UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 20, 2021 Albanian Language Media: • COVID-19: 6 deaths, 48 new cases (media) • License plates’ reciprocity, Svecla provides details on increase of police forces (RTK) • Citizens block the roads to Brnjak and Jarinje (media) • Kurti on action in the North: Serbia agreed to this as well (Ekonomia Online) • MIA: Do not use Brnjak and Jarinje border points (Koha) • The road to the Jarinje and Brnjak border points, continues to be blocked (Kallxo) • EU: Kosovo and Serbia to immediately reduce tensions (RTK/Klan) • KFOR: The situation in the North is stable (media) • Serbian media: Vucic to gather National Security Council following Kosovo decision on license plates (Express) • LDK's Gashi: PM Kurti putting on a 'show' with license plates (Kallxo) • PDK and LVV clash over Kurti’s role in the KLA (Telegrafi) • Kurti to undertake U.S. visit in November (Kosovapress/Klan) • Albanian Assembly Speaker Nikolla to visit Kosovo (Koha) Serbian Language Media: • 38 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio kontakt plus) • Stano: Lower tensions immediately, sides to refrain from unilateral actions (Kosovo Online, Tanjug) • KFOR on events in northern Kosovo: Security situation stable (Kosovo-online) • Vucic convened an emergency session of the Security Council (B92, Vecernje Novosti) • ROSU at Jarinje and Brnjak, confiscation of vehicle plates commenced, Rakic urges Vucic to react (RTS) • Simic called for the restraint of the citizens (B92, TV Prva, Tanjug) • Issuance of trial RKS vehicle plates has started (KiM radio) • Replacement of Serbian registration plates started in Gorazdevac (Radio KIM) • Andric: 9,500 vehicles with Serbian license plates captured in Kosovo (Beta, Danas) • Stefanovic: ''Explain to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija how you ‘defend’ them '' (Kosovo Online) • Rada Trajkovic accuses Vucic of misinforming Serbs (Kosovo online) • Petkovic: Pristina to start issuing temporary license plates for cars with Serb plates as of Monday (KoSSev) • Milivojevic: By introducing reciprocity, Kurti practically abolishes dialogue (Kosovo-online) • Lajcak on two-day visit to Belgrade (Radio KIM) • Lajcak canceled a meeting with civil society in Belgrade (Kosovo Online, Danas) • Petkovic: Either Brussels agreement will be respected or it shall not exist (Radio KIM) • Vucic, Erdogan: Friendship with Turkey is guarantee of peace in region (N1) Opinion: • Janjic: Vehicle plates are just the beginning of Kurti's measures of reciprocity, Lajcak does not understand, and that leads to war (Kosovo Online) International: • Tempers Flare At Serbia-Kosovo Border As Pristina Presses 'Reciprocal' Move Over License Plates (RFE) • Kosovo deploys police, Serbs protest amid border tension (AP) • Kosovo Deploys Police as Serbs Protest in Licence Plate Dispute (Balkan Insight) • Tensions as Kosovo begins removing Serbian licence plates at border (Euronews)

Albanian Language Media: • COVID-19: 19 deaths, 279 new cases (media) • Kosovo making preparations to issue COVID-19 digital passports (RFE/media) • Kurti: Reciprocity towards Serbia is not an act of revenge (media) • “Kurti to not debate Washington deal but insist U.S. appoints dialogue envoy” (Euronews Albania/media) • Rizvanolli: No decisions on gas pipeline without cost information (Koha) Serbian Language Media: • EU envoy Lajcak due in Belgrade on Monday (N1) • Lajcak met Serbian List’s representatives (Radio Mitrovica sever) • Two more people infected with Covid-19 in Gracanica (KiM radio) • Resignation after insulting president and prime minister (KiM radio) • Drecun: Lajcak attempts to give a dynamic to a died down dialogue (RTV Puls, Tanjug) • Petkovic to Pristina: Plans to conquer North doomed (KoSSev) International: • Kosovo Minister Blames Falsified COVID-19 Tests on Wrongly Licensed Labs (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media: • COVID-19: 14 deaths, 368 new cases (media) • Kurti: Kosovo, North Macedonia governments’ meeting, a historic moment (media) • Kosovo and North Macedonia signed 11 agreements today (media) • Konjufca: Territorial integrity and independence are non-negotiable (media) • AAK’s Tahiri asks Lajcak to explain issue of KLA archives (Lajmi) • 117 Afghan nationals expected to fly out of Kosovo today (Radio Free Europe) • COVID-19 forces parties to avoid conventional campaigns (Indeksonline) • Rama on Open Balkan: No one can lecture Albania (media) Serbian Language Media: • Three deaths, 29 newly infected with Covid-19 in Serbian communities (KiM radio) • "Epidemiological situation in Serb areas in Kosovo serious" (Radio Kosovska Mitrovica, KiM radio) • Petkovic: Pristina wants to go back ten years and bury the dialogue (RTS) • The hearing in the case of the murder of Oliver Ivanovic postponed again (KiM radio, Radio Mitrovica sever) • Petritsch: In Washington, the Balkans are increasingly seen as a problem of Europe (Kosovo Online) • Von der Leyen to visit Belgrade on September 30 (Tanjug) • Stojanovic: Citizens to decide on their own future (KiM radio) • Jevtic: Serbian List's victory will be "defeat to the devil" (KiM radio) International: • For Kosovo officials, training means travel on taxpayer dime (BIRN) • European Parliament gives green light to IPA III worth 14.2 billion euro (EWB) Humanitarian/Development: • FRONTEX: Illegal Migration Increased by Over 90% in the Mediterranean, Balkan & Western African Route (schengenvisainfo.com)

Albanian Language Media: • COVID-19: 12 deaths, 410 new cases (media) • Osmani: "Open Balkan" is dangerous (media) • Balkans towards insecurity without Merkel? (DW Albanian, media) • Minister Libur Aliu brings details about the Agreement in Belgrade (media) • Uran Ismaili hands over his MP mandate (media) • AAK decides to hold only five days of pre-election campaign (RTK) • Kurti testifies in court about threat he received from Haxhi Hoti in 2019 (Klan) • Special Prosecutor issues two requests for arrest warrant against three individuals (RTK) Serbian Language Media: • Vucic on Kurti's announcement of reciprocity: You cannot influence irrational moves (KoSSev) • Selakovic: If Pristina launches its recognition campaign, we know what to do (RTS, Kosovo Online) • The EC president announced a visit to the Western Balkans by the end of the month (Danas, Beta) • The DFC continues to work with governments to promote economic opportunities in the region (VoA) • Bieber: Merkel has supported Serbia’s undemocratic regime to some extent (N1) • Petkovic: ‘’Everything is ready for the celebration of the National Flag Day on KiM’’ (TV Most) • Dacic on Kurti's announcements: The time of the election campaign (RTK2, Nova S, TV Pink) • At the Merdare crossing, the reciprocity measure for the vehicle plates from Serbia not applied (KoSSev, KiM radio, RTK2) • Rakic: The Serbian list and the candidates for mayors received support from President Vucic (Kosovo Online) • Vucic: Elections to be held on April 3 or 17 (Tanjug) Opinion: • Leaders of dubious motives (KoSSev) International: • Kosovo’s Wartime ‘Commander Cali’ Emerges from the Shadows (BIRN) • Ex-rebel denies war crimes as Kosovo tribunal opens first trial (Reuters) • Relationship between Berlin Process and Open Balkan discussed during Merkel’s Tirana visit (EWB) • Serb Unity Day triggers worries across the Balkans (AP)

Albanian Language Media: • COVID-19: 24 deaths, 357 new cases (media) • Lajcak to visit Kosovo to discuss implementation of agreements (RFE) • Konjufca commends UN’s support in handling of the COVID-19 pandemic (Klan) • President Osmani begins official visit to Germany (media) • Election campaign set to begin Thursday, no agreement on its duration (Telegrafi) • LDK to limit election campaign to five days (media) Serbian Language Media: • In Serbian communities in Kosovo 47 new Covid-19 cases, three deaths (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio) • What did you say, Angela? (B92, Blic) • Surlic on Merkel's visit: Two topics surprised; Merkel's strong message to Pristina (RTS) • New US envoy for the Balkans: Belgrade and Pristina should not avoid dialogue (Beta, N1, Danas, MIA) • Varhelyi warns of possible migrant crisis from Western Balkans (Beta, N1) • Hearing postponed in the case of the murder of Oliver Ivanovic (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio) • Serbia, Austria sign military cooperation agreement (FoNet, N1) • Selakovic with Vitale: Security situation in Kosovo fragile; Belgrade has fulfilled all obligations (Radio Mitrovica sever) International: • Merkel in Belgrade: Berlin Process has achieved a lot; Kosovo issue will not disappear (EWB)