UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 20, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 142 new cases over the last 24 hours, four deaths (media)
• Zemaj sets up advisory board in the fight against COVID-19 (media)
• Ministry of Health reacts to COVID-19 ‘cure’ being shared on social media (media)
• Task force recommends doctors diagnose COVID-19 without testing (Koha)
• Hoti: Dialogue coordinator to travel to Brussels for final agreement (media)
• Thaci: Dialogue not to in mutual recognition not technical aspect (media)
• EU expects parties to confirm delegations for experts’ meeting (RFE)
• Hoti: There is no technical dialogue with Serbia (media)
• The U.S. Foreign Affairs Committee calls for visa liberalisation for Kosovo (RFE/Kallxo)
Serbian Language Media:
• 31 new cases of Covid-19 infection in Serb areas in Kosovo (Radio kontakt plus)
• 7 new cases of Covid-19 in the municipality of Gracanica (KIM radio)
• Gnjilane: 21 more people infected (RTV Puls, KIM radio)
• Persons positive on Covid-19 obliged to be in isolation (RTV Puls)
• “Aleksandar Vucic and Edi Rama lead the dialogue” (Danas, FoNet, KIM radio)
• Anniversary of Serb and Roma killings in Orahovac in 1998 marked (Radio KIM)
• Vucic continues consultations on new Serbian government with Dacic (N1)
• Djuric (YIHR): Resolving missing persons issue means revealing hitherto unknown crimes (KoSSev)
• Savkovic: Little maneuvering room for Serbia to avoid agreement; Recognition unrealistic (KoSSev)
• Ilazi: Brussels meeting was symbolic, more important for the EU than for Kosovo or Serbia (KoSSev)
Opinion:
• Kosovo needs an election (Transconflict/Koha)
• Why “Kosovo i Metohija” offends (KoSSev)
International:
• COVID-19 Fuels Prejudice towards People of Asian Descent in Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Muddy Waters: The Pollution Killing Kosovo’s Lakes and Rivers (Balkan Insight)
• France bans travelers from Serbia (N1, FoNet)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, 20 July
• COVID-19: 118 new cases in last 24 hours, five dead (media)
• Health minister: New measures resulting successful (media)
• CDHRF: Health authorities preferentially testing people for COVID-19 (media)
• UN chief: We are at the breaking point (media)
• President Thaci calls for civic and political unity (Kallxo)
• Thaci defends war record, calls for unity after return from Hague court (RFE)
• State Department backs EU-brokered talks between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Collaku: Resumption of technical dialogue, not in Kosovo’s interest (media)
• Tahiri criticises EU for lack of visa liberalisation (media)
• Ischinger calls for visa liberalisation: EU credibility at stake (media)
• Haziri says Hoti’s meeting in Brussels “catastrophic” (media)
• Dacic: Serbia has suspended derecognition campaign (Koha)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, 18 July
COVID-19: 137 new cases in Kosovo (media)
• Thaci returns to Kosovo (media)
• Hoti: I did not go to Brussels to take pictures with Vucic (T7, media)
• Viola Von Cramon values highly work of the Specialist Chambers (RTK)
• Hoti cannot predict if PDK is to join the government (media)
• Assembly aims online sessions after increase of COVID-19 cases (Koha)
• Gucati: The Hague Special Court is biased (RTK)
• Crowds Welcome Kosovo President Returning From Questioning (NYT)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 17, 2020
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 17, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 103 new cases in the last 24 hours (media)
• Clashes between Presidency and PM’s Office over the dialogue (Express)
• Von Cramon to visit Specialist Chambers in the Hague (Ekonomia Online)
• Vetevendosje: Meeting in Brussels was not productive (media)
• Weber hopes on a new flow of Pristina-Belgrade dialogue (Klan)
Serbian Language Media:
• 34 infected with Covid-19 in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kontakt plus radio)
• Vucic: We aren’t negotiating here only with Pristina; Two principles have been agreed (Tanjug, B92)
• Covic: KLA archives to open, EU to conduct dialogue based on chapter’s system (Kosovo-online)
• “Kosovo authorities intend to abolish Special Court” (Kosovo Online, B92)
• Russian FM spokeswoman says Moscow supports Vucic on Kosovo (Beta, N1)
• Djuric reacts to Haradinaj-Stublla’s statement on book in Serbian Mission in Brussels (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian opposition calls EU to help resolve political crisis (N1)
• MEPs call on EC to form expert group to publish reports on situation in Serbia (EWB, N1)
International:
• Serbia ‘Ready to Help Find Missing Kosovo Albanians’: Vucic (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo President ‘Pleased’ after Four-Day War Crimes Questioning (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia and Kosovo resume rocky road towards an accord (Euractiv)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Dokufest and Anibar go online for 2020 (Prishtina Insight)
Read More →Belgrade Media Report 17 July 2020
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Friday 17 July 2020
LOCAL PRESS
Vucic: We aren’t negotiating here only with Pristina; Two principles have been agreed (Tanjug/RTS/B92)
We expect a lot from the EU (TV Pink)
Lajcak: Next high-level political meeting in September (Tanjug)
Zakharova: Solution for Kosovo and Metohija with UN consent and in Serbia’s interest (RTV/Tanjug/Beta)
Sapic: We talked about state issues, not about SPAS in the government (Tanjug/B92)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Citizens of countries of EU and Schengen zone able to enter B&H with negative Covid-19 test (BHT1)
Cvijanovic: Holding of elections does not suit SDS and SDA; Dodik: Elections will be held (ATV)
Sattler welcomes adoption of B&H budget; Izetbegovic: SDA is willing to accept certain HDZ B&H’s demands only to allow things to move forward; Dodik warns that SDA is not willing to accept all of SNSD’s demands, which implies removal of foreign judges from B&H CC (O kanal)
Trump signs Executive Order extending sanctions for those undermining implementation of Dayton Agreement (Dnevni avaz)
Dodik: Komsic openly interferes in Serbia’s internal matters (ATV)
Croatia
President gives Andrej Plenkovic mandate to form government (HRT)
PM joining other leaders for first face-to-face Brussels summit in months (HRT)
Montenegro
Trial of Joanikije postponed for September (RTCG)
Picula: Citizens must not allow political manipulations hidden behind religious mask (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
SEC: Coalition ‘We Can’ gets 46 MP seats, VMRO-DPMNE-44, DUI-15 (MIA)
Mickoski: Most voters opted for change, VMRO is best placed to form the next coalition (Republika)
Spasovski: Elections confirm our European capacity, SEC to announce results (Republika)
US Embassy: Elections represent an important step for democracy (MIA)
North Macedonia’s early parliamentary elections well managed despite pandemic but legal instability remains a concern, international observers say (MIA)
Credible elections set ground for continued reforms: MEPs (MIA)
Albania
Gov’t “rips up” agreement with opposition (Tirana Times)
Proposals beyond 5 June agreement must be discussed at Political Council (ADN)
MEPs urge parliament to adopt 5 June agreement (Tirana Times)
Brussels warns Albanian parliament about constitution amendments (Tirana Times)
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES
Serbia and Kosovo resume rocky road towards an accord (EurActiv/AFP)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, 17 July
• EU High Representative Borrell’s remarks prior to high-level meeting (media)
• Hoti: A difficult meeting on two topics – missing persons and economy (media)
• Hoti: Mutual recognition and normalisation of relations, final objective (media)
• Lajcak: Next high-level meeting in September (media)
• Vucic: The meeting was not easy (media)
• Serbia accuses Kosovo of ‘blackmail’ after talks in Brussels (DW)
• EU diplomat: Three stages of talks between Kosovo and Serbia (Klan Kosova)
• Tahiri: Hoti has constitutional obligation to go to Brussels (media)
• President Thaci concludes interview with Specialist Chambers (media)
• Kosovo FM reacts to book displayed at Serbian mission in Brussels (Telegrafi)
• “WHO does not recommend serology testing for diagnosis purposes” (Koha)
• Kuci: 56 percent of businesses risk bankruptcy (Koha)
• Pandemic reveals ‘systemic’ issues faced by Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities (Prishtina Insight)
• A land swap won’t solve Serbia – Kosovo conundrum (Balkan Insight)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 16, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 132 new cases recorded in last 24-hour period (media)
• One new coronavirus-related death reported in Podujeve (media)
• Italy closes border to Kosovo and region (media)
• Pristina begins serology testing for COVID-19 (Kallxo)
• Thaci’s advisor says Hoti has no consensus for dialogue (Telegrafi)
• Gazeta Express: PDK could decide to join Kosovo’s ruling coalition
Serbian Language Media:
• 39 new cases of Covid-19 infection registered in Serb-populated areas (Kosovo-online)
• Gracanica: Six more people infected with coronavirus (KIM radio)
• European Commission: In the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on all open issues (Danas, Kosovo Online)
• McAllister: The positions of Belgrade and Pristina still very distant (Kosovo Online, DW)
• Bilcik: No easy solution to Kosovo issue (Beta, N1)
• Timothy Less: EU has nothing to offer to Serbia (Tanjug, B92, Kontakt plus radio)
• MIA: The North Mitrovica municipality closed due to Covid-19 among its staff (Kontakt plus radio)
• Jevtic welcomes inclusion of displaced persons as topic in Brussels dialogue (RTV Puls, RTV KIM)
• Council of Europe expresses concern over protests in Serbia (N1)
Opinion:
• Kosovo’s Disunited Negotiators can’t Compete With ‘Monolithic’ Serbia (Balkan Insight)
International:
• Serbia and Kosovo to resume rocky road towards an accord (France24)
Humanitarian/Development:
• EU provides EUR one million aid to finance pandemic medical teams in Serbia (N1)
Read More →Belgrade Media Report 16 July
LOCAL PRESS
Belgrade-Pristina dialogue continues with Vucic and Hoti meeting in Brussels (RTS)
Shieb: The goal is comprehensive legally binding agreement between Belgrade and Pristina (RTV/Tanjug)
Less: EU has nothing to offer to Serbia (Tanjug/B92)
RIK allocates terms of office to MPs (Tanjug)
Protest in front of Appeals Court (N1)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
B&H HoR adopts budget of B&H for 2020 (N1)
Tegeltija delivers to B&H HoR decision on appointment of Cikotic as new B&H Minister of Security (FTV)
Sarovic expresses dissatisfaction over appointments of heads of certain agencies carried out by B&H Council of Ministers (BN TV)
Appointments of Serb staff in state institutions of B&H continue to spark reactions (N1)
Cvijanovic: SDS and SDA do not want elections, SNSD has nothing to fear (Nezavisne)
Resolution that condemns genocide in Srebrenica presented in US Congress (N1)
Croatia
EU Ombudsman: Concerns about Von der Leyen support to HDZ ‘well-founded’ (Hina)
Plenkovic: I don’t see any problem with European Commission President participating in HDZ’s election campaign (Hina)
Plenkovic forms new government (Jutarnji list)
Montenegro
Markovic: Hahn is Montenegro’s friend and supporter (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
SEC: SDSM wins 36.13%, VMRO-DPMNE 34.65%, DUI 11.57% (MIA)
Electoral Commission preliminary projection shows SDSM lead by two seats in a hung parliament (Republika)
Zaev: Coalition ‘We Can’ wins, we have three more MP seats, number could rise (MIA)
Janushev: VMRO-DPMNE in race to secure majority for new government (MIA)
Ahmeti: DUI wins 100,000 votes and 12 MP seats (MIA)
Albania
Soreca: EU recognizes the role of parliament in the electoral reform (Radio Tirana)
Meta-Basha meeting/Meta: The opposition must adhere to 5 June agreement (Radio Tirana)
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES
Italy imposes travel ban on Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo (ANSAmed)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, 16 July
• Four more people die from COVID-19 on Wednesday (media)
• Kosovo – Serbia dialogue to continue Thursday (media)
• In Brussels, PM Hoti meets Commissioner Varhelyi (media)
• Thaci interviewed for third day by Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (media)
• Beqaj: Specialist court will lead to the ‘cleaning’ of political spectrum (Koha)
• Koci: Thaci should’ve been more transparent about interview (media)
• Former Dutch Ambassador: KLA fought an honorable war (RTK)
• Klinaku: MPs can change law on Specialist Chambers (Telegrafi)
• “German EU Presidency no magic wand for the Balkans” (Balkan Insight)
• North Macedonia Election Returns No Clear Winner (NYT)
Belgrade Media Report 15 July 2020
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Wednesday 15 July 2020
LOCAL PRESS
Vucic: Missing and internally displaced first dialogue topic in Brussels (FoNet/Tanjug/RTV)
Dacic: Russia against one stakeholder obtaining monopoly over solution to Kosovo issue (TV Happy/Beta)
Dacic to Darmanovic: What would King Nikola say (RTS/Tanjug)
Group of academics, intellectuals announce formation of parliament of free Serbia (Beta/Danas)
Stricter measures in fight against COVID-19 from 17 July (Tanjug)
EU removed Serbia from the list of safe countries: Ban for at least two weeks (Tanjug/Reuters)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Process of appointment of directors of institutions at B&H level unblocked (BHT1)
CEC President Bakalar discusses with IC reps financial problems regarding organization of local elections (BHT1)
OHR: Failure to adopt state budget will have serious consequences and will jeopardize elections process (Oslobodjenje)
DF calls on SDP and Our Party to vote for adoption of budget of B&H institutions and enable holding of local elections (Oslobodjenje)
B&H authorities prevented arrival of Russian diplomat, Vladislav Filippov, suspected of espionage; Russia gives up on Filippov’s appointment to post of military attaché (Dnevni avaz)
Dodik reacts to request Dzaferovic had for President of Swiss Confederation, in regards to her video message for commemoration in Srebrenica (ATV)
US Congress discusses Resolution condemning genocide and other crimes against Bosniaks in Srebrenica (Dnevni avaz)
B&H Embassy to Canada fails to lower B&H flag at half-mast on 11 July (N1)
B&H CoM: Entry to foreigners will be allowed as of 16 July with negative test for Coronavirus (N1)
Croatia
All opposition parties turn down meetings with PM (HRT)
Montenegro
Of 2.000 coronavirus samples sent to Germany, 475 were positive (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
Early parliamentary election in North Macedonia (MIA)
Albania
Socialist Party breaks electoral reform agreement (Tirana Times)
Presidency: Current parliament cannot make constitutional changes (ADN)
United opposition against unilateral constitutional changes (ADN)
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES
Patriarch Kirill calls on Montenegro to repeal law which discriminates against Church (Interfax)
Trump Ex-Adviser Bolton Laments Lost Opportunity on Kosovo (BIRN)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 15, 2020
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, July 15, 2020
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID – 19: 119 new cases in last 24 hours (media)
• 1,192 active COVID – 19 cases in Prishtina, 35–44 age group most affected (media)
• COVID – 19, Kosovo tested only 1.61 of the population (RTK)
• Von Cramon: Grenell wanted to bypass EU and Kurti’s government (media)
• EULEX chief praises PM Hoti for traveling economy class (media)
• Who are candidates for PDK leader if Veseli indictment is confirmed? (Express)
• Bytyci: Kadri Veseli is PDK leader, media speculations are ill-willed (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• 37 new cases of Covid-19 infection registered in Serb areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• In Gracanica 24 infected with Covid-19, results to come for fifteen more (KIM radio)
• Radovic: KP to control if persons positive on Covid-19 respect self-isolation measures (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Missing persons and internally displaced first topic of dialogue in Brussels (N1)
• Destinies of missing and displaced persons from Kosovo unresolved for 21 years (Tanjug)
• Brussels no longer can ignore reality: There is no solution of Kosovo issue without Russia (Sputnik)
• Jaksic: Negotiations in Brussels will not bring anything good to the Kosovo Serbs (KIM radio, Beta)
• Serbian Military Union official says protest coming against Defense Minister (N1)
• Mutiny within Serbia’s Socialists, main Vucic’s partners, its leader says (N1)
• Serbia’s NGO’s asks UN to react to police actions during anti-regime protests (N1, RFE)
• Vucic starts talks about Serbia’s new government, Albanians ask for four posts (FoNet, N1)
Opinion:
• Serbia-Kosovo deal: Can the EU succeed where Trump failed? (AlJazeera)
• Kosovo’s perplexing indictment and its effects (EWB)
• The EU Needs a New Balkan Strategy (Foreign Policy)
International:
• Trump Ex-Adviser Bolton Laments Lost Opportunity on Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• EU removes Serbia, Montenegro from travel-safe list (B92, Tanjug, N1)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, 15 July
• Four more dead from coronavirus on Tuesday (media)
• Assembly lacks votes to pass law on pandemic (Koha)
• Hoti in Brussels with his office and associates, Weber calls for unity (Koha)
• President Thaci ends second day of interviewing at The Hague (media)
• Were prosecutors right to publicise charges against Thaci? (Balkan Insight)
• Haradinaj: Charges against Thaci, a blow to Kosovo’s freedom (Klan Kosova)
• War veterans’ leader: Specialist Chambers are attacking KLA directly (T7)
• Serwer: Be prepared (media)
• Presevo Valley Albanians ask to lead a ministry in Serbian government (Koha)
• Government defends decisions to appoint minister to extra post (media)
LINKS
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