UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 7, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Stano: Kosovo risks lagging in EU path because of unilateral actions (media)
• Central Bank Governor meets Minister for Communities and Returns (media)
• Rasic on CBK regulation: We are in a period of transition (RFE)
• Qalaj: Svecla is making a mistake by taking part in police actions (Indeksonline)
• Kurti meets Director of Open Society Roma for Europe, Zeljko Jovanovic (media)
• Bislimi on IMC draft law: It increases transparency of media ownership (Koha)
• Prelec: It is likely Kosovo will form an empty Association or none (RFE)
• Dimic to Kurti: I’m returning to Kosovo; Vucic’s dictatorship intolerable (RTK)
• Serbia fears documentary novel about crimes in Kosovo (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

Dacic: I received information that UNSC session will be open to public, President Vucic to attend (Tanjug, RTS, media)
First shipment of dinars following CBK decision banned from entering Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
Serbian Democracy calls upon EU to establish Fund in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
China Ambassador Li Ming: The issue of Kosovo should be resolved through dialogue (RTS)
Hovenier: Reactions of Kosovo authorities have direct impact on quality of our partnership (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
Pistorius: I am concerned, Germany has been sending additional forces to Kosovo since April (Blic, Kosovo Online, media)
Sentic: Serbs in Kosovo deprived of basic rights, existence, and dignity (Kosovo Online)
Gogic: Pristina closes down Serbian institutions, and does nothing to return Serbs in institutions in the north (N1, Kosovo Online)
10 years of KoSSev: Awards to Milivoje Mihajlović and posthumously to Belul Beqaj 
Brnabic: Draft EP resolution contains no arguments (Tanjug)

International:

Kosovo Allows Consumers to Terminate Contracts with Cable Operators Escaping Penalties (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:
• Ziadeh: Restraint and constructive engagement to resolve outstanding issues (media)
• Kurti: Transition period needed for regulation on cash payment operations (media)
• Hovenier: Kosovo government should postpone enforcement of regulation (media)
• UN Security Council to hold session on Kosovo on Thursday (media)
• Rohde: We’re not criticizing the regulation, but the manner of enforcement (media)
• Abbott: A transition period is needed for the Dinar (media)
• Von Cramon: Current decision on Dinar came very unexpected (Gazeta Express)
• Belgian Presidency of EU Council: Implementation of agreements crucial to consider application (Koha)
• Bislimi reacts to Serbia cutting budget to Albanian National Council (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• UNMIK chief calls for resolving outstanding issues through dialogue (Tanjug, media)
• UNSC session on Kosovo to be held on Thursday (Kosovo Online)
• French Ambassador: Quint requests suspension of decision on dinar, establishment of ZSO (Tanjug)
• Zakharova reacts to Pristina’s decision on abolishing dinar (Tanjug, media)
• Rohde: We are not criticizing CBK decision, but manner of its implementation (Kosovo Online)
• SNF: Working meeting of Serb political representatives held in Mitrovica North (Radio KIM)
• Independent Media Commission to reinstate Arena sport channels (KoSSev)
• Signboard “Republic of Kosovo” placed on Zubin Potok municipal building (KoSSev, N1, media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Enforcement of regulation only through accounts in Kosovo banks (RFE)
• Is the Association becoming meaningless? (Radio Free Europe)
• Roth: Serious doubts about EU and US strategy to deescalate (Albanian Post)
• Rizvanolli: Investments in Trepca will be a priority (Gazeta 10)
• Kurti: Measures that are launched will boost economic growth (RTK)
• Court postpones execution of decision on property exchange (Koha)
• D4D: Media in Serbia publish news about public persons in Kosovo, Kosovo media translate them without verifying (EO)
• Unknown persons demolish machine for documents withdrawal in Zvecan (Koha)
• Serbian police again stop lawyer that laid flowers at Jasharaj cemetery (Express)
• Osmani wishes Charles III rapid and full recovery (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Gorazdevac residents: This has crossed all limits; we don't even have money for medicine (Kosovo Online, KiM radio, Radio Gorazdevac)
• Clinical Hospital Centre: Decision on dinar threatens to terminate medical treatment of Serbs, drive them out of Kosovo (Radio kontakt plus)
• Sarkovic on Kosovo police raid in Vidanje, Klina municipality (Kosovo Online)
• Milivojevic: If West prevents UNSC session it would mean they support Kurti’s policy (RTS)
• Vucic hands over letter for Chinese President Xi to Ambassador Li (Tanjug)
• Atiq: Call opened for reconstruction of houses for “non-majority communities” in Mitrovica North municipality (KoSSev)
• Trial to Svecla and others for throwing tear gas in Kosovo Assembly postponed (Kosovo Online)
• Serbia gets new Parliament (Tanjug, N1)
• Selimi: Kosovo Government with all its forces meddles in North Macedonia elections (media, social media)
• EP draft resolution calls for international investigation into Serbian elections (N1, media)

Opinion:

• Bogdanovic on the situation in Kosovo: "The only thing left is for them to take our lives" (N1, Danas, KiM radio)

International:

• ‘Worse Than Death’: Male Wartime Rape Survivors in Kosovo Speak Out (BIRN)
• Kosovo accused of raising ethnic tensions by banning use of Serbian dinar (The Guardian)
• ‘She is just a woman and that is brave enough’ (Kosovo 2.0)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti meets German Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius (RTK)
Kurti gathers accredited ambassadors in Kosovo, discuss CBK Regulation (media)
Kurti handed to ambassadors documents to present factual situation (media)
Lajcak: I am closely following developments related to new CBK Regulation (media)
Kadiu to EU: Since when legality and constitutionality are worrying and contribute to escalation(Albanian Post)
Rama: Kosovo has right to implement Constitution (RTK)
Bislimi called again for removal of EU measures against Kosovo (Koha)
Gervalla presents Kosovo's successes to EU and WB ministers (RTK)
Germany to increase number of KFOR soldiers in coming months (Albanian Post)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: “Kurti is going for open ethnic cleansing of Serbs” (Kosovo Online, media)
Serbia submits request for extraordinary UNSC session over Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
Dacic: Request for urgent UNSC session due to overall situation in Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
UN received Serbia’s request to convene extraordinary UNSC session (Kosovo Online)
Dacic: We want EU integration, recognition of Kosovo unacceptable (media)
Rector Arsic: Abolishing dinar jeopardizes survival of University, but also of Serbs (Kosovo Online, KoSSev)
Lajcak: I am closely monitoring developments regarding CBK decision (Kosovo Online)
Indictment raised against two Serbs for hooliganism in northern Kosovo (N1, BETA, Kosovo Online, KoSSev)
German DefMin: Progress in Kosovo-Serbia relations needed (N1)

nternational Media:

Germany vows security support amid Kosovo-Serbia tensions (Deutsche Welle) 
Kosovo Court Acquits Serb of Wartime Assault (Balkan Insight)
Kosovo Prosecution only Partially Investigated the Over 53-Million-Euro Extra Payment for Motorway (Prishtina Insight)
Kosovo Government Faces Backlash Over Media Licensing Draft Law (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 5, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• German Defense Minister arrives in Kosovo (media)
• Osmani: CBK regulation is not against dinar and it does not mention it (media)
• Hovenier insists on postponing implementation of CBK regulation (media)
• Muja: No one is fueling the fire; some statements can be used for tensions (media)
• Kosovo citizens advised not to travel through Merdare (media)
• Feith: Kosovo should be careful, don't make mistakes (Reporteri)
• Konjufca: Serbia poses a danger to our region and beyond (media)
• Gervalla in Rome with Western Balkans foreign ministers (Albanian Post)
• Zlatan Arsic acquitted of war crime charges (Koha)
• Gervalla meets Belgian Ambassador, focus on political situation (media)
• CEC: Signatures for dismissal of mayors in the north are being verified (Koha)
• Police begin investigations into posters with Radoicic in the north (media)
• Serbian police continue to mistreat Nikola Sandulovic’s family (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Stano: Concern growing in EU due to decision of CBK and police operations against Serbian entities (N1)
• Brnabic on request for extraordinary session of UN SC: We will fight with all diplomatic means (Beta, NMagazin, TV Pink)
• Dacic: Kosovo and Metohija issue of paramount state and national interest of Serbia (Tanjug)
• Hovenier after meeting Kurti: We hope to see postponement of Central Bank decision (Kosovo Online)
• China: Unilateral Pristina’s actions do not lead toward resolution of Kosovo issue (Tanjug)
• Self-determination Movement lists their January successes including ban on dinar (KoSSev)
• Zlatan Arsic acquitted (RTS, N1)
• Lawyers: Zlatan Arsic is a free man (Kosovo Online)
• OSCE: It is of crucial importance that rights of Kosovo Serbs are fully respected (Kosovo Online, media)
• Rohde: Unilateral measures only add fuel to fire, opposite of reducing tensions (Kosovo Online, KoSSev, social media)
• Simic: Serbs in Kosovo frightened by silence of international community, statements are not enough (Beta, Danas, TV Pink)
• Grenell on German officials’ reactions to latest Pristina authorities acts (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Chinese Ambassador to Belgrade: Solve Kosovo issue without double standards (Beta, NMagazin, Politika, KiM radio)
• Haziri: Government increased national sentiment, reduced European one among citizens (Kosovo Online, VoA)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: Kosovo is asked not to do what it has the right to do (Koha)
• Serwer: How to counter the Serbian world (media)

International:

• Kosovo Euro Rule, Closure of Belgrade-Run Offices, Draw International Criticism (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• U.S., EU react to latest decisions by Kosovo authorities (media)
• Governor: This is a fight against money laundering and terrorism (Kallxo)
• German Defense Minister to visit Kosovo today (media)
• Kurti remembers Albanian civilians killed in Mitrovica North in 2000 (media)
• “Association current draft status creates room for Republika Srpska” (media)
• Kurti: First 100MW solar auction bidding process successful conclusion (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Displaced Serbs from Kosovo announced a three-hour blockade of the road in Rudare on Monday (euronews.rs, Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Serbs in Kosovo in a difficult situation; we ask for an urgent session of the UN SC (NMagazin, RTS, media)
• Tabakovic: Serbia cannot renounce the use of the dinar in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Vecernje Novosti, Blic)
• Serbian List: The Quint countries responsible for the moves that Albin Kurti makes without bearing the consequences (RTS)
• SNV again sent a request to Bishop Teodosije to schedule a national assembly (Danas, KiM radio, KoSSev)
• The Bishop of Raska-Prizren visited the Serbian people in Osojane to encourage them to stay (Tanjug, KiM radio)
• Dimitrijevic: The Pristina government destroying one of the last positive examples of coexistence (KoSSev)
• The new DSS adopts the Declaration on Kosovo, requests the state to declare the occupation of that part of the territory (Beta, NMagazin, RTS)
• Surlic: Amendments to Chapter 35 call dialogue and European integration into question (Tanjug)
• Office for KiM : "Post" workers detained in Gorazdevac, Kurti's terror against Serbs continues (Kosovo Online)
• Post of Serbia: The arrest of our workers in Kosovo another in a series of attacks on Serbs (NMagazin, Beta)
• KP: Seized 4,000,000 dinars from the Post of Serbia pending the decision of the CBK (Kosovo Online)
• The Post Office in Ugljare robbed (KiM radio)
• HLC: Arsic found guilty of expulsion, robbery, burning property, and no direct evidence was provided (KoSSev)
• Serbian List: Radoica Radomirovic placed posters (KiM radio)
• Posters against Radoicic and the SL in the north of Kosovo (Danas, KoSSev)
• Reactions to acquittals in Slavko Curuvija case (Beta, N1, nova.rs)
International Media:
• US Slams Kosovo for Unnecessarily Raising Ethnic Tensions (Bloomberg)
• EU Council Formally Asked To Insert Recent Kosovo Commitments Into Serbia's Accession Talks (RFE)
• ‘They hit me so hard I lost consciousness’: Serbian opposition politician tells of secret service ordeal (The Guardian)
• Rights Groups, U.S. Assail Serbian Court's Acquittal Of Ex-Intelligence Officers In 1999 Murder Of Journalist (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

• EC: No problem with regulation, but how it was done (Gazeta Express)
• Konjufca assures U.S. there won’t be unrest over Dinar decision (Kallxo)
• Court sentences Kosovo Serb to 13 years in prison for war crimes in 1999 (media)
• Police, prosecution with action against parallel structures in Peja region (media)
• IMC draft law seen as attack against news websites (Koha)
• AmCham: Kosovo to free itself from discourse of conflict and instability (RTK)
• Unknown persons removed table set up by Ministry in Zubin Potok (media)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo’s main objective is NATO membership (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Serbia demands a session of the Security Council, letters to the EU, Russia, and China on Monday (N1)
• The police harassed the team of Radio Gorazdevac (KiM radio, Radio Gorazdevac)
• Revolted by the police action, young people gathered in the center of Osojane (KiM radio)
• Serbian List: The raid of armed special forces in three Metohija municipalities another proof of ethnic cleansing (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)
• Office for KiM: Closure of Serbian municipalities in Metohija, continuation of ethnic cleansing and extermination of Serbs (Kosovo Online)
• After Pec and Istok, the police raided the premises of the Provisional Authority of the Municipality of Klina (Kosovo Online, Danas)
• Gorazdevac: KP raided the facility of the Provisional Authority of the Municipality of Pec (Kosovo Online, Radio Gorazdevac, media)
• Osojane: Kosovo Police special forces raided Provisional Authority of the Municipality of Istok, the post office and the ambulance (KiM radio, media)
• Dusko Arsic sentenced to 13 years in prison (RTS, media)
• Lawyer Vlajic: This verdict destroys everyone's hope of getting justice in Kosovo (KiM radio)
• Shahini: The government should respect the Kosovo Constitution, but also the Serbs who have dinar accounts (Kosovo Online)
• Andjelkovic (Serbian Democracy): Workers of Serbian companies in Kosovo cannot receive money in Kosovo banks (Danas)
• EC spokesperson: The solution for the dinar can be found within the dialogue led by the EU (N1)

Albanian Language Media:

U.S State Department urges postponement of decision to ban dinar (VoA) 
Osmani meets Hovenier, discuss latest developments (media) 
Hovenier: Kosovo risks facing ethnic tensions (media) 
Kurti meets Ambassador Ziv, talk about organizing an Economic Forum (Klan) 
Over 800 Serbs applied for Kosovo passport only in January (Express) 
Kurti dismisses adviser seen in party with parallel structures' officials (media) 
Kosovo urged to drop legal push to 'control online media' (Prishtina Insight) 
Illegal activity near Police seen as security concern (Koha) 

Serbian Language Media:

Hovenier: US concerned the dinar ban could escalate tensions (Beta, N1, KiM radio)
Serbian List with Hovenier regarding the last decision of Pristina (Radio Mitrovica sever)
More than 800 Serbs applied for Kosovo passports during January (N1, FoNet, Danas)
Drecun: Dinar ban one of toughest blows yet but Kurti will not stop there (Tanjug)
A ministerial duo visited Albanian houses under construction in Brdjani, workers tore down a billboard with the Serbian flag nearby (KoSSev)
Arsenijevic on the occasion of the visit of Kosovo ministers to North Mitrovica (Danas) 
The State Department calls on the GoK to immediately postpone the CBK's decision to abolish dinars (Kosovo Online, thepavlovictoday.com, media)
Andric Rakic: If the withdrawal of dinars is prevented, the cost of living for citizens will increase (Kosovo Online)

International Media:

Closed Hearings at Hague War Crimes Court ‘Heighten Mistrust’ in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Constitutionality, legality, decision-making are not negotiable (RTK)
• EU asks again Kosovo to resolve dinar issue through dialogue (Klan)
• Hoti: We didn’t get answer in Vienna why Serbia not opening archives (Klan)
• Svecla and Krasniqi in Mitrovica North : Serbia's threats do not scare us (Koha)
• Bislimi: EU should be driving force for Western Balkans as well (RTK)
• Gervalla in Germany, discusses cooperation in security field (RTK)
• Hamza: There are sufficient funds for defendants in the Hague (EO)
• Haradinaj at White House National Security Council (media)
• Ramadani: KFOR did not allow Krasniqi to enter Zvecan municipality on Monday (media)
• Serbian inscriptions on Albanian houses in Kroi i Vitakut neighborhood (RTK)
• Kosovo police remove billboard with Serbian flag in Kroi i Vitakut (Reporteri)
• Limaj on opposition: I don’t know if they want to keep Kurti in power (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Hill: The Ohrid Agreement does not imply that Serbia recognizes Kosovo (N1, NMagazin, Beta, Bujanovacke)
• Vucic to address public tomorrow (Danas, RTS, media)
• Vucic: I informed Botsan-Kharchenko about Pristina's latest unilateral move (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Kurti's decision to ban dinar undermines dialogue (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, TV Pink)
• National Bank of Serbia: There can be no talk of an agreement with the CBK, a solution only through political dialogue (Tanjug, RTV, Kosovo Online)
• Prosecution: Two suspects Illegally provided medical services in Pristina (KiM radio, RTS)
• Center for Peace and Tolerance (CPT): The action in the Center in Pristina instills fear and endangers the safety of Serbs (KiM radio, Kosovo Online)
• Office for Kosovo and Metohija: Detention of health workers exposes the criminal nature of Kurti's regime (N1, NMagazin)
• EU concerned over fallout of Kosovo central bank decision (N1)
• Kosovo Central Bank: Komercijalna Bank voluntarily stopped operations (Beta, N1)
• Serbian DefMin says conscription not about Kosovo (N1, RTS)
• KoSSev editor in chief asked Vucic whether he agreed to abolish the dinar in Brussels; Petkovic reacted on X (N1, NMagazin, Kosovo Online)
• JUGpress: "EULEX informed about incidents with armed forest thieves, KFOR and the Serbian Army do not respond" (NMagazin)

International:

• What is (or was) Open Balkan? (Kosovo 2.0)

Albanian Language Media:

• Bislimi: CBK regulation to enter into force on Thursday, facilitated transition (RFE)
• Svecla informs about raid of NGO inside a police station in Pristina (RFE)
• Stoltenberg: NATO most successful alliance (Albanian Post)
• Haradinaj asks Rounds to support Kosovo in Partnership for Peace (media)
• Serwer: Trump’s election would be misfortunate for the Balkans (KTV)
• Grenell: Kurti to stop unilateral moves that risk safety of U.S. troops (media)
• Osmani speaks to Al Thani, discuss excellent Kosovo-Qatar relations (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• No statement from Vucic's meeting with Quint, EU representatives (Tanjug, media)
• Petkovic: Vucic's meeting with Quint representatives most difficult ever (Tanjug, RTS)
• Vucic to speak with White House officials, and with Botsan-Kharchenko (Tanjug, Vecernje Novosti, Blic)
• Eparchy of Raska-Prizren: Banning dinar will block normal life in Serbian communities in Kosovo (Tanjug, KiM radio)
• KP search clinic used by Kosovo Serbs in Pristina (N1, RTS, media)
• Starovic: The remaining Serbs in Pristina are denied basic medical services (Tanjug)
• The Serbian People's Movement submitted documents for the registration of a new political party (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio, Caglavica Media Center)
International Media:
• Grenell: Kosovo’s PM Albin Kurti Is Putting American Lives At Risk (thepavlovictoday.com)