Belgrade Media Report 10 April 2020
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Friday 10 April 2020
LOCAL PRESS
UN SC session on Kosovo and Metohija may be postponed but not canceled (Politika)
Brnabic sends greetings for Easter according to Gregorian calendar (RTS/Tanjug)
Vucic awards Dimcevski for personal heroism and skillful command (RTS/Tanjug)
Joint struggle between Serbia, Hungary against effects of coronavirus (Politika/Tanjug)
Swiss Embassy on measure to help Serbia fight COVID-19 (Beta)
Russian military experts disinfect three hospitals in Belgrade (Tanjug/Novosti)
EIB earmarks €700 million to help the Western Balkans fight COVID-19 (Tanjug)
Another 238 confirmed cases, five more deaths in Serbia (RTS)
Djuric: 38 patients with COVID-19 in Serb communities in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
IMF says it is ready to approve €330 million in assistance to B&H, but only after authorities in B&H reach agreement on distribution of those funds between two entities (RTRS)
Sattler signs additional €5 million of EU assistance to B&H (Dnevni avaz)
Airplane carrying medical equipment, disinfection materials and medical experts from Russia arrives to Banja Luka, two more airplanes to arrive on Thursday (RTRS)
Dodik: RS healthcare system has capacities to combat coronavirus (RTRS)
RS government adopts decree prescribing measure of direct price control in RS, as well as decree delaying payment of income and real estate tax, forest and fire protection fees, and certain RS and local taxes (RTRS)
Central Election Commission launches initiative for adoption of changes to Election Law, which would allow it to postpone local elections in B&H (BHT1)
HNC bans movement of citizens outside place of residence as of Friday (BHT1)
Some public areas in Banja Luka to be closed due to mass gatherings (RTRS)
Association of Forensic Experts decides they will not perform autopsies on victims of coronavirus (O kanal)
B&H citizens come from London at International Airport in Sarajevo on Thursday; Plane with 31 foreign citizens takes off from Sarajevo (BHT1)
Bus with 45 citizens of B&H arrives at border crossing Izacic on Thursday (BHT1)
New official data on the number of infected people with coronavirus in B&H (N1)
Croatia
Croatia to provide €5.6m to B&H to fight COVID-19 (Hina)
Thirty more residents of Split nursing home test positive for coronavirus (HRT)
Total of 1,495 people infected by Coronavirus in Croatia (N1)
Montenegro
Government bans coffee machines (CDM)
Institute for Public Health confirms three more coronavirus cases (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
Zaev, Mickoski in mandatory self-isolation after interview with coronavirus-infected journalist (MIA)
Filipche: Plans for easing of lockdown measures made when conditions in place (MIA)
Skopje’s Shutka prison detainee tests positive for COVID-19 postmortem (MIA)
Two new deaths and 48 newly infected with coronavirus in North Macedonia, a total of 711 people (Alsat)
Albania
Government to begin easing restrictive measures from next week (Tirana Times)
President Meta concerned over health of Presevo Valley citizens (ADN)
Kim: Proud to oversee the donation of US aid with medical equipment to Albanian health personnel (Radio Tirana)
In Albania 416 total COVID-19 cases confirmed, 24 victims (Tirana Times)
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES
Heated Parliamentary Debate on Budapest-Belgrade Railway Mega-project (Hungary Today)
EU agrees on €500B of economic aid but no ‘corona bonds’ (Politico)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 10, 2020
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 10, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti: Coming weeks, critical in coronavirus fight (Telegrafi)
• Thaci writes to Kurti, says he is waiting for reply for PM candidate (media)
• Lajcak writes to Thaci about his engagement in dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Croatia remains in support of visa liberalisation for Kosovo (media)
• Slovakia supports visa liberalisation for Kosovo (Klan Kosova)
Serbian Language Media:
• UNSG Guterres: “COVID-19 Pandemic threatens international peace and security” (B92, Tanjug)
• Mitrovica North and Zvecan: New movement restrictions in place (Radio kontakt plus)
• Two new Covid-19 infected cases in northern Kosovo (Radio kontakt plus)
• Crowding in Mitrovica North increases, citizens differently on new measures (Kosovo-online)
• Spiric: Press conference live streamed without our consent (KoSSev)
• Western Balkans call for EU exemption on exports of medical gear (N1, Politico)
• ”Coronavirus death rates in the former Yugoslav republics” (N1)
International:
• Naming New PM Not A Priority During Pandemic, Kosovo’s Kurti Tells RFE/RL
Humanitarian/Development:
• Civil Rights Defenders released report on Internet freedoms in the Western Balkan Region (crd.org)
• Teachers make the push for distance learning (Prishtina Insight)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 10
• Kosovo: Three new cases of coronavirus, one death (media)
• Ministry of Health announces new measures to contain pandemic (media)
• Kosovo Acting PM Kurti’s interview to RTV21
• Kurti: Alliance with US very deep; elections after the pandemic (RFE)
• President dismisses Kurti’s “negotiation team” (Prishtina Insight)
• “Kurti will play his constitutional role until new PM is elected” (Kosovapress)
• Assembly Presidency to decide on PDK-proposed emergency financial package (media)
• Surroi: Forming new gov’t without LVV consent is unconstitutional (Klan)
• AAK would support LDK in forming new govt (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 9, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti discussed pandemic, dialogue with Serbia in telephone call with Macron (media)
• Kurti plans to have two teams for dialogue with Serbia (Koha)
• Kurti in Malisheva: April, decisive in fight against COVID – 19 (media)
• Vitia: Malisheva will lack no protection kits (media)
• “COVID – 19 could result in long-term loss at work and production” (media)
• MEPs: After the crisis, new elections may be the right way forward (Kallxo)
Serbian Language Media:
• Possibility of further restriction of movement, Vitia: No decision will be made without 100% coordination with Rakic (KoSSev)
• Two new Covid-19 infection cases in Serb-populated areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Jevtic in strongest terms condemns Rasic’s statement (Radio kontakt plus)
• Bilčík: Freedom of expression, media to be guaranteed during state of emergency (N1, Danas)
• Dr Kon: Total ban on any contact; 219 new cases of coronavirus in Serbia yesterday (B92)
• EU earmarks 800 million Euro in pandemic aid for Western Balkans and Turkey (N1)
Opinion:
• World Powers Use Pandemic to Flex Muscles in Balkans (Balkan Insight)
International:
• Kosovo’s Kurti Assures EU Of Commitment To Dialogue With Serbia (RFE)
Humanitarian/Development:
• China takes new measures fearing that the epidemic might reappear (B92, Tanjug)
• Kosovo Company Manufactures 3D Ventilator to Fight COVID-19 (Balkan Insight)
• ‘Destructive’ hydropower construction continues despite lockdown (Prishtina Insight)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 9
• 14 new cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo (media)
• Health Minister: You will save lives by following the rules (media)
• Health minister to take decisions to prevent spread of COVID-19 (media)
• Kurti, Lajcak exchange views on pandemic, dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Veliu reacts to Osmani, calls her “Thaci’s translator” (Koha)
• “Kosovo battling two pandemics: COVID-19 and irresponsible politicians” (media)
• PDK’s Veseli on possible coalition with Vetevendosje (Indeksonline)
• Op-ed: Why Lajcak is wrong choice for EU envoy (EUObserver)
Belgrade Media Report 8 April 2020
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Wednesday 8 April 2020
LOCAL PRESS
Brnabic: Great importance of China’s support and assistance to combat coronavirus (RTS/Tanjug)
Serbia receives assistance from Turkey (RTS)
Defense Ministry: Russian teams disinfected over 150,000 square meters in Serbia (Beta/Politika)
Russian analyst: Serbia shifting direction (Beta/Nezavisimaya Gazeta)
SzS: Vucic continuing campaign, delaying donations (Beta)
Curfew from Friday through Monday (Tanjug/B92)
In Serbia 219 new cases and four deaths (RTS)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Dodik: Experts say peak of epidemic in B&H will be reached at beginning of May (FTV)
Law on Mitigation of Negative Economic Consequences Caused by Coronavirus Pandemic submitted into parliamentary procedure (Hayat)
B&H CoM appoints members of delegation that will lead negotiations on potential credit loan agreements between B&H and IBRD (FTV)
IMF ensures crisis package for B&H worth USD 330 million; Dodik: This assistance is not operational because of inability to reach agreement between entities and FB&H cantons (RTRS)
Dodik: B&H Central Bank did nothing to help authorities, economy (FTV)
Dzaferovic: US and Slovenia to provide assistance to B&H (Oslobodjenje)
Italian Ambassador Minasi: Coronavirus epidemic is test for cooperation between EU and B&H, you should establish an umbrella crisis HQ at level of state (Nezavisne)
Kosarac on possible establishing of nuclear waste disposal at Trgovska Gora (O kanal)
New official data on the number of infected people with coronavirus in B&H (N1)
Croatia
EU member countries did not manage to come to an agreement on a plan for economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic (HRT)
Croatia postpones Zagreb Summit (HRT)
New official data on the number of infected people in Croatia (HRT/N1)
Montenegro
Djukanovic: Montenegro and Turkey together in fight against COVID-19 (CDM)
Police arrest person suspected of leaking list of persons infected with COVID-19 (CDM)
Confirmed coronavirus cases in Montenegro rise to 248 (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
Dimitrov: Citizens to be cautious, state of emergency is fertile soil for fake news (MIA)
Pendarovski-Stoltenberg: Joined allied forces to curb COVID-19 pandemic (MIA)
Eighteen new cases of coronavirus in North Macedonia and 2 deaths (MIA)
Albania
Albania requests NATO aid in medical supplies (Tirana Times)
Synchronizing policies between Albania and Kosovo, an opportunity to save tourism this year (Radio Tirana)
Coronavirus cases rise again after Albania hit lowest number (ADN)
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES
Serbia, coronavirus, and autocracy (Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 8, 2020
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 8, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti visits Klina, Peja and Gjakova (media)
• Thaci thanks Erdogan for medical aid to Kosovo (media)
• Veseli welcomes World Justice Project index ranking Kosovo on 54th place (media)
• Police lieutenant arrested for failing to respect government measures (media)
• Kurti on Roma Day: We will fight poverty through education (media)
• Germany supports Kosovo with two grants worth over €13 million (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• In Serbian areas three new cases, a total of 36 infected individuals (Kosovo Online)
• Rasic: Belgrade ignored rise of infection in northern Kosovo (RTK2, Kontakt plus radio, Beta, N1)
• Serbian List: Rasic once again showed he is disgrace of Serbian people (TV Most)
• VoA: Serb majority municipalities received insufficient medical assistance; a difficult situation at the clinic in Laplje Selo (Kontakt plus radio)
• USAID Director Magno: US assistance targets everyone in Kosovo (KIM Radio)
• WHO warns against easing coronavirus measures ‘too early’ (B92. VoA)
• Three more deaths in Serbia; “We will reach peak now, next 10 days are crucial” (B92)
• Weekend coronavirus related curfew extended from Friday to Monday in Serbia (RTS, N1, Tanjug)
• Djuric: Hospital in Mitrovica North to receive respirator and 1000 protective garments (KoSSev)
• Lawyer: Health condition of Zlatan Krstic rapidly deteriorates (Kosovo-online)
• EU and Western Balkans leaders’ summit postponed over Covid-19 (RTS)
Opinion:
• Applauding Kurti’s Fall, the US is Testing Kosovo’s Loyalty (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Kon: If we want to impose more drastic measures, we should do it now (B92)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 8
• 19 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Kosovo on Tuesday (media)
• KFOR donates medical equipment to Mitrovica North and South (RTK)
• U.S. Embassy commends health workers for fighting COVID-19 (media)
• Kosovo Assembly President Vjosa Osmani’s interview to KTV
• Konjufca: LVV could not return the north under control for 52 days (media)
• Abrashi: LDK does not want new elections (media)
• Kurti announces dismissal of water company senior officials (media)
• Von Cramon: There could be new steps in visa liberalisation process (Kallxo)
Belgrade Media Report 7 April 2020
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Tuesday 7 April 2020
LOCAL PRESS
Erdogan sends letter of support to Vucic (RTV)
Stefanovic: Forty-two police officers infected (TV Pink/Tanjug)
Ljajic: Pop-up hospital to open in Novi Pazar (TV Prva/Tanjug)
Joksimovic: Serbia buys 75 medical ventilators from EU funds (Tanjug)
Another 247 cases, in total 2,447 infected in Serbia (RTS)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
B&H Presidency returns draft of B&H budget for 2020 to B&H CoM (BHT1)
Dzaferovic: B&H CoM was tasked with drafting another B&H Budget proposal (FTV)
Dodik: Measure of 14-day quarantine for people who arrive from abroad key in preventing spreading of epidemic (BHT1)
Covic: Some, especially in Sarajevo, tried to abuse pandemic and make political profit on it (Srna)
Cvijanovic: Conditions met to adopt decree-laws on court proceeding deadlines and misdemeanors causing panic and riots during state of emergency in RS (RTRS)
EU Ambassadors to B&H, COMEUFOR, Head of EU Delegation issue joint statement regarding Coronavirus fight (Vecernji list)
Coronavirus to cut short deadlines from Election Law of B&H? (Nezavisne)
FB&H government adopts law on support for businesses affected by pandemic (N1)
Quarantine areas will be formed on all border crossings that are controlled by FB&H Civil Protection Administration (FTV)
In B&H 762 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (N1)
Croatia
EU defense ministers hold videoconference on COVID-19 (HRT)
In Croatia, 60 new patients, 1282 in total; Measures to be loosened (N1)
Montenegro
As of last night, six more people in Montenegro positive on coronavirus – 239 in total (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
US provides assistance to North Macedonia to respond to COVID-19 (MIA)
Twenty-nine new cases of coronavirus and 5 deceased (MIA)
Albania
Coronavirus measures, daily movement permit to be extended (Tirana Times)
Only 6 persons in Albania tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours (Radio Tirana)
Kim: Rama, Basha and Meta to unite! War is not won without discipline (ADN)
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES
Heads of EU and Member State missions in Belgrade and Pristina welcome the appointment of Lajčák (EWB)
Russian Foreign Ministry calls on Kosovo to drop anti-Serbian measures (TASS)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 7, 2020
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 7, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti: We don’t have any time for political ping pong (media)
• Kurti on Russia’s reaction: Reciprocity derives from concept of equality (Koha)
• Kosovo’s foreign ministry reacts to Russia’s statement on reciprocity measures (Koha)
• PDK’s Veseli calls for extraordinary session of Assembly on Friday (media)
• Ramadani: Difficult days to come, respect recommendations (RTK)
• Pristina with three additional measures to prevent spread of COVID-19 (RTK)
• Haradinaj doesn’t trust Lajcak, says he supports U.S. envoys (Gazeta Express)
• Five new coronavirus cases confirmed in Kosovo, one death (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• World Health Day: ‘Support nurses, midwives’ fighting COVID-19; UN SC to meet (N1)
• Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs comments on Pristina’s tariffs (media)
• Kosovo Customs: Serbian goods worth EUR 1.6 million entered Kosovo since April 1 (RFE, RTK)
• Rakic handed over KFOR’s donation to health facilities and police in Mitrovica North (Radio kontakt plus)
• No new Covid-19 infected cases in Serb-majority areas in Kosovo (Radio kontakt puls)
Opinion:
• ‘The impossible has already happened’: what coronavirus can teach us about hope (The Guardian)
• Lajcak’s clock is already ticking (Prishtina Insight)
• How Democracies Can Beat The Pandemic (Balkan Insight)
International:
• Germany Urges Kosovo Politicians to Focus on COVID-19, Not Divisions (Balkan Insight)
• How Multi-ethnic is Kosovo? (Balkan insight)
• How the coronavirus pandemic is making strongmen stronger, from Hungary to Serbia to the Philippines (theglobeandmail.com)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 7
• 20 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Kosovo (media)
• Apostolova: EU can allocate €160 million for Kosovo (RTK)
• Osmani discusses inter-institutional cooperation with Vitia (RTK)
• Limaj calls on Kurti to undertake urgent measures in Malisheva (media)
• Lajcak to start consultations on Pristina-Belgrade dialogue this week (Express)
• Thaci: Kurti a serious violator of Kosovo’s Constitution (media)
• Svecla: There were tendencies to increase tensions in the north (Koha)
• Haradinaj warns of Serbian and Russian agents (Indeksonline)
• Science and Arts Academy calls on parties to overcome divisions (media)
• Moscow opposes Kosovo’s reciprocity toward Serbia, criticises EU (Koha)
• Von Cramon to Mustafa: EP is on Kosovo’s side on its EU aspirations (media)
• Thaci sues Bahtiri for assault on Kosovo’s constitutional order (media)
Belgrade Media Report 06 April
LOCAL PRESS
Phone conversation between Vucic and Tanin (RTS)
Pompeo thanks Vucic for helping Americans get back home in the time of coronavirus (RTS/Politika/Tanjug/Beta)
Israeli President voices support to the people of Serbia (RTS)
Vucic hands over 13 ventilators for hospital in Novi Pazar (RTS/B92)
Vucic: The next two weeks will determine our destiny (B92)
Brnabic: Next two weeks crucial in fight against coronavirus (TV Pink/Tanjug)
Dacic receives letter of gratitude from German, French, British Ambassadors (Beta)
Ljaljic: Reciprocity worse than taxes (Beta)
Borrell: Lajcak will be able to move the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (RTS)
Jeremic: Idea of borderless Europe shaken, international solidarity scant (Beta/BBC)
In Serbia 2,200 infected, 58 deaths (RTS)
All migrants in Serbia quarantined (FoNet)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
FB&H introduces new measures regarding the coronavirus pandemic (Hayat)
Measure preventing citizens to leave their place of residence during weekends enters into force in RS (BHT1)
FB&H government annuls decision on distribution of budget funds intended for cantons, cities and municipalities (BHT1/Dnveni avaz)
Representatives of municipalities with Serb majority in FB&H express dissatisfaction with both annulled decision and new decision of FB&H government on distribution of funds (RTRS)
Sattler says EU will give B&H 80 million Euros of assistance during coronavirus situation (FTV)
Inzko publishes video message to citizens and authorities in B&H, says politicians must work together (Dnevni list)
Number of persons infected with Coronavirus in B&H increases (O kanal)
In RS 10 people has died so far and 304 people have been infected (N1)
Two people died in FB&H (N1)
Eighty-three B&H citizens arrive to Sarajevo by plane from Stockholm (RTRS)
Croatia
In Croatia, 40 more infected, one more died (HRT)
Montenegro
Data shows significant number of children infected with coronavirus in Montenegro (CDM)
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Montenegro rises to 223 (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
Leave the vanities, politics must now have only two goals, saving lives and economic chance of surviving the crisis (Republika)
Szijjarto: I’m here on invitation from Mickoski, who asked for our assistance (Republika)
Szijjarto: North Macedonia to start EU accession negotiations by June (MIA)
Filipche: Out of 555 confirmed coronavirus cases, 52 are healthcare workers (MIA)
Three patients died from the coronavirus in North Macedonia overnight (Atlas TV)
Health Minister: We enter new phase in COVID-19 pandemic management process (MIA)
Albania
Measures to be loosened after Monday (Radio Tirana)
The number of people infected with coronavirus in Albania has increased to 377 (ADN)
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES
Sassoli responds to speakers of WB parliaments (EWB, 3 April 2020)
Read More →LINKS
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