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UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 23, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 645 new cases, 12 deaths (media)
• Borrell: Kosovo-Serbia land swap, once an option but no longer one (Telegrafi)
• Hoti: Selmanaj's remarks have been misconstrued (Kosovapress/Koha)
• Vetevendosje calls for dismissal of Deputy Prime Minister Selmanaj (media)
• KWN writes to PM Hoti asking for DPM Selmanaj's dismissal (media)
• Kosovo Assembly fails to adopt resolution on missing persons (media)
• Osmani: Unfortunate that Kosovo is not allowed CoE membership (media)
• Kosovo delegation meets Croatian PM Plenkovic (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: SPC Patriarch Irinej loved Serbs everywhere, his main concern was Kosovo (N1)
• MP Adem Hoxha joined the Serbian List (KiM radio, Kosovo Online)
• Vesic prohibited from entering Kosovo (KoSSev, KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio)
• The inscription "KLA" on the board at the entrance to Kisnica (KiM radio)
• Gracanica mayor on attempted flag burning (KIM radio)
• Four charged with the murder of Ivanovic in a new indictment, hearing to be held on December 4th (KoSSev)
• BCSP: 70% of Serbs do not believe there will be an armed conflict, 47% of them are ready to take part in a Kosovo conflict (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Serbs Should Mourn Quiet Patriarch Who Avoided Conflict (Balkan insight)
• Cause for Optimism in Albeit Slow Western Balkans Recovery (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Hidden economy at very high levels and increasing throughout the Western Balkans (EWB)
• WHO official says Serbia close to lockdown (N1)
• Over 2,600 migrants in Kosovo, majority of them from Syria (RTK)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 20, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 11 deaths, 855 new cases (media)
• Osmani: We are tired of irresponsible politicians who show tolerance to Serbia's rejective policies (media)
• Hardinaj-Stublla made official request to visit mass graves locations in Serbia (media)
• Kizevak explained: EULEX experts describe how they identified the exact location where the human remains were discovered (EULEX, Express)
• Veliu: Serbia exercising violence against migrants near Presevo (RTK)
• Osmani: We are tired of irresponsible politicians who show tolerance to Serbia's denying policies (media)
• Belgrade Court orders exhumation of human remains from Serbian mass grave (Euronews Albania)
• Kosovo’s Constitution does not specify who replaces acting president (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Gracanica Crisis Staff: Seven more newly infected with Covid-19 (KiM radio)
• Serbian Orthodox Church: Serbian Patriarch Irinej reposed in the Lord (media)
• Three-day mourning in Serbia after SPC Patriarch's death; Putin sends condolences (N1)
• Petar Petkovic: Serbian people has lost its spiritual father and archpastor (Kosovo Online, TV Most, KiM radio)
• Varhelyi tells MEPs Western Balkans are a priority (N1)
• Serbian government official calls for end to attacks on Kosovo Serbs (FoNet, N1)
• Gara: Nine sets of human remains found in 3 months in Kosovo, excavations carried out in North Mitrovica (KoSSev)
• SPO: Government officials “loyal” to Thaci and Veseli presided over “corrupt government pay-outs” to potential witnesses (KoSSev)
• Albanian citizens can enter Serbia using only an ID card (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Kosovo turns blind eye to officials flouting COVID-19 laws (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Serbia Mourns Aged Patriarch’s Death from COVID-19 (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 19, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 15 deaths, 875 new cases (media)
• Hoti: We’re committed to the issue of missing persons (media)
• Gerxhaliu: We’re waiting for official invitation to go to Raska (Telegrafi)
• Hoti in an online meeting with Macron, attempt to resume dialogue? (Lajmi)
• Trepca mineworkers protest over October wages (media)
• Minister: €1 million executed for wages of Trepca mineworkers (media)
• “Kosovo won’t be represented by UNMIK at Energy Community Treaty” (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• One death, 68 new cases in Serbian communities in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• EP worried by Serbia's ruling party dominance during June general elections (N1)
• Lawyer Tapuskovic: If killed journalists are not in the indictments, the trial of KLA leaders of no use (Kontakt plus radio, UNS)
• The Kosovo inspection checks one pharmacy in North Mitrovica, citizens resented (KoSSev, Kontakt plus radio, Kosovo Online)
• Kisnica: Family Trajkovic worried, provocations continue (KiM Radio, Kosovo Online, Radio Gracanica)
• Borrell: The EU expects Serbia and Kosovo not to move the embassies to Jerusalem (N1)
• Doctors: SPC Patriarch’s health condition deteriorating due to coronavirus (media)
• Dacic: There must be justice for Serbian victims as well (B92, Tanjug, TV Happy)

Opinion:

• Language Is Politics, and Not Just In the Balkans (bnnbloomberg.ca)

International:

• Would-be Balkan EU Members Remain Hostage to Vetos (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• "Europe can avoid quarantine on one condition and I stand behind that claim" (Tanjug, B92)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 18, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 11 deaths, 720 new cases (media)
• Over 40,000 pages of material against former KLA leaders (Koha)
• Prosecution: Trial of KLA leaders to start in summer of the next year (RTK)
• Thaci’s lawyer: Starting trial in June is absurd (RTK)
• Veseli’s lawyer criticizes evidence work of the Special Prosecutor (RTK)
• Krasniqi’s and Selimi’s lawyers also complain, request more time for evidence (RTK)
• Emmerson: When evidence comes to light, this indictment will be called ridiculous (RTK)
• Hoxhaj: On the day Albanian mass graves are opening in Serbia, freedom fighters are being tried in The Hague (Express)
• KLA war veterans: session against Thaci and others, clearly political (Telegrafi)
• Balje reacts to Belgrade’s claims that communities are endangered (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• The remains found in the quarry near Raska; Odalovic: We are on the field, awaiting the judge's move (KoSSev)
• Braun about Biden's statement on Thaci: Views can be changed (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Enhance the presence of international security forces in Serb areas south of the Ibar, says Petkovic (Kontakt plus radio)
• Attack on a Serb in Kisnica, no injuries sustained (KiM radio, gracanicaonline.info, Kontakt plus radio, KoSSev, RTV Puls)
• YIHR: The glorification of those accused for war crimes is unacceptable always and under any circumstance (KoSSev)
• Vulin uses the derogatory term ''Shiptars'' on RTS; Kamberi: Vulin violates Serb laws (KoSSev)
• Darko Tasic's lawyer: ''My client was beaten in the prison near Podujevo'' (Kontakt plus radio)
• CEC member and former Minister, Rikalo appointed Acting Assistant Director of Office for KiM (KoSSev, Kontakt plus radio)
• Ambassador Godfrey: Biden's administration will work on strengthening relation with Serbia (FoNet, N1)
• EU Ambassador says Serbia’s military neutrality not in question (RFE, N1)
• Serbian FM Selakovic meets UN Belgrade office chief Miculescu (FoNet, N1)

International:

• Bulgaria blocks EU membership talks for North Macedonia (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbian teachers’ unions want schools closed (media)
• Balkans 17/11/2020: 1.430.341 recorded cases, 32.867 deaths (balkaneu.com)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 17, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 17 deaths, 764 new cases (media)
• Thaci, Veseli and the others at another session on Wednesday (media)
• Nagavci: Unity around obsolete political club would be wrong (media)
• LVV Spokesman, supports Kurti’s reaction on Special Court (RTK)
• Isa Mustafa defends Lulzim Basha (media)
• Billboard in support of ex-KLA members torched overnight near Serb-majority Municipality (Gazeta Express)
• Serbian president says Merkel siding with Kosovo (media)
• Human remains of suspected missing persons from Kosovo war found in Serbia (Euronews Albania)
• Kosovo’s economy to shrink 7.2% due to coronavirus crisis (Gazeta Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• 74 newly infected, one death and 13 cured in Serbian communities (Kontakt plus radio, KoSSev, KiM radio)
• Nine more newly infected, 29 hospitalized in Gracanica (Kosovo Online)
• Gracanica billboards (media)
• Vucic: The Russians knew what was being signed in Washington; We will fight for Serbia (TV most, TV Happy)
• Majority of Serbians opposed to NATO membership (N1, Beta)
• "The only possible option is for Serbia to join the EU" (B92, Tanjug)
• SPC monastery in Kosovo abbess: Ten nuns infected with coronavirus (Beta, N1)
• Seventy thousand requests for return of usurped property in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Artists in support of war crimes indictees; A billboard in Gracanica burns down (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• “Specialist chambers ‘inat’ should be recognised–and faced” (kosovotwopointzero.com)

International:

• Kosovo president expects better US relations under Biden (Financial Times)
• “Serbia and NATO have to work on restoring trust in one another” (EWB)
• Suspected Mass Grave of Kosovo War Victims Found in Serbia (Balkan Insight)
• Survey: 80% of Serbian citizens against NATO membership, but only 33% against cooperation (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• A year after China 'Patient Zero,' 55 mil infected with SARS-CoV-2, 1.3 mil died (N1, RTS)