UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 19, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• European Parliament adopts resolution condemning attack in Banjska (media)
• Opposition criticises government for boycotting assembly session on police (media)
• Osmani to UNSC, calls for justice for survivors of sexual violence in conflict (media)
• Berlin Process Summit: Recent developments threaten peace and security (media)
• Bislimi travels to France, will meet Boone, diplomats and MPs (media)
• Minister calls on opposition to vote in favour of international agreements (Kallxo)
• Haradinaj meets Rama: I asked him to help Kosovo with challenges we’re facing (EO)
• Haxhiu: Serbian army, police, were ready to help the attack, Rama knew (Express)
• SPRK new case, confiscate weapons, vehicles and properties worth €20 mil (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Bilcik: Message of Resolution is that both sides have same responsibility (Kosovo online, Politika, Tanjug)
• Petkovic tells Konrad Pristina did not take necessary measures to calm situation in north (Radio KIM)
• European Parliament adopted a resolution on dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo (Beta, NMagazin)
• The Western Five come to Pristina and Belgrade to achieve 'tangible progress' (NMagazin, Beta)
• Detention of Elezovic, Kostic and Milovic extended for two more months (Kosovo Online)
• An explosive device thrown into the yard of a Serbian house in Ranilug village (RTS)
• Travellers at Jarinje: Let them agree, to lift burden off people (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
• Elshani: There were searches, and there will be more (Radio KIM)
• Joint protests of Serbs and Albanians over quarry in Straza (Radio KIM)
• After Banjska, the "reformatting" of the Serbian List at the party assembly on October 24? (KoSSev)
• Milatovic: Serbia-Montenegro relations must be the best possible (N1)

International:

• Lost in Translation: A Statement by French President on Visas Causes Confusion in Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)
• The EU Has Failed in Serbia and Kosovo (Foreign Policy)
• EP adopts Resolution on Banjska, calls for measures against Serbian government if its involvement is proven (EWB)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Serbia with its territorial aspirations undermines peace in the region (RTK)
Osmani: It is necessary that perpetrators of aggression be brought to justice (media)
Konjufca: Vucic has strong ties with the terrorist group in the north (RTK)
Kurti: Today's Serbia lives in the past (media)
EU and U.S. with another attempt to push the dialogue forward (Koha)
Hovenier: There are commitments from Kosovo side to advance establishment of Association (ATV)
Guerot: Visa liberalization is effective from January 1, 2024 (RTK)
Zeqiri: I do not pave way for Serbian List to participate in elections with my resignation (Reporteri)
Serbian Language Media:

Belgrade, Pristina trade blame for security threats (N1, media)
President Xi: Serbia our ironclad friend, we support its sovereignty, territorial integrity (Tanjug, media)
Vucic: Eighteen agreements signed with China (media)
Decision to release pending trial KSF member who shot at Serb boys in Gotovusa made six months ago (KoSSev)
Kovac: No consensus on sanctions, EP resolution to be non-binding (media)
Barbano meets Chairman of Kosovo Prosecutorial Council (Kosovo Online, social media)
German envoy says de-escalation agenda needed (BETA)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti meets KFOR commander: Demands increase at border with Serbia, ‘where threat to Kosovo comes from’ (media)
• Osmani and Guler talk about cooperation in the field of defence (RTK)
• Five draft resolutions submitted to EP, demand sanctioning of Serbia for attack in Banjska (media)
• Sarrazin: Germany against a new dialogue conference (media)
• Russia shares the same concern with Serbia about Kosovo, says Putin (Albanian Post)
• Szunyog on non-decree of chief prosecutor: Merit selection process is needed (Koha)
• Croatian president: Serbia was not punished for attack in north, Vucic owes us some answers (Reporteri)
• Djukanovic: Policy of internationals instigated the terrorist act in Banjska (media)
• New Special Prosecutor, Kimberly West signs the solemn declaration (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Bilcik: Dialogue is the only way (KiM radio, FoNet)
• Petkovic: Kurti undermines dialogue on daily basis before eyes of international community (Tanjug, media)
• After more than three weeks Jarinje crossing point fully opened (media)
• KSF member who wounded two Serb boys released pending trial (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic reacts to decision to release Azem Kurtaj pending trial (Tanjug)
• Jevtic says release of Azem Kurtaj pending trial sends bad message, lawyer appalled by decision (media)
• Dacic: FTA with China historic, to be greatly beneficial (Tanjug)
• Starovic: In the coming period, Serbia can count on an even stronger role of China in preserving its territorial integrity (RTS)
• Demostat: Serbs from the north of Kosovo trust KFOR the most (NMagazin, Beta)
• AP: NATO equips KFOR with heavier armament to have “combat power” (N1)
• Behind high politics: He extended KM licence plates, then was left without vehicle and paid fines (KoSSev)

Albanian Language Media:
Osmani: I notified Biden about our security challenges before Sept 24 (KTV)
Visa suspension cannot be done without procedure at EU Council (RFE)
Kurti’s speech at the Peace Conference: Autocracy vs Democracy (media)
Abdixhiku on Macron’s remarks: Bad news for Kosovo (media)
Kurti meets Turkish Defense Minister, reiterates commitment to peace (media)
Butikofer: “Serbia is showing the EU the middle finger” (media)
Jarinje crossing with Serbia to be opened today (Koha)
Limaj reveals: “Serb terrorists also had lists for executions in Kosovo” (Paparaci)
Serbian Language Media:
Vucic: I also discussed Kosovo with Xi, we were met with understanding (Tanjug)
Not known who will represent Serbia at the UN Security Council on Kosovo, said Vucic (NMagazin, Beta)
Vucic: In Tirana, Kurti tried to persuade Serbia to recognize Kosovo (NMagazin, Beta)
Arifi: Kurti is a national traitor for Albanians in Bujanovac and Presevo (NMagazin)
New party for Serbs in Kosovo: Bisevac and Stojanovic against the Serbian List, the first criticisms arrived (Danas)
The petition for the removal of special units forwarded to UNMIK, KFOR and ambassadors in Kosovo (KiM radio)
Office for KiM: Normalization in the supply of money in Serbian areas in Kosovo is underway (KiM radio, Tanjug)
International Media:
As US Pivots to Middle East, Kosovo Looks More Vulnerable (BIRN)
Kosovo President Refuses to Appoint Top Prosecutor (BIRN)
Kosovo and Serbia leaders to meet for talks after flurry of diplomacy (The Guardian)
German representative to Western Balkans: No need for new approach to Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Euractiv)
China’s Xi seeks to promote stronger ties with ‘ironclad friend’ Serbia (Euractiv)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 17, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Macron calls for responsibility from Kosovo and Serbia; “threatens with visas” (media)
• Rama: Kosovo is in self-made trap; French-German the best possible plan (Dukagjini)
• EU confirms visit of big five to Kosovo and Serbia, calls for concrete progress (RFE)
• Osmani: Great damage for peace if EU doesn’t take measures against Serbia (Telegrafi)
• Miftaraj: Osmani’s decision not to decree Isufaj is based on the law (Koha)
• Kurti: Terrorist act in Banjska must not go unpunished (Kallxo)
• Over 20 illegal roads along border with Serbia blocked, police confirm (Kallxo)
• Police: Citizens in the north want deadline for licence plates to be extended (RFE)
• Begaj: Acts of violence in north of Kosovo are unacceptable and condemnable (media)
• Turkish Defence Minister: Dialogue, the only way to peace and stability in region (EO)
• Shahini: €300 million losses due to EU measures (Ekonomia Online)
• Weapons and hand grenades found near village of Prelluzhe (media)
• Specialist Chambers grant Gucati modification of sentence (media)
• Ziv: There is difference between Hamas terrorists and Palestinian people (AP)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbia, China sign FTA in presence of presidents Vucic and Xi (Tanjug)
• The European Union reacted to the Free Trade Agreement between Serbia and China (Beta, N1)
• Lajcak, Escobar in Belgrade, Pristina on October 21 for talks with Vucic, Kurti (N1)
• Vucic meets with Wang in Beijing (Tanjug)
• Kosovo and Albanian flags displayed near Banje village in Zubin Potok (KoSSev)
• Elshani: We sent request to Pristina to extend deadline for vehicle re-registration (KoSSev, KiM radio)
• Office for KIM writes to EULEX Head about treatment of Ilija Elezovic in detention (Kosovo Online)
• Szunyog: EU considers mayor's resignation as faster and more effective way forward than petition (Kosovo Online)
• Elshani: Pristina makes decision on opening of Jarinje (Radio Mitrovica sever, Radio KIM)

Opinion:

• Ćorac: Kurti's so far policy defeated a normal life (KoSSev, medijacentar.info)
• Europe Must Seize this Opportunity to Enlarge – and Reform (BIRN)

International:

• IMF Reaches Staff-Level Agreement with Kosovo on the First Reviews of the Stand-By Agreement and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility Agreement (IMF)
• 'Tigers' pounce as Strategic Reserve Force activated for Kosovo (army.mod.uk)
• Share Your Experience: TikTok Used for Slut-Shaming Girls in Western Balkans (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 17, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

EU offers new growth plan to WB, partly opens access to single market (AP/media)
Kurti: I asked Brnabic to sign Basic Agreement, she wasn’t interested (Telegrafi)
Scholz: We condemn attack in north; Kosovo and Serbia must reach many points (media)
“The people are disappointed” – Does anyone represent Serbs in north of Kosovo? (RFE)
Peach: Attack in Kosovo “very serious incident”; calls for investigations and return to dialogue (VoA)
Von Cramon says Vucic visit to China “a signal towards the EU” (media)
Palokaj: EU is buying time for Serbia for the attack in Banjska (KTV)

Serbian Language Media:

Brnabic says position of Serbs in Kosovo humanitarian and not political issue (Tanjug, KoSSev)
Scholz: We will resolve conflict in Kosovo (Radio KIM, N1, BETA)
Government denies Serbian PM refused photo shoot in Tirana (N1)
Tanjug: Kurti after Tirana Summitt refused to respond to Serbian media questions
Vucic: Even worst dialogue with Pristina better than having no dialogue (media)
Local roads in Leposavic municipality dug up, villages cut off and movement of vehicles made difficult (Kosovo Online, media)
Ambassador Molina: Spain supports European path of Serbia and its territorial integrity (media)
Lawyer: Saqir Lutvija sent to 30-day detention over alleged war crime in 1998 (Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti in Tirana, meeting with Scholz announced (media)
• Scholz: Kosovo and Serbia must implement the agreements (media)
• Kurti meets Roth: Terrorist attacks demand accountability from Serbia (media)
• Rutte: Today I have opportunity to talk with Kurti and Brnabic to reduce tensions (media)
• Brnabic boycotts joint photo shoot in Tirana because of Kosovo's flag (Express)
• Martti Ahtisaari, former Finnish president and Nobel Peace Prize winner, dies at 86 (media)
• Svecla publishes pictures of mines in the north: Do we need more evidence? (RTK)
• KFOR, together with Kosovo Police, patrols for border security (Klan)
• Muja on elections in the north: Decision belongs to citizens, not to Serbian List (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: I expect not so easy discussions at Tirana summit (Tanjug)
• Scholz in Tirana: Cooperation needed because of crisis in Ukraine, Middle East and Kosovo (FoNet, Danas)
• SOC Raska-Prizren Diocese responds to unfounded accusations of unauthorised restoration of its religious sites (media, social media)
• Kosovo Online: Kosovo government rejected all remarks of EU, US Embassy and OSCE related to land expropriation
• Ambulance carrying medical supplies from Leposavic to Mitrovica North hospital pulled over by police, sent to custom’s terminal (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• President Vucic, ministers arrive in Beijing (Tanjug)
• Largest political groups in EP to demand punitive measures against Serbia (N1, KoSSev)
• Who was Marti Ahtisaari? (Danas)
• EC President calls on Serbia, Kosovo to return to dialogue (FoNet, N1)
• Radoicic: ‘Vucic’s naive victim’ or ‘a rich man from the criminal underworld’? (KoSSev)
• Court of Appeal rejected appeals against detention measures imposed on three arrested Serbs in Banjska (KoSSev, KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio)

Opinion:

• Stiplija: Today's summit of the Berlin Process could be the tipping point for the Open Balkans (Danas)

International:

• Rama on EU enlargement promises: Decision makers will be gone, replaced next year (Euractiv)
• Neither Serb Nor Albanian: Life In The 'Bosnian Quarter' Of Kosovo's Divided North (RFE)

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti to take part in the Berlin Process Summit (media)
Montenegro doesn’t plan to send more troops to Kosovo (media)
Viola von Cramon reacts to Vucic who compared her to Nazis (media)
European Parliament to call for penalty measures for Serbia over Banjska (media)
Kurti: €79 million allocated in one week for Kosovo’s development (media)
Mesic: Aggression in Banjska was prepared to incite war (Kosovapress)
Serbian Language Media:
Messages from Brussels ahead of the Berlin Process Summit in Tirana (NMagazin, RTS)
Petkovic: Kurti deliberately complicated the situation with an administrative instruction (RTS)
Kurti formed a "special police unit for dressing," announced Serbian List (Politika, Tanjug) 
The CI 'Serbian Survival' asking for a "fashion prospectus" from the Government of Kosovo (KiM Radio)
A person detained because of T-Shirt and a knife, then released (KoSsev)
Office for KiM: Pristina's policy to evict Serbs from Kosovo (NMagazin, N1)
Chinese Ambassador Li Ming: After the forum in Beijing, relations between Serbia and China will be raised to a new level (Tanjug)
NGOs to international public: Abandon policy of cooperating with Vucic regime (Beta, N1)
International Media:
Romania Sends Reinforcements To KFOR In Kosovo, Says NATO (RFE)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 13, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: There should be increased security guarantees for Kosovo (media)
• Kurti: Chapter of dialogue must take into account Serbia’s attempt for annexation (Koha)
• Kurti: Attack in Banjska, an act of aggression by Serbia (media)
• Sarrazin: Kosovo, Serbia to return to table to implement Ohrid agreement (media)
• EEAS senior official on two-day visit to Kosovo (media)
• Escobar highlights importance of implementing Ohrid agreement (Telegrafi)
• Inside the Banjska Monastery (RTK)
• NATO defence ministers conclude two-day meeting in Brussels (media)
• “Court decides on early release for Gucati” (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian List: Pristina to call for elections in north as soon as possible, ready to take part in it (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic expressed hope in a conversation with Li that cooperation between Serbia and China will be even stronger (Tanjug)
• Elek: If a humanitarian disaster happens to us, all international actors will be accomplices (Kosovo Online)
• More than 1000 people from northern Kosovo demand withdrawal of Kosovo special police forces (Radio KIM, social media)
• Kisnica: KLA on the road sign, Serbian language inscription crossed out (KiM radio, Danas, Radio Mitrovica sever, KoSSev)
• Ceku: Expropriation of property at the archaeological site of Ulpijana near Gracanica has begun (KoSSev)
• Antonijevic: Freedom of expression is also being denied to Serbs in Kosovo, US and EU have to react (Kosovo Online)
• Mitic on arrests of Serbs based on photos, comments on social media (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Only Extremists Stand to Benefit from Fresh Serbia-Kosovo Violence (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo’s vast Trepca industrial complex in limbo for 23 years (Intellinews)
• Google is being sued in the US for discrimination against the Albanian language (CAN)
• Census Risks Sparking Political Storm in Divided Montenegro (BIRN)
• From Religious Figures to Journalists, and Minors in Peril (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

The "big five" in Kosovo and Serbia in an effort "to save the dialogue" (media)
Stoltenberg: It is important that NATO has increased its presence in Kosovo (RTK)
Hovenier disputes claims that dialogue is dead: EU and US make maximum effort to promote an agreement (VoA)
Hill: Interesting proposals will be presented to Kosovo and Serbia (Kallxo)
Lajcak’s adviser requests establishment of Association (RTK)
President Osmani to meet with two U.S. senators (media)
French Ambassador: We are waiting to see exactly how the attack was organized (RTK)
Albania’s Assembly adopts Resolution on Kosovo approved (media)
New details on Radoicic and drug laboratories in the north (Koha)
Candles lit for the Israeli victims, Hovenier present: Terrorism is not justified (media)
Helsinki Committee in Serbia: Opening of Draza Mihailovic’s museum is step towards fascism (Albanian Post)
Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Elections on December 17 – parliamentary, Belgrade mayoral and provincial (RTS, Prva TV)
Petkovic warns of Pristina’s war rhetoric (Kosovo Online, social media)
Stoltenberg calls Belgrade, Pristina to behave responsibly (N1, media)
Momirovic meets with Varhelyi, calls for lifting of Pristina's ban on Serbian goods (Tanjug)
EU high delegation visits Banjska Monastery (RTS, media)
Re-construction of Albanian-owned houses in Brdjani has begun (KoSSev)
Serb from Leposavic arrested at Bistrica released, police opens case for “illegal possession of weapons” (KoSSev)
Indictment raised against Serb over attack against journalist in Zvecan (RTS)
Air Serbia to keep flying to Tel Aviv as long as security is guaranteed (media)