UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 4, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 591 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• Zemaj warns stricter measures if increasing trend continues (media)
• Central Election Commission announces final election results (media)
• NATO SG: We’re reviewing engagement with KSF, after mandate change (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 67 new cases of Covid-19, two deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Antonijevic: The number of patients is growing, the worrying situation (KiM radio)
• The CEC confirmed 10 mandates of the Serbian List, Slavko and Igor Simic won the most votes (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic: Albanians are not ready to compromise (KoSSev)
• Lajcak from Belgrade: Status quo is not sustainable for either side (KoSSev)
• Germany against change of borders; Serbia for compromise (KoSSev)
• Sava Janjic: No hasty solution for Kosovo and Metohija (NMagazin, FB)
• Selakovic addressed German Bundestag EU Committee, talks about EU integration, Kosovo issue (GoS, media)
• Grubjesic: Lajcak visit to 'feel the pulse' of Pristina about the dialogue continuation (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Lack of paper in the Paper Leviathans (Koha)
• Intentional Amnesia: Croatia’s Attempt to Erase Yugoslavia (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Left-wing party wins Kosovo poll, needs ally to form cabinet (AP)
• World Health Organization warns of global uptick in Covid cases after weeks of decline (CNBC)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Inspiring change: women’s leadership in health care is vital during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond (euro.who.int)
• In COVID-19 Fight, Free Speech Becomes Collateral Damage (Balkan Insight)
• EU Starts Sputnik V Review as Russia Seeks Vaccine Acceptance (Bloomberg)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 601 new cases, five new deaths (media)
• Vetevendosje’s Kurti says he has votes to form the government (RFE)
• Kurti replies to Netanyahu, Erdogan; no mention of embassy in Jerusalem (media)
• CEC likely to announce final election results today (Express)
• EUSR Lajcak’s visit to Kosovo: Dialogue will continue (media)
• Lajcak: Dialogue important for Kosovo and Serbia’s European aspirations (media)
• Abbott: UK shares views for well-prepared, principled dialogue (media)
• EU-facilitated dialogue with US support as soon as institutions are formed (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 33 Covid-19 cases in Serbian communities in Kosovo, one deceased (Kontakt plus radio)
• Gracanica: 10 new Covid-19 cases (KiM radio)
• Patriarch Porfirije: Kosovo not only a geopolitical issue for us, but also a question of identity (RTS, KiM radio, Kosovo Online)
• Freedom House: SNS erodes political, civil liberties in Serbia (N1, VoA)
• Germany honestly supports Western Balkans’ European perspective (Beta, N1)
• LVV publishes photos of Kurti and Lajcak – no Albanian flag (KoSSev)
• Lazic: An epidemic would be under control with 20,000 revaccinated, we are now halfway there (Kosovo Online)
• Bajrami: Dialogue cannot continue with the same discourse, reaching an agreement in a few months is unrealistic (KoSSev)

Humanitarian/Development:

• WHO: Serbia fourth in Europe by number of newly infected per 100,000 people (N1)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 488 new cases, 8 deaths (media)
• Lajcak expects Kosovo-Serbia agreement within mandate of Kurti’s government (media)
• Schutz on Lajcak's visit to Kosovo (Express)
• Hoti: Sovereignty and integrity of Kosovo non-negotiable (media)
• Vetevendosje publishes details of Kurti-Lajcak discussions (Express)
• Kurti: The Constitution does not allow us to unite with Albania (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 1, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 467 new cases, 9 deaths (media)
• VV: Revoking Radojicic arrest warrant, scandalous and dangerous (media)
• CDHRF: There should be protests against Lajcak’s visit (media)
• Albin Kurti’s crossroad between EU, US, Erdogan and Netanyahu (euronews.al)
• Hague Court schedules new status conference on Salih Mustafa’s case (Gazeta Express)
• Berisha: We will demand annulment of votes orchestrated by the Serbian List (Ekonomia)
• Simmons: I said and will say it again: Kosovo is a sovereign state (RTK)
• Director General of Kosovo Prosecutorial Council Secretariat, arrested (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• 86 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo on Saturday (Radio konakt plus)
• Radojevic: Interethnic incidents have no place in our city (Radio kontakt plus)
• Lajcak: I am not coming to Belgrade with ultimatum, EU and US expect continuation of dialogue (Tanjug)
• Simic: We expect that Lajcak reminds Pristina of its unfulfilled obligations (Kosovo-online)
• Office for KiM: “Arilje” handball team banned from entering Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Gathering to support detained youngsters in Gracanica held last night also (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic urges citizens from Kosovo to get vaccinated (Kosovo-online)
• Poll shows 75 percent of young Serbians want mandatory military service to resume (N1)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: A priority or not, the dialogue will last for many years (Koha)
• The far-reaching consequences of Kosovo’s failure to secure vaccines (Prishtina Insight)

International:

Kosovo Revokes Arrest Warrant for Powerful Serb Businessman (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Additional doses of Sputnik V for revaccination have arrived to Serbia (B92)
• Additional doses of Pfizer’s vaccines arrived in Serbia (Kosovo-online)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 26, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: Five dead, 445 new cases (media)
• Stricter implementation of measures to prevent increase in COVID cases (media)
• Lajcak to visit Kosovo on March 1 (media)
• Rugova: There are tendencies to impose a new LDK leader (media)
• Ineffective justice for attacks on journalists (Radio Free Europe)
• “Government to prepare strategy against Russia’s malign operations” (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Serbia will continue to aid Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija (Kosovo-online)
• EU spokesman denies Lajcak bringing ultimatum to Belgrade (N1)
• Lajcak to visit Pristina and Belgrade next week (Radio KIM)
• Drecun: Lajcak pushed ZSO aside; story on non-paper appears who knows how many times (RTS)
• Selakovic says lack of EU’s reaction on “Great Albania” statements doesn’t help building trust (N1)
• One more protest held in Gracanica (RTV KIM)
• Zakharova: Agreement between Belgrade and Pristina shouldn’t be forced, rhetoric of Kosovo Albanians concerning (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic replies to Osmani over map issue (Kosovo-online, social media)

Opinion:

• Kosovan abyss (KoSSev)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbia tightens anti-epidemic measures (N1)
• Half million doses of Chinese vaccines to be delivered to Serbia (B92)