UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 31, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Reprimand measures for drivers with illegal licence plates start tomorrow (RTK)
• Kurti calls for international monitoring of census process in the Valley (media)
• Scholz to meet with the Presidents of the Balkans this week (Express)
• Over 100,000 Albanians living in Presevo Valley, census shows (media)
• CDHRF slams both government and opposition (media)
• Limaj calls for united democratic front against Kurti-led government (Kallxo)
• “Kurti put pride before national interests” (Zeri)
• Haziri on French-German proposal: Govt must use the momentum (Albanian Post)
• Analysts: Government not transparent regarding the French-German document (RTK)
• PDK: Government has started seizure of the Public Administration (media)
• Sheholli: Kurti disappointed the U.S.; Serbian List is installing fear among Serbs (EO)
• Kosovo govt signs memorandum with Albanian Council from Presevo Valley (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• EC spokeswoman: The decision on the plates not in accordance with the agreements from the dialogue (N1)
• Radojevic: We do our utmost to maintain peace, but we do not accept unilateral decisions (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic: New withdrawals of recognition real and possible; With full force against the admission of Kosovo to CoE (KoSSev, Kurir)
• Kosovo cannot get more than 83 votes for UN membership, says Dacic (FoNet, N1, TV Happy)
• Djuric: If Pristina starts Council of Europe process, de-recognitions notes would surface (N1)
• Petkovic: We wait concrete action of Washington and Brussels (Tanjug)
• Office for KiM: Pristina bans holding of elections for national minority councils (Kosovo Online)
• Botsan- Kharchenko: The introduction of sanctions would disappoint us, no trade of Kosovo for Donbass (media)
• Serbian List on latest decision on re-registration (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic, Brnabic with the US economic delegation (FoNet, N1)
• Lazarevic about license plates: The police in the north of Kosovo have not received any instructions (N1)
• Von der Leyen announces 160 mln euro energy assistance to Serbia (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Restrictive EU visa policy risks further Western Balkan disillusionment (BIRN)
• In Josep Borrell’s garden utopia, Balkan savages are a threat (Sbunker.net)
• Rada Trajkovic: "Kurti's punishment of Serbs reminiscent of Milosevic's disciplining of Albanians" (KiM radio)

International:

• Family First: The Rise of the Anti-Gender Movement in North Macedonia (BIRN)
• Richard Grenell: Republican or Democrat, Albin Kurti has rejected every idea that the Americans have put forward (The Pavlovic Today)
• Does Spain Support Proposal to Link Kosovo’s Visa Liberalisation Process With the Operationalisation of ETIAS? (schengenvisainfo.com)
• US Sanctions towards Western Balkan entities: “Red flags” without much effect on the ground (EWB)

Albanian Language Media:

• EU: Parties to respect the agreement on official visits (media)
• Osmani: Serbia wants tensions (media)
• LVV MP asks to postpone deadline for licence plates for another two months (Koha)
• The opposition demands licence plate issue coordinated with internationals (EO)
• “Let’s solve issue of licence plates in partnership with U.S.” (Gazeta Express)
• Besnik Bislimi will participate online in the conference held today in Serbia (media)
• Szunyog: Kosovo is on the right track (RTK)
• Zemaj: Kurti-led government incapable of managing healthcare sector (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Official Kyiv - Goncharenko is not authorised to represent the position of Rada in Kosovo (Politika, Tanjug, Interfax Ukraine)
• Mojsilovic met with Bauer (Tanjug)
• Vucic meets Bauer (Kosovo Online)
• Hovenier: Important to postpone implementation of new rules on licence plates (Kosovo Online)
• Bishop Teodosije: We are facing a serious crisis, we appeal to everyone to preserve peace (Kosovo Online)
• European Commission: Deadline for re-registration expires in three days, we hope for solution (Tanjug)
• People in northern Kosovo complain of mistreatment by special police, Kosovo police say its officers do not provoke but ensure safety (KoSSev)
• Police confirms stoning of bus transporting Serbs in Mitrovica South (KoSSev)
• Dacic: There will be no pogrom, do not force us to defend ourselves (TV Pink, Danas, FoNet)
• Trajkovic on Bislimi’s cancelled visit (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Trajkovic: “CSM last stone in foundation of independent Kosovo, yet Kurti doesn’t want it either, but emigration of Serbs”
• How Karadzic tried to dodge justice, claiming US ‘immunity deal’ (BIRN)
• Jovana Radosavljevic: In Kosovo, there is silence, and not the good kind of silence (Insajder)
• Mijacic: "If the decision on the plates is not postponed next week, a conflict in Kosovo is possible" (N1)

International:

• EU revisits Balkans to win friends, seek more influence (AP)
• Open Balkan and Berlin Process for successful regional cooperation (EWB)
• ‘I never imagined this could be done also to men’ (Kosovo 2.0)
• To US Concern, Turkish-Russian Trade Flourishes in Face of Sanctions (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 27, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti calls again on Serbs to convert their licence plates to RKS (media)
• Osmani: We fight against gangs, not citizens, we expect support (media)
• Von der Leyen on licence plates: Very short and very clear, the rules must be respected (media)
• Kurti meets Von der Leyen: Kosovo to apply for EU membership this year (media)
• NATO: If stability is endangered, KFOR is ready to intervene (Klan)
• Interior Ministry: Three incidents in the north related to RKS licence plates (RFE)
• Serwer: Kurti wielding sovereignty; hope he is ready to face consequences (Express)
• Rohde: Kosovars deserve visa liberalisation (RTK)
• Bajrami: LVV ignores WJP report, goes to page 40 to find something to be proud of (Express)
• A car burned in Leposaviq after the conversion of licence plates (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Ambassador Hill: We are disappointed by Pristina's refusal to extend the deadline for re-registration (Blic, N1)
• Stano: Kosovo's decision on the plates is legitimate, avoid increasing tensions and violence (N1)
• Vucic: We fully stand by the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija (RTS, media)
• New Serbian Government elected (N1)
• Djuric urges international community to maintain peace in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Zarrazin: Kosovo to demonstrate flexibility on licence plates (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic with Serbs from Kosovo, Rakic: “If Pristina starts violently, we will block the roads” (media)
• Serbian Minister of Defense: Kurti’s threats undermine peace (Kosovo Online)
• Office for KiM: Bus transporting Serbs pelted with stones in Mitrovica South (Kosovo Online)
• COM KFOR meets Raska-Prizren Eparchy Bishop Teodosije (Kosovo Online)
• Von Cramon: "The Kosovo government does not hold a dialogue with the Serbs, and it promised that" (Kosovo Online, Blic, Kallxo)
• Moscow’s Kommersant: Serbia’s new Government turned toward East (N1)

International:

• In Race to Lure Russian Talent and Capital, Serbia Emerges as Front-Runner (The Wall Street Journal)
• EU announces €500 million energy support package for Western Balkans (euractive.com)
• North Macedonia Pays Dear for Cancelled Power Plants (BIRN)
• Kosovo will not delay Serbian car plate rule despite calls by the West (eureporter)

Albanian Language Media:

• KFOR: We have no changes in our presence in the north (media)
• EULEX confirms there were armed people during July 31 tensions in the north (Kallxo)
• EULEX: We have not seen armed people in the north since July 31 (Gazeta Express)
• Contingent of Serbian and Russian forces in Kosovo north, security expert says (EO)
• Car of Serb police officer, who was attacked three days ago, set on fire (Kosovapress)
• Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi, tomorrow in Belgrade (RTK)
• Special Prosecution starts investigations into major bribe affair (media)
• Kosovo government adopts co-funding agreement for Prizren-Tetovo road (Telegrafi)
• Police arrest person for burning Serbian flag in Gjakova sports hall (Koha)
• Mustafi accuses Vucic of trying to distort number of Albanians in Serbia (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic scheduled a session of the National Security Council (Kosovo Online, Vecernje Novosti)
• President Vucic will respond to the invitation of the Serbian List within the most urgent deadline, says Petkovic (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian List: We demand an urgent meeting with President Vucic (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian List and the new KFOR commander on the situation in the north (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic, Rama and Kovacevski on the energy situation (media)
• Brnabic to MPs: Serbia’s interests and independence are the red lines (N1)
• Petkovic cuts his visit in Kosovo short, says most of his program not approved (Kosovo Online)
• European Commission wants new Frontex agreements in Western Balkans (N1, Tanjug)
• Former US ambassador: Serbia seems to be siding with Russia (N1, FoNet, VoA)
• IPKO: SMS requested by the Kosovo MIA; The Deputy Ombudsperson demands an investigation (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Major military exercise underway in Serbia (Tanjug)
• Von Cramon visited Gorazdevac, spoke with local Serbs (Radio KIM)
• “In a wave of fake news, Serbian media in Kosovo are more careful” (Radio KIM)
• Von der Leyen to visit Western Balkans (N1)

International:

• Armed Persons ‘Worryingly Present’ in North Kosovo in July, EULEX Confirms (BIRN)
• Rape Used as Weapon During Kosovo War, Says NGO (BIRN)
• “The Other Serbia” Srdja Popović (Sbunker.net)
• Serbia Shuns Ukraine’s Crimea Summit After Russian Diplomat’s Plea (BIRN)
• Why Putin has proposed an energy hub in Turkey (arabnews.com)
• Electricity prices in Balkans: highest in Montenegro, lowest in Kosovo* (balkangreenenergynews.com)
• Authoritarianism as a Cause of War and a Duty to Resist (EWB)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 25, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• The Western Balkans Summit starts in Prishtina (media)
• Kurti: We have achieved a lot during a year and a half of governance (media)
• Peach: UK supports Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe (media)
• Hovenier: Kosovo should be in NATO (Klan)
• Kurti confirms, there is no postponement of deadline for license plates (RTK)
• “There are hopes for positive response on visa liberalisation by year’s end” (Telegrafi)
• Deputy PM: Another solution must be found for the Association (Kosovapress)
• PDK supports government on license plates if it is in coordination with the USA (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• About phone messages from Kosovo MIA, Vucic says: ''We are facing a difficult time'' (KoSSev)
• Petkovic on licence plates issue, says Kurti changes tactics in vain (Kosovo Online)
• Survey: Two thirds of Serbs in northern Kosovo ready for protests and civic disobedience (Kosovo Online)
• The Kosovan MIA calls for vehicle re-registration via SMS in the Serbian language
• (KoSSev, media)
• Survey says most Serbs against sanctions on Russia (N1, Blic)

International:

• LNG Alliance ensuring energy security for landlocked Balkan nations (gasworld.com)
• Fiscal pressure grows in Western Balkans as region heads into new storm (intellinews.com)