Belgrade Media Report 31 March 2021
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Wednesday 31 March 2021
LOCAL PRESS
Selakovic: Traditionally good and friendly relations with the Czech Repubic (Tanjug/RTV/RTS)
European Parliament facilitators complete preparations for Serbia dialogue (N1)
Opposition party calls on EP to activate government-opposition dialogue as soon as possible (Beta)
EU, US to cooperate much more tightly in policy on Western Balkans (Beta)
US State Department: Human rights violations, corruption cases in Serbia in 2020 (N1)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Di Maio holds meetings with B&H senior officials; says Italy advocates enlargement of EU to Western Balkans and continuation of reforms and EU integration of B&H (RTRS)
Inzko informs Di Maio about status and challenges regarding implementation of Dayton agreement (Dnevni list)
‘Pod lupom’ conference on election reform: International officials agree it is necessary to change B&H Election Law (Nezavisne novine)
Constitutional law expert Lukic on Dodik’s initiative to merge offices of RS President and B&H Presidency member from RS: It is not realistic because it would require constitutional changes (Glas Srpske)
Constitutional law expert Lukic on Dodik’s initiative to merge offices of RS President and B&H Presidency member from RS: It is not realistic because it would require constitutional changes (Glas Srpske)
Basic: Nelson’s and Inzko’s letter regarding changes to Law on Internal Affairs is not a negative reaction (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia
Croatia demands changes to Election Law in B&H (Hina)
Montenegro
Radovic: Injac failed to tell truth, we’re waiting for Krivokapic to suggest new date (CdM)
Krivokapic speaks with Lavrov (PM PR Service)
Abazovic: Genocide happened in Srebrenica, whoever doesn’t understand it can’t be on public post (CdM)
Becanovic already spoke about Srebrenica as Leposavic is telling now (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
Amendments to Electoral Code, signed by all parliamentary groups, submitted (Republika)
Pendarovski and Filipce clash over the Serbian vaccination fiasco (Republika)
High level spat erupts as top Zaev officials blame each other for the vaccine fiasco (Republika)
Palmer calls on Zaev to do more to fight corruption (Republika/VoA)
Albania
US will have observers for 25 April elections (Radio Tirana)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 31, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 31, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 923 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• Donika Gervalla: We are not an experiment, we are a sovereign state (Prishtina Insight)
• Rohde, Von Cramon: MPs should follow LDK’s example (media)
• Krasniqi: Decision not to vote Vjosa Osmani is final (RTK)
• Haradinaj: We have not changed our position, we do not support Osmani (media)
• Konjufca: Serbia has not detached from Milosevic’s policy (media)
• Blinken to Vucic: US goal is to see Kosovo, Serbia reach an agreement centered on mutual recognition (Express)
• Kosovo economy to expand by 4% in 2021, according to World Bank report (Express)
• Man arrested over 1999 Kosovo Massacre (Express)
• EU expects Kurti government to be fully committed to dialogue (RFE Albanian, media)
Serbian Language Media:
• 26 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Office for KiM: Arrest of Mila Andjelkovic yet another brutal example of returnees’ intimidation (Kosovo-online)
• EU and US join forces in support of WB to prevent Russia and China influence (N1)
• US State Department: Human rights violations, corruption cases in Serbia in 2020 (N1)
• More frequent provocations of group of Albanian youngsters in front of school in Ugljare (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Reconstruction of Jarinje-Mitrovica North motorway to start in a month (KoSSev)
Humanitarian/Development:
• WHO report: Coronavirus likely came from animal, not a lab (CNN, N1)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 31, 2021
• COVID-19: 811 new cases, 14 deaths (media)
• Zemaj says Kosovo has secured 100,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine (media)
• Humolli from WHO: Covid measures need to be toughened (RTV21/Telegrafi)
• Kosovo FM Gervalla: Embassy in Jerusalem is a done deal (media)
• State Department: Many corrupt officials continue to hold public posts (media)
• PM Kurti meets British ambassador Abbott (media)
• Abdixhiku: LDK with 12% could not condition a party with 50% of votes (Telegrafi)
• Opposition Party Clears Path to Parliament Vote on Kosovo President (Balkan Insight)
• PDK’s Deliu-Kodra slamms FM Gervalla for agreement with Serbia remarks (media)
• Haxhiu: Serious action needed to fight organised crime and corruption (Klan)
• U.S. Embassy opposes holding government meetings outside of Kosovo (media)