UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 19, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 118 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Zemaj warns on stricter measures (media)
• Lajcak misinterpreted, constitutional changes apply to Belgrade as well (RFE)
• Horti: Government taking necessary steps to implement Washington Agreement (media)
• Kosovo marks the EU Anti-Trafficking Day (media)
• PDK MP writes public letter to Lajcak (media)
• Basha: Ahtisaari’s package is Kosovo’s compromise (T7, RTK)
• Thaci and Daka discuss election dates for Podujeva and North Mitrovica (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 11 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serb-areas in Kosovo on Saturday (Radio kontakt plus)
• “ZSO must be formed as it was agreed” (Radio KIM)
• Odalovic: Brussels has instruments to make Pristina establish ZSO (RTS)
• Lavrov to visit Serbia later this month (N1)
• Dmitrijevic to Serbian journalists’ associations: “Novosti” daily jeopardized safety of SOC clergy and Serbs in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• UNS: Could truthful reporting jeopardize Serbs in Kosovo? (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Kosovo Leaders Condemn Gun Attack on Journalist’s Car (Balkan Insight)
• ‘Easy Money’: Fake Forex and Fraudulent Balkan Call Centre (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Epidemiologist Kon: Situation unfavorable, especially in Belgrade (Prva TV, N1)
• The "corona generation" is coming and it will not be good (DW, B92)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 104 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Zemaj: No lockdown, we will take tough measures to combat COVID-19 (Telegrafi)
• Osmani slams Lajcak's statement calling it 'concerning' (media)
• Tahiri: Serbia to change its Constitution, not Kosovo (Klan/Kallxo)
• CDHRF: Lajcak inciting another war in Kosovo (media)
• Draft law on KLA values, dialogue resolution fail to pass Assembly (media)
• New U.S. troops to join NATO in Kosovo (media)
• Hoti: Kosovo to ban use of 5G equipment from untrusted sellers (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: Tahiri can change the constitution if she wins the elections in Serbia (Radio Mitrovica sever, Tanjug)
• Petkovic with Bocan-Kharchenko on Belgrade - Pristina dialogue (RTS)
• Petkovic with Lajcak: European Union's ability as a mediator being tested (RTS)
• "If true, it was done behind Belgrade's back and means betrayal by the EU" (B92, Sputnik)
• Vucic: This is a plan that is little talked about in the Serbian public (Tanjug, B92)
• "For eight years I have been listening about Vucic preparing to betray Kosovo" (B92, Vecernje Novosti)
• Father Sava: The priest from the video has nothing to do with the Diocese (KiM radio)
• Redzepi: I expect elections in a month and a half (RTK)
• EIB helping revive Serbian railways, regional office chief says (Beta, N1)
• Unclear whether Bosnian Presidency voted against recognition of Kosovo (N1)

Opinion:

• Pribicevic: Albanian side missed its momentum in dialogue with Serbia (N1, Kontakt plus radio)
• Thousand Days After: Why the Murder of Oliver Ivanovic Should Be Brought to an International Tribunal? (KoSSev, zorancicak blog)

International:

• Brussels Vows to Settle Kosovo Serb Municipal Association’s Status (Balkan Insight)
• The EU needs a step-by-step integration plan for the Western Balkans (emerging-europe.com)
• Serbia expects Russian foreign minister’s visit soon — president (TASS)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 77 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Lajcak: Association has to establish, you committed in 2015 (RTK)
• Mustafa and Lajcak discuss conclusion of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)
• Americans want Kosovo in OSCE (Gazeta Express)
• Whyte: There will be no Republika Srpska in Kosovo (RFE, Koha)
• Krasniqi reacts after Lajcak's statements on Association (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lajcak: Pristina must show consistency by implementing the agreement on ZSO (RTS)
• Russian ambassador denies media claims about Putin visit (N1)
• Andjelkovic: Putin's visit cannot be canceled, because it was not even scheduled (N1, Nova S)
• Gracanica Mayor: We have the right to withdraw from the institutions if the ZSO is not formed (RTS)
• Was progress made with Lajcak's visit? (KIM radio, Danas)

International:

• Lajčák: International organizations are “eyes and ears” in Kosovo (EWB)
• Snarky Facebook post sparks diplomatic incident between Russia and Serbia: What’s behind it? (neweasterneurope.eu)
• Mariano: Western Balkan states could contribute to security and defense of NATO (EWB)
• EU and the Western Balkans, a long engagement (balcanicaucaso.org)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The Latest: WHO: European cases rocket, strong limits needed (apnews.com)
• International Day of Rural Women: I love the countryside, I love to produce (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev)
• Platform Initiative launched to support clean energy transition in coal regions in Western Balkans and Ukraine (balkangreenenergynews.com)
• Femart’s 8th edition celebrates resilience and solidarity in challenging times (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 80 new cases, one death (media)
• Zemaj: WHO remains Kosovo's strategic partner in battling COVID-19 pandemic (media)
• Thaci meets Lajcak: We discussed final agreement, including mutual recognition (media)
• Lajcak meets heads of international organisations in Kosovo (media)
• Lajcak meets leaders of political parties (media)
• State Department hails Kosovo-Serbia cooperation in Merdare (RTK)
• Grenell: Merdare border crossing becomes operational thanks to Trump (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• 14 new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian communities in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Petkovic: The only way to move the dialogue from the deadlock is for Pristina to fulfill its obligations (RTS)
• Simic: Pristina's refusal to form the ZSO threatens the survival of Serbs in Kosovo (TV Prva, Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Popovic: Albanians underrate the EU (Kosovo Online, TV Pink, Tanjug)
• Milivojevic: Belgrade has full right to get out of Brussels agreement (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Serbia didn’t change stance on Kosovo following Washington agreement (Sputnik)
• Lajcak cautious about Belgrade-Pristina dialogue process (N1)
• Vucic tells Russian Ambassador gas pipeline to be completed this year (N1, Beta)
• Merdare: Serbian personnel started work in new premises (Radio KIM)
• Dacic: Gratitude to Ukraine for principled stance not to recognize Kosovo (Kosovo-online)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Economic empowerment of women crucial for prevention of gender-based violence (media)
• Serbian "herd immunity" (BETA, B92)
• Civil Society Filled a Void in the Balkan Pandemic (Balkan Insight)
• Report: Global Internet Freedom Declines in Shadow of Pandemic (freedomhouse.com)
• Femart’s 8th edition celebrates resilience and solidarity in challenging times (Prishtina Insight)
• Three KelKos hydropower plants no longer licensed (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 13, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 98 new cases, one death (media)
• EU Special Representative Lajcak to arrive in Kosovo today (Gazeta Express)
• Government to Lajcak's question on Association shortly before his arrival in Kosovo (Express)
• To Russia, thesis of removing borders between Albania and Kosovo is alarming (Koha)
• France fades Kosovo hopes for visa liberalisation any time soon (Express)
• Hoti receives new U.S. Military Attaché Stephen Rose (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• If Pristina continues blocking ZSO, Serbs announce possibility of leaving all Kosovo institutions (Kosovo-online)
• Várhelyi: Boosting and connecting the Western Balkans on the EU path (N1)
• EU envoy Lajcak makes first report on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue to foreign ministers (N1)
• Djuric: Pristina makes efforts to suspend dialogue (Radio KIM)
• Grubjesic: Lajcak to convince Pristina establish ZSO and continue dialogue (TV Most)
• “1000 candles” lit in Ivanovic’s honor in Belgrade and North Mitrovica (KoSSev)
• Srebrenica Mothers: Serbian FM threatens all who speak of mass graves in Serbia (N1)
• Odalovic: Serbia does not hide mass graves; we checked everything that was asked of us (Kosovo Online)
• Senior German diplomat says region’s problems can no longer be put off (N1, BETA)

Opinion:

• Ring them Bells (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Balkan Govts Mull Tightened Rules as COVID-19 Cases Rise (Balkan Insight)