Belgrade Media Report 14 April 2020
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Wednesday 15 April 2020
LOCAL PRESS
Chinese President Xi Jinping announced his visit to Serbia in talks with Vucic (B92/Politika/Novosti/RTS)
Vucic: There will be no exception for Easter (B92)
Vucic: Curfew from 5 pm on Friday, to 5 am on Tuesday (RTS/B92)
Patriarch: We must understand state effort, and also participate in liturgy (Beta)
EU continues to help Serbia in fight against coronavirus (Beta)
Joksimovic, EU ambassadors speak about fight against COVID-19 (Tanjug)
False state of Kosovo cutting off electricity under the corona veil (Novosti)
FoNet: No more e-mail questions to government pandemic team (FoNet)
In Serbia, another 408 cases, five more deaths (RTS)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
B&H CC to decide on 22 April on whether ban on movement of citizens younger than 18 and older than 65 due to coronavirus pandemic is violation of citizens’ rights (FTV)
Main Coordination Team of RS calls on citizens to act responsibly during upcoming holidays (ATV)
OSCE urges RS to withdraw ‘fake news’ decree-law (N1)
TC Civil Protection Crisis HQs wants to allow work of some shops in TC, while FB&H Civil Protection Crisis HQs deems cantons should not make decisions contrary to its orders (O kanal)
IMF’s report: B&H’s economy to drop by 5 percent this year (O kanal)
Izetbegovic: IMF loan is one fifth of funds we need to support B&H (FTV)
Dodik: There is no need for Komsic to be concerned about RS (ATV)
Hungary’s assistance will be distributed equally to Sarajevo and Banja Luka (BHT1)
In B&H 1110 infected, death toll 41, 253 recovered (N1)
Croatia
Croatia reported 37 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the national total to 1,741 (HRT)
Montenegro
Religious rites only without the faithful (RTCG)
Institute for Public Health confirms five new cases of coronavirus (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
Government asks President Pendarovski to extend the state of emergency (Republika)
Pendarovski-Meta: Regional cooperation needed to tackle COVID-19 crisis (MIA)
Parliament to stay dissolved: Constitutional Court decides not to initiate procedure (Republika)
Hutchison: NATO setting up counter-hybrid support team in Macedonia (MIA)
Macedonia comes second according to coronavirus mortality rate compared to countries in the region (Republika)
In North Macedonia 66 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed, 1 person died, 12 patients recovered (Libertas)
Albania
Cakaj ‘gathers’ Albanian political factor in Balkans (ADN)
Rama: Good news, Brussels allocates 100m Euros for the reconstruction of Albania (Radio Tirana)
Criminal Code approved in Law Commission/Fines and sentences for violators of quarantine during infectious diseases (Radio Tirana)
In Albania 494 total COVID-19 cases confirmed, 24 victims (Tirana Times)
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES
Fighting COVID-19 in Serbia is not a suppression of democracy (The Washington Times)
Congressman Engel and Senator Menendez: Trump Administration unbalanced between Serbia and Kosovo (EWB)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 15, 2020
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 15, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• President Thaci sends third letter to Kurti (media)
• Thaci: Kosovo needs government with full mandate (media)
• US Embassy: Follow guidelines issued by government and municipalities (media)
• Heldt: Increase of Covid-19 cases in Kosovo is not a good thing (RTK)
• Another patient succumbs to COVID – 19, total of 9 fatalities (media)
• President Thaci meets heads of judicial institutions (media)
• Latifi: An LDK-led govt formed to reach final deal with Serbia (Express)
Serbian Language Media:
• President Vucic says there will be no exception for Easter (B92)
• Crisis headquarters in north said new measures entered in force, movement allowed for 90 minutes (KoSSev)
• Seven new cases of Covid-19 infection in northern Kosovo (Radio kontakt plus)
• Palmer: US aid helped Western Balkans tackle pandemic (N1, VoA)
• European Commission set to change restrictions on export of medical equipment (N1, RTS)
• Ban on export of medication produced in Serbia takes effect (N1, FoNet)
Opinion:
• Fighting COVID-19 in Serbia is not a suppression of democracy (The Washington Post)
• Reality Check: Will COVID-19 Remake The World? (Balkan Insight)
International:
• Kosovo Opposition Signals Readiness to Form New Government (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Number of coronavirus cases exceeded two million, US still on top (B92)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 15
• Kosovo: Ten new cases of COVID-19, three recoveries (media)
• Apostolova appeals for institutions to cooperate during pandemic (RTK)
• Stoltenberg: NATO’s mission in Kosovo, maintained (Gazeta Express)
• LDK votes in favour of coalition with AAK, NISMA-AKR, communities (media)
• Mustafa: LVV should not delay the issue of creating new government (RTV21)
• Lekaj: AAK will not set conditions to LDK for a coalition government (Telegrafi)
• Haxhiu: Thaci has no right to interfere in forming of new government (T7/Zeri)
• Haziri: Coalition with LVV, one step forward two steps back (Klan Kosova)
• PDK considering sending movement restriction decision to court (Kosovapress)
• Selmanaj: Ending coalition with LVV, one of the best actions (T7, RTK)
• Balje: We support forming of a new government in Kosovo (RTK)