Belgrade Media Report 13 February 2020
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Thursday 13 February 2020
LOCAL PRESS
• Dacic: Montenegrin President overplays his hand by attacking Serb identity (TV Happy/FoNet)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Resolution 1244 is the foundation for regulating the Kosovo problem (Sputnik/RTV/NSPM)
• Gojkovic meets with Russian Federation Council Chairperson Matviyenko (Tanjug)
• Djuric and Falconi discuss political-security situation in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV)
• Custin: Grenell made it clear Pristina’s taxes send bad message (Tanjug)
• Carpenter: No progress on Kosovo before elections in Serbia; solution can’t be complete unless Serbia recognizes Kosovo as independent (VoA/N1/NSPM)
• Djilas criticizes Fabirzi in circular letter (Beta)
• Jeremic: Vucic trying to take control over Montenegro protests (Beta/Direktno)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• RS’ representatives in B&H institutions suspend decision-making on any issue under competence of B&H until adoption of new law on B&H CC in which there will be no foreign judges (Hayat)
• Dodik: Return to Dayton positions or there will be no B&H come spring of next year (Vecernji list)
• Representatives of parliamentary parties in RS deem that aggression of B&H CC has to be stopped (RTRS)
• Dzaferovic: Current crisis is developing because international community did not do its job; Komsic: Lower levels of authority cannot question B&H institutions (Hayat)
• US Embassy in B&H calls for compliance with B&H CC’s decisions; OHR says all moves that would lead to paralysis of institutions would represent step in wrong direction (FTV)
• Inzko: Issue of local elections in Mostar should be solved outside political package (FTV)
Montenegro
• Boskovic: Vulin’s behavior is tragicomic (CDM)
• Montenegrin citizens won’t be allowed to enter Schengen without travel permission (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• New audio leak proves that Zoran Zaev is behind the Racket scandal (Republika/1TV)
• Xhaferi won’t allow a vote to dissolve the parliament just yet (Republika)
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES
• A Plan to Unseat Serbia’s Leader Crumbles as Elections Near (Bloomberg News)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 13, 2020
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 13, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• Pompeo writes to Kurti: Lift the tariff for Kosovo and Serbia dialogue to resume (Express)
• Albin Kurti defers a bit to Thaci: Invites him for consultation (Express)
• Thaci travels to Germany to participate at Munich Security Conference (RTK)
• Kurti nominates Jusuf Thaci as Deputy Minister for education (RTK)
• Swiss president congratulates Kurti on election (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Dacic: Compromise is our greatest concession towards Kosovo (Danas)
• “Moscow will find a solution if Belgrade calls on Russia” (Sputnik, B92)
• Carpenter: No progress on Kosovo issue before elections in Serbia (VoA, N1)
• Brnabic: The situation is unstable; Vucic was forced to react promptly (B92)
• Djuric discussed with Falconi security situation in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Returnee interviewed by Special Prosecutor’s Office, denied being arrested (KoSSev, Kosovo-online)
• Serbian media: Another country to withdraw recognition of Kosovo (B92, Sputnik)
Opinion:
• Why 2019 was Year Kosovo will Want to Forget (Balkan Insight)
International:
• Kosovo’s new PM, cabinet accept halving of their salaries (Reuters)
• Kurti’s Ambitious Promises Will Test Kosovo Govt’s Resolve (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Detains Serb Ex-Policeman as War Crime Witness (Balkan Insight)
OSCE Broadcast 12 February
• Kosovo government revokes decision on pay increases (TV stations, RTK)
• Serbia drafts agreement on Balkans ‘Mini-Schengen’ (TV21, GazetaExpress)
• Deputy Prime Minister Abazi meets with OSCE Ambassador Jan Braathu (portals, Lajmi.net))
• Minister proposes Kosovo give up application for Interpol membership this year (TV stations, portals)
• Reopening of War Crimes Institute announced (KTV)
• Returnee interviewed by Special Prosecutor’s Office, denied to be arrested (Kossev)
• Assembly session on voting of committees to be held on Thursday (Koha.net)
• Kurti says tax on Serbian goods to be replaced with reciprocity measures (Summary of KTV’s Rubikon show)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, February 13
• PM Kurti’s interview for KTV’s Rubikon (Koha)
• Macron: Kurti government, political alternative and a hope (Kallxo)
• Berlin request immediate lifting of the tariff (Gazeta Express)
• Russia ready to find solution for Kosovo, if requested from Serbia (Sputnik/Lajmi)
• Finance Ministry publishes vacancy announcement for Customs director (media)
• Kosnett meets Konjufca, discuss advancing of Kosovo’s diplomacy (media)
• Veliu meets Apostolova, discuss also visa liberalisation (media)
• Assembly to convene today to discuss parliamentary groups (Gazeta Express)
• Kosovo Police detains then releases former Serb policeman (media)