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UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 23, 2023

Albanian Language Media:
No agreement on de-escalation in the north (Koha)
Kurti: The police cannot withdraw if the extremists do not (Koha)
Osmani calls for unity between institutions and parties to face challenges (media)
Stoltenberg: Situation in Kosovo proves NATO’s presence is important (media)
Osmani and Hovenier talk about de-escalation of the situation (media)
Rama: There is no progress without the release of the policemen (Koha)
Court orders 30 days of detention for Serb suspected of war crimes (media)
Police publishes a video regarding claims of protester in Gracanica that he was injured by a moving vehicle (Kallxo)
BRA suspends business certificate of Klan Kosova again (media)
Serbian Language Media:

Vucic in Brussels: All that applies to Ukraine doesn’t to Serbia (N1)
Borrell: Arbitrary arrests unacceptable, EULEX to play more robust monitoring role (N1, BETA, Kosovo Online)
Grenell meets Serb political representatives in Mitrovica North (Kosovo Online)
Serb arrested near Gracanica sent to one-month detention (BETA, media)
Visoki Decani Monastery on protests in Gracanica and Ranilug (social media, Radio KIM, Kosovo Online)
Third protest in Gracanica over arrest of Serb called for today (Radio KIM)
Hill: Great to see Serbian and American forces working side by side (FoNet, social media)
Economy Minister says he is being dismissed for requesting sanctions against Russia (Danas, N1)
International Media:
Kosovo-Serbia: Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell (eeas.europa.eu)
No breakthrough as EU's Borrell holds crisis talks with Kosovo, Serbia leaders (Reuters)
No breakthrough after EU summons Kosovo and Serbia leaders for emergency talks (AP)
EU holds talks with Kosovo, Serbia leaders amid tension (Aljazeera)
EU Calls for New Elections in North Kosovo ‘As Soon as Possible’ (Bloomberg)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 22, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Borrell to host series of meetings with Vucic and Kurti in Brussels today (media)
• Hovenier says Kurti should accept EU three-point plan today (RTV21)
• Sources: Osmani to call a meeting with leaders of parliamentary parties (Nacionale)
• Haradinaj to PDK and LDK: Why don’t you vote on a motion against govt? (Telegrafi)
• Osmani calls for unified international reaction for release of Kosovo officers (media)
• Stoltenberg, Milatovic call for lowering of tensions between Kosovo and Serbia (RFE)
• Citaku compares Gervalla to ministers of totalitarian countries (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: Pristina's ultimate goal is the complete emigration of the Serbian people from Kosovo (Tanjug, Blic)
• The EU member states leaders to discuss the tensions between Belgrade and Pristina at the Summit in June (Danas, FoNet, RFE)
• Office for KiM: The perpetrators of the crimes against the Belacevac miners have not been found a quarter of a century (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)
• German embassy denies Minister Gasic claims on Ivanovic murder (N1)
• A humanitarian disaster threatens because of Kurti, says doctor Elek (Kosovo Online)
• Gracanica: New protest due to the arrest of D.M. (KiM radio)
• When Svecla finally remembered the presumption of innocence (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Evil spring in the north of Kosovo: A plain and simple account of a situation that is neither (KoSSev)
• Effect of the Brussels meeting today, deterioration of relations or de-escalation? (Danas)

International:

• German minister points at Pristina to deescalate Kosovo tensions (Euractive)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 22, 2023

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti: In Brussels I will insist on urgent unconditional release of policemen (Koha)
Escobar: Kurti-Vucic meeting is not expected to happen this week (VoA)
Lajcak meets U.S. senators: De-escalation and return to dialogue is needed (Klan)
Chollet, Lajcak discuss situation in Kosovo (media)
Gervalla: West should change strategy, send other diplomats to Balkans (media)
Police arrest Serb in Gracanica suspected of war crimes (media)
Svecla: Arrested suspected of violence against Albanian prisoners (Koha)
KFOR renews cooperation with Kosovo Security Force (RTK)
Rohde denies reports that 200 German companies are leaving Kosovo (Koha)
KBRA revokes decision to suspend Klan Kosova certificate (media)
Study by Mark Weller on “lessons from Kosovo-Serbia dialogue” (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:
Vucic for RTS: I will go to Brussels, but I will not talk to Kurti (RTS)
Serbian List: Kurti’s intention to deceive Serbs in Kosovo doom to fail (Radio KIM, media)
Jablanovic reacts to Kurti’s allegations on receiving one million euros and two apartments in Belgrade to withdraw from April elections (Radio KIM, social media)
Lawyer: Serb arrested in Gracanica under 48-hour police custody, expects him to be released (Radio KIM, media)
Pristina amends decision, bans only Serbian goods (N1, BETA)
Serbs in Pomoravlje region protest over recent arrests (Kosovo Online)
Lazarevic: Trained and experienced security personnel were pulled away, while children were pushed to ‘front line’ (KoSSev)
Petkovic responds to Svecla’s remarks on arrest place of Kosovo police officers (Kosovo Online, social media)
International Media:

War Crimes Arrest Sparks Protest by Kosovo Serbs (BIRN)
North Mitrovica: Profound challenge in Kosovo-Serbia ties (The Daily Sabah)
Turkey eyes Balkan influence amid Serbia-Kosovo tensions (The Arab Weekly)
US, EU Warn of Serbia-Kosovo Unrest Igniting Broader Conflict (Bloomberg)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 21, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti with video address in Serbian for Kosovo Serbs (media)
• Kurti travels to Italy, will meet Pope Francis tomorrow (media)
• Nuland: We urge Kosovo and Serbia to de-escalate tensions immediately (media)
• EU: No confirmation yet for Kurti-Vucic meeting, we expect positive response (RFE)
• Kim: Time for leaders to set ego aside, consider advice from your true friends (Express)
• Ristuccia: In Kosovo, KFOR troops avoided a massacre (media)
• Svecla shares video how Kosovo policemen were “abducted” in the north (media)
• Musliu: We warned months ago about risk of getting to this situation in north (Koha)
• Bogdanovic: Indirectly informed policemen discovered illegal transfer of weapons (AP)
• Reporters want security and conditions to carry out their mission (Kosovapress)
• One month detention for suspect of assault against reporters in Leposavic (media)
• VV continues to criticise Borrell: His approach toward Kosovo is unfair (Kosovapress)
• Banning of Serbian products, a good moment for local manufacturers (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• RTS: Another brutal arrest of a Serb in the vicinity of Gracanica (NMagazin, Kosovo Online, KiM radio)
• Gracanica: Gathered Gracanica residents demand immediate release of D.M. (KiM radio)
• Office for KiM: The arrest of Milenkovic a brutal demonstration of the power of Kurti's anti-Serbian regime (Kosovo Online)
• The Serbian List and Gracanica Mayor reactions to the arrest of Kisnica village resident (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)
• Serbian police Ministar, Gasic on the murder of Oliver Ivanovic: We know who the killer is (NMagazin, N1)
• SL on the opposition MPs in Serbian Parliament visit, Aleksic and Jovanovic (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• A shock bomb thrown in front of a cafe where opposition MPs, Aleksic and Jovanovic were (KiM radio)
• Jovanovic: ''Being in Kosovska Mitrovica means that you will be met with explosive devices, it is not safe'' (N1, Danas, KiM radio)
• Stefanovic: The Serbian List representatives moving to Belgrade, the people have been let down (KiM radio, N1)
• Serbian List: We are here, every day with the people at the protests (Radio Mitrovica Sever)
• Surlic: No change in Pristina politics until the entire society feel the consequences through concrete sanctions (RTS, Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• EU and Western Balkans: Twenty years of hopes and dreams (Euractiv)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 21, 2023

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti confirms participation in Brussels meeting (media)
Kurti publishes new evidence: Serbia violated the Kumanovo Agreement (RTK)
Gervalla says families expected to visit the three police officers on Friday (RTK)
The border points in Bernjak, Jarinje and Merdare, unblocked (Klan)
Escobar: Kosovo-Serbia tensions have potential to turn into "regional conflict" (media)
Lajcak meets with Undersecretary Nuland, talk about situation in the north (media)
Biden extends Western Balkans National Emergency Executive Order (Klan)
KFOR: Our intervention on May 29 in Zvecan, decisive to prevent fighting between Serbs and Albanians (Klan)
Ambassadors: Association only according to the Constitution of Kosovo (RTK)
Bujar Osmani talks to Gervalla and Dacic: Situation in the north should calm down (RTK)
Sources: Kurti to visit Vatican on Wednesday (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:
Petkovic: Serbs arrested in Kosovo harassed, beaten (Radio KIM, N1)
Bishop Tedosije: Arrests and maltreatment of Serbs lead to greater conflict (Radio KIM)
Lawyer: Vukasinovic sent to one-month detention (Radio KIM, Kosovo Online)
Peaceful night in northern Kosovo, Serbs continue protesting (RTS)
UNS and DNKiM: Participants in protest do not have right to impede work of journalists (KoSSev)
Brnabic asks EU to help preserve peace (RTS, media)
Serbian media and civil society organizations in Kosovo condemned attacks on journalists (KoSSev)
International Media:

Protests Cause Travel Disruptions and Roadblocks Between Kosovo and Serbia (BIRN)
Hungary's PM Orban urges Serbia to release arrested Kosovo policemen (Reuters)
NATO ready to react to acts of violence in Kosovo: commander (TVPWorld)
Serbian protestors block border crossings for Kosovo vehicles (SeeNews)
Trucks Blocked at Balkan Border as Serbia-Kosovo Spat Escalates (Bloomberg)
Osmani urges immediate de-escalation in Kosovo (mirage news)
Defence, Prosecution Argue Over Witness Protection at Kosovo War Court (BIRN)
In Montenegro, Memories of Pain and Generosity on the Refugee Road (BIRN)
German-French tie-up gets 12.2 mln euro contract for ID system in Kosovo (SeeNews)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 20, 2023

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 20, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Three border crossings with Serbia remain blocked for trucks and buses (RFE)
• European Parliament President: Situation in the north must de-escalate (Gazeta Metro)
• Kurti-Vucic meeting; analysts says dialogue only way to overcome situation (Telegrafi)
• Osmani and Haradinaj with messages on World Refugee Day (media)
• Surroi reacts to Grenell about “potential idea of removing NATO troops in 2020” (media)
• Gashi: Attacks against reporters extending Prime Minister Kurti’s narrative (Kallxo)
• Case initiated for throwing of Molotov cocktail at police car in Leposavic (media)
• Austrian reporter: EU sanctions against Kosovo taken seriously as it seems (Nacionale)
• CDHRF: Serbia is not allowing anyone to visit the police officers (Kosovapress)
• Populism is threatening societies and countries in the region (Kosovapress)
• Hasani on Rama’s proposal: Philosophically equal to project for Kosovo’s partition (T7)
• Abazovic: I have asked Kurti not to get into conflict with internationals (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: I will not talk to Kurti until each arrested Serb have not been released (TV Pink, Kosovo Online)
• Orban asked Vucic to release Kosovo police officers (NMagazin, Beta)
• Protests in northern Kosovo continue (Kosovo Online)
• Colleagues of arrested Vukasinovic talk to KoSSev, claim that he is innocent (KoSSev)
• Truck drivers from Serbia: We are blocking all trucks from Kosovo until they let us go (N1)
• Members of the Serbian opposition Miroslav Aleksic and Aleksandar Jovanovic in Zvecan (KiM radio)
• Serbian opposition Zvetnici party supports truck drivers blocking the roads (Kosovo Online)
• Odalovic: KFOR must order the withdrawal of special units from northern Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Behind Lajcak's sudden departure to Washington for "intensive talks on urgent steps" (Blic)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 20, 2023

Albanian Language Media:
Roads toward three border crossings with Serbia remain blocked (Telegrafi)
COMKFOR: Situation in North cannot be resolved militarily, but politically (Albanian Post)
Escobar and Lajcak in the U.S. on the resumption of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)
Osmani: Criminal groups in the north must be brought to justice (media)
Svecla says “criminals who receive orders from Belgrade” will face justice (RTK)
Union chief says policemen in Serbia are well and not being mistreated (KTV)
Haxhiu: Serbia should hand over the war criminals (Koha)
Five TV stations stopped broadcast for 5 minutes, solidarity with Klan Kosova (Reporteri)
Ministry: Klan Kosova can perform activities until IMC decision (media)
Hoti: Resignation of Kurti govt would save Kosovo’s economic and political stability (media)
Serbian Language Media:
Arrests of Serbs do not stop, truck drivers and local residents blocked roads after Jarinje crossing and near Kursumlija (RTS)
Another Serb sent to one-month detention (KoSSev)
Ristuccia: Situation in northern Kosovo still tense, we call for dialogue (Tanjug)
Petkovic reacts to Svecla’s remarks on arrests, says arrested Serbs are innocent (Kosovo Online, social media)
Vucic welcomes Hungarian PM Orban (N1, FoNet)
International Media:

NATO Ready to Act to Save Kosovo's Peace, Calls for De-Escalation (Reuters)
Brussels urges Vucic and Kurti to be 'more reasonable' and engage in talks to diffuse tensions (euronews)
Kosovo frustrated over Western threats blames Serbia (Euractiv)
NATO Chief Urges De-Escalation As Serbia, Kosovo Leaders Downplay Crisis Talks (RFE)
EU, NATO urge Kosovo, Serbia talks, de-escalation (Daily Sabah)
How Kosovo’s prime minister became America’s ardent frenemy (politico.eu)
Kosovo Serbs Protest Arrests of Serbs Suspected of Attacking Journalists (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 19, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: I’ll decide about Brussels meeting after police officers are visited (media)
• EU expects Kurti and Vucic to go to Brussels without conditions (RFE)
• NATO SG calls for lowering of tensions between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Osmani: Kosovo disagreements with U.S., EU, must be overcome (Euronews Albania)
• Krasniqi: Five days later, nothing is known about the condition of police officers (media)
• Rama: If officers not released this week, ice returns to relations with Serbia (media)
• Police confirms arrest of Serb suspected of assaulting reporters in north (media)
• Police denies reports that KFOR did not allow it to go to the north (RTK)
• KFOR allows police special units to go to Leposavic, but not ministers! (Indeksonline)
• Kusari-Lila says Vucic “uses masked and armed people to fight” media (media)
• Police: A shock bomb was thrown last night in Zvecan, no injuries reported (media)
• Kurti meets Ashkali community: Working for a discrimination-free society (Lajmi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Stano: The EU expects Vucic and Kurti to respond without preconditions to Borrell's invitation (RTS)
• Protests in Leposavic because of arrests of Serbs: Is our freedom barber wire? (N1)
• Office for KiM, Serbian List: Two underage children beaten up by Kosovo police (Radio KIM, Kosovo Online, social media)
• National Convention on the EU for Chapter 35: We condemn every form of violence in the North, committed by the police against Serbs or by hooligans against journalists and KFOR
• One more young Serb arrested in Leposavic this morning (KoSSev)
• The Office for KiM on today's arrest: The continuation of the torture of Albin Kurti (Beta, N1)
• Telekom Serbia: Our employee in Leposavic hijacked, we will undertake all legal activities (RTV)
• Serbian List about the arrest of Serbs in Leposavic: When will the international community react? (NMagazin, Beta)
• Citizens' protest march from Mitrovica to Zvecan in support of the arrested Serbs (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Members of kick-box club with open training extend support to their arrested trainer Milun Milenkovic (KoSSev)
• Lawyer Vlajic: Only those who are desperate or uninformed hope for justice in Kosovo (N1, Beta, RTS)
• KFOR present at all access roads to Leposavic centre (Kosovo Online)
• Radojevic: Serbs have two options, to surrender and disappear, or to defend themselves democratically (TV Pink, Kosovo Online)
• Serbian military unit commander denies involvement in arrest of Kosovo police officers (N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 19, 2023

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti: We’re doing everything to have the police officers released ASAP (RFE)
Osmani thanks Scholz for support on immediate release of police officers (media)
Kurti to decide this week on Borrell invitation, Vucic says no to meeting (Koha)
Kurti: Attack against media in north was organised and had clear intention (media)
Police arrest person that assaulted RTK cameraman in Leposavic (Express)
Rohde asks why SL did not condemn violence against journalists? (media)
NATO reminds all parties to their obligations to KFOR (media)
Baerbock: Serbia, Kosovo to do everything to calm down situation at border (media)
Lajcak to travel to U.S., “discussions on way forward” (media)
Kurti on Hate Speech Day: We affirm right to live without being targeted (media)
Kosovo Police deny claims of beating of two Serb youths in north (media)
Serbian Language Media:
Vucic: Dialogue meaningless, it does not cross my mind to talk until arrested Serbs have not been released (RTS)
Visoki Decani Monastery: An urgent appeal for peace and restraint in Kosovo (RTS, social media)
Todic and Simic to file lawsuit against Minister Krasniqi and a media worker for their allegations (KoSSev)
One more Serb arrested at Jarinje on June 17 (Radio KIM)
Lawyer: Serb from Leposavic arrested on June 16, sent to one-month detention (Kosovo Online)
Spokesperson: NATO takes events in Kosovo very seriously (N1)
Petkovic: Kurti’s special forces occupied Mitrovica North on Friday night (N1, KoSSev, Tanjug)
International Media:

U.S. Demands Serbia 'Immediately' Release Three Detained Kosovar Police Officers (RFE)
Kamberi: Kosovo policemen were reportedly mistreated (Euronews Albania)
Saudi Arabia, Kosovo offcials discuss ways to boost economic relations (Arab News)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 16, 2023

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 16, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Serbian judge orders detention for three Kosovo police officers (media)
• Kurti: Terrorism charges against three police officers seem to have been dropped (RFE)
• Kurti meets U.S. Permanent Representative to OSCE, Carpenter (media)
• Kurti is attending Prespa Dialogue Forum, meets BDI leader Ahmeti (media)
• UK statement on latest developments in the north of Kosovo (media)
• Rama: KFOR will submit file to NATO; there won’t be public conclusions (Gazeta Metro)
• Tahiri: Kurti, internationals to engage so that police officers return today (Kosovapress)
• Serbian lawyer: No legal basis to keep police officers in detention (Gazeta Express)
• Lajcak: We need to overcome legacy of the past and seek dialogue (media)
• Media Commission gives Klan Kosova 30-day period to complete business data (media)
• Reactions to suspension of Klan Kosova business certificate (media)
• Begaj: Kosovo an irreversible reality; leaders to sit at table of talks (Telegrafi)
• Montenegro’s Abazovic offers to host new round of Pristina-Belgrade dialogue (media)
• Trucks with Serbian goods not allowed to enter Kosovo today (RFE)
• Protesters tried to enter Leposavic municipal building; Police: Situation calm (media)
• Masked persons in Zvecan throw stones at police vehicle, no injuries (media)
• Edward P. Joseph interview with The Geopost (media)
• Haxhiu: We won’t stop fighting domestic violence, violence against women (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

• Kosovo Minister of Administration entered Leposavic municipality, Serbs protest (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Kurti wants new crises, I informed Lajcak about latest provocations in Leposavic (Kosovo Online)
• CI 'Serbian Survival' message to the international community and KFOR (KiM radio)
• Dacic: Kurti likes constant aggravation of situation, and we like peace (Tanjug)
• Serbian Chamber of Commerce: We did not receive official notification on ban to Serbian goods from entering Kosovo (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Kosovo special police searched vehicles in Gracanica (Tanjug, Radio KIM)
• UNS and DNKiM: Suspension of Klan Kosova television, act of censorship and threat to media freedom (medijacentar.info)
• Reporting from northern Kosovo has never been harder (medijacentar.info, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Jarinje: Kosovo police prohibited vehicle of Post Office of Serbia to enter Kosovo (media)
• Walk of support for the arrested Milun, Dusan and Rados in North Mitrovica (Kosovo Online)
• Kosovo police officers arrested in Raska sent to detention, investigation launched (RTS)

Opinion:

• Weller: Are the Brussels Negotiations on Kosovo Nearing Collapse? (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo Serbs stuck between Pristina and Belgrade “Trials” (KoSSev)

International:

• North of Kosovo: An extremely dangerous stalemate (DW)