UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 2, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 2,590 new cases, six deaths (media)
• EU, U.S. envoys, Lajcak and Escobar, hold press conference at conclusion of Kosovo visit (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo not afraid of implementing agreement on Association (Kosovapress)
• Osmani meets Escobar on his final day of visit to Kosovo (media)
• Serwer: Dialogue has stalled on domestic politics (Koha)
• Haradinaj: No way round the decision on Decan Monastery property (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Number of infected people in Serbian areas growing (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Vucic to meet with Escobar, Lajcak on Wednesday (Tanjug)
• Haradinaj on Visoki Decani Monastery land case (Kosovo-online)
• The families of the missing Serbs asked Hoti to appoint their member to the Commission for Missing Persons (KiM radio)
• Lajcak: Belgrade-Pristina dialogue not about status of Kosovo (Beta, N1)
• Surlic: Visit of Escobar and Lajcak is a courteous gesture, without any progress (RTV, Tanjug)
• Kurti: We are not afraid of the Community of Municipalities with a Serb majority, but we are careful (Beta, Danas)
• Bilbija: Establishment of ZSO would stabilise region (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian Ministry of Culture: Enable media to work unhindered (Radio KIM)
• Kosovo government assistance to families who lost someone from Covid; "not valid" for Serbs from the north (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian opposition presidential candidate Ponos says he wanted unity, will respect Constitution (N1, media)

International:

• EU, US want faster progress in Serbia-Kosovo talks (AP)
• U.S., EU urge Kosovo to honour local autonomy deal for Serb region (Reuters)
• North Macedonia, its Balkan Neighbours, Can’t Fight Terrorism Alone (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Society will be safe only when women will feel safe (Radio kontakt plus)
• Last Despatches: Kosovo Journalist Disappears After Visiting Guerrilla Base (Balkan Insight)

• Pressure mounts on dialogue process as Lajcak and Escobar visit Kosovo (euronews.al)
• Lajcak pleased with understanding and support of opposition for dialogue (media)
• Lajcak and Escobar meet with the Serbian List (media)
• Civil society representatives meet Lajcak (media)
• What kind of association did envoys ask of Kurti? (Klan)
• EU, US Unified over Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue, Say Envoys (Exit.al)
• PSD: Molliqaj arrested without arrest warrant (media)
• Kosovo’s opposition parties react to Molliqaj’s arrest (media)
• Szunyog: Financial sustainability, problem for domestic violence survivors (Kallxo)
• Pupovci: No salaries this month for Serb officials paid without working (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo: Daring to think about the Future of Europe (EWB)
• COVID-19: 2,033 new cases, six deaths (media)
• WHO warns it is 'premature' to declare victory or stop fight against Covid-19 (France 24)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 2,033 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Krasniqi: PDK supports a final agreement that does not undermine state sovereignty (media)
• LDK: Kosovo-Serbia dialogue to conclude in mutual recognition (media)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo-Serbia agreement to include mutual recognition under existing borders (media)
• Tahiri: EU to speak in a clear voice, avoid ambiguous communication (media)
• Analysts view Escobar, Lajcak visit as pressure on dialogue and Association (RFE)
• Government to ERO: Block tariff to be 1,000 instead of 600kWh (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 140 new cases, three deaths registered in Serbian areas (KoSSev)
• Petkovic: Dialogue cannot be treated as a monologue of one side that blackmails; return to the negotiating table (media)
• UNS, Cup: Systematic discrimination of Serbian media outlets (KoSSev, Kosovo-online, TV Most)
• Yugoslav Army General who signed agreement ending Kosovo war dies (N1)
• Brnabic says April elections crucial (N1, Happy TV)

Opinion:

• Diplomacy over War; Truth over Lies (Gazeta Metro/media)

International:

• Džihić: The awakening of civic movements has imposed the logic that change is possible (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Could Sundance stormer 'Hive' be Kosovo’s first-ever Oscar contender? (euronews)
• "We are losing the Balkan lynx" (balcanicaucaso.org)
• Media: Kosovo has lowest minimum wage in Europe (Beta, N1)
• Kosovo Albanians Join Video Campaign to Support Folk-Dancing Teacher (Balkan Insight)
• NGO LINK with the support of UNMIK encourage the development of youth entrepreneurship (Radio Mitrovica sever)

• In visit to Kosovo, Lajcak and Escobar meet institutional leaders (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo's territorial integrity, sovereignty, functioning not to be undermined by anyone (media)
• Osmani: Serbia blocking progress in dialogue (media)
• Kosovo's DPM Bislimi meets U.S. and EU envoys, Escobar and Lajcak (media)
• Vela: Escobar's positions in line with those of Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Experts: Almost impossible to reach Kosovo-Serbia agreement in 2022 (VOA)
• COVID-19: 1,593 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Fejzullahu: Energy in the north is a political issue (KTV)
• Balkan parties join rightist summit in Madrid to “Defend Europe” (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 31, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 1,593 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Osmani: We have not received new proposals about the Association (media)
• Kurti: It is not possible to have no subsidies, no increase in prices, no disconnection (media)
• Escobar and Lajcak to meet opposition parties as well (demokracia.com)
• LDK against increase of electricity tariffs (media)
• Krasniqi: Government will be responsible for increase of electricity price (media)
• Kosovo "respects" the Washington moratorium even after expiration (RFE Albanian)
• Haliti: Negotiations with Serbia on contested matters should begin (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 107 new cases registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio kontakt plus)
• Kosovo, Albania to form cross-border administrative area (N1, Kosovo-online)
• Escobar: US, EU don’t decide on distribution of power in Serbia (N1)
• Two largest Serbian ruling parties to run separate lists in upcoming elections (N1)
• Serbian List is not interested in social policy; Simic: Incorrect (Kim Radio, Kosovo Online, Kosova press)
• Lajcak: Experts from Belgrade, Pristina discuss license plates (N1)
• Selakovic on the "Belgian model": The Brussels Agreement clearly states what the ZSO is (N1, Beta, TV Pink)
• Drecun: Model of Community of Serb-majority Municipalities agreed in Brussels only acceptable one (Tanjug)
• KLA flag placed at entry of Velika Hoca (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• The Kosovo case (KiM radio, NMagazin)

International:

• Serbia's Foreign Minister Signals Dead End On Kosovo Talks (RFE)
• Protesters Over Hike in Electricity Price Scuffle With Police (Prishtina Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Energy poverty leads to pollution-related deaths in Albania and Western Balkans (Euractive)
• Tomanić: Environmental issues have a mobilising potential in the entire Western Balkans (EWB)

• Escobar and Lajcak arrive in Kosovo today (media)
• EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak interview with Gazeta Express
• COVID-19: 2,390 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Pristina protesters storm government building over energy prices (RFE)
• Kosovo sends two athletes to Beijing despite backing US boycott (BIRN)
• Hope and healing in Kosovo’s Oscar entry ‘Hive’ (AP)
• Serbian media: Albanians attacked police in Kursumlija (Klan Kosova)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 3,617 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Minister Murati meets with U.S. Ambassador Jeff Hovenier (ATV)
• Customs: U.S. has become Kosovo's main export market (media)
• Haradinaj: Any option that ignores Constitution and borders, severely damages Kosovo (Reporteri)
• Aliu in Presevo: Belgrade can stop us, but we will continue to insist (media)
• Molliqaj: PDK will not participate, LDK, AAK support Saturday’s protest (media)
• Deliu-Kodra criticizes President for remaining silent about electricity crisis (RTK)
• Hoti: Decision on three doses of vaccine to enter Kosovo does not make sense (media)
• Over six thousand students currently infected with COVID-19 (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Escobar to Pristina: Respect court decision on Visoki Decani Monastery (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic: It is necessary to hold April 3 elections in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Trajkovic: Claims that independence of Kosovo is fact are disincentive for negotiations (Kosovo-online)
• Community in a new package for Kosovo (RFE)
• Another witness in case of Dusko Arsic interviewed (Kosovo-online)
• Efraim Zuroff: Comparison of Kosovo Albanians with Holocaust inaccurate (Kosovo-online)
• Ombudsman says textbook denies national minority languages (N1)

International:

• Kosovo Suspends Judge Filmed Acting Illegally by BIRN (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Special Court Extends Ex-President Thaci’s Detention (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 3,917 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Assembly does not approve opposition's motion to amend Covid measures (media)
• United States commit additional $3 million for pandemic response (media)
• Kosovo’s New Anti-COVID Measures Anger Businesses and Travelers (BIRN)
• Escobar: Status-quo in dialogue not working, Association does not violate Kosovo's sovereignty (Reporteri.net)
• Bislimi: Kosovo negotiating a non-aggression deal with Serbia, through EU (Kanal 10)
• Ombudsperson: Non-inclusion of four municipalities in energy tariff plan, unacceptable (KP)
• Kosovo Businesses Welcome Expected Customs Office in Albanian Port (BIRN)
• KSC pre-trial judge extends Thaci’s detention (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 27, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 3,917 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Kurti: Life and health of people has priority in our decisions (Telegrafi/Koha)
• Opposition MPs slam government for management of COVID-19 pandemic (Express)
• Nearly 8,000 students, teachers infected with COVID-19 (Telegrafi)
• Haradinaj opposes closing of borders and police curfew (media)
• CDHRF: Why should we pay for electricity of four northern municipalities (RTK)
• Police: 200 persons took part in protest against energy tariff increase (RTK)
• Tahiri: Vetevendosje always opposed energy projects (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Three deaths, 186 new cases in Serb areas (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Stano: Alignment of Serbia with EU foreign policy on rise (Kosovo-online)
• US Ambassador Hovenier: Kosovo Serbs should be able to vote (N1, RTK2, KiM radio, KoSSev)
• Vucic with Kharchenko on regional and global affairs (Kosovo-online)
• Serbia’s Equality Commissioner: Holocaust warns of what hatred of others can do (N1, Beta)
• Brnabic: EU has never been more positive about Serbia (Tanjug)
• SOC and believers in Serbia celebrate St. Sava Day (N1)

Opinion:

• Toying with the judiciary (Kosovo 2.0)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Another Expensive Year (Kosovo 2.0)

• COVID-19: 4,397 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kosovo Assembly to discuss COVID-19 pandemic in special session (media)
• Hovenier: Kosovo’s progress is a miracle, but there is still work to be done (RTK)
• Ambassador Hovenier confirms visit of U.S. Envoy Escobar to Kosovo next week (media)
• Government of Kosovo silent to Borrell's criticism (Koha)
• Albania gives Kosovo customs point at Durres port (media)
• Ukrainian MP thanks Kosovo: The next step, establishment of relations (media)
• Protesters Condemn Looming Hike in Electricity Bills (Prishtina Insight)
• Opposition parties: Energy tariff to be opposed through legal mechanisms (Klan)