UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 23, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 19 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kurti calls on Kosovo population to vaccinate (Klan)
• President Osmani received by Japan’s FM Motegi and Emperor Naruhito (media)
• Beqaj: Kurti's approach to dialogue is right but unrealistic (Telegrafi)
• Questions regarding Kosovo's international organisation membership bids (RFE)
• Thaci’s lawyer provides guarantee for his release from detention (media)
• Unwavering trust between Ankara and Belgrade (RFE Albanian)

Serbian Language Media:

• 22 years since the murder of 14 Serbian harvesters in Staro Gracko (media)
• Odalovic: It is certainly known who committed the crime in Staro Gracko (RTS, N1, Beta, KiM radio)
• Petkovic with Veselinovic: Mistreatment of Serbs must end (Kosovo-online)
• Rakic: We’ll continue to provide assistance, as it is only way to save our people (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian pilgrims banned from entering Kosovo (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Should Kosovo recognise Serbia? (Prishtina Insight)
• 11 years since the opinion of the International Court of Justice on Kosovo’s independence (KoSSev)
• Non-Papers and the elephant in the room: Rule of law in the Western Balkans (EWB)

International:

• Montenegro Rules out Changes to Kosovo Border Agreement (Balkan Insight)
• Serbian interior minister in Madrid to discuss police cooperation, Kosovo (Euractive)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 28 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kurti: Dialogue in Brussels is about status of Kosovo-Serbia relations (media)
• Osmani: Time to recognise irreversible reality of independent Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo Assembly ratifies IPA 2020 agreement (media)
• PDK initiates parliamentary debate on 100 days of Kurti government (Koha)
• VV MP: We are eradicating corruption (Ekonomia Online)
• PDK leader: Kosovo coordination with US, vital and irreplaceable (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: We are changing the name "mini Schengen", fast lanes for people from the region (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• “KLA” graffiti written on a church in Brod village, children’s playground in Susica
• Veselinovic transferred to Prizren for further interrogation (Radio KIM)
• Trajkovic: Kosovo institutions do not react to prevent pressure and do not condemn frequent incidents against Serb community (KoSSev, JUGpress)
• Danas: US delighted with Kurti's democracy, shocked by Vucic’s authoritarianism (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic on two-day visit in Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Popovic received a summons to testify at the trial for Ivanovic's murder (Beta, N1, KiM radio)
• Vucic spoke with Zaev and Rama ahead of Skopje Forum (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Balkan Athletes Hunger for Glory at Olympics Marred by COVID-19 (Balkan Insight)
• Vucic: Serbia will protect interests if Kosovo campaigns for independence (Euractiv)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Checkmate! Kosovo Elderly Find Solace – and Rivalry – in Ancient Game (Balkan Insight)
• Childbirth Often Traumatic in CEE, But Few Women Seek Redress (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 21, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 5 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Government convinced it will immunise 60% of population (media)
• Abazi: Non-recognition of Kosovo is a threat to the EU security umbrella (media)
• KDI: Assembly should ratify four international agreements (media)
• Assembly without quorum, agreement with European Bank postponed (media)
• Hoti reacts to Murati on budget review: do not deceive the MPs (media)
• Who and what loses from the failure of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RFE Albanian media)
• Srpska Lista re-elects ‘North Kosovo’s real ruler’ Radoicic as VP (Prishtina Insight)
• A greater involvement of women in decision-making is required (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian areas without new Covid-19 cases (Radio KIM)
• Why did Erdogan start the "battle for Kosovo" from Cyprus? (B92, Sputnik)
• Vucic reacts to Erdogan’s statement on working to increase recognitions of Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Miftaraj: Borrell and Lajcak are unable to control the dialogue process (KoSSev)
• Mrdalj: Vucic’s concern over position of Kosovo Serbs could encourage new attacks (KoSSev)
• Serbian List with the same leadership in the next four years (RTS)
• Dacic: Recognizing Kosovo is red line Serbia won’t cross (N1)
• SOC Patriarch Porfirije congratulates Eid al-Adha: Holidays should bring us closer (N1)
• Risto Jovanovic sentenced to six months in prison, can be released on EUR 6.700 bail (Kosovo-online)
• Srboljub Veselinovic, an IDP from Prizren, detained at Jarinje crossing (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)

Opinion:

• Greece and Kosovo’s budding relationship (Prishtina Insight)
• “Erdogan doesn't say anything by accident, such as lobbying for Kosovo independence” (B92, Kosovo-online)

International:

• What Progress Has the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue Made? (Balkan Insight)
• Second Vucic-Kurti meeting ends with no agreements (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The Kosovar scientist at the cutting edge of architecture (Kosovo 2.0)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: Three new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kurti meets Lajcak ahead of meeting with Vucic (Kallxo)
• Kurti: Today we commemorate Rahovec massacre (media)
• Hoti: Serbia to open war archives (media)
• Serwer: Kosovo to walk away from a bad deal with Serbia, improve relations with China (Klan)
• Repatriation of 11 Kosovo citizens from Syria carried out with U.S. support (EO)

Serbian Language Media:

• New round of talks - Vucic vs. Kurti; Borrell will present his expectations first (B92, Tanjug)
• Serbian FM hopes Greece will not change its stance on Kosovo (Beta, N1, TV Prva)
• Selakovic believe that Serbia will not have to give up Kosovo for the sake of joining the EU (APA, media)
• Dacic: International community should pressure Kosovo Albanians (FoNet, N1, TV Prva)
• Mini Schengen and the politics of the "Serbian world" do not go together (N1)
• The trial of Risto Jovanovic from Podgorica, arrested in Gazimestan, begun (Novi Magazin, Beta, RTS)
• Memorial service in Velika Hoca: ''23 years spent in pain, fear, waiting and uncertainty'' (KoSSev, RTK2, Beta)

Opinion:

• ''Courageous Kosovo '', ''criminal Serbia '' and history left unsaid (KoSSev)

International:

• Western Balkans region gets endorsement from Merkel on path to EU integration (eureporter.co)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 16, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 11 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Osmani: We will oppose those who aim to destabilise the region (media)
• Rama received by Chief of U.S. National Guard Bureau in Pentagon (media)
• Aliu: Buildings in “Sunny Valley” in the north are illegal, political issue (Koha)
• Another three bacteria found in Decan water tests sent abroad (media)
• Water supply system in Decan is not protected, minister says (EO)

Serbian Language Media:

• Stano: Vucic and Kurti on July 19 in Brussels with a focus on what has been achieved so far (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Assembly relieved Milena Popovic from membership at Constitutional Affairs Committee (Radio KIM)
• Miroslav Ivanovic regarding Simmons' allegations: The story has some background (KiM radio, KoSSev, Nova.rs)
• Ranko Bacic discharged from Pec hospital (Kosovo-online)
• Simic: Osmani forgets thousands Serbs from Kosovo deleted from voters’ lists (Kosovo-online)
• Janjic: Something must be delivered in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (Danas, Beta)

Opinion:

• When the only success of a meeting is the meeting itself (KoSSev)
• Serbia’s Narcissistic President Loves Giving Medals – to Himself (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Political scientists say EU has lost the battle for the Balkans (Euractive)
• Albania’s EU Path Held Hostage by ‘EU Nationalisms’, PM Says (Balkan Insight)
• Freedom of Information in Balkans: ‘No Will, No Optimism’ (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Coalition of NGOs for Child Protection calls on MPs to react (media)