UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 17, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti writes to Thaci: Do not use double standards (media)
• Kosnett on political rhetoric in Kosovo: Focus on facts (media)
• Abazi: No substitution of democracy and no democratic legitimacy without elections (media)
• Nagavci: LVV to reply to Thaci once circumstances permit (RFE)
• Haziri: LDK ready to form a new government (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Three new Covid-19 infection cases in northern Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Dacic: UN SC meeting on Kosovo scheduled for April 24 still on the agenda (Kontakt plus radio, TV Prva)
• Three crises in Kosovo (RTK2)
• EU Office supports cooperation of Serbian and Kosovo ministers of health (Kosovo-online)
• Belgrade ready to strengthen relations with Washington in all areas, Dacic says (N1)
• Reporters Without Borders: Authorities to investigate the arbitrary detention of KoSSev editor (KoSSev)
• CoE, NATO, OSCE: Parliaments have key role, they should work (Beta, N1)
• Kon: Percentage of new coronavirus cases in Serbia dropping (N1)

Opinion:

• Trump Is Stirring Chaos in Kosovo at the Worst Possible Time (Foreign Policy)

International:

• Prominent Kosovo Serb Journalist Says Intimidation Worsening with COVID-19 (Balkan Insight)
• Balkan Gangsters ‘Profiting From Pandemic’, Report (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• North Macedonia Leads Region in COVID-19 Tracing App (Balkan Insight)
• Innovation thrives as pandemic continues (Prishtina Insight)

• Kosovo: 26 new cases of COVID-19, eight recoveries, two deaths (media)
• From his balcony, Kurti urges people to respect COVID-19 measures (media)
• Vitia speaks to region's ministers about fight against COVID-19 (media)
• U.S.: Cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia on Covid-19 encouraging (media)
• Osmani to meet parliamentary groups to harmonise COVID-19 legislation (Klan)
• LDK leaves the meeting of Assembly chairmanship (RTK)
• Abazi: Democracy cannot be stolen by abusing with Covid-19 situation (RTK)
• Veseli calls for more testing and for reducing quarantine period (media)
• Lajcak holds telephone conversations with Osmani, Haziri, Limaj (media)
• MEP Fajon supports efforts of Minister Vitia to fight COVID-19 (media)
• UN Women in Kosovo officials say domestic violence has increased (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

• Another patient succumbs to the coronavirus at Prishtina hospital (media)
• Ahmeti: Situation in the capital under control (Klan)
• LDK’s Hoti criticises PM Kurti of “partial legal initiatives” (media)
• German diplomat: U.S. need to be fair on Pristina-Belgrade dealings (Express)
• Kurti: Institutions to step up reactions against domestic violence (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Irinej: We can pray to God from home too, follow experts' advice (Tanjug, B92, RTS)
• “Decisions of government and ministries must be available in Serbian language as well” (Radio KIM)
• 11 new cases of Covid-19 infection in northern Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warns UN about coronavirus press freedom violations (Beta, AFP, N1)
• EFJ warns of reporting restrictions during coronavirus pandemic (N1)
• US Ambassador to Serbia: We’ll write down new chapter of our friendship (FoNet, N1)
• Detention of Marko Rosic extended for two more months (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Pandemic Adds Fresh Uncertainty to Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue (Balkan Insight)
• Why the EU should lead talks between Kosovo and Serbia (ecfr.eu)

International:

• Balkan Economies Expected to Contract in Pandemic, IMF warns (Balkan Insight)
• Várhelyi: New methodology has put the enlargement policy back on track (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Staying at home increased cases of domestic violence (RTK)

• Kosovo: 36 new cases of COVID-19, five recoveries (media)
• Kosovo, Serbia health ministers discuss cooperation against COVID-19 (media)
• UK Embassy urges media to report factually (media)
• Osmani forwards initiative for draft law on fighting COVID-19 (media)
• Von Cramon: Lockdown rules to follow constitutional ones in Kosovo (media)
• MP Berisha writes to embassies: Please help Egyptian community (media)
• Lajcak denies he has knowledge of a Kosovo-Serbia “secret deal” (Klan Kosova)
• Nagavci: LVV will reply to the President after the pandemic (RTK)
• Limaj says his party willing to contribute in a unity government (Kosovapress)
• VV’s Pacolli accuses opposition of creating political crisis during pandemic (Koha)
• “For LDK, health of citizens equally important as health of democracy” (Telegrafi)
• Haxhiu: I was not invited at President’s meeting (Klan Kosova)
• Kosovo Police sends appeal against domestic violence (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 15, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• President Thaci sends third letter to Kurti (media)
• Thaci: Kosovo needs government with full mandate (media)
• US Embassy: Follow guidelines issued by government and municipalities (media)
• Heldt: Increase of Covid-19 cases in Kosovo is not a good thing (RTK)
• Another patient succumbs to COVID - 19, total of 9 fatalities (media)
• President Thaci meets heads of judicial institutions (media)
• Latifi: An LDK-led govt formed to reach final deal with Serbia (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• President Vucic says there will be no exception for Easter (B92)
• Crisis headquarters in north said new measures entered in force, movement allowed for 90 minutes (KoSSev)
• Seven new cases of Covid-19 infection in northern Kosovo (Radio kontakt plus)
• Palmer: US aid helped Western Balkans tackle pandemic (N1, VoA)
• European Commission set to change restrictions on export of medical equipment (N1, RTS)
• Ban on export of medication produced in Serbia takes effect (N1, FoNet)

Opinion:

• Fighting COVID-19 in Serbia is not a suppression of democracy (The Washington Post)
• Reality Check: Will COVID-19 Remake The World? (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo Opposition Signals Readiness to Form New Government (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Number of coronavirus cases exceeded two million, US still on top (B92)

• Kosovo: Ten new cases of COVID-19, three recoveries (media)
• Apostolova appeals for institutions to cooperate during pandemic (RTK)
• Stoltenberg: NATO’s mission in Kosovo, maintained (Gazeta Express)
• LDK votes in favour of coalition with AAK, NISMA-AKR, communities (media)
• Mustafa: LVV should not delay the issue of creating new government (RTV21)
• Lekaj: AAK will not set conditions to LDK for a coalition government (Telegrafi)
• Haxhiu: Thaci has no right to interfere in forming of new government (T7/Zeri)
• Haziri: Coalition with LVV, one step forward two steps back (Klan Kosova)
• PDK considering sending movement restriction decision to court (Kosovapress)
• Selmanaj: Ending coalition with LVV, one of the best actions (T7, RTK)
• Balje: We support forming of a new government in Kosovo (RTK)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 14, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• PDK withdraws emergency financial package proposal (media)
• Osmani does not put PDK’s additional motion on the agenda (Koha)
• LVV does not participate at Assembly session, Nagavci gives the reasons (RTK)
• Kurti: Emergency fiscal package to be followed with revitalization of economy (Koha)
• Government sets up coordinating group on economy during pandemic crisis (Koha)
• Mustafa: Recent movement restriction measures, concerning (media)
• Mayors: We weren’t contacted by Ministry, new measures causing chaos (media)
• Five Kosovo Police officers infected with COVID – 19 (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Two new cases of Covid-19 infection registered in northern Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• “For Mitrovica citizens decision unclear and astonishing” (Radio KIM)
• Church’s bells tolling in Pristina “primitive Russian model” for some Kosovo media, Eparchy warns on targeting church and unprofessional journalism (KoSSev)
• KoSSev editor-in-chief detained while on assignment (KoSSev)
• Journalists’ associations, civil society organizations react to detainment of Tatjana Lazarevic (KoSSev)
• Mitrovica Innovation Centre donates 100 visors to health institutions (KoSSev)

International:

• Podcast: “The Americans have encouraged friends in Kosovo to get rid of this truculent PM”—a Balkan bust-up (The Economist)
• Democrats In Congress Question Trump's 'Heavy-Handed' Approach To Kosovo (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• WHO: COVID-19 mortality rate ten times higher than 2009 flu pandemic (N1)

• Kosovo: 393 cases with COVID-19, nine deaths and 65 recovered (media)
• New measures announced to contain spread of COVID-19 (media)
• Osmani: We can win battle against COVID-19 only by staying at home (media)
• Gashi: Kurti is endangering state over personal battle with President (media)
• PDK opposes latest measures on movement of citizens (media)
• Haradinaj: New measures, a grave violation of the constitutional order (media)
• Ahmeti: Stopping all economic activities would have grave consequences (media)
• Abrashi: Govt is assuming excessive power with measures and force (media)
• Former minister criticises govt’s approach in fight against COVID-19 (media)
• Gjini: Another violation of the Constitution (Gazeta Express)
• Hasani: New measures on movement, totally anti-constitutional (media)
• NISMA’s Shala: Government is totally out of constitutional control (media)
• RAE communities stand defenseless in the face of COVID – 19 (RFE)
• UNICEF: Children in detention to be released due to COVID-19 threat (media)
• Kurti replies to Thaci, accuses him of trying to impose unconstitutional solution (media)
• Assembly to discuss today PDK’s emergency package (media)
• Svecla issues permits for MP’s participation at the Assembly session (media)
• Mustafa: No coalition talks before LVV exhausts constitutional options (media)
• Engel, Menendez express concern about Trump Administration approach to Serbia & Kosovo (media)

• Thaci implies he will sidestep Vetevendosje on PM candidate (Koha)
• Nagavci: No new government without winner of elections (media)
• Health Institute confirms 23 new cases of coronavirus (media)
• IMF approves US$56.5 million in support to Kosovo to address COVID – 19 (media)
• First case of Covid-19 within KFOR – no details on patient’s condition (Express)
• Djuric: All movement restricted during weekends in Zvecan and Mitrovica North (media)
• Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian cemeteries damaged in Rahovec (media)
• Four former ministers charged for “giving away” four hydropower plants (Koha)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 10, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Coming weeks, critical in coronavirus fight (Telegrafi)
• Thaci writes to Kurti, says he is waiting for reply for PM candidate (media)
• Lajcak writes to Thaci about his engagement in dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Croatia remains in support of visa liberalisation for Kosovo (media)
• Slovakia supports visa liberalisation for Kosovo (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• UNSG Guterres: "COVID-19 Pandemic threatens international peace and security" (B92, Tanjug)
• Mitrovica North and Zvecan: New movement restrictions in place (Radio kontakt plus)
• Two new Covid-19 infected cases in northern Kosovo (Radio kontakt plus)
• Crowding in Mitrovica North increases, citizens differently on new measures (Kosovo-online)
• Spiric: Press conference live streamed without our consent (KoSSev)
• Western Balkans call for EU exemption on exports of medical gear (N1, Politico)
• ''Coronavirus death rates in the former Yugoslav republics'' (N1)

International:

• Naming New PM Not A Priority During Pandemic, Kosovo's Kurti Tells RFE/RL

Humanitarian/Development:

• Civil Rights Defenders released report on Internet freedoms in the Western Balkan Region (crd.org)
• Teachers make the push for distance learning (Prishtina Insight)