UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 12, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 113 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Over 38,000 doses of COVID vaccine arrive in Kosovo (media)
• NIPK encourages citizens to get vaccinated against COVID-19 (media)
• Distance learning fails to reach disadvantaged pupils (Prishtina Insight)
• Pahor: Final time for Western Balkans to integrate into EU (Telegrafi)
• LDK slams government programme as 'hollow' (media)
• Police recover casings from shooting incident in Zubin Potok mountains (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Israeli Ambassador: The decision to recognize Kosovo was made under the coercion of the US (TV Prva, KoSSev)
• Palestinian Ambassador: Against the relocation of embassies to Jerusalem (Danas, TV Prva)
• PM Ana Brnabic to attend dinner hosted by Borrell on May 18 (Tanjug, RTV Puls)
• EU: New enlargement methodology for Montenegro and Serbia (N1)
• Kosovo Albanians vaccinate in Serbia, Pristina media report (N1
• Dodik: No processes being implemented towards secession of Bosnia’s RS entity (N1)
• Selakovic: Constant support of Indonesia (RTS)
• Rakic demands urgent protection of returnees in Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)

Opinion:

• Without the EU, third actors will fill the void in the Western Balkans (politikon.me, EWB)

International:

• EU's Balkan strategy losing local support, internal paper warns (Reuters)
• Democracy is in distress, finds the Council of Europe Secretary General’s annual report for 2021 (coe.int)
• Serbia, Kosovo, Greece Express Hope for Sustained Interest, Investment Through US Agency (VOA)
• In North Kosovo, Mining for Bitcoin on ‘Free’ Electricity (Balkan Insight)
• “Investment in the Western Balkans is an investment in the shared, value-oriented future of Europe” (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• ‘Women’s Work’: COVID-19 Deals Blow to Gender Equality in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
• International Nurses Day: nurses in northern Kosovo receive awards (KoSSev)
• Three Serbian hospitals to step out of COVID system (N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 11, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 49 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Before confronting Vucic, Kurti plans to invite party leaders to a meeting (media)
• Maas to Kurti: Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, decisive for European perspectives (media)
• Gervalla publishes 20 key government program points (RTK)
• Hoti publishes evidence that he handed over the dialogue file to Kurti (Kallxo)
• CDHRF: Strengthening justice in Kosovo, most effective method to tackle Serbia's crimes (media)
• Minister Mehaj talks to Montenegrin Defense Minister (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian areas: 8 new cases, one death (KoSSev)
• Borrell: Western Balkans has key geostrategic role for the European Union (Beta, N1)
• Vucic invited to Brussels (B92)
• Diocese of Raska-Prizren concerned over attacks on religious sites (KoSSev)
• Father Sava with Szunyog on Visoki Decani Monastery problems (Kosovo-online)
• Jutarnji List: Forget Bosnia-Herzegovina, it is a nightmare; EU has a priority, and that is Serbia (B92, Blic)
• Grubjesic: EU to convince Kurti that dialogue is a priority (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Court of Appeals rejects appeals filed by defense in Oliver Ivanovic murder trial (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian official says almost four million doses of vaccine administered (N1)
• Petkovic: Two returnees’ families in Dubrava village attacked (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Balkan Muslims Find Second Pandemic Ramadan a Challenge (Balkan Insight)
• Landmine Blasts on Albania-Kosovo Border Blight Survivors’ Lives (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia Honors 2019 Nobel Prize-Winner For Literature, Who Denies Srebrenica Genocide (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbian Chamber of Commerce to organize info day on Western Balkans common market action plan (Kosovo-online)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 47 new cases, two deaths (media)
• New shipments of Covid vaccines to arrive to Kosovo in coming days (media)
• Swedish FM: Kosovo and Serbia to treat dialogue as priority (media)
• Croatian FM pledges support for Kosovo in visa liberalisation process (Koha)
• Police begin interviewing witnesses of yesterday's incident in Zubin Potok (Klan)
• Human remains recovered from Kizevak grave site (EO)
• Annual budget exceeding €100 million allocated to Ministry of Defence (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 13 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Kontakt plus radio)
• EU: Chance for an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, no time to lose (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, RTS)
• EU Ministers to Discuss Urgent, Reinforced Engagement in Western Balkans (Beta)
• Fabrizi: Urgent need of rule of law reforms in Serbia, BG-PR dialogue not a condition for opening more chapters (RTS, Beta, N1)
• Selakovic informed Davenport on the position of the Serb population in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, RTV)
• Office for KiM: Stoned church in Kosovska Vitina (Kosovo Online, RTV)
• Radman: Recognition of Kosovo is a reality; Vulin: What the reality is in Republika Srpska? (Hina, N1, KoSSev)
• Patriarch: Persecution of believers, occupation of their homes, and destruction of churches is a culturcide (KoSSev)
• Vucic awards Austrian writer Peter Handke the Order of Karadjordje’s Star (N1, RTS)

Opinion:

• Resuming Kosovo – Serbia Dialogue: What can be expected over next six months? (KoSSev)

Humanitarian/Development:

• EU kicks off year-long Conference on Future of Europe (N1)
• Visoki Decani and Pec Patriarchate open to limited number of visitors (Radio KIM)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 7, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 170 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Athens mayor gives Kurti support on visa liberalization (media)
• Kurti: Preventing and combating violence against women is a government priority (media)
• Gervalla: I am a Kosovo citizen, I travel with Kosovo documents (Reporteri, media)
• Haxhiu: Treating domestic violence is a government plan (RTK)
• KDI: Transparency in local government decreased due to the pandemic (Koha)
• Police intervenes in PSD activity, arrests four members (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic, Dacic on Croatia and military camp in Kosovo (media)
• Serbian List, Office for KiM, react against Croatian military base in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Simic: Serbs feel more threatened due to Croatian announcements on opening military camp (Kosovo-online)
• Croatian FA Ministry: Inaccurate and incorrect speculations of Serbia regarding military camp (Kosovo-online)
• Varhelyi: EU approves revised enlargement methodology for Serbia, Montenegro (N1)
• "Balkan states will resist border change scenario" (B92)
• Serbia eases pandemic measures for cafes, restaurants (N1)
• Nedeljko Spasojevic transferred to Mitrovica North prison (Kosovo-online)
• Odalovic: Pristina no longer can ignore requests, search on locations soon, Kosare to be first one (Kosovo-online)
• "Serbia-Kosovo dialogue unnecessary prolonged" (B92)

Albanian Language Media:

COVID-19: 158 new cases, 3 deaths (media)
Croatia offers 10,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to people of Kosovo (euronews.al)
Gervalla to PDK MPs: Special Court did not fall from the sky (media)
Kurti defends Gervalla: She defends and promotes our liberation war (media)
Croatian Foreign Minister: We are against border changes (media)
G-7 urges Kosovo and Serbia for reconstructive dialogue (Klan)
Haxhiu: One of most important processes of justice, vetting, starts today (Koha)
River devastation at the centre of BIRN debate (BIRN)

Serbian Language Media:

Eight new cases of Covid-19, one death registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
Vucic: Those announcing genocide lawsuit do not care about dialogue (KoSSev)
Petkovic: Nothing will come of Pristina’s pressures on Belgrade (Kosovo-online)
Bourita: Morocco considers Kosovo part of Serbia (Tanjug)
Godfrey: US displeased over procrastination of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Tanjug)
Ursula von der Leyen wrote to Vucic (B92)
Office for KiM: Miroslav Lukic assaulted in Velika Hoca (Radio KIM)
Bieber: Kosovo genocide lawsuit against Serbia cannot be successful (N1)
Serbian Torlak Institute gets 104.000 Pfizer vaccines (N1)