UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 25, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 836 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
• Varhelyi: Resumption of dialogue with Serbia is essential (media)
• Kurrti continues receiving congratulating letters (media)
• Von Cramon: EU to liberalise promised visas for Kosovo citizens (media)
• Kurti to visit the U.S. as soon as possible (media)
• Kosovo government appoints deputy ministers (media)
• State Prosecutor issues 73 indictments against 76 individuals (media)
• Kurti asked to dismiss Deputy Prime Minister Emilija Rexhepi (media)
• Serbian List attempts to install parallel structures in Skenderaj and Vushtrri (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid -19 in Serbian communities: 49 new cases, one death (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic on Kurti’s dialogue principles, EU reaction (B92)
• Bilcik: Important to continue the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina for the sake of reconciliation (KiM radio, Tanjug)
• Lazarevic: New elections would strengthen Kurti even more, the losing parties are aware of this (Beta, KoSSev)
• Weber: The principles for dialogue presented by Kurti will make easier for the EU and the USA to reset the negotiations (Kosovo Online)
• EU on Kurti ZSO statement – Parties in the dialogue to refrain from harmful statements (Kosovo-online)
• Agreement to produce Sputnik V vaccine in Serbia reached (RTS)
• Obradovic: 904.000 citizens revaccinated in Serbia so far (Kosovo-online)
• Interpol warns citizens once again not to purchase vaccines on internet (KoSSev)
• Rakic: We continue working on return of displaced persons (Radio KIM)
• Office for KiM: KLA graffiti on health ambulance in Suvi Do (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian Chamber of Commerce set to open Jerusalem office (N1)

Opinion

• Kosovo: Kurti In Driver’s Seat Of A Driverless Vehicle – Analysis (eurasiareview)
• Serbia’s Brave Actresses Deserve Our Respect for Naming Their Abusers (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Application of the new methodology to Montenegro and Serbia: Principles remain the same, more emphasis on interim benchmarks (EWB)
• President Biden Urged to Move Hague War Court to Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The introduction of mutual language learning in Kosovo: A tentative roadmap (FB)
• North Mitrovica Municipality: NGO "Eko-Protekt" and UNMIK provided 75 tablet computers for school children (Kontakt plus radio, Radio Mitrovica sever)

• COVID-19: 823 new cases, 17 deaths (media)
• WHO: Vaccines to reach Kosovo in three weeks' time (T7/Telegrafi)
• Kosovo business community refuses vaccines from Serbia (Koha/Klan)
• U.S. and EU confirm joint engagement in Western Balkans (RFE/Koha)
• Lajcak: Resumption of dialogue within weeks (RFE)
• Kosnett: We are not asking MPs to vote certain individual but participate and avoid fresh elections (media)
• Merkel writes to Kurti: You have a challenging work ahead (media)
• Rama says he trusts Kurti in overcoming Kosovo's challenges (Koha)
• Osmani and Abdixhiku meet, agree to continue discussions (media)
• Hoxhaj: PDK has no vote for Vjosa Osmani, she is a divisive figure (media)
• European Parliament expected to endorse report on Kosovo today (media)
• SRSG Tanin congratulates Konjufca on election (media)
• Konjufca discusses securing anti-Covid-19 vaccines with Szunyog (RTK)
• Orlando meets Konjufca: Italy supports Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic road (media)
• Holliday offers support to enlighten fate of the missing persons (media)
• Petkovic: Kurti's positions are destroying the future of dialogue (RFE/Kallxo)
• President Biden urged to move EU-backed war crimes court to Kosovo (euronews)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 781 new cases, 17 deaths (media)
• Kurti: President election to take place soon (media)
• Kurti reveals his approach to the dialogue with Serbia (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo leaders commemorate anniversary of NATO air strikes on Serbian forces (media)
• CEC replaces MPs who accepted government posts (media)
• EULEX refutes KLA war veterans: No one was invited to our offices (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 42 new cases of Covid-19 in in Serbian communities (KoSSev)
• Twenty-two years ago, NATO bombs started falling on the then Yugoslavia (Beta, N1)
• Vucic with UN official: UN SC session on UNMIK in mid April (Tanjug, Kosovo-online)
• Office for KiM: Krstic’s verdict shameful, victim of persecution by Pristina (RTS)
• Defense lawyers on Krstic and Shabani verdicts (Radio KIM)
• Rakic assumed office of Minister for Communities and Returns (Kontakt plus radio)
• 22nd anniversary of the bombing marked in Gracanica (Kosovo Online)
• No easing of measures, Serbian anti-epidemic Crisis Team says (N1)
• North Macedonia journalists vaccinated in southern Serbia (N1)

International:

• 78 Days of Fear: Remembering NATO’s Bombing of Yugoslavia (Balkan Insight)
• WB2EU: Citizens need some re-branding of the idea of what the rule of law is (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Preparations for Manifesta14 underway (Prishtina Insight)
• Patagonia CEO: Hydropower Plants are not Green, Albanian Government Stop Decimating Balkan Rivers (exit.al)

• COVID-19: 772 new cases, 13 deaths (media)
• Kurti: We will prepare a file with all agreement violations by Serbia (Koha/Kallxo)
• Kurti hosts EU Ambassador to Kosovo Tomas Szunyog (media)
• Abdixhiku meets Kosnett and Rohde, informs them about LDK’s role in opposition (media)
• Abdixhiku and Osmani to meet today at 14:00 hours (media)
• LDK officials comment on Vjosa Osmani’s election (media)
• Hasani says Government is internationally obliged to form Association (Klan)
• New minister Aliu denies indictment against him, prosecution confirms it (media)
• Konjufca asks CEC to provide names of MPs replacing ministers (Kosovapress)
• Krasniqi: Association of Serb municipalities undermines Kosovo (Kallxo)
• Monuments Evoke Tragic Memories of NATO Bombing of Yugoslavia (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Convicts Two Serb Policemen of War Crimes (Balkan Insight)
• Protesters rally in front of Kosovo embassy in Ankara (AA)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 23, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 705 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
• Albin Kurti officially assumes duties as new prime minister of Kosovo (Express)
• Kurti: It is time to prove that we deserve our positions (media)
• Quint to MPs: The first task is to elect the president (media)
• Congratulations for Kurti and the new government continue (media)
• U.S. Ambassador visits LDK offices (media)
• Z.K and D.Sh. found guilty of war crimes (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19 in Serbian communities: 67 new cases, three people died (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: Pristina brutally violated its own highest legal act (Danas, Beta)
• Petkovic: Kurti's demands absurd and undermine Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (TV Most)
• Simic: Two ministries belong to the Serbian list according to the law; we will not vote for Kurti's government (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Jevtic handovers duty to Rakic today, announces continuation of a joint struggle for betterment of Serbs (TV Most)
• Rada Trajkovic to Kurti: Citizens place their hopes in you and your promise of equality for all (Kosovo Online)
• Zlatan Krstic sentenced to 14 years in prison, Shabanaj to seven years (Kosovo-online)
• Epidemiological situation in Zvecan deteriorates, authorities urge citizens to vaccinate (Kosovo-online)
• Miftaraj: The constitution is clear, the Kosovo president is elected first, then the government (KoSSev)
• Surlic: Serbs acceptable for Pristina if decision-making does not depend on them (KoSSev)
• Krasniqi: The government that consolidated the majority, with the highest number of women, I expect the president to be elected (KoSSev)
• Only open debate on Kosovo "allowed" (Danas)
• Serbian DefMin concerned over Kosovo participation in NATO exercise (N1, FoNet)
• EU top diplomat says debate on Western Balkans at next meeting of EU FMs (N1, Beta)
• RFZO: Serbia has 5.800 doses of US new anti-coronavirus drug (N1)
• WHO Belgrade representative: Epidemic situation serious, measures to remain until results seen (N1)

Opinion

• Western Balkans’ Plight is Wake-up Call for Europe (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Balkan Countries Lacking Vaccines Look to Neighbours for Jabs (Balkan Insight)
• Vaccine makers should license technology to overcome 'grotesque' inequity: WHO (Reuters)
• Coronavirus digest: EU commissioner says herd immunity by summer is possible (DW)
• NATO, US to stage large-scale military exercises around Serbia until summer (euractive.com)

• COVID-19: 827 new cases, 16 deaths (media)
• Kosovo elects new Government with Kurti Prime Minister (media)
• Congratulations pour in for new Government of Kosovo (media)
• Kurti expects to take new post today, calls for swift election of president (Telegrafi)
• Hoti to hand over duty to Kurti today (media)
• Hoxhaj: We will not send Kurti’s mandate to the Constitutional Court (EO)
• Haziri: LDK has not discussed approaching Constitutional Court (T7/Klan)
• “Constitution does not oblige PM to offer two ministries to Serb community” (Koha)
• Rama does not mediate dialogue, says he defends Kosovo’s interests (RTK)
• Zemaj writes to COVAX concerning lack of vaccine rollout in Kosovo (media)
• Vulin: Serbia to work incessantly to prevent Kosovo from joining Interpol (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 827 new cases, 16 deaths (media)
• Glauk Konjufca elected Kosovo Assembly Speaker (media)
• Konjufca requests Vetevendosje's proposal for prime minister (media)
• Kurti-led government set to be voted this afternoon (Telegrafi/Koha)
• PDK expects swift formation of government, reiterates position against Osmani for president (media)
• Turkish community MPs to vote for Kurti-led government (Klan)
• Ambassadors congratulate election of Assembly speaker, presidency (media)
• Kurti: There can be no monoethnic association in Kosovo (KP)

Serbian Language Media:

• 19 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Sunday (KoSSev)
• Konjufca elected Assembly Speaker, Serbian List didn’t support his election (Kosovo-online)
• Slavko Simic elected vice president of the Assembly (Kosovo Online)
• Miletic: New elections do not suit anyone at this moment (RTK2)
• Baxhaku: The votes of the Serbian List also needed for the election of the president (RTK2)
• Jeremic: Vaccination process in Serbia commendable (Dnevnik)
• Serbian Government partially eases anti-coronavirus measures (N1)
• Additional 55.990 doses of Pfizer vaccine arrived in Serbia (Tanjug)
• Additional 100.000 Sputnik V vaccines arriving in Serbia on Tuesday (N1)

Opinion:

• Say Her Name (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

• Kosovo’s new parliament starts, vote on new govt expected (AP)
• Coronavirus: EU 'not ready' to share COVID vaccines with poorer countries (DW)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Vetevendosje's women MPs dress in white, in nod to gender equality (Kallxo)
• Kosovo Slow to Build Monuments to its Female Heroes (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 812 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Health-Care Workers From Kosovo Receive COVID-19 Vaccines In Albania (RFE)
• Still no vaccines in Kosovo, Zemaj criticizes the EU (euronews.al)
• KBA: Around 20,000 Kosovo businesses closed due to COVID-19 (Klan)
• Kosovo Assembly to hold constitutive session today (media)
• PDK meets ahead of the constitutive session of the Assembly (Klan)
• Von Cramon speaks of EU expectations for Osmani and Kurti (RTV Dukagjini)
• Association of Serb-majority communities, challenge for incoming government (KP)
• Borrell to report on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• German ambassador to Serbia calls for sustainable Kosovo-Serbia solution (Koha)
• LDK elects party leadership, snub Veliu, Rugova (media)
• Balje: With Kurti, Kosovo-Albania unification idea being revived (media)
• New head of OSCE for Kosovo assumes post (Koha)
• Kosovo Court Reopens Sensitive Murder Trial Following BIRN Findings (Balkan Insight)
• Arrests Shake Up a Soccer Scene in Serbia Ruled by Gangsters and ‘Gravediggers’ (NYT)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 19, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 828 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• Abdixhiku and Shala meet Kurti and Osmani (media)
• Vucic publishes the map of Kosovo immersed in Serbian flag, US embassy reacts (euronews.al)
• EU comments on Vucic’s photo with the map of Kosovo (Express, media)
• Swedish MEP says EU should not threaten Kosovo for its Embassy in Jerusalem (Express)
• Majko to Vucic: Serbia should not capitulate in face of its inabilities (RTK)
• LDK to elect new chairmanship on Saturday (RTK)
• Osmani holds a virtual meeting with USAID Director (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 36 new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian areas (KoSSev)
• Vucic: We are looking for a compromise, but I am not sure that Albanians are ready (media)
• Petkovic: Hysterical assaults by Albanian politicians the only answer to Vucic’s peaceful policy (Kosovo-online)
• EU: Serbia and Kosovo to refrain from statements that do not serve normalization of relations (Kosovo Online)
• More than two million people in Serbia received first dose of vaccine (Danas)
• North Mitrovica Hospital Center sends staff to help the Batajnica Covid hospital (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM demands a higher level of security for the religious heritage in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Church in Silovo village broken into (RTV Puls, Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)
• Protests of a group of people in Gracanica continue over hiring in the Clinical Hospital Center (KiM radio)
• Minister tells German Ambassador thousands leaving Serbia every year (N1)
• CRTA: Citizens of Serbia moderately interested in politics, mostly in Kosovo (KoSSev, N1)
• Croatia establishes contact with Chinese COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers (N1)

Opinion:

• What are the new Kosovo government biggest priorities? (euractiv.com)
• Serbia’s vaccine diplomacy in China’s shadow (Al Jazeera)

International:

• EU agency: AstraZeneca vaccine safe, will add clot warning (AP)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Between life and death, artists articulate the pandemic (Kosovo 2.0)
• No more! Kosovars hold vigils for latest femicide victim (Prishtina Insight)

• COVID-19: 747 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Fist Covid vaccines set for Kosovo from India (Koha)
• Syla: Albania has secured 500 vaccines for healthcare staff in Kosovo (media)
• Kosnett urges opposition to put needs of people above political partisanship (media)
• Haziri: LDK should have a vote for Vjosa Osmani president (RTV21/Telegrafi)
• Haradinaj: AAK will not vote for Osmani nor will it make necessary quorum (Telegrafi)
• Vucic's post of Serbian flag on Kosovo map backdrop sparks reactions (media)
• Russia says Kosovo has no right to open a mission in Jerusalem (EO)
• SGG condemns the killing of Sebahate Sopi, calls for concrete actions to protect women (Klan)
• Kosovo’s Kurti Urges Albanians Abroad to Join North Macedonia Census (Balkan Insight)
• 'I want to live not just survive': Kosovo and its chronic brain drain problem (euronews)
• Kosovo Police probe threat to BIRN team filming disputed property (Prishtina Insight)