UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 11, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: First basic agreement, implementation annex, then Association (media)
• Osmani thanks United Arab Emirates for abolishing visa requirements (media)
• 2024 starts with mass “internal reorganization” of Kosovo Tax Administration (EO)
• Gjoshi asks western ambassadors to react to govt’s criticism of court (Nacionale)
• Sources: Kurti strips SIU from competencies on terrorism (Albanian Post)
• Molliqaj: Closer we get to autonomy for Serbs, Kurti talks of war more (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Decision on land expropriation in north annulled; Nenezic: After judgment becomes final, we’ll send a request to remove bases (KoSSev)
• Rapajic: Decision of court in Pristina positive step, but I do not expect changes (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Kurti continues systematic and institutional oppression of Serbs (Tanjug, media)
• Friedman: Crucial issue not Kosovo, but Serbia emerging as economic power (N1)
• Sandulovic case: From post on visit to Jashari complex, arrest, Vulin, BIA to the West (KoSSev, DW)
• Trial of Zlatan Arsic continues (Kosovo Online)
• Abolishing visas for Kosovo Serbs: When could negotiations start (N1, Radio KIM)
• Bilcik: It is high time for Pristina to solve major issue (Radio KIM)
• Lawyer: Detention of Dragisa Milenkovic extended for two more months (Tanjug, media)

Opinion:

• Serbian Democracy is Paying a Price for Western Geopolitical Interests (BIRN)

International:

• Serbian opposition leader left partly paralyzed by attack, say family (The Guardian)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 10, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Serbia with “Putin-like methods” threat to Kosovo, Serbian citizens (RFE)
• Kearns: A Five Eyes country delivered an investigation into Banjska (Telegrafi)
• 12 days left to collect signatures for dismissal of mayors in the north (RFE)
• Haxhiu: Constitutional Court is obstructing the implementation of reforms (Kallxo)
• Zeka: Prices remain high; the economy has not been priority of any govt (EO)
• Nearly €300,000 for shelters, NGOs that offer social and family services (Kallxo)
• Palokaj: EU and U.S. concerned that Serbia is strongly behind Dodik (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Celic: Seizure of Rajska Banja part of strategy to leave CSM without economic power and resources (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: Serbia-Russia relations very good, Serbia is no one's protectorate (Tanjug, media)
• Lawyers to demand dismissal of indictment against Milenkovic, house arrest measure instead of detention (Kosovo Online)
• Kosovo Online: Kurti said Petrit Dula is in Serbian prison, he was released in April last year
• Vucic: Everyone is arming themselves, we are not lagging behind (Tanjug)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 9, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• EU working to condition Serbia’s membership with implementation of agreements with Kosovo (RFE)
• 72 cases of attacks and threats against reporters in Kosovo in 2023 (VoA in Albanian)
• Murati: Capital investments in 2023 increased by 32 percent (media)
• “Possible attacks from Serbia”; Haziri: Leaders’ camouflage to hide failures (EO)
• Musliu: Serbia can use local Serbs; another attack as Banjska not excluded
• Sources: Police raids against several Tax Administration officials (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucevic: Time to decide about compulsory military service, debate ahead (Tanjug, TV Pink)
• Kosovo Chamber of Commerce: We lost €300mn to EU sanctions (N1, BETA)
• Hearing in case of Milorad Djokovic from Vitomirica held today (Kosovo Online, media)
• Serbian prosecution still conducts investigation on Banjska case (Radio KIM, Euronews)
• Ponos: New opposition protest on January 16 (N1)

Opinion:

• Dialogue and Kosovo’s European integration in the year of mega-elections (Koha)
• AI’s Arrival in Higher Education in Balkans Has Huge Implications (BIRN)

International:

• Was Kosovo’s First Transitional Justice Strategy Worth the Wait? (BIRN)
• Spanish opposition fears Kosovo passport recognition could set a precedent for Catalonia (Euractiv)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 5, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Serbia recognized plates to cover rejection of Brussels agreement (Koha)
• Rohde welcomes “ditching of sticker regime” between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Konjufca condemns “despicable violence” against Sandulovic (media)
• Haxhiu: International community must condemn beating of Sandulovic (media)
• After being beaten, Sandulovic’s apartment raided (RTK/Dukagjini)
• Kusari-Lila: There could be parliamentary elections this year (RTK)
• Kosovo candidate status, Belgian EU Presidency: We’ll seek consensus (Express)
• Police confiscate 689 bullets of different calibers in Banjska of Zvecan (Nacionale)
• Ahmeti: There are successes in foreign diplomacy; security is a priority (KSP)
• EU measures inflicted material damage and further damaged Kosovo’s image (AP)
• Kosovo allowed visit by Serbian Patriarch, one day later Serbia did the opposite with Svecla (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• One year since wounding of two Serb boys in Gotovusa, near Strpce (Kosovo Online)
• Jevtic: Injustice at stake, Serbs unprotected in legal sense (media)
• Kosovo Government decision to revoke stickers had not taken effect yet (Kosovo Online)
• Raska-Prizren Eparchy Bishop Teodosije with believers in Mitrovica North tomorrow (KoSSev)
• Djuric: US support to Pristina conditional upon Community of Serb Municipalities (Tanjug)
• Drecun: Serbs in Kosovo concerned over Pristina's military service plans (Tanjug, RTS)
• Kosovo police found ammunition in Banjska near Zvecan, it is believed it was there since September (KoSSev, N1)

Opinion:

• Serbia’s Elections – Defeat for Far Right, as well as Moderate Opposition (BIRN)

International:

• Kosovars Finally Get The Visas They've Longed For (Along With A Host Of New Problems) (RFE)
• Kosovo’s Houses of Culture, Fading Relics of the Yugoslav Past (BIRN)
• Kosovo's amputee soccer stars overcome legacy of conflict (RFE)
• Serbian opposition leader brutally beaten by secret services (MSN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 4, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani informs Cameron on “Serbia’s constant destabilization efforts” (media)
• Gervalla meets Cameron: West needs new approach towards Balkans (media)
• Kearns: It is time to stand together, unwavering against irredentism (Reporteri)
• Serbia authorities refuse Svecla’s visit to Presevo Valley (media)
• Svecla after denied visit to Serbia: We will act on principles of reciprocity (Koha)
• Kamberi: Govt in Belgrade remains paranoid and hateful against Albanians (RTK)
• COMKFOR: KFOR presence in north quadrupled, patrols tripled (AP)
• Peci: Serbia’s military mobilization means more NATO troops in region (Koha)
• Environmental NGOs sue ministry, claim it secretly gave permits (Express)
• ICK: Task against New Year celebration, mistake that shouldn’t be repeated (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• What is written in Serbian Government decision on Kosovo license plates (KoSSev)
• Bislimi on Constitutional Court decisions, police bases in northern Kosovo, dialogue (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev, Radio KIM)
• Dacic: I expect strongest pressure on Kosovo issue by March (Tanjug, TV Pink)
• Serbian Army General Staff launches initiative to introduce military service again (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Cameron’s statement on helping Kosovo gain new recognitions deserves strongest condemnation (Kosovo Online, RTV)
• Andric-Rakic: Bill for U.S. to suspend all aid to Kosovo an additional guarantee for implementation of agreement (Kosovo Online)
• Marinkovic: CASA does not take part in initiative to recall mayors (Radio KIM)