UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 11, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 344 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Kosovo Government to ease coronavirus rules (media)
• Hoti: LDK's victory becoming increasingly evident (Koha)
• Kurti: Sunday's victory to be a landslide (Klan/RTK)
• Haradinaj: With me as president, KLA will not remain orphaned (RTK)
• CEC has received nearly 15,000 of ballot packages from diaspora (Kallxo)
• FAZ: Major political change expected in Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Von Cramon: France not yet convinced to support visa liberalisation (Albanian Post)
• Former Serb fighter sentenced to 12 years in prison for war crimes (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 37 new cases, one deceased in Serbian communities in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Jevtic: House of Vuckovic family in village of Berkovo looted (KoSSev)
• Billboard “Freedom has a name – KLA” placed in Caglavica, Office for KiM condemns act (KoSSev)
• Zoran Djokic from Pec sentenced to 12 years in prison (RTV Puls)
• Kamberi to Vulin: By insulting minorities in Serbia, you are insulting your own country! (KoSSev)
• Half a million doses of the Chinese vaccine have arrived (B92)
• Petar Petkovic: Only Serbian List guaranties remain of Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• “This is quasi-democratic process in which people are told who to vote for” (Radio KIM)
• Prorokovic: Coordination between the USA and the EU on the issue of Kosovo is not enough for a final solution (Vecernje Novosti, Kosovo Online)
• Milojevic: Organized transportation from Kraljevo for IDPs who will vote in elections (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Good relations with France important for Serbia (N1)

International:

• COVID: Using AstraZeneca vaccine is ‘right thing to do’ for everyone, says WHO expert panel (UN News)
• Kosovo Parties’ Glittering Promises Leave Many Voters Cold (Balkan Insight)
• New air routes established over Kosovo with NATO support (nato.int)
• No “Navalnying” in the Balkans is the uncompromising message from Russia (intellinews.com)
• ‘We had to take care of ourselves’ in COVID-19 vaccine rollout, says Serbian president (euronews.com)
• 2021 Early Elections on Kosovo: Chance for New Beginning? (ifimes.org)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 307 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Raka: Mass anti-COVID vaccination to begin in summer (media)
• US Embassy in Belgrade: We know the dangers caused by offensive speech (Express)
• “It is good for Serbia to hear Washington's repeated calls for mutual recognition” (Koha)
• Kurti: Kosovo is on the eve of a referendum (media)
• Hoti: we have no red lines (Radio Free Europe)
• Status conference in Thaci et al case rescheduled for February 16 (media)
• Nasim Haradinaj remains in detention (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Antonijevic: Jump in the number of Covid positives cases in Serbian communities (Kosovo Online, TV Most)
• Palestine Ambassador to Serbia: In Pristina, they should be careful what they do, they are deceived that they will get something from the embassy in Jerusalem (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian FM: US Embassy was wrong, Trump, Biden messages different (RTS, N1)
• "The situation around Kosovo and BiH is worrying, Russia is pushing a position that suits Belgrade" (RTS, Tanjug)
• US Embassy: The goal of the US is Serbia's membership in the EU and mutual recognition of Belgrade and Pristina (RTS, Tanjug)
• Dagens Nyheter: Kosovo's Jerusalem embassy a betrayal (B92, Tanjug, RTS)
• Covic: Tough statements during the campaign in Kosovo, additional pressure on Belgrade (RTS)
• Czech PM visits Serbia, political talks, gathers information on immunization (N1, Beta)
• NGO Aktiv virtual debate on vaccines: Dr Panic says he has no reason to doubt any vaccine (KiM radio)

Opinion:

• Serbia’s President Will Struggle to Get Patriarch He Can Control (Balkan Insight)
• Time For Kosovo To Secure Its True Independence (eurasiareview.com)

International:

• Western Balkans goes east for coronavirus vaccines (politico.eu)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 272 new cases, 3 deaths (media)
• Kurti: Only victory with 61+ MPs brings change (media)
• Szunyog: Supply with vaccines from COVAX after June (RTK)
• Ombudsperson slams political parties for violating COVID-19 measures (BIRN)
• CDHRF: The election campaign, “Kosovo’s Wuhan” (media)
• Healthcare unions warn to charge politicians if number of infections rises (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• In Serbian communities in Kosovo 38 new cases, one deceased (Kontakt plus radio)
• Lajcak no longer talks about months when reaching Kosovo-Serbia agreement is in question (RFE)
• Simic: Reducing the number of voters a way of pressure on Serbs and the Serbian List (Vecernje Novosti, Kosovo Online)
• Re-vaccination of Kosovo residents starts today (KoSSev)
• Vucic for Chinese media: A friend in need is a friend indeed (B92)
• Father Sava: Archaeological artefacts looted from hermitage near Prizren, three Albanians arrested, one escaped (KoSSev, Kosovo-online)
• Trajkovic in Mitrovica North on elections, Ivanovic, possible coalition with Kurti (KoSSev, Radio KIM)
• Petkovic: Rada Trajkovic offers cooperation to a man advocating for a project of “Great Albania” (Kosovo-online)
• Maliqi: New US approach to dialogue expected; a letter to Pristina to prepare for compromise (Kosovo Online)
• Analysts: Vigorous election campaign, known winners, Serbs tired of promises (KoSSev)
• UN: Western Balkan nationals among refugees in Syria (N1, VoA)
• Serbian President met Slovak Foreign Minister (N1)
• Jovanovic family house in Mogila village burglarized twice in a month (Radio KIM)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbia sticks to current anti-epidemic measures despite political pressure (N1, FoNet)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 8, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19: 290 new cases, three deaths (media)
• EU does not seek mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia (Express)
• Energy, environmental and agricultural issues in the spotlight (Prishtina Insight)
• Hoti: DFC Agreement opens a large window for private sector (media)
• Haradinaj to Vucic: Recognize Kosovo or we will unite with Albania (euronews.al)
• The man who represented 57 Islamic states, supports Hoxhaj for PM (RTK)
• Kurti presents 77 world academics who have supported him (Kallxo.com)
• Hoti: There is no place in Europe for people who tie red ribbons (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: The US wants Serbia to be humiliated; I told them what I think about it (KoSSev)
• Biden encourages mutual recognition in a letter congratulating Vucic on Serbian Statehood Day (KoSSev)
• Stefanovic: We will not allow any kind of pogrom against Serbs in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Selakovic: The US has its own position on Kosovo, which they insist on, and Serbia has its own (Kosovo Online, TV Happy)
• Petkovic: Kurti only privately can speak about the Constitution of Serbia, as a citizen of Serbia (Kosovo Online)
• Haradinaj on unification with Albania again; Petkovic: He is in hopeless situation (RTS)
• Vucic: It is important for Serbs to go to polls and vote for Serbian List (TV Most)
• Goran Rakic: Let Rasic go with Kurti, Serbs together with SL will be with Vucic (Kosovo-online)
• Rasic: Arrival of new political current is inevitable; Kurti will be prime minister (Kosovo-online)
• Montenegrins from Kosovo invite their compatriots to vote for Serbian List at the upcoming elections (TV Most)
• New contingent of 50.000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine to be delivered to Serbia soon (B92)
• Person suspected of writing “KLA – Kosovo” graffiti in Gorazdevac arrested (Radio kontakt plus)

Opinion:

• Elections 2021: Week 3 — What Did I Miss? (Kosovo 2.0)

International:

• Kosovo Guerrillas’ Stronghold Tense Ahead of Election Showdown (Balkan Insight)
• The Balkans face their #MeToo moment (DW)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Energy Community warns BiH, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Serbia over coal plant emissions (balkangreenenergynews.com)
• Serbia And Key International Sovereigns Lead With Data And AI To Become Vaccination Champions (forbes.com)
• Turned Back by Italy, Migrants Face Perilous Winter in Balkans (NYT)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19: 284 new cases, five deaths (media)
• UNICEF: Over 100,000 vaccines from COVAX dedicated for Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Hoti: No one can question my government's decisions (media)
• Kurti and Osmani promise a governance free of corruption (media)
• Hoxhaj discusses foreign investments with head of World Economic Forum (media)
• Haradinaj vows to defend Kosovo's sovereignty and independence (media)
• CEC: Votes for uncertified candidates will not be included in result forms (RFE)
• Kurti pledges to bring social and legal justice (Prishtina Insight)
• Rohde: Parties to agree on president's post, not head to new elections (Kosovapress)
• Haxhiu: Vote for number on LV's ticket will not be invalid (media)
• Haradinaj-Stublla reacts to idea of moving Kosovo's embassy from Jerusalem (Lajmi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lajcak: I have strong support from EU members for the plan implementation (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Dacic: Pristina doesn’t respect what has been signed and agreed (Tanjug)
• Serbian List Vice President Dalibor Jevtic: Laws to Pristina as a "Buffet table" (Vecernje Novosti)
• Petar Petkovic: Haradinaj would like to win some votes for his party by attacking President Vucic (Kosovo-online)
• Serbia’s Vucic & EU’s Fabrizi: Belgrade must continue toward EU (N1)
• Preparatory hearing in Oliver Ivanovic’s case, defendants pleaded not guilty (Radio KIM)
• The process of vaccination of the population from Kosovo continues in Kursumlija (KiM radio)
• Decreased number of polling stations, voting only with Kosovo ID (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: Macron doesn’t impose France’s stances, wishes to hear Serbian side (TV Most)

International:

• Six Plead Not Guilty to Kosovo Serb Politician Ivanovic’s Murder (Balkan Insight)
• Ties That Bind, Ties That Break: The Future of Israel-Balkan Relations (themedialine.org)
• Democracy Index 2020: Albania moves up, Serbia achieves the lowest score since 2006 (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Serbia sees production of Sputnik V by the year-end – president (Reuters)
• Air Serbia moving to JFK Terminal 1 (N1