UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 29, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Our desire for peace exemplified by Basic Agreement (media)
• Krasniqi criticizes Kurti for not taking part EU-Western Balkans Summit (media)
• Freedom House: Kosovo ranked partly free despite progress (media)
• Hovenier welcomes new arrivals in KFOR (media)
• PDK: Kurti accepted Association with increased executive competencies (TeVe1)
• “Kurti sending Kosovo away from NATO, turned to Russian agenda” (Express)
• Xhaferi: Statements from Serbia, sign of possible escalation in the region (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Western Balkans growth plan to enable closer cooperation (Tanjug)
• Varhelyi: Western Balkan economies to grow under EU plan (N1)
• What are people who have been pulled out of institutions doing now? (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Despite Kurti’s unilateral moves Belgrade will find way to help Serbs in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Suspects for attack on Serbian children in Laplje Selo released, issued financial fine (Kosovo Online)
• Sarrazin tells Kurti to implement court’s decision on Visoki Decani Monastery (KoSSev)
• Vehicle belonging to head of municipal administration in Serbian system set on fire in Leposavic last night (Kosovo Online)
• Elektrosever to start distribution of preliminary bills in four northern municipalities (Kosovo Online)
• Stano: Tangible improvements and electoral process reforms needed in Serbia (RTS, media)
• Dacic: Touadera's visit to boost our traditional friendly ties with CAR (Tanjug)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 28, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• SRSG Ziadeh meets Sarrazin, dialogue is only viable way forward (Express)
• Osmani certain Ukraine’s recognition will come with victory over Russia (Koha)
• State Department: Talks on the CBK regulation must continue urgently (RFE)
• U.S. disappointed with no progress on implementation of Basic Agreement (Koha)
• German Embassy: Kosovo to make next step, form Association (Koha)
• UNDP publishes Public Pulse Brief, “decreased satisfaction with leaders” (media)
• CBK high delegation holds meeting at Kosovo embassy in Brussels (media)
• Bislimi meets Sarrazin, calls for lifting of EU measures (media)
• Konjufca meets delegation of the German Bundestag Defense Committee (media)
• Zubin Potok mayor: We don’t rule out possibility of tensions in Zvecan (media)
• UNICEF, EU publish study of children in street situations in Kosovo (media)
• Bislimi meets United Nations Office for Project Services representative (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic from the Tirana Summit: Important topics ahead, and a conversation with Zelensky (RTS)
• “We haven’t faced our own crimes“ (KoSSev)
• Youth in Strpce employed through programme My First Salary gathered in front of post office hoping to withdraw their salaries (Kosovo Online)
• Queues in front of Zvecan Postal Saving Bank office, citizens say they feel endangered (Kosovo Online)
• Surlic: Brussels meeting showed that there is no dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (Tanjug)
• ODIHR report on Serbian December 17 elections (N1)
• Brnabic: ODIHR recommendations show elections were fair, democratic (Tanjug)
• Lazovic: ODIHR report is just what Serbian opposition expected (N1, BETA)
• Tepic: ODIHR final report confirms election fraud (N1)
• Belgrade, Pristina dialogue without progress; this year crucial to preserve peace and security (Kosovo Online)
• Konrad: EU has pressure mechanisms, but Belgrade and Pristina must reach solution (Kosovo Online)
• Members of German Bundestag visit Visoki Decani Monastery (KoSSev)
• Without Kosovo Serbs living dignified lives, there can be no peace and stability in the Western Balkans (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Separate Kitchen, Private Gym – Life Behind Bars Comes with Perks for Albania’s VIP Prisoners (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Bislimi: Serbia is refusing to sign and implement the Basic Agreement (media)
• Why did the Dinar spark Kosovo-US tension? (Atlantic Council)
• Gerxhaliu on the Dinar: Biggest gift for Serbia, it speeds up the Association (EO)
• EULEX: Security situation in the north is stable but fragile (Gazeta Blic)
• U.S. European Command on meeting with Maqedonci (media)
• Svecla meets head of Institute of Crimes committed during War in Kosovo (EO)
• Maqedonci: Kosovo alongside UK continues to train Ukrainian recruits (media)
• Kastrati: Ready for census; online registration system for diaspora (media)
• Kusari welcomes European Parliament’s adoption of anti-SLAPP directive (media)
• Osmani: We are grateful for Turkiye’s enduring support (media)
• Sandulovic to Lajcak: You were silent about my assassination attempt (media)
• 16 anniversary of Kosovo independence to be celebrated in Belgrade today (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Momir Stojanovic elected the new president of the Serbian National Council in KiM (Blic, N1, media)
• Members of KFOR in Prizren threatened, the police arrested one person (N1, KoSSev, Kallxo)
• Workers of Jumkos in Z.Potok, Kindergarten teachers in Leposavic, Roma in Gracanica, in front of Postal Savings Bank branches (Kosovo Online, KiM radio)
• Petrovic and Obrenovic admitted their guilt for participating in the conflict in Zvecan (KiM radio)
• Attorney Arsic: The Prosecution did not provide strong material evidence for Djokovic's guilt (Kosovo Online)
• Mijacic: The last year's agreement expected to calm the tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, but it didn't happen (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Zarkovic: Don’t Ignore the Real Causes of Kosovo Serbs’ Population Decline (BIRN)

International:

• Turkish Women's Cup 2024 football: India finish runners-up after late heartbreak against Kosovo (olympics.com)
• BIRN Crew Attacked While Covering Church-Building Initiative in Kosovo (BIRN)
• Serbia Investigates Allegations of Police Assault on Two LGBT People (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: EU is our trade partner; don’t want to cooperate with Russia (RFE)
• Osmani: Women, Peace, and Security Forum in Pristina on April 15-16 (media)
• Borrell: Meetings with Kurti and Vucic in Munich were unsuccessful (RFE)
• CBK confirms it will attend “informative meeting” in Brussels (Nacionale)
• EU confirms Kosovo and Serbia to attend meeting on Dinar in Brussels (RFE)
• Osmani to represent Kosovo at summit for Ukraine in Tirana on Wednesday (Klan)
• AAK wants assembly debate on health insurances, healthcare system (media)
• “Five months after Banjska, no indictment against Radoicic yet” (media)
• Kamberi: We don’t want posts; we want more rights for Albanians (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Continuation of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina: Both sides confirmed participation (FoNet, N1)
• The Office for KiM: The attack on the SOC priest in Prizren a direct consequence of tolerating hatred (NMagazin, Beta, Danas)
• Consultations for the new prime minister have begun with Vucic (NMagazin, Beta, media)
• Dacic: No one has the right to teach Serbia what kind of foreign policy to pursue (Beta, NMagazin, Danas, TV Pink)
• N1 learns unofficially: ODIHR report on December elections on Monday in the government of Serbia (NMagazin, Beta)
• Stojanovic: With abolishment of the dinar an attempt made to abolish the entire system that functions in Kosovo (KiM radio)
• EULEX still patrolling in front and around municipal buildings in the North, the situation stable but still fragile (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Xi's visit to Serbia confirmed for this year (Tanjug)
• "We expect more decisive action from the international community": Dacic at the UN about the Serbs in Kosovo (N1, Beta, KiM radio)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: One year after ‘agreement’, Kosovo, Serbia further from reconciliation (Koha)

International:

• Kosovo Artist Turns Post-War Labour Inequalities Into Sculpture at Venice Biennale (BIRN)
• ‘Not an Utopia’: Talat Xhaferi Outlines His Election as North Macedonia’s First Ethnic Albanian PM (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 23, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: When removal of mayors is confirmed, I’ll set election date (media)
• Osmani: Women are the axis of the history of the people of Kosovo (RTK)
• Konjufca: Greater involvement of women in politics is needed (Klan Kosova)
• Citaku: Kurti creating crises with allies to cover up government scandals (media)
• Defence Ministry: We’re waiting for American offer for Javelin missiles (Express)
• Sandulovic: I experienced hell; I was close to ending up like Navalny (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Health workers in Gracanica: Our livelihoods in danger, patients particularly at risk (Kosovo Online)
• Queues in Mitrovica North, persons with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities wait for payments (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic says USA wants Serbia as a key partner, but under one condition (Danas, Kosovo Online)
• Starovic: Situation in Kosovo complex, it is high time for reaction of international community to follow (RTS)
• Petrich: Unacceptable rejection of talks, Pristina put the EU in a difficult position (Kosovo Online)
• The Serbian flag removed from the Zvecan fortress (Beta, NMagazin, KoSSev)
• Thieves shot at returnee in Bica in attempt to steal his sheep (Radio KIM)
• Threats, attacks, pressure: State of media freedom in Serbia has not improved (N1)
• Sutanovac: “Rama feels the need to show he's a greater Albanian than Kurti” (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Two Years On, Balkan States Remain Divided Over Ukraine War (BIRN)
• Does the EU Growth Plan provide anything new for Western Balkans countries? (Kosovo 2.0)