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)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 29, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• NATO Secretary General statement on the situation in Kosovo (media)
• Raid in four locations in the north ends, the fifth ongoing (media)
• Prosecutor: Action was carried out mainly in Radojcic’s properties (Koha)
• Svecla says attack in Banjska will be fully investigated (media)
• Berisha: We got information from intelligence on training of groups in Raska (Nacionale)
• Haxhiu responds to Rama: KFOR does not need to take control of the north (media)
• After attack in Banjska, increased movement of Serbian tanks in Presevo Valley (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• NATO approved sending additional forces to Kosovo (Tanjug, Politika)
• Vucic: Milan Radoicic resigned from the position of vice-president of the Serbian List (media)
• Borrell does not rule out the possibility of introducing punitive measures against the authorities in Serbia (N1, KiM radio)
• Office for KiM: Banjska as an excuse for continuation of terror in north of Kosovo (RTS, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Serbian List: Invasion into several private facilities in north of Kosovo (RTS, N1, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Elek on Kosovo special police raid of hospital premises, nothing was found (KoSSev, media)
• Ristuccia: There is no military solution for Kosovo, normalisation of relations necessary (Radio KIM, RTV, Tanjug)
• Vucic meets with Orban, UAE presidential envoy in Belgrade (Tanjug)
• Dacic and Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko on the situation in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• KoSSev: A fake priest spreading propaganda on certain Albanian media (N1)
• Brnabic: Kurti's terror against Serbs continues (Tanjug)
• EULEX: Monitoring activities conducted in cooperation with Kosovo police and KFOR (Tanjug, Blic)

Opinion:

• Hehir: The consequences of appeasing Vucic (Kosovo 2.0)
• Mandic: “Murderers at best, terrorists at worst” (Kosovo 2.0/Pescanik)
• “Is it possible to declare the Serbian List as a terrorist organisation?” (Danas)
• Hoxha on Banjska events: It was police operation, KFOR was clear; EU characterised it as ‘terrorist act’ (KoSSev)

International:

• NATO Says It Has Authorized Additional Forces for Kosovo (usnews.com)
• Belgrade to Question Kosovo Serb Kingpin Radoicic over Violence: Vucic (BIRN)
• Concrete and Cash: The Dirty Money Behind a Balkan Building Boom (Balkan Insight)
• Austria sent a non-paper for the accelerated EU integration of the Western Balkans (EWB)

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: Kosovo is under attack, dialogue is no longer the same (media)
Kurti: Idea that weapons entered Banjska without involvement of Serbia cannot be believed (media)
Gervalla: The association is dead (media)
Kurti responds to Edi Rama's idea that KFOR take control of the north of Kosovo (Kallxo)
Department of State: Killing of policeman cannot be equated with that of attackers (RFE)
QUINT in OSCE: Killers of Kosovo police should be brought to justice (media)
European Parliament to discuss situation in the north on Tuesday (Klan)
UAE calls for return to dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia (RTK)
Rohde: We have seen a lot of inflammatory statements, especially from Belgrade, this has to stop (media)
Police are looking for weapons and other potential victims in Banjska (Koha)
EULEX denies Serbia’s claim that it was not allowed to take part in police operation (Reporteri)
Bodies of the killed in Banjska cannot be handed over to families without scientific identification (Reporteri)
The Rashka-Prizren Diocese refuses for Kosovo to restore the Banjska Monastery (Koha)
Maliqi believes "there will be new attacks", says Vjosa Osmani "seems informed about the dangers"(Nacionale)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms death of Kosovo citizen in territory of Serbia (RTK)
Kurti asks for support in clarifying the fate of the missing (Klan)
Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Situation in Kosovo more complicated and dangerous than ever (N1)
Elek: Kosovo special police forcefully entered Clinical Hospital Centre in Mitrovica North, conduct search of some premises (Kosovo Online, N1)
Raska-Prizren Diocese responds to Kosovo institutions’ initiative to repair damage at Banjska Monastery (media, SOC’s website)
Jeremic: A broad national gathering needed in elections for protection of Kosovo (N1, Nova.rs, RTV)
Dacic meets with German MP Chrupalla, discuss Kosovo issue (Tanjug)
Mijacic: How long does implementation of freedom of movement agreement need to be waited for? (social media, Kosovo Online)
EUELX said in no way it was prevented to be present or observe Kosovo police operation in Banjska (KoSSev)
EULEX: Present during autopsy as observers, Pristina authorities conduct investigation into Banjska case (Kosovo Online)
International Media: 

Kosovo accuses Serbia of involvement in paramilitary ambush (The Guardian)
Exclusive: Kosovo's president blames Serbia for shootout, says Kosovo 'under attack' (Reuters)
Exclusive: Serbia to investigate killing of policeman in northern Kosovo, Vucic says (Reuters)
Kosovo accuses Serbia of direct involvement in deadly clashes and investigates possible Russian role (AP)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Assembly adopts resolution condemning attack in Banjska (media)
• Kurti: Serbia ruins bridges of cooperation; police showed determination (EO)
• Kurti wants Serbia “to be punished internationally” for the attack in Banjska (Klan)
• Kosovo special police step up presence in north after attack in Banjska (RFE)
• Rama: KFOR should take over control in north of Kosovo (Indeksonline)
• Vetevendosje’s Mihali reacts to Rama’s proposal for KFOR in north of Kosovo (media)
• EU in Belgrade didn’t lower flag to half-mast: “We don’t mourn criminals” (Kallxo)
• Clark: Incident in north of Kosovo, a real problem for stability in the Balkans (VoA)
• Kamberi reacts to Vucic’s statement about “trained criminals from Presheva” (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• An order has arrived from the SNS: Mayors and presidents of municipalities across Serbia are resigning (N1)
• Petkovic voices serious accusations against Kosovo police and its role in Banjska killings (Radio KIM, N1)
• Increased presence of special police in the north; Petkovic: Why didn't they allow EULEX to participate in the investigative operation (RTS)
• "Flags lowered, heads bowed": What are the residents in Kosovo north saying in the days after the conflict in Banjska? (Danas)
• Serbs in areas south of Ibar River: Tensions, uncertainty, sadness and powerlessness felt (Kosovo Online)
• PKS: Armed conflict in Banjska last alarm for all parties in dialogue (KiM radio)
• The house of Bosiljka Nojic in Gnjilane stoned (RTV Puls, Kosovo Online, Kontakt plus radio)
• Reaction of the Diocese to the statement of retired American General Clark (VoA, KiM radio)
• Serbia’s top security agency says its chief on visit to Israel (N1)
• Dveri, Oathkeepers, the People's Party demanding a parliamentary session on Kosovo (KiM Radio, Beta)
• Sutanovac: I think Vucic did not know what was happening in Banjska (Radio KIM, N1)
• Rada Trajkovic: How come “mysterious hand, with power on both sides, always saves Radoicic” (NMagazin, Beta, KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Franz-Lothar Altmann: Additional international forces need to be deployed to northern Kosovo (Demostat)

International:

• Kosovo Frees Four Serbs after Clashes, Alleges New Serbia Link (BIRN)
• Kosovo accuses Serbia of involvement in paramilitary ambush (The Guardian)
• Statute of Limitations as ‘Amnesty’ in Too Many Kosovo Criminal Cases (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:
Osmani says draft statute of Association should be prepared with U.S. (RTK)
Kurti and Gervalla meet ambassadors and diplomats accredited in Kosovo (media)
Gervalla says “Vucic regime poses threat to peace, stability in Europe” (media)
Svecla publishes document of Serbian army found in the north (media)
Konjufca and Hovenier meet, discuss events in Banjska (media)
Krasniqi: “National interest above all; Serbia should surrender terrorists” (Koha)
Rama wants EU to issue new statement on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RFE)
Lajcak meets incoming COMKFOR Major General Ulutas (media)
Docherty: Serbia to use its influence after attack on Kosovo Police (media)
“Exclusive: Belgrade hospital confirms Radoicic as their patient” (Indeksonline)
Serbian Language Media:
Vucic says last night peace is in Serbia’s interest, Kurti systematically destroys Serbian people (RTS, Tanjug, N1, B92, media)
Andric-Rakic: Those killed were family men, they would not have brought conflict to their children’s doorstep if they thought there was another way out (KoSSev, N1)
Dacic: Belgrade has nothing to do with armed group in Banjska (N1, BETA)
Serbian Ministry of Culture: Forgery and appropriation of cultural heritage (Radio KIM, Tanjug)
Dacic: Video of Kosovo Serb politician fake (RTS, N1)
Day of mourning observed in Serbia (N1, media)
Petkovic: Intention of Svecla is to accuse Belgrade for alleged involvement in Banjska incident (Tanjug, Radio KIM)
Serbian Prince Filip extends condolences to families of those killed in Banjska (Radio KIM)

International Media: 

Serbs in Kosovo mourn those killed in monastery shootout (Reuters)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Kosovo Serbs need to be liberated from Serbia’s tutelage (RFE)
• Elshani: Our goal was not to kill 30 persons, but to free the territory (Koha)
• Svecla says “one of those killed was Vulin’s bodyguard in 2013” (media)
• Stano: EU does not rush into decisions based on a video (Albanian Post)
• Rasic: There was information three months ago about military camp in Raska (media)
• Abdixhiku calls for “national unity when faced with Serbia” (media)
• Haradinaj: The threat is present, we cannot work separately (Nacionale)

Serbian Language Media:

• Regarding requests for measures against Serbia: EU will wait for the investigation before deciding (KiM radio, FoNet)
• Vucevic: Current communication with KFOR at the lowest, technical level (Danas, RTS)
• Office for KiM: The breaking of windows in Lipljan is an echo of the violence in the north of Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever, Tanjug)
• Kurti: Serbs need to be liberated (N1)
• Prosecution frees four Banjska incident suspects (N1)
• Entry to Banjska allowed (KiM Radio, Kosovo Online)
• Mijacic: After Banjska, the most important thing to stabilize the north, with international actors on the move (Kosov Online)
• SOC: We pray for the victims of Serbs and Albanians, we send our condolences, means not chosen for the disappearance of the people and the Church from Kosovo (KoSSev)

International:

• US envoy says Kosovo attack ‘coordinated and sophisticated’ (politico.eu)

Albanian Language Media:

Chollet: Parties should return to dialogue and implement Ohrid deal (Koha)
Kurti: Two years today, Serbia sent warplanes near border to scare us (Express)
Kurti thanks residents of Banjska for calmness and prudence (Kallxo)
Osmani meets Hovenier: Hope there will be sanctions for Serbia (Koha)
Kurti meets Abbott, discuss security situation and attack on police (Express)
Gervalla: “Vucic, exporter of terrorism and instability” (Express)
Kosovo, Serbia called to return to negotiations, implement agreement (Koha)
KFOR: We were ready to intervene, coordinated with Police and EULEX (media)
Police Director visits Banjska, ensures citizens will be offered help (media)
Some 60 suspects for Banjska, 10 received medical treatment in Serbia (Koha)
Ramadani insists NATO-Serbia Kumanovo Agreement was breached (Express)
Serbian Language Media:
“Restore calm, return to dialogue”: Chollet speaks to Vucic, Kurti (N1)
Dacic accuses Kurti for situation, asks KFOR to take over security functions (media)
Drecun: “Kurti to escalate terror” (Tanjug, RTS)
Momirovic: Systematic violation of human and political rights leads to tragic events (media)
Raska-Prizren Eparchy extends condolences to families of killed Serbs in Banjska (KoSSev, media)
Citizens lit candles for Serbs killed in armed incident in Banjska (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, Radio KIM)
Day of Mourning declared in Republika Srpska (RTRS, Kosovo Online)
Three Serbs arrested in relation to Banjska incident sent to one-month detention (Radio KIM)
Windows at Braca Aleksic Elementary School broken in Lipljan (Kosovo Online)
AP on situation in Kosovo: Highly unlikely KFOR will grant Vucic’s request (BETA, N1)
Police action in Banjska concluded, decision on further steps today (media)
Kosovo police says eight persons in total arrested in north (Kosovo Online)
Brnabic thanks Cyprus for respecting Serbia's territorial integrity (Tanjug)
International Media:
The Pavlovic Today Asks Blinken’s Spokesperson About US Support For KFOR Taking Charge In Northern Kosovo

Albanian Language Media:

• Svecla publishes video claiming to show Radoicic during attack in north (RFE)
• Svecla: Armed group planned to go south to the Iber River, “declare autonomy” (media)
• Rohde: Urgent need to continue dialogue talks, implementation of Ohrid deal (media)
• UK MP Kearns reacts to latest developments in north of Kosovo (media)
• Albanian PM Rama says “Belgrade blowing the fire of an armed conflict” (media)
• Kosovo Police deliver 100 food packages to citizens of Banjska (Koha)
• Abazovic: Situation in north of Kosovo can turn into wider conflict (Albanian Post)
• Dugolli: International community should take urgent steps against Serbia (media)
• Maliqi: KFOR, NATO negotiated with Belgrade to stop armed conflict in north (media)
• Former KSF commander: Operation to continue, there are more arms warehouses (KTV)
• Tahiri: Borrell, Lajcak must resign; Serbia must be suspended from integration (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Stano: In the afternoon, a new meeting of EU ambassadors will be held on the situation in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Vucic requests KFOR to take over security in the north of Kosovo (NMagazin, media)
• Hill: Further steps are being considered after the events in Banjska (Beta, KiM radio)
• Kosovo minister says Serbian List’s Radoicic was in Banjska (N1, KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio)
• Tomorrow in Serbia Mourning Day due to the events in Kosovo (media)
• Serbian List: Three-day mourning in Serbian communities in Kosovo (Danas)
• Milicevic: The Serbian List has failed, less and less control and influence on the Serbs from the north (N1)
• Kontakt plus journalist, Ana Marija Ivkovic: The atmosphere in the north of Kosovo is worse (Insajder)
• Vorgucic: To me it is unbelievable that K-Serbs are behind this action (Insajder)
• Brnabic met with Vucic: Discussion on measures to be taken (Beta, N1)
• A vehicle set on fire in Leposavic last night (KoSSev)

International:

• State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller Addresses Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti’s Accusations, Violent Clashes, And Excessive Force Concerns (thepavlovictoday.com)
• Svecla: What we want to do is make sure everyone feels safe (BBC Newsnight)