Belgrade Media Report 23 April 2021
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Friday 23 April 2021
LOCAL PRESS
Vucic: We will do our best to boost friendship with US (Tanjug)
Vucic: We are ready to continue dialogue, compromise a goal (Tanjug/RTS)
Maas: Right time for results in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Beta)
Selakovic: Scandalous political audacity of Vjosa Osmani (RTS)
Petkovic: Any kind of revision impermissible (RTS)
Porfirije: Consent reached on Agreement with Prime Minister Krivokapic (Tanjug)
Jansa’s extras in Balkans’ (Politika)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Leadership of Serbia visits Banja Luka (RTRS)
Serbian and RS officials condemn warmongering rhetoric following alleged non-paper and calls for peaceful dissolution of B&H (RTRS)
Turkovic comments visit of Serbian delegation and Dodik statements; Calls for ending of obstructions (Hayat)
Vucic awarded Key to City of Banja Luka; Mayor Stanivukovic causes scandal with hidden microphone (ATV)
US Ambassador Nelson comments on inflammatory rhetoric in B&H (FTV)
Sattler meets Dzaferovic: EU supports B&H sovereignty and territorial integrity (FTV)
Zvizdic: There cannot be dissolution of B&H without conflict, B&H needs stronger internal dialogue (Oslobodjenje)
Ivanic: I believe neither Serbia nor Croatia are interested in break-up of B&H (FTV)
Zunic says time is right for dialogue of RS and FB&H on future of B&H (EuroBlic)
Sattler, Nelson meet with Izetbegovic, Covic to discuss necessary reforms (Oslobodjenje)
OHR: RS authorities should offer public and transparent explanation about procurement of weapons for the RS MoI; Salkic said that many police officers in RS participated in genocide against Bosniaks (Dnevni list/Fena)
Croatia
Plenkovic: NDH is one of most tragic periods in Croatian history (Hina)
Israeli Ambassador: Jasenovac commemoration must be above daily politics (Vecernji list)
Connecting economies of Croatia, Israel and B&H cantons (Hina)
Brkic underlines importance of dialogue and consensus for NATO path: It is important that reform program stays aside from internal political outwitting (Vecernji list)
Montenegro
Abolition of term Orthodox Church contrary to SPC Council document of 2006 (Pobjeda)
Abazovic doesn’t know when government will discuss Fundamental Agreement with SPC (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
Durlovski calls on public to turn out for protest on Sunday (Republika)
Albania
US Senate Foreign Relations Committee: We expect all candidates to act in accordance with democratic norms (Tirana Times)
US and EU ambassadors call for a peaceful and orderly electoral process (Tirana Times)
Ambassadors in Albania video message to citizens: Do not sell the vote. Vote for a better future! (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 23, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, April 23, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 356 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• PM Kurti meets North Macedonian FM Osmani (media)
• Osmani: We reject ideas that affect our borders (media)
• Kosovo FM Gervalla against redrawing of Balkans borders (media)
• North Macedonia’s FM pledges support to Kosovo (media)
• Austria opposes border changes (Koha)
• Szunyog commends minister for publishing list of recovery aid recipients (media)
• Ministry launches disciplinary procedures against correctional service chief (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic travels to Brussels on Sunday (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: Pristina will have to respect Brussels agreement (Kosovo-online)
• Maas: The right time to continue the dialogue; no need to reset (media)
• Mojsilovic: Construction of the base in northern Kosovo causes concern, we monitor the situation (Danas, Beta, Politika)
• Selakovic and Petkovic: Scandalous political audacity of Vjosa Osmani (RTS)
• Selakovic with Maas: Germany one of the most important Serbian economic partners (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic says Belgrade not interested in creating Greater Serbia (N1)
• Commemoration for 16 killed during 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia’s state TV (Beta, N1)
• Rakocevic: KFOR must open its eyes; lies being told nowadays only encourage extremists (Kosovo-online)
• Bishop Irinej writes to Blinken about violence against Serbs in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
Opinion:
• Organic networking: a Balkan awakening (KoSSev)
• A ‘Greying’ Western Balkans Must Look to Robots (Balkan Insight)
International:
• German diplomat says time is right for Serbia-Kosovo talks (AP)
• Germany rejects idea of redrawing Western Balkans borders – minister (Reuters)
• Serbian Leader Talks Up Ties To Biden, Says ‘No Interest’ In ‘Greater Serbia’ (RFE)
• Disputed memo on partitioning Bosnia sparks fears of violence (Al Jazeera)
• Serbian Court Tries Kosovo Albanian for Wartime Killings (Balkan Insight)
• Vučić: Serbia wants stronger relations with Bosniaks and Croats in Bosnia (euractive.com)
• Suspicions Persist About NATO’s Deadly Bombing of Serbian TV (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• We want to breathe (EWB)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, April 23, 2021
• COVID-19: 408 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Maas: Ideas for border changes, unrealistic and dangerous (media)
• Government to announce topics of Kurti-Vucic meeting, when date is set (KTV)
• Hoxhaj won’t accept Kurti’s invitation to dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Kurti’s backing down on reciprocity with Serbia (Koha)
• Environment Ministry implies reviewing permits for hydropower plants (Koha)
• North Macedonia Foreign Minister to visit Kosovo today (media)
• Selakovic: Osmani’s statements show Prishtina doesn’t want dialogue (media)