UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 29, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 774 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Albin Kurti to receive the anti-Covid vaccine today (Express)
• Anti-COVID vaccination in Prishtina starts Tuesday (media)
• The Serbian List addresses Constitutional Court claiming bigger share in government (Express)
• Shala: We do not make compromises with candidates who lack political unity (media)
• Gashi: final decision on issue of President is made by LDK MPs (media)
• Kosnett urges parties to take a constructive position on the issue of president (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 12 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Sunday (Radio KIM, RTS)
• Serbian List filed complaint with Constitutional Court over one ministerial post (KoSSev)
• Mass vaccination of citizens and foreigners in Serbia; PM says no politics (N1)
• Cadez: 8.500 businesspeople from region vaccinated in Serbia (N1)
• German media: ‘Vaccination weekend’ new success of Serbia immunisation policy (N1)
• Bartolome: Spain will not change stance on Kosovo, no matter who requests that (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic: Announcement of constructing KSF base in northern Kosovo dangerous (Kosovo-online)
• NSI reacts to announced KSF base at Crnusa hill above Mitrovica (media, social media)
• Andjelkovic: Formation of KSF base in northern Kosovo direct threat to Serbs (Kosovo-online)
• Milic: Disrespect of Resolution 1244 (B92)
• YIHR: Officials should stop manipulating data related to victims of Kosovo war (KoSSev)

International:

• Serbia Vaccinates Thousands from Region Over Weekend (Balkan Insight)
• Foreign vaccine-seekers flock to Serbia for COVID-19 shots (Reuters)
• Serbia vaccinates migrants amid surge in COVID-19 cases (ABC News, Associated Press)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 860 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Kurti: War crimes and missing persons, priorities in dialogue with Serbia (Koha)
• KSF barracks to be constructed on a hill overlooking Mitrovica (media)
• Rosenstock-Siller: Kosovo-Serbia dialogue to be centred on mutual recognition (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: 15 new cases, two deaths (KoSSev)
• Chinese Defense Minister visiting Belgrade (N1, RTS)
• EU warns Kurti over undermining dialogue process (RTS, Tanjug)
• The countries of the Western Balkans are the least resistant to false news in Europe (KoSSev, N1, Beta)
• Selakovic: Von Cramon’s speech on Kosovo parade of political distaste (RTS)
• Businessmen from the region in Belgrade this weekend for a vaccination (Danas)
• Israeli envoy: Serbia’s Govt. office in Jerusalem step toward moving embassy (Beta, N1)
• Zakharova: NATO aggression against FRY long-term tragedy (Kosovo-online)
• Belgrade insists on concrete examples from the EP on the Serbian authorities' wrongdoings (FoNet, N1, RTS)
• Stojkovic: 180 housing units more in Kosovo for displaced persons and young couples (Radio KIM)
• Vucic: I am proud to delegitimize the statehood of Kosovo and I will continue to do so (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• How the Quint must help Kosovo (EWB)
• It's time to deliver in this time of 'firsts' (Kosovo 2.0)
• Three key foreign policy objectives for Kosovo’s new government (Emerging Europe)

International:

• European MPs Urge Serbia, Kosovo to Intensify War Grave Search (Balkan Insight)
• Unregulated and Unlicensed, War Memorials Proliferate in Kosovo Towns (Balkan Insight)
• EP discusses Reports on Western Balkans: Majority support for enlargement, but the criteria need to be met (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• From Texas to Kosovo: Rape survivor returns as part of new gov’t (Al Jazeera)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 25, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 836 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
• Varhelyi: Resumption of dialogue with Serbia is essential (media)
• Kurrti continues receiving congratulating letters (media)
• Von Cramon: EU to liberalise promised visas for Kosovo citizens (media)
• Kurti to visit the U.S. as soon as possible (media)
• Kosovo government appoints deputy ministers (media)
• State Prosecutor issues 73 indictments against 76 individuals (media)
• Kurti asked to dismiss Deputy Prime Minister Emilija Rexhepi (media)
• Serbian List attempts to install parallel structures in Skenderaj and Vushtrri (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid -19 in Serbian communities: 49 new cases, one death (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic on Kurti’s dialogue principles, EU reaction (B92)
• Bilcik: Important to continue the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina for the sake of reconciliation (KiM radio, Tanjug)
• Lazarevic: New elections would strengthen Kurti even more, the losing parties are aware of this (Beta, KoSSev)
• Weber: The principles for dialogue presented by Kurti will make easier for the EU and the USA to reset the negotiations (Kosovo Online)
• EU on Kurti ZSO statement – Parties in the dialogue to refrain from harmful statements (Kosovo-online)
• Agreement to produce Sputnik V vaccine in Serbia reached (RTS)
• Obradovic: 904.000 citizens revaccinated in Serbia so far (Kosovo-online)
• Interpol warns citizens once again not to purchase vaccines on internet (KoSSev)
• Rakic: We continue working on return of displaced persons (Radio KIM)
• Office for KiM: KLA graffiti on health ambulance in Suvi Do (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian Chamber of Commerce set to open Jerusalem office (N1)

Opinion

• Kosovo: Kurti In Driver’s Seat Of A Driverless Vehicle – Analysis (eurasiareview)
• Serbia’s Brave Actresses Deserve Our Respect for Naming Their Abusers (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Application of the new methodology to Montenegro and Serbia: Principles remain the same, more emphasis on interim benchmarks (EWB)
• President Biden Urged to Move Hague War Court to Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The introduction of mutual language learning in Kosovo: A tentative roadmap (FB)
• North Mitrovica Municipality: NGO "Eko-Protekt" and UNMIK provided 75 tablet computers for school children (Kontakt plus radio, Radio Mitrovica sever)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 781 new cases, 17 deaths (media)
• Kurti: President election to take place soon (media)
• Kurti reveals his approach to the dialogue with Serbia (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo leaders commemorate anniversary of NATO air strikes on Serbian forces (media)
• CEC replaces MPs who accepted government posts (media)
• EULEX refutes KLA war veterans: No one was invited to our offices (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 42 new cases of Covid-19 in in Serbian communities (KoSSev)
• Twenty-two years ago, NATO bombs started falling on the then Yugoslavia (Beta, N1)
• Vucic with UN official: UN SC session on UNMIK in mid April (Tanjug, Kosovo-online)
• Office for KiM: Krstic’s verdict shameful, victim of persecution by Pristina (RTS)
• Defense lawyers on Krstic and Shabani verdicts (Radio KIM)
• Rakic assumed office of Minister for Communities and Returns (Kontakt plus radio)
• 22nd anniversary of the bombing marked in Gracanica (Kosovo Online)
• No easing of measures, Serbian anti-epidemic Crisis Team says (N1)
• North Macedonia journalists vaccinated in southern Serbia (N1)

International:

• 78 Days of Fear: Remembering NATO’s Bombing of Yugoslavia (Balkan Insight)
• WB2EU: Citizens need some re-branding of the idea of what the rule of law is (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Preparations for Manifesta14 underway (Prishtina Insight)
• Patagonia CEO: Hydropower Plants are not Green, Albanian Government Stop Decimating Balkan Rivers (exit.al)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 23, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 705 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
• Albin Kurti officially assumes duties as new prime minister of Kosovo (Express)
• Kurti: It is time to prove that we deserve our positions (media)
• Quint to MPs: The first task is to elect the president (media)
• Congratulations for Kurti and the new government continue (media)
• U.S. Ambassador visits LDK offices (media)
• Z.K and D.Sh. found guilty of war crimes (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: 67 new cases, three people died (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: Pristina brutally violated its own highest legal act (Danas, Beta)
• Petkovic: Kurti's demands absurd and undermine Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (TV Most)
• Simic: Two ministries belong to the Serbian list according to the law; we will not vote for Kurti's government (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Jevtic handovers duty to Rakic today, announces continuation of a joint struggle for betterment of Serbs (TV Most)
• Rada Trajkovic to Kurti: Citizens place their hopes in you and your promise of equality for all (Kosovo Online)
• Zlatan Krstic sentenced to 14 years in prison, Shabanaj to seven years (Kosovo-online)
• Epidemiological situation in Zvecan deteriorates, authorities urge citizens to vaccinate (Kosovo-online)
• Miftaraj: The constitution is clear, the Kosovo president is elected first, then the government (KoSSev)
• Surlic: Serbs acceptable for Pristina if decision-making does not depend on them (KoSSev)
• Krasniqi: The government that consolidated the majority, with the highest number of women, I expect the president to be elected (KoSSev)
• Only open debate on Kosovo "allowed" (Danas)
• Serbian DefMin concerned over Kosovo participation in NATO exercise (N1, FoNet)
• EU top diplomat says debate on Western Balkans at next meeting of EU FMs (N1, Beta)
• RFZO: Serbia has 5.800 doses of US new anti-coronavirus drug (N1)
• WHO Belgrade representative: Epidemic situation serious, measures to remain until results seen (N1)

Opinion

• Western Balkans’ Plight is Wake-up Call for Europe (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Balkan Countries Lacking Vaccines Look to Neighbours for Jabs (Balkan Insight)
• Vaccine makers should license technology to overcome 'grotesque' inequity: WHO (Reuters)
• Coronavirus digest: EU commissioner says herd immunity by summer is possible (DW)
• NATO, US to stage large-scale military exercises around Serbia until summer (euractive.com)