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UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 7, 2023

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 7, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Sanctions awaiting Kosovo if Kurti says no (Albanian Post)
• Murati: If sanctions were to be discussed, they should be against Serbia (Koha)
• Ceku: Kurti will very soon have an answer for all (Koha)
• Stoltenberg: Violence is setting back Kosovo and the entire region (Koha)
• Haradinaj: We have votes to initiate motion against Kurti government (media)
• Abdixhiku to Abbott: Kosovo’s clash with allies, strategic deviation (media)
• Selimi: Lajcak, Escobar to report if Kosovo approved de-escalation plan (media)
• Peci: See you in isolated and bankrupt Kosovo (media)
• Raci: Hard to believe Kurti will be on list with Radoicic, Dodik (media)
• Fried: The government of Kosovo abused the trust of the USA (RFE)
• Unknown assailants attack two persons in their vehicle in Zvecan (media)
• Govt adopts Sovereign Fund bill; Kurti: The core of our economic sovereignty (Telegrafi)
• Rasic says not whole state of Serbia should be blamed for war crimes in Kosovo (Koha)
• LVV’s Atic meets PDK’s Peci: Northern municipalities will become citizens’ (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo, Albania governments to meet on June 14 (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Citizens in northern Kosovo continue protesting (Radio KIM)
• Lajcak: A long conversation with Vucic, an urgent political solution to the current crisis needed (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Lawyers of two Serbs arrested at Jarinje on May 31 file appeal against detention measure (KoSSev)
• North Macedonia FM submits to OSCE plan for normalisation of situation in N. Kosovo (Beta, N1)
• Liturgy in Leposavic: Bishop Teodosije called for peace; Gazeta Express: Inspires Serbs to violence (KoSSev)
• Dacic: Unity and political stability top state and national interest (Tanjug)
• Serb from northern Kosovo in detention in Belgrade, charged with urging Serbs to leave Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Petkovic meets Gori, discusses situation in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Kosovo president open to new elections in Serb-majority municipalities (Reuters)
• Kosovo Eyes Consequences as Deadline for US, EU Demands Approaches (BIRN)
• US, EU considering sanctions against Kurti if situation in north escalates (Euronews.al)
• Behind the Renewed Troubles in Northern Kosovo (Crisisgroup.org)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 7, 2023

Albanian Language Media:
• Escobar warns of consequences if international proposal for situation in the north is not accepted by Wednesday (Koha)
• Escobar: US-Kosovo ties are strong (Euronews)
• Lajcak told opposition consequences Kosovo will have from tensions in north (Koha)
• Lajcak, Escobar ask Serbian List to take part in new elections (RTK)
• Hovenier: De-escalation in north and new elections (Koha)
• Guerot: Situation in north worrying, stop divisive rhetoric (Telegrafi)
• Mehaj and Abbott talk about security situation in north (RTK)
• Kurti meets Australian ambassador, discuss Kosovo-Serbia relations (Koha)
• British MP slams US and EU for response to tensions in north (Euronews)
• Bislimi’s advisor: When will intl community react to Serbia’s obligations (media)
• Serbs in southern municipalities do not mind Kosovo police and flag (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic: Time for Pristina to meet its commitments (Tanjug, media)
• Escobar: Whenever we talk to Kurti and Bislimi, they only want to talk about Serbia (KoSSev)
• Escobar on A/CSM: It will be formed; the only question is who will form it and how long we have to wait (KoSSev)
• Lajcak to Serbian List: Serbs to participate in new elections in the north (Kosovo Online, Twitter)
• Serbian List representatives reiterated the demands of the Serbs to Escobar and Lajcak (Kosovo Online, FB)
• Escobar: The crisis in the North a failure of the political leadership of both sides (KoSSev)
• There are voices in the Serbian community that need to be heard, read the letter from the civil sector, said Escobar (KoSSev)
• Vucic and Brnabic to address public today (media)
• Mijacic: Kurti was late for the meeting with Lajcak and Escobar because of football (Danas, N1, Beta)
• Zakharova: Comparing Belgrade-Pristina agreements with Minsk agreement is wrong (Beta, N1)
• CCIS President: Region ready to become part of common EU market (N1, Beta)
International Media:

• EU and US Envoys with Requests for Kosovo Government (Prishtina Insight)
• Minister: Kosovo open to new elections in municipalities hit by unrest (Reuters)
• Will the United States Abandon Kosovo? (BIRN)
• Reporting on the Special Court from a distance (Kosovo 2.0)
• Albanian ‘terrorists’ in Milosevic’s prisons (Kosovo 2.0)
• Kosovo c-bank reopens competition for governor (See News)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 6, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani meets Escobar and Lajcak (media)
• Krasniqi: I’ve never seen such concern among internationals (Telegrafi)
• Abdixiku: Kurti to reflect, Kosovo at a critical moment (Koha)
• Escobar: U.S. is waiting for Kosovo to present draft on Association (media)
• OSCE Head of Mission: Strong support for EU call (media)
• Gervalla: Elections in north should be held, but preliminary actions are required (Koha)
• Svecla: Person who threatened Leposavic deputy mayor, arrested (Koha)
• Isufaj confirms investigations about tensions in the north (Nacionale)
• Haradinaj: Kurti is in love with the plan for Kosovo’s partition (Telegrafi)
• Hoti: Kosovo losing friends and allies because of Kurti and Osmani (media)
• Gashi: Opposition leaders concerned that internationals are concerned that Serbia is concerned (Nacionale)
• Sheholli: Albanians over 30 in Medvedja getting military service summons (Demokracia)
• The CEC says it is ready for new elections in the north (Koha)
• Hoxha: Advertisement for police officers in north closed, sufficient number applied (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lajcak and Escobar met Serbian List representatives (Kosovo Online)
• Andric Rakic about the meeting with Lajcak and Escobar (KiM radio)
• Crisis in northern Kosovo day 12, citizens continue protesting, envoys to meet Vucic (KoSSev)
• Drecun: Escobar and Lajcak have a wrong view of the situation in the north of Kosovo (NMagazin, Danas, RTS, N1)
• Davenport meets Lajcak, emphasises importance of all communities participation in elections and institutions (KoSSev)
• DefMin: Serbian military still on high alert (N1)
• The EU Council extend the EULEX mandate until 2025 (RTS)

International:

• Why is there trouble in Kosovo again? (The Economist)
• Serbia backs ammunition shipments to Ukraine in westward pivot (Financial Times)
• Richard Grenell: If Kurti’s mayors are duly elected then why is the EU calling for new elections? (The Pavlovic Today)
• Joseph: Failure of the Serbia-Kosovo agreement would be a failure of Brussels and Washington (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovar Artist’s Work in Amsterdam Art Week (Prishtina Insight)
• CAN Europe: Western Balkans took little to no action in preparing NECPs (balkangreenenergynews.com)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 6, 2023

Albanian Language Media:
International requests: Calm situation in north, elections, return to dialogue (media)
Escobar, Lajcak to meet President Osmani and opposition parties today (media)
State Department again calls on Kurti and Vucic to reduce tensions (Koha)
Rohde: Fulfillment of EU requirements to begin urgently (Koha)
Opposition: OSCE intervention in elections in north, backtracking (Klan)
British Parliament debates on situation in north of Kosovo (Koha)
Sladjana Pantovic appointed deputy mayor of Zvecan (Reporteri)
Svecla speaks about Police actions in north of Kosovo (Koha)
“Mayors taken by police, sent to offices, not knowing where they’re going” (media)
Kurti in Pride Week: Freedom to love is a universal right (Koha)
Gervalla attends SEECP Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Budva (media)
Serbian Language Media:
Serbs continue gathering in northern Kosovo, voice same demands (RTS, media)
London calls on Pristina to withdraw special police forces from north (N1, SRNA)
Sladjana Pantovic appointed deputy mayor of Zvecan (KoSSev, media)
Vucic to meet Lajcak and Escobar this evening (media)
Moliqaj criticized Kurti for making list of Serbs (Kosovo Online)
International Media:
I won’t appease friends of Putin, says Kosovo PM (The Times)
US commander describes attack on troops in Kosovo by Serb ‘agitators’ after elections (Stripes)
Serbia’s cunning Kosovo deflection (IPS Journal)
Ethnic Albanian journalists attacked, vehicles vandalized during Serb protests in northern Kosovo (CPJ)
Turkish forces arrive in Kosovo to bolster NATO-led peacekeepers after recent violence (AP)
UN Expert Assails Serbia For Using Mass Killings To 'Stir Up Hatred,' Attack Rights Defenders (RFE)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 5, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti to meet Escobar and Lajcak in the evening (Koha)
• Kurti: Law enforcement in north is necessary to remove criminal elements (Koha)
• Kusari-Lila: Police in the north when there is threat and danger to security (Reporteri)
• Tahiri: Kurti reduced sovereignty to yards of four municipalities (Telegrafi/Kallxo)
• “Vucic cannot condition Kosovo; elections in north were Kurti’s experiment” (Koha)
• Stano: EU ready to organise Kurti-Vucic meeting when conditions allow (media)
• KFOR removes some barbwires in Zvecan (RFE)
• The Kosovo Police attacked in Zvecan (Koha)
• Mustafa: Association cannot be formed in these conditions (media)
• Tahiri accuses govt: KFOR getting stronger in north, sovereignty getting weaker (Koha)
• Around 20 media have been attacked during tensions in the North (Albanian Post)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic: Kurti arrests innocent Serbs, we demand the immediate release of Rados and Dusan (Kosovo Online)
• POKS request from Serbian Government protection for arrested Serbs in northern Kosovo (Novi Magazin, KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
• Reactivation of the Serbian National Council of Kosovo and Metohija in Gracanica (KiM radio, KoSSev, Danas)
• Radio KIM on inaccurate reporting during crisis in northern Kosovo
• KFOR removed barbed wire in Zvecan (Kosovo Online)
• Simic on the RFE article: Fake news that Serbian List has two conditions for participating in the elections (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, RTV, FB)
• Kosovo police entered street where people gather in Zvecan (Tanjug)
• Jevtic: Desecrated "Becir's Church" on the way to the Brezovica Ski Center (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic meets Beyer, tells him Kurti persistently avoids fulfilling Brussels agreement obligations (Kosovo Online, media)
• Vucic to meet Escobar and Lajcak tomorrow (Kosovo Online)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The Pride Week in Kosovo opens today (Paparaci)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 5, 2023

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti: I cannot compromise with the democratic republic (RFE)
U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Finer’s call with Kurti (media)
EU High Representative statement on behalf of EU on latest developments (media)
Escobar: Escalation of tensions in the north was avoidable, Kosovo did not listen to the international community (BBC, media)
OSCE CiO reveals 9-point plan for reducing tensions in north Kosovo (Euronews)
Kurti: With US and EU, we may have differences in approach, but not in goals (The Geopost)
Escobar and Lajcak in Kosovo “to continue pressure” on government (Koha)
COMKFOR Ristuccia interview with Corriere della Sera (media)
Sarrazin: Parties in the conflict have lost great deal of trust (media)
Kurti thanks Leposavic mayor, “exemplary position for law and order” (Euronews)
Minister Elbert Krasniqi visits the mayor of Leposaviq (Klan)
Stoltenberg welcomes the sending of Turkish troops to Kosovo (Koha)
Davenport: No normality without participation of Serbs in institutions (media)
Bilcik in Belgrade: Hope Serbs will return to institutions (Euronews)
Serbian Language Media:
Day 10 of crisis in northern Kosovo (RTS, media)
Serbs in Kosovo urgently call on EU and USA to help resolve crisis (KoSSev, N1, media)
“The time when Kurti confronted police shields and threw tear gas“ (KoSSev)
Serbian List: Kurti draws targets on Serbs in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online, media)
General Ristuccia on situation in northern Kosovo, Pristina acts (RTS, Corriere Della Sera)
International Media:
Kurti: International community to put pressure on Belgrade, not Pristina (Euronews)
Turkey to send commandos to Kosovo in response to Nato peacekeeping call (The Guardian)
Macron and Scholz urge Kosovo to hold fresh elections to ease Serbia tensions (The Guardian)
‘We’ve never felt free of Serbia’: Kosovan Albanians blame Belgrade for violence (The Guardian)
PM Kurti accuses Belgrade of whipping up tension in northern Kosovo (Euronews)
Five questions (and expert answers) about the recent clashes in Kosovo (Atlantic Council)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 2, 2023

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 2, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Assembly discusses situation in north (media)
• Osmani met British Foreign Minister Rishi Sunak (media)
• Lajcak and Escobar next week in Kosovo (media)
• Osmani describes meeting with Vucic: He was whining, complaining, and lying... (Koha)
• Gervalla: We showed we are open to early elections in the north (Nacionale)
• Bujar Osmani: As OSCE chairman, I join the call for new elections in the north (Reporteri)
• Von Cramon demands investigations of those who attacked NATO soldiers (RTK)
• Svecla visits police in north of Kosovo: Sovereignty is unalienable (media)
• Mayors resign in July, Osmani declares elections which are held in late August – this is the international plan to calm the north (Albanian Post)
• Hoxhaj: Serbia policy on Kosovo doesn’t have to do with people but territory (media)
• Events in the north, Gabriel Escobar’s post under question (Albanian Post)
• Kimberly West selected Specialist Prosecutor (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Hospital director: Condition of Dragisa Galjak still serious (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: “Hunting lists for Serbs reveal fascist character of Kosovo government” (N1, BETA)
• Professors entered secondary school to get documentation in Zvecan, request school to be freed (KoSSev)
• Rajovic: Kosovo police does not allow Trepca miners to do their job (Radio KIM, N1, BETA)
• Drecun: Serbs in north Kosovo to keep protesting until situation is resolved (Tanjug)
• Daniel Fried to VoA: Kosovo government caused crisis, Washington is furious (N1, Danas)
• Senator Murphy: "If PR wants to argue, Congress should make a decision on whether we're ready for this ride"; Kurti again about elections (KoSSev, RFE, media)
• Peci on crisis in northern Kosovo, possible resignation of new mayors (KoSSev)
• KiM radio: Petrovic and Obrenovic were detained before the start of the riots in Zvecan (gracanicaonline.info, media)
• Lawyer: Condition of Dusan Obrenovic more stable, but I am still concerned about his safety (Tanjug)
• Strpce and Gracanica sent messages of support to Serbs from the north of Kosovo (Kosovo Online, KiM radio)

Opinion:

• Janjic: New Kosovo elections to calm the situation, send Kurti into opposition (Beta, N1)

International:

• Kosovo Leaders Agree to New Elections in Restive North (BIRN)
• Democracy Digest: Hungary troops attacked in Kosovo (BIRN)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Plenty of Work Ahead to Improve Children’s Well-being in Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 2, 2023

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 2 , 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Borrell: We have three clear demands (RTK)
• France and Germany demand new elections in the north (RFE Albanian)
• Kurti: Stop violence until new elections in north (media)
• Rama thanks Macron and Scholz for meeting with Osmani and Vucic (media)
• Hovenier: Kurti has not changed his mind about the U.S. demands (RTK)
• Kurti: More concerning than international sanctions, fascist militia in north (Koha)
• Kurti receives phone call from three U.S. senators (media)
• Several Kosovars arrested by Serbian authorities; Kosovo Foreign Ministry: Don’t travel through Serbia (media)
• COMKFOR congratulates soldiers: You prevented the clash that would lead to civilian casualties (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Day 8th of crisis in northern Kosovo, requests to hold new elections (RTS, media)
• Gatherings in northern Kosovo continue, demands remain the same (KoSSev, media)
• Vucic: It is increasingly clear who is responsible for problems in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Dacic: No one will be on Pristina's side if it defies entire world (Tanjug, media)
• Arsenijevic, Aktiv on remarks Pristina officials use about protesters in northern Kosovo (Radio KIM, social media)
• Two Serbs from central Serbia arrested at Jarinje sent to one month detention (Kosovo Online)
• Albanians protest in Mitrovica South following call for “March for the North” (N1)

International Media:

• Kosovar President Open To New Elections In Areas Of Northern Kosovo Where Clashes Occurred (RFE)
• Macron, Scholz call for new elections in tense northern Kosovo districts (France24)
• Kosovo crisis: France, Germany call for new elections (DW)
• Kosovo's Kurti says mayors must work in offices, will not back down (Reuters)
• Standoff in Tense North Kosovo, as Serb Protests Continue (BIRN)
• Violence in northern Kosovo: The United States’ failed bet on Serbia (ecfr.eu)
• Kosovo Journalists Left Unprotected in Violent Protests in North (BIRN)
• Kosovo Holds Serbian Citizens for Weapons Possession Amid Protests (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 1, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Blinken urges 'immediate de-escalation' in the north (Koha)
• Osmani: Allies need to help us stop Serbia’s destabilising actions (Koha)
• Kurti: The mayors in the north should be in the municipal buildings (Koha)
• Osmani meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (media)
• Borrell: Violence is not the right way, it must be punished (media)
• Kovacevski: Peace in Kosovo means peace in the Western Balkans (Klan)
• Kosovo Police: Calls for protest in Mitrovica South, ill-intended and suspicious (media)
• Police investigating announced protest; suspected to be initiated from abroad (Kallxo)
• Svecla: Calls for protest in Mitrovica South do not help Kosovo (media)
• Musliu on calls to protest: They are suspicious and ill-intended (Indeksonline/KSP)
• Albanian protesters leave: Did not even know who called the protest (Nacionale)
• Kosovo’s special prosecution investigating two Serbs for terrorism (Kallxo)
• Abdixhiku: Coordination is needed with international allies (Kosovapress)
• VV MP on Haradinaj’s motion: Ridiculous and paradoxical, you lack votes (Gazeta Blic)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: I asked north Kosovo Serbs to persevere in peaceful manner (Tanjug, media)
• Osmani: Serbia has no place among European nations (Danas)
• Goran Rakic thanked KFOR; the existence of the miners of the "Crnac" mine is threatened (Tanjug)
• Former president of Zvecan Municipality: If ZSO had come to life, we would not have come to this situation (RTS, Tanjug)
• Todic: We expect the international community to reason with Kurti (Kosovo Online)
• The court in Pristina ordered the detention of two Serbs arrested in Zvecan, condemnation from Belgrade (Beta, NMagazin)
• Atiq requested membership in the Association of Municipalities of Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio, KoSSev)
• Andric Rakic: Kurti leads politics to the last NATO soldier (Beta, KoSSev)
• Ristuccia: Kurti brought the mayors despite the doubts of the international community (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• The former Minister of Agriculture of Kosovo, Nenad Rikalo, sentenced to three years in prison (NMagazin, Beta)
• Mitrovica: Protest over, one incident recorded (KiM radio)

International:

• Kosovo president calls on Serbia to stop destabilising country (Reuters)
• NATO chief says alliance 'does not give up' on political solution to Kosovo clashes (AA)
• EU Leaders To Discuss North Kosovo As Crisis Persists (RFE)
• Kosovo Counts Cost of Delays to Integrated Health Database (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 1, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

President Osmani to meet Macron and Scholz in Chisinau (media)
Kurti: Despite difference in approach, U.S. key partner we’ll always consult (media)
COMKFOR: If we didn’t intervene, we’d now be mourning the dead (Koha)
U.S. asks Serbia to stop Kosovo Serbs from attacking KFOR (media)
Erdogan talks with Kurti and Vucic about situation in north of Kosovo (media)
Peach: Reckless action of the government, Kosovo’s image damaged (Koha)
Police: Three police vehicles damaged; journalists also attacked (media)
Svecla: Belgrade continues tendencies to destabilise Kosovo (media)
Reporter: Persons with “Wagner” insignia covered them when they approached US soldiers (Kallxo)
Haradinaj: Kurti is a threat to the country, he should leave (Klan)
Schmidt: There can be no war between Serbs and Albanians (Klan/Phoenix TV)

Serbian Language Media:

KFOR at the main intersections in Zvecan, continues to control municipal buildings in the north of Kosovo (RTS)
Vucic to CNN: Belgrade met all obligations, Pristina did not (N1, Danas)
Kosovo Serb newsrooms defend Zvecan cafe owner labeled as a „traitor“ on social networks (Kosovo)
Serbian list: Obrenovic and Petrovic peacefully expressed their protest, the court's decision illegal and unfounded (Radio Mitrovica sever)
Buxhala: Disheartening that many people in Kosovo believe that in the conflict between the EU/US and Kosovo, that the former will lose rather than the latter (KoSSev)
Albanian rapper Stresi called for "Let's March for the North" (KoSSev)

International Media:

Why do Kosovo-Serbia tensions persist? (AP)
‘Overreaction’: Kosovo leader blasts US response to violent unrest (politico.eu)
NATO peacekeepers in Kosovo set up barriers amid violent clashes (Aljazeera)
Statement by High Representative Borrell on ongoing confrontations (Reliefweb)
Kosovan PM says he could consider early elections in north if violence ends (The Guardian)
NATO troops on guard in northern Kosovo for third day amid protests (France 24)
Kosovo Serbs Continue Protests As NATO Bolsters Peacekeeping Force (RFE)
NATO troops on guard in north Kosovo for third day amid protests (Reuters)
'Z' Marks The Trouble Spot: Russia's Symbol Of War Appears In Northern Kosovo (RFE)
Kosovo: Why is violence flaring up again? (bbc.com)
Efforts to defuse Kosovo crisis intensify amid more protests (euronews.com)