UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 2, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 42 new cases, no deaths (media)
• Zemaj: COVID-19 situation stable, we are preparing for autumn and winter (Telegrafi)
• Prime ministers Hoti and Rama address joint Kosovo-Albania meeting (media)
• Kosovo, Albania sign cooperation agreements (media)
• Thaci discusses dialogue with Lajcak (media)
• Kosovo appoints chargé d'affaires to Israel (media)
• President Thaci meets Ombudsperson Qelaj (media)
• Swiss authorities arrest three Kosovo citizens for alleged ties with terrorism (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• Two cases of Covid-19 in Serbian communities in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Russia takes over presidency of the UN Security Council, puts Kosovo on the UN agenda (Tanjug, B92, TASS)
• Djuric: Hoti’s provocations mustn’t remain without EU’s response (RTS)
• Boehler: DFC committed to Balkan's development, China brings neocolonialism (Beta, N1)
• EU's Várhelyi: New international players in Western Balkans challenge for bloc (Beta, N1)
• Wesley Clark: Serbia-Kosovo agreement useful only with reduced influence of China and Russia (Danas, VoA)
• Varhelyi: EU's strategic interest is to bring W. Balkan countries closer (N1)
• Milic to Haxhiu: There is no single court verdict or indictment for genocide in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian ministers not taking part in joint session of Kosovo and Albanian governments (Kosovo-online)
• Hodzic: Demolition of illegally constructed shops in North Mitrovica is suspended (Kosovo-online)

Opinion:

• Vucic and Dodik Have Every Reason to Dread a Biden Presidency (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia is Playing With Fire, Delivering Arms to Armenia (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Kosovo: Trying for a normal life in a divided city (Deutsche Welle)
• Kosovo War Veterans’ Leader Challenges Arrest at Hague Court (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbia gets first reading room for blind persons (N1, FoNet)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 43 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Hoti: Association is a closed topic (media)
• Kosnett doesn’t expect unrest from work of Specialist Chambers (Koha)
• Gashi: Police, prosecution didn’t want to deal with files (Telegrafi)
• Judge orders war veterans’ attorney not to publish confidential files (media)
• Kosovo, Albania governments to meet tomorrow in Tirana (RTK)
• UN could investigate expulsion of Tienmu Ma (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic on EU decision to keep Serbia on unsafe countries list relating to Covid-19 (B92)
• “Friendship between Serbia and China made of steel” (FoNet, N1)
• FM Dacic: ''Apostolova informed the members about the problems of the Special Court'' (NMagazin, Politika, Danas, TV Pink)
• Tapuskovic: Witnesses against KLA already intimidated (Tanjug)
• Djuric: EU to react on ban to Sarcevic to visit Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• The ceremony at the University of Pristina, based in North Mitrovica, canceled (Kontakt plus radio)
• Kosovo police refutes media reports on kidnapping attempt in Plemetina (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Kosovo War Crimes File Leaks Deliver a Blow to Justice (Balkan Insight)
• The Kosovo Assembly isn’t working (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Kosovo Indicts Pro-Iranian Radical for Inciting Terrorism (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The whole of Europe has switched to Swedish model, but doesn’t want to admit it? (B92, media)
• Vucic says data on coronavirus-related deaths will be reviewed (FoNet, N1)
• Serbia Hugely Underestimated COVID-19 Death Toll, Official Admits (Balkan Insight)
• EBRD hopes Nis-Pristina motorway tenders to open in Nov (seenews.com)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 30, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 46 new cases, no deaths (media)
• German ambassador calls on MPs to adopt economic recovery law (media)
• EU insists the Brussels meeting was called off due to pandemic (Klan)
• VV accuses other parties of trying to manipulate election process (media)
• Municipality of Decan expresses concern over 'unjust' arrest of former KLA fighters (media)
• Kosovo Government entry restrictions based on nonexistent list (Prishtina Insight)

Serbian Language Media:

• Four newly infected with Covid-19, eight recovered in Serb areas in Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Trial of KLA crimes – diversions, (in)justice, and covering-up (RTS)
• US envoy to Serbia: Washington agreement shows political commitment, carries huge benefit (Nova S, N1)
• Novosti: Pristina still lobbies for recognitions despite Washington agreement
• New head of EU Office: Northern Kosovo important for Union (KoSSev,N1)
• Serb child attacked in Plemetina (Radio KIM)
• Brnabic: It is not suitable for Pristina for truth on Ivanovic’s murder to come out (B92)
• SANU President Kostic: The future of Serbia is in academic competence, education, understanding the signs of the times (Radio Mitrovica Sever)

International:

• COVID-19 Exacerbates Ethnic Serb Limbo in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
• Hague court begins long-delayed hearings on Kosovan war crimes (The Guardian)
• 'Leaked files, organ removal and irrepressible anger': What's behind the Kosovo war crimes probe? (euronews.com)
• Risi: KFOR is still dealing with a complex security situation in Kosovo (EWB)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 53 new cases, no deaths in last 24 hours (media)
• EU Head of Office: Association must be discussed in Brussels (media)
• PDK leaders Veseli slams Hoti government (media)
• Convicted MP hands himself over to police (media)
• PM advisor: We don’t expect any difficulties after Arifi went to jail (media)
• Serwer: Americans are wrong, Vucic won’t recognise Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: The signed in Brussels must be implemented, but not according to the Pristina's regulations (media)
• Dacic: Azeri-Armenian conflict a warning to the region (FoNet, N1)
• Djuric: If the idea of ZSO is dead, the possibility of success of the dialogue is also dead (TV Prva, Tanjug, Politika)
• Serbian FM: Thaci facing indictment soon (FoNet, N1)
• KFOR Commander: The formation of the ZSO is a controversial issue (Kontakt plus radio)
• Petkovic: Necessary to establish permanent police and international presence in Babin Most (Kosovo Online)
• Robbery attempt in Babin Most village (KIM radio)
• ''Fatherland'' movement: Banner placed on Vucic's initiative; he will need to say now "I will not give Trump" (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• A self-inflicted drama (Koha)
• Are ‘Serb’ churches Serb? Critique of an unwise choice (EWB)

International:

• “Western Balkans should join the EU, but regional political elites should do their job” (EWB)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 28, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 48 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Assembly fails to pass economic recovery law, yet again (media)
• North Macedonian health authorities recommend easing border restrictions (Koha)
• Hoti: If dialogue stalls, it means Serbia is not ready for final agreement (media)
• Kosovo Assembly elects new Ombudsperson (media)
• Kosovo to open support office for Presevo Valley residents (media)
• Agim Ceku concludes interview with specialist prosecutor (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Djuric: Hoti can lie the public, but he will not escape the creation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities (Kosovo Online)
• Milivojevic: Dialogue under question mark again, EU on test (Kosovo-online)
• Kandic: The goal of the campaign against the court met – there are no witnesses (KoSSev)
• Mihajlovic: Analysts think Ceku is first one Thaci “let go off” (N1)
• Vucic on Kosovo: We are ready for difficult solutions, as there are no easy ones (media)
• SDP: Someone wants to prolong and cover-up Ivanovic’s murder case (Radio kontakt plus)
• Vucic on the ''Trump Lake'' banner: Kosovo Serbs love Trump, they made and hung the banner themselves (KoSSev)
• Trump on Serb & Kosovo leaders: They hugged in the Oval Office, it was a beautiful thing to see (KoSSev)
• Serbs and Albanians from Decani are jointly erecting a monument to Bosko Ciric (direktno.rs, KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Trump’s Kosovo-Serbia normalisation deal is all about Israel (Aljazeera)

International:

• Access Denied: Most Balkan War Crimes Case Files Not Public (Balkan Insight)
• Middle East’s troubles spill over to the Balkans (arabnews.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovo's adoption of Istanbul Convention hailed by international community (social media)
• Balkan Insight’s Week in Pictures (Balkan Insight)
• N. Macedonia Minister: Balkan states considering simultaneous opening of borders (N1, Beta)