UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 4, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19 report: Nine deaths, 546 new cases (media)
• Kosovo Government reacts to today's police operation (media)
• Krasniqi's lawyer says his client expected to be transferred to The Hague (media)
• NISMA: No one can stain Krasniqi's actions (media)
• Haradinaj comments on SPO's operation, calls it 'concerning' (media)
• KLA veterans: We are working with MPs to have court interpret KSC mandate (media)
• KSC calls reports on Thaci's indictment 'speculations' (Koha/Klan)
• Kosovo's FM Haradinaj-Stublla meets Italian counterpart Di Maio (media)
• Daka meets Szunyog, discuss elections in two municipalities (media)
• Sale of IPKO mobile operator suspended (Koha)
• RTK union calls on Assembly to dismiss broadcaster’s board (Koha/Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• North Mitrovica Crisis Staff reported 19 new cases of Covid-19; Gracanica Crisis Staff reported one new case (Kontakt plus radio, KIM radio)
• In central Kosovo the epidemiological situation stable, in the north complicated (KIM radio)
• CBS: Discussion on north at Kosovo Assembly: Populist expositions and false claims (KoSSev)
• PM Brnabic: Serbia ready to continue dialogue with Pristina (media)
• Jeremic: Kosovo issue will not be solved soon, regardless of who would be new US president (KoSSev)
• Belgrade in show of support for Vienna (N1)
• Petkovic with Botsan-Kharchenko on Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (N1)
• RTK management elected (Kontakt plus radio, KIM radio)
• Russian Parliament ratifies free trade agreement with Serbia (BETA, N1)

Opinion:

• COVID-19 restrictions on the elderly are just cruel (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Fake News Rivals Real News for Albanians Reading about COVID-19 (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID – 19 report: 8 deaths, 334 new cases (media)
• Kosovo leaders condemn Vienna terror attack (media)
• "Three police officers that fought terrorists are from Kosovo" (media)
• EU doesn’t comment on Thaci’s statement for dialogue (Radio Free Europe)
• “Serbia’s armament by Russia, a serious threat to peace and stability” (media)
• Hoti travels to Italy, will visit the Vatican and meet PM Conte (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• 34 new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian communities in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Serbian President and Foreign Minister extend condolences to Austria (FoNet, N1)
• Simic: Mitrovica North is only truly multi-ethnic environment, where are Serbs from Pristina and Vucitrn (TV Most)
• Radovic: Decisions of Kosovo Government relating to Covid-19 also implemented in north (Kontakt plus radio)
• Twinning of Belgrade and Mitrovica North (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: Mutual recognition meaningless story (BETA, N1)
• Western Balkan leaders to meet in Sofia within Berlin Process (EWB, N1)

International:

• Vienna Terror Attacker was Citizen of North Macedonia (Balkan Insight)
• Havliček: Islamist and far-right extremism mutually reinforcing, liberal democracy absolutely threatened (EWB)
• Kosovo Activist’s Son Recalls 25-Year Search for Abducted Father (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Ministry of Culture, UNKT with joint programs for youth empowerment (media)
• ‘Life in the municipality’ debates put local governance in the spotlight (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 2, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19 report: Nine deaths, 486 new cases (media)
• Minister Zemaj warns anti-coronavirus measures may be toughened (media)
• Thaci: If no recognition proposal, dialogue destined to fail (media)
• Hoti urges Bosnia to lift visa regime and open liaison office (media)
• Kosovo FM Haradinaj-Stublla sets on official visit to Germany (media)
• Osmani: Government to reveal what it agreed in Brussels about missing persons (Koha)
• Selmanaj: Full integration happens when communities act within legitimate institutions (Klan)
• "Government's attempt to dissolve anti-corruption task force failed" (Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• 41 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serb areas in Kosovo on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• Borrell: Thaci's proposal to change mandate of SC and SPO beyond Kosovo legal obligations towards EU (KoSSev)
• Vucic spoke at panel of young leaders forum, Zaev and Rama participate as well (RTS)
• Metropolitan Amfilohije buried on Sunday, numerous reactions to his death (KoSSev)
• Godfrey: Whoever wins elections, Serbia will remain important to Washington (N1)
• Four candidates for Mitrovica North mayoral elections (Kontakt plus radio)
• CEC still has no instructions of Kosovo Public Health Institute regarding elections in two municipalities (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Serbian List reacts to Jablanovic’s statements (Kosovo-online)
• United opposition: EU must help us force government to ensure freedom of media (BETA, N1)

Opinion:

• Albanian Americans and Trump: An empty friendship (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• US Election Splits Central Europe (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Government tighten COVID-19 measures (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19 report: Four deaths, 418 new cases (media)
• Kosovo in negotiations to obtain Covid-19 vaccine through World Bank (media)
• Hoti dismisses claims abolishment of task force will delay visa liberalisation (media)
• KWN writes to Hoti calling for implementation of UN SC resolution 1325 (media)
• Kosovo's Islamic Community condemns terror attack in Nice (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Belgrade insists on ZSO in Brussels talks; EU: Step forward (N1)
• Milan Radojevic candidate for Mitrovica North mayor (Radio KIM)
• China congratulates Serbia on new government (FoNet, N1)
• Increase in domestic violence cases in northern Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Constitutional reforms inevitable in Kosovo and Serbia (KIM radio, TV Show 'Sporazum')
• Metropolitan Amfilohije passes away (KoSSev, media)
• Petkovic: Hoti deceives the public by misinterpreting the agreements from Brussels (TV Most)

Opinion:

• Washington could force Kosovo recognition onto Greece and other EU states (greekcitytimes.com)

International:

• CDT: The countries of the region are stagnating and even regressing in the field of democratization (EWB)
• Serbian Ministry Protects ‘Right to Privacy’ of Fugitive War Criminal (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Tiodorovic: Schools won't be closed in Serbia yet as they are not closed in Europe (B92, RTS)
• Ivanusa: The situation in Serbia is very serious (B92, Blic)
• Enabled channel for emergency filling of Lake Badovac from Ibar-Lepenac (KoSSev)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 29, 2020

Albanian Language Media:

• COVID-19 report: One death, 284 new cases (media)
• Thaci condemns attack in France: terrorists will never win (RTK)
• Borrell: Dialogue in Brussels is essential for Kosovo’s European road ( media)
• Kosovo-Serbia dialogue resumes today in Brussels (Express)
• Hoti: Police Task Force was unconstitutional (Telegrafi)
• Haradinaj-Stublla demands visa liberalization from EU Presidency (RTK)
• Kosovo and Northern Macedonia soon with common border point (RTK)
• Only one candidate for Mitrovica North mayor so far (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

21 new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian communities in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
Vucic: Terrorism will never win (B92)
Petkovic and Lajcak met in Brussels (Tanjug)
Carpenter: Biden's goal would be to strengthen Serbia in European and Euro-Atlantic structures (Danas, TV Prva)
Jevtic: Return of displaced persons at unsatisfactory level (Radio KIM)
Shaip Kamberi – a speech that marked yesterday’s Serbian National Assembly session (KoSSev)
German FM: Belgrade - Pristina agreement would have positive impact on region (N1, BETA)
Serwer: Vucic will not recognize Kosovo (B92, Kosovo Online)
Party of Kosovo Serbs letter to Central Election Commission (RTK)

Opinion:

• How Trump Lost the Balkans (foreignpolicy.com)
• Trump Has a Fix for Kosovo. He’s Ignoring It. (Foreign Policy, Koha)

International:

• London Calling: Albanians Count Cost of UK Illegality (Balkan Insight)
• Kommersant: Serbia’s new government shifts towards West (tass.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Balkan Brain Drain ‘Won’t Stop Without Economic, Democratic Progress’ (Balkan Insight)