• 21 new cases of coronavirus in last 24 hours (media)
• Kurti to respect Court's ruling if it is no more than legal interpretation (Koha)
• Germany and France: Re-start the EU-led dialogue now (media)
• Kurti meets Quint, EU reps - discusses political situation, Covid-19 (media)
• Switzerland considers Kosovo's borders unquestionable (Koha)
• Kurti, BiH presidency chairman agree land swap is dangerous (media)
• U.S. commits additional $500,000 for Kosovo’s response to Covid-19 (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 22, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• Haxhiu concerned over Constitutional Court's leaks of possible ruling (media)
• Abazi: No underground scenario can prevent LVV's governance (Kosovapress)
• Kosnett, Osmani discuss pandemic and political developments (media)
• Grenell's office denies September is deadline for agreement (Express/RTK)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic: The "big ones" do not care about the opinion of Serbs and Albanians on resolving the Kosovo issue (Beta, N1)
• No new Covid-19 infection cases in Serb areas, one person cured (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic and Quint ambassador discuss Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, situation in region (FoNet, N1)
• Thaci says no land swap with Belgrade, dreams about parts of Serbia in Kosovo (N1, KoSSev)
• Djuric: Thaci once again reminds world about true face of his politics (Kosovo-online)
• There is no consensus on Kosovo's NATO membership (AlJazeera, Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Member of Project Evaluation Commission of Office for Communities resigns (Kosovo-online)
International:
• Balkans Not Ready to Declare Victory Over COVID-19 (Balkan Insight)
• Week in Review: Times Too Interesting (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• CoE Development Bank chief says Serbia doing well in pandemic (N1, Radio Free Europe)
• Number of people who can gather in public places in Serbia changed (B92)
• One new case of coronavirus in last 24 hours (media)
• President Hashim Thaci’s interview to Klan Kosova
• Abazi: Prosecution to interview Thaci regarding his statements (Klan Kosova)
• "Seven Constitutional Court judges on Thaci's side" (Koha)
• LDK’s Gashi: Kosovo to have new government next week (media)
• Haxhiu reacts to Gashi: Tendency to interfere in Court’s work (media)
• Haradinaj: U.S. not EU to lead Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Koha)
• Pacolli’s advisor: We’ve yet to decide on new government vote (media)
• Bislimi: Serbia failed to reflect, reciprocity measures to be stepped up (Kallxo)
• Hoti: MPs to have lot of work on economic revival measures (media)
• Kurti, Pendarovski discuss cooperation and Covid-19 (media)
• Ahmeti: Measures against COVID – 19 must be reviewed (media)
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti says next dialogue with Serbia meeting depends on Brussels (KP/Koha)
• LDK vows to distribute at least €400 mill for economic recovery if in power (media)
• Hamza: PDK to be constructive on international financial agreements (Telegrafi)
• Tahiri: Kurti could not strengthen relations with internationals (KP)
Serbian Language Media:
• No new Covid-19 infection cases in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• The Balkans will be one of the US main fronts, so they want the Kosovo issue resolved (Kosovo Online, B92)
• Djuric: Kurti’s audacity is surprising, he is hitting out at US diplomacy (KoSSev, TV Happy)
• Gorazdevac: Kosovo police intend to remove Serbian flags (Kontakt plus radio, Kosovo Online)
• EU for Kosovo-online: Taken property to return to Visoki Decani Monastery (Kosovo-online)
• “Initiatives to face past were unsuccessful” (Radio KIM)
• US Ambassador: Washington allocates additional € 850,000 to Serbia (FoNet, N1)
• Opening of the administrative line towards Serbia as of tomorrow (Radio Mitrovica Sever)
International:
• Kosovo Tries Again to Establish War Crimes Research Institute (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• KWN concerned with approach to women in decision making posts (media)
• Bringing Back the Bodies: The Balkan Emigrants Repatriated in Death (Balkan Insight)
• Serbian epidemiologist criticizes political gatherings during epidemic (N1)
• Health Institute confirms 14 new cases of coronavirus (media)
• EU adopts €3 billion assistance package for neighbouring partners (media)
• Kurti: The Presidential fourth attempt to bring down the Republic of Kosovo
• Lajcak: Everyone ready for resumption of dialogue (Koha)
• Thaci pressures Quint into declaring on Court’s ruling, they refuse (Koha)
• Kurti denies putting pressure on Constitutional Court (media)
• Osmani for reciprocity with Serbia and against border changes (Kallxo)
• LDK’s Gashi adamant: LDK is against territorial exchange (Koha)
• PDK MP: Elections within one year, Vetevendosje will mark a decline (media)
• Government allocates €3.5 million for Trepca mine (Kosovapress)
• Haxhiu: War crimes institute to be set up through special law (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 20, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• "Governmental regulations against Covid-19 to be respected by all" (media)
• Thaci meets Quint members, urges respect for independent institutions (media)
• Constitutional Court receives “arguments” favoring Thaci (Koha)
• "Another political pressure on Constitutional Court" (Kosovapress/Koha)
• Authorities launch investigations into threats against Kurti (media)
• Osmani implies Assembly will convene on June 4 (media)
• Reka: Dialogue to lead in mutual recognition and no territorial changes (Telegrafi)
• Government allocates €20 million for subsidising public enterprises (Zeri)
Serbian Language Media:
• No new Covid-19 infection cases in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Lajcak and Djuric on the continuation of the dialogue (media)
• Dacic: We are far from restoring dialogue (Blic, Kosovo-online)
• US, UK embassies call for implementation of court’s ruling on Visoki Decani Monastery’s land case, EU and OSCE join call (B92, Kosovo-online)
• Varhelyi to N1: EC report on EU candidate countries in autumn (N1)
• President Vucic on Serbian Orthodox Church, situation in Montenegro (B92)
• Freedom House stands by report conclusions on Serbia (N1, VoA)
Opinion:
• Confronting rape myths (Prishtina Insight)
International:
• Kosovo’s Political Rivals Lock Horns Ahead of Court Verdict (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Muslims Hold Protest Prayers in Pristina Square (Balkan Insight)
• Hague indictments give Kosovo’s war crime victims a voice after 20 years (The Times)
Humanitarian/Development:
• No tests or other requirements to enter Serbia, pandemic Crisis Committee says (N1)
• UNMIK donated humanitarian aid to Zubin Potok municipality (Kosovo-online)
• Only one new case with coronavirus in last 24 hours (media)
• Kosovo institutions can't say when borders will be opened (media)
• PM Kurti receives threat from so-called “Albanian Volunteers Guard” (media)
• Constitutional Court condemns interference by the heads of state (media)
• Nagavci: We will respect Court’s decision on PM candidate (Klan Kosova)
• Grenell doesn’t rule out Russia’s involvement in dialogue (Lajmi)
• Konjufca attends Thessaloniki Ministerial Forum through video link (media)
• Regional foreign ministers adopt joint statement on Covid-19 (media)
• EC to postpone progress reports for Western Balkans (Kallxo/Telegrafi)
• Serwer: Kosovo’s decisive summer (Peacefare.net/Koha)
• China on sideline as Japan plays bigger role in Kosovo (The Diplomat/Koha)
Albanian Language Media:
• "Talks to resume as soon as possible" (Lajmi)
• Albania to open border with Kosovo this month (Klan Kosova)
Serbian Language Media:
• Fifth day in a row no new Covid-19 infection cases in Serb-majority areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Godfrey: The solution for Kosovo can only be an agreement between the two sides (Kosovo Online, TV Prva)
• Djuric: Kosovo PM fears resumption of talks with Serbia's Vucic (FoNet, N1)
• Serbian PM Brnabic: Crisis Staff today on possibility of opening administrative crossings with Kosovo (Tanjug, B92)
• Godfrey: Everyone should take part in June elections in Serbia (BETA, N1)
Opinion:
• What happened with Metohija? (KoSSev)
• WWII Commemoration Dispute Shows Balkan Weaknesses and Strengths (Balkan Insight)
International:
• China on the Sideline as Japan Plays Bigger Role in Kosovo (thediplomat.com)
• Not just apps: privacy, personal data and COVID-19 in the western Balkans (balcanicaucaso.org)
Humanitarian/Development:
• OpisMEDIJavanje: You have the right to know what the institutions are doing (KoSSev)
• UNMIK donation distributed in Klokot municipality (Kosovo-online)
• Kawasaki syndrome in children also appeared in Serbia after the coronavirus (B92, Sputnik)
• Three new Covid-19 cases in last 24 hours (media)
• Kurti: Grenell wants deal with Serbia by September (media)
• Burns: US and EU to preserve Kosovo territorial integrity (media)
• Osmani: Russia's involvement in talks, a step backwards (media)
• Kurti: Productive phone call with Lajcak (media)
• Selimi: LDK and partners continuing to keep Assembly hostage (Klan Kosova)
• Hamza: LVV blocking Assembly's work (Ekonomia Online)
• Ahmeti: MPs don’t deserve full salary, failed to meet during pandemic (Kallxo)
• Haxhiu: Ministry of Justice to support victims' safe houses (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 18, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti says signed documents in Berlin don't constitute agreement (Koha)
• U.S. Embassy calls on parties to refrain from politicised rhetoric (media)
• Kosovo Assembly to hold plenary session on 4 June (Indeksonline)
• EU negotiating mandate extension for its rule of law mission in Kosovo (RFE)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo not to delay reopening of economy (Klan Kosova)
Serbian Language Media:
• No new cases of Covid-19 infection in north, four persons cured (Kosovo-online)
• The official start of classes in primary schools is expected on June 1 (Kontakt plus radio)
• Radovic: Taxi associations in north will start working as of June 1 (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• War crimes’ trials in Kosovo still at beginning (KoSSev)
• UNS: Serbian List to apologize to journalist Budimir Nicic (KoSSev)
• Vucic: If situation with coronavirus epidemic worsens, elections won't be priority (N1, RTS)
International:
• Serbian President: Skopje betrayed Serbia on Kosovo to impress Germany (greekcitytimes.com)
Humanitarian/Development:
• WHO Assembly is scheduled for today, the main topic will be the COVID-19 pandemic (B92)
• UNICEF calls for greater inclusion of children with disabilities (media)
• Kosovo enters second phase of lockdown restrictions (Prishtina Insight)
• Media Literacy Project: Young journalists rarely have the opportunity to work in professional newsrooms (KoSSev)
• Belgrade airport opens, passengers to come three hours ahead of departure (N1)