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UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 12, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Public health institute dispatches medical staff all over Kosovo (media)
• Minister wants strict measures against businesses that increase prices (media)
• Interior minister Veliu calls for closure of schools in north of Kosovo (media)
• CEC to consult President and Government regarding elections in Podujeve (Kallxo)
• Kosovo prisons freeze visits over coronavirus fears (Koha)
• PM Kurti meets EULEX chief, Wigemark (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: Schools in Serbian communities in Kosovo will not work from Monday (TV Most)
• All schools in the municipality of Gracanica working today (KIM radio)
• Gracanica: Police will start implementing the decision of the Government of Kosovo (KIM radio)
• Head of WHO office in Belgrade: Serbia is doing what it takes (BETA, B92)
• Goran Rakic, Milena Popovic suggested as witnesses in Milan Radoicic defamation lawsuit against Rada Trajkovic (KoSSev)
• Rakocevic: UN SC Resolution 1244 would be most realistic offer for normalization of relations (Kosovo-online, RTV Puls)

International:

• Is the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue really reaching and historic moment? (K2.0)
• MPs discuss Kosovo-US relations (Prishtina Insight)
• EU or US: Who's in charge of Kosovo-Serbia talks? (Euobserver)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Further measures taken by Kosovo Govt to tackle coronavirus pandemic (Prishtina Insight)
• Serbia closes some border crossings with regional countries (N1)
• Hungary declared a state of emergency (B92, Tanjug)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 12

• Kosovo MPs discuss relations with the U.S. (media)
• In a Facebook post, Thaci calls Kurti ‘coward’ and ‘devilish’ (media)
• Osmani: Tariff and president to be removed simultaneously (KP/Telegrafi)
• Government adopts 11 preventive measures from coronavirus (media)
• Kurti speaks after government’s preventive steps against coronavirus (media)
• NATO remains committed to mission in Kosovo (Gazeta Express)
• Kosovo Government opposes Lajcak’s appointment (media)
• State Department: Corrupt officials in Kosovo are not punished (Epoka)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 11, 2020

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 11, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Thaci: Statements about withdrawal of US troops, serious messages (media)
• Haradinaj calls leaders to meet: Let's unite on important topics (media)
• Haxhiu: Kosovo will never damage relations with U.S. (media)
• KFOR commander: KSF needs permission to go to the north, police don’t (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• “Vucic goes to Berlin to reiterate his clear position to Chancellor Merkel” (Novosti, Tanjug, B92)
• Dacic requests urgent and unconditional revocation of tariffs (N1)
• Confirmed for B92.net: Vucic canceled all SNS election rallies (media)
• Dacic: We continue work on retracting recognitions of Kosovo (Dnevnik, FoNet)
• Djukanovic: United States resolved to unblock Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (RTS)

International:

• Donald Trump Junior Urges US Troop Withdrawal from Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo government approves delayed 2020 budget (Reuters)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kurti: Fighting poverty and inequality remains a priority on which we must work together
• Remarks of SRSG Zahir Tanin at UNKT Strategic Prioritisation Retreat
• Balkan Countries Tighten Security as Coronavirus Cases Surge (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Prosecutors Accuse Serbian Company of Wrecking Medieval Fortress (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 11

• Thaci calls on government to accept U.S. requests: Clashes are dangerous (media)
• Kurti: Differences of opinions should not become contradictions (Koha)
• Isa Mustafa: I have sent an envoy to meet Grenell (media)
• Veseli to Kurti: You triggered most dangerous debate in Kosovo-US relations (media)
• Trump Jr: There are 650 troops in Kosovo. Time to bring them home (media)
• PM Kurti meets Franco-German delegation (Zeri)
• Haradinaj meets Veseli, Limaj; discuss plans for a “Unity Conference” (media)
• Kosovo government approves €10 million action plan to face coronavirus (media)
• Ministry: Kosovo schools to remain open until further notice (media)
• Pristina municipality takes first preventive measures against coronavirus (Telegrafi)
• Serbian man wanted for war crimes arrested in Budapest (Koha)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 10, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Thaci: Disappointing that envoys made no mention of visa liberalisation (media)
• Senator warns of U.S. reconsidering its presence in Kosovo (media)
• Kurti does not deny U.S. sanctions, says he hasn’t verified the news (Express)
• Osmani: Only the government has legitimacy to lead dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Kosovo government approves draft budget for 2020 (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• "Albanians oppose compromise, Serbs promote frozen conflict. There's no solution" (Tanjug, B92)
• Covic on blockade of US funds to Pristina – a storm in a teacup (RTS)
• Bajrami: The greater challenge for Kurti’s government is its lack of unity, not Thaci’s plans (KoSSev)
• Stanojkovic: Kurti will yield, but slowly, and this will cost Kosovo a lot (KoSSev)
• Abbot Janjic and COMKFOR Risi on situation and protection of SOC shrines (KoSSev)
• Urgent measures of the Government of Serbia adopted due to the coronavirus (B92, Tanjug)
• Jevtic: Continuation of dialogue, dropping tariffs have no alternative (Radio KIM)
• Brnabic: Clear policy of US, I wish if EU would be clearer (RTS)

Opinion:

• Crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean: hybrid warfare, the Balkans and the Near East (opendemocracy.net)
• A call to tear down the walls of bureaucracy (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Policy Rift Widens Between Kosovo President and PM (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Six new suspected coronavirus cases in Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo steps up measures to prevent coronavirus spread (Prishtina Insight)
• Four cases of coronavirus in Serbia, opposition demands state of emergency (N1)
• Vucic: Temporary ban can be imposed on those entering the country from affected areas (Tanjug, B92)
• Kosovo War Rape Survivor Condemns Stigmatisation of Victims (Balkan Insight)
• Balkan Countries Fear EU Green Deal Could Leave Them Further Behind (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 10

• Thaci holds news conference after meeting political leaders (media)
• DPM Abazi: Prime Minister Kurti reports only to the Assembly (media)
• Kosovo leaders to meet Franco-German delegation (media)
• Thaci: Lajcak, the most untrustworthy person to lead dialogue (Zeri)
• Opposition parties launch motion against Minister Reka (media)
• Kosovo Gov’t asked for €10 mil for coronavirus preventive measures (Koha)
• Thaci calls for preventive measures against coronavirus infections (Kallxo)
• 7 people infected with coronavirus in North Macedonia, six in Albania (media)
• Rukiqi calls for emergency measures against coronavirus (Telegrafi)
• WHO Director-General: Threat of pandemic has become very real (media)
• “Kosovo society to be ashamed of treatment of sexual violence survivors” (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 9, 2020

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 09, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Without punishment of war crimes, there can be no justice (Koha/Zeri)
• Kurti doesn't attend meeting with Thaci (Koha)
• Thaci thanks LDK for constructivity (media)
• Haradinaj: Thaci showed no document from his meeting with Vucic (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic on Kurti’s text that agreements reached through coercion and threats have no value, compares it with Kosovo case (Tanjug, B92)
• Jeremic on Kosovo membership in UN, elections in Serbia (Voice of America, N1)
• Mihajlovic: Jeremic spreads misinformation (Danas)
• Vucic: "US won't give up pressure, some EU countries have sympathies for Kurti" (RTS, Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Double-headed eagle painted on wall of Serb school in Preoce village (RTS)

Opinion:

• Kurti: Agreements reached through coercion and threats have no value (FAZ/Koha)

International:

• Facebook Extends Political Ads Rules to Balkans Before Elections (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo considering stepping up preventive measures against coronavirus (media)
• International Women’s Day Marked Across Balkans (Balkan Insight)
• More Balkan Countries Confirm First Coronavirus Cases (Balkan Insight)
• Balkan States Beef up Borders against Migrant ‘Security Threat’ (Balkan Insight)
• Post-War Kosovo Becomes Hub for Mine-Clearance Expertise (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 9

• Thaci calls meetings with political leaders (media)
• Thaci: Some people want to prevent agreement with Serbia (RTK)
• Grenell reiterates call for dropping of tariff (media)
• Kurti and Haradinaj call for dialogue coordination (Koha Ditore)
• Hoti: No need for dialogue conference, Kosovo has legitimate institutions (media)
• Gender equality demanded on International Women’s Day (Koha Ditore)
• Assembly to hold special session to mark International Women's Day (media)
• Haxhiu pledges €900,000 for domestic violence shelters (Kosovapress/Koha)
• Kosovo cancels flights to Italy’s northern region due to coronavirus fears (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 7

• Kurti-led government with two red lines on dialogue with Serbia (Koha)
• Mustafa: Grenell warned of sanctions towards Kosovo (RTV21/RTK)
• Haradinaj: Government’s approach to tax producing first consequences (media)
• Kosovo calls for release of its citizen detained by Serbia (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 06, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Vraniqi: Grenell being misused for internal political purposes in Kosovo (media)
• Thaci authorises Ministry of Finance to sign new agreements with EU (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo Special Prosecution launched investigation into Prekaz events in 1998 (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Atlantic Council associate and Beacon vice president: "The campaign in the US should not diminish the interest in the situation in the Balkans" (RTS)
• AmCham Kosovo concerned over tariffs (KoSSev, N1, RTS)
• US asks Serbia to stop buying arms from Russia, RFE reports (N1, B92, Beta)
• Dacic, Godfrey on armament Serbia bought from Russia, dialogue with Pristina (N1)
• Vulin said Serbia can buy weapons wherever it wants (N1)
• "Access point to the sea, this is a compromise offered to Serbia" (B92, Kosovo-online)
• Grenell denies Kosovo politician’s claim Washington won’t stop aiding Pristina (KoSSev, N1, RTS)
• Tadic: Vucic has better circumstances for resolving Kosovo issue, than those Djindjic, Kostunica and I had (Danas, Voice of America)

Humanitarian/Development

• Serbian Minister confirms first coronavirus case in Serbia (Serbian media)
• 53 people got tested for coronavirus over a one-month period in Kosovo (media)
• Serbian government meeting on migrants began; Vucic issued orders to the army, police and BIA (B92, TV Prva, Blic, Vecernje Novosti)
• Prof. Corac: 160 million tons of waste from Kosovo will end up in artificial lake on Ibar River near Raska (KoSSev)