UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 31, 2019

Albanian Language Media:

• Hoxhaj to Guterres: Kosovo should become UN member (RTK)
• CEC: Diaspora ballot count not expected to begin today (Kosovapress)
• Daka after Supreme Court decision: We are obliged to count ballots (Telegrafi)
• Rule of law, main topic of today's LVV-LDK meeting (Telegrafi)
• EULEX: Kosovo did not ask us to be involved on Astrit Dehari’s autopsy (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• UNSC on Kosovo today, Belgrade will indicate the real situation on the field (RTS)
• Russian Ambassador Botsan-Kharchenko: Kosovo should be the main focus of the UN Security Council (Tanjug, TV Most, TASS)
• Odalovic: What Kurti advocates for moves us away from dialogue (Danas)
• In case of EU accession plan failure, Serbia has a "plan B" (Tanjug, Kurir, B92)
• Bregu: EU in deep crisis, region to connect and focus on reforms (BETA, N1)
• Joksimovic: Serbia was first to start EU accession under new rules (N1)
• Vucic: Peace, stability and cooperation in the region are Serbia's priorities (Tanjug, B92)
• Fajon: Continuation of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia EU priority (RTK2, Tanjug)
• British policy in Western Balkans unchanged, UK ambassador in Belgrade says (BETA, N1)

Opinions:

• Macron is Gambling Away EU Influence in Balkans (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Serbia Vows to Adopt New NATO Plan Soon (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian and Development:

• NGOs call for halt to hydropower (Prishtina Insight)

• Guterres: Long break in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue halted progress (media)
• Supreme Court orders CEC to count Diaspora ballots (media)
• Daka: There could be a total recount of votes (media)
• ECAP rejects NISMA's complaint regarding ballots from Serbia (media)
• Kurti and Osmani meet and discuss new government (media)
• Hoti: We agreed with LVV only on Prime Minister’s post (KTV)
• Kurti: Economic development that employs and integrates all (RTK)
• Djuric: Kurti to say publicly he doesn’t want to meet obligations for Serbs (Klan)
• “Idea of Presevo Valley’s unification with Kosovo is not dead” (RTK/Bota Sot)
• Astrit Dehari’s case to be investigated by Special Prosecution (media)
• EC and Kosovo sign agreement on fighting terrorism (media)
• Police special units launch operation in Mitrovica South and other locations (Indeksonline)

Albanian Language Media:

ECAP issues decision in NISMA's complaint regarding ballots from Serbia (Indeksonline)
Astrit Dehari’s case to be investigated by Special Prosecution (media)
Family's attorney reacts to Astrit Dehari’s case being transferred to Special Prosecution (media)
EU HR Mogherini meets Western Balkans leaders (media)
Bislimi: Agreement on President can only be reached between Kurti and Mustafa (Express)
Kosovo Police with a statement on assault at Svirce village (media)

Serbian Language Media:

UN Security Council session on Kosovo takes place tomorrow (Tanjug, B92)
Vucic: Our strategic path is the path to the EU (B92, Tanjug)
Western Balkans remains devoted to EU perspective, regrets for Macedonia and Albania (Tanjug, B92)
Serwer: Pristina will be under pressure to reach an agreement with Belgrade (N1)
Skopje: Kosovo deal on border change acceptable only as “unique case” (Beta, Al Jazeera, N1)
EP rapporteur Bilcik says Serbia’s path to EU depends on reforms and Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Beta, N1, Blic)
“KLA” graffiti in Babin Most village, Srpska Lista reacts (RTS, Radio KIM)
Civil society: Results weak; No expectations (KIM radio, Kontakt plus radio)
Dacic on Bytyqi brothers’ case: Congress resolution sort of pressure (RTS, KoSSev)
Pacolli: Foreign Affairs Ministry has nothing to do with entry ban to Dusica Nikolic (KoSSev)
Serbian MFA employees in a two-day visit to Kosovo (KIM radio)

Opinions:

Why Serbia Won’t Stop Playing the Russia Card Any Time Soon (The Moscow Times)
The Neue Zürcher Zeitung claims: The West loses in the Balkans (DW, B92)

International:

EU Must Be Clearer With Balkans If It Wants To Expand (Forbes)
Serbia Must ‘Deliver Substantive Reforms’ Before Joining EU (Balkan Insight)
Civil society needs support to fight corruption and organised crime in the Western Balkans (blogs.lse.ac.uk)

Humanitarian and Development:

British Embassy launches project for strengthening justice system in Kosovo (media)
CoE standards of freedom of expression promoted and supported in Kosovo (CoE)

• Vetevendosje appeals ECAP decision on Diaspora ballots (media)
• Kurti: SL not a party, Kosovo Serbs to stop fearing Belgrade (Bota Sot, RTK)
• Haziri: Post of president needs to be clarified before coalition with LVV (Telegrafi)
• Hoti: LDK-LVV agreement, immediately after certification of elections (Epoka)
• Kim: Border changes not a useful option (Telegrafi)
• Pendarovski: In principle, I am against border shift idea (Zeri)
• Serwer: Pristina and Tirana to forget “Great Albania” idea (Zeri)
• Presevo Valley insists on reciprocity with the rights of Kosovo Serbs (RFE, Epoka)
• Cakaj: Joint platform, with Kosovo on dialogue with Serbia (Klan)
• Djuric’s deputy not allowed entry to Kosovo (RTK)
• Civil society calls for halt in construction of hydropower plants (media)
• Pacolli fills embassies with militants and brings back experienced diplomats (Koha)
• Pal Lekaj hid report that would save €39 million from state budget (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

Vetevendosje appeals ECAP decision on Diaspora ballots (media)
Certification of election results, focus of Thaci-Daka meeting (media)
Mustafa confirms Haziri’s role in talks, but not as chief negotiator (Express)
Thaci: Proud of Kosovo army (media)
U.S. expert: Grenell cannot find solution for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue earlier than spring 2010 (Express, VoA)
France: No visa liberalisation for Kosovo until all conditions are met (Express)
“Any internationally-guaranteed Kosovo-Serbia deal is acceptable” (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Heritage Foundation expert says US should be cautious with Serbia over Kosovo (N1, Beta)
US Senate idea: To solve BiH and Kosovo in ''a package'' (Kosovo Online, Sputnik)
EU "launches" a new plan for Serbia: Forget membership? (Vecernje Novosti, B92, Kosovo Online)
Detention of 28 persons arrested in Kosovo north extended, Office for KiM reacts (Radio KIM)
CEPS warn of 'captured state' phenomenon in Serbia and Montenegro (BETA, N1)
Rationale of the Central African Republic (CAR) on revoking recognition of Kosovo (B92, Sputnik)

Opinions

Robelli: A justice-loving state or a region of thugs? (Koha Ditore)

International:
Indictments Loom as Questioning of Kosovo Ex-Guerrillas Intensifies (Balkan Insight)
Kosovo Town Files More War Crimes Complaints Against Serbs (Balkan Insight)
Former EU top diplomat becomes security lobbyist (EU Observer)

Humanitarian and Development:

Petition initiated against environmental degradation from hydropower plants (media)
EU to grant 76 mln euro to curb pollution from Kosovo power plant - KEK (SeeNews)

• VV, LDK working groups discuss economy, “agree on 90% of topics” (media)
• ECAP rejects LVV's request to count Diaspora ballots (media)
• Kosnett calls for swift formation of new government (media)
• Vetevendosje deputy leader Glauk Konjufca’s interview to TV Dukagjini
• Haziri appointed LDK chief negotiator for talks with Vetevendosje (media)
• Vetevendosje leader Kurti meets UN Development Coordinator Richardson (Zeri)
• Vetevendosje leader Kurti meets PDTK leader Yagcilar (media)
• PDK, AAK undetermined on possible involvement in dialogue with Serbia (RFE)
• Mogherini to meet Western Balkans leaders (Koha)
• Meta: Final Kosovo-Serbia agreement to be sustainable (Telegrafi)
• 102 additional criminal charges for Serbs suspected for war crimes (RTK)
• Dacic refuses to stop campaign against Kosovo’s recognition (Zeri)
• Dacic: UNSC session on Kosovo to be held on October 31 (RTK)
• “Agreement is impossible if Albanians allowed to dream ‘Greater Albania’” (Klan)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 28, 2019

Albanian Language Media:

• Bugajski speaks about Kosovo-Serbia dialogue at U.S. Senate committee (Zeri)
• Kurti urges for discussion on reparations in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Prishtina Insight)
• Gucati: Kurti should keep his promise, abolish Special Chambers (RTK)
• 102 additional criminal charges for Serbs suspected for war crimes (RTK)
• Kosovo statistics agency ready for population census in 2021 (KP/Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• The Security Council on Kosovo on Thursday, despite Pristina's opposition (RTS, Tanjug, FoNet, N1)
• Dacic: Still no news if Kosovo requested membership in UNESCO again (Tanjug)
• Kocijancic: Pristina to revoke tariffs, Belgrade to enable conducive environment for talks (FoNet, N1)
• Basketball players from central Serbia banned to enter Kosovo in Brnjak (Radio KIM)
• Families of the missing persons in Kosovo: Last chance for the truth (RTS)
• Grubjesic: No reconsideration of previous agreements, should be a Brussels message (RTS)
• Medvedev: Free trade agreement to help Serbia’s exports (FoNet, N1)

International:

• NATO 'Respects' Serbia's Joint Military Drills With Russia (RFE)
• Kosovo Activist’s Lawyer: Swiss Experts Deprived of Evidence (Balkan Insight)
• France is pushing the E.U. toward strategic disaster (Washington Post)
• Serbia’s Attitude to Kosovo ‘is Damaging Kosovo Serbs’ (Balkan Insight)
• Putting Kosovo on EU’s map: A short (and easy) guide for the new government (European Western Balkans)

Humanitarian and Development:

• Taking the stone from the Earth (Prishtina Insight)

• ECAP to decide today on Diaspora votes (media)
• VV-LDK continue coalition negotiations (Kosovapress)
• Kurti: There will be no obstacle that will not be overcome with LDK (RTK)
• “There is no obstacle on establishing new government” (Epoka e Re)
• Kurti: There will be talks with Serbia but under clear guidelines (Zeri/Epoka)
• UK wants to postpone UN Security Council session on Kosovo (Klan Kosova)
• Palmer to visit Kosovo this week? (Gazeta Sinjali/Klan Kosova)
• "Kosovo to lift tax, Serbia to ensure favourable climate for talks" (Indeksonline)
• Dacic says independence of Kosovo is “dead” (Lajmi/Zeri)
• Ramadani: Russia and Serbia are threatening Balkans (Epoka e Re)
• Protest in New York will demand justice for sexual violence victims (RTV21/Kallxo)

• CEC: Announcement of final results depends on ECAP (RTK)
• Vetevendosje leader Kurti meets Albanian PM Rama in Tirana (KP/Koha)
• Thaci: Peace in region depends on peace between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Kurti: Agreements with Serbia need to be reviewed (EO/Koha)
• Osmani: LDK, VV will not discuss land swap with Serbia (VOA/Klan)
• Serbian List: Joining Kosovo government not a priority (Zeri)
• German Ambassador Heldt’s interview to Gazeta Express

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Justice for Astrit has no alternative (media)
GLPS calls for investigations of state officials in Dehari case (media)
Johnson: Kosovo and Serbia requested greater engagement of the U.S. (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: The world hasn't seen such political liars (Tanjug, B92)
“Information on closure of Serb pharmacies in North inaccurate” (KoSSev, RTK2)
New US ambassador to Serbia presents letters of accreditation (Beta, N1)
Arrested Nenad Arsic from Caglavica says he is not guilty, denies involvement in criminal acts (Gracanica online)
Serbian List: Prosecutor Syle Hoxha is not working according to the law, accusing the Serbs without evidence (Kosovo Online, TV Most)
Djuric: Desperate attempts of Jeremic to spoil relations between Serbia and Russian Federation (Tanjug)
Popovic more concerned with the silence of the international community (Kosovo Online)
Serbian President says Russian anti-aircraft systems in Serbia for exercise (FoNet, N1)
Süddeutsche Zeitung: No hope in EU future, Balkans face return of conflicts (N1, DW)

International:

Talking Kurti and Dialogue With Everyday Serbs (K2.0)
Testimony by Deputy Assistant Secretary and Special Representative for the Western Balkans Matthew Palmer (foreign.senate.gov)
Kosovo prosecutors to reopen probe into activist’s death (AP/WAPO)
Kosovo Activist’s Family Say Swiss Report Confirms His Murder (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian and Development:

Fate of missing persons, a grave wound for Kosovo (RTK)
18 women associations win grants from EU and Austrian government (Koha)
Learning local languages through education institutions in Kosovo (Radio kontakt plus, RTK2, Radio Kosovo 2)