UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 9, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• KFOR: Criminal groups were behind violent protests in Zvecan (RFE)
• Kurti: Rule of law needed in north for fair campaign before elections (media)
• Berlin on Rama’s draft: We received it, cannot comment the content (Nacionale)
• For EU, Rama’s draft statute for Association “a serious text” (RFE)
• Wisner: We’re Kosovo’s friends, Kurti knows this; disagreements suit only Vucic (AP)
• Kurti travels to Croatia, participates in an international conference (Kallxo)
• Molliqaj: Kurti’s actions in north are dangerous, door to compromise must open (EO)
• Suspension of visa liberalisation for Kosovo is not an option (RFE)
• Ben-Meir criticises Kurti of shortsightedness, “he must now correct” (Nacionale)
• Police armoured vehicles are leaving Leposaviq (Express)
• Kosovo Police arrest a Serb suspected of war crimes in Kamenica (Kallxo)
• Explosion in Mitrovica South, suspected hand grenade (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Gallieni: KFOR present in northern Kosovo because of crisis (Kosovo Online)
• Situation in Zvecan calm, Serbs continue gathering (media)
• Serb from Pomoravlje region arrested yesterday over war crimes allegations (KoSSev)
• Office for KIM says arrest in Bosce intimidation aimed at driving Serbs away from their places (Kosovo Online)
• Liturgy that “inspires Serbs to violence” and deleted text (Radio KIM)
• Vucic to participate at UN conference in Dubai (Tanjug)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The Fifth Assembly of The United Nations Youth in Kosovo is held (Klan)
• The Fifth UN Kosovo Youth Assembly began in Prizren (Media Centar Caglavica)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 8, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: If there is compatibility, I can deepen my draft vision for Association (Reporteri)
• Albanian PM Rama submits draft on Association to Macron and Scholz (media)
• Hoxhaj: Rama is trying to help Kosovo, not damage it (Nacionale/Paparaci)
• Gashi to Rama: Only government of Kosovo is competent for Association (Koha)
• Bislimi: Belgrade wants Association as Trojan Horse, preparing way for partition (Koha)
• U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Robinson postpones visit to Kosovo (Nacionale)
• Kearns and Kurti talk about the need to de-escalate the situation (RTK)
• Ambassador Szunyog reiterates the EU's call for return to dialogue (Reporteri)
• Mehaj talks to Clark about the latest situation and easing tensions (Klan)
• Kurti attends farewell reception for EULEX chief (media)
• “Vucic's pretence coming out, surprisingly international factor trusts him” (Koha)
• AmCham in Kosovo calls on govt to take measures to lower tensions in north (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbs in northern Kosovo continue gathering (KoSSev, media)
• Petkovic: Kurti’s accusations of Belgrade no longer fly in West (Kosovo Online)
• Andric-Rakic, Petronic about situation in northern Kosovo, ‘lists of Serbs’ (Radio Mitrovica Sever)
• Vucic thanks India for supporting Serbia's territorial integrity (Tanjug)
• President Murmu delighted to visit Serbia on her first trip to Europe (Tanjug, media)
• Vucic: There will be no transitional gov't as long as I am president (Tanjug, media)
• Opposition reacts to Vucic, Brnabic public address (N1)

International:

• Turkey Likely to Take Command of NATO-led Force in Kosovo (Bloomberg)
• Kosovo’s Kurti Under Mounting Pressure Amid Quarrel with Western Allies (BIRN)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 7, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Sanctions awaiting Kosovo if Kurti says no (Albanian Post)
• Murati: If sanctions were to be discussed, they should be against Serbia (Koha)
• Ceku: Kurti will very soon have an answer for all (Koha)
• Stoltenberg: Violence is setting back Kosovo and the entire region (Koha)
• Haradinaj: We have votes to initiate motion against Kurti government (media)
• Abdixhiku to Abbott: Kosovo’s clash with allies, strategic deviation (media)
• Selimi: Lajcak, Escobar to report if Kosovo approved de-escalation plan (media)
• Peci: See you in isolated and bankrupt Kosovo (media)
• Raci: Hard to believe Kurti will be on list with Radoicic, Dodik (media)
• Fried: The government of Kosovo abused the trust of the USA (RFE)
• Unknown assailants attack two persons in their vehicle in Zvecan (media)
• Govt adopts Sovereign Fund bill; Kurti: The core of our economic sovereignty (Telegrafi)
• Rasic says not whole state of Serbia should be blamed for war crimes in Kosovo (Koha)
• LVV’s Atic meets PDK’s Peci: Northern municipalities will become citizens’ (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo, Albania governments to meet on June 14 (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Citizens in northern Kosovo continue protesting (Radio KIM)
• Lajcak: A long conversation with Vucic, an urgent political solution to the current crisis needed (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Lawyers of two Serbs arrested at Jarinje on May 31 file appeal against detention measure (KoSSev)
• North Macedonia FM submits to OSCE plan for normalisation of situation in N. Kosovo (Beta, N1)
• Liturgy in Leposavic: Bishop Teodosije called for peace; Gazeta Express: Inspires Serbs to violence (KoSSev)
• Dacic: Unity and political stability top state and national interest (Tanjug)
• Serb from northern Kosovo in detention in Belgrade, charged with urging Serbs to leave Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Petkovic meets Gori, discusses situation in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Kosovo president open to new elections in Serb-majority municipalities (Reuters)
• Kosovo Eyes Consequences as Deadline for US, EU Demands Approaches (BIRN)
• US, EU considering sanctions against Kurti if situation in north escalates (Euronews.al)
• Behind the Renewed Troubles in Northern Kosovo (Crisisgroup.org)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani meets Escobar and Lajcak (media)
• Krasniqi: I’ve never seen such concern among internationals (Telegrafi)
• Abdixiku: Kurti to reflect, Kosovo at a critical moment (Koha)
• Escobar: U.S. is waiting for Kosovo to present draft on Association (media)
• OSCE Head of Mission: Strong support for EU call (media)
• Gervalla: Elections in north should be held, but preliminary actions are required (Koha)
• Svecla: Person who threatened Leposavic deputy mayor, arrested (Koha)
• Isufaj confirms investigations about tensions in the north (Nacionale)
• Haradinaj: Kurti is in love with the plan for Kosovo’s partition (Telegrafi)
• Hoti: Kosovo losing friends and allies because of Kurti and Osmani (media)
• Gashi: Opposition leaders concerned that internationals are concerned that Serbia is concerned (Nacionale)
• Sheholli: Albanians over 30 in Medvedja getting military service summons (Demokracia)
• The CEC says it is ready for new elections in the north (Koha)
• Hoxha: Advertisement for police officers in north closed, sufficient number applied (Kosovapress)

Serbian Language Media:

• Lajcak and Escobar met Serbian List representatives (Kosovo Online)
• Andric Rakic about the meeting with Lajcak and Escobar (KiM radio)
• Crisis in northern Kosovo day 12, citizens continue protesting, envoys to meet Vucic (KoSSev)
• Drecun: Escobar and Lajcak have a wrong view of the situation in the north of Kosovo (NMagazin, Danas, RTS, N1)
• Davenport meets Lajcak, emphasises importance of all communities participation in elections and institutions (KoSSev)
• DefMin: Serbian military still on high alert (N1)
• The EU Council extend the EULEX mandate until 2025 (RTS)

International:

• Why is there trouble in Kosovo again? (The Economist)
• Serbia backs ammunition shipments to Ukraine in westward pivot (Financial Times)
• Richard Grenell: If Kurti’s mayors are duly elected then why is the EU calling for new elections? (The Pavlovic Today)
• Joseph: Failure of the Serbia-Kosovo agreement would be a failure of Brussels and Washington (EWB)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Kosovar Artist’s Work in Amsterdam Art Week (Prishtina Insight)
• CAN Europe: Western Balkans took little to no action in preparing NECPs (balkangreenenergynews.com)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti to meet Escobar and Lajcak in the evening (Koha)
• Kurti: Law enforcement in north is necessary to remove criminal elements (Koha)
• Kusari-Lila: Police in the north when there is threat and danger to security (Reporteri)
• Tahiri: Kurti reduced sovereignty to yards of four municipalities (Telegrafi/Kallxo)
• “Vucic cannot condition Kosovo; elections in north were Kurti’s experiment” (Koha)
• Stano: EU ready to organise Kurti-Vucic meeting when conditions allow (media)
• KFOR removes some barbwires in Zvecan (RFE)
• The Kosovo Police attacked in Zvecan (Koha)
• Mustafa: Association cannot be formed in these conditions (media)
• Tahiri accuses govt: KFOR getting stronger in north, sovereignty getting weaker (Koha)
• Around 20 media have been attacked during tensions in the North (Albanian Post)

Serbian Language Media:

• Petkovic: Kurti arrests innocent Serbs, we demand the immediate release of Rados and Dusan (Kosovo Online)
• POKS request from Serbian Government protection for arrested Serbs in northern Kosovo (Novi Magazin, KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
• Reactivation of the Serbian National Council of Kosovo and Metohija in Gracanica (KiM radio, KoSSev, Danas)
• Radio KIM on inaccurate reporting during crisis in northern Kosovo
• KFOR removed barbed wire in Zvecan (Kosovo Online)
• Simic on the RFE article: Fake news that Serbian List has two conditions for participating in the elections (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, RTV, FB)
• Kosovo police entered street where people gather in Zvecan (Tanjug)
• Jevtic: Desecrated "Becir's Church" on the way to the Brezovica Ski Center (Kosovo Online)
• Vucic meets Beyer, tells him Kurti persistently avoids fulfilling Brussels agreement obligations (Kosovo Online, media)
• Vucic to meet Escobar and Lajcak tomorrow (Kosovo Online)

Humanitarian/Development:

• The Pride Week in Kosovo opens today (Paparaci)