UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 27, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 23 new cases, one death (media)
• Kurti: Reciprocity will happen, but gradually (Klan)
• U.S. Army supports KSF’s transition to a defense army (RTK)
• Kamberi: We expect inclusion of Presevo Valley Albanians in dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Albin Kurti: I don’t believe KLA members are war criminals (Express)
• Health Minister: We will start with massive vaccination from 15 June (Telegrafi)
• Life imprisonment for man accused of Donjeta Pajazitaj’s murder (Prishtina Insight)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serb communities: Four new cases (KiM radio)
• Vucic with Falconi: Serbia for compromise with national interests (Tanjug, Blic)
• Important consultations, then dialogue continuation; Greece assures us that it will not recognize Kosovo, Vucic said (KoSSev, TV Pink)
• US Commerce Secretary’s tweet about Serbia draws varied reactions (N1)
• Pentagon: Serbian-Russian exercises sovereign right of two states (RTS)
• Iranian Ambassador: We fully support territorial integrity of Serbia (RTS)
• Kosovo Police launched operational "Kulti" plan to protect the SOC property (Kosovo Online)
• Serbia receives final shipment of Chinese coronavirus vaccine (N1)
• Frequented thefts affect remaining Serbs in Ceranovici village (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• "If it can't be demolished, then it is appropriated" (KiM radio)

International:

• Slovenia’s Janša describes plans to Balkanize the EU (politico.eu)
• Money laundering pushes up property prices in Western Balkan cities (intellinewes.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The closure of Kizevak (Kosovo 2.0)
• The end of the epidemic is in sight (DW, B92)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 44 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Curfew expected to be lifted as part of new measures against COVID-19 (media)
• Abdixhiku: Kurti has changed position on several topics of dialogue (Koha)
• Opposition call for US involvement in the dialogue (Prishtina Insight)
• Remains of at least nine people exhumed from mass grave in Serbia (BIRN)
• Konjufca: Identities of perpetrators of massacres to be revealed (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Tanaskovic: Pristina's attempts have no chance of success (RTS)
• Vecernje Novosti: Kurti has visions of tanks in Medvedja (Kosovo Online)
• Jovanovic: US created Kosovo; they can ‘break it up’ if it is in their interest (Kosovo-online)
• Kamberi: Only the United States can force Vucic (B92, Kosovo Online, Euronews)
• Brnabic: Serbia supports Swedish OSCE priorities (N1)
• Exhumation process in Kizevak concluded (Radio KIM)
• ''The obligation that 50 percent, of registered voters must go to the polls for the referendum, will be abolished'' (Vecernje Novosti)
• The second protest held in Stanisor village in Novo Brdo municipality (Kontakt plus radio)
• Western Balkans a Priority of Slovenia's EU Council Presidency (Beta, STA)
• Rakic, Mladenovic on implementation of law on use of languages (Kontakt plus radio)
• Serbian Government to financially support families affected by floods in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Western Balkan Border Changes Must Remain An EU Red Line (globalsecurityreview.com)
• Spain’s Impact on Kosovo’s Accession Process into the EU (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• City official says almost half of Serbian capital’s adults vaccinated (N1)
• Brnabic: Environment, green economy are priorities (N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 25, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 11 new cases, one death (media)
• Kosovo to receive additional vaccines from EU states (RFE)
• Kurti hails Kosovo’s participation in U.S.-led military exercise (media)
• Haradinaj calls for greater U.S. involvement in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• Hoxhaj asks Kurti: What will be your next present to Serbia? (media)
• Foreign Minister Gervalla reports to Assembly's foreign affairs committee (media)
• Hajdari: We want to exhaust regional tools to resolve problems with Serbia (KP/Koha)
• Serbian authorities release Kosovo man, arrested months ago (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: Two new cases, one death (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic does not expect NATO would ever apologize for bombing of FRY (N1)
• The mayor of Kamenica confirms the desecration of St. Petka: Such vandalism is unacceptable (KoSSev, Gracanicaonline)
• Office for KiM: Twelfth Orthodox church desecrated since beginning of year (Kosovo-online)
• Protest in Stanisor over trucks (Kontakt plus radio, RTK2)
• Petkovic visits Church of Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Istok (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Kurti's approach to church property is not new, but public (Danas)

Opinion:

• How to Improve the Process of Integrating the Western Balkans into the European Union (The National Interest)

International:

• Albanians Question Benefit of US Ban on Berisha (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Stop sexual harassment and abuse in Kosovo's schools (Kosovo 2.0)
• Efforts to strengthen the WHO (B92, AP)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 14 new cases, one death (media)
• Kurti and Abdixhiku to meet on Wednesday (media)
• Minister Haxhiu received today the Italian Ambassador, Nicola Orlando (RTK)
• Kurz to meet Lajcak today to discuss Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Insajderi)
• Kosovo marks the President’s Day (media)
• Minister Gervalla to report to the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday (media)
• Haxhiu suspects COVID-19 death numbers are being manipulated (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian top officials react to Pristina UNESCO letter (media
• Serbian Orthodox Church Council, Kosovo one of the topics (KiM radio, Tanjug)
• Bishop Teodosije: Inflammatory rhetoric of Kosovo leaders directly raises ethnic and religious tensions (KoSSev)
• Visoki Decani Monastery on Pristina officials UNESCO letter (KoSSev)
• Minister Aliu: I oppose Decani-Plav bypass, it is a dangerous precedent (KoSSev)
• Davenport in Visoki Decani: OSCE to support SOC to preserve its cultural and religious heritage (KoSSev)
• Samardzic: Institutions failed in respecting the Law on Languages (KiM radio, Slobodno Srpski)
• Petkovic in two-day stay in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Why five EU members will not recognize Kosovo (Sputnik, B92)
• Godfrey: The United States still want everything agreed in Washington to be implemented (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Belgrade sees Beijing as one of main allies in fight for Kosovo (N1)
• Organized crime a major security threat in the Western Balkans (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Zaev: Although we are a member of NATO, I cannot say that I am not afraid of Greater Albania (KoSSev, Kurir)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Joint exhibition of young Serbs and Albanians in Pristina (Kosovo-online)
• Foreigners vaccinated in Serbia will get green digital certificate (N1)
• Kon: Serious easing of pandemic measures in Serbia in mid-July (N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 21, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 58 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Over 55,000 persons vaccinated so far in Kosovo (media)
• Kurti on ambassadors' dismissals: Step towards foreign service reform (media)
• PDK's Hoxhaj will not attend meeting called by Kurti (media)
• LDK's Abdixhiku accepts Kurti's meeting invitation (media)
• DPM Bislimi lists government's plans for EU integration process (Klan)
• Government approves initiative enabling regional free movement (media)
• Agreement on KSF deployment to the north can be renegotiated, experts say (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• RFE: There are no vaccines for Serb communities in Kosovo (RTK2, Kontakt plus radio)
• Jacimovic’s house in Vitina stoned again, again minors are suspects (KoSSev)
• Kosovo Government silent on Quinta request to implement court decision on Visoki Decani Monastery (Kosovo-online)
• Blakaj: The issue of the missing is humanitarian, not political (RTK2)
• Serbia donates 100.000 Pfizer vaccines to Czech Republic (N1)
• Vucic: Many problems and pressure on Serbia regarding Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Memorial tournament “Dimitrije Popovic” on June 1, in Gracanica (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• A feminist revolt against sexual violence (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Covid still a threat to Europe – travel should be avoided, says WHO (The Guardian)
• Deeply Divided Montenegro Marks 15 Years of Independence (Balkan Insight)