UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 29, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• LDK signs governing coalition agreement with AAK (RTK)
• Thaci another letter to Mustafa, wants name of PM candidate (Indeksonline)
• Veseli: PDK MPs won’t vote a govt of fraud, elections after pandemic (media)
• BiEPAG: Western Balkans in Times of the Global Pandemic (Koha)
• Behgjet Pacolli is still in Tirana (RTK)
• 2018 report: Amnesty for war crimes could be part of Kosovo-Serbia agreement (Koha)
• Hyseni: The matter of the new government to conclude soon (Klan, RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• NGOs and Media: Responsible institutions to protect human rights (Kosovo Online, KIM Radio, Kontakt plus radio)
• US Ambassador to Serbia: Return to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is important to Washington (Kontakt plus radio, N1)
• Djuric: We disagree on status, but we can't beat the virus without cooperation (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• US Embassy in Pristina: Violence against minorities should be investigated and prosecuted (Kosovo-online)
• Jevtic: Violence against Serb properties must end immediately (Kosovo-online)
• Office for KiM: Burning down of family house in Cernica latest in series of attacks against Serb properties in Kosovo (TV Most)
• One person infected and five more cured of Covid-19 in Kosovo north (Kontakt plus radio)
• KP classified assault on RTV Puls owner case as minor bodily harm and destruction of property (KoSSev)
• EU - WB draft declaration: Close cooperation after crisis (N1)

Opinion:

• Collective amnesia for an elusive normalisation of relations (Prishtina Insight)
• Surroi: The clash between two majorities (Koha)

International:

• Ian Bancroft: With North Kosovo the Only Obstacle is in Your Mind (Kosovo 2.0)
• Recession Looms for Western Balkans as Countries Respond to COVID-19 (miragenews.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Number of confirmed coronavirus cases drops (Prishtina Insight)

• Ten new cases of COVID-19, 31 recovered (media)
• Kurti: Tremendous progress against COVID-19, but we must not relax (media)
• Vitia: Relaxation of measures to be announced in coming days (RTK)
• Caretaker PM Kurti’s interview to Euronews Albania
• Mustafa: We have votes to form new government (media)
• By not making the letter for PM candidate public, Thaci is impeding the matter to reach the Constitutional Court (Koha)
• Hoti: Agreement expected tomorrow, AKR too will be part of govt (EO)
• Sources: Pacolli is in Prishtina, joins talk for government formation (Lajmi)
• Vitia speaks about Pacolli's return to Kosovo (media)
• EULEX chief slams Pacolli's claims on quarantine measures (Kallxo)

Albanian Language Media:

• LDK's Gashi: We have 64 votes for new government (Koha)
• Mustafa to present the new government to LDK MPs (media)
• Thaci: No peace without justice for crimes Serbia committed in Kosovo (media)
• Ahmeti: Schools will not reopen on May 4 (media)
• Specialist Prosecutor initiates additional proceedings (Koha)
• Pacolli: Government preventing my return to Kosovo in 'primitive, dictatorial' way (media)
• Ministry of Health: Public health measures applied to everyone equally (media)
• VV's Abrashi says Pacolli's request is arrogant (media)
• Three KFOR soldiers from Slovenia infected with coronavirus (RTK)
• Association of Journalists condemns attack on Nenad Milenkovic (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Open hunting season: Are journalists the only problem? (KIM radio)
• A house set on fire in the village of Cernica in Gnjilane municipality (Kosovo Online, B92, Tanjug)
• Jevtic requests from Kosovo minister, officials protection for Serbs and their properties (Kosovo-online)
• Two new cases of Covid-19 infection, two deaths registered in northern Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• EU lifts restrictions on medical exports to Western Balkans (N1)
• The owner of RTV Puls attacked in front of North Mitrovica municipality building (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM, Spric condemn physical assault against RTV Puls owner (KoSSev)
• Journalists’ associations, TV Mreza condemn attack on RTV Puls director (Radio KIM)
• OSCE Mission requests swift investigation into arson of Serb house in Novake village (Radio KIM)
• Djuric: ''KFOR will not allow Pristina to invade northern Kosovo'' (Kosovo Online, TV Pink)

Opinion:

• Kosovo was not adequately prepared for the pandemic (EWB)
• Robelli: A barbary of barons (Koha)
• Serbia practices its four-pillar foreign policy in the coronavirus era (intellinews.org)

International:

• Kosovo Court in Another Step Toward Indicting War Suspects (AP/NYT)
• EU Pledges to Continue Search for Kosovo’s War Missing (AP/NYT)

Humanitarian/Development:

• EU in Kosovo and CoE Office call for strong efforts to guarantee safe access to education
• EU Plans New Package To Help Balkans Through Coronavirus Crisis (RFE)
• European Commission aware of air pollution in Western Balkans (N1)
• Media literacy project – A guide to the news you release into your world! (KoSSev)

• 35 recovered and 17 new cases with COVID-19 (media)
• EC President von der Leyen writes to acting PM Kurti (media)
• PM’s Office will address Venice Commission on Thaci’s letter (Lajmi)
• Kurti expresses concern over Thaci’s steps (media)
• Mustafa: Talks for new coalition are going well (Express)
• Haziri: You cannot impose ministerial names to LDK (Klan)
• LDK MP speaks about distribution of ministries (RTK)
• Thaci: Serbia committed genocide in Kosovo (media)
• Haxhiu says remarks on war crimes amnesty were misinterpreted (Telegrafi)
• OSCE condemns attack on journalist in Mitrovica North (Kallxo)
• PDK MP receives death threat (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 27, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Govt overthrown ‘because we were ending state capture’ (Prishtina Insight)
• Veseli: Serbia must answer for its crimes before an international tribunal (media)
• Osmani: Serbia is not ready for peace (media)
• Haxhiu: Thaci must publish letter for PM candidate to LDK (media)
• “War crimes are not pardoned; they need to be tried and condemned” (media)
• Health Institute: Stop pressure on us, we cannot test everyone at once (media)
• “All data show increase of cases of domestic violence” (Radio Free Europe)

Serbian Language Media:

• North Kosovo: Five new cases diagnosed with Covid-19 (Kontakt plus radio)
• Incidents affecting Serb community in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Trifunovic: 23 years we live in darkness, looking for truth about missing persons (Kosovo-online)
• Blakaj: Attacks on Gashi are wrong, we must acknowledge all victims regardless of nationality (Kosovo Online)
• YIHR and HLC Kosovo condemn criticism and protests over Gashi’s statement (KoSSev)
• Elections in Serbia in July? (media)
• UN SG Gutteres calls Belgrade, Pristina to continue dialogue (BETA, N1)
• Dacic tells UN Security Council Pristina not ready to continue dialogue (BETA, N1)
• Opposition leader calls Serbian Government to revoke holiday curfew decision (BETA, N1)

Opinion:

• Why we should be worried about the fall of Kosovo’s government? (EWB)

International:

• Kosovo PM Sacks Adviser for Criticising Wartime Guerrillas (Balkan Insight)
• Kurti Will Not Oppose Protests Against New Govt in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Domestic violence cases on increase compared to last year (KoSSev)
• Vucic discusses pandemic fallout with EBRD President (FoNet, N1)

• Covid-19: 32 new cases confirmed, total number 767 (media)
• Four KFOR members evacuated after testing positive for Covid-19 (Kallxo)
• Vitia: We will decide on new measures on 30 April (T7/Telegrafi)
• President's decree can only be challenged when a non-winning party is mandated (Koha)
• Kurti: Missing persons, the first thing to be discussed in dialogue (media)
• Muhaxheri: Formation of new government is close (RTK)
• Selmanaj says coalition government to be voted this week (media)
• Pacolli: We are not interested to be part of any government (Lajmi.net)
• Kurti dismisses his advisor, Shkelzen Gashi (media)
• Visa liberalisation – injustice that will not be corrected soon (media)

• Covid-19: 34 new cases confirmed, total number 703 (media)
• UN Security Council discusses situation in Kosovo (media)
• Kurti discusses Covid-19, political situation with U.S. Congressman Engel (media)
• LDK general council endorses Hoti's candidacy for PM (Koha)
• Kurti says LVV is not behind initiative for protests in May (Telegrafi)
• Gashi: I did not say KLA committed crimes but some of its members (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Thaci sends official request for PM candidate to Mustafa (media)
• Isa Mustafa refuses to be PM candidate (Ekonomia Online)
• Hoti as PM candidate: We will fight pandemic, govt will lead the dialogue (media)
• Bislimi: If Thaci violates Constitution, he will be dismissed (Indeksonline)
• UNICEF, USAID deliver hygiene packages to families in need (media)
• Civil society associations urge citizens to pay tribute to missing persons (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: "If anyone thinks it's time for someone to physically take away Valac and Gazivode, I beg them not to" (B92, Tanjug)
• Serb National Forum: What happened with “we will not give Gazivode away”? (KoSSev)
• Three new cases of Covid-19 infection in north, four persons have recovered (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: ''We’re paying for a lot of things in KiM, not because all perform their duties, but we want to strengthen the
healthcare system there'' (KoSSev)
• Kurti accepts Rasic's resignation (RTK2)
• “Movement ban to be harmonized with working hours of institutions” (Radio KIM)
• Harassment of journalists and lawyer, their vehicles photographed (Radio KIM)
• Journalists’ associations request police to determine who harassed journalists in Kuzmin (Radio KIM)
• 21st anniversary of the NATO bombing of Radio Television of Serbia (RTS, B92, N1)
• 22 years ago first massive kidnappings of Serbs in Kosovo started (Kosovo-online)
• Cadez, Palmer discuss regional economic integration after pandemic (Beta, N1)
• Vucic announces curfew for weekend from Friday to Monday (B92)

Opinion:

• Let Bill Clinton's failed Kosovo strategy wither amid the COVID-19 pandemic (The Washington Times)
• Trump’s Political Survival Will Shape the Western Balkans (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo Closer to Getting new LDK-AAK Government (Balkan Insight)
• Thaci offers govt mandate to ‘whoever can command majority’ (Prishtina Insight)
• Kosovo, political crisis in times of coronavirus (Osservatorio)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Pandemic measures further complicate problems with human rights in the Western Balkans (EWB)
• Pandemic-Era Online Schooling Exposes Big Balkan Disparities (Balkan Insight)

• Covid-19: 26 new cases confirmed, ten recoveries (media)
• President Thaci offers mandate to whoever can secure majority (media)
• Kurti: We will send President to Constitutional Court (media)
• Kurti to Thaci: We have not yet replied to request for proposing PM candidate (Telegrafi)
• Osmani: Thaci cannot speak on my behalf (media)
• Abazi: Thaci is using Mustafa to divide LDK (media)
• Haziri: Osmani's post not undermined despite new circumstances (Telegrafi)
• Hasani: President trying to command political will in unconstitutional fashion (RFE)
• Haradinaj will ask his party to give one ministry to PSD (Indeksonline)
• Krasniqi: Kurti has no right to enter Assembly anymore (TV Dukagjini)
• Serbian List against new elections (RTK)
• EP rapporteur slams Thaci's decision for new government (media)
• Lajcak thanks regional leaders for supporting dialogue (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 22, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• Thaci: LVV has not proposed candidate for PM (Koha)
• EC proposes €3 billion aid package for the region, Kosovo to get 100 million (media)
• LDK, AAK leaders meet to discuss new government formation (media)
• Ahmeti: A functioning govt, broad consensus in time of pandemics (Indeksonline)
• Kosnett: Corruption made many young people go to Syria (RTK)
• 58 patients at Infectious Disease Clinic (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• One new case of Covid-19 infection in northern Kosovo, six persons healed (Kosovo-online)
• CoE Human Rights commissioner warns of state of human rights in Europe (N1)
• Office for KiM: Pandemic must not be reason to spread propaganda and lies (Kosovo-online)
• "No end in sight to instability in Kosovo, even the relationship among Albanians deteriorated'' (RTS, B92, RTV Puls, KIM radio)
• Covic: Serbia to maintain active approach and not rush with solution for Kosovo (Prva TV, Kosovo-online)
• Reporters Without Borders: Serbia drops to 93rd, Kosovo moves up to 70th place (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Danas: Kosovo equation with many unknowns

Humanitarian/Development:

• NGO calls on mayors to assist communities in distance learning courses (Telegrafi)
• Balkan Countries Start to Lift Some Coronavirus Restrictions (Balkan Insight)