Belgrade Media Report 14 April 2020
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Tuesday 14 April 2020
LOCAL PRESS
Vucic speaks with Lajcak (RTS)
Vucic: I will discuss election date with politicians who said they will participate in them (TV Prva/Beta)
Joint battle of EU, Serbia in coronavirus-caused crisis (Tanjug/RTV)
Belgium grateful for support for returning its citizens (Tanjug)
Stefanovic: 157 police officers infected with coronavirus (RTS)
Djuric: Doctors and nurses to get jobs in Serb-majority areas in Kosovo and Metohija (TV Pink)
In Serbia 4,465 confirmed cases (RTS)
Demostat: US, EU stances on Kosovo diverging (Beta)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Central Election Commission confirms that local elections have to be announced by 4 May, unless changes are adopted to Election Law of B&H (Glas Srpske)
Radoncic, Dodik and Lukac meet and agree that part of Turkey’s humanitarian aid intended for RS will be given to B&H Border Police and police in two cantons in FB&H (BHT1)
B&H Fiscal Council reaches agreement on Letter of Intent for IMF (Dnevni avaz)
SDA Collegium welcomes agreement on IMF arrangement; Criticizes countries which send assistance only to one of B&H entities (Dnevni avaz)
Nelson, Sattler give support to B&H political leaders, drawing attention to importance of working faster, greater trust and more efficient action in times of crisis (O kanal)
Dodik announces police will not act in accordance with decree-law on ban on spreading of public panic (RTRS)
Dodik: New restrictive measures during holidays possible; RS representatives will not take part in joint meeting that OHR has called (ATV)
RS Crisis Headquarters prolongs restrictive measures until 27 April (RTRS)
RS: Movement outside of place of residence prohibited; Citizens must wear facemasks and gloves outdoors (BHT1)
Minister Seranic: Even when we alleviate measures, we will have to continue wearing masks, probably even during the summer and fall (Glas Srpske)
FB&H Civil Protection Crisis Headquarters adopts 12 new orders and measures against COVID-19 (BHT1)
HNC Civil Protection Crisis Headquarters orders restriction of movement of citizens outside their place of residence in HNC; WHC follows example (BHT1)
Team of Russian experts begins disinfection of hospitals in RS (ATV)
Migrants and refugees under intensified measures of medical supervision in order to prevent cases of COVID-19 (N1)
Croatian government continues actions towards construction of radioactive waste disposal site near border of B&H (RTRS)
A total of 1,083 tested positive for coronavirus in B&H (N1)
Croatia
Beros: We will consider easing restrictions in upcoming phase (HRT)
In Croatia, 54 newly infected, totaling 1704, six deceased patients (N1)
Montenegro
New measures in place for the next 7 days, says Djeljosaj (RTCG)
Hrapovic: Abolition of measures can be expected in the second half of May (Dnevne novine)
Montenegro reports 278 Covid-19 infections (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
Pendarovski: National Security Council to decide on extension of state of emergency on 16 April (MIA)
Nationwide lockdown likely to be extended during upcoming Easter holiday (MIA)
Mandatory quarantine for citizens returning to Macedonia increased to three weeks (Republika)
In North Macedonia 54 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed, 6 patients died – 42 recovered (Alsat TV)
Albania
President Meta salutes the stance of the Council of Europe (Radio Tirana)
In Albania, 475 total COVID-19 cases confirmed, 24 victims (Tirana Times)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 14, 2020
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 14, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• PDK withdraws emergency financial package proposal (media)
• Osmani does not put PDK’s additional motion on the agenda (Koha)
• LVV does not participate at Assembly session, Nagavci gives the reasons (RTK)
• Kurti: Emergency fiscal package to be followed with revitalization of economy (Koha)
• Government sets up coordinating group on economy during pandemic crisis (Koha)
• Mustafa: Recent movement restriction measures, concerning (media)
• Mayors: We weren’t contacted by Ministry, new measures causing chaos (media)
• Five Kosovo Police officers infected with COVID – 19 (Kallxo)
Serbian Language Media:
• Two new cases of Covid-19 infection registered in northern Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• “For Mitrovica citizens decision unclear and astonishing” (Radio KIM)
• Church’s bells tolling in Pristina “primitive Russian model” for some Kosovo media, Eparchy warns on targeting church and unprofessional journalism (KoSSev)
• KoSSev editor-in-chief detained while on assignment (KoSSev)
• Journalists’ associations, civil society organizations react to detainment of Tatjana Lazarevic (KoSSev)
• Mitrovica Innovation Centre donates 100 visors to health institutions (KoSSev)
International:
• Podcast: “The Americans have encouraged friends in Kosovo to get rid of this truculent PM”—a Balkan bust-up (The Economist)
• Democrats In Congress Question Trump’s ‘Heavy-Handed’ Approach To Kosovo (RFE)
Humanitarian/Development:
• WHO: COVID-19 mortality rate ten times higher than 2009 flu pandemic (N1)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 14
• Kosovo: 393 cases with COVID-19, nine deaths and 65 recovered (media)
• New measures announced to contain spread of COVID-19 (media)
• Osmani: We can win battle against COVID-19 only by staying at home (media)
• Gashi: Kurti is endangering state over personal battle with President (media)
• PDK opposes latest measures on movement of citizens (media)
• Haradinaj: New measures, a grave violation of the constitutional order (media)
• Ahmeti: Stopping all economic activities would have grave consequences (media)
• Abrashi: Govt is assuming excessive power with measures and force (media)
• Former minister criticises govt’s approach in fight against COVID-19 (media)
• Gjini: Another violation of the Constitution (Gazeta Express)
• Hasani: New measures on movement, totally anti-constitutional (media)
• NISMA’s Shala: Government is totally out of constitutional control (media)
• RAE communities stand defenseless in the face of COVID – 19 (RFE)
• UNICEF: Children in detention to be released due to COVID-19 threat (media)
• Kurti replies to Thaci, accuses him of trying to impose unconstitutional solution (media)
• Assembly to discuss today PDK’s emergency package (media)
• Svecla issues permits for MP’s participation at the Assembly session (media)
• Mustafa: No coalition talks before LVV exhausts constitutional options (media)
• Engel, Menendez express concern about Trump Administration approach to Serbia & Kosovo (media)