UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 19, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• European Parliament adopts resolution condemning attack in Banjska (media)
• Opposition criticises government for boycotting assembly session on police (media)
• Osmani to UNSC, calls for justice for survivors of sexual violence in conflict (media)
• Berlin Process Summit: Recent developments threaten peace and security (media)
• Bislimi travels to France, will meet Boone, diplomats and MPs (media)
• Minister calls on opposition to vote in favour of international agreements (Kallxo)
• Haradinaj meets Rama: I asked him to help Kosovo with challenges we’re facing (EO)
• Haxhiu: Serbian army, police, were ready to help the attack, Rama knew (Express)
• SPRK new case, confiscate weapons, vehicles and properties worth €20 mil (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Bilcik: Message of Resolution is that both sides have same responsibility (Kosovo online, Politika, Tanjug)
• Petkovic tells Konrad Pristina did not take necessary measures to calm situation in north (Radio KIM)
• European Parliament adopted a resolution on dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo (Beta, NMagazin)
• The Western Five come to Pristina and Belgrade to achieve 'tangible progress' (NMagazin, Beta)
• Detention of Elezovic, Kostic and Milovic extended for two more months (Kosovo Online)
• An explosive device thrown into the yard of a Serbian house in Ranilug village (RTS)
• Travellers at Jarinje: Let them agree, to lift burden off people (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
• Elshani: There were searches, and there will be more (Radio KIM)
• Joint protests of Serbs and Albanians over quarry in Straza (Radio KIM)
• After Banjska, the "reformatting" of the Serbian List at the party assembly on October 24? (KoSSev)
• Milatovic: Serbia-Montenegro relations must be the best possible (N1)

International:

• Lost in Translation: A Statement by French President on Visas Causes Confusion in Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)
• The EU Has Failed in Serbia and Kosovo (Foreign Policy)
• EP adopts Resolution on Banjska, calls for measures against Serbian government if its involvement is proven (EWB)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti meets KFOR commander: Demands increase at border with Serbia, ‘where threat to Kosovo comes from’ (media)
• Osmani and Guler talk about cooperation in the field of defence (RTK)
• Five draft resolutions submitted to EP, demand sanctioning of Serbia for attack in Banjska (media)
• Sarrazin: Germany against a new dialogue conference (media)
• Russia shares the same concern with Serbia about Kosovo, says Putin (Albanian Post)
• Szunyog on non-decree of chief prosecutor: Merit selection process is needed (Koha)
• Croatian president: Serbia was not punished for attack in north, Vucic owes us some answers (Reporteri)
• Djukanovic: Policy of internationals instigated the terrorist act in Banjska (media)
• New Special Prosecutor, Kimberly West signs the solemn declaration (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Bilcik: Dialogue is the only way (KiM radio, FoNet)
• Petkovic: Kurti undermines dialogue on daily basis before eyes of international community (Tanjug, media)
• After more than three weeks Jarinje crossing point fully opened (media)
• KSF member who wounded two Serb boys released pending trial (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic reacts to decision to release Azem Kurtaj pending trial (Tanjug)
• Jevtic says release of Azem Kurtaj pending trial sends bad message, lawyer appalled by decision (media)
• Dacic: FTA with China historic, to be greatly beneficial (Tanjug)
• Starovic: In the coming period, Serbia can count on an even stronger role of China in preserving its territorial integrity (RTS)
• Demostat: Serbs from the north of Kosovo trust KFOR the most (NMagazin, Beta)
• AP: NATO equips KFOR with heavier armament to have “combat power” (N1)
• Behind high politics: He extended KM licence plates, then was left without vehicle and paid fines (KoSSev)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 17, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Macron calls for responsibility from Kosovo and Serbia; “threatens with visas” (media)
• Rama: Kosovo is in self-made trap; French-German the best possible plan (Dukagjini)
• EU confirms visit of big five to Kosovo and Serbia, calls for concrete progress (RFE)
• Osmani: Great damage for peace if EU doesn’t take measures against Serbia (Telegrafi)
• Miftaraj: Osmani’s decision not to decree Isufaj is based on the law (Koha)
• Kurti: Terrorist act in Banjska must not go unpunished (Kallxo)
• Over 20 illegal roads along border with Serbia blocked, police confirm (Kallxo)
• Police: Citizens in the north want deadline for licence plates to be extended (RFE)
• Begaj: Acts of violence in north of Kosovo are unacceptable and condemnable (media)
• Turkish Defence Minister: Dialogue, the only way to peace and stability in region (EO)
• Shahini: €300 million losses due to EU measures (Ekonomia Online)
• Weapons and hand grenades found near village of Prelluzhe (media)
• Specialist Chambers grant Gucati modification of sentence (media)
• Ziv: There is difference between Hamas terrorists and Palestinian people (AP)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbia, China sign FTA in presence of presidents Vucic and Xi (Tanjug)
• The European Union reacted to the Free Trade Agreement between Serbia and China (Beta, N1)
• Lajcak, Escobar in Belgrade, Pristina on October 21 for talks with Vucic, Kurti (N1)
• Vucic meets with Wang in Beijing (Tanjug)
• Kosovo and Albanian flags displayed near Banje village in Zubin Potok (KoSSev)
• Elshani: We sent request to Pristina to extend deadline for vehicle re-registration (KoSSev, KiM radio)
• Office for KIM writes to EULEX Head about treatment of Ilija Elezovic in detention (Kosovo Online)
• Szunyog: EU considers mayor's resignation as faster and more effective way forward than petition (Kosovo Online)
• Elshani: Pristina makes decision on opening of Jarinje (Radio Mitrovica sever, Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Ćorac: Kurti's so far policy defeated a normal life (KoSSev, medijacentar.info)
• Europe Must Seize this Opportunity to Enlarge – and Reform (BIRN)

International:

• IMF Reaches Staff-Level Agreement with Kosovo on the First Reviews of the Stand-By Agreement and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility Agreement (IMF)
• 'Tigers' pounce as Strategic Reserve Force activated for Kosovo (army.mod.uk)
• Share Your Experience: TikTok Used for Slut-Shaming Girls in Western Balkans (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti in Tirana, meeting with Scholz announced (media)
• Scholz: Kosovo and Serbia must implement the agreements (media)
• Kurti meets Roth: Terrorist attacks demand accountability from Serbia (media)
• Rutte: Today I have opportunity to talk with Kurti and Brnabic to reduce tensions (media)
• Brnabic boycotts joint photo shoot in Tirana because of Kosovo's flag (Express)
• Martti Ahtisaari, former Finnish president and Nobel Peace Prize winner, dies at 86 (media)
• Svecla publishes pictures of mines in the north: Do we need more evidence? (RTK)
• KFOR, together with Kosovo Police, patrols for border security (Klan)
• Muja on elections in the north: Decision belongs to citizens, not to Serbian List (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: I expect not so easy discussions at Tirana summit (Tanjug)
• Scholz in Tirana: Cooperation needed because of crisis in Ukraine, Middle East and Kosovo (FoNet, Danas)
• SOC Raska-Prizren Diocese responds to unfounded accusations of unauthorised restoration of its religious sites (media, social media)
• Kosovo Online: Kosovo government rejected all remarks of EU, US Embassy and OSCE related to land expropriation
• Ambulance carrying medical supplies from Leposavic to Mitrovica North hospital pulled over by police, sent to custom’s terminal (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• President Vucic, ministers arrive in Beijing (Tanjug)
• Largest political groups in EP to demand punitive measures against Serbia (N1, KoSSev)
• Who was Marti Ahtisaari? (Danas)
• EC President calls on Serbia, Kosovo to return to dialogue (FoNet, N1)
• Radoicic: ‘Vucic’s naive victim’ or ‘a rich man from the criminal underworld’? (KoSSev)
• Court of Appeal rejected appeals against detention measures imposed on three arrested Serbs in Banjska (KoSSev, KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio)

Opinion:

• Stiplija: Today's summit of the Berlin Process could be the tipping point for the Open Balkans (Danas)

International:

• Rama on EU enlargement promises: Decision makers will be gone, replaced next year (Euractiv)
• Neither Serb Nor Albanian: Life In The 'Bosnian Quarter' Of Kosovo's Divided North (RFE)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 13, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: There should be increased security guarantees for Kosovo (media)
• Kurti: Chapter of dialogue must take into account Serbia’s attempt for annexation (Koha)
• Kurti: Attack in Banjska, an act of aggression by Serbia (media)
• Sarrazin: Kosovo, Serbia to return to table to implement Ohrid agreement (media)
• EEAS senior official on two-day visit to Kosovo (media)
• Escobar highlights importance of implementing Ohrid agreement (Telegrafi)
• Inside the Banjska Monastery (RTK)
• NATO defence ministers conclude two-day meeting in Brussels (media)
• “Court decides on early release for Gucati” (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian List: Pristina to call for elections in north as soon as possible, ready to take part in it (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic expressed hope in a conversation with Li that cooperation between Serbia and China will be even stronger (Tanjug)
• Elek: If a humanitarian disaster happens to us, all international actors will be accomplices (Kosovo Online)
• More than 1000 people from northern Kosovo demand withdrawal of Kosovo special police forces (Radio KIM, social media)
• Kisnica: KLA on the road sign, Serbian language inscription crossed out (KiM radio, Danas, Radio Mitrovica sever, KoSSev)
• Ceku: Expropriation of property at the archaeological site of Ulpijana near Gracanica has begun (KoSSev)
• Antonijevic: Freedom of expression is also being denied to Serbs in Kosovo, US and EU have to react (Kosovo Online)
• Mitic on arrests of Serbs based on photos, comments on social media (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Only Extremists Stand to Benefit from Fresh Serbia-Kosovo Violence (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo’s vast Trepca industrial complex in limbo for 23 years (Intellinews)
• Google is being sued in the US for discrimination against the Albanian language (CAN)
• Census Risks Sparking Political Storm in Divided Montenegro (BIRN)
• From Religious Figures to Journalists, and Minors in Peril (Balkan Insight)