• Kurti says he is waiting for KFOR to remove barricades in the north (RFE)
• Government refutes claims for deployment of special forces in north (RFE)
• Serbs in Kosovo clash with police as ethnic tensions flare (Reuters)
• Tensions rise, violence reported in Kosovo as ethnic Serbs block roads (RFE)
• German FM: Kosovo reduced tensions by postponing elections, recent rhetoric from Serbia did the opposite (media)
• Joint statement of U.S. Embassies in Belgrade and Pristina (media)
• Statement by United Kingdom Embassies in Pristina and Belgrade (media)
• Kurti: We do not seek conflict but dialogue and peace (media)
• NATO: Parties to avoid provocative actions and rhetoric (media)
• Albanian PM Rama reacts to incidents in north of Kosovo (media)
• Chollet, Escobar start their visit to Kosovo (media)
• Escobar begins visit to Kosovo with visit to Decani Monastery (media)
• RFE secures French-German plan; doesn’t mention mutual recognition
• Kosovo to submit EU bid in coming days (Politico)
• Bildt: Things will heat up as Kosovo intends to submit EU application (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 9, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: There will never be police and soldiers of Serbia in Kosovo again (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo Police is not oriented against Serbs (media)
• Situation in north of Kosovo reported to be calm (RFE)
• EU concerned about “very serious” situation in north Kosovo (RFE)
• Rohde: Elections in the north must be postponed (RTK)
• AJK condemns the attack on journalists in the north, demands security (media)
• UK sanctions Milan Radoicic and Zvonko Veselinovic (Gazeta Express)
• Masked persons attack vehicle of reporters in Mitrovica North (Kallxo)
• Masked persons seen near Bosniak Neighborhood in north Kosovo (Klan)
• U.S. recommends religious communities’ registration without criteria on number of their members (Koha)
• LDK demands Minister Haxhiu’s resignation after disappearance of samples (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic: ZSO not a matter of Kurti's wishes, but an obligation from the agreement (KiM radio)
• Serbian List reaction to Veselinovic, Radoicic, Tepic sanctions (Kosovo Online, Danas, Kontakt plus radio)
• Situation in Mitrovica North calm, but tense (RTS)
• Stano: EU calls for responsibility and calming of tensions in north of Kosovo (RTS)
• Brnabic says Serbia to demand everything that is in line with UN SC Resolution 1244 (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: “We sent final appeal to international community, Serbs will no longer endure Kurti’s terror” (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Tadic says Petkovic ‘deceives’ public (Danas)
• Igor Simic: We are committed to peace, but it is boiling here (RTS, Tanjug, media)
• Djuric: A textbook example of inflaming conflict in Kosovo (Danas)
• Rasic: I will ask Kurti to delay the election (KiM radio, Danas)
• Serbian Orthodox Church: Increased pressure of Kosovo institutions on Serbs (Beta, NMagazin)
• In three settlements in Mitrovica North there were no members of Kosovo police this morning (N1)
• Drecun: Ultimate Kurti’s goal is to send KSF to northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Attempted robbery in Leposavic, Serbian bank confirms exchange of fire (KoSSev)
• Stojanovic: Return of Serbian army in Kosovo at this moment unrealistic (Radio KIM)

International:

• KALLXO Team and Police Attacked in the North (BIRN)
• Branded ‘Scum’ in Serbia, Kosovo Serb Defends Cabinet Role (BIRN)
• Serbia Considering Sending 1,000 ‘Security Personnel’ Into Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

• Kosovo police officer wounded in volatile northern region (Reuters)
• President’s Office reacts to Petkovic’s statement (media)
• Government: Regular police in north, not special units (Radio Free Europe)
• Chollet: Elections in north should be delayed (media)
• Svecla on elections in north: We coordinate with allies; President decides (RTK)
• Konjufca: Main person of justice has file on gangs in north, doesn’t act (media)
• Trajkovic: Alarming situation in north; Vucic caused security vacuum (media)
• Kurti: Green agenda remans our priority (media)
• Dozens of Kosovo Serbs protest customs’ confiscation of illegal alcohol (BIRN)
• Kosovo holds march against abuse of disabled (Anadolu Agency)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Decision on elections in north, in a matter of days (Koha)
• Osmani: Progress made with non-recognisers; compromise needed in dialogue (media)
• Borrell invites Kurti and Vucic to Brussels (media)
• Kurti in Vienna: ‘Perspective in EU’ not enough, accelerated process is needed (Koha)
• Varhelyi: Kosovo imminent application to start membership process discussed (media)
• Kosovo gets €57.6 million in grants from WBIF media)
• Gjoshi: Kurti decided to leave Kosovo at a critical moment (media)
• Customs: Confiscated 42,000 litres of alcoholic drinks in village near Rahovec (media)
• Two months without Minister of Health; opposition says government is negligent (RTK)
• Haxhiu: Dehari’s blood samples missing from Institute of Forensic Medicine (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic discusses with Hill security situation in Kosovo (RTS)
• Vucevic: Events in northern Kosovo and Velika Hoca message that Serbs are unwelcome (Tanjug)
• Confiscation of wine from a Serb family in Velika Hoca (RTS)
• Giuafret: ZSO must be formed, I am convinced that the talks will continue (RTS)
• Zarazzin: Pristina knows there must be talks on ZSO (Tanjug)
• A strong blast of a pyrotechnic device disturbed Bosniak Mahala residents, another device thrown in Mikronaselje (KoSSev)
• Hoxha: Svecla should be more careful in his statements (Kosovo Online)
• The special Kosovo police entered the yard of the kindergarten in Leposavic with combat vehicles (Kosovo Online)
• KFOR clarifies situation, extends apology over accidental entry to kindergarten yard in Leposavic (Tanjug)
• Popovic calls for rejection of Kosovo HCCH membership bid (Tanjug)
• Stano: Borrell invited Vucic and Kurti for a meeting (Kosovo Online)
• DiA invite President Osmani to start the consultations on the postponement of elections (Kosovo Online)
• The latest version of the Franco-German proposal: What the top-secret document says? (Danas, N1)
• Serbian Ministry of Justice: Albanian who died in prison refused treatments (N1)

Opinion:

• Mihajlovic: ''ZSO a colorful lie that Belgrade uses to cover up the sale of Serbian interests in Kosovo'' (Beta, Danas, KoSSev)

International:

• EU, US, Civil Society, Query Conditions for North Kosovo Elections (BIRN)
• Kosovo president: Progress made in lobbying non-recognisers (Euractiv)
• New Underground Carpark in Prishtina Creates ‘Above-ground’ Dilemma (BIRN)
• Study Reports 25,000 Violent Pushbacks at EU Borders (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• A candidate for deputy ombudsman with views that are against human rights (gorazdevac.com, Kallxo)

• Office of President: Postponing elections only after assessment by security bodies (media)
• Interior Minister Svecla says incidents in the north are terror attacks (RFE)
• Two blasts in north on Wednesday; police say they’re shock bombs (media)
• EU condemns attacks on CEC offices in north of Kosovo (Kallxo)
• COMKFOR Ristuccia: We don’t tolerate violence (RTK)
• EULEX steps up patrol in north; “trying to reassure local population” (Express)
• Bislimi meets chief foreign policy advisor to EC President (media)
• Krasniqi: PDK will certainly win the next national elections (media)
• Association of Journalists presents the 2022 Annual Journalism Awards (media)
• Kosovo Albanian’s Death in Serbian Prison Raises Concerns (BIRN)
• Faik Rexhepi Recalls Iconic Photo of Resistance (Prishtina Insight)
• FIFA fines Serbia for Kosovo flag in dressing room (Reuters)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 7, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• U.S.: Conditions not in place at this time for elections in the north (media)
• Government: Waiting for assessment of situation in north for further steps (media)
• EULEX says protests should be peaceful; calls for calm and restraint (media)
• Rohde: Full support for peaceful demonstrations; zero tolerance for violence (media)
• Guerot: Acts of intimidation very concerning; dialogue only way forward (media)
• Kusari-Lila: Milosevic’s Serbia still functions with Vucic at the helm (Klan)
• Gjoshi: Postponing elections is Vucic’s request; shouldn’t be accepted (Nacionale)
• Abazi: Wouldn’t be the end of the world to postpone elections in north (T7)
• Bislimi to travel to Brussels tomorrow; to meet Varhelyi and Jourova (Express)
• Ceku: Kosovo will apply for UNESCO membership next year (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: New French-German proposal no improvement for us (Tanjug)
• Vucevic: Situation in Kosovo flammable (Kosovo Online, media)
• Vulovic says Pristina officials “acted arrogantly and unprofessionally” (Kosovo Online)
• Trajkovic: They came with automatic weapons, detonations were heard (Kosovo Online)
• After incidents in north, Belgrade and Pristina hurl accusations against one another (KoSSev)
• New manifestation of an old crisis and lack of understanding (Radio KIM)
• Wigemark concerned with incidents in north, says any protests should be peaceful (Kosovo Online)
• EU, W. Balkan mobile operators sign declaration on reduction of roaming charges (Tanjug)
• Doderovic: Dismayed by appointment of Radulovic, we support Serbian List (Kosovo Online)
• EULEX monitors the situation in the north of Kosovo; Kurti increases the presence of the police (Beta, NMagazin, KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Failure to Protect Murdered 35-year-old Was Result of Catalogue of Errors (BIRN)
• Cooper: Belgrade and Pristina enjoy media attention (VoA, Beta, KiM radio)

International:

• Kosovo PM Announces More Police Presence in North Following Attacks (BIRN)
• Explosions, Attacks in North Put Elections in Question (Prishtina Insight)
• Leaders sign the Declaration of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tirana (EWB)
• Kosovo Activist Threatened After Criticising Football Player’s ‘Thuggish’ Gestures (Balkan Insight)

• Osmani: Criminal gangs trying to destabilise Kosovo (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo government doesn’t bargain or tolerate criminal gangs (media)
• Svecla: Election officials and police were attacked with shock bombs (media)
• Police: No one injured during incidents; election offices demolished (media)
• Explosions heard in Serb majority areas in Kosovo, no injuries reported (Reuters)
• Citaku about developments in north: Govt keeping us in the dark (media)
• Haradinaj to Kurti: Do you want to endanger the north at any cost? (media)
• Radoniqi: Elections cannot be held by force (media)
• PDK candidate for Zubin Potok says he received threat in Serbian (T7)
• EU drafts new proposal for Kosovo-Serbia ties - senior EU diplomat (Reuters)
• US Special Envoy Escobar to visit Kosovo on Monday (Kosovapress)
• State Department Counselor to visit Kosovo this week, sources say (Nacionale)
• “One sentence” is blocking resolution of fate of forcibly disappeared (AP)
• European Commission admits mistakenly asking Montenegro and North Macedonia to issue visas to Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)
• Heritage heist: Kosovo, Serbia fight over ‘loaned’ museum exhibits (BIRN)
• Solidarity Stories #6: Serb Monastery Shelters Kosovo Albanians (BIRN)
• Love divided: Kosovar-Serbian Couple Struggle to Build a Home in Disapproving Society (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Borrell: Pristina, Belgrade received updated text of French-German plan (RFE)
• Kurti meets Lajcak, discuss “course and dynamization of dialogue” (media)
• Lajcak after meeting Kurti: We have no time to lose (Nacionale)
• Sources: Lajcak calls for postponement of elections in north (Express)
• Bislimi: Accordance to keep content of French-German plan confidential (Kallxo)
• Osmani in Tirana: Vucic is the continuation of the 90s mentality that led to war (Klan)
• EC admits it mistakenly asked countries in region to introduce visas to Kosovo (RFE)
• CDHRF reacts to death of Kosovar with Norwegian citizenship in Serbian prison (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Sirens in Zubin Potok; Petkovic: ''Kurti sent the police with long pipes''; Jaksic on Twitter (N1, RTS, media)
• Vucic: Tirana summit good opportunity to protect Serbian interests (Tanjug)
• Vucic meets with Macron in Tirana (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Pristina lost large number of votes in UN (Danas)
• Odalovic: Pristina does not want to cooperate on resolving missing persons cases (Kosovo Online)
• Trajkovic on joining Kurti's government: The goal to find out what is being discussed (KoSSev, N1)
• Radulovic appointed adviser to Nenad Rasic (KiM radio)
• Gracanica municipality undertakes measures to protect new cemetery from desecration (KoSSev)
• Sentence to Nedeljkovic reduced to six months (Kosovo Online)
• Commission for the Protection of Competition: Proceedings initiated against MTS D.O.O (Kontakt plus radio)
• Serbian opposition MPs in show of support for N1, Nova S (KoSSev, N1)

International:

• Rama: EU accession not an ‘exam you can cheat on’, more work needed (euractive.com)
• Kosovo Files Second Complaint to FIFA in Serbia Football Row (BIRN)

• EU to ask Kosovo and Serbia for concrete progress on final agreement (Koha)
• McKee: U.S. partnership with Kosovo, stronger than ever (KTV)
• Kurti meets USAID Assistant Administrator McKee (media)
• Kurti to meet Lajcak in Pristina today (media)
• Lajcak meets Vucic in Belgrade (media)
• Michel: Progress is being made on visa liberalisation for Kosovo (media)
• Host Albania has high hopes for EU-Western Balkans summit (AP)
• Serbian President Will Attend EU-Balkan Summit in Tirana (BIRN)
• Bajrami reacts to EU asking Montenegro and North Macedonia to introduce visas for Kosovo (media)
• Bislimi to report on dialogue and French-German plan today (media)
• Police, CEC municipal officials will go to offices in north today (Koha)
• Albanian chased by several masked persons in north of Kosovo (media)
• Dejan Jankovic could become head of Kosovo Police (Albanian Post)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 5, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Eliminating violence is an obligation; victims must be protected (KP)
• Osmani asks for USAID support in fight against gender based violence (KP)
• PDK’s Krasniqi: Vetting must happen; unclear why it is running late (EO)
• Civil society: Judiciary inefficient; reforms can have results only through vetting (KP)
• Baraliu: Election reform must happen as soon as possible (RTK)
• Hoti: Government turned Serbia into main trade partner in the region (media)
• Arsenijevic confirms withdrawal of candidacy for Mitrovica North mayor (media)
• CEC confirms: Serb candidate for elections in north withdrew on Dec 2 (Gazeta Blic)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic to Lajcak: It is necessary to implement agreement on ZSO (RTS)
• Brnabic accuses Kurti of violating Brussels Agreement (N1)
• Serbs who left Kosovo institutions start receiving salary payments from Belgrade (KoSSev)
• Dacic meets Iranian diplomacy head, expresses gratitude for stance on Kosovo (RTS)
• The candidates of an extraordinary elections for mayors of municipalities in the north of Kosovo (RTS)
• Detention of Djokovic extended for two more months (Radio KIM)