UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 21, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Haxhiu: We’ll set up a task force to fight high-level corruption (T7)
• Kurti says over 25 thousand jobs were created during his governing (Kallxo)
• Tahiri: We won’t back down on demand for inquiry committee on energy (Telegrafi)
• Minister Gervalla Schwarz meets France's representative to UN (Klan)
• Kusari-Lila: Dialogue's success depends on Serbia's positioning (Telegrafi)
• Von Cramon: Dialogue must be priority; Kosovo to use new US-EU momentum (media)
• European Parliament debate: EU invited to keep its promises to Kosovo (RFE, media)
• Osmani: Every candidate for chief state prosecutor must have proven integrity (media)
• President Osmani meets KSF Commander Jashari (media)
• Union leader: We’ll wait another week; we have two key demands (Kosovapress)
• Latvia President Levits to visit Kosovo on Friday (media)
• Qerkini for Kandic: We lost a very powerful friend for missing persons (Klan Kosova)
• COVID-19: 19 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: I am concerned over threats coming from Pristina (RTS)
• Selakovic: Situation in Kosovo far from normal (Tanjug)
• Selakovic with Guterres: Continuous engagement of UNMIK crucial (Kosovo-online)
• Brnabic says Freedom House on Serbia report ‘disgraceful’ (Tanjug)
• Lajcak: Next high-level meeting discussed with Vucic (Tanjug)
• Belgrade delegation-Lajcak meeting takes place in Brussels (Kosovo-online)
• Jevtic: Belgrade-Pristina dialogue hit dead end, danger that tensions will deepen (Euronews)

International:

• Serbia, Kosovo exchange destabilisation claims at UN Security Council (BIRN)
• Serbia’s president Aleksandar Vucic rejects sanctions on Russia (Financial Times)

• UN Security Council discusses report on Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo President Osmani’s interview with Times Radio (media)
• Opposition parts start boycotting work of the Assembly (Koha)
• Kurti receives Szunyog and Davenport (media)
• Lajcak confirms, everything is ready for the 21 April meeting (RTK)
• Kosovo-Serbia license plate dispute proves hard to resolve (BIRN)
• European Parliament renews calls for visa liberalisation for Kosovo (Exit News)
• Kurti discusses with forensic experts possibility of aid to Ukraine (Klan)
• Kurti received human rights activist Natasa Kandic (media)
• In election of Kosovo’s top prosecutor, red flags ignored (BIRN)
• Haradinaj reacts after mention in Freedom House report (media)
• Kosovo Serb politician murdered for political reasons, brother says (BIRN)
• COVID-19: 22 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 20, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Gervalla, Selakovic to face off at UN Security Council session on Kosovo (Klan Kosova)
• Kurti to attend funeral service of former Secretary of State Albright (RTK)
• Pahor interested to take up post of EU Special Representative for dialogue (media)
• Private vehicle of border police officer attacked in the north (Sinjali)
• Albanian Ambassador condemns attacks against police in the north (EO)
• Gervalla meets the U.S. diplomat, talks about security in the Balkans (media)
• Deputy minister calls reports UK is supplying Kosovo with arms "speculations" (Klan)
• Kosovo Assembly's committee hosts roundtable on missing persons (media)
• US expert: Biden warned Djuric of costs if Serbia doesn’t get closer to EU (Lajmi)
• Opposition boycotts committees, will not participate until establishment of enquiry commission (ekonomia)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic and Lajcak on continuation of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (RTS, KoSSev)
• Selakovic to attend UN SC session on Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Brnabic: We did not promise sanctions to Russia, I clearly and decisively deny that (NMagazin, Beta, RTS)
• Senators: Serbia must align foreign policy with EU (N1)
• Strengthening of institutional response to corruption in northern municipalities (RTK2)
• Freedom House presents report on Serbia (N1, media)
• Minister says gas supply diversity priority for Serbia (N1)
• Kandic: There is no war crime that is not linked to politics (RTK2, KiM radio, Ekonomia Online)

International:

• US Watchdog Accuses Kosovo Politicians of Corruption Links (BIRN)
• Mihajlović, Hill hint at Serbia-US strategic partnership agreement (balkangreenenergynews.com)
• A safe haven in the Gulf: Balkan criminals, and their money, are hiding in the United Arab Emirates (globalinitiative.net)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovar High School Students March the Streets, Objecting the Old Education System (BIRN)
• Serbian Government approves quotes on exporting grain, flour and oil (RTS)

• UN Security Council to discuss Kosovo today (media)
• Serbia Aims to Create Tensions in Balkans: Kosovo President (BIRN)
• EU confirms new meeting on license plates (RTK)
• U.S. senators call on Serbia to join sanctions against Russia (media)
• Freedom House: Kosovo makes progress on the democracy level (media)
• Police bust a drug lab in Zvecan, make four arrests (media)
• President Osmani set to travel to U.S. next week (Telegrafi/Klan)
• Abdixhiku: Without inquiry committee, we will not support any parliamentary initiative (Express)
• COVID-19: Three new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Foreign Minister travels to U.S. (Kallxo)
• Haradinaj: Cross-border organised crime should not be tolerated (media)
• British embassy: KFOR explained why the aircraft landed in Pristina (Express)
• Specialist Chambers expected to make new arrests (Indeksonline)
• Ruling and opposition parties clash at Assembly's committee meeting (Kallxo)
• Clark after meeting Kurti: We discussed energy projects (T7, media)
• Haradinaj: We do not participate in any voting until Energy investigation commission is established (TeVe)
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: 100 million allocated to citizens, could be invested in other forms (KosovaPress)
• COVID-19: 3 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• The Kosovo situation report before the UNSC tomorrow (Tanjug, media)
• Petkovic on Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, anniversary of Brussels agreement (Tanjug, RTV)
• Time to successfully end Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, EU spokesman Stano says (Tanjug, media)
• Hill: Senators' visit underscores importance of US-Serbia partnership (Tanjug, media)
• Office for KiM: Reciprocity not mentioned in agreement on licence plates (Radio KIM)
• Kurti on attacks against police, Petkovic on Kurti’s statements (Radio KIM, Danas)
• Vucic: Talks about Russian gas supplies to follow (Tanjug)
• Vucic meets US Ambassador, talks about improving relations with US (N1)
• Dacic meets Botsan-Kharcheko (Tanjug)
• Minister Ceku on Visoki Decani Monastery land case (KoSSev)
• Raska-Prizren Eparchy reacts to Ceku’s statement, says it is an open call to disrespect court’s decision (Kosovo-online, media)
• Visoki Decani Monastery: Kosovo authorities incompetent to protect SOC heritage (Kosovo-online, media)
• Serbian Mission to UNESCO: It is necessary to protect Serbian mediaeval monuments in Kosovo (Kosovo-online, media)
• Moscow daily says Vucic turning West but not away from Russia (N1)
• Vucic: No one has right to supply arms to Pristina (Tanjug)
• Lack of translators, unverified diplomas obstacles in the Basic Court in Mitrovica functioning, says Radakovic (RTV Puls, Slobodno Srpski)
• Vulin: Bomb threats are economic assault on Serbia (N1)

International:

• Kosovo, the Albanians, the Serbs and Crimea (ekathimerini.com)
• Serbian President Accepts Opposition Demand for New Polls in Capital (Balkan Insight)
• Alexander Vucic’s victory: What is next for Serbia? (trtworld.com)
• Stefanov: Engaging civil society is a critical ingredient of successful anticorruption policies (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kurti: €1.5 million grant for businesses of Turkish community (Indeksonline)
• Poverty and school dropout main causes behind early marriages (RFE)
• ‘Hidden Violence’: Polygamy in the Balkans (Balkan Insight)

• Kurti says recent attacks in north were aimed at killing police officers (media)
• Osmani: Russia wants to destabilize the Balkans through Serbia (media)
• Osmani criticizes EU for not speaking clearly toward Serbia (Klan)
• Kosovo welcomes first Ukrainian journalist fleeing war (BIRN)
• Gutierrez: Other European governments to follow Kosovo’s example (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo MPs to discuss security situation today (media)
• Kosovo: Example of how young professionals can transform tech industry (Forbes)
• “Electricity in the north will be billed soon” (Kosovapress)
• Ukrainian refugee influx tests countries’ ability to help (BIRN)
• COVID-19: 16 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 15, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Solution on license plates, Svecla says Kosovo Police has a plan for any scenario (Koha)
• Kurti: Yesterday's attack on Polce came from Serbia (Telegrafi)
• Svecla: Attack on Kosovo Police in the north, terrorist act (media)
• Haradinaj: These acts should sound the alarm for all (media)
• Osmani plans to also visit northern municipalities (Klan)
• Dehari family: Evidence sent to Switzerland were tampered with and damaged (Kosovapress)
• Israel deeply appreciates Kosovo opening embassy in Jerusalem (Express)
• LDK: Government should take DASH report seriously, media often violated by government (media)
• COVID-19: 22 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Zakharova forgot Russia’s support to sanctions against the SFRY and the FRY (Danas)
• The EU compass shows a clear direction; the West expects Serbia to choose a "consistent" path (RTS)
• Scepanovic, Odalovic on missing persons, first massive kidnappings of Serb civilians in 1998 (Radio KIM)
• EU Office in Kosovo condemns attack on police in Zubin Potok municipality (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic to meet Dodik (Tanjug)

• Kosovo President Osmani’s interview with CNN (media)
• Before applying for the EU, Sarrazin reminds Kosovo of five unrecognizing countries (RTK)
• President Osmani says two U.S. delegations to visit Kosovo during April (Express)
• Kosovo Assembly session postponed due to lack of quorum (Telegrafi)
• Citaku: Government to launch investigations into reports about Dick Marty (RTK)
• PDK with criticism of security strategy (RTK)
• Kosovo-North Macedonia sign MoU in the field of defense and security (media)
• Gunshots reported in Zubin Potok, KP says not related to a police case (Kallxo)
• Kosovo's underground LGBTQ community leads 'double life' (AFP/France 24)
• Albania to Build New Interconnector With Kosovo, Montenegro (Exit)
• COVID-19: 14 new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Deputy Defense Minister: Kosovo’s membership in NATO, necessary (Klan Kosova)
• Osmani does not indicate who is hindering Kosovo's membership in NATO (Federalna, demokracia)
• Justice Ministry accuses Special Prosecution of propaganda on Dehari case (media)
• Kurti received the Government Commission for Recognition and Verification of the Status of Victims of Sexual Violence during the War in Kosovo (media)
• Osmani on Sexual Violence Survivors Day: Peace will not be complete until justice is done (media)
• Civil society organisations list recommendations to facilitate sexual violence survivors (Telegrafi)
• Dick Marty: I had nothing to do with Thaci's arrest, I was targeted since then (Klan)
• Alexandra Channer: I think of translation as a political activity (Kosovo 2.0)
• COVID-19: 14 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• "Hate speech used by politicians is a big problem - reaction needed" (KiM radio)
• Brnabic: All options open for Serbian Oil Industry (N1)
• Pribicevic: Time to discuss Serbia's EU membership (Tanjug)
• Zakharova: Serbia says that we are its friend - we always support our friends (Sputnik, N1, FoNet)
• Petkovic: Basic political rights of Serbs endangered (Radio KIM)
• Visoki Decani Monastery: Absurd statements that Serbs in Kosovo destroyed their own churches (Kosovo-online)
• Hearing of B.B on allegations relating to Ivanovic’s murder postponed (Radio KIM)
• Giaufret says Serbia did a lot to align with EU (N1)
• Petkovic met Cyprus Ambassador; warns of pressure on Serbs in Kosovo (KiM radio)
• Epidemiologist: Six active cases of Covid-19 in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Radio kontakt plus)

Opinion:

• Vejvoda: Difficult to maintain Serbia's policy of neutrality in a long run (NMagazin, N1, FoNet)
• In Serbia’s Electoral Simulation, the Leader Outstrips the Party (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Detainees of Mitrovica Correctional Center to clean up cemeteries on both sides (KoSSev)

• Kosovo's Kurti, Gervalla meet Greek deputy minister Fragogiannis (media)
• PDK, AAK react to State Department’s report on Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo requests official information from Swiss authorities on Marty's case (media)
• KLA veterans urge government to act on Marty’s allegations (Koha)
• KSC comments on whether Marty could be called in to testify (Express)
• Blic: West putting pressure for dissolving “Open Balkans” initiative (Koha)
• Osmani reviewing KPC's proposed nominee for chief prosecutor (Klan)
• Property tax collection in 2021 reached €36 mil.; nothing from northern municipalities (Kallxo)
• COVID-19: 23 new cases, no deaths (media)