UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 6, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: Ten new cases, no deaths (media)
• Lajcak: There is nothing technical in dialogue (media)
• Lajcak raises 'status' of dialogue from that of Pristina-Belgrade to Kosovo-Serbia (Klan)
• Association at the centre of dialogue (RFE)
• Andin Hoti appointed head of Kosovo's committee on missing persons (media)
• The Netherlands: Kosovo-Serbia agreement would contribute to Western Balkans stability (Klan)
• Romanian authorities have not yet replied on killing of Balaj, Xheladini (Koha)
• Assembly committee approves draft law on commercial court (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Three weeks without new Covid-19 cases in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Serbian analysts on incidents against Serbs in Kosovo, nationalist rhetoric (Danas)
• Trial for murder of Oliver Ivanovic begins (KiM radio)
• Ursula von der Layen: Supporting Western Balkans to achieve reforms (N1, Beta)
• Belgrade: Pristina judiciary biased, denies right to fair trial to a Serb (N1, Radio KIM)
• Vucic: Serbia wants good relations, neighbors haven’t reciprocated (N1)
• Spanish Ambassador to Serbia: We do not recognize Kosovo (Blic, Tanjug)
• Merkel: EU backs solving problems in W. Balkans; cancelling roaming success (N1)
• Von Cramon: Berlin Process was another missed opportunity (N1)
• Vucic: Gratitude to Angola over support to Serbia’s territorial integrity (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Abolishing visa regimes is not only about traveling, but also about basic human rights (EWB)
• The First Meeting between Kurti and Vučić in Brussels: A Dynamic Status Quo? (KoSSev)

International:

• Kosovo needs evidence for genocide lawsuit against Serbia (Euractiv)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovan youngsters have high hopes for their most famous judoka at Olympics (Reuters)

• COVID-19: Three new cases, no deaths (media)
• Germany to give 3 million COVID-19 vaccines to Western Balkans (media)
• Kurti: Time for bold actions in both the EU and Western Balkans (media)
• Merkel sees strategic case for Balkan states joining EU (Reuters)
• EC president calls for acceleration of Western Balkans EU integration (RFE)
• Varhelyi: EU to support Western Balkans economic recovery with €30bn (media)
• Kurz: EU to deliver on promises to Western Balkans (media)
• Kosovo welcomes first sexual violence during conflict conviction (media)
• Kosovo Feels US, EU, Heat on Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities (BIRN)
• Osmani: Thaci should not be called "Americans' hound dog" (Koha)
• Kurti-led government doesn't plan on forming new municipalities (Klan)
• Kosovo Municipality Takes Serb Returnee Case to Court (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 3 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Vitia: Purchased vaccines from Pfizer arrive in Kosovo by end of the month (RTK)
• 7 years on from the Berlin Process, regional disputes are still looming (euronews.al)
• Meetings in Brussels, preparations for the Kurti-Vucic meeting (RFE Albanian)
• Kurti receives a letter from Israeli PM Naftali Benett (media)
• Albert Zogaj takes office as KJC chairman (media)
• Greek FM speaks about Kosovo’s independence (media)
• PDK accuses Gervalla of another diplomatic scandal (Koha)
• Kosovo convicts Serb ex-policeman of wartime rape (media)
• Dissatisfied with first Kurti-Vucic meeting, family members of the missing insist to be included (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Leaders of the Western Balkans today at the Berlin Process Summit: Four agreements on the table (euronews.rs)
• Stano: Belgrade and Pristina main negotiators on Wednesday in Brussels (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: We start new round of talks with CSM (Kosovo-online)
• Youth Initiatives on Djakovica: This is nothing new, violence cannot be justified (N1)
• YIHR: End hostility towards Kosovo Serb community (KoSSev)
• UNS and its branch in Kosovo react to TV Syri reporting (Radio KIM)
• Protest in Gracanica over arrest of Risto Jovanovic (RTS)
• Pandemic: Number of addicts to psychoactive substances increased, problems due to the non-compliance with the Law on the Use of Languages (KiM radio)
• Protest in North Mitrovica due to incidents targeting the Serbian community (Kontakt plus radio)

International:

• Susanne Schütz: Political issues should be left out of the Berlin Process (DW)
• Civil society members urge EU to apply consistent conditionality to the Western Balkans (EWB)

• COVID-19: 9 new cases, one death (media)
• Palmer: Kosovo needs to deliver on obligation for Association (RTV21)
• EU expects Kosovo to make proposals on Association (Koha)
• Kurti will insist on his four points in second meeting with Vucic (Kosovapress)
• EU wants discussions on all ideas for joint regional market (Koha)
• Memli Krasniqi elected leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK (media)
• Kosovo forgets border demarcation with Montenegro (RFE)
• Wesley Clark to visit Kosovo on Wednesday (media)
• The Party’s Back: Balkan Summer Festivals Return (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 2, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 17 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Ahmeti: Almost half of Prishtina residents have passed COVID-19 (Telegrafi/KP)
• Kosovo and Albania have differing stances on Mini-Schengen (Koha)
• Kurti meets Lajcak at the Prespa forum (RTK)
• Kosovo purchases Turkish-made armoured vehicles (Zeri)
• Kllokot mayor indicted on charges relating to February elections (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: Regional cooperation improves quality of citizens’ lives (Kosovo-online)
• Reeker: US supports Lajcak and the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (Blic, Tanjug)
• Rakic and Stoltenberg on the security situation in Kosovo (KiM radio)
• Office for KiM: Boy beaten up in Gojbulja village (Radio KIM)
• Brnabic attends the first Prespa Forum Dialogue today (Tanjug, B92)
• Stefanovic: ''Better for Kurti to prepare for Brussels, instead of going to the north'' (Kosovo Online, Vecernje Novosti, B92)
• Dacic: Compromise in dialogue is real situation on ground (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• The time is ripe for substantial electoral reform in Kosovo (Gazeta Express/Kossev)
• Kurti vs Vucic or the continuation of the fight by (international) legal means (KoSSev)

International:

• Stoltenberg: Kosovo force important for the region and NATO (AP)
• Serbian President Voices Hesitation Over Embassy’s Jerusalem Move (Balkan Insight)
• Slovenia Takes Over EU Presidency Amid Wave of Criticism (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Manifesta 14: how the art biennial is set to reclaim Pristina’s abandoned public spaces (The Calvert Journal)

• COVID-19: 10 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian communities 'excluded' from vaccination (Koha)
• Denmark, Croatia donate vaccines to Western Balkans countries (media)
• Kurti: There is pressure to implement damaging agreements with Serbia (RTK)
• Kurti: Ujman was built in ex-Yugoslavia; was considered a closed issue (media)
• NATO SG reaffirms commitment to KFOR and Western Balkans stability
• Osmani: Kosovo's future is in EU, NATO, UN (media)
• Stoltenberg: KSF cannot go to north without agreement with KFOR (Telegrafi)
• Gervalla: Serbia to recognise reality (media)
• Vetevendosje to join forces with Osmani’s Guxo and Kusari’s party (Kallxo)
• Enver Hoxhaj decides not to run for post of PDK leader (media)
• Kosovo court orders detention for media commission duo for bribery (BIRN)
• Pack: Border changes in the Balkans would be devastating (Klan Kosova)
• Osmani and Kurti appoint new intelligence deputy director (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 10 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Palmer: Kosovo citizens need freedom of movement (media)
• PDK against sacking of RTK board expected to happen next week (media)
• LDK’s Gashi: Sacking of boards, anti-constitutional act (Indeksonline)
• Serbia violates the Washington agreement (Koha)
• Calls for freedom and equality echo across Prishtina (Prishtina Insight)

Serbian Language Media:

• Since June 17 no new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian areas (KoSSev)
• What could await Kurti if he goes to the north of Kosovo? (Danas)
• Petkovic reacts to Kurti’s possible visit to north (Radio KIM)
• Rakic writes to Quint ambassadors, seeks protection for Dragica Gasic (Radio KIM)
• Reconstruction of religious buildings financed by the EU and implemented by UNDP (KiM radio)
• Gracanica Mayor: We call on KFOR to protect Serbs because the police cannot or will not (KiM radio)
• "KLA" on a billboard in Gracanica; "Youth prevented from placing hoops'' in Lipljan (Kosovo Online)
• Video of burning SOC flag appeared on social networks (Kosovo-online, social media)
• Dacic: Serbs in Kosovo most endangered Christian community in Europe (Tanjug, Kosovo-online)
• Protest in Podgorica over one-month detention to Jovanovic (Radio KIM)
• Vucic tells Merkel regional cooperation Serbia’s top priority (FoNet, N1)
• Vucic: Israel recognized Kosovo in meantime, so our interests have changed (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Kosovo’s new political leadership and the dialogue with Serbia: The battle between the little ram and the big fish (EWB)

International:

• Germany, UK Reaffirm Commitment to Western Balkans (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• No roaming charges across Western Balkans (N1)

• COVID-19: Nine new cases, no deaths (media)
• US expect Kosovo and Serbia to respect Washington Agreement (media)
• Kurti: There can be studies, but Ujman belongs to Kosovo (media)
• Kurti on the dialogue: Ask those that made concessions (Koha)
• Germany, UK reaffirm commitment to Western Balkans (BIRN)
• NATO Secretary General to visit Kosovo on Thursday (media)
• Vetevendosje MP says reciprocity is part of negotiations (KTV)
• “Government must convince skeptical countries on visa liberalisation” (media)
• Kurti: Serbia today must distance itself from Milosevic’s Serbia (media)
• Serbian state security chiefs convicted of aiding war crimes (BIRN)
• Simmons’ report to Assembly on alleged wrongdoings, without legal effect (RFE)
• PDK’s Uran Ismaili to run for Prishtina Mayor (media)
• Police arrest 21 persons for suspected corruption in agricultural grants (media)
• Independent Media Commission head arrested (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 30, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: Nine new cases, no deaths (media)
• EU to remove Kosovo from red travel list (RFE)
• Government stands by SEFTA proposal, as alternative for Balkans mini-Schengen (Koha)
• Gervalla: Luxembourg continues to support visa-free travel for Kosovo citizens (media)
• LDK criticises Kurti-led government's performance in first 100 days (media)
• Kurti and Osmani sack intelligence deputy director (media)
• Anti-corruption agency rejects claims of errors in asset declaration forms (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Rada Trajkovic: Expertise on the circumstances of the murder of Oliver Ivanovic arrived from Germany (Novi Magazin, Beta, Danas, N1)
• Vucic: Serbia's position - Kosovo will never get a seat in the UN (KiM radio, Tanjug, Euronews TV)
• Detention of Risto Jovanovic expires tomorrow (Radio KIM)
• Rakic: The latest events in Djakovica a bad message to the displaced persons (Kontakt plus radio)
• Office for KiM: Inspectors confiscated security door of Dragica Gasic (Radio KIM)
• Jevtic: Will anyone react to the torture of the Kosovo Police in Djakovica? (Kosovo Online)
• SOC flag at Gracanica Monastery entry gate taken away (Kosovo-online)
• 30 days detention for Risto Jovanovic (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Albania and Kosovo: Unification through the back door? (Emerging Europe)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Majlinda Kelmendi: Judo superstar who unites Kosovo (AFP/France 24)
• New plays from the Balkans (Kosovo 2.0)

• COVID-19: Six new cases, no deaths (media)
• First cases of COVID-19 Delta variant confirmed in Kosovo (media)
• More anti-COVID vaccines arrive in Kosovo (media)
• EU helps Norway to deliver vaccines to Kosovo (media)
• Borrell writes to Kurti, says he looks forward to close cooperation (media)
• Schuetz: All countries are equal in the Berlin Process (Koha)
• Voss: "Mini Schengen" and visas, main topics of Berlin Process summit (Klan)
• PM Kurti meets COMKFOR Federici (media)
• Abdixhiku criticises government's performance in first 100 days (media)
• PDK on Government's first 100 days: Poor performance (Kosovapress)
• Former EULEX judge to report to Kosovo Assembly (RTK)
• Hasani: Osmani violated the Constitution in firing Daka (Koha)