UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 25, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• The Western Balkans Summit starts in Prishtina (media)
• Kurti: We have achieved a lot during a year and a half of governance (media)
• Peach: UK supports Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe (media)
• Hovenier: Kosovo should be in NATO (Klan)
• Kurti confirms, there is no postponement of deadline for license plates (RTK)
• “There are hopes for positive response on visa liberalisation by year’s end” (Telegrafi)
• Deputy PM: Another solution must be found for the Association (Kosovapress)
• PDK supports government on license plates if it is in coordination with the USA (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• About phone messages from Kosovo MIA, Vucic says: ''We are facing a difficult time'' (KoSSev)
• Petkovic on licence plates issue, says Kurti changes tactics in vain (Kosovo Online)
• Survey: Two thirds of Serbs in northern Kosovo ready for protests and civic disobedience (Kosovo Online)
• The Kosovan MIA calls for vehicle re-registration via SMS in the Serbian language
• (KoSSev, media)
• Survey says most Serbs against sanctions on Russia (N1, Blic)

International:

• LNG Alliance ensuring energy security for landlocked Balkan nations (gasworld.com)
• Fiscal pressure grows in Western Balkans as region heads into new storm (intellinews.com)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: There is misinformation about requests of our partners (Kosovapress)
• Von Cramon: French-German initiative, great opportunity for EU integration (Telegrafi)
• Kurti: We consulted the Quint too on Kosovo’s Security Strategy (Nacionale)
• Stewart Peach for an official visit to Kosovo (media)
• Osmani invites justice institutions to be part of the vetting process (media)
• Hovenier: More commitment in fight against organized crime and sexual violence (Klan)
• Nikolla to CoE: Correct tragic mistake against Albania and Kosovo (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic met German Minister Luhrmann (Tanjug, media)
• Vucic met Bocan-Kharchenko: Serbia continues to lead a policy of peace and cooperation (RTS)
• Vucic presented candidates for new Government of Serbia (N1)
• Petkovic accuses Pristina chief negotiator of ‘excelling in lies’ (N1)
• Von der Leyen to visit Belgrade on Friday (Tanjug, media)
• Withdrawal of witnesses in case of Oliver Ivanovic (RFE, KiM radio)
• Djukanovic’s DPS falls from power in local elections (N1, Vijesti)

International:

• Discussions over Kosovo-Serbia intensify, whispers of snap election emerge (euractive.com)
• Vucic Continues ‘East-West Balancing Act’ With New Serbian Govt (BIRN)
• ‘Winter will be difficult’ (Kosovo 2.0)
• World Bank sees Western Balkans economy growing 3.4% in'22, 2.8% in '23 (Reuters)
• Dubravka Đedović Negre to become Serbia’s energy, mining minister (balkangreenenergynews.com)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 21, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• German government denies involvement in draft statute of Association (Telegrafi)
• EU: We expect the Association to be formed (Gazeta Express)
• Haradinaj: Final agreement with Serbia must have U.S. seal (media)
• Abazi: There is no German proposal for the Association (Kosovapress)
• Defence Minister Mehaj meets NALT leaders (media)
• U.S. Embassy: Escobar had full and productive visit to Kosovo (media)s
• Murati: Redefinition of borders, only solution to Albanian-Serbian problem (Lajmi)
• Mustafi: Presevo Valley is on Washington’s agenda (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: Important talks with Quint ambassadors and EU (Kosovo Online)
• Quint ambassadors concerned over possible impairment of stability in region (N1)
• Vucic: Pressure growing, I could resign to buy time (N1, Prva TV)
• Personal documents, usurped properties, and lack of language rights respect - three main problems affecting Serbs in Klina (Radio KIM, Radio Gorazdevac)
• Albanian flag placed on Christ the Saviour Temple’s door in Pristina (Kosovo Online, RTS)
• McCarthy: Postponing implementation of decision on vehicle re-registration would be constructive measure
• Serbia introduces visas for citizens of Tunisia and Burundi (RTS)
• Stano: EU does not set deadlines for reaching Belgrade-Pristina agreement (RTS)
• Escobar says there are no deadlines (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Serbian Army Chief of Staff and new KFOR Commander discuss security situation in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 20, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani meets ambassadors of Norway, Greece and Luxembourg, discuss visas (Klan)
• KFOR and government coordinated on security in Kosovo (RTK)
• The German minister for Europe is visiting Kosovo this week (Koha)
• Ursula von der Leyen next week in Kosovo (KosovaPress)
• Government on Esobar's proposal on licence plates: We have rule of law as our obligation (Koha)
• Exclusive: Pre-agreement draft between Kosovo and Serbia (Koha, Albanian Post)
• Police arrest Serb suspect in Oliver Ivanovic assassination case (media)
• Kurti's former advisor: Legal entity separated from Kosovo is being created (Nacionale)
• The draft statute of the "new" Association with its old points financed by Serbia (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic with Escobar about the possibilities for finding "sustainable solutions" (N1)
• Petkovic with Escobar: Belgrade for the continuation of negotiations, but also for the implementation of all agreements reached (Beta, Danas)
• Escobar: We asked implementation of decision on re-registration be postponed by ten months (N1)
• Pristina increasingly asking the end of the UNMIK mandate, the Serbs saying that this mission is necessary (euronews.rs)
• Reactions to Todosijevic’s verdict over his remarks on Racak (Kosovo Online, media)
• EU Ambassador: No deadline for Belgrade to impose sanctions on Russia (N1)
• Varhelyi: Serbia to step up efforts to align with EU, including sanctions (Beta, N1, media)
• Gracanica: Decision on land swap annulled (KoSSev)
• Selakovic to attend Berlin Process meeting tomorrow (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Montgomery: The irony is that we defend Ukraine, and Kosovo was taken by force; the EU has nothing to offer Serbia (Kosovo Online, Politika, RTV)

International:

• Kosovo-Serbia Talks May Advance ‘in Weeks’, US Diplomat Says (Balkan Insight)
• Defaced Putin Mural Tells the Story of Russia's Waning Influence (Financial Post)
• Serbia’s Parliamentary Rightists Unite on Platform to Reclaim Kosovo (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani after meeting Escobar: Ready to intensify dialogue (Telegrafi)
• Escobar expresses U.S. support for Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo is a constructive party in dialogue; Escobar confirms support (Koha)
• Interior Ministry: Vucic’s criminal structures in north are intimidating people (Telegrafi)
• Ivan Todosijevic sentenced to one year in prison (Radio Free Europe)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian FM Selakovic in the UNSC session: Pristina consciously sabotaging all efforts, aims to persecute Serbs (Tanjug, media)
• UN Security Council permanent members differ on Kosovo (Beta, media)
• Heated debate between Serbia, Kosovo foreign ministers at the UN SC session (Beta, N1, NMagazin)
• Selakovic met Ziadeh in New York (Tanjug, media)
• Mijatovic: Court decision on Visoki Decani must be implemented promptly (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• KFOR: We monitor situation, everybody to avoid actions that could lead to violence (Kosovo Online)
• Russian Patriarch calls for unity of Serbian, Russian churches (N1, SRNA)
• Botsan-Kharchenko to RTS: I believe Serbia will not stand in a sorrow line of states not thinking of their own national benefits
• Hill to RTS: I would warn the Serbs to understand that this is not their "mother Russia" (N1)
• NGOs: Citizens must not be hostages of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (Beta, N1, Danas)
• “Petkovic’s visit should have been approved” (Tanjug)
• Vulin: Interpol has Serbia’s full support (N1)

International:

• Kosovo issue has expanded Serbian far-right’s global reach (BIRN)
• Radicalised on the Net? Albanian Plumber Charged With ‘Jihadist Propaganda’ (Balkan Insight)
• Freedom of Information Summary (Balkan Insight)