UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 7, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 49 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Selimi: No final agreement without inclusion of missing persons issue (Koha)
• LVV: Government disregarding fate of the missing (Express)
• Von Cramon: European Commission report, positive on Kosovo (Express)
• Kosovo visa liberalization not on EU Council’s October agenda (Express)
• EU Commission: ‘Corruption is widespread and remains an issue of serious concern’ (Prishtina Insight)
• Hamza: PDK will remain in opposition (media)
• WB: Kosovo’s economy expected to contract by 8.8 percent (Express)
• Thaci orders Ambassador Vlora Citaku to leave Washington (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Eight new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• PCR testing at personal request available twice a week in Mitrovica North (Radio kontakt plus)
• Risi: Gender equality important at all levels (Radio KIM)
• EC report says Serbia made little or no progress in key areas (N1)
• Varhelyi: Report as guidance for new Serbian Government (N1)
• Djuric: Serbs in Kosovo will not be Hoti’s hostages (RTS)
• EU Office Head: Existing agreements must be implemented (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic with Prince Albert II of Monaco: Serbia to join UN Alliance for Multilateralism (B92)
• Antonijevic: Vucic observed minute of silence for Kosovo Albanians (N1)
• On Saturday’s event at Our Lady of Ljevis: No crime took place and police does not comment on non-police activities (KoSSev)

International:

• Kosovo’s Fragile Govt Aims to Lure PDK into Broader Coalition (Balkan Insight)
• Albania, North Macedonia ‘Should Start EU Accession Talks This Year’ (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 6, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 34 new cases, three deaths (media)
• COVID-19: North Macedonia to lift border restrictions on 12 October (media)
• Enlargement Package: EU finds limited progress in Kosovo (Koha)
• Haradinaj: We support the idea of a broad-based government (Kosovapress)
• Vetevendosje: Hoti can help Kosovo by resigning (media)
• "Mothers' Calls" demand conditioning of dialogue with missing persons (media)
• Minister Selimi dismisses advisor arrested on drug trafficking charges (Koha)
• Serbian minister defends use of the term ‘siptar’ (Prishtina Insight)
• Billboard near Pristina Airport wishes Trump a speedy recovery (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Ana Brnabic new prime minister designate (B92)
• Dacic replies to Stano: Before warning Serbia, first provide an answer when the ZSO (CSM) will be formed
• Yucom: Because of hate speech, Vulin cannot be a minister (NMagazin, Beta)
• National Convent says Serbia moving backwards on road to EU (FoNet, N1)
• Milivojevic: EU biased, ready for concessions to Pristina (Kosovo-online)
• Spahiu: Thaci with Lajcak, a medal for Grenell, something has changed around his indictment (Kosovo Online)
• EC economic and investment plan for Western Balkans (N1)

International:

• Serbian President ‘Observes Minute’s Silence’ for Kosovo War Dead (Balkan Insight)
• 10th Belgrade Security Forum titled “No Trust – No Peace” begins this week (EWB)
• In Kosovo, ‘Lake Trump’ lands with a bump (Politico)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The art of wine-making in the north of Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Serbian prison inmates make masks for Torino Fashion Week (N1)
• Transport Community in favor of permanent Green Lines in the Western Balkans (EWB)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 41 new cases, two deaths (media)
• “Statements of Serbian officials insult victims of Serbian crimes” (media)
• Hoti meets Greek MP Andreas Patsis (RTK)
• EU requests from leaders to refrain from statements which harm reconciliation (RFE)
• Dzaferovic: Bosnia and Herzegovina supports Kosovo-Serbia dialogue ( RFE)
• Zemaj: Whoever enters Kosovo from countries with high risk, to be quarantined (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Six new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo on Sunday (Radio KIM)
• Serbian List demands urgent investigation of the attack in Donja Brnjica (Kontakt plus radio)
• Djuric reacts to attack in Donja Brnjica (media)
• Unknown assailants shot at a group of Serb children in Donja Brnjica village (KoSSev)
• Vulin reacts to Haradinaj-Stubla’s remarks (B92)
• Rama and Vulin quarrel on liberators, criminals, "Greater Albania" (NMagazin, Beta)
• Stano: Balkan leaders to promote reconciliation, not otherwise (Tanjug)
• “Kosovo is heart of Albania” chanting in front of Holy Mother of Ljevis Church (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
• Ambassador: Germany supports and encourages Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (N1)
• Peoples’ Party sues Serbian President for not wearing a mask (N1)

Opinion:

• The Bite of the Vampire: Milosevic's Legacy Over Kosovo and the Balkans (ISPI)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Dacic: Still no conditions for return on 200.000 displaced persons from Kosovo (media, GoS)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 2, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 42 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Zemaj: COVID-19 situation stable, we are preparing for autumn and winter (Telegrafi)
• Prime ministers Hoti and Rama address joint Kosovo-Albania meeting (media)
• Kosovo, Albania sign cooperation agreements (media)
• Thaci discusses dialogue with Lajcak (media)
• Kosovo appoints chargé d'affaires to Israel (media)
• President Thaci meets Ombudsperson Qelaj (media)
• Swiss authorities arrest three Kosovo citizens for alleged ties with terrorism (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• Two cases of Covid-19 in Serbian communities in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Russia takes over presidency of the UN Security Council, puts Kosovo on the UN agenda (Tanjug, B92, TASS)
• Djuric: Hoti’s provocations mustn’t remain without EU’s response (RTS)
• Boehler: DFC committed to Balkan's development, China brings neocolonialism (Beta, N1)
• EU's Várhelyi: New international players in Western Balkans challenge for bloc (Beta, N1)
• Wesley Clark: Serbia-Kosovo agreement useful only with reduced influence of China and Russia (Danas, VoA)
• Varhelyi: EU's strategic interest is to bring W. Balkan countries closer (N1)
• Milic to Haxhiu: There is no single court verdict or indictment for genocide in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian ministers not taking part in joint session of Kosovo and Albanian governments (Kosovo-online)
• Hodzic: Demolition of illegally constructed shops in North Mitrovica is suspended (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Vucic and Dodik Have Every Reason to Dread a Biden Presidency (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia is Playing With Fire, Delivering Arms to Armenia (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo: Trying for a normal life in a divided city (Deutsche Welle)
• Kosovo War Veterans’ Leader Challenges Arrest at Hague Court (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbia gets first reading room for blind persons (N1, FoNet)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 43 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Hoti: Association is a closed topic (media)
• Kosnett doesn’t expect unrest from work of Specialist Chambers (Koha)
• Gashi: Police, prosecution didn’t want to deal with files (Telegrafi)
• Judge orders war veterans’ attorney not to publish confidential files (media)
• Kosovo, Albania governments to meet tomorrow in Tirana (RTK)
• UN could investigate expulsion of Tienmu Ma (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic on EU decision to keep Serbia on unsafe countries list relating to Covid-19 (B92)
• “Friendship between Serbia and China made of steel” (FoNet, N1)
• FM Dacic: ''Apostolova informed the members about the problems of the Special Court'' (NMagazin, Politika, Danas, TV Pink)
• Tapuskovic: Witnesses against KLA already intimidated (Tanjug)
• Djuric: EU to react on ban to Sarcevic to visit Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• The ceremony at the University of Pristina, based in North Mitrovica, canceled (Kontakt plus radio)
• Kosovo police refutes media reports on kidnapping attempt in Plemetina (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Kosovo War Crimes File Leaks Deliver a Blow to Justice (Balkan Insight)
• The Kosovo Assembly isn’t working (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Kosovo Indicts Pro-Iranian Radical for Inciting Terrorism (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The whole of Europe has switched to Swedish model, but doesn’t want to admit it? (B92, media)
• Vucic says data on coronavirus-related deaths will be reviewed (FoNet, N1)
• Serbia Hugely Underestimated COVID-19 Death Toll, Official Admits (Balkan Insight)
• EBRD hopes Nis-Pristina motorway tenders to open in Nov (seenews.com)