UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 10, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 562 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Prime Minister Kurti calls for vaccination (media)
• About 1 million euros abused, forensic experts illegally compensated (media)
• Hoxha: Law on Forensic Medicine came into force before I became minister (Klan)
• Minister of Interior facing trial for pelting police with rocks while in opposition (Express)
• Meta and Basha thank Kosovo for assistance in battling fires (euronews.al)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vulin: Mitsotakis confirmed Greece will not change its stance on Kosovo (Tanjug, Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Israeli recognition of Kosovo was disappointment for Serbia and its citizens (Politika)
• “Background of Washington Agreement rejection by Kosovo Assembly” (Politika)
• Young man in Novo Brdo beaten up, incident condemned (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic on Viola von Cramon’s statements regarding northern Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• US Embassy in Sarajevo on ‘Open Balkan’ initiative (Kosovo-online)
• Four new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo Filmmakers Eye Bright Future After Cannes Debut (Prishtina Insight)

• Osmani authorises KSF deployment to assist Albania in extinguishing fires (media)
• Von Cramon expects progress Prishtina-Belgrade talks after elections (N1, media)
• Elezi: We have received 13 applications from political entities so far (media)
• War crimes judges should be disqualified over 'abuse of authority,' say UK lawyers (The Telegraph)
• Foreign experts expect parallel structures to be dissolved this year (Klan Kosova)
• Be the change you want to see; How Diaspora can contribute to cleaner Kosovo (Kosovo 2.0)
• Most Balkan countries cheer Olympic medal scores (BIRN)
• COVID-19: 263 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 9, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti is asked to find “creative” solution for Association (media)
• Kusari-Lila: We can discuss other topics with Rama, but not Open Balkan (Koha)
• Police Director says vetting in judiciary, including police, is necessary (media)
• Kosovo Defence Minister: US Army main guarantor of security in Kosovo (media)
• COVID-19: 263 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Rakic: Pristina uses passivity of Brussels (Vecernje Novosti)
• Incident near administrative line with Kosovo on Friday (Tanjug, Radio KIM)
• Patriarch Porfirije: Support to church and people in Greece (Radio KIM)
• Vucic and Botsan-Kharchenko – High degree of bilateral cooperation (RTS)
• Albanians launch petition against Goran Bregovic (KoSSev)
• Five new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Zaev: Our peoples have same path, ‘Open Balkans’ demonstration of progress (Kosovo-online, Politika)

International:

• Diaspora Kosovars flood home after year of absence (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbians likely to be able to travel to EU after August 15 (N1)

• Kosovo chief prosecutor orders investigations over leaked wiretaps (BIRN)
• Kosovo judge caught on wiretap resigns (Express)
• Enver Hoxhaj leaves PDK’s chairmanship (Express)
• Wildfires devastate Kosovo mountains (RFE)
• Kosovo to make vaccines mandatory for access to indoor spaces (Exit.al)
• Dream that survived: Kosovo’s DokuFest marks 20 triumphant years (BIRN)
• COVID-19: 269 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 6, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Parliament does not pass resolution on Washington agreement (media)
• “Failure of resolution does not mean role of the U.S. is not appreciated” (RFE)
• Sacking initiated for judge involved in leaked audio recordings (media)
• Health Minister: We are reviewing anti COVID-19 measures (media)
• Minister of Education: Around 50% of teaching staff are vaccinated (media)
• Public Health Institute appeals for vaccination against COVID-19 (media)
• COVID-19: 271 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: The dialogue is Brussels' responsibility for Washington (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Dacic: Serbia donating Sputnik V vaccine to Iran (N1)
• Serbian Defense Minister and US congressmen on Belgrade-Washington cooperation (N1)
• US embassy in Pristina: Kosovo govt to be open-minded about ‘Open Balkan’ (N1)
• Gajic: There is no single reason why Albanians should resent Bregovic (Kosovo-online, Sputnik)
• Vucic: Attacks on Serbian holy shrines in Kosovo impermissible (Kosovo-online)
• Office for KiM on KLA graffiti in Prilepac (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic: Flat of Dragica Gasic refurbished with new furniture (Kosovo-online)
• RECOM: There was no political attention for the important and reasonable words of Patriarch Porfirije (Beta, N1)

International:

• Moscow expects West to impartially assess Kosovo leadership's actions — Foreign Ministry (TASS)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Dream that Survived: Kosovo’s DokuFest Marks 20 Triumphant Years (Balkan Insight)

• New PDK chairmanship elected (media)
• Chief state prosecutor: To my information, wiretaps are unauthorised (media)
• KJC forms commission to review disciplinary liability of judge (media)
• Chief state prosecutor expected to be sacked, sources say (Arbresh.info)
• US diplomat: Talk of early elections in Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo hope trials in absentia will boost war crimes convictions (BIRN)
• Serb defies town’s opposition to return to Kosovo home (AFP)
• “Kosovo aligns left; conservative views on abortion and religion” (Exitnews.al)
• COVID-19: 195 new cases, two deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• President Osmani decrees the Law on Budget Review (media)
• PDK to elect new leadership today (Telegrafi)
• CSIS: Transatlantic coordination is needed for Kosovo-Serbia talks (Koha)
• Nagavci appeals to teachers to vaccinate (media)
• The U.S. Embassy calls for vaccination against COVID-19: They are safe (RTK)
• COVID-19: 195 new cases, two deaths (media)
• “Fires threatening not only Rugova but city of Peja too” (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• “KLA” graffiti written in Prilepac village, near Ranilug (Radio KIM)
• Djuric responds to Vela: Vucic had more bilateral meetings in a couple of months than Osmani will have for the entire mandate (Kosovo Online, Twitter)
• Twenty-six years after ‘Storm’ operation: Serbs mourn, Croats celebrate (N1)
• Brnabic: More than 50 percent of adult population in Serbia inoculated (Radio KIM)
• Gazeta Express again on Goran Bregovic (KoSSev)
• Janjic: "Open Balkans" is an opportunity for the development of Kosovo, I expect Kurti's government to join (Kosovo Online)
• In Serbian communities two Covid-19 cases (Kontakt plus radio)

• Justice minister slams media and civil society's response to leaked wiretaps (media)
• Prosecutorial Council launches disciplinary actions against prosecutor (media)
• Judicial Council says it will act in line with disciplinary procedure regulation (media)
• Financial Intelligence Unit chief sacked over leaked wiretaps (Prishtina Insight)
• Assembly committee approves list of PAK board nominees (media)
• Slovenia supports Kosovo’s efforts to join NATO, EU (Express)
• Another former EULEX prosecutor wants to report to Kosovo legislators (Lajmi/Zeri)
• Over 38,000 vaccines arrive in Kosovo, half a million more expected from next week (media)
• WHO calls for moratorium on COVID-19 vaccine booster shots (media)
• COVID-19: 221 new cases, one death (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 4, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• EU Special Representative for Kosovo: Fighting corruption needs constant attention (Prishtina Insight)
• Wilson Center issues report: Consolidating Kosovo's Sovereignty (media)
• CEC has so far approved 1,960 registration applications from Diaspora (Koha)
• Interest in COVID-19 vaccines increases in Kosovo, 14% of people fully vaccinated (KP)
• COVID-19: 221 new cases, one death (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Grenell's visit during the "Open Balkans" project is (not) a coincidence (Danas, Kosovo Online)
• Serbia sends police choppers to help North Macedonia’s firefighters (N1)
• Jevtic: By introducing economic measures to Serbia, Kurti wants to end dialogue (Gracanica-online)
• Davenport and Mladenovic on language rights in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Sheholli: ''Dragica ought to be sitting with Albanian women, apologizing, although she is not guilty'' (Kosovo Online, Blic, Euronews)
• Kosovo portals say Bregovic inspired massacres (KoSSev, N1, Kosovo Online)

International:

• Serbia’s Ambassador to Russia Lazanski Passes Away (Balkan Insight)

• Head of Financial Intelligence Unit sacked (media)
• Investigations against senior officialsmentioned in recordings (Betimi per Drejtesi)
• “Proof that prosecution, judiciary are influenced by interest groups” (Telegrafi)
• Vetevendosje people in the board that government proposed to Assembly (Koha)
• Haradinaj calls on government to treat wildfires more seriously (media)
• Vetevendosje implies Arben Vitia will run for Prishtina Mayor (Express/ATV)
• COVID-19: 110 new cases, 1 death (media)