UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 29, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Hovenier urges enforcement of cash operations regulation be postponed (media)
• EU calls on Kosovo to resolve issue of Serbian Dinar through dialogue (Klan)
• Mustafa against talks in Brussels about use of Dinar in Kosovo (Gazeta Blic)
• EU confirms Lajcak visit to Pristina, “dialogue a key topic” (Reporteri)
• Kurti: Kosovo neither forgives nor forgets Serbia’s crimes (Albanian Post)
• Kosovo and Türkiye sign military framework agreement (media)
• Kastrati: PDK aims to be the leading party in the next elections (media)
• AAK calls for extraordinary assembly session on healthcare (Lajmi)
• Parallel municipalities that operated illegally in Dragash closed (media)
• Kosovo buses pelted with stones while traveling through Serbia (Indeksonline)
• Police confiscate 3 hunting rifles, 3 radios and 2 knives in Leposavic (media)
• Daughter of Serbian opposition politician pays homage in Prekaz (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic meets Lajcak, says it is necessary to establish ZSO, hold elections in northern Kosovo (RTS)
• Petkovic: During meeting with Lajcak, Vucic emphasized difficult position of Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• SNV: “Hold on a bit Mr. Kurti, put portraits of Djokovic and Krivokapic back, those of Vucic and Djuric we leave to you” (KoSSev)
• Vorgucic about Kurti: If someone speaks Serbian and beats you at the same time, it doesn't mean much to us (N1)
• What happened to the tent in Leposavic? (KoSSev)
• Endangered cultural and historical monuments in Kosovo: Barbed wire does not protect against political games (KoSSev, Insajder, KiM radio)
• Spahiu on banned official visits (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Time is the Enemy for Kosovo’s New War Crimes Institute (BIRN)
• Sandulovic’s daughter on being stopped by Serbian agents (Euronews Albania)
• Bilčik: The problems of Serbia’s elections can never be resolved inside the EU institutions (EWB)
• Talat Xhaferi, Taboo-Breaker who Became North Macedonia’s First Albanian PM (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Quint embassies statement on recent regulation of Kosovo Central Bank (media)
• Lajcak to visit Serbia today, Kosovo tomorrow (RTK)
• Xhaferi elected head of caretaker government in North Macedonia (media)
• Bauer: Not enough to expect EU and NATO to do everything in Balkans (Lajmi)
• Car of president of Leposavic municipal assembly set on fire (RFE)
• Lajcak: Busy week in Brussels (media)
• Lajcak meets Von Cramon, discuss developments in Kosovo and region (media)
• Kosovo leaders’ messages on Holocaust Remembrance Day (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic to meet Lajcak (media)
• Quint calls for suspension of CBK regulation due to concern over its impact on K. Serb community (KoSSev)
• Mijacic: A strong message would be for the Central European Bank to prohibit the euro in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, KoSSev, N1)
• KP suspects arson after Leposavic MA president’s car partially torched (KoSSev)
• In Ljubozda returnee village seven houses robbed since the beginning of the year (Kosovo Online)
• Vasic: Milosavljevic and Zaric’s unfounded detention a clear message to all Serbs who want to return to Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Jevtic: Attacks on Serbian returnees are a result of the policy of the regime in Pristina (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• Czech minister: Kosovo’s political scene united on nationalism (N1, Beta, KoSSev)
• Kurti: No former Kosovo PM maintained dialogue with Serbia as much as I do (Beta, N1)
International Media:
• North Macedonia's Parliament Elects First Ethnic Albanian PM (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Belgrade’s destructiveness must not translate into slower EU integration for Kosovo (EO)
• Bislimi: We sent Banjska report to EU; let prosecution publish it (Albanian Post)
• After Oct 26, Kurti didn’t ask for additional discussions on Association or send comments to Brussels (Express)
• Stoltenberg: Fragile situation, with potential tensions in Kosovo, Bosnia (RFE)
• Who wants early elections? (RFE)
• 374 businesses registered in north of Kosovo, around 280 paid taxes (RFE)
• Pajaziti: PDK has no responsibility for the Association (TeVe1)
• Hoti: We’ll meet Serbian delegation on Jan 31; hoping to get archives (media)
• Kosovar arrested in Serbia no longer worked for Interior Ministry (Indeksonline)
• Over 20,000 electricity bills issued for January in north of Kosovo (Klan Kosova)

Serbian Language Media:

• Stano: New elections in northern Kosovo should be held as soon as possible (Euronews Serbia)
• KoSSev: Northern mayors consider possibility of filing appeal to court, to declare instruction for their replacement unconstitutional
• KoSSev: Zeqiri refutes himself, filing of appeal not considered
• O’Brien: Finding evidence of what happened in Belgrade election takes time (N1, Beta)
• Petkovic informed Ambassador Gori that ''Pristina wants to expel Serbs with the decision to cancel the dinar'' (Kosovo Online)
• Lucic: Problems of MTS.doo to be discussed in Pristina as of Monday (Tanjug)
• Odalovic: Pristina’s decisions provoke and make lives of Serbs in Kosovo difficult (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: Serbian embassy in Pristina “Svecla’s bad dream” (Kosovo Online)
• Lawyer: Proceeding against Sladjan Trajkovic unlawful (Euronews Serbia)
• Rasic responds to Strpce municipality authorities: ''Prosecutor's Office is seriously knocking on their door'' (KiM Radio)
• Pendarovski: KFOR important for stability of Kosovo and entire region (KiM radio, Danas, Beta)

International:

• Kosovo Removes Billboard In Volatile North With 'Honorary Citizens' Vucic, Djokovic, Putin (RFE)
• ‘It Is In the Best Interest Of All Impacted Parties,’ That Kosovo PM Albin Kurti Takes US Position On Suspension Of Serbian Dinar Seriously (thepavlovictoday.com)
• Kosovo Navigates Formidable Challenges in Ambitious Bid for Digital Transformation by 2030 (Prishtina Insight)
• Government Of North Macedonia Resigns Under Roadmap For General Elections (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

O’Brien: Leaders of the Balkans to do more to take the region forward (RFE)
Kurti meets Pendarovski, “strengthening good neighborly relations” (media)
State Department comments again on “ban” of Serbian dinar (Express)
CEC chief: Received petitions from municipalities; need time to verify them (EO)
Atiq: Petition was signed with pressure from the Serbian List (RTK)
EU: Looking forward to the investigation report about Banjska (media)
Abbott calls for better communication with affected communities (media)
Hoxhaj asked if changes can happen to Special Court after U.S. elections (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Petitions to recall mayors in northern municipalities submitted to CEC (RTS)
Reactions to billboard removal in Zvecan (Kosovo Online, KoSSev, social media)
US on abolishing dinars: Constructive engagement of Pristina and Belgrade would bring lasting benefits for citizens (Kosovo Online, The Pavlovic Today)
Serbian Democracy submitted petition against land allocation to Kosovo Interior Ministry in Mitrovica North (KoSSev)
Ugljanin says there is no law on referendum, MA decision on land allocation valid as it is approved by ministry (KoSSev)
New deadline given to Serbs to remove tent in Leposavic by 15.00 hrs today (Kosovo Online)
Hearing in case of Sladjan Trajkovic postponed (Radio KIM)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 25, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• EU: Resolving neighborly problems through dialogue, key for enlargement (RFE)
• Osmani meets Pendarovski: Kosovo deserves EU candidate status (media)
• Peach: Kosovo’s future is a multiethnic republic (media)
• Rasic on removal of mayors through petition: Right and legitimate solution (EO)
• Svecla: Serbia’s only symbol in Kosovo will be its embassy in Pristina (media)
• Kurti discusses priorities for 2024 with EBRD representatives (Albanian Post)
• Osmani: My focus is increased participation of women and girls in business (EO)
• Hoxhaj: No political process in the north without the Serbs (KTV)
• Abdixhiku: Latest poll shows LDK leads with 39-40% in Dukagjin (Nacionale)
• Haziri: Kurti has no other priority but dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Ahmeti: Kosovo one step closer to membership in Council of Europe (RTK)
• Kelmendi: Don’t comprehend so-called controversy on ban of Serbia dinar (media)
• Kosovo national arrested in Serbia; caught with 18 kg of marijuana (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: Kurti will have a million ideas to prove that he has what he doesn't have - statehood (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic meets with ambassadors of EU member states (Tanjug)
• Serbs in Leposavic told to remove tent across municipal building (Kosovo Online)
• Billboard with honorary citizens of Zvecan removed (KoSSev)
• Trial in case of Dusko Arsic continues, prosecution and defense to present concluding remarks (Kosovo Online)
• Vlajic on Arsic’s case: Acquittal can be the only justice (Radio KIM)
• Zeqiri: According to Constitution, referendums are organized based on special law, and such law has not been enacted (Kosovo Online)
• Giaufre expects progress in normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina at beginning of this year (Danas, Nedeljnik)
• Peach: Serbia should impose sanctions on Russia, support to normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, Hina)
• New protest on Friday, opposition official says (N1)
• CINS reveals secret REM data on pro-government TV stations’ campaign reporting (N1)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti thanks Czech Republic for continuous support given to Kosovo (RTK)
Koopman: EU funds, only after region fulfills prerequisites (RTK)
Bislimi on Association: Illogical to deal with tenth job before first (Express)
Dinar ban, Ismaili: CBK's decisions do not affect any citizen (RTK)
Stano: European path for Kosovo moves through dialogue (media)
Konjufca: Kosovo's membership in CoE, significant in its 75th anniversary (media)
Gervalla and Berro-Amadei committed to strengthening cooperation (media)
Maqedonci meets KFOR commander, talk about security situation (media)
Krasniqi, to ambassadors: Constructive PDK for Euro-Atlantic future (RTK)
Citaku to Bislimi: You behave like disruptive oppositionists (RTK)
Police intervene in two houses in north, confiscate 59 machines for production of cryptocurrencies (media)

Serbian Language Media:

The Office for KiM: Kurti continues with attempts to shut down Serbian institutions in Kosovo, Lajcak informed (Tanjug)
Vucevic and Botsan-Kharchenko on the security situation in Kosovo (NMagazin)
Ismaili: Citizens can receive money from Serbia only in euros (KiM radio, N1, RTK2, Kosovo Online)
Head of UNMIK: Trust and reconciliation are the key to stability, peace and security (Kontakt plus radio)
The Serbian List delegation met with the head of UNMIK, Caroline Ziadeh (Radio Mitrovica sever, Tanjug)
UNMIK on the removal of the UN flag in Leposavic: We are establishing the facts, UN property inviolable (Danas, FoNet, Kosovo Online)
A man arrested in Novi Pazar for espionage for Albania and Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica North, Tanjug)

International Media:

Kosovo wants back in EU good graces, comeuppance for Serbia (politico.eu)
Banning The Dinar, Kosovo Tries To Sever Lifeline Between Serbs In North And Belgrade (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Vetting is gaining ground, this process is a necessity (RTK)
• Czech Minister: Kosovo’s integration into the EU is closely related to the dialogue (media)
• Osmani to Czech minister: Membership in CoE, interest of citizens without distinction (media)
• Bislimi: It is important to separate dialogue process from that of EU integration (Koha)
• Rohde demands implementation of decision for Decan Monastery (media)
• Serwer: No one believes there will be final agreement before U.S. elections (media)
• LKD's Rukiqi on government: Incompetent and proud (media)
• Albanians of the Valley to be allowed to buy property in Kosovo (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dvorak: Further European integration of Kosovo closely related to dialogue with Belgrade (Kosovo Online)
• Bislimi: EU to insist on all decisions of Constitutional Court to be implemented (Danas)
• State Department calls upon Kosovo to revisit Central Bank’s decision on suspension of dinar (Kosovo Online, The Pavlovic Today)
• Ugljanin: Tomorrow we will submit petition for dismissal of Mitrovica North mayor to CEC (N1)
• Gogic: It is absurd that those who won few hundreds votes refuse to resign after several thousand people signed petition for their replacement (Kosovo Online)
• Andric-Rakic: As it seems now, mayors will not resign (media)
• Barbano: Fully supporting importance of upholding Constitutional Court independence, implementation of its decisions (media, social media)
• Trial of Zlatan Arsic continues by interviewing defense witnesses (Radio KIM)
• KoSSev: ''The government in Serbia prohibits agencies from transporting passengers with Kosovo passports'' (N1)

International:

• EU, US, Voice Unease Over Euro-Only Rule’s Impact on Kosovo Serbs (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo’s Vetevendosje Dips Toe in North Macedonia’s Elections (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

EU comments on Brnabic’s letter; “agreement is binding in its entirety” (Kallxo)
EU considers conditions for lifting measures have not yet been created (RTK)
Szunyog meets CEC chief, discuss mayoral recall process in north (media)
Central Bank Governor Ismaili meets Szunyog (media)
Gervalla: Visa-free travel for Kosovars to UAE from February 22 (media)
North Macedonia FM meets Lajcak, discuss Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
Szunyog visits Constitutional Court, demands implementation of decree for Decan Monastery (Klan)
Serbia required to implement agreements with Kosovo for progress in EU integration process (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:

Petkovic: Kosovo Serbs targeted by attacks, subjugation attempts (Tanjug)
Hill says discussion on the abolition of the dinar in Kosovo to continue (Kosovo Online, FoNet, N1)
Szunyog: The CBK regulation on payment transactions will affect Serbian communities (KoSSev)
Szunyog with the President of the Constitutional Court about the Decani monastery: Court decisions must be implemented (Kosovo Online)
Elek: There were only hospital beds and mattresses in the warehouse, not pharmaceutical materials (KoSSev, Tanjug)
A petition for the dismissal of Zeqiri submitted to the CEC; Northern mayors meet to discuss 'challenges and problems' (KoSSev)
Strpce municipality representatives condemn the decisions of the authorities in Pristina (KiM radio)
Bilcik to AFET: Thorough investigation needed into Serbian elections (N1)
EP AFET says elections were not fair (N1)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 23, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We have to support each other (RTK)
• Montenegro to consider increasing number of soldiers in KFOR (Albanian Post)
• IMF: Kosovo with lowest per capita income in Europe, according to purchasing power (Reporteri)
• Government signed memorandum for creation of new jobs for non-majority communities (media)
• Kosovo joins northern sub-group of European region in World Customs Organization (Klan)
• Konjufca and Basha meet at Council of Europe (media)
• Balla and Svecla visit joint police training center (RTK)
• UK ambassador donates a drone and other professional equipment to TAK (media)
• Serbian nationalist messages with map of Kosovo in Srebrenica (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Due to ban on importing Serbian goods in Kosovo, damage is about 150 million euros (KoSSev)
• Specialist Court extends detention of Shala for two more months (Kosovo Online)
• Nemec: Debate on Serbian elections aimed at initiating independent investigation (N1)
• Brnabic meets with Braathu, Hill (Tanjug)

Albanian Language Media:

Joint statement of leaders of Western Balkans 6 (media) 
Ulutas: KFOR is ready to respond to any threat (media)  
Osmani meets Szynuog, discuss cooperation between Kosovo and EU institutions (media)  
EU: Agreement is binding in its entirety (Koha)
Gervalla: I am not critical of the EU, but of the bureaucrats within it (TeVe1)
Lajcak talks about dialogue with representatives of opposition in Serbia (media)
Kurti remembers 26th anniversary of Serbian attack against Jashari family (media)
Rama about dinner with Kurti and Vucic: Communication was positive (Klan)
Tahiri: Joint conclusion that elections in Serbia were not free (Gazeta Express) 

Serbian Language Media:

Western Balkan leaders committed to European standards (N1)
Vucic: I discussed Pristina's announcement with O'Brien (Tanjug)
Hill on abolishing dinar in Kosovo: Avoid such unnecessary surprises and unilateral acts (RTS, media)
Rasic says payment transactions issue to be resolved, no reason for fear (Radio KIM)
Petition to recall mayor submitted in Leposavic as well (KoSSev)
KFOR Commander met representatives of religious communities, discuss their role in promoting peace and tolerance (KoSSev)
Election Commission assigns mandates to new Serbian MPs (media)
Vucic says he expects new government by March 15 (BETA, N1)

International Media:

BIRN Fact-Check: EU-Funded Projects Suffer Most from ‘Measures’ against Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
Serbian Environmentalists Alarmed by Renewed Talk of Rio Tinto Mine (Balkan Insight)