UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 14, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 55 new cases, four deaths (media)
• PM Hoti calls for maximal caution from pupils and teachers (media)
• PM Hoti: €10 mil to municipalities as part of economic revival program (media)
• PDK is not pleased with Washington agreement, complains about Hoti (media)
• Plenkovic: Kosovo-Serbia dialogue with two wings, in Brussels and Washington (Koha)
• William Walker contracted to advise President Thaci (Prishtina Insight)

Serbian Language Media:

• Five new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serb areas in Kosovo, one person passed away (Radio KIM)
• Stano: Continuation of talks on non-majority communities and property (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Vucic decided on the government? (media)
• Kosovo Serb Orthodox Diocese on Koha’s text: It spreads ethnic and religious hatred (KoSSev)
• Father Sava: Claims of those calling us usurpers, unworthy of Albanian people sons who respected others (KoSSev)
• Koha: ''Appropriation of medieval Arberian monuments in Kosovo by Serbs'' (KoSSev)
• Leaks of dossiers from The Hague – covering up KLA crimes (Politika)
• Pompeo hails Serbia's announcement to label Hezbollah a terrorist organization (N1)
• Vucic: Lack of reaction to Pristina's unfulfilled obligation shameful (BETA, N1)
• Vucic: Excellent phone talk with Netanyahu (SRNA, N1)
• Detention of four Serbs arrested at Mokra Gora Mountain extended (RTS)

Opinion:

• Belgrade professor to Grenell: Nobel Prize nomination sounds like mockery (N1)
• After Trump’s Serbia-Kosovo Deal, it’s Over to Brussels (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Serbia-Kosovo Deal Behind Trump Nobel Prize Nod Dismissed As 'Photo Opportunity' by Ex-Serbian FM (Newsweek)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Womens’ Network, MPs react against court decision (media)

• COVID-19: 71 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• Kosovo government meets today (media)
• Kosovo Assembly Presidency to meet today (media)
• Mustafa: Prime minister guided by Constitution not coalition partners (media)
• LVV and PDK to oppose Mini-Schenghen with all means (RTK)
• Borrell: Only Europeans can stabilise the Balkans (FT/Kosovo media)
• Fabrizi: Next rounds of dialogue, even more difficult (media)
• Israel's Netanyahu to address Kosovo in remarks from White House (Klan)
• Serwer: Washington Agreement does not even enable start of economic normalisation (Koha)

• COVID-19: 50 new cases, five deaths (media)
• A third of people in Kosovo believe COVID-19 is a hoax, according to poll (AFP/EuroNews)
• Zemaj: All set for the start of new school year (media)
• Osmani: There is danger of a Republika Srpska in the north of Kosovo (RFE)
• Veseli: Kosovo delegation failed to reach final agreement with Serbia (media)
• Nagavci: Fall of Hoti-led government, a matter of days (Kosovapress)
• “Specialist prosecutors investigating files case sent to KLA associations” (media)
• Op-ed: Kosovo Serbia Agreement Could Sway US Election (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 50 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Hoti: France and Netherlands impede visa liberalization (media)
• Aliu accuses Hoti for granting ownership of Ujman lake to Serbia (media)
• Haxhiu: Kosovo’s Bosnianisation will not be allowed, Hoti should leave (RTK)
• Kosnett: U.S. and Kosovo to strengthen partnership against terrorism (RTK)
• Civil society: There was no transparency on Washington agreement (media)
• The United States, Kosovo and Serbia nominated for Nobel Peace Prize (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Two new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian communities, five patients recovered (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic says Serbia managed to open White House doors (media)
• US envoy: Serbia faces many burdensome political decisions (FoNet, N1)
• Moscow daily: New govt. will show if Serbia changes foreign policy (Beta, N1)
• Kosovo Police: Four graves damaged in Zakovo during works on water supply (Kosovo Online)
• Office for KiM: Serb cemetery desecrated in Kosovo (N1, Beta)
• Vukcevic: It is very strange, unbelievable that files of the Special Prosecutor’s Office were leaked (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Hoti’s government is a sitting duck (Prishtina Insight)
• Jovic: Serbia is seriously approaching the US, it could become the main partner in the Balkans (N1, KoSSev)
• Non-agreement or why it takes (at least) two to reach an agreement (KoSSev)

International:

• Unpacking the Serbia-Kosovo Deal (visegradsight.eu)
• Kosovo and Serbia - Israel’s Balkan blunder (The Jerusalem Post)

Humanitarian/Development:

• WHO acknowledges: The end of the pandemic might be ... (B92, Tanjug)

• COVID-19: 69 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• UN says more funds needed for coronavirus vaccine (VOA/RTV21/Kallxo)
• Kosovo and North Macedonia considering easing border restrictions (media)
• Hoti: We will respect agreement on Association (media)
• Tahiri: European Parliament confirmed support for visa liberalisation (media)
• Kosovo and North Macedonia considering easing border restrictions (media)
• Palmer: The U.S. happy with progress in Kosovo-Serbia negotiations (Koha)
• Grenell says he jokingly proposed renaming Ujman/Gazivode to Lake Trump (Klan)
• Limaj: No disagreements among coalition partners (media)
• Mustafa: We do not have agreement on President with AAK (RTK/T7)
• Israeli official: New embassy in Pristina to be opened soon (Koha)
• Vucic about Washington meeting: I did not sleep the entire night (RTK)
• Djuric: No agreement without Association of Serb-majority municipalities (Koha/Zeri)
• Serbia and Kosovo awkwardly embrace Israel (The Economist)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 69 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• Decision on reopening of schools expected today (media)
• Kosovo and North Macedonia discuss easing of border restrictions (RFE)
• Minister Zemaj thanks OSF for donating funds to combat COVID-19 (media)
• Ambassador Szunyog meets Kosovo political leaders (media)
• Klinaku: Specialist Prosecutor's Office communicated with authorities in Serbia (Klan)
• "Political instability, corruption hampering economic development" (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Putin with Vucic on Kosovo: Russia's unchanged position (media)
• Borrell: Serbia expected to act in line with its aim – EU membership (N1)
• Palestine envoy to Serbia: I ask Vucic for audience and expect explanation (media)
• Peskov: Russia does not consider Serbia's decision to postpone military exercises a consequence of Western pressure (Tanjug, Blic, TASS)
• Stano: Resolving the status of non-majority communities is crucial (Tanjug, Kontakt plus radio)
• Media: Bilcik raised the issue of the participation of the Serbian Armed Forces in the exercise in Belarus (NMagazin)
• Government of Serbia: Decision to halt all military exercises and activities (Serbian media)
• Source tells Israeli daily Serbia won’t move embassy if Kosovo recognized (N1, The Times of Israel)
• EU diplomats: Belgrade-Pristina agreement within a year (Beta, N1)
• Property, one of the most difficult issues in Brussels (media)

Opinion:

• Biserko: Serbia's manoeuvring space regarding Kosovo issue has shrunk (N1)

International:

• Montenegro’s Change in Power has the Region Worried (Balkan Insight)
• How Israel justifies sudden recognition of Kosovo that has riled Serbia (The Times of Israel)
• ‘Living Yugoslavia’: Past Identity Becomes Present Political Statement (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Dramatic warning and gloomy forecast of experts: facing ecology threats started... (B92, Tanjug)

• COVID-19: 76 new infections, six deaths (media)
• Hoti: Washington agreement, major step towards mutual recognition (media)
• Lajcak: High time to bring dialogue to successful end (media)
• Haradinaj-Stublla: Mutual recognition, a decade overdue (media)
• Palmer: U.S. sees no parallels between Kosovo and Republika Srpska (Koha)
• PM Hoti to visit Brussels again (media)
• EU official: Kosovo cannot apply for European Union membership (Koha)
• Haxhiu: Serbia recognises Kosovo when it gets association and resources (RTK)
• Selmanaj: AAK does not support LVV's no-confidence motion (Koha)
• Erdogan has separate telephone conversations with Thaci and Vucic (media)
• Dzaferovic: U.S. reminded that Kosovo's case has nothing to do with BiH (Sarajevo Times)
• Abazovic: I leave the government if derecognition of Kosovo is initiated (media)
• Russia welcomes Serbia, Kosovo economic normalization (Anadolu Agency)
• Trump’s Serbia-Kosovo Deal ‘Middle-Easternizes’ the Balkans (Balkan Insight)
• EC approves financial assistance to Kosovo (Zeri)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 76 new infections, six deaths (media)
• US to open office in Belgrade on implementing the White House Agreement (Express)
• Grenell Explains Significance of Kosovo-Serbia Agreement (Express)
• LVV criticizes again the Washington deal (RTK)
• New Montenegrin government: Kosovo’s independence undisputed (RTK)
• U.S. expert disappointed with Washington agreement (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Two cases of Covid-19 registered Serbian communities (Radio Mitrovica Sever)
• Lavrov says Moscow to support any agreement reached between Belgrade and Pristina voluntarily (RTS)
• Grenell: The goal of the Agreement is to set aside borders as much as possible (RTS)
• "The relocation of the Serbian embassy from Tel Aviv is not final, it all depends on one thing," says Vucic’s media advisor (TV Prva, B92, Tanjug)
• Serbian security services warned Vucic about point 10, says President’s media advisor (media)
• Djuric on iron friendship with Russia and China (KoSSev)
• Vucic tells Sarajevo daily he was polite and responsible at White House (N1, Dnevni Avaz)
• The director of US DFC announced the opening of an office in Belgrade (media, Twitter)
• Blakaj: KLA veterans must not use the received documents of the Special Court in any way (Kosovo Online)
• EPS didn’t use Gazivode to produce electricity (Politika)

Opinion:

• Webb: Serbia and Kosovo move forward ... with the help of the United States (thehill.com)

International:

• U.S. government's development finance institution to support Serbian SMEs (seenews.com)
• Israel’s Accord with Serbia and Kosovo Rattles EU but Fails to Rouse Arab Wrath(tntribune.com)
• Serbia won’t move embassy if Israel recognizes Kosovo (The Jerusalem Post)
• Hague Prosecutors ‘Take War Crime Case Files’ from Kosovo Veterans (Balkan Insight)
• Let’s finally talk about the final deal (European Western Balkans)
• Presidency member: US envoy said Kosovo status has nothing to do with Bosnia (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbia, Kosovo Must Commit to Credible Missing Persons Investigations (Balkan Insight)

• COVID-19: 97 new infections, no deaths (media)
• Kosovo PM Hoti meets NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg (media)
• In Brussels, PM Hoti meets Commissioner Varhelyi (media)
• “Another major deal! How President Trump brought Serbia and Kosovo together” (Express)
• LVV: Washington agreement in violation to Constitution of Kosovo (media)
• PDK welcomes Hoti’s reporting next week, LVV considers it is too late (RTK)
• “Mini-Schengen strengthens Serbia's influence over regional market” (Koha)
• Grenell: One thing is for sure, Albin Kurti is always against the United States (Express)
• Osmani speaks about cooperation with LVV (Kanal10)
• KLA association official publishes footage of man who ‘dropped off Specialist Court files’ (media)
• Specialist Chambers do not comment on whether they visited KLA associations (Koha)
• Member of Bosnia's presidency seeks a session for recognition of Kosovo (Klan)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 97 new infections, no deaths (media)
• 6.5 percent of Kosovo teachers to be randomly tested for COVID-19 (media)
• Hoti seeks to report to Assembly on Washington agreement (media)
• LVV: Kosovo delegation went to U.S. for recognition, brought shame and damage (media)
• AAK meets to discuss Washington agreement (media)
• Wilson: Agreement at White House, part of a broad historic process (RFE)
• Kosovo PM Hoti to meet NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg (media)
• Specialist Chamber investigators pay visit to KLA war veterans associations (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Gracanica: One case of Covid-10 registered yesterday (KIM radio)
• Stano on Kosovo's candidacy: European Union accepts only recognized states (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• US NSC applauds to Serbia's Vucic courageous respond to Russia's spokesperson (N1, Beta)
• A new "apple of discord" in the US - EU relations lies in the Washington Agreement (B92, Sputnik)
• Moscow finds details about Serbia's Vucic US visit bewildering, daily says (Beta, N1)
• Petronijevic: The story of the leak of 4,000 files, a blow to the Special Court's integrity and a threat to witnesses (Kosovo Online)
• Irinej: SOC will only support the agreement according to which Kosovo is part of Serbia (Nova.rs, Kontakt plus radio)
• Jevtic: Kosovo Serbs proud of Vucic and his advocacy of their interests in Washington and Brussels (Kosovo Online)
• Simic: Dialogue continuation is significant for stabilization of the situation on the ground (TV Most)

Opinion:

• Montenegro’s Election Victors Should Beware Kurti’s Fate in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
• On the crossroads between Serbia and Kosovo (israelhayom.com)
• Serbia's fmr president: Vucic's promise to move Tel Aviv embassy against UN & EU (FoNet, N1)

International:

• Kosovo’s Bosniaks, Struggling to Survive Between Albanians and Serbs (Balkan Insight)
• Peskov calls incident over Zakharova's Facebook comment about Serbian president misunderstanding (interfax.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Southeast European countries lead Europe in COVID-19 cases per 100k People (Balkan Insight)
• WHO Director: This is not the last pandemic, the world must be ready (B92, Reuters)