UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 18, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• President Osmani to also take part in Munich conference (media)
• Osmani meets Lebanese prime minister, agree to advance relations (media)
• In Munich, Kurti meets North Macedonian prime minister (media)
• PM Kurti asks Commissioner Hahn for more support (media)
• Russia claims Kosovo is included in recruiting people for Donbas region (Koha)
• Kurti, Konjufca met Albanian representatives from Presevo Valley (media)
• Ministry, Judicial Council and Supreme Court sign statement pledging reforms (media)
• COVID-19: 236 new cases, four deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric met Gabriel Escobar (Radio KIM)
• Gracanica: Provocations on February 17 (Radio KIM, KoSSev, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• State Dept welcomes Serbia’s call for diplomatic solution to Ukraine crisis (N1)
• IFIMES: Preventing Serbs to vote in Kosovo can lead to their withdrawal from Pristina institutions (Kosovo-online)
• Dacic on Kosovo and declaration of independence (Kosovo-online)
• Rasic: Relations between Serbs and Kosovo government are at lowest level ever (RTK)
• Hearing of defendants in usurped property case of Dusko Arsic takes place (Radio KIM)
• West called on Russia not to recognize DNR and LNR at UN (Tanjug, B92)

International:

• In diplomacy, Europe’s most powerful ambassador means business (Politico)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo Dedicates Independence Monument to Women’s Empowerment (BIRN)

• Kurti: The constitutional decision on Association should be respected (RTK)
• Opposition parties criticise Kurti's speech at Assembly (media)
• Kurti to travel to Germany, will take part in Munich Security Conference (media)
• Kosovo Celebrates Independence Anniversary Amid Soul-Searching (BIRN)
• Osmani and Kurti pour out words of hope on 14th Independence anniversary (euronews.al)
• Serbia establishes local election commissions in Kosovo cities (Koha)
• Kosovo Cautioned Over “Dangerous” Verbal Attacks on Media (BIRN)
• COVID-19: 411 new cases, five deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo's institutional leaders congratulate independence anniversary (media)
• Secretary Blinken: Kosovo rightly proud of progress made in 14 years (media)
• Ambassador Hovenier: Kosovo’s progress nothing less than remarkable (media)
• Gervalla-Schwarz: There can be no compromise to the detriment of independence (RTK)
• COVID-19: 411 new cases, five deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Greek PM Mitsotakis: Greek stance on Kosovo unchanged (Tanjug, media)
• Vucic: I asked Greece to keep supporting Serbia's territorial integrity (Tanjug, media)
• Kosovo independence from Serbian perspective (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic: Holding elections in Kosovo April 3 is crucial (TV Most)
• Serbian central election commission takes procedural decisions for elections (N1)
• Gouillon responds to media allegations on him (Kosovo-online)
• Covid-19: 24 new cases, one death registered in Serbian areas (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Janjic: ''Kosovo's status as an independent international public legal unit remains open'' (KoSSev, Kontakt plus radio)
• Spahiu: ''Albanians do not give up independence, but they also do not respect the laws, the life of Serbs not easy'' (KoSSev, Kontakt plus radio)

International:

• Muslim nations that refuse to recognize Kosovo are making a big mistake, says PM Albin Kurti (Arab News)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Former Infrastructure Minister Indicted Over Extra €53 million Highway Cost (Prishtina Insight)

• Escobar: Kosovo-Serbia agreement to center on mutual recognition (media)
• Abdixhiku: Kurti government has abandoned its duties (media)
• Kuci: Whenever there is dialogue, there will be compromises (Dukagjini TV)
• Citaku: Serbia doesn’t have Russia’s power to destabilize the Balkans (KTV)
• Ambassador Hovenier meets AAK leader Haradinaj (media)
• Ex-Infrastructure minister indicted over extra €53 million highway cost (BIRN)
• Komsic congratulates Kosovo's Independence Day, Dodik reacts (media)
• COVID-19: 508 new cases, 3 deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 16, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 508 new cases, 3 deaths (media)
• “New energy tariffs will be executed from February 9” (media)
• ECRB calls on Kosovo authorities to ensure independence of ERO (media)
• German President: Fighting corruption a factor for future of Kosovo youth (RFE)
• U.S. Ambassador meets President of Constitutional Court (media)
• PSD leader Molliqaj and three other activists released from detention (Koha)
• Serbian products in Kosovo’s market drop by 37 percent (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian president calls early parliamentary elections for April 3 (media, N1)
• Serbian Parliament Speaker calls local elections for April 3 (media, N1)
• 21 years since Livadice buss attack, memorial service to be held in Laplje Selo (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM: Crime in Livadice stain on face of international community (KoSSev)
• Visoki Decani on Livadice crime anniversary (Kosovo-online)
• Opposition candidate Ponos goes to Kosovo, fierce reaction from Serbian authorities (N1)
• UNDP: The name of the Mitrovica Cultural Center changed after the renovation (KiM radio)
• OSCE concerned over incidents on religious sites, calls for re-establishment of Municipal Safety Councils (KoSSev)
• Survey: Half Kosovo residents ready to emigrate (RTS, media)
• Selakovic: Serbia to react if Pristina tries to secure more recognitions (Tanjug, Vecernje Novosti)
• Vucic receives Primakov (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Serwer: Convergence is desirable but not magical (media)

International:

• 2022 Index of Economic Freedom: Kosovo (heritage.com)

• Biden: Kosovo-Serbia dialogue must conclude in mutual recognition (media)
• Albin Kurti most preferred politician, survey shows (Klan Kosova)
• Gervalla: Serbian elections won’t be automatically held in Kosovo (media)
• Concern over ‘uncontrolled’ security cameras in Serb-dominated north (BIRN)
• Kosovo mayors’ promises multiplied in last elections (BIRN)
• How the Kosovo air war foreshadowed the crisis in Ukraine (The New Yorker)
• Former secretary of Ministry of Trade caught with 50 kg of drugs (Kallxo)
• COVID-19: 373 new cases, two deaths (media)
• French ‘humanitarian’ far-right claims Kosovo as cautionary tale (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: EU to keep its promise on visa liberalisation (media)
• Foreign Ministry with new recognition strategy (RTK)
• Serbia warns of new de-recognition campaign (Reporter)
• Kosovo Academy of Sciences and Arts: 'Open Balkan' politically isolates Kosovo (Kallxo)
• In his letter to Vucic, Blinken requests recognition of Kosovo (RTK)
• Macron’s letter to Vucic: I hope Kosovo-Serbia reach final agreement in the coming months (media)
• COVID-19: 373 new cases, two deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 28 cases of Covid-19 in Serbian communities in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Serbia celebrates Statehood Day (N1)
• Officials of countries worldwide congratulate Vucic on occasion of Statehood Day (Tanjug)
• Office for KiM, Serbian List react to latest incident against Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Rakic with the US Ambassador Hovenier: ''We’re not giving up the establishment of CSM'' (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio, Kosovo Online)
• Head of EULEX: In Kosovo, healing the scars of war is a daily task (KiM radio, eeas.europa.eu)

• Decani Monastery between the judiciary and the executive (RFE)
• Opposition slams performance of Kurti’s government (euronews.al)
• Krasniqi: Behind 14 February elections, no vision, only propaganda (media)
• Hovenier reconfirms to Rakic the US support for independent Kosovo (Koha)
• Kosovo tells citizens to leave Ukraine now (BIRN)
• Police arrest Molliqaj and 12 PSD members over action at ERO (media)
• COVID-19: 247 new cases, two deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 14, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 247 new cases, two deaths (media)
• “Serbia is offering dark perspectives; situation may escalate” (media)
• PDK MP: Kurti has failed, disappointed and deceived (Reporteri)
• Hyseni: Foreign policy is anaemic because of Osmani and Kurti (EO)
• Mesic: Kosovo to become sovereign in every millimetre, then negotiate (Express)
• Vjosa Osmani’s “Guxo” registered as political party today (media)
• ERO: Political parties to refrain from tendencies for political points (Koha)
• At a village market, Kosovo’s ethnic tensions fade away (BIRN)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 38 new cases registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio kontakt plus)
• Diocese worried about attacks on churches (KiM radio)
• Serbian Ministry of Culture and KiM Office on SOC facilities attacks (media)
• Hasani: Deva is a Nazi collaborator; Rohde is right;Ceku’s reaction is deplorable (KoSSev)
• Impaired relations between media and institutions in Pristina (Radio KIM)
• Vucic to head all SNS lists during elections (N1)
• President Xi congratulates Serbia’s Statehood Day (N1)
• US President Biden congratulates Serbia’s Statehood Day (Beta, N1)
• Outgoing US Ambassador Godfrey says Serbia is regional economic leader (N1)
• Vucic: Serbia should not recognize Kosovo in any way (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• How to End the Ukraine Crisis in 4 Steps (politico.com)
• Is the international community finally waking up to election-day threats to voting in the EU? (Balkan Insight)

International:

• South-East Europe Countries Urge Citizens to Leave Ukraine (Balkan Insight)
• Time for the EU to Deal Fairly with the Western Balkans (visegradinsight.eu)

• Osmani on Ukraine situation: What we're seeing is a flagrant abuse of power by Russia (media)
• Citing rise of tensions, Kosovo advises citizens to leave Ukraine (media)
• Biden writes to Vucic: Dialogue with Kosovo to end with mutual recognition (media)
• Palokaj: Pressure for Kurti-Vucic meeting before elections in Serbia (Koha)
• Parties to meet this month in Brussels to discuss license plates (Kosovapress)
• Former Croatian President visits Mitrovica under tight security measures (media)
• Silajdzic: There is an Intention to compensate RS for Kosovo (Sarajevo Times)
• Sexually assaulted woman during the Kosovo War sues 3 Serbs (euronews.al)
• Kosovo athletes compete in Balkans tournament in Belgrade (Klan)
• COVID-19: 602 new cases, six deaths (media)