Online)

International Media:

Kosovo anticipates reviving ties with Serbia in 2024: Kurti (dailysabah.com, AFP)
Running Through Fear: Kosovar Women Jog In Groups For Safety (RFE)
Serbia Denies Budget Discrimination Against Albanian Minority (Balkan Insight)