• Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania Push Forward On 'Open Balkans' Initiative (RFE)
• Government of Kosovo reiterates position against Open Balkans initiative (media)
• Analysts support Kosovo's position on Mini-Schengen (Kosovapress)
• LDK: Berlin Process should be the starting point for Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo Dismisses ‘Visionless Mini Schengen’, Urges for Trade Deal with the EU (Exit)
• Over 55% of respondents consider rejection of "Open Balkans" will not negatively affect Kosovo’s economy (Telegrafi)
• Demi: Easy for Rama and Vucic to make calls for not keeping hostage to the past (Koha)
• Spahiu: Kosovo loses politically by not joining Open Balkans initiative (Klan)
• Osmani, Kurti, and Konjufca pay respects to the victims of bus crash (media)
• Kurti: Ireland, an important voice in speeding up the visa liberalization (media)
• President Osmani has telephone conversation with Israeli President Herzog (media)
• Gervalla to pay an official visit to North Macedonia today (media)
• Four laws in four months (RFE, media)
• COVID-19: 72 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 29, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Rama, Vucic and Zaev sign cooperation agreement in line with Open Balkan initiative (euronews.al)
• In 2023 there will be no borders between our countries, Vucic says (euronews.al)
• Zaev: A new wind of cooperation is blowing today in Skopje (euronews.al)
• Rama: Regional cooperation brings us closer to the EU (euronews.al)
• Vucic: If you consider Asterix a disgrace, put Serbia with a square sign (media)
• Concept Paper on justice vetting proceeded for public consultation (Telegrafi)
• Health Ministry: Compatriots living abroad can be vaccinated in Kosovo (media)
• COVID-19: 72 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• "Open Balkans" new name for "mini-Schengen" (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Vucic, Rama and Zaev today at the economic forum in Skopje (media)
• Serbia-US friendship and alliance in 140 years of diplomatic relations (N1)
• Bishop Teodosije met German diplomat Berger (Radio KIM)
• Non-paper: European Council definitively rejects access to document (N1 Slovenia, N1 BiH)
• OSCE on burglary of Dragica Gasic’s flat (KoSSev, media)

International:

• Kosovo Faces Uphill Fight in Claiming Yugoslav-Era Property (Balkan Insight)

• Families bury victims of tragic bus crash (media)
• Germany's state secretary Berger meets PM Kurti, President Osmani (media)
• Hasani: EU and U.S. could ask for a break in dialogue (Klan)
• PDK warns it will not vote international agreements (media)
• Haxhiu: Four prosecutors to join Special Prosecution of Kosovo (media)
• Rama, Vucic, Zaev meet today at Skopje’s Economic Forum (media)
• Renowned Serb returnee to Gjakova suffers break-in (Prishtina Insight)
• COVID-19: 58 new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• UNDP poll finds significant increase in people's satisfaction with Kosovo institutions (media)
• “Kosovo has investment potential but political instability and corruption hinder it” (Klan)
• Kosovo Assembly adopts budget review (media)
• Muja: For the first time in Kosovo, revenues exceed €2 billion (Kallxo)
• Bodies of bus crash victims arrive at Kosovo (media)
• COVID-19: 58 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• OSCE report on assessment of community rights in Kosovo presented (KiM radio, RTV Puls, RTK2, N1)
• Fabrizi expects Serbia’s progress in talks with bloc before end of 2021 (N1)
• Dragica Gasic after robbery at her flat: I am staying in Djakovica (Radio KIM)
• “Absence of reactions and tendentious reporting on incidents constitute their silent approval” (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic to seek additional security for Dragica Gasic (Kosovo Online)
• Cadez: It is important that political leaders realize importance of “mini-Schengen” (Kosovo-online)
• BSN: New weapons strengthen operational capacities of Serbian Army (N1)

Opinion:

• Is the Decani Monastery really endangered? (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

• Balkan trio push ‘mini-Schengen’ as they hit out at EU membership delay (Financial Times)
• ‘Genocide’ Controversy Erupts over WWII Massacres in Montenegro (Balkan Insight)

• Osmani, Kurti and Konjufca meet the survivors of accident in Croatia (media)
• Ministers Vitia and Svecla give update on the bus crash developments (media)
• Kusari-Lila: We expect reviewed budget to be approved (Koha)
• Abdixhiku: LDK's rightful place is at the top, current government made of interns (G. Express)
• PDK's Tahiri slams Government for not submitting 100-day report (media)
• Haradinaj: Kurti’s government will not last long (RTV Dukagjini/Telegrafi)
• Spain awaits dialogue’s epilogue to decide on recognition of Kosovo (RTV Dukagjini)
• A bakery opens in the Kosovo Correctional Center in Lipjan (T7)
• Dragica Gasic claims her flat was broken into (RFE)
• OSCE issues report on assessment of community rights (Telegrafi)
• NGOs: Assembly will disable work of organizations and deprive public of right to be informed (media)
• COVID-19: 42 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 27, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: The government will help reduce the gap between communities (Koha)
• KIA Chief Petrit Ajeti reports to the supervising committee (media)
• Minister Mehaj gives details about the released from the hospital in Croatia (Zeri)
• Croatian Court sentences driver of crashed bus with one month detention (media)
• Economy committee votes proposal for ERO board members (media)
• Maas: A German citizen among the victims of the bus crash (media)
• 55 patients are being treated with oxygen therapy, one in serious condition (Koha)
• COVID-19: 42 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 58% of Serbian citizens support the EU-mediated BG-PR dialogue (KoSSev)
• Stefanovic: Serbia grateful to Indonesia for support and non-recognition of Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• In Serbian communities in Kosovo one Covid-19 case (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• The genocide campaign (Danas, KoSSev)

International:

• Minuto-Rizzo: Balkans has regained a priority status for NATO (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Summer School on Transitional Justice in Prizren (RTK2)

• COVID-19: 14 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Ministry: So far, 20 percent of people in Kosovo have been inoculated (Telegrafi)
• Only 30 percent of Kosovo teachers have been vaccinated (RFE in Albanian)
• 10 victims of Kosovo bus crash identified, funeral arrangements underway (media)
• Ministry: 26 persons to be discharged from hospital, 15 to continue treatment (media)
• Kosovo mourns 10 compatriots killed in Croatia bus crash (AP)
• Due to the terminology on Kosovo, Serbia failed four regional agreements (Koha)
• Kosovo expects GDP growth to exceed projected 7.9% this year (intellinews.com)
• 60 films in 6 days, female directors prominent in Prishtina Film Festival (euronews.al)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 14 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kurti, Gervalla return to Kosovo, Vitia and Svecla stay on in Croatia (media)
• Svecla: Some of the passengers will travel to Kosovo, others will return to Germany (Klan)
• PM Kurti pays tribute to Enver Zymberi on anniversary of his death (media)
• Gervalla called on EU to stop "Mini-Schengen" initiative (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• One case of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• Presidential, and Belgrade elections, possibly parliamentary in Serbia in spring, official says (N1, Beta, Vecernje Novosti)
• Serbian List expresses condolences to families of those who died in bus crash (Kosovo-online)
• Raska-Prizren Eparchy expresses condolence to families of victims, prays for recovery of those injured in bus crash (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic will get closer to Moscow, but he will not "grow cold" towards Erdogan (Danas)
• Joksimovic: Regional initiatives enable stability (RTS)
• “International community does not see difficult position of Serbs” (Politika)
• Bayramov: Azerbaijan respects principles of international law when it comes to Kosovo issue (Kosovo-online)
• Dacic to attend inauguration of Iranian president (N1)
• Bolton: Pristina has the right not to accept territorial changes, but then there is no progress in the negotiations (Kosovo Online, B92)

International:

• Enmity and Neglect Take Toll on Serb Churches in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
• Enkel Demi: We Need to Know Each Other’s Literature (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Nora Gjakova wins Kosovo’s third Olympic gold medal (Prishtina Insight)
• Montenegro Makes History With First Same-Sex Marriage (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 25 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kosovo bus crash leaves 10 dead, 45 injured (media)
• Condolences extended to families of victims that died in bus accident (media)
• President Osmani declares day of mourning in Kosovo (media)
• Government fears mini Schengen gives rise to Russia and China influence (Koha)
• Osmani meets with the Prime Minister of Japan (media)
• Judge rejects Thaci's request for interim release (media)
• Janjic warns that Belgrade's campaign could lead to armed conflict (Koha)
• Kosovo Wins Women's Judo Olympic Gold (RFE)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 23, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 19 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kurti calls on Kosovo population to vaccinate (Klan)
• President Osmani received by Japan’s FM Motegi and Emperor Naruhito (media)
• Beqaj: Kurti's approach to dialogue is right but unrealistic (Telegrafi)
• Questions regarding Kosovo's international organisation membership bids (RFE)
• Thaci’s lawyer provides guarantee for his release from detention (media)
• Unwavering trust between Ankara and Belgrade (RFE Albanian)

Serbian Language Media:

• 22 years since the murder of 14 Serbian harvesters in Staro Gracko (media)
• Odalovic: It is certainly known who committed the crime in Staro Gracko (RTS, N1, Beta, KiM radio)
• Petkovic with Veselinovic: Mistreatment of Serbs must end (Kosovo-online)
• Rakic: We’ll continue to provide assistance, as it is only way to save our people (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian pilgrims banned from entering Kosovo (Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Should Kosovo recognise Serbia? (Prishtina Insight)
• 11 years since the opinion of the International Court of Justice on Kosovo’s independence (KoSSev)
• Non-Papers and the elephant in the room: Rule of law in the Western Balkans (EWB)

International:

• Montenegro Rules out Changes to Kosovo Border Agreement (Balkan Insight)
• Serbian interior minister in Madrid to discuss police cooperation, Kosovo (Euractive)