UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 10, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Coming weeks, critical in coronavirus fight (Telegrafi)
• Thaci writes to Kurti, says he is waiting for reply for PM candidate (media)
• Lajcak writes to Thaci about his engagement in dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Croatia remains in support of visa liberalisation for Kosovo (media)
• Slovakia supports visa liberalisation for Kosovo (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• UNSG Guterres: "COVID-19 Pandemic threatens international peace and security" (B92, Tanjug)
• Mitrovica North and Zvecan: New movement restrictions in place (Radio kontakt plus)
• Two new Covid-19 infected cases in northern Kosovo (Radio kontakt plus)
• Crowding in Mitrovica North increases, citizens differently on new measures (Kosovo-online)
• Spiric: Press conference live streamed without our consent (KoSSev)
• Western Balkans call for EU exemption on exports of medical gear (N1, Politico)
• ''Coronavirus death rates in the former Yugoslav republics'' (N1)

International:

• Naming New PM Not A Priority During Pandemic, Kosovo's Kurti Tells RFE/RL

Humanitarian/Development:

• Civil Rights Defenders released report on Internet freedoms in the Western Balkan Region (crd.org)
• Teachers make the push for distance learning (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti discussed pandemic, dialogue with Serbia in telephone call with Macron (media)
• Kurti plans to have two teams for dialogue with Serbia (Koha)
• Kurti in Malisheva: April, decisive in fight against COVID – 19 (media)
• Vitia: Malisheva will lack no protection kits (media)
• “COVID - 19 could result in long-term loss at work and production” (media)
• MEPs: After the crisis, new elections may be the right way forward (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Possibility of further restriction of movement, Vitia: No decision will be made without 100% coordination with Rakic (KoSSev)
• Two new Covid-19 infection cases in Serb-populated areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Jevtic in strongest terms condemns Rasic’s statement (Radio kontakt plus)
• Bilčík: Freedom of expression, media to be guaranteed during state of emergency (N1, Danas)
• Dr Kon: Total ban on any contact; 219 new cases of coronavirus in Serbia yesterday (B92)
• EU earmarks 800 million Euro in pandemic aid for Western Balkans and Turkey (N1)

Opinion:

• World Powers Use Pandemic to Flex Muscles in Balkans (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo's Kurti Assures EU Of Commitment To Dialogue With Serbia (RFE)

Humanitarian/Development:

• China takes new measures fearing that the epidemic might reappear (B92, Tanjug)
• Kosovo Company Manufactures 3D Ventilator to Fight COVID-19 (Balkan Insight)
• ‘Destructive’ hydropower construction continues despite lockdown (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 8, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti visits Klina, Peja and Gjakova (media)
• Thaci thanks Erdogan for medical aid to Kosovo (media)
• Veseli welcomes World Justice Project index ranking Kosovo on 54th place (media)
• Police lieutenant arrested for failing to respect government measures (media)
• Kurti on Roma Day: We will fight poverty through education (media)
• Germany supports Kosovo with two grants worth over €13 million (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Serbian areas three new cases, a total of 36 infected individuals (Kosovo Online)
• Rasic: Belgrade ignored rise of infection in northern Kosovo (RTK2, Kontakt plus radio, Beta, N1)
• Serbian List: Rasic once again showed he is disgrace of Serbian people (TV Most)
• VoA: Serb majority municipalities received insufficient medical assistance; a difficult situation at the clinic in Laplje Selo (Kontakt plus radio)
• USAID Director Magno: US assistance targets everyone in Kosovo (KIM Radio)
• WHO warns against easing coronavirus measures 'too early' (B92. VoA)
• Three more deaths in Serbia; "We will reach peak now, next 10 days are crucial" (B92)
• Weekend coronavirus related curfew extended from Friday to Monday in Serbia (RTS, N1, Tanjug)
• Djuric: Hospital in Mitrovica North to receive respirator and 1000 protective garments (KoSSev)
• Lawyer: Health condition of Zlatan Krstic rapidly deteriorates (Kosovo-online)
• EU and Western Balkans leaders’ summit postponed over Covid-19 (RTS)

Opinion:

• Applauding Kurti’s Fall, the US is Testing Kosovo’s Loyalty (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kon: If we want to impose more drastic measures, we should do it now (B92)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 7, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We don’t have any time for political ping pong (media)
• Kurti on Russia’s reaction: Reciprocity derives from concept of equality (Koha)
• Kosovo's foreign ministry reacts to Russia’s statement on reciprocity measures (Koha)
• PDK’s Veseli calls for extraordinary session of Assembly on Friday (media)
• Ramadani: Difficult days to come, respect recommendations (RTK)
• Pristina with three additional measures to prevent spread of COVID-19 (RTK)
• Haradinaj doesn’t trust Lajcak, says he supports U.S. envoys (Gazeta Express)
• Five new coronavirus cases confirmed in Kosovo, one death (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• World Health Day: 'Support nurses, midwives' fighting COVID-19; UN SC to meet (N1)
• Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs comments on Pristina’s tariffs (media)
• Kosovo Customs: Serbian goods worth EUR 1.6 million entered Kosovo since April 1 (RFE, RTK)
• Rakic handed over KFOR’s donation to health facilities and police in Mitrovica North (Radio kontakt plus)
• No new Covid-19 infected cases in Serb-majority areas in Kosovo (Radio kontakt puls)

Opinion:

• 'The impossible has already happened': what coronavirus can teach us about hope (The Guardian)
• Lajcak’s clock is already ticking (Prishtina Insight)
• How Democracies Can Beat The Pandemic (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Germany Urges Kosovo Politicians to Focus on COVID-19, Not Divisions (Balkan Insight)
• How Multi-ethnic is Kosovo? (Balkan insight)
• How the coronavirus pandemic is making strongmen stronger, from Hungary to Serbia to the Philippines (theglobeandmail.com)

Albanian Language Media:

• Two patients affected by COVID-19 die at Pristina hospital (RTK)
• Kurti: We are entering the critical stage in the fight against coronavirus (media)
• Thaci: Battle against coronavirus pandemic is not over (media)
• EU engaged in dialogue, urges resumption of Pristina-Belgrade talks (media)
• Abbott: There are no politics in the virus (media)
• Vucic talks on the phone with the UNMIK chief, says he is ready to cooperate with "Pristina" against Covid 19 (RTK, Beta)
• Norway pledges aid to Kosovo to fight coronavirus pandemic (media)
• Slovakia offers assistance to Kosovo to fight COVID-19 outbreak (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Six new cases in Serbian communities in Kosovo, total of 33 cases (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: 248 trucks entered Kosovo, eight Albanians from Novi Pazar taken care of in Belgrade (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Djuric: Coronavirus positive persons will be placed in isolation centers (Kontakt plus radio, KIM radio)
• President Vucic had phone call with SRSG Tanin, discussed coronavirus and Kosovo (Tanjug, Kosovo-online)
• Journalists’ associations, international and local officials react to violation of right to privacy, personal data (Kosovo-online)
• EFJ: COVID-19 – political interference in the media in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Serbia enters second month of pandemic with 1.908 infected and 51 dead (RTS)
• Four new coronavirus cases in Serb-populated areas in Kosovo, 27 in total (KoSSev)
• Movement ban between Mitrovica and Zvecan until further notice (Radio kontakt plus)

Opinion:

• Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic Is Navigating a Highway to Uncertainty (The National Interest)

International:

• Kosovo Leaders Feud Over COVID-19 Outbreak in North (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovar Media Urged Not To 'Intensify' Tensions During Coronavirus Crisis (RFE)
• Washington fiddles in the Balkans while COVID flames engulf the world (The Hill)
• Did America help oust Kosovo’s reformist government? (The Economist)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Djuric: Decision to employ all doctors and 200 nurses from Kosovo Serb communities entered into force (KoSSev)