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UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 31, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Two new cases with coronavirus confirmed (media)
• Import tariff to be lifted on April 1, full reciprocity to enter into force (RFE)
• Svecla informs OSCE chief on measures to combat COVID-19 (RTK)
• Serbs don’t report coronavirus cases to Kosovo institutions (Radio Free Europe)
• Kosovo budget risks losing €200 million (Radio Free Europe)
• EU allocates €63 million for Kosovo’s economic recovery (RTK)
• Ahmeti: Interior Ministry decided to ban public transport Kosovo-wide (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: We expect more confirmed cases (Kosovo Online)
• Epidemiologists to arrive to Mitrovica North (KIM radio, Kontakt plus radio)
• Spiric: One more person in Mitrovica North infected with Covid-19 (Radio kontakt plus, KoSSev)
• Serwer: New elections are not possible in Kosovo, Richard Grenell's attention doesn't mean much (Kosovo Online)
• New 44 confirmed coronavirus cases in Serbia, with 3 more deaths yesterday (B92)
• "Serious deterioration - a prerequisite for introducing 24-hour curfew" (B92, N1)

Opinion:

• Lesson No 1 From Pandemic – We’re all Interdependent (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Thaci Push for Unity Government in Kosovo Deemed Futile (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Specialist Chambers: Providing compensations for victims (EWB)
• Kosovo-Serbia Agreement: Why is the Trump Administration Fast-Tracking a Hasty Deal? (Medium.com)
• Dismantling democracy? Virus used as excuse to quell dissent (AP)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Belgrade Takes Charge of Kosovo Serbs With COVID-19 (Balkan Insight)
• Domestic violence shelters keeping their heads above water during pandemic (Prishtina Insight)
• Two men arrested for domestic violence in Istog (Express)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, 30 March 2020

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 30, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Thaci insists on broad-based government (media)
• Nagavci: 82 MP votes for no-confidence motion, opened way to Thaci’s plans (Koha)
• LDK's Hoti: Parties have two options (media)
• Bahtiri denies reports, "I am man of peace" (Klan Kosova)
• 97 cases of coronavirus in Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• National Convention on the EU: Establish cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo in combating the coronavirus pandemic (Kontakt plus radio, KIM radio, RTK2)
• EU secures 38 million Euro in aid to Western Balkans (N1)
• Thaci with Quint ambassadors instead of consulting the political parties (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Within 3 to 4 days decision on a 24-hour curfew (Prva TV, B92)
• In Serbia, 82 new cases of coronavirus, total of 741 (B92)
• Two persons in northern Kosovo tested positive for Covid-19 (media)
• Ivanovic: Number of persons infected with coronavirus will increase (media)
• EUROPOL: How criminals profit from the Covid-19 pandemic (KoSSev, Beta)
• Two Serb families from Banje and Osojane villages robbed (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Jeffrey Sachs: The pandemic crisis will last two years, and things will no longer be the same (NMagazin)

International:

• Fall of the reform government in Kosovo: State crisis in the midst of Corona crisis (Der Spiegel)

Humanitarian/Development:

• COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects digital rights in the Balkans (globalvoices.org)
• China: End of epidemic (B92, Sputnik)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 27, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• The UK, as the U.S. calls to respect the Constitution (RTK)
• Haradinaj: The U.S. leaders’ statement, rightful guarantee for Kosovo (media)
• Dismissed government to continue to combat COVID-19 (RTK, RFE)
• Prishtina Mayor: Seriously, stay at home! (media)
• Svecla meets UN and UNDP representatives (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Grenell, Palmer, Kosnett: There is no secret land swap plan, lift the tariffs (KoSSev, RTS, Blic)
• Janjic: Thaci dictates developments now (Danas)
• Weekly: EU largest donor to Serbia, China holds 15th place, Russia below (Novi Magazin, N1)
• Fabrizi: First shipment of EU aid arriving (N1, RTS)
• In Serbia 73 new coronavirus cases confirmed, 457 in total (N1)
• Brussels Dialogue in 2019 – lost year and missed opportunities (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Kosovo’s ‘Albanian Spring’ Has Succumbed to Early Frost (Balkan Insight)
• Kurti’s Downfall Leaves Kosovo Politics in Turmoil (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo Mulls its Choices After Fall of Kurti Govt (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Coronavirus in the Balkans: Can disasters defeat hatred? (DW)
• Foreign nationals allowed to remain in Serbia until the end of the state of emergency (Tanjug, B92)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, 26 March 2020

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 26, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Govt spokesman: PM won't dismiss LDK ministers (media)
• Kurti: We will continue as a government in duty (RTK)
• Pisonero: Kosovo in a difficult political situation (media)
• Bieber: EU - US alliance damaged (media)
• Mustafa: LDK Ministers to remain in duty until new govt. is elected (media)
• Viola von Cramon: Totally irresponsible political class (media)
• Pack critices LDK for no-confidence motion (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Empirica public statement: Equal treatment of all communities in combating Covid19 (Radio Mitrovica Sever, KIM radio, Kontakt plus radio, RTV Mir)
• “Respect measures of Serbian Government, Albanians deal with politics not health” (B92)
• Fajon: Coronavirus is not an excuse for locking democracy (Danas, N1, Beta)
• Djuric: Serbian List not to interfere in ''Albanian-Albanian'' conflict (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Trajkovic: Ousting of government irresponsible (RTV KIM)
• EC: Kosovo is in difficult political situation (Tanjug, RTV Puls)
• Three more returnees’ houses in Novake village burglarized (RTV KIM)
• Roma in Gracanica face supply difficulties in period of coronavirus pandemic (RTK2)
• Total of 384 coronavirus cases confirmed in Serbia (N1, covid19.rs)

International:

• No-Confidence Vote Topples Kurti Govt in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
• EU and US in opposite camps as Kosovo government toppled (Euractiv)
• Coronavirus row helps topple Kosovo government (BBC)
• Coronavirus Helps Bring Down Kosovo’s Government, With Nudge From U.S. (The New York Times)
• Germany’s cautious support to Kosovo’s visa liberalization (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The virus in Italy is finally slowing down, the coming days are crucial in the fight (B92, Tanjug)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 25, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Govt is being brought down to make way for land swap agreement (media)
• Roth: Corona doesn't care about disputes between politicians (media)
• Kosnett meets Osmani shortly before Assembly session (media)
• Mustafa: Motion is a democratic instrument (RTK)
• Kurti informs on his response to the Constitutional Court, right before the motion (RTK)
• Thaci: We'll overcome this, stay at home (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Simic: All 10 Serbian List MPs to vote in favour of no-confidence motion (Kosovo Online, Vecernje novosti)
• Tanin urge political leaders in Kosovo to show unity in fight against COVID-19 (Kontakt plus radio, KIM radio, RTK2, Kosovo Online)
• Hasani: Both Kurti’s measure to ban movement and Thaci’s call to oppose a government decision are unconstitutional (KoSSev)
• Germany and France support Kurti, the US welcomes the vote of no-confidence motion against the government (KoSSev)
• US Embassy in Pristina: Burglaries of returnees’ houses must not be tolerated (N1, BETA)
• 54 new cases of coronavirus registered in Serbia, more than 300 people infected (B92)

International:

• Macron and Merkel to organise Serbia-Kosovo Summit when conditions are established (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The ‘father figures’ of Kosovo politics (Prishtina Insight)