UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 20, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Killing of children in Kosovo are Serbia’s most heinous crimes (Klan)
• Osmani: We are ready for any scenario from Serbia (media)
• Svecla: Illegal investment was made in Banjska hotel, it is property of AKP (Koha)
• Sources: “Banja complex, shelter of terrorists, fighting point on Sept 24” (KSP)
• Svecla: Report on Banjska and policemen kidnaped by Serbia, soon (Klan)
• In his year-end speech, Stoltenberg mentions importance of security in Kosovo for peace in Western Balkans (Klan)
• Haradinaj: AAK ready for parliamentary elections whenever they are held (EO)
• MP Musliu refuses Prime Minister Kurti's gift for the end of the year (Koha)
• Molliqaj: Santa’s 2023 balance: Many gifts for LVV, punishment for KLA, and Zajednica for Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• US Congresswoman Tenny: Suspend aid to Pristina (KiM radio, Tanjug)
• Antonijevic: I expect sharp reaction from US and EU over incursion of Kosovo police to Rajska Banja spa complex (Kosovo Online, social media)
• US calls for investigation into election fraud claims (N1)
• Brnabic: Just 20,000 crossed border on election day (N1)
• Senators Shaheen and Ricketts call Belgrade to consider rerun of elections (VoA, N1)
• Ugljanin: The next steps in the process of replacing the mayor - when the Ministry's answer arrives (Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media:

• EU concerned – Serbia does not implement Ohrid agreement (Deutsche Welle)
• Selimi: Serbia’s path to EU is 100% conditioned by Kosovo’s path to UN (media)
• Germany on Serbia elections: Unacceptable irregularities (RFE)
• Von Cramon: Serbian elections held under uneven playing field conditions (media)
• Bilcik: We haven’t seen any systematic irregularities in Serbian elections (AP)
• Vetevendosje slams opposition parties for sending laws to Court (media)
• Rohde describes Moller’s visit to Kosovo, Grenell reacts (media)
• Bogujevci on CoE membership: On the right path, we have great support (media)
• Albania to chair Adriatic Charter in ‘24: Kosovo membership, a priority (Express)
• Szunyog advises Aliu to prioritize environment protection legislation (media)
• Hovenier meets Rizvanolli: Kosovo’s energy future is bright (media)
• Murati denies govt excluded any category from subsidies for electricity (media)
• Kurti visits Kosovo Pensions Savings Trust (media)
• Kurti meets community students that benefited from scholarships (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• CEC opened way for initiation of petitions for removal of mayors in three norhtern municipalities in Kosovo (RTS)
• KoSSev: Kosovo Ministry of Environment will maintain roads in the north as well (Beta, NMagazin)
• "KLA" sign placed above North Mitrovica (N1, RTS)
• Returnee house in Belo Polje near Pec burnt (Radio KIM, Radio Gorazdevac)
• Office for KiM: Pavlovic family has been facing pressure for months (Kosovo Online)
• Road works continue in Banov Do despite locals' opposition (KiM radio, Radio Mitrovica sever, TV Most)
• China state leadership congratulate Vucic for victory (RTS)
• Bilcik: There were no major irregularities in elections in Serbia (N1, Insajder)
• Von Cramon: Irregularities on and before Serbian elections (N1, social media)
• Five days without electricity, residents of Susice village, near Strpce ask for help (RTS)

Opinion:

• Krstic: Some went to vote for the SNS in an organized manner, others voluntarily went to vote against (KoSSev)

International:

• Kosovo Opposition LDK Slates EU Document on Serb Municipalities’ Association (BIRN)
• Kosovo Fears New Labour Shortfall as Schengen Doors Open (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia challenges NATO, by threatening Kosovo (RLI)
• Serbian Opposition Parties Demand Annulment of Belgrade Election Result (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia’s elections held under ‘unjust conditions’, say international observers (The Guardian)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 18, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Rohde: Germany continues its support for Kosovo's integration into EU (RTK)
• Haxhiu: Venice Commission supports proposal for 7 members in KPC (media)
• Hoxhaj: Foreign policy without any results, only with tourist visits (media)
• LVV MPs continue boycott - meeting of Investigative Committee for Reserves fails (media)
• Kusari-Lila: Committee of Inquiry on reserves, absurd, its purpose is unknown (Klan)
• Serwer: Election results in Serbia are not good sign for dialogue (RFE, media)
• Haradinaj: The Association's draft statute has disturbing elements (media)
• Russia complains to UN about "good conditions" of former KLA leaders in The Hague (AP)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic on elections results, future of Serbia (N1, Kosovo Online, social media)
• Serbia Against Violence calls protest, alleges election fraud (N1, KoSSev, media)
• Bosnian Serb politicians respond to opposition claims (N1, media)
• Dacic on SPS election results (media)
• Petkovic: Serbian people demonstrated once again they are loyal to their state of Serbia (Kosovo Online)
• Pisonero: EU will not declare on elections in Serbia, before OSCE and ODHIR present their preliminary findings (FoNet)
• Kremlin on SNS elections results (Danas, BETA)
• Grenell on SNS election victory, Kurti (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, social media)
• Centre of Zvecan without electricity since last night because of malfunction (Radio Mitrovica sever, Radio kontakt plus)
• MFA of Germany: Our ambassador in Kosovo did not ask memorial plaque to be moved (Kosovo Online)
• Stefanovic: The checking of Radoicic's testimony ongoing, evidence being collected (N1, Kurir)

International:

• Serbian Progressives Win Parliamentary Election, Control of Belgrade in Question (Balkan Insight)
• ‘This is Kosovo’s Reality’: How Ethnic Insults Persist in TV Entertainment (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia’s Leader Tightens Grip on Power in General Election, Early Results Show (The New York Times)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti meets Hovenier and Hyland, talk about attack committed in Kosovo (Reporteri)
• Osmani: Serbia not interested in concluding dialogue, Vucic's policy same as Milosevic's (media)
• PDK and AAK boycott Osmani’s address in the Assembly today (media)
• EU to Serbia: Ohrid Agreement and Annex are legally binding (RTK)
• Baker appreciates Kosovo’s contribution to regional stability (RTK)
• Westerlund: Association draft doesn’t foresee executive competencies (TeVe1)
• Abdixhiku asks U.S. to continue support for dialogue (media)
• State Department: Russia influenced increase of tensions in Kosovo north (KTV)
• Kearns raises doubts that investigation into Banjska has ended and is not being made public (Kallxo)
• Opposition on Bislimi’s accusations: Kurti government in line with Serbia (eo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Stano: The Brussels agreement and the agreement from Ohrid are legally binding for Belgrade and Pristina (RTS)
• Ambassador: Spain will not change its position - we do not recognize Kosovo, nor the accession to the EU (N1, FoNet)
• Deadline for re-registration of vehicles to “RKS” plates expires today (KiM radio)
• RIK: Record number of controllers at Sunday elections (N1, BETA)
• No indication that Pristina will lift the embargo on Serbian goods (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Serbia Braces Again for Snap Legislative and Belgrade Elections (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia's Vucic seeks to reassert populist dominance in elections this weekend (abcnews.go.com)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani meets Meloni, “count on leadership” (media)
• Kurti travels to Brussels, invited by leader of European Socialists (media)
• Kurti: Serbia still hiding the truth about Panda case (media)
• Haxhiu: Early marriages in RAE communities, most unaddressed issue (media)
• KSF and Albanian Army hold joint drill in Albania (media)
• European Judo Championship to be held in Pristina on Saturday (media)
• KSC President grants Naim Haradinaj modification of sentence (media)
• Appeals Panel pronounces judgment in Salih Mustafa case (media)
• AAK’s Tahiri criticizes govt: 80% of capital projects haven’t started (Nacionale)
• Nissinen: We need strong democracies like Kosovo and Finland (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: If EU message was that we have to recognise Kosovo, that will not happen (Tanjug)
• Brnabic: Serbians oppose sanctions on Russia (N1, FoNet)
• O’Brien: US expect calm and fair elections in Serbia, OSCE carefully monitors process (Voice of America)
• Six months since ban on importing Serbian goods in Kosovo was imposed (Radio KIM)
• Gogic, Rakic on non-acceptance of petitions to resolve mayors in north (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Memorial service to six murdered Serb boys served at Orthodox cemetery in Pec (KoSSev, Radio KIM)
• Election silence begins at midnight and lasts until closure of polling stations on December 17 (KiM radio, Beta)
• CRTA: Election campaign in a fog of unanswered questions (N1)
• Presevo, Bujanovac, Medvedja KLA veterans called on Albanians to boycott elections on December 17 (Kosovo Online, bujanovacke.co.rs)
• Pointing a finger at Serbian “state security”, Kurti installs a memorial plaque on the anniversary of the Panda case (KoSSev)

International:

• Kosovo Charges Four With Terrorism Over Election Office Bombing in North (BIRN)
• Hague Court Cuts Kosovo’s Commander Cali’s Sentence by Four Years (BIRN)
• Ex-Guerrilla-Turned-MP Does not Plead in First Hague Appearance (BIRN)