UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, September 4, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti meets Hargreaves, discuss bilateral relations, developments (media)
Gervalla: Serbia is the one threatening the region (Koha)
Haxhiu: Serbia should be pressured to hand over war criminals, terrorists (TeVe1)
Canak: Info about plans to displace Serbs to Sandzak from sources (media)
Five Serbs summoned for interviews for “falsification of documents”(Koha)
Shea: Kosovo government needs to engage fully in the dialogue (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

Petkovic: Hearings of the leaders of the Serbian List - brutal political persecution of Serbs from the north (Kosovo Online)
Milovic: The presidents of the provisional authorities of the municipalities were summoned to the police for questioning (RTS, Kosovo Online)
Serbian democracy: Through dialogue, Serbian institutions were recognized as a reality (KiM radio)
Leaders of closed Serbian institutions summoned for interview - suspected of "falsifying documents" (KoSSev, alternativna.com, KiM radio)
"If a child is born, there is nowhere to register": While Serbs in Kosovo live without institutions, Albanians open shops (N1, NMagazin)
Peci announces investment in agro-tourism in the North, reacts to claims of Serbian discrimination: “I cannot imagine any reason for it” (KoSSev)
Minister Miscevic in Bled: Serbia understands the importance of dialogue; Hill: EU enlargement a very complex process (RTS)
Lajcak, Miscevic discuss EU Growth Plan for Western Balkans (Tanjug)
ProGlas on the meeting with the delegation of Serbs from Kosovo: The situation in Kosovo a consequence of Vucic's policy (Danas)
RFE: EU says relations with Russia can’t be business as usual (N1, NMagazin, Danas)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Kosovo has met all conditions to get candidate status for EU (RFE)
• Kurti: Annual average of Foreign Direct Investments is €705.6 million (media)
• Biserko: Info that Serbia building houses for Kosovo Serbs must be verified (RFE)
• Ministry changes law on bureau for confiscation of unjustifiable wealth (media)
• Zubin Potok mayor says he has been receiving death threats (media)
• Serbs warn to block crossings until police withdraws from Kosovo north (media)
• Employees of parallel structures in north protest again (Kanal 10)
• Finnish Foreign Minister to visit Albania, Kosovo and Serbia (Albanian Post)
• Turkey arrests person for transferring money to Mossad operatives (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Provisional institutions in the north of Kosovo still blocked, workers are prevented from working (RTS, RTV, media)
• Jankovic: Violation of human rights of Serbs (KiM radio)
• The closure of Serbian institutions as compensation, because KFOR did not allow opening of the Ibar bridge? (Danas, KiM radio)
• Moma Trajkovic: In Kosovo, the people are in agony (KiM radio, Danas)
• Marsenic: Imposing a "cancel culture" on Serbs (Kosovo Online)
• Congressman Eric Swalwell on the Pristina action: Unilateral provocations are unacceptable (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Biserko and Canak story on the resettlement of Serbs from Kosovo: "Unfounded and dangerous, Milan Radojicic is missing to make the joke complete" (Danas)
• Macron’s visit to Serbia: Business, bromance or transactional politics? (BIRN)

International:

• Out of the shadows: Kosovo hosts pioneering exhibition on queerness (BIRN)
• Making history: Kosovo’s debut at the Paralympic Games (RFE)
• Kosovo’s EFT joins Alpex power exchange (SeeNews)
• Suspect arrested in Turkey for allegedly transferring money to Mossad operatives, report says (AP)

Albanian Language Media:

• EU: Failure of parties to reduce tensions will have consequences (Koha)
• Ursula von der Leyen: In Kosovo, economic reforms are bringing benefits (RTK)
• Minister Gervalla at Bled Forum, welcomed by Tanja Fajon (RTK)
• Aivo Orav starts work as new ambassador of EU in Kosovo (RTK)
• Rohde to new head of EU: Looking forward to make Kosovo a success story (RTK)
• Elshani: As long as Radojcic is free, there is danger (Express)
• Krasniqi and Hamza meet Ambassador Hargreaves, discuss current developments (media)
• Indictment against two Serbs, suspected of war crimes against civilian population (media)
• Director of Media 10: We will be filter of truth for every resident also in north of Mitrovica (Gazeta 10)

Serbian Language Media:

• A new war crime indictment filed, two persons of Serbian nationality suspected (KiM radio, KoSSev, Kosovo Online, media)
• NKEU: Do not stop Radosavljevic and Todorovic at the crossings (KiM radio, media)
• The special political program from the Pristina studio moved to the Mitrovica promenade (KoSSev)
• ProGlas initiative for the first time with representatives of Serbs from Kosovo (KoSSev, Danas, Beta)
• Djuric met Azerbaijani FM in Baku (Tanjug)
• Vucevic: Shameful statement by Canak and Biserko about the resettlement of Serbs from Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, RTV)
• Vulin: Quint, the EU, and NATO supported the actions against the Serbs in the north of Kosovo, Kurti doing nothing independently (Kosovo Online, Vecernje Novosti)
• Starovic: Without concrete actions against Kurti, no one will take the State Department's statements seriously (Kosovo Online, Politika)

International Media:

• Serbia Urged to Stop Holding Activists at Borders (Balkan Insight)
• Von der Leyen: I will appoint a dedicated Commissioner for enlargement (EWB)
• Transforming the Western Balkans: Trade, Energy, and Mobility as Catalysts for Growth (EWB)

Albanian Language Media:

• EU considers new round of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue a priority (media)
• Police: Protests in Mitrovica north took place peacefully, without incidents (media)
• Shea: Opening of Bridge has caused concern about possibility of violence (Albanian Post)
• Kupchan: Maneuvers in the north serve Kurti, not Kosovo (Klan)
• Tahiri: Any reckless action from wherever it comes from cannot endanger Kosovo (Klan)
• Kurti: The Kosovo Telecom has been returned to the people (media)
• Orav: Looking forward to work closely with local and intl partners (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Stano: The main goal of the EU an urgent meeting of the main negotiators, many unresolved issues (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, Radio Mitrovica sever, media)
• The Association of the Kosovo-Mitrovica district announced the blockade of all crossings from September 6 (KoSSev, KiM radio)
• Simic: The usurpers snatched the property of the Serbian state, the right to work and life of the Serbs in Kosovo was denied (Kosovo Online)
• Veljkovic: The closure of the Provisional Authorities is a direct violation of human rights (KiM radio)
• Kosovo Serbs protest closure of municipality building (N1, KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
• Vucic on the visit of Biserko and Canak to Kurti: ''I have never seen a circus like this before'' (Danas)
• Head of the School Administration: About 1,100 first-year students and the same number of high school students are enrolled (KiM radio, Kosovo Online, Kontakt plus radio, KoSSev)
• Rada Trajkovic: Kurti destroying the sovereignty of the international community (KiM radio, N1)
• Citaku: Criminal gangs encouraged, the government is reduced to propaganda (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: Societies are fed up with dialogue (Koha)

International:

• Kosovo parents struggle for textbooks as new school year begins (BIRN)
• Bulgarian military contingent departs for NATO mission in Kosovo (novinite.com)
• Vučić denies close links to Putin and says Serbia is on the path to the EU (euronews.com)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, September 2, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Kosovo closes five Serbia-run institutions in the north (media)
Osmani meets Kasanof, “insightful discussion on recent developments” (media)
Plaques of Kosovo institutions put up in former “parallel municipalities” (media)
Osmani: Our true power lies in partnerships that have kept us strong (media)
Lajcak: Societies in Kosovo and Serbia not ready for normalization (RFE)
Lajcak will travel to Pristina to prepare next meeting of chief negotiators (media)
Canak and Biserko: Belgrade plans to displace Kosovo Serbs to Sandzak (media)

Serbian Language Media:

SRSG Ziadeh on the situation in northern Kosovo (KoSSev, Kosovo Online, NIN, Euronews.rs, media)
Controversy Erupts at Ulpiana Fest Over Burning of Christian Crosses (KoSSev)
The Eparchy of Raska-Prizren condemns the burning of crosses at the Ulpiana Fest (Kosovo Online, KoSSev, N1, media)
Hargreaves: The Kosovo government must do more to ensure Serbs feel secure about their future here (KoSSev)
How identity verification looks like in North Mitrovica (KoSSev)
Biserko, Canak informed Kurti that Belgrade plans to move Serbs from the North to Raska, asking him to prevent it (KoSSev)
Lajcak after Bled travels to Pristina (RTS, media)
Signs of Kosovo institutions placed on the buildings of Serbian institutions in North Mitrovica (Kosovo Online, media)
BIRODI: The GoK to fulfil its obligations towards Serbs in Kosovo, instead of discrimination (NMagazin, N1, Beta, KoSSev)
Kosovo’s Northern Security Sweep: An Overview (KoSSev, media)
Vucic criticizes Kosovo’s provocations and expresses doubts about Serbia’s EU accession by 2028 (N1, Beta, media)

International Media:

Protest from US after Kosovo closes Serbian offices (The Guardian)
Taking Heat From Allies, Kosovo President Blames 'Dark Forces' (RFE)
After greeting Macron in Belgrade, Serbia's Vučić sets off to meet von der Leyen in Prague (euronews.com)
EU's Balkan Envoy Says Serbia-Kosovo Stalemate Risks 'Outbursts Of Instability' (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: Over 1,600 remain forcibly disappeared, many of them children (media)
Kurti on the missing: In Serbia, there is no will, in Kosovo, close to 3 thousand excavations (RTK)
Kurti: France, allied country and partner, “we want close cooperation” (Gazeta10)
Goffus: Uncoordinated actions increase the risk of violence (media)
Osmani decrees 31 judges, nearly half of them women (media)
Albanian Defense Minister “friendly and open meeting” with Kurti (media)
Hovenier: We repeat call to solve missing persons cases (RTK)
Osmani travels to Prague, represents Kosovo at GLOBSEC (Zeri)
Kurti meets with head of OSCE, talk about strengthening cooperation (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Purchase of French Rafale aircraft is huge for Serbia (N1)
Vucic, Macron want Serbia and France as AI powers (N1)
Arsenijevic: Kurti, as if wanting to go to war with someone, because he has nothing to offer to people (N1)
Office for KiM: Verdict to Zlatkovic proof Pristina continues to oppress and intimidate Serbs (Kosovo Online, media)
International Day of Disappeared (Radio KIM)
Hovenier: Institutions and officials to overcome differences and work to resolve missing persons cases (Kosovo Online, social media)

International:

‘It was Wartime’: Kosovo man still waits for word of missing daughter (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Macron: Kosovo's unilateral moves, not a good signal (media)
• Kurti and Goffus discuss importance of continuous coordination with NATO (media)
• Osmani asks senior NATO official to draw up joint plan for opening of Iber Bridge (Reporteri)
• Osmani meets Manuel Sarrazin, discuss political developments and security (media)
• Kurti to Sarazin: Kosovo is fully engaged in Berlin Process (RTK)
• Sarrazin: We need difficult compromises between Kosovo and Serbia for EU membership (Koha)
• Abdixiku to Sarrazin: LDK will give priority to Berlin Process (Koha)
• Maqedonci meets Goffus, discuss security in Kosovo and the region (RTK)
• KSF members are being trained for battles by Turkish military (Koha)
• EULEX and IML Forensic Team visiting Novi Pazar (RTK)
• Maqedonci: The CIA chief's visit to Kosovo was to curb Russian influence in Balkans (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Macron arrives to Belgrade, contract on purchase of 12 Rafale aircrafts signed (media)
• Odalovic: Kurti is trying to hide Pristina has done nothing regarding missing persons issue (Kosovo Online)
• EULEX and IFM collaborate as excavations begin in Novi Pazar (KoSSev)
• Serbian man sentenced to five months in prison and deportation from Kosovo for ‘insulting KLA’ (media)
• Sopjani: Presence of ministers during opening of Kosovo Post office in Mitrovica North unnecessary (Kosovo Online, social media)

International Media:

• Serbia signs deal to buy French fighter jets as Macron visits Belgrade (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia announces $3 billion deal to buy 12 French warplanes, in a shift away from Russia (AP)
• Serbia buys 12 Rafale jets from France's Dassault Aviation for 2.7 billion euros (Reuters)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Milosevic’s strategy ‘no corpse, no crime’ continues to this day (EO)
Kurti: Employment in Kosovo increased thanks to government support (EO)
Post of Kosovo branch opened in Mitrovica north (media)
PDK after meeting Sarrazin; “cooperation with partners very important” (Express)
“Readiness to restore mosque near Iber bridge; don’t want to politicize it” (Klan)
Rohde “proud to see Kosovo join Paralympics for 1st time” (media)
Hasani: Good work is done by agreeing with those that love Kosovo (Nacionale)
Sinani: Every time I cross the border I am stopped by Serbian authorities (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Macron: EU needs strong, democratic Serbia (N1)
Kosovo Post office opened in Mitrovica North amid whistles and discontent (Radio Kontakt Plus, media)
Petkovic: Opening of Kosovo Post office new unilateral act by Pristina (Tanjug)
Andric-Rakic: Kosovo Post office does not meet needs of Serbian population (Kosovo Online)
Protected witness at trial to Thaci and others about murder of 25 Serbs in Volujak cave, detention center in Malisevo (KoSSev, BETA)
Selimi: Kurti’s government turned Kosovo into security issue (Kosovo Online, social media)

International:

People picturing war: Capturing a Kosovo child’s birth in a refugee tent (BIRN)
Vucic will gain most from Macron visit to Serbia, French analyst predicts (BIRN)
Serbia will take regional celebrities off entry ‘watch list’, Minister says (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Kosovo deserves full membership in CoE, it has met all conditions (media)
• Sarrazin to visit Kosovo today (media)
• Kallas expected to engage in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, position of special emissary may be removed (Zeri)
• Opposition calls minimum wage of 350 euros an "electoral decision" (Koha)
• KLI: Kosovo failing to provide strategic approach to fighting corruption (Koha)
• Uglanin: We do not want to politicise process, but we are ready to rebuild Iber Mosque (Klan)
• Sormaz: Attack in Banjska was organised by Vucic (RTK)
• Cerkini on the missing: No August 30 has found us in worse position (RTK)
• Mayor of Presheva reacts to Vulin, says she is constantly discriminated (media)
• MPs who left VV to join PD, enter elections with AKR and Unity Movement? (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Stances of France, USA and others regarding Ibar River bridge are firm (Kosovo Online)
• Mojsilovic met Admiral Munsch: We expect KFOR to take measures to preserve safety of Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Minister Gasic met Admiral Munsch (RTV, media)
• JFCNP post on Admiral Munsch meeting with Minister Gasic, General Mojsilovic (social media)
• Pro-lithium mining organisation formed in Serbia (N1)

International Media:

• Switch to Kosovo Driving Licences Leaves Many Serbs Stuck in Limbo (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Govt Doubles Minimum Wage Ahead of Elections (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

Government decides: Minimum gross wage in Kosovo increased to €350 (media)
Haradinaj: This minimum wage is a humiliation (media)
Kurti comments on recent visits, says they are waiting for final report on Iber Bridge (Klan)
NATO's Assistant Secretary for Operations to visit Kosovo Thursday (Klan)
Over 1,600 missing; “lack of reliable information is a challenge” (RTK)
Deadline for registration of diaspora extended to December 31 (media)
2,047,148 voters in the CEC preliminary list Elections 2025 (RTK)
Rohde hikes Kosovo’s highest peak Gjeravica (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Life under ‘police protectorate’ (Radio KIM, NIN)
Velebit: Situation for Serbs in Kosovo equivalent to a humanitarian catastrophe (Kosovo Online)
Dacic with UN Coordinator in Serbia discusses cooperation, in particular with UNMIK (Tanjug)
Lawyer: Nesic is accused of war crime with direct violation of defendant’s right to defense (Kosovo Online)
Davenport pays farewell visit to Bishop Teodosije (Kosovo Online, social media)
Meeting on Jadar lithium project closed to public (N1)
Vucic with scientists on Jadar Project: The state invested in you, it’s time to give back (N1, BETA)

International:

Choked with plastic and sewage, plight of Kosovar river highlights country’s pollution crisis (RFE)
Kosovo’s fierce divas (Kosovo 2.0)