UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 16, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 76 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Hoti: There will never be an association with executive competencies (media)
• Thaci: no one has mandate to speak on behalf of Kosovo on already closed topics (media)
• Pacolli: Thaci should call on PDK to bring down Hoti’s government (RTK)
• GLPS: Hoti’s government failed to create unity of political spectrum (media)
• Minister Haradinaj to visit Netherlands, skeptical state on visa liberalization (RTK)
• “Kosovo is not a Muslim country, but a country with Muslim majority” (Alsat)
• Violence against women: Political activists disrupt Kosovo PM Hoti’s speech (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Two newly infected with Covid-19 in Serb areas, eight people recovered (Kontakt plus radio)
• US DFC, EXIM Bank express interest in financing Nis-Pristina highway (N1)
• Von der Leyen: Future of Western Balkans in European Union (N1)
• Marko Djuric to take over as Serbia’s ambassador in Washington (N1, nova.rs)
• Vucic: Serbs, united and unanimous, can overcome all adversities (B92)
• Djuric tomorrow in Brussels on ZSO and property (Kosovo-online)
• UNS: Kosovo police banned journalists to report on desecration of church in Babin Most (Danas)
• New Israeli Ambassador to Serbia welcomes White House Agreements (N1)

Opinion:

• "America made a time bomb on European soil," and it's in Serbia (B92, Sputnik)
• Diplomacy is not “The Apprentice”. Serbia-Kosovo issue requires A long-term commitment (neweasterneurope.eu)

International:

• The Western Balkans: Between the EU and a hard place (balkancrossroads.com)
• Kosovo President Thaci Hires US Diplomat as Consultant (Balkan Insight)
• US Signs Pledges on Building Serbia-Kosovo ‘Peace Highway’ (Balkan Insight)
• Israel’s deal with Kosovo, Serbia is diplomatic charade (Asia Times)

Humanitarian/Development:

• International Democracy Day: UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations recalls ''OpisMEDIJavanje'' campaign and fight against misinformation (KoSSev)
• Serbian citizens still not allowed free entry into EU (B92, Tanjug)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 71 new cases, one death (media)
• Zemaj urges parents, teachers to adhere to COVID-19 measures (media)
• Trump: Vucic and Hoti made their countries, Balkans and world safer (media)
• "Grenell says Trump plans to visit Kosovo" (Klan Kosova)
• Osmani: Democracy in Kosovo undermined by minority governments (Telegrafi)
• Romania's position on Kosovo's independence remains unchanged (Zeri)

Serbian Language Media:

• State Department posts Trump praise of Vucic, Hoti (media)
• Palestinian ambassador conveys to Vucic the concern over embassy relocation to Jerusalem (Beta, N1)
• Grenell: Vucic is tough negotiator, fights for Serbian people (RTS, Serbian Radio Chicago)
• EU: Washington documents mean Belgrade & Pristina commitment to US (N1)
• Belgrade to Berlin: US talks open room for ordinary people reconciliation (FoNet, N1)
• Vucic spoke with Patriarch Irinej, informed him on Kosovo negotiations (RTS)
• Fatherland Movement on Washington agreement (Radio KIM)
• Church in Babin Most, near Obilic, desecrated (Kosovo Online, B92, KIM radio)
• North Macedonia PM: Meeting with President Vucic about 'mini-Schengen’ (N1)

Opinion:

• Trump’s Balkan agreement does Israel more harm than good – opinion (The Jerusalem Post)

International:

• Kosovo’s Legal Aid for War Crimes Suspects Raises Concerns (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 14, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 55 new cases, four deaths (media)
• PM Hoti calls for maximal caution from pupils and teachers (media)
• PM Hoti: €10 mil to municipalities as part of economic revival program (media)
• PDK is not pleased with Washington agreement, complains about Hoti (media)
• Plenkovic: Kosovo-Serbia dialogue with two wings, in Brussels and Washington (Koha)
• William Walker contracted to advise President Thaci (Prishtina Insight)

Serbian Language Media:

• Five new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serb areas in Kosovo, one person passed away (Radio KIM)
• Stano: Continuation of talks on non-majority communities and property (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Vucic decided on the government? (media)
• Kosovo Serb Orthodox Diocese on Koha’s text: It spreads ethnic and religious hatred (KoSSev)
• Father Sava: Claims of those calling us usurpers, unworthy of Albanian people sons who respected others (KoSSev)
• Koha: ''Appropriation of medieval Arberian monuments in Kosovo by Serbs'' (KoSSev)
• Leaks of dossiers from The Hague – covering up KLA crimes (Politika)
• Pompeo hails Serbia's announcement to label Hezbollah a terrorist organization (N1)
• Vucic: Lack of reaction to Pristina's unfulfilled obligation shameful (BETA, N1)
• Vucic: Excellent phone talk with Netanyahu (SRNA, N1)
• Detention of four Serbs arrested at Mokra Gora Mountain extended (RTS)

Opinion:

• Belgrade professor to Grenell: Nobel Prize nomination sounds like mockery (N1)
• After Trump’s Serbia-Kosovo Deal, it’s Over to Brussels (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Serbia-Kosovo Deal Behind Trump Nobel Prize Nod Dismissed As 'Photo Opportunity' by Ex-Serbian FM (Newsweek)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Womens’ Network, MPs react against court decision (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 50 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Hoti: France and Netherlands impede visa liberalization (media)
• Aliu accuses Hoti for granting ownership of Ujman lake to Serbia (media)
• Haxhiu: Kosovo’s Bosnianisation will not be allowed, Hoti should leave (RTK)
• Kosnett: U.S. and Kosovo to strengthen partnership against terrorism (RTK)
• Civil society: There was no transparency on Washington agreement (media)
• The United States, Kosovo and Serbia nominated for Nobel Peace Prize (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Two new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian communities, five patients recovered (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic says Serbia managed to open White House doors (media)
• US envoy: Serbia faces many burdensome political decisions (FoNet, N1)
• Moscow daily: New govt. will show if Serbia changes foreign policy (Beta, N1)
• Kosovo Police: Four graves damaged in Zakovo during works on water supply (Kosovo Online)
• Office for KiM: Serb cemetery desecrated in Kosovo (N1, Beta)
• Vukcevic: It is very strange, unbelievable that files of the Special Prosecutor’s Office were leaked (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Hoti’s government is a sitting duck (Prishtina Insight)
• Jovic: Serbia is seriously approaching the US, it could become the main partner in the Balkans (N1, KoSSev)
• Non-agreement or why it takes (at least) two to reach an agreement (KoSSev)

International:

• Unpacking the Serbia-Kosovo Deal (visegradsight.eu)
• Kosovo and Serbia - Israel’s Balkan blunder (The Jerusalem Post)

Humanitarian/Development:

• WHO acknowledges: The end of the pandemic might be ... (B92, Tanjug)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 69 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• Decision on reopening of schools expected today (media)
• Kosovo and North Macedonia discuss easing of border restrictions (RFE)
• Minister Zemaj thanks OSF for donating funds to combat COVID-19 (media)
• Ambassador Szunyog meets Kosovo political leaders (media)
• Klinaku: Specialist Prosecutor's Office communicated with authorities in Serbia (Klan)
• "Political instability, corruption hampering economic development" (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Putin with Vucic on Kosovo: Russia's unchanged position (media)
• Borrell: Serbia expected to act in line with its aim – EU membership (N1)
• Palestine envoy to Serbia: I ask Vucic for audience and expect explanation (media)
• Peskov: Russia does not consider Serbia's decision to postpone military exercises a consequence of Western pressure (Tanjug, Blic, TASS)
• Stano: Resolving the status of non-majority communities is crucial (Tanjug, Kontakt plus radio)
• Media: Bilcik raised the issue of the participation of the Serbian Armed Forces in the exercise in Belarus (NMagazin)
• Government of Serbia: Decision to halt all military exercises and activities (Serbian media)
• Source tells Israeli daily Serbia won’t move embassy if Kosovo recognized (N1, The Times of Israel)
• EU diplomats: Belgrade-Pristina agreement within a year (Beta, N1)
• Property, one of the most difficult issues in Brussels (media)

Opinion:

• Biserko: Serbia's manoeuvring space regarding Kosovo issue has shrunk (N1)

International:

• Montenegro’s Change in Power has the Region Worried (Balkan Insight)
• How Israel justifies sudden recognition of Kosovo that has riled Serbia (The Times of Israel)
• ‘Living Yugoslavia’: Past Identity Becomes Present Political Statement (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Dramatic warning and gloomy forecast of experts: facing ecology threats started... (B92, Tanjug)