Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 154 new cases, 11 deaths (media)
• Vaccine rollout gets off to a shaky start (Prishtina Insight)
• EU confirms PM Kurti's upcoming visit to Brussels (Kallxo)
• Kosovo has written to Romania about the killing of two VV activists (media)
• Assembly adopts in principle bill easing trial in absentia procedures (Kosovapress)
• AAK accuses government of having no vision (media)
• VV's Kusari-Lila responds to AAK's criticism against government (media)
• EC stresses position against border changes in the Balkans (RFE)
Serbian Language Media:
• 23 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• Vucic’s two-day visit to Brussels (media)
• Vucic: Ready for dialogue, we understood Kurti's messages (Tanjug, RTS)
• Petkovic: Kurti showed his aim is to create “Great Albania” (Radio KIM)
• Djuric: Dialog is not a priority, but voting in Albania is (Kosovo-online)
• Drecun: Continuation of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is not disputable; but agenda is (RTS)
• Godfrey: Unresolved relations with Pristina are obstacles to Serbia's European integration (KiM radio, Novi Magazin)
• Liberation Movement forms Council for Kosovo and Metohija (BETA)
• Health Ministry official: Epidemic measures and mass vaccination in Serbia still necessary (N1)
• Half a million doses of Sinopharm vaccine arrived in Serbia (RTS)
• Serbian Army Chief of Staff: Mandatory military service a long-term solution (N1, Politika)
• Dodik: Idea of RS seceding from Bosnia-Herzegovina discussed in Europe (N1)
Opinion:
• West should stop pushing Kosovo on new Serbian entity (euobserver)
• Kosovo Needs Rescuing From its Middle Eastern Imbroglio (Balkan Insight)
International:
• Kurti’s vote in Albanian elections – controversial but not unprecedented in the Balkans (EWB)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 26, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 23, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 23, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 356 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• PM Kurti meets North Macedonian FM Osmani (media)
• Osmani: We reject ideas that affect our borders (media)
• Kosovo FM Gervalla against redrawing of Balkans borders (media)
• North Macedonia's FM pledges support to Kosovo (media)
• Austria opposes border changes (Koha)
• Szunyog commends minister for publishing list of recovery aid recipients (media)
• Ministry launches disciplinary procedures against correctional service chief (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic travels to Brussels on Sunday (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Pristina will have to respect Brussels agreement (Kosovo-online)
• Maas: The right time to continue the dialogue; no need to reset (media)
• Mojsilovic: Construction of the base in northern Kosovo causes concern, we monitor the situation (Danas, Beta, Politika)
• Selakovic and Petkovic: Scandalous political audacity of Vjosa Osmani (RTS)
• Selakovic with Maas: Germany one of the most important Serbian economic partners (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic says Belgrade not interested in creating Greater Serbia (N1)
• Commemoration for 16 killed during 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia’s state TV (Beta, N1)
• Rakocevic: KFOR must open its eyes; lies being told nowadays only encourage extremists (Kosovo-online)
• Bishop Irinej writes to Blinken about violence against Serbs in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
Opinion:
• Organic networking: a Balkan awakening (KoSSev)
• A ‘Greying’ Western Balkans Must Look to Robots (Balkan Insight)
International:
• German diplomat says time is right for Serbia-Kosovo talks (AP)
• Germany rejects idea of redrawing Western Balkans borders - minister (Reuters)
• Serbian Leader Talks Up Ties To Biden, Says 'No Interest' In 'Greater Serbia' (RFE)
• Disputed memo on partitioning Bosnia sparks fears of violence (Al Jazeera)
• Serbian Court Tries Kosovo Albanian for Wartime Killings (Balkan Insight)
• Vučić: Serbia wants stronger relations with Bosniaks and Croats in Bosnia (euractive.com)
• Suspicions Persist About NATO’s Deadly Bombing of Serbian TV (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• We want to breathe (EWB)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 22, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 408 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Maas: Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia hinder their progress (Klan)
• Osmani thanks Szunyog for EU-donated vaccines (media)
• Opposition slams government's decision affecting pensions (media)
• KFOR: No significant security incident was recorded in the last 10 years against Decan Monastery (Express)
Serbian Language Media:
• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: 26 new cases (KoSSev)
• EP’s Fajon: Ideas about new borders extremely dangerous, especially for Bosnia (NIN, N1)
• Patriarch Porfirije: I appreciate the efforts of Bishop Teodosije, who is falsely accused by those who want to bring unrest (KoSSev)
• Aliferi: Greece doesn’t recognize Kosovo; its stance remains unchanged (Radio KIM)
• Dejan Dimitrijevic from Gracanica fined with EU 2300 over protest gathering (Vecernje Novosti)
• Serbian minister says intergovernmental conference with EU in June (N1)
Opinion:
• Can Kurti use the moment to start genuine inter-ethnic cooperation? (K2.0)
International:
• Disputed Non-Paper is Stirring Dangerous Dreams in the Balkans (Balkan Insight)
• EU action awaited as phantom paper further unhinges Western Balkans (euractive.com)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Vucic discusses new arrangement with IMF (N1)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 21, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 21, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 506 new cases, five deaths (media)
• PM Kurti to visit Brussels next week, meet EU officials (media)
• German FM Maas to visit Kosovo and Serbia (RFE)
• Britain's PM Johnson congratulates Kurti on election, pledges support to Kosovo (media)
• Roth: No one in Europe can support border changes phantasies (DW)
• Hoxhaj accuses government of 'abstaining from responsibility' (media)
• State prosecutor and police: Avoid investigations against media and reporters (media)
• Musliu reacts after sexist graffiti: This is not in the culture of PDK (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Antonijevic: The situation more favorable, but there is no room for relaxation (Kosovo Online, RTK)
• Kosovo media: Vucic, Kurti to go to Brussels and Paris (N1, KoSSev)
• Vaccination with Pfizer without registration available in Serbia as of Wednesday (Kontakt plus radio)
• Embassy of Slovakia: We are not changing our position on Kosovo (Politika, Blic, B92)
• Selakovic: Gratitude to Iran for not recognizing Pristina’s separatism (Kosovo-online)
• Selakovic: Serbia plans to start producing Sinopharm vaccine as of October (N1)
• Vucic meets with WHO Europe Director Kluge (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: With budget rebalance we have earmarked 4 billion dinars for assistance in KiM (Kosovo-online)
International:
• Media Freedom Deteriorated In Europe Amid Pandemic, Report Warns (Balkan Insight)
• North Macedonia to Upgrade Army Despite Economic Concerns (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Belgrade Mayor: Herd immunity soon to be reached in capital (N1)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 20, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 442 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• EU to send 95,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine to Kosovo (media)
• Vitia signs administrative instruction paving way for vaccine purchase (media)
• President Biden writes to Osmani: Our partnership is rooted in common values (media)
• Aliferi: Greece supports Kosovo's European integration path (RFE)
• Kusari-Lila: Government to soon present position on dialogue with Serbia (Telegrafi)
• LVV calls for end to government paying electricity bills for the north (Koha)
• Haxhiu: Vetting of judiciary, biggest challenge for Ministry of Justice (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: Two people died, 36 new cases (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Serbia will not recognize Kosovo to get Republika Srpska (N1)
• Brnabic meets WHO Europe Director Klugge (Tanjug)
• Palestine requests Islamic states to cease relations with Pristina (RTS)
• Kosovo dropped eight places on media freedom list (RTV Puls)
• Journalism, a high-risk profession in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Serbia’s ranking unchanged on World Press Freedom Index (N1)
• Varhelyi: 651.000 vaccines for Western Balkans, Serbia was first to extend help to the region (Kosovo-online)
• Gracanica: Performance ''Contribution to the tax'' (Kosovo Online)
International:
• Biden urges to Kosovo continue ‘essential’ talks with Serbia (AP)
• Serbia’s Marko Đurić urges ‘just solution’ to bitter Kosovo dispute (washdiplomat.com)
• Balkans rocked as leaked memo explores redrawing Bosnia’s borders along ethnic lines (euronews.com)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Kosovar biologist calls newly found insect after coronavirus (AP)
• Mediation as a form of reconciliation in schools (UNICEF, social media)
• Brain drain? In Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia there are signs of ‘brain gain’ (Emerging Europe)