UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 26, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• The three Kosovo policemen released from Serbian prison (media)
• Kurti: Despite the joy, Serbia's serious offense must be reprimanded (media)
• Osmani thanks the USA for releasing the policemen (Koha)
• Svecla after release of policemen: Serbia continues to play its games (media)
• The EU considers the release of the policemen as a de-escalation step (Albanian Post)
• Krasniqi welcomes release of policemen, “now time to defuse tensions in north” (media)
• Rama: Release of Kosovo police officers paves way to de-escalation (media)
• Bujar Osmani welcomes release of three Kosovo policemen (media)
• Kearns: Release took too far, without evident repercussions for Serbian govt (Telegrafi)
• Hungary takes the credit for the release of Kosovo policemen from Serbia (Koha)
• Rama in Brussels with a new proposal for reach of Kosovo-Serbia agreement (RTK)
• Kosovo and Iowa sign agreement to further cooperation (Radio Free Europe)
• Kurti meets Foreign Secretary Cleverly in London (media)
• The new EULEX chief takes office (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Belgrade liaison officer report on Serb detainees in Podujevo and Gnjilane prisons (KoSSev)
• Court in Kraljevo confirmed indictment and released Kosovo police officers pending trial (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: A judicial, not a political decision - we will fight for the release of all arrested Serbs (Radio Mitrovica sever, Tanjug)
• House of Miladinovic family in Donja Brnjica robbed (Radio KIM)
• Wigemark: People in north feel unsafe, urgent de-escalation and new elections needed (Kosovo Online)
• Drecun: Situation in northern Kosovo can only be defused by withdrawal of special units and cessation of arrests (Tanjug, RTV, RTS)
• Serbian Ombudsman: All acts of maltreatment and torture against arrested Serbs in Kosovo to be investigated (Kosovo Online)
• Antonijevic: Torture of detained Serbs from the north is an alarm for everyone (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, Twitter)
• Varhelyi welcomes release of three Kosovo police officers (Kosovo Online, social media)

Opinion:

• Zoran Ostojic: Serbs in Kosovo are hostages of the West's struggle against “Greater Albania” (KiM radio, medijacentar.info)

International:

• Serbia releases 3 Kosovo police officers whose arrest fueled tensions between the Balkan foes (AP)
• Serbia Releases Three Seized Kosovo Policemen (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti: Amount of armament indicates size of the planned action (RTK)
Svecla: "Civil Defense" and "North Brigade" should be declared terrorist organizations (media)
KFOR and EULEX were present when the arsenal was found in north (Klan)
Svecla reacts to suspicion that officer published video of an arrested person (Kallxo)
Claims of mistreatment of arrested Serbs, EULEX: We’re monitoring 108 cases (Nacionale)
Lajcak lists EU demands for Kurti and Vucic (media)
Wigemark: Criminality in north concerning; no other long-term solution but dialogue (AP)
British MP criticizes West for “unfair approach” to the Kosovo-Serbia crisis (Klan)
Rama in Brussels in Brussels today, to meet Charles Michel (Albanian Post)
Abazovic: Turkey's mediating role, very important (Klan)
Congressman Torres: EU dialogue weaponized against Kosovo (euronews.al)
Mother and her young child died after Kosovo floods (media)
Serbian Language Media:
Vucic: Kurti does not want ZSO but war and conflict, weapons in Zvecan planted by Kosovo authorities (RTS, N1)
Petkovic about Zvecan case: Special units planted explosive in order to arrest Serbs, BIA informed foreign services (KoSSev)
Serbian List says Pristina constantly attempts to criminalize entire north (Kosovo Online, social media)
Petkovic: Nemanja Orlovic arrested in Mitrovica North on Friday without court order (KoSSev, Kosovo Online, media)
Belgrade liaison officer: Arrested Serbs brutally mistreated by Kosovo police (RTS, Novosti)
Memorial service on Saint Vitus Day to be served in Gracanica, instead of Gazimestan, because of security concerns (media, social media)
Bishop Teodosije met KFOR commander, expressed concerns over escalation of tensions (Radio kontakt plus, social media)
Rados Petrovic arrested in Zvecan released on bail (Kosovo Online, N1, media)
Serbian military chief: We demand KFOR’s immediate reaction to protect Serbs (N1, media)
International Media:
Police seize multiple weapons in northern Kosovo (TVP)
Serbia again threatens armed intervention in Kosovo as tension escalates (AP)
The race for Balkan influence amid Serbia-Kosovo tensions (Arab News)
Serb Official Accuses Kosovo Police Of 'Planting' Weapons In Restive North (RFE)
Kosovo PM wants to drag Serbia into open war with NATO: President (TRTWorld)
Kosovo Arrests Another Suspect for Attacks on KFOR (BIRN)
Serbia army chief urges NATO, international agencies to protect Kosovo Serbs (Reuters)
Serbian army commander urges NATO to increase protections to minority Serbs in Kosovo (Jurist)
NATO-led peacekeepers guard medieval monastery in Kosovo (Yahoo)
Serbia Threatens Military Intervention in Kosovo, Calls on NATO to Protect Serb Minority (Bloomberg)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo Police arrest suspect of violence against KFOR (media)
• Svecla: 15-20 persons beat up two Albanian youths in the north last night (media)
• Kurti: De-escalation, new elections and full implementation of Basic Agreement (media)
• Kosovo institutions don’t know how shock bombs are entering the north (RFE)
• Rama: Without return of three policemen, tensions in north cannot be defused (RFE)
• Kurti: We need help Vatican’s help to promote peace in unsettling times (media)
• Kurti: Serbia must recognise Kosovo; I am not stubborn, I am principled (media)
• Maliqi: Kurti no longer has credibility to set conditions in dialogue (Gazeta Blic)
• Surroi compares Serbian List to Dodik (Nacionale)

Serbian Language Media:

• Arrest in North Mitrovica; KP: Arrested Serb suspected of attack on members of KFOR (Kosovo Online)
• Office for KiM: New arrest just a day after the dialogue an indication that Kurti wants new crises (gracanicaonline.info)
• Serbian List: Unfounded and arbitrary arrests as a method of persecution (KiM radio)
• We want peace, freedom and harmony, message from protest in Gracanica (KiM radio)
• Protests continue in the north, trucks with Serbian goods still at the crossings (KiM radio, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Borrell to submit report on Belgrade-Pristina dialogue to the heads of EU diplomacy on Monday (Kosovo Online)
• Joseph in Zvecan: It is important to hear the views of Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Twitter)
• DW: The German government seeking an explanation for Gasic's accusations (KiM radio)

Albanian Language Media:
No agreement on de-escalation in the north (Koha)
Kurti: The police cannot withdraw if the extremists do not (Koha)
Osmani calls for unity between institutions and parties to face challenges (media)
Stoltenberg: Situation in Kosovo proves NATO’s presence is important (media)
Osmani and Hovenier talk about de-escalation of the situation (media)
Rama: There is no progress without the release of the policemen (Koha)
Court orders 30 days of detention for Serb suspected of war crimes (media)
Police publishes a video regarding claims of protester in Gracanica that he was injured by a moving vehicle (Kallxo)
BRA suspends business certificate of Klan Kosova again (media)
Serbian Language Media:

Vucic in Brussels: All that applies to Ukraine doesn’t to Serbia (N1)
Borrell: Arbitrary arrests unacceptable, EULEX to play more robust monitoring role (N1, BETA, Kosovo Online)
Grenell meets Serb political representatives in Mitrovica North (Kosovo Online)
Serb arrested near Gracanica sent to one-month detention (BETA, media)
Visoki Decani Monastery on protests in Gracanica and Ranilug (social media, Radio KIM, Kosovo Online)
Third protest in Gracanica over arrest of Serb called for today (Radio KIM)
Hill: Great to see Serbian and American forces working side by side (FoNet, social media)
Economy Minister says he is being dismissed for requesting sanctions against Russia (Danas, N1)
International Media:
Kosovo-Serbia: Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell (eeas.europa.eu)
No breakthrough as EU's Borrell holds crisis talks with Kosovo, Serbia leaders (Reuters)
No breakthrough after EU summons Kosovo and Serbia leaders for emergency talks (AP)
EU holds talks with Kosovo, Serbia leaders amid tension (Aljazeera)
EU Calls for New Elections in North Kosovo ‘As Soon as Possible’ (Bloomberg)

Albanian Language Media:

• Borrell to host series of meetings with Vucic and Kurti in Brussels today (media)
• Hovenier says Kurti should accept EU three-point plan today (RTV21)
• Sources: Osmani to call a meeting with leaders of parliamentary parties (Nacionale)
• Haradinaj to PDK and LDK: Why don’t you vote on a motion against govt? (Telegrafi)
• Osmani calls for unified international reaction for release of Kosovo officers (media)
• Stoltenberg, Milatovic call for lowering of tensions between Kosovo and Serbia (RFE)
• Citaku compares Gervalla to ministers of totalitarian countries (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic: Pristina's ultimate goal is the complete emigration of the Serbian people from Kosovo (Tanjug, Blic)
• The EU member states leaders to discuss the tensions between Belgrade and Pristina at the Summit in June (Danas, FoNet, RFE)
• Office for KiM: The perpetrators of the crimes against the Belacevac miners have not been found a quarter of a century (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio)
• German embassy denies Minister Gasic claims on Ivanovic murder (N1)
• A humanitarian disaster threatens because of Kurti, says doctor Elek (Kosovo Online)
• Gracanica: New protest due to the arrest of D.M. (KiM radio)
• When Svecla finally remembered the presumption of innocence (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Evil spring in the north of Kosovo: A plain and simple account of a situation that is neither (KoSSev)
• Effect of the Brussels meeting today, deterioration of relations or de-escalation? (Danas)

International:

• German minister points at Pristina to deescalate Kosovo tensions (Euractive)

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti: In Brussels I will insist on urgent unconditional release of policemen (Koha)
Escobar: Kurti-Vucic meeting is not expected to happen this week (VoA)
Lajcak meets U.S. senators: De-escalation and return to dialogue is needed (Klan)
Chollet, Lajcak discuss situation in Kosovo (media)
Gervalla: West should change strategy, send other diplomats to Balkans (media)
Police arrest Serb in Gracanica suspected of war crimes (media)
Svecla: Arrested suspected of violence against Albanian prisoners (Koha)
KFOR renews cooperation with Kosovo Security Force (RTK)
Rohde denies reports that 200 German companies are leaving Kosovo (Koha)
KBRA revokes decision to suspend Klan Kosova certificate (media)
Study by Mark Weller on “lessons from Kosovo-Serbia dialogue” (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:
Vucic for RTS: I will go to Brussels, but I will not talk to Kurti (RTS)
Serbian List: Kurti’s intention to deceive Serbs in Kosovo doom to fail (Radio KIM, media)
Jablanovic reacts to Kurti’s allegations on receiving one million euros and two apartments in Belgrade to withdraw from April elections (Radio KIM, social media)
Lawyer: Serb arrested in Gracanica under 48-hour police custody, expects him to be released (Radio KIM, media)
Pristina amends decision, bans only Serbian goods (N1, BETA)
Serbs in Pomoravlje region protest over recent arrests (Kosovo Online)
Lazarevic: Trained and experienced security personnel were pulled away, while children were pushed to ‘front line’ (KoSSev)
Petkovic responds to Svecla’s remarks on arrest place of Kosovo police officers (Kosovo Online, social media)
International Media:

War Crimes Arrest Sparks Protest by Kosovo Serbs (BIRN)
North Mitrovica: Profound challenge in Kosovo-Serbia ties (The Daily Sabah)
Turkey eyes Balkan influence amid Serbia-Kosovo tensions (The Arab Weekly)
US, EU Warn of Serbia-Kosovo Unrest Igniting Broader Conflict (Bloomberg)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti with video address in Serbian for Kosovo Serbs (media)
• Kurti travels to Italy, will meet Pope Francis tomorrow (media)
• Nuland: We urge Kosovo and Serbia to de-escalate tensions immediately (media)
• EU: No confirmation yet for Kurti-Vucic meeting, we expect positive response (RFE)
• Kim: Time for leaders to set ego aside, consider advice from your true friends (Express)
• Ristuccia: In Kosovo, KFOR troops avoided a massacre (media)
• Svecla shares video how Kosovo policemen were “abducted” in the north (media)
• Musliu: We warned months ago about risk of getting to this situation in north (Koha)
• Bogdanovic: Indirectly informed policemen discovered illegal transfer of weapons (AP)
• Reporters want security and conditions to carry out their mission (Kosovapress)
• One month detention for suspect of assault against reporters in Leposavic (media)
• VV continues to criticise Borrell: His approach toward Kosovo is unfair (Kosovapress)
• Banning of Serbian products, a good moment for local manufacturers (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• RTS: Another brutal arrest of a Serb in the vicinity of Gracanica (NMagazin, Kosovo Online, KiM radio)
• Gracanica: Gathered Gracanica residents demand immediate release of D.M. (KiM radio)
• Office for KiM: The arrest of Milenkovic a brutal demonstration of the power of Kurti's anti-Serbian regime (Kosovo Online)
• The Serbian List and Gracanica Mayor reactions to the arrest of Kisnica village resident (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)
• Serbian police Ministar, Gasic on the murder of Oliver Ivanovic: We know who the killer is (NMagazin, N1)
• SL on the opposition MPs in Serbian Parliament visit, Aleksic and Jovanovic (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• A shock bomb thrown in front of a cafe where opposition MPs, Aleksic and Jovanovic were (KiM radio)
• Jovanovic: ''Being in Kosovska Mitrovica means that you will be met with explosive devices, it is not safe'' (N1, Danas, KiM radio)
• Stefanovic: The Serbian List representatives moving to Belgrade, the people have been let down (KiM radio, N1)
• Serbian List: We are here, every day with the people at the protests (Radio Mitrovica Sever)
• Surlic: No change in Pristina politics until the entire society feel the consequences through concrete sanctions (RTS, Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• EU and Western Balkans: Twenty years of hopes and dreams (Euractiv)

Albanian Language Media:
Kurti confirms participation in Brussels meeting (media)
Kurti publishes new evidence: Serbia violated the Kumanovo Agreement (RTK)
Gervalla says families expected to visit the three police officers on Friday (RTK)
The border points in Bernjak, Jarinje and Merdare, unblocked (Klan)
Escobar: Kosovo-Serbia tensions have potential to turn into "regional conflict" (media)
Lajcak meets with Undersecretary Nuland, talk about situation in the north (media)
Biden extends Western Balkans National Emergency Executive Order (Klan)
KFOR: Our intervention on May 29 in Zvecan, decisive to prevent fighting between Serbs and Albanians (Klan)
Ambassadors: Association only according to the Constitution of Kosovo (RTK)
Bujar Osmani talks to Gervalla and Dacic: Situation in the north should calm down (RTK)
Sources: Kurti to visit Vatican on Wednesday (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:
Petkovic: Serbs arrested in Kosovo harassed, beaten (Radio KIM, N1)
Bishop Tedosije: Arrests and maltreatment of Serbs lead to greater conflict (Radio KIM)
Lawyer: Vukasinovic sent to one-month detention (Radio KIM, Kosovo Online)
Peaceful night in northern Kosovo, Serbs continue protesting (RTS)
UNS and DNKiM: Participants in protest do not have right to impede work of journalists (KoSSev)
Brnabic asks EU to help preserve peace (RTS, media)
Serbian media and civil society organizations in Kosovo condemned attacks on journalists (KoSSev)
International Media:

Protests Cause Travel Disruptions and Roadblocks Between Kosovo and Serbia (BIRN)
Hungary's PM Orban urges Serbia to release arrested Kosovo policemen (Reuters)
NATO ready to react to acts of violence in Kosovo: commander (TVPWorld)
Serbian protestors block border crossings for Kosovo vehicles (SeeNews)
Trucks Blocked at Balkan Border as Serbia-Kosovo Spat Escalates (Bloomberg)
Osmani urges immediate de-escalation in Kosovo (mirage news)
Defence, Prosecution Argue Over Witness Protection at Kosovo War Court (BIRN)
In Montenegro, Memories of Pain and Generosity on the Refugee Road (BIRN)
German-French tie-up gets 12.2 mln euro contract for ID system in Kosovo (SeeNews)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 20, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Three border crossings with Serbia remain blocked for trucks and buses (RFE)
• European Parliament President: Situation in the north must de-escalate (Gazeta Metro)
• Kurti-Vucic meeting; analysts says dialogue only way to overcome situation (Telegrafi)
• Osmani and Haradinaj with messages on World Refugee Day (media)
• Surroi reacts to Grenell about “potential idea of removing NATO troops in 2020” (media)
• Gashi: Attacks against reporters extending Prime Minister Kurti’s narrative (Kallxo)
• Case initiated for throwing of Molotov cocktail at police car in Leposavic (media)
• Austrian reporter: EU sanctions against Kosovo taken seriously as it seems (Nacionale)
• CDHRF: Serbia is not allowing anyone to visit the police officers (Kosovapress)
• Populism is threatening societies and countries in the region (Kosovapress)
• Hasani on Rama’s proposal: Philosophically equal to project for Kosovo’s partition (T7)
• Abazovic: I have asked Kurti not to get into conflict with internationals (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: I will not talk to Kurti until each arrested Serb have not been released (TV Pink, Kosovo Online)
• Orban asked Vucic to release Kosovo police officers (NMagazin, Beta)
• Protests in northern Kosovo continue (Kosovo Online)
• Colleagues of arrested Vukasinovic talk to KoSSev, claim that he is innocent (KoSSev)
• Truck drivers from Serbia: We are blocking all trucks from Kosovo until they let us go (N1)
• Members of the Serbian opposition Miroslav Aleksic and Aleksandar Jovanovic in Zvecan (KiM radio)
• Serbian opposition Zvetnici party supports truck drivers blocking the roads (Kosovo Online)
• Odalovic: KFOR must order the withdrawal of special units from northern Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Behind Lajcak's sudden departure to Washington for "intensive talks on urgent steps" (Blic)

Albanian Language Media:
Roads toward three border crossings with Serbia remain blocked (Telegrafi)
COMKFOR: Situation in North cannot be resolved militarily, but politically (Albanian Post)
Escobar and Lajcak in the U.S. on the resumption of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)
Osmani: Criminal groups in the north must be brought to justice (media)
Svecla says “criminals who receive orders from Belgrade” will face justice (RTK)
Union chief says policemen in Serbia are well and not being mistreated (KTV)
Haxhiu: Serbia should hand over the war criminals (Koha)
Five TV stations stopped broadcast for 5 minutes, solidarity with Klan Kosova (Reporteri)
Ministry: Klan Kosova can perform activities until IMC decision (media)
Hoti: Resignation of Kurti govt would save Kosovo’s economic and political stability (media)
Serbian Language Media:
Arrests of Serbs do not stop, truck drivers and local residents blocked roads after Jarinje crossing and near Kursumlija (RTS)
Another Serb sent to one-month detention (KoSSev)
Ristuccia: Situation in northern Kosovo still tense, we call for dialogue (Tanjug)
Petkovic reacts to Svecla’s remarks on arrests, says arrested Serbs are innocent (Kosovo Online, social media)
Vucic welcomes Hungarian PM Orban (N1, FoNet)
International Media:

NATO Ready to Act to Save Kosovo's Peace, Calls for De-Escalation (Reuters)
Brussels urges Vucic and Kurti to be 'more reasonable' and engage in talks to diffuse tensions (euronews)
Kosovo frustrated over Western threats blames Serbia (Euractiv)
NATO Chief Urges De-Escalation As Serbia, Kosovo Leaders Downplay Crisis Talks (RFE)
EU, NATO urge Kosovo, Serbia talks, de-escalation (Daily Sabah)
How Kosovo’s prime minister became America’s ardent frenemy (politico.eu)
Kosovo Serbs Protest Arrests of Serbs Suspected of Attacking Journalists (BIRN)