UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 8, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti appoints Ejup Maqedonci as new Minister of Defence (media)
• Citaku: Prosecution to urgently investigate affair of Kurti govt’s mediator (Klan)
• Svecla following police operation: North is moving toward normality (media)
• Ahmeti: EU measures against Kosovo are affecting municipalities too (Kosovapress)
• Kurti’s advisor stopped twice by Serbian border police on Monday (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: Letter of EU and US parliamentarians proves Kurti enjoys support in undermining peace (Radio KIM)
• Church broken into in Suvi Do, police qualified case “as serious theft” (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM reacts to incident against Saint Petka Church in Suvi Do settlement (media)
• Serbian List condemns incidents in Suvi Do, demands increased presence of international forces (Kosovo Online)
• Ponos: Western parliamentarians’ letter should be taken seriously (N1)
• Sign in front of municipal building in ZP damaged: KP blames wind, citizens police, while mayor claims he will fix sign (KoSSev)

International:

• Media Freedom in South-East Europe Faces Escalating Digital Threats (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani thanks Kearns “for exposing Serbia’s destructive agenda” (media)
Menendez: A West’s Belgrade-centered policy will not work (Gazeta Express)
Haradinaj: Joint statement confirms Kosovo is Euro-Atlantic (media)
Kosovo says restoring of parallel bodies by Belgrade violates agreement (Koha)
Bislimi calls on Serbia to implement roadmap for energy agreement (media)
Kurti on energy efficiency measures; subsidy cover 45% of investment (media)
Osmani joins petition for Google to recognize Kosovo (media)
Govt: Radomirovic was not involved in military operations during war (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:
Svecla claims north moves towards normalcy, Serbian List says he spreads lies and disinformation (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
Petkovic responds to Bislimi, says Pristina obstructs Energy Roadmap for moths (media, social media)
Defense lawyers of Pantic and Zaric filled appeals to Court of Appeals (media)
Vucevic: Serbia-Egypt cooperation seeing upward trend (Tanjug)
Drecun: Serbs in Kosovo under continuous pressure (Tanjug)
Dveri Movement: Has Vucic given up on UN SC session on Kosovo (N1)
Vulovic says Kosovo police broke a panel in Cyrillic alphabet on Zubin Potok municipal facility (Kosovo Online)
International Media:
‘Stronger reaction to Vucic’, politicians of several countries letter to EU and US (euronews.al)
Calls Grow for Kosovo Community Funding Call to be Annulled (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 7, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti's advisor: I was stopped from crossing the border by the Serbian police (media)
• Bosch: Serbian list pressuring Serbs in the north not to cooperate with Kosovo (RTK)
• The Serbian List MP speaks about alleged explosion at the bar (media)
• Police confiscate graphic cards and stun grenades in the north (media)
• Inscriptions with hateful message towards LGBTI+ community in library courtyard (Koha)
• Haradinaj: We appreciate OSCE’s continuous support (media)
• Musliu: Person who threatened me stated he was influenced by LVV’s propaganda (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• What is happening with supplies of food and medicine supplies in the North? (KoSSev)
• Simic: I have nothing to do with recording and publishing conversation with Kusari, she is afraid of new recordings (KoSSev)
• Telekom Srbija: Pristina wants to shut down our daughter company in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Civil society organisations and media condemn commission’s decision in relation to Office for Communities public call (Radio KIM, media, social media)
• Miroslav Aleksic and a number of members are leaving the People’s Party (N1)
• Dacic: We will do everything for peace, but we do not agree to tricks like withdrawing 25 percent of police from municipal facilities (Kosovo Online)

Albanian Language Media:

Western politicians call for balance and proportionality in dealing with Kosovo and Serbia (media)
EU denies siding with Serbia, “parties responsible for agreement” (Koha)
Kosovo PM Kurti to visit North Macedonia (RTK)
Court orders 30-day detention for two Serbs suspected of war crimes (Koha)
Police give details about explosion at Serb’s bar in Ranillug (media)
Milatovic: Recognition of Kosovo, a closed matter for Montenegro (media)
Walls of institutions painted with slogans against violence against women (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:
Arrests, explosive device and threats to Serbs in Kosovo, lawyers say there is a matrix (RTS)
Serbian List, Petkovic react to bomb attack against property of Serbian List official in Ranilug (Tanjug)
Serbs in Suvi Do near Mitrovica North disturbed after “KLA” graffiti appeared on health facility entrance (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
CEO of Telekom Srbija: MTS will continue operating in Kosovo despite pressure (N1)
Serbian, RS PMs agree to build WWII death camp memorials (N1)
International Media:
West must protect Kosovo from Serbia and Russia, senior politicians warn (The Telegraph)
BIRN Wins Solar Power Investigation Case Against Kosovo Media Regulator (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 4, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Hybrid war against Kosovo and democratic government will fail (media)
• Elshani: Security situation in the north quiet but delicate (Kosovapress)
• Pope Francis planning to visit Kosovo (Klan Kosova/Vida Nueva)
• Hajdari files charges against Buzhala, he calls for her resignation (Klan Kosova)
• LDK calls on civil service officials “to be in the service of the state” (Klan Kosova)
• Court sentences Kosovo man to life imprisonment for murdering his girlfriend (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: I’m not playing double games on BiH, Kosovo (BETA, N1)
• Second hearing in trial of Sladjan Trajkovic started (RTS)
• Lawyer says violation of procedure in Trajkovic’s trial, next hearing to take place on September 11 (Kosovo Online)
• Elshani: Remaining number of police officers sufficient to provide security in north (RTK2)
• Vucic, Dodik lay wreaths at Petrovac Road memorial (Tanjug)
• Thousands with refugee status in Serbia 28 years after Croatian “Storm” operation (BETA, N1)
• EU Integration Minister: Serbia ready to open Cluster three (BETA, N1)

Albanian Language Media:

25 percent of police presence in north will leave today (RTK)
Barbano: Reduction of police presence, sign of de-escalation (Klan Kosova)
Barbano: Special Police reduced in north, EULEX increased its presence (RTK)
Lajcak welcomes joint security assessment of situation in north (Koha)
Bislimi: Kosovo is respecting conditions for de-escalation of north (media)
Svecla: Kosovo is implementing Bratislava agreement commitments (Reporteri)
Osmani says threats against non-majority police officers be punished (RTK)
Reactions to court’s ruling to postpone decisions on Klan Kosova (media)
Court rules out eight articles of Law on Public Officials (Koha Ditore)
Szunyog meets Peci, praises him for improving the situation in the north
Szunyog meets Rakic, Jablanovic, calls for participation in elections (Reporteri)
Government ministers, Krasniqi, Rasic, visited Leposavic on Thursday (media)
Serb ex-policeman accused of war crimes in Kosovo (Koha)
Graffiti “When the army returns to Kosovo” painted in Banja Luka (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:
Szunyog visited northern Kosovo, met Serbian List, PKS leader, Peci (KoSSev, media)
Kosovo police to withdraw more personnel in and around municipal facilites in north (N1)
Lajcak welcomes new withdrawal of Kosovo police from north (Radio KIM)
Vucic thanks Serbian Patriarch for patience, understanding (Tanjug)
Z.A. pleaded not guilty on war crimes charges (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
International Media:
After BIRN’s Report, Prizren Municipality Ordered Demolition of Building Without Permit (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 3, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Court postpones execution of ministry’s decision on Klan Kosova (Telegrafi)
• Journalists’ Association welcomes court’s decision in favour of Klan Kosova (media)
• EFJ welcomes court’s injunction to stop govt from shutting down Klan Kosova (media)
• ECPMF asks IMC not to take action on Klan Kosova before final court decision (media)
• Osmani: Presence of U.S. Army in Kosovo, guarantee of stability and security (media)
• Citaku calls on prosecution to investigate “government corruption, scandals” (media)
• Hoti: Total failure in terms of capital investments (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucevic: No de-escalation in Kosovo because Pristina lacks will for it (Tanjug)
• Vucic, Dodik and Patriarch Porfirije meet at Osovica Monastery, discuss most important national issues (RTS)
• Two Serbs arrested at Jarinje in May to be released on bail, banned from entering Kosovo for three years (KoSSev)
• Petkovic thanks Chen Bo for consistent support to Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty (Kosovo Online)
• Simic says challenging times ahead (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Anonymous Online Videos Target Serbian-Language Media in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

EU concerned with situation in north, calls for more steps from govt (Koha)
MINT: Audio recordings are untrue, defamation will be reported (Koha)
PDK, LDK react to govt about inflation: It hasn’t decreased, it slowed down (Koha)
Krasniqi: Govt stealing bread from citizens' table; elections, only solution (Klan)
Serbia not cooperating with Kosovo in resolving fate of missing (Blic)
Kryeziu: Mayors in north cannot be dismissed, would be better to resign (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

Mitrovica North municipality confirms construction works halted at around nine locations (KoSSev)
Media outlets in northern Kosovo subjected to online attacks, NUNS reacts (KoSSev)
Vucic: Very good relations with N. Macedonia confirmed, to develop further (Tanjug)
Brnabic receives new ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina, speaks about Open Balkan Initiative (Tanjug)

International Media:

Kosovo Govt Mulls Mayors’ Dismissal as Path to New Polls in North (Balkan Insight)
Living in Kosovo has left me with high standards for hospitality (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 2, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Krasniqi: Administrative instruction for elections in north will apply to all municipalities (media)
• Kosovo Police director met KFOR commander and head of EULEX (media)
• Head of EULEX: We will have follow-up meetings with Kosovo Police to assess security (Klan)
• The CEC is ready to organise the elections in the north again (media)
• KDI: The Assembly fulfilled 13% of the legislative agenda (media)
• AJK condemns public pressure of LVV MPs against the RTK journalist (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• One month and a half since ban on Serbian goods, medical supplies in hospitals on verge (RTS)
• Citizens on consequences of banning import of Serbian products (Kosovo Online)
• Aleksandar Karadjordjevic: Prevent humanitarian catastrophe in Kosovo (RTV)
• KFOR: Ristuccia, Barbano and Kosovo police director discussed de-escalation measures (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Barbano: In coming period, additional meetings of EULEX and Kosovo police in cooperation with KFOR (media)
• Vucic bids farewell to Chinese Ambassador (BETA, N1)
• Serbian Ombudsman discussed with ICRC delegation situation of Serbs arrested in Kosovo (Radio KIM)

Albanian Language Media:

Hovenier calls on Kosovo and Serbia to implement agreement toward normalisation (media)
Vela to Petkovic: You know best where Kosovo’s borders are (media)
President can decree Law on Minimum Wage only after final court’s decision (media)
Procedures underway to remove northern mayors with petition (media)
Hajdari says criminal charges initiated against Business Registration officials (RFE)
Court: Dismissal of RTK Board not in line with Constitution (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:
Elisabeth Gowing resigns her post at Office for Communities (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
Petkovic, Hovenier on borders in Kosovo, Serbian List also reacts (N1, BETA, KoSSev)
Andric-Rakic: There are no laws in Kosovo for referendum and peoples’ initiatives (Kosovo Online, social media)
CEC refused to initiate procedure to dissolve mayors in northern municipalities (Kosovo Online)
Daka: The only and the most fair way for elections in north is that mayors resign (media)
International Media:
Kosovo Ex-Guerrilla Arrested for Revealing Witness Names: Lawyer (Balkan Insight)
Kosovo implements new regulation for financial inclusion (SeeNews)