UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 24
• COVID-19: 271 new cases, 12 deaths (media)
• Travel restrictions tightened (Prishtina Insight)
• Osmani concludes consultations with political parties (media)
• Hoti: LDK is a favourite to win upcoming elections (media)
• Mustafa: We will not make pre-election coalition with any of the parties (RTK)
• Enver Hoxhaj announced PDK’s candidate for prime minister (media)
• Hoxhaj: PDK is competing for the first place (T7/RTK)
• Poll projects Vetevendosje winning elections (Klan)
• Challenging path in formation of new Assembly, Government (Koha)
• Tahiri urges political parties to adopt 2021 budget (media)
• Von Cramon: Bringing down Kurti-led government was a mistake (DW)
• Petkovic attacks von Cramon for saying Serbia will recognise Kosovo (Express)
• Dacic: Osmani ten times worse than Citaku (Koha)
• GLPS survey indicates half of Kosovo citizens ready to migrate (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 23, 2020
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 23, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 271 new cases, 12 deaths (media)
• Mustafa: LDK to announce candidate for prime minister after elections are set (media)
• Bislimi: Polls indicate LVV stands to win 55 MP seats (media)
• PDK spokesperson reacts to LVV’s poll (Kallxo)
• LDK blames CEC for the downfall of Hoti-led government (Kosovapress/Koha)
• NISMA: We have no red lines towards any party (media)
• AKR open to prospects of a pre-election coalition (media)
• Osmani meets representatives of 6+ Group, Serbian List (media)
• Kusari-Lila to run alongside LVV in upcoming elections (media)
• Haradinaj: I would drop presidential candidacy in favour of Jashari family (Zeri/RTK)
• Barrie Lynne Freeman from USA appointed deputy head of UNMIK (media)
• EU supports Kosovo with 24 million euros (media)
• Kosovo suspends flights with UK over coronavirus variant concerns (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• In Serbian communities 39 new cases of Covid-19, four deceased (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: State official to get vaccine first (N1, FoNet)
• Reeker: The Balkans are a geopolitical field (KiM radio, Tanjug)
• EU: Pristina to respect and implement the agreements from the dialogue with Belgrade (Tanjug, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Belgrade-Pristina agreement within next couple of months impossible (Radio KIM)
• Jevtic: No PCR test needed to enter Kosovo from Serbia (KoSSev)
• RTS: Murders and disappearances of journalists in Kosovo – crimes that everyone is silent about (Kosovo Online)
• Office for KiM reacts to stoning of school in Vitina (TV Most)
• Serbian List: EULEX, UNMIK and KFOR to ensure safety for all citizens (Kosovo-online)
• The Fatherland Movement: Vucic to say loud and clear whether he sold or gave away the energy system (nspm.rs)
• Serbian List: Fabrications that someone sold the electricity system in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
Opinion:
• A New EU Deal for the Balkans: Time to Remake the Anteroom (geopoliticalmonitor.com)
International:
• Kosovo Finds 11 War Victims in Hidden Graves in 2020 (Balkan Insight)
Read More →Belgrade Media Report 23 December 2020
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Wednesday 23 December 2020
LOCAL PRESS
Drecun: Longer delay in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Tanjug)
Dacic: Pristina acting irresponsibly (TV Happy/Beta)
Dacic, McAllister on inter-party dialogue (Tanjug/Beta)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Eighty-three per cent of votes from Mostar processed (Hayat)
B&H CEC recounts ballots in Mostar (N1)
HNS demands resignation of B&H CEC members due to alleged election frauds in Mostar (O Kanal)
Komsic: High time for amending DPA has passed a long time ago (O Kanal)
B&H Ministry of Security issues instruction for temporary reopening of ‘Bira’ center (O Kanal)
Office of B&H Presidency Chairman Dodik: Orthodox Christian icon gifted to Lavrov not stolen (RTRS)
Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies in B&H: Neither INTERPOL nor B&H law enforcement authorities received request to investigate icon (N1)
Montenegro
Opposition’s request: Minister Radulovic to be interrogated (CdM)
Bishop Joanikije: Our lawyers amended the law, whereas we were just monitoring the process (Radio Svetigora/CdM)
Becic: Parliament to meet on Monday (CdM)
Bosniak Party urges parliament to adopt resolution recognizing the Srebrenica massacre (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
Zaev expresses gratitude to Borisov for the promise to share the coronavirus vaccines (Republika)
Borisov: We donate the vaccines without any hidden intentions (Republika)
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES
Secretary‑General Appoints Mari Yamashita of Japan Representative, Director of United Nations Office in Belgrade (UN Press Release)
Czechia and Slovakia block an important document for EU enlargement (DPA)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 23
• COVID – 19: 137 new cases, ten deaths (media)
• Acting President Osmani meets four parties, meetings to continue today (media)
• Constitutional Court preparing to publish decision (Koha)
• Kurti: No delays in declaring new elections (media)
• Sources: Enver Hoxhaj, PDK’s candidate for Prime Minister (Telegrafi)
• Vetevendosje’s Konjufca doesn’t rule out coalition with PDK (media)
• PDK responds to Konjufca: Too early to talk (media)
• Krasniqi: PDK heads to elections to win (media)
• Limaj: We don’t rule out a coalition with the PDK (RTK)
• Pacolli: AKR has no red lines for other parties (Lajmi)
• EU: This Assembly must approve the budget (media)
• Assembly expected to be dissolved (Koha)
• Orlando: Kosovo to have free and fair elections (media)
• Gashi: Vetevendosje will come first in the elections, PDK second (media)
• Hasani: New Assembly cannot abolish the Specialist Chambers (media)
• Police arrest Serb war crimes suspect in Peja (media)
• OSCE condemns assault on reporter in Prishtina (media)
• Online media in Balkans ‘need regulation, not censorship’ (Balkan Insight)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 22, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 137 new cases, ten deaths (media)
• Hoti to announce new anti-Covid measures (media)
• Hoti vows to respect Constitutional Court’s ruling (media)
• US Embassy calls on parties and institutions to respect court’s decision (media)
• Acting president Osmani meets head of EU Office Szunyog (Koha)
• Kurti: Elections to be held as soon as possible (media)
• LDK’s Abrashi: We are ready for elections (media)
• Hoxhaj: PDK to soon announce candidate for prime minister (media)
• LVV: Constitutional Court ruling does not prevent Kurti from running for election (RFE/Koha)
• Isufi: AAK ready for elections, will run on its own (media)
• Daka: CEC ready to organise the elections (media)
• “Only final court decision excludes MP candidates from running” (media)
• Hasani: Constitutional Court’s ruling, strange (Telegrafi)
• Tahiri: Law clearly sets out who can run for election in Kosovo (Indeksonline)
• Gerxhaliu: Budget must be adopted before we go to elections (RTK)
• Journalist Valon Syla assaulted in Pristina (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• In the Serbian communities in Kosovo, 46 new cases, four died (Kontakt plus radio)
• First shipment of Pfizer vaccine reported to have arrived in Serbia (Nova.rs, N1, Tanjug)
• Dacic: Unserious attitude of Pristina, most important to have peace in Kosovo (Danas)
• Father Sava: Decisions of Constitutional Court selectively implemented, justice applied on ethnic basis (Kosovo-online)
• Lazarevic: Kosovo politics demonstrated its irresponsibility and lack of seriousness (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic: Serbia and Vucic did not hand over anything to Albanians (Kosovo-online)
• Rada Trajkovic: Vucic handed over one part of Serbian energy network (Danas)
• Father Sava reacts to Suvo Grlo village church case (Kontakt plus radio)
• A Serb came to Pec for documents, arrested for a “war crime” and taken to Pristina (Kosovo Online)
• Office for KiM: Arrests aim to keep Serbs in constant fear and uncertainty (Kosovo Online)
International:
• Kosovo to hold early election after court ruling (AP)
• Kosovo’s highest court rules parliamentary vote electing government was illegal (Reuters)
• Kosovo Heading For Fresh Elections After High Court Rules Parliament Vote For Government Was Illegal (RFE)
• Kosovo Faces New Elections After Court Rules Govt Illegitimate (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• NGO Link only in December donated 15.000 protective visors to health workers in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Serbia Leads Region in Expecting COVID-19 Vaccines Within Days (Balkan Insight)
• Share This Now! How Conspiracy Theories Swamped North Macedonia (Balkan Insight)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 22
• Constitutional Court annuls election of Hoti Government (Prishtina Insight)
• Acting President to summon political parties today to set election date (media)
• Haziri: The country is going to new elections (Kallxo)
• PDK: Elections are welcome because coalition lacked majority (media)
• NISMA implies it could join PDK before new elections (media)
• AAK’s Gjini says budget must be adopted before going to new elections (media)
• COVID – 19: 264 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Confidential negotiations for the vaccine (Radio Free Europe)
• Vetevendosje MP slams government for poor management of pandemic (media)
• Hoti: Some differences with Serbian List; we’re trying to overcome them (media)
• The failed attempts to resolve the Kosovo President post (Koha)
• DFC to open office in Prishtina soon (Klan Kosova)
Belgrade Media Report 21 December 2020
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Monday 21 December 2020
LOCAL PRESS
Vucic: No recognition of Kosovo, nor membership in NATO (TV Prva)
Vucic: With changes to Dayton Agreement, one is asking for the RS not to have entity competences (TV Prva)
Party of Freedom and Justice warns EU Ambassador of becoming a political accomplice to the Serbian regime (Beta)
First gas through Turkish Stream pipeline on 1 January (Novosti)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Vucic says he respects integrity of B&H, but that he cannot accept ideas of abolishing RS; Zvizdic reacts to Vucic’s statement (RTRS)
After 12 years, local elections in Mostar take place without major incidents (Nova BH)
B&H CEC presents preliminary results of elections in Mostar, turnout around 55 percent (BHT1)
NGO ‘Pod Lupom’ detects minor irregularities (O Kanal)
Covic presents serious accusation against SDA (N1)
Covic: I believe HDZ B&H will form two-third majority in Mostar City Council with future partners (FTV)
B&H politicians comment on first preliminary results of local elections in Mostar (BHT1)
Inzko visits Mostar and welcomes elections in Mostar as holiday of democracy (FTV)
Sattler and US Ambassador Nelson visit Mostar (Hayat)
Russian Foreign Ministry says Orthodox icon that Minister Lavrov received as gift from Dodik will be returned for further clarification of its origin through Interpol (Nova BH/RT)
Croatia
Grlic Radman: HDZ Croatia believes Mario Kordic would be excellent Mostar Mayor (HRT1)
Montenegro
Inexperienced apostles have pushed the state into uncertainty (Dnevne novine)
Montenegro enters temporary financing; budget scheduled for March (CdM)
PM and ministers met with heads of caucuses over trust and division of power (Dan)
Abazovic about appointment of Vuksic: It’s a good solution (CdM)
Leposavic: We weren’t obliged to hold public discussion, amendments to the Law were urgent and necessary (CdM)
Abazovic claims that he has nothing against Montenegrin Orthodox Church (CdM)
Medojevic: Prime Minister’s huge embarrassment (CdM)
Abazovic has no control over important appointments in the government (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
VMRO: Zaev is a proponent of Bulgarian interests in Macedonia and he can’t make a good deal with Borisov (Republika)
Zaharieva insists that pressure from other EU countries won’t dissuade Bulgaria, calls on Pendarovski to stop misrepresenting the dispute (Republika)
Karakacanov says that adding Slovakia and Czechia to the dispute with Macedonia doesn’t contribute to EU stability (Republika)
Slovakian Foreign Minister responds to Bulgaria that he won’t allow historic narratives to become a condition of EU membership (Republika)
Albania
PM expresses gratitude to chief police for clarifying Rasha’s death (ADN)
US Embassy: Justice Reform must continue to move forward step by step (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 21, 2020
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 21, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 264 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Hoti: Kosovo among countries that have best managed the pandemic (media)
• Zemaj: No new measures without coordination with relevant institutions (media)
• PDK’s Haxhiu accuses government of trying to present false picture of COVID-19 cases (media)
• Hoti on president’s election: January is too late (Koha)
• Tahiri: Vucic’s statements, continuation of his provocations (Telegrafi)
• Government of Kosovo adopts anti-corruption strategy (media)
• Kosovo, North Macedonia governments to hold joint meeting (Kosovapress)
Serbian Language Media:
• 33 new cases of Covid-19, two deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• Kosovo leaders react to Vucic’s position on recognition, Macron announces a meeting (KoSSev)
• Vulin visits the SAJ in Batajnica, the YIHR reacts, the US ambassadors call for the prosecution of all war crimes (KoSSev)
• New restrictions in place at Serbian border crossings (N1, SRNA)
• Serbian List also today didn’t take part at government’s session in Pristina (Kosovo-online)
• ”Our Church” sign in Albanian and English placed on the road leading to the church in Suvo Grlo village (Kosovo Online, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Office for KiM: We are concerned over yet another brutal attack against Serbian religious and cultural heritage (Kosovo-online)
• Selakovic: UN of special importance for the protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity (Danas)
• Milivojevic: Walker claims Thaci was innocent out of fear from his own responsibility for KLA crimes (Kosovo-online)
Opinion:
• A year that exposed the entrenched violence against women (Prishtina Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• WHO: There is no evidence that a new strain of COVID-19 is more dangerous (Tanjug, B92)
• Holiday traffic clogs Balkan borders despite virus warnings (AP)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 21
• COVID – 19: 378 new cases, 10 deaths (media)
• Between death and hope: Nurses reflect on a long year (Prishtina Insight)
• Hoti and Vucic clash in distance, far from the table of talks (media)
• Musliu: Hoti is a weak prime minister, LDK is seizing the state (media)
• Rexhepi: New elections, if compromise on President post isn’t found (media)
• Shala: Haradinaj’s election for President would suit PDK too (Epoka)
• “The frustrating failure of the German EU presidency” (Koha)
• Walker: I haven’t seen any proof against Thaci and the others (media)
• Serbia: Exhuming the skeletons of the Kosovo war (Balkan Insight)
• Vucic says no to recognition of Kosovo (Euronews Albania)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 19
• COVID-19: 385 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• Health minister warns of new measures next week (Prishtina Insight)
• Covid vaccine to reach the Balkans the same time as the EU (Koha)
• LDK’s Abrashi: First president then elections (media)
• Vucic: While I am president, Serbia will not recognise Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo FM Haradinaj-Stublla reacts to Vucic’s statement (media)
• Leader of Kosovo War Veterans Pleads Innocent at Hague Court (Balkan Insight)
• Kadri Veseli’s family establishes fund for his defence (Klan)
• Remains of 2 war missing Kosovars found (AP)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 18, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 385 new cases, seven deaths (media)
• Ex-KLA members appear today before Hague Court (Gazeta Express)
• Osmani suspends secretary Driton Gashi on suspicion of violations (Koha)
• LVV objects Selmanaj’s presence, Assembly session interrupted (media)
• LVV relates Selmanaj’s presence at session with Hoti’s motion on Ujman Lake (media)
• Gashi responds to LVV: Selmanaj will be present at the hearings (media)
• PDK: Time for new elections, LDK’s and LVV’s behavior, unacceptable (media)
• Basha pledges new Assembly to adopt resolution condemning Serbian genocide (Euronews.al)
• One year and six months prison for terrorist call against Ambassador Gashi (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• 29 new cases of Covid-19, three deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Varhelyi: We are working to make vaccines available to the Western Balkans (RFE)
• Kosovo minister says Serbia blocking power transfers (Beta, N1)
• What does Biden bring? (TV show Agreement, KiM radio)
• Import of Pfizer vaccine in Serbia approved (B92)
• NATO, US plan 2021 military exercise in Serbia’s neighboring countries (Beta, N1)
Opinion:
• Unlocking Kosovo in 2021: last chance to right the wrong (EWB)
International:
• Czecks, Slovaks, Reject Bulgaria’s ‘Historical’ Twist to Enlargement Criteria (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Fires Intelligence Chief Over ‘Raid on President’s Safe’ (Balkan Insight)
• Unlocking Kosovo in 2021: last chance to right the wrong (European Western Balkans)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Neglecting Society’s Little Ones (Kosovo 2.0)
Read More →Belgrade Media Report 18 December
LOCAL PRESS
Brnabic and Borrell: Political and economic aspects of negotiations (Tanjug/RTV)
Brnabic: Next year to be more successful in terms of EU integration (Tanjug/RTV/Novosti)
Dacic: EC Report for the first time before MPs by the end of the year (RTS/Tanjug)
Memorandum on joint use of diplomatic missions with Hungary signed (Tanjug)
Serbia takes over chairmanship of Energy Community (Tanjug/Beta)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Ukrainian Embassy to B&H demands explanation from B&H about icon Dodik gave to Lavrov as gift, claiming it is Ukrainian stolen cultural heritage (FTV)
Komsic: If information about icon proves to be true, someone has to be arrested (O kanal)
Radoncic criticizes B&H politicians for searching outside assistance in their election campaigns (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia
Croatia, international community promise help to Mostar after elections; Sattler: Independent observers will monitor elections in Mostar (HRT1)
Montenegro
Krivokapic: Montenegro wants the best relations with everybody (CdM)
Adzic: SPC will have to register (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
EU conclusions blocked: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria say Bulgaria is allowed to take things too far (Republika)
Czech Republic and Slovakia on ‘veto on Bulgaria’: We will not allow EU to be the judge of our shared history, how we identify ourselves or the language we use (Republika)
Bulgaria complains to EU about the blockade of the Czech Republic and Slovakia (TV 24)
Mickoski: Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria reacted in time not to destroy Macedonia’s history (Republika)
Albania
Osmani from the Albanian parliament: Serbia must apologize and be punished (Tirana Times)
Rama meets Osmani (Radio Tirana/Euronews Albania)
Ruci with Osmani: Let us not allow the truth about Kosovo be overturned before our eyes! (Radio Tirana)
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES
Vitale: Public diplomacy one of the biggest challenges for NATO in Serbia (EWB)
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