UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 15, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Recak Massacre commemoration (media)
• Kurti meets Walker; “one of key voices calling massacres what they were” (media)
• Bislimi and Von Cramon discuss Visas and dialogue with Serbia (Koha)
• Szunyog and Cramon talk about political and security situation in Kosovo (RTK)
• Cramon: Want to see more progress in dialogue before EU elections (Telegrafi)
• Tahiri: Vetevendosje will not form government after next elections (media)
• Albares: Recognition of passports doesn’t mean recognition of Kosovo (media)
• Albania’s Foreign Minister to visit Kosovo (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: UNSC Resolution 1244 foresees demilitarization, part of international community creates Kosovo army (media)
• Raska-Prizren Eparchy: Bishop Teodosije informed von Cramon about problems of SOC and Serbs in Kosovo (media)
• Von Cramon on Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, position of Serbs, visa liberalization (Kosovo Online)
• Ambassador: Vatican’s stance on Kosovo unchanged, Osmani’s statement pompous (Tanjug)
• Dacic: SOC must work with Vatican, interest to have Pope on Serbia’s side (KoSSev, Tanjug)
• Collection of signatures to recall Mitrovica North mayor to take place at Sports Hall (media)
• Petkovic receives former judge Marinkovic who carried out investigation in Racak (Kosovo Online, Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: Kosovo’s problem with people leaving, not with visa liberalization (Koha)

International:

• Investigating Arkan: How Serbian Warlord’s Death Ended Kosovo Murder Probe (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 12, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti and Vucic expected to participate at Economic Forum in Davos next week (Reporteri)
• Osmani expects that U.S. Congress will approve sale of "Javelins" to Kosovo (RTK)
• Kosovo to host again "Defender Europe" (Klan)
• Viola von Cramon starts her four-day visit to Kosovo on Monday (Klan)
• Spanish FM: Recognition of Kosovo passports not related to agreement with Catalonia (Klan)
• GAP: Large migration of Kosovars expected in the first quarter of the year (media)
• Bajqinovci: Association should be designed by the Kosovo government (media)
• Court session of four Serbs suspected of riots in the north postponed (media)
• Kosovo-Albania trade exchange in 2023 set record with around €440 million (Albanian Post)
• Kosovo, North Macedonia sign agreement for Tetovo-Prizren road (Indeksonline)
• CDHRF: Installation of cameras in Pristina, in complete violation of human rights (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: Serbs in Kosovo live in a situation of permanent danger (Kosovo Online)
• Situation in Kosovo calm but fragile - KFOR Commander (Tanjug)
• Serbian Democracy calls on citizens to sign petition and prevent reconstruction of police base in Mitrovica North (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
• Preliminary hearing of four Serbs cancelled, case files without translation into Serbian language (KoSSev)
• Malfunction on electric grid in Caglavica repaired after more than a month (Radio KIM)
• Submission of requests for diploma verification as of Monday at municipal building in Mitrovica North (KoSSev)
• European Parliament will most likely not discuss Serbian elections next week (Tanjug)

International:

• Serbia says it is disappointed with possible US sale of anti-tank missiles to Kosovo (AP)

Albanian Language Media:

O’Brien: We will not allow violence in northern Kosovo (RFE)
State Department confirms Kosovo requested Javelin Missiles (media)
Osmani: Kosovo deserves the EU candidate country status (media)
Maqedonci: Kosovo has returned to Defender exercises (Koha)
Kosovo Police: Competencies of Special Intervention Unit remain the same (media)
COMKFOR meets Chief of General Staff of Serbian Armed Forces (media)
Media from Presevo Valley complain over discrimination by Serbia (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Arsenijevic: I have submitted request aiming at overturning decision on land allocation to Kosovo Interior Ministry (KoSSev)
Vucic: US decision to accept Pristina's request to buy missiles greatly disappointing (Tanjug)
Congresswoman Tenney: Dangerous decision of US to sell Kosovo anti-tank missiles (Kosovo Online, media)
Mojsilovic, KFOR Commander discuss security situation in Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
O'Brien: Serbia and Kosovo should take their share of responsibility and avoid provocations in the north (Kosovo Online)
Office for KiM: Two Serb houses robbed during holidays in Ljubozda village (Radio KIM)
Prosecution on Sandulovic: Collected evidence does not point to mistreatment (N1)

International Media: 

US Confirms Kosovo’s Request for Anti-Tank Missiles, Serbia ‘Disappointed’ (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 11, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: First basic agreement, implementation annex, then Association (media)
• Osmani thanks United Arab Emirates for abolishing visa requirements (media)
• 2024 starts with mass “internal reorganization” of Kosovo Tax Administration (EO)
• Gjoshi asks western ambassadors to react to govt’s criticism of court (Nacionale)
• Sources: Kurti strips SIU from competencies on terrorism (Albanian Post)
• Molliqaj: Closer we get to autonomy for Serbs, Kurti talks of war more (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Decision on land expropriation in north annulled; Nenezic: After judgment becomes final, we’ll send a request to remove bases (KoSSev)
• Rapajic: Decision of court in Pristina positive step, but I do not expect changes (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Kurti continues systematic and institutional oppression of Serbs (Tanjug, media)
• Friedman: Crucial issue not Kosovo, but Serbia emerging as economic power (N1)
• Sandulovic case: From post on visit to Jashari complex, arrest, Vulin, BIA to the West (KoSSev, DW)
• Trial of Zlatan Arsic continues (Kosovo Online)
• Abolishing visas for Kosovo Serbs: When could negotiations start (N1, Radio KIM)
• Bilcik: It is high time for Pristina to solve major issue (Radio KIM)
• Lawyer: Detention of Dragisa Milenkovic extended for two more months (Tanjug, media)

Opinion:

• Serbian Democracy is Paying a Price for Western Geopolitical Interests (BIRN)

International:

• Serbian opposition leader left partly paralyzed by attack, say family (The Guardian)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti welcomes Irish PM at Pristina Airport (media)
• Foreign Ministry: Dakaj confirmed Serbia accusing him of war crimes (media)
• Candles to be lit for “victims of Serbian genocide in Kosovo” on Jan 15 (media)
• Begaj: Non-recognizing countries should recognize Kosovo (media)
• Haxhiu forecasts early elections if Kurti doesn’t form Association (Express)
• Gjinovci: Armed conflict in Kosovo is inevitable (KTV)
• BIA denies that Sandulovic was tortured (Koha)
• NATO: Reintroducing compulsory military service, Serbia’s matter (RFE)
Serbian Language Media:
• Court in Pristina annulled government’s decision on land expropriation in northern Kosovo (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Radovic: Krasniqi’s statement inaccurate, we have not received necessary documentation to initiate petition (Kosovo Online)
• BIA refutes Sandulovic: No unlawful physical force was used (KoSSev)
• NATO Office in Belgrade on obligatory military service in Serbia (N1, RFE)
• Is there a connection between seizure of Serbian properties in Kosovo and competencies CSM should have? (Kosovo Online)
International Media:
• A Chronicle of Investigations: Stories of Journalists that Documented Injustices (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 10, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Serbia with “Putin-like methods” threat to Kosovo, Serbian citizens (RFE)
• Kearns: A Five Eyes country delivered an investigation into Banjska (Telegrafi)
• 12 days left to collect signatures for dismissal of mayors in the north (RFE)
• Haxhiu: Constitutional Court is obstructing the implementation of reforms (Kallxo)
• Zeka: Prices remain high; the economy has not been priority of any govt (EO)
• Nearly €300,000 for shelters, NGOs that offer social and family services (Kallxo)
• Palokaj: EU and U.S. concerned that Serbia is strongly behind Dodik (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Celic: Seizure of Rajska Banja part of strategy to leave CSM without economic power and resources (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: Serbia-Russia relations very good, Serbia is no one's protectorate (Tanjug, media)
• Lawyers to demand dismissal of indictment against Milenkovic, house arrest measure instead of detention (Kosovo Online)
• Kosovo Online: Kurti said Petrit Dula is in Serbian prison, he was released in April last year
• Vucic: Everyone is arming themselves, we are not lagging behind (Tanjug)

Albanian Language Media:

• Cameron at UK Parliament comments Banjska attack, commends police (media)
• Krasniqi, Quint representatives discuss civic initiative in the north (media)
• Lajcak: Grateful for strong French support to EU-facilitated dialogue (media)
• Krasniqi: Association statute with executive competencies, unacceptable (media)
• One month detention for former KLA member arrested in Serbia (RFE)
• European Commission: We are following Sandulovic’s case (Koha)
• Saudi Arabia waives visas for Kosovo citizens with diplomatic, official passports (media)
• Kamberi: All those with different opinions in Serbia are being threatened (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic to attend WEF meeting in Davos, Kurti's name ‘asterisked’ (Tanjug, media)
• Krasniqi met EU and Quint representatives, discussed citizens’ petitions to dissolve mayors in four northern municipalities (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Attempted "appropriation" of Our Lady of Ljevis - falsifying history (Kosovo Online)
• Ban on importing Serbian goods in Kosovo still in force (N1)
• State Department said it closely monitors initiative to reinstate obligatory military service in Serbia (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian PM rejects claims of illegal voter registration (N1)
International Media:
• Share Your Experience: Consumer Rights’ Violations in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 9, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• EU working to condition Serbia’s membership with implementation of agreements with Kosovo (RFE)
• 72 cases of attacks and threats against reporters in Kosovo in 2023 (VoA in Albanian)
• Murati: Capital investments in 2023 increased by 32 percent (media)
• “Possible attacks from Serbia”; Haziri: Leaders’ camouflage to hide failures (EO)
• Musliu: Serbia can use local Serbs; another attack as Banjska not excluded
• Sources: Police raids against several Tax Administration officials (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucevic: Time to decide about compulsory military service, debate ahead (Tanjug, TV Pink)
• Kosovo Chamber of Commerce: We lost €300mn to EU sanctions (N1, BETA)
• Hearing in case of Milorad Djokovic from Vitomirica held today (Kosovo Online, media)
• Serbian prosecution still conducts investigation on Banjska case (Radio KIM, Euronews)
• Ponos: New opposition protest on January 16 (N1)

Opinion:

• Dialogue and Kosovo’s European integration in the year of mega-elections (Koha)
• AI’s Arrival in Higher Education in Balkans Has Huge Implications (BIRN)

International:

• Was Kosovo’s First Transitional Justice Strategy Worth the Wait? (BIRN)
• Spanish opposition fears Kosovo passport recognition could set a precedent for Catalonia (Euractiv)

Albanian Language Media:

• EU expects Brussels agreement to be implemented this year (Koha)
• Italian KFOR troops patrol Kosovo-Serbia administrative boundary line (media)
• Spain on recognizing Kosovo passport: Doesn’t imply Kosovo recognition (media)
• U.S. approach toward Vucic criticized; Serbia wants Congress to punish Kosovo (Koha)
• Hoxha: Early elections could happen in spring; “no other solution” (Telegrafi)
• Krastev: Kurti could look for compromise before U.S. elections (Express)
• Kosovo leaders’ messages for Orthodox Christmas (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Stano: High-level dialogue possible when there is willingness, agenda (Tanjug)
• Patriarch Porfirije served liturgy at Pec Patriarchate, met with mayor (KoSSev, social media)
• Visoki Decani Monastery react to Koha article on Holy Virgin of Ljevis Church, say it represents misrepresentation of history (KoSSev, Kosovo Online, social media)
• Vucevic: SNS to request mandate to form next government (TV Pink, Tanjug)
• ODIHR spokesperson: Final report on elections expected by end-February (N1)
• Svecla visits northern Kosovo twice in two days (KoSSev)
• Arsenijevic on Svecla’s visit to northern Kosovo (social media)
• Former KLA member arrested at Merdare last week sent to one-month detention (KoSSev, Klan Kosova)