Belgrade Media Report 20 May 2020
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Wednesday 20 May 2020
LOCAL PRESS
Vucic with Patriarch Irinej: In Montenegro politics interfering in internal organization of church (RTS)
Joksimovic: Slovakia favors speeding up Serbia’s EU integrations (Beta)
Obradovic and Kostic end their hunger strike (RTS/B92)
EP tells N1 it receives invitation to monitor 21 June elections (N1)
Crisis Response Team recommends opening of administrative crossing; PCR test no longer mandatory when entering Serbia (Tanjug)
Freedom House stands by conclusions on Serbia (Beta/VoA)
Another 100 cases, 5,067 recovered (RTS)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
With EU officials about pandemic (Dnevni avaz)
SDA warns public and international community not to underestimate reasons behind HDZ B&H’s blockade of distribution of IMF money (Dnevni list)
Elections related stories (Dnevni list/FTV/Dnevni avaz)
Prosecutor’s Office of B&H launches investigation in case of issuing of falsified visas for Pakistani citizens (Dnevni avaz)
New coronavirus cases reported in B&H, a total of 2,338 infected (N1)
Croatia
Milanovic calls elections for 5 July (N1)
Plenkovic, Pompeo exchange views about situation in B&H (Jutarnji list)
Borders open between Croatia and Slovenia (Hina)
Coronavirus – 2 newly infected in Croatia, 2234 in total (N1)
Montenegro
Joanikije and priests indicted for violating health regulations (Pobjeda)
Dialogue until solution to law on religious freedom is achieved (RTCG)
Savkovic: SPC and pro-Serbian opposition parties want to destabilize Montenegro (CDM)
DF warned Djukanovic “not to play with fire” (Dnevne novine)
Varhelyi: Peaceful solution needed in Montenegro (N1)
Coronavirus-free Montenegro: Announcement that sparked great interest of UAE (CDM)
First phase of the airport opening starts today (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
Filipche says Commission for Infectious Diseases not competent for elections (MIA)
Zaev: Election to be held according to laws if there’s no agreement (MIA)
Mickoski says ‘good luck’ if SDSM decides on June elections (MIA/Sitel TV)
If the elections are held in June, VMRO will not participate, Nikoloski tells Sekerinska (Republika)
PM Spasovski: Competent institutions awaiting election date to be set (MIA)
Filipche: Preparing for second COVID-19 autumn wave, launching big investment in health sector (MIA)
Varhelyi: Negotiating frameworks for North Macedonia and Albania to come in June (MIA)
COVID-19: 19 new confirmed cases in North Macedonia, 16 patients recovered, 4 died (MIA)
Albania
President Meta calls for int’l investigation into demolition of Theatre (Tirana Times)
Kim met with Pm Edi Rama (Radio Tirana)
In Albania 15 new COVID-19 cases, 79% recovered (Tirana Times)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 20, 2020
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 20, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• “Governmental regulations against Covid-19 to be respected by all” (media)
• Thaci meets Quint members, urges respect for independent institutions (media)
• Constitutional Court receives “arguments” favoring Thaci (Koha)
• “Another political pressure on Constitutional Court” (Kosovapress/Koha)
• Authorities launch investigations into threats against Kurti (media)
• Osmani implies Assembly will convene on June 4 (media)
• Reka: Dialogue to lead in mutual recognition and no territorial changes (Telegrafi)
• Government allocates €20 million for subsidising public enterprises (Zeri)
Serbian Language Media:
• No new Covid-19 infection cases in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Lajcak and Djuric on the continuation of the dialogue (media)
• Dacic: We are far from restoring dialogue (Blic, Kosovo-online)
• US, UK embassies call for implementation of court’s ruling on Visoki Decani Monastery’s land case, EU and OSCE join call (B92, Kosovo-online)
• Varhelyi to N1: EC report on EU candidate countries in autumn (N1)
• President Vucic on Serbian Orthodox Church, situation in Montenegro (B92)
• Freedom House stands by report conclusions on Serbia (N1, VoA)
Opinion:
• Confronting rape myths (Prishtina Insight)
International:
• Kosovo’s Political Rivals Lock Horns Ahead of Court Verdict (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Muslims Hold Protest Prayers in Pristina Square (Balkan Insight)
• Hague indictments give Kosovo’s war crime victims a voice after 20 years (The Times)
Humanitarian/Development:
• No tests or other requirements to enter Serbia, pandemic Crisis Committee says (N1)
• UNMIK donated humanitarian aid to Zubin Potok municipality (Kosovo-online)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, May 20
• Only one new case with coronavirus in last 24 hours (media)
• Kosovo institutions can’t say when borders will be opened (media)
• PM Kurti receives threat from so-called “Albanian Volunteers Guard” (media)
• Constitutional Court condemns interference by the heads of state (media)
• Nagavci: We will respect Court’s decision on PM candidate (Klan Kosova)
• Grenell doesn’t rule out Russia’s involvement in dialogue (Lajmi)
• Konjufca attends Thessaloniki Ministerial Forum through video link (media)
• Regional foreign ministers adopt joint statement on Covid-19 (media)
• EC to postpone progress reports for Western Balkans (Kallxo/Telegrafi)
• Serwer: Kosovo’s decisive summer (Peacefare.net/Koha)
• China on sideline as Japan plays bigger role in Kosovo (The Diplomat/Koha)