UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 21, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Mehaj: US reconfirmed support to build KSF at military level (media)
• Lajcak: I trust concrete findings will be presented in six months (media)
• “Government to focus on final agreement, no return to technical dialogue” (Lajmi)
• Haradinaj: Reforms in judiciary in partnership with US and EU (media)
• GLPS on EC report: Kosovo has not achieved desired results (Koha)
• Ex-intelligence employee arrested, suspected of leaking information (media)
• COVID-19: 18 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 56 new Covid-19 cases in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Petkovic: Von Cramon relativizes the violence against the Serbian people in the north of Kosovo (NMagazin, N1)
• “Impermissible to try Serbs in Kosovo without solid evidence” (Radio KIM,Kosovo-online, RTS)
• Von Cramon tells N1 Kosovo police operation “was necessary” (N1)
• Odalovic: Pristina has maximalist demands (Radio KIM, RTS)
• Bislimi: There will be no CSM (ZSO); Serbian List is manipulating (Kosovo Online, RTK2)
• Petkovic: Bislimi's statement that Community of Serbian Municipalities will not be formed, culmination of irresponsibility (RTS)
• Dacic: Greece is reassuring us they will not recognize Kosovo (Kosovo-online)

• Osmani: EU officials must not oppose our fight against crime (Kallxo)
• Justice Minister comments on EU remarks about the vetting (media)
• Vetting must be done, but process must be credible and independent (Telegrafi)
• Commission Report: Kosovo’s progress slow in key areas (BIRN)
• Bislimi: Next meeting of chief negotiators in second half of November (Koha)
• Von Cramon: No doubt that anti-smuggling operation was necessary (media)
• Gervalla: Berlin Process offers security; other initiatives are damaging (media)
• COVID-19: 14 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Police arrest six people suspected of money laundering (media)
• Energy company drops lawsuits against Kosovo environment activists (BIRN)
• Serbian right-wing party planning to hold rally in north of Kosovo (RFE)
• Kamberi: Vucic’s regime remains factor of instability in Western Balkans (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: No individual or group will be more powerful than the state (media)
• U.S. and EU support Kosovo’s commitment to fight corruption (RTK)
• Enlargement Package 2021 delivered to Konjufca (RTK)
• Stano speaks about meeting tomorrow between technical teams of Kosovo and Serbia (RFE Albanian)
• Rohde: Germany is Kosovo’s steadfast partner (media)
• Public debt increases to 1.5 billion euros during the COVID-19 pandemic (media)
• COVID-19: 14 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Borrell and Blinken called for a "sustainable reduction of tensions" in Kosovo (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Stano: The Working Group goal is to find a permanent solution for license plates (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Tomorrow in Brussels on freedom of movement and license plates (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Bilcik: Western Balkans should focus on reforms (N1)
• Elections should have been postponed until demilitarization is carried out, security marketing is dangerous (KoSSev)
• Serbian List: Winning the local elections was not very pleasant for those who worked against the interests of our people (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Momcilo Trajkovic: Ever since I wrote an open letter to Vucic, I have been "on measures" (N1, KoSSev)

Opinion:

• America’s new instrument in the Balkans (Euractive)

International:

• Kremlin says Putin-Biden meeting this year is possible (Reuters)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo* Supreme Court: Kelag’s three small hydropower plants must be shut down (balkangreenenergynews.com)

• European Commission presents report on Kosovo (media)
• Kurti: Our government has made progress during six months (media)
• Osmani: European Union membership is Kosovo's priority (media)
• Szunyog: Past agreements with Serbia need to be implemented (media)
• Citaku criticises EC report, calls on Government to insist on U.S. inclusion in dialogue (Koha)
• Kurti: No meeting with Serbian president expected this month (Koha/Kallxo)
• Licence plates: Technical groups of Kosovo and Serbia to meet Thursday (T7/RTK)
• Albania, North Macedonia Ready for EU Accession Talks: European Commission (BIRN)
• European Commission Raps Serbia’s ‘Weak’ War Crimes Case Record (BIRN)
• Israel interested in twinning municipalities with Kosovo (media)
• COVID-19: 17 new cases, one death (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Local elections proved Kosovo is a true democracy (media)
• Kurti, Haradinaj clash over operations in the north (Telegrafi)
• Heated debate at the Assembly between ruling and opposition parties on the issue of gas (Kallxo)
• LDK leader: A great comeback (media)
• Visoka Weller says she was not allowed to speak about Decan Monastery at conference (Kallxo)
• Kosovo: More than 50 percent of adult population vaccinated against COVID-19 (Koha)
• COVID-19: One death, 17 new cases (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 37 new Covid-19 cases in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: Pristina suffered political defeat; new police actions possible (RTV)
• Elek: Sofronijevic transferred to Belgrade for further treatment (Radio KIM)
• Switzerland condemns threats to Embassy and Serbian leadership (RTS)
• Serbian Journalists Association calls Serbian List to invite all media in Kosovo to conferences (KoSSev, N1, KiM radio)
• Serbian List has monopolised the lives of Serbs in Kosovo (RTK2, KoSSev, KiM radio)

International:

• Kosovo Ruling Party Loses Ground in Municipal Elections (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• ‘Someone’s Daughters’: Unpunished Revenge Porn’s Terrifying Toll in the Balkans (Balkan Insight)

• Who won the most votes in local elections? (RFE)
• Kurti: Kosovo excelled in its electoral organization (euronews.al)
• Osmani meets EU observers, relays concern over Serbia's influence (media)
• ENEMO presents preliminary findings on Kosovo local elections (media)
• OSCE commends organisation of municipal elections (media)
• Haradinaj: Vetevendosje suffered a debacle in local elections (Klan Kosova)
• Kurti and new COMKFOR coordinate efforts for closer cooperation (media)
• After 7 years, rare trial for EU-funded Kosovo war crimes court (euronews)
• Anatomy of new Serbia-Kosovo crisis: the politics of license plates (TRTWorld)
• Borrell to Kurti and Vucic: EU-facilitated dialogue is the only way (media)
• European Commission report on Kosovo to be published today (media)
• COVID-19: No deaths, 1 new case (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 18, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Counting of all votes in 33 municipalities completed, these are the results (RTK)
• LVV without any municipality against other winning parties (RFE Albanian)
• Kurti satisfied with the result of Vetevendosje in the local elections (Koha)
• Xhacka: Kosovo and Albania have the common future (media)
• EU Ministers expected to discuss situation in Western Balkans (RFE Albanian)
• Mustafa: The LDK voters showed that they cannot be deceived for long (KosovaPress)
• Progress in dialogue with Serbia helps Kosovo join NATO (Ekonomia Online)
• Kosovo ruling party loses ground in municipal elections (Prishtina Insight)
• COVID-19: No deaths, 1 new case (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 28 new cases registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• Brnabic congratulated the Serbian List: They showed what unity and harmony mean (RTS)
• Selakovic: The victory of the Serbian List is an indicator of the persistence, courage and indomitability of Serbian people (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Convincing victory shows importance of Serbian unity (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• In Serbian communities Serbian List's mayors (KoSSev)
• CEC: Run-off possible in Serb-majority Klokot municipality (N1)
• Janjic: Results in Kosovo expected, Kurti knew he was losing elections (N1)
• Crosses at Orthodox cemetery in Orahovac broken (Radio KIM)
• “False narrative that no KLA soldier committed any crime” (Radio KIM)
• KFOR withdrew from Jarinje (Radio KIM)
• Serbian Embassy in Bern receives threats in relation to Kosovo (Politika, Tanjug)
• Rakic to KoSSev: You get what deserve (KoSSev)
• Danas: Last October, Rakic also announced that Serbian List would leave Kosovo institutions
• "Ljiljana Subaric will be the mayor the least, people from shadow will come out'' (KiM radio)

Opinion:

• Chronicle of the Tragedy Announced (KoSSev)

• Central Election Commission: 43 percent voter turn-out
• CEC's preliminary results show projected winners of local elections (media)
• Pristina most likely heading to run-off mayoral election (media)
• Local elections: 17 mayors decided, 21 municipalities head to run-offs (Koha)
• Vetevendosje: We won bigger municipalities; we go to runoff in others (Koha)
• LDK: We have won several municipalities; runoffs in Prishtina and Podujeva (media)
• PDK: Preliminary results are very positive (media)
• Haradinaj: Results indicate we have won six municipalities (media)
• Rakic: Without Association, there won’t be Kosovo institutions either (RFE)
• Serbian List declares victory in all ten Serb-majority municipalities (RTS)
• Every time SL “withdrew” from Kosovo institutions (KoSSev)
• Demi: Changes in party leaderships giving results (Koha)
• U.S. Embassy: Another victory for Kosovo’s young, thriving democracy
• Petkovic: I congratulate Serbian List on convincing and historic victory (Kosovo-online)
• Center-right parties lead in Kosovo’s municipal vote (AP)
• Kosovo Picks 17 Mayoral Winners, But Pristina, 21 Others Head To Second Round (RFE)
• Kosovo's municipal election: Centre-right opposition lead after early results (euronews)
• Police, customs point in the north believed to be attacked with sniper bullet (Kallxo)
• COVID-19: No deaths, 10 new cases (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• President Osmani to address UN Security Council session at 16:00 (media)
• Borrell, Blinken call for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue to continue (RFE)
• “Der Standard”: Belgrade seems to be writing Borrell’s Twitter posts (Koha)
• Kosovo offers to U.S.opportunity to build permanent military base media)
• 30 days of detention for suspects arrested in police operation in north (media)
• New COMKFOR: We remain committed to peace and stability (Klan Kosova)
• 3,500 police officers, 35 judges and 80 prosecutors for election security (media)
• MacShane: Hope Hill puts map of independent Kosovo in his office (Express)
• COVID-19: 20 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic to Borrell: Serbia wants peace, stability, ready for talks with Pristina (N1)
• Rada Trajkovic on police action in northern Kosovo, responds to British Embassy (Kosovo-online)
• Marko Jaksic points out the demands to boycott the institutions in Pristina (Danas, FoNet)
• House of Rumena Ljubic in center of Pec stoned for second time (RTS)
• The last day of the election campaign, Serb candidates for president in 11 municipalities (Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Vucic with Putin on November 25 (Vecernje Novosti)
• UNS: To investigate who was behind hacker attack on Kosovo-online portal (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic: Kurti generates crisis for handful of votes (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Bieber: Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia unsurprising considering the state of EU policy (EWB)

International:

• US Names Wartime Serbia-Kosovo Negotiator as Belgrade Ambassador (BIRN)

• Kurti will not dismiss Goran Rakic from minister's post (media)
• Blinken meets Borrell, discuss Western Balkans (media)
• UN Security Council to hold session on Kosovo today (media)
• PM Kurti meets COMKFOR Federici, thanks him for cooperation (media)
• Tahiri: Borrell proved his bias towards Belgrade (media)
• Reka: EU blocked visa liberalisation because of rule of law, now it criticises it (Koha)
• CDHRF reacts to Borrell for remarks on Kosovo Police operation (media)
• US President nominates Christopher Hill new ambassador to Serbia (N1)
• Russia: Kosovo provoking an open confrontation (Koha)
• Kosovo-Serbia Arts Festival Promotes Reconciliation Amid Turmoil (BIRN)
• COVID-19: No deaths, 31 new cases (media)