UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 6, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani meets Dutch Prime Minister: “Serbia must be held accountable” (media)
• Kurti informs Szunyog about investigations of terrorist attack in Banjska (RTK)
• EU leaders discuss enlargement and the situation in Kosovo (RFE)
• Baerbock: Kosovo-Serbia conflict, threat to Berlin Process (RTK)
• Ristuccia: KFOR prevented situation in Banjska to escalate even more (media)
• Government says it has other priorities now outside dialogue with Serbia that it must address (Koha)
• Szunyog meets chair of Kosovo Judicial Council (media)
• Peci: Attack in Banjska was aimed at inciting a rebellion like in Crimea (Nacionale)
• Serbian historian: “Banjska was a copy of Russian invasion of Ukraine” (media)
• Kurti: I do not answer parliamentary questions as you are not voting on international agreements (media)
• Kearns criticises UEFA for not saying a word "about disgraceful display in Belgrade" (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Clinical Hospital Center in Mitrovica North Director: Pristina authorities prevent supplies of medications and oxygen (Tanjug)
• Brnabic: Vucic managed to remove the immediate danger of the introduction of sanctions (Danas, FoNet, Kosovo Online, TV Pink)
• Orban: Impossible to introduce sanctions to Serbia, request ridiculous (N1, FoNet)
• Vucic discussed Kosovo, other topical issues in meetings at Granada (RTS)
• Dacic in Tirana at the meeting of heads of diplomacy within the framework of the Berlin process (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic with Macron: Open conversation, grateful for willingness to hear Belgrade's views (Kosovo Online, Blic)
• Kovacevski: Without changing position on "Open Balkans", Osmani presented party's position (KoSSev, N1)
• The Prosecution filed an appeal, requesting detention for Milan Radoicic (N1, NMagazin)
• Regular session of the Security Council on the UNMIK report on October 23 (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Lazarevic: K. Serbs double victims; Belgrade put itself in a position where it once again has to convince world it will not attack Albanians (KoSSev)
• Sutanovac: Kurti would act same even if someone else would be at helm of Serbia (Tanjug)
• BiH Federation PM says weapons used in Banjska clashes not from Bosnia (N1 Sarajevo, KoSSev)
• After Djakovica, remains found and in Pristina (KiM radio)

International:

• Turkey takes over NATO Kosovo mission as Serbia tensions bubble (Bloomberg)
• Divided Mitrovica calm but wary after bloody Banjska incident (bne.eu)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani in Spain: Kosovo needs security guarantees (Klan)

• Osmani meets Macron, Scholz and Mitsotakis (media)

• Svecla: “Some 90 terrorists were in Banjska; they also had Italian KFOR uniforms” (media)

• Bislimi in Brussels: Things cannot be same after September 24 events (RFE)

• Haxhiu: Radoicic will be on the INTERPOL list wanted by Kosovo (Dukagjini)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: First, sanctions against Serbia, then dialogue (media)
• The arms smuggling that threatened Kosovo’s security (Radio Free Europe)
• European Parliament votes on Kosovo-Serbia resolution on October 19 (Koha)
• Rama demands measures for Serbia, before it becomes too late (media)
• Former Defence Minister: Only solution are weapons sanctions against Serbia (Klan)
• Bujar Osmani: If Serbia is involved in attack in Banjske, we will consider participation in Open Balkans (media)
• Kurti demands from opposition to vote on international agreements (Nacionale)ff
• Bislimi travelled to Brussels, to present the European perspective of Kosovo (RTK)
• "Politico": There is no place for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue at the Granada summit (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Summit of the European political community in Granada, meetings on Kosovo expected (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• EP to vote the resolution on relations between Serbia and Kosovo on October 19 (Danas, N1)
• Petkovic with Ziadeh on the political and security situation in Kosovo (KiM radio, RTS, Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• James O'Brien Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia (FoNet, KiM radio)
• Michel: An opportunity open for progress towards the EU, but Belgrade and Pristina must resolve disputes (RTS)
• Serbian Orthodox Church door in Suvi Do forcibly opened (KoSSev)

International:

• Backlash grows against Ukraine’s EU accession (politico.eu)
• European Political Community live news: Leaders meet in Spain’s Granada (Al Jazeera)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani in Granada: I’ll discuss with fellow leaders security challenges (media)

• Scholz: We are committed to a peaceful solution (Gazeta Express)

• Kurti’s chief of staff reacts to Radoicic’s release (media)

• Gervalla: Radoicic must be handed over to Kosovo now (media)

• Kearns: Radoicic remains free in Serbia; Kosovo remains under sanctions (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 4, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• DoS: All those involved in the attack in Banjska must be brought to justice (Koha)
• KFOR on the situation in the north: It can easily escalate (media)
• UNMIK chief in Belgrade, calls for de-escalation and return to dialogue (media)
• Serbian Minister of Defense: Disengagement, not withdrawal of the army (Koha)
• KFOR and EUFOR commanders talk about security in Kosovo (RTK)
• Haxhiu on Radoicic’s release: Serbia, a haven for war criminals and terrorists (Koha)
• Bogdanovic asks Kosovo to guarantee safety of Serbs in north after Radoicic’s release (Koha)
• Szunyog: The future of the Western Balkans is in the EU (media)
• Border point in Bernjak opens for traffic, Jarinje remains closed for entry from Serbia (Koha)
• SP of Albania with a resolution on the attack in the north: Serbia away from Kosovo (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: In the relations between Belgrade and Pristina, roles were divided in advance (NMagazin, Beta, TV Prva)
• SRSG Ziadeh says de-escalation of tensions and return to political dialogue urgently needed (Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic: Belgrade constantly warned of brutality against Serbs in Kosovo (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Brnjak administrative crossing opened, Jarinje still closed (RTS)
• Higher Court: Radoicic released from custody, forbidden from going to Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• The High Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade to appeal the decision not to order custody for Radoicic (insajder.net)
• Elek: Medicines are running out, there are no physiological saline and vaccines for the youngest (KiM radio, N1, TV Pink)
• Vucevic: Situation in Kosovo disconcerting (Tanjug)
• Starovic: Since Kurti came to power number of Serbs in Kosovo decimated (Tanjug)
• Drecun: Investigation of Banjska incident crucial to dialogue and attitude of West towards Belgrade (RTS, Tanjug)
• From 1998 to 2003, 322 members of Serbian MIA killed in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Romania also to deploy additional troops to Kosovo (KoSSev, N1)

Albanian Language Media:
Osmani: Kosovo is under attack (media)
US says Serbian troops started withdrawal from border with Kosovo (media)
Michel: Disagreements between Kosovo and Serbia must be resolved (Koha)
Gervalla: We urge EU members to stop Vucic’s path to conflict (media)
Rohde: Last week’s attack was attack against Kosovo’s territorial integrity (KSP)
Serbia arrests Milan Radoicic (media)
IMC asks operators to stop broadcast of Serbian channels Arena Sport (KTV)
Serbian Language Media:
Hill: The withdrawal of troops and the arrest of Radoicic are good steps, the dialogue will have to continue (Tanjug, RTS, N1)
Serbian FM says Belgrade wants de-escalation in Kosovo (N1)
Serbian DefMin: Kosovo talks complex following escalation (N1)
Mojsilovic: The current situation in the ground safety zone militarily stable but unpredictable (N1, Beta, RTS)
Prosecution says Radoicic denied committing crimes (N1)
BiH will investigate allegations that Milan Radoicic procured weapons in Tuzla (N1 Sarajevo)
Petronijevic: Radoicic's apartment was searched, his weapon was temporarily confiscated (N1)
Three people arrested at the Merdare checkpoint, 24 guns were found in the car (N1, KoSSev, RTS)
Szunyog: I heard different voices about the current situation in the north of Kosovo (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio)
The IMC requested a ban on the broadcasting of the Arena channel in Kosovo (RTK2)
Opinions:

International Media:
Nato needs to re-establish control of northern Kosovo, says Albanian PM (Financial Times)
Kosovo Serb politician arrested over role in armed ambush of police (The Guardian)
Serbia has started to withdraw forces from Kosovo border, US says (Anadolu Agency)
Analysis: Are Kosovo and Serbia on the brink of war? (Al Jazeera)
Serbia Detains Kosovo Serb Kingpin Radoicic on Weapons Charges (Balkan Insight)
European Parliament discusses Banjska attack, some MEPs propose freezing EU funds for Serbia (EWB)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Serbia is working on military plans for annexation (Koha)
• The European Parliament to debate today the September 24 attack in the north (RTK)
• Haxhiu: Radojicic should be tried in Kosovo (media)
• Serbia demands that KFOR take control of the north (RTK)
• AAK insists on an international investigation into the attack in the north (media)
• Kurti and Rasic meet municipal officials for community and returns (Kallxo)
• EULEX chief visits the Police Inspectorate (Klan)
• KDI: Only 10 percent of citizens think that there is improvement in justice (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Milan Radoicic arrested; 48 hours detention ordered (RTS)
• Vucic: “If Kurti’s terror continues, Serbs will start leaving en masse” (Tanjug, Happy TV)
• Serbian opposition demands Inquiry Committee, Parliament session over Banjska clashes (N1)
• Jarinje and Brnjak closed for ten days (Kosovo Online)
• No vaccines for seven babies in Mitrovica Hospital, tetanus vaccines also missing; Starovic: The situation alarming (Kosovo Online)
• KFOR reinforces its presence in northern Kosovo, calls for return to dialogue (Tanjug)
• German Defense Minister: Sending additional soldiers to Kosovo is not on agenda (KiM radio, dpa)
• Serb arrested at Jarinje sent to house arrest (KoSSev)
• Elshani: Field search in Banjska still ongoing, we believe that we are nearing end (KoSSev)
• Serbia demands that KFOR take control of the north (Document) (RTK2)

Opinion:

• Jarinje, Brnjak and small Banjska (KoSSev)
• Kosovo attack: Who benefits? (Politico)

International:

• Kosovo’s troubles may not have come to a head, but the crisis still festers (The Guardian)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 3, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

State Department hasn’t verified reports about withdrawal of Serbian troops (media)
Special unit in Banjska replaced with Fast Intervention Unit (Klan Kosova)
Bislimi: Attack in the north was orchestrated and organized by Serbia (media)
Baerbock: Serbia must reduce troops near Kosovo border, no more tensions (media)
McClain: The United States must stand by Kosovo (media)
Rama, Plenkovic call for measures against Serbia because of violence in Kosovo (media)
Kosovo government condemns acts of vandalism in Medvedja (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic tells CNN Serbia is last country that needs incident, it wants stronger presence of KFOR in northern Kosovo (RTS, CNN)
Djuric: Of the two military buildups in Kosovo neither is Serbian (N1)
US Welcomes Serbian troop withdrawal (N1, AFP, The Pavlovic Today)
UN SC session at which UNMIK report on Kosovo will be presented to be held on October 18 (Tanjug)
Orlic: Admission of Kosovo to CoE would be absurd (Tanjug)
Grenell: Transparent investigation needed, US to send envoy (Kosovo Online, social media)
Kosovo special forces withdraw from Banjska, members of police intervention units remain (KoSSev, media)

International Media:

After Monastery Shootout, Residents Say Kosovo Villages Feel Like a ‘Jungle’ (The New York Times)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 2, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: The terrorist attack with a plan to annex the north of Kosovo (media)
• Stano: Kosovo Police investigating situation, Serbia should cooperate unconditionally (Koha)
• Gervalla: If internationals tolerate Serbia, there will be a war (RTK)
• Musliu: Serbia is building a military base near Izvor (Koha)
• Haradinaj demands international investigation into attacks in the north (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic: “Pathologists determined Mijailovic killed while lying on his back” (RTS, N1, media)
• Minister of Defense: Serbia will do its utmost to preserve peace, it respects UN SC Resolution 1244 (RTS)
• Serbian Army Chief of Staff: Milan Radoicic was not in training at Pasuljanske livade (N1)
• Jarinje and Brnjak closed for entry for more than a week (Kosovo Online)
• Dalibor Jevtic: We have warned international community more than 200 times (TV Most, TV Pink)
• Orban: Hungary always for dialogue, against sanctions (Tanjug)
• Mihajlovic: Radoicic tried to save Vucic and the government by confessing (KiM radio, Beta, Danas)

International:

• Serbia denies US, EU reports of military build-up along Kosovo border (Al Jazeera)
• Belgrade official slams West for abetting Kosovar premier’s aggression against local Serbs (TASS)
• The US is warning of a big build-up of Serbian troops on the Kosovo border. Here’s why tensions are high (CNN)

Albanian Language Media:

Svecla: “Serbia tried to annex the north; attackers trained in Serbian bases” (RFE)
Kurti meets Sarrazin, says “Serbia directly involved in attack on Kosovo” (media)
Kosovo calls on Serbia to withdraw all military troops from border (media)
German Foreign Office: Further escalation must be avoided (media)
Osmani: “Irrefutable evidence linking Serbia to terrorist act against Kosovo” (media)
Kurti: Deeply appreciate support of our allies in collective fight for democracy (media)
Kearns welcome deployment of British battalion to Kosovo (media)
Osmani holds meetings amid “security challenges” (media)
Kurti thanks Sullivan for U.S. support for Kosovo border security (media)
Wisner: Serbia to bring perpetrators to justice or hand them over to Kosovo (media)
Basha: “Attack in the north prepared by state segments in Serbia” (media)
Sukovic: Pristina a more serious player than many believed (Nacionale)
Kosovo leaders condemn terrorist attacks in Ankara (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Petkovic to present evidence that refutes Pristina's claims at press conference today (Tanjug)
Vucevic and Mojsilovic about the statement of Svecla on press conference (Blic)
Patriarch Porfirije: "All people in Kosovo and Metohija need peace" (Blic)
Witness from Banjska: ''They shot the wounded Mijailovic from two meters away'' (N1, KiM radio, TV Pink)
Svecla and Hoxha accuse Serbia of involvement in Banjska events, deny that a Serb was killed after surrendering (KoSSev)
A man arrested on his way to funeral to Serb killed in Banjska (KoSSev, N1)
“Torcida” fan club with a banner “You come close to Kosovo, you are digging your own graves”; KP forced them to take it down (KoSSev)
Vucic: We have eyewitnesses of the killing of Serbs, you will see it within 24 hours (N1)
Milan Radoicic gives statement to police as a citizen (N1)
Borrell on situation in Kosovo: Serbian military buildup is concerning and needs to stop (N1)
Blinken talks to Vucic, calls for de-escalation of tensions with Kosovo (N1)
Sovrlic on Banjska: Someone apparently convinced them that they were really returning home (KoSSev, Nova S)
Office for KiM: Three Serbs beaten in G. Varage; KP has no information, invites them to report (KoSSev)
UNS and DNKiM: Tvrdisic suspended from the post of director of RTK2 without a clear explanation (KiM radio, Kosovo Online, KoSSev, Kontakt plus radio)

Opinions:

Kearns: ‘The UK must find its backbone in the Balkans’ (politics.co.uk)
Serwer: It’s not only about Kosovo (media)
Surroi: One of many logs has been eliminated (Koha)

International Media:

Kosovo Demands Serbia Withdraw Forces From Border (RFE)
Kosovo PM Kurti calls for NATO to help fill security vacuum in northern territories (Euronews)
Serbia will not send military forces into Kosovo, Vučić insists (Financial Times)
Kosovo Serb Kingpin Radoicic Takes Responsibility for Weekend Shootout (BIRN)
Extremists vie with politicians to capitalise on rightward shift in Balkans (BIRN)