UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, May 6, 2021
• COVID-19: 153 new cases, 4 deaths (media)
• Kurti: Dialogue must be well-prepared and with principles (media)
• Varhelyi says EU is against redrawing of borders (Koha Ditore)
• Resumption of dialogue won’t focus on technical issues (Exit News)
• Mandl: I am pleased that Kurti will resume the dialogue (Kanal 10)
• Hasani: Kosovo has status of third state in relation with SPC (media)
• Croatian Foreign Minister to visit Kosovo today (media)
• Opposition wants Kurti to defend KLA and dismiss his minister (Epoka e Re)
• “If Gervalla doesn’t distance from statement, she must be dismissed” (media)
• Rohde welcomes initiative to confiscate illegally obtained wealth (media)
Belgrade Media Report 5 May 2021
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Wednesday 5 May 2021
LOCAL PRESS
Vucic: Are you threatening Serbia with a genocide lawsuit? (B92)
Selakovic: EU must put Pristina under pressure over commitments (Tanjug/RTV/RTS)
Gonzalez: Spain does not recognize Kosovo, supports Serbia (Tanjug/RTS)
Office: Pristina’s provocation unsuccessful buying time (RTS)
Opposition demand: Free national frequency for professional TV channel in Serbia (N1/Beta)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Inzko presents 59th report on B&H to UN Security Council (O kanal)
Russia’s representative to UN SC Evstigneeva says Inzko’s report is unbalanced and does not reflect real situation in B&H (FTV)
Kovacevic: HR’s criticism towards the RS is something that RS officials have already gotten used to (ATV)
Minister Schallenberg: Territorial integrity and sovereignty of B&H are unquestionable and cannot be subject of any negotiations (Hayat)
Cavusoglu: Main Turkish goal in Balkans is to preserve peace and stability in region and increase its welfare (Nezavisne)
Former HRs Lajcak, Bildt warn EU has neglected Western Balkan region, which led to occurrence of non-papers predicting new divisions (N1)
RS parliament prepares initiative for talks on possible solutions for B&H calling on FB&H institutions, Bosniaks and Croats to engage in political dialogue on B&H’s future (FTV)
Cubrilovic: We should talk among ourselves, without influence by foreign factors, to reach certain level of consensus on functioning of B&H (Nova BH)
SNSD’s initiative on peaceful dissolution does not have support of opposition parties in the RS; Vukovic: PDP will not take part in any talks on peaceful dissolution in B&H because this topic is doomed to failure in advance (BN TV)
Reactions to alleged document of EEAS (Glas Srpske)
Montenegro
We care about Montenegro and the Western Balkans (RTCG/CdM)
Krivokapic: Fundamental agreement can’t be inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of MNE (CdM)
Joanikije chose Democrats, but will the SPC choose him? (Dnevne novine)
Republic of North Macedonia
Zaev, Varhelyi and Edtstadler at joint press conference: This day is an expression of solidarity and unity (Republika)
Mickoski meets Edtstadler at the Austrian Chancellery (Republika)
Varhelyi: Start of accession negotiations requires progress from Skopje and Sofia (Republika/MIA)
Albania
Rama reiterates the invitation to the opposition (Radio Tirana)
Basha’s order to new opposition MPs (ADN)
Rama: Defender Europe 21, a turning point of US-Albania relations (Radio Tirana)
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES
Serbia vows to never impose sanctions against Russia, says ambassador (Izvestia)
Bosnia and Herzegovina must end discrimination to ensure its EU future (EurActiv)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 5, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 5, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 153 new cases, 4 deaths (media)
• Varhelyi on Pfizer vaccines: The most important contribution we could make (Klan)
• President’s Office: Kosovo can’t guarantee interim release of Thaci et al (Express)
• Government: Laws forbid us guarantee conditional release of the accused by the Special Court (Koha)
• Haxhiu: Government program to be voted on Friday (RTK)
• Varhelyi: News about ‘non-paper’ is not true (RTK)
• Croatian President Milanovic: I cannot offer guarantees for Thaci (Koha)
• Minister Haxhiu speaks about property confiscation and vetting (Klan)
• Excavations Resume in Serbia’s Mass Graves (Exit.al)
• Coalition of NGOs call for inclusion of Serb victims in Podujevo memorial (Prishtina Insight)
Serbian Language Media:
• Arancha Gonzalez: Spain maintains its principled position not to recognize Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Vucic on ‘genocide’ lawsuit (B92, N1)
• “Kosovo genocide lawsuit Kurti’s populist act” (Danas)
• Trajkovic: Announced lawsuit a way to suppress support to Specialist Court (Radio KIM)
• HLC: Memorial plaque of victims killed in Luzane in 1999 unveiled; names of Serbs not included (KoSSev)
• Excavations near Raska continue (Radio KIM)
• Office for KiM: House of Jacovic family in Vitina stoned (Kontakt plus radio, KoSSev)
• Additional financial assistance announced for those vaccinated (media)
• Office for KiM continues to provide housing for Serbs in Kosovo (TV Most)
Opinion:
• Easter “greetings” of Albin Kurti, humiliation and obliteration of Serbs and SOC (Politika)
International:
• EU Inaction Blamed for Proposal to Redraw Balkan Borders (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• EC: EU to ease restrictions on non-essential travels; Serbia maybe on list soon (N1)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, May 5, 2021
• COVID-19: 75 new cases, 4 (media)
• Kosovo receives 4,680 doses of Pfizer vaccines (media)
• Kurti: Securing vaccines remains our most urgent priority (media)
• PDK MP: Kurti government has failed with vaccines (media)
• Kurti to meet opposition parties this month on dialogue with Serbia (Koha)
• Kosovo Foreign Minister: I will never stop seeking justice for all victims (media)
• Lajcak strongly against border changes in the Balkans (media)
• EU inaction blamed for proposal to redraw Balkan borders (BIRN)
• State guarantees crucial for interim release of defendants (Koha Ditore)
• NATO shows “muscles” in Albania (Koha Ditore)
• Kosovo Army participates in ‘Defender Europe 21’ (Exit News)
• Kosovo Police investigate threat to LGBTI activist (BIRN)
Belgrade Media Report 4 May
LOCAL PRESS
Vucic: Publication of non-paper a strategy of circles closer to Pristina (Tanjug/RTS)
Vucic: Elections to be held in March or April (Blic)
Patriarch: I believe in the coexistence of Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija (Radio Belgrade/Tanjug)
Selakovic visits Spain’s Congress of deputies (RTS/Tanjug)
Selakovic: Spain and Morocco important, friendly countries that didn’t recognize Kosovo (Tanjug)
Selakovic: Foreign Ministry to get economic diplomacy sector by end-May (Tanjug)
Vulin: Creating of Serb world is solving national question of Serbs (Novosti)
Russian Balkan Center opened in Belgrade (Tanjug/RTV/Politika/Novosti)
Dacic: Inter-party talks under EP auspices in Serbia not before June (TV Pink/Beta/N1)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Campara: I am warning Vulin, you will break your teeth on every attempt to start process of uniting of Serbs to detriment of B&H (Oslobodjenje)
Dodik accuses US Ambassador Nelson of undiplomatic behavior: Nelson should not speak on behalf of B&H citizens, which he often does, because citizens did not give him mandate for that (N1)
US Embassy: Our stance on Dayton Peace Accords and future of B&H remains unchanged (Glas Srpske)
Palmer says it is up to people of B&H to bring relations in B&H in order, expresses support of USA (N1/ Dnevni list)
Russian Embassy reacts to Nelson and Palmer’s statements (N1)
Maas rejects claims that Germany took part in drafting non-papers that allude to changing borders in region (O kanal)
Dodik: The RS has prepared its own non-paper (Nova BH)
Dacic: Good thing about non-papers is possibility of autonomy of northern part of Kosovo and merging of the RS with Serbia (RTRS)
RS government sends 25th report to UN Security Council (RTRS)
B&H CEC will not be included in negotiations on changes to Election Law (N1)
Glas Srpske gets insight into document of EEAS that allegedly reads EU is strengthening pressure on B&H regarding changes to B&H Election Law with aim to speed up its European path (Glas Srpske)
Croat Caucus in HNC Assembly launches initiative to give Serbs status of constituent people in HNC (FTV)
SNSD, HDZ B&H delegates in B&H HoP voted against inclusion of Serbian language and Cyrillic alphabet in constitutions of several FB&H cantons (FTV)
Croatia
Borovo hate speech suspects placed in police custody (N1)
Members of IAWG tasked with drawing changes/amendments to Law on Elections of B&H appointed (Vecernji list)
Montenegro
Joanikije: Fundamental agreement for now just a draft, government’s position pending (CdM/Radio Svetigora)
Timonier: Nationalist forces in region survive and are an obstacle to reconciliation (Dnevne novine)
Republic of North Macedonia
Osmani in Berlin: Macedonia delivered and deserves to start the EU negotiation process (Republika)
Maas: Dispute between Macedonia and Bulgaria to be resolved by experts, without external pressure (Republika)
Albania
Presidency calls for full administration of April 25 election process (ADN)
DP’s Chair refuses to recognize election results (ADN)
The socialists discuss the removal of President Meta (Tirana Times)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 4, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 75 new cases, 4 (media)
• EC denies Kocijancic drafted non-paper, “ridiculous speculation” (Lajmi)
• Freedom of speech under threat (Koha Ditore/Radio Free Europe)
• AAK ready to join the dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Dutch PM: Netherlands supports Kosovo efforts to fight corruption (media)
• Kosovo Security Force to take part in NATO exercises in Albania (Telegrafi)
• Haradinaj welcomes KSF participation in NATO exercise (media)
• Croatia denies reports it offered guarantees for Thaci’s interim release (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• EU’s Várhelyi in Belgrade: Bloc sends 651,000 vaccines to region (FoNet, Beta, N1)
• Djuric: We have no non-papers, but our own ”yes-paper” (Tanjug, Blic)
• Kosovo to file genocide charges against Serbia next year; Office for KiM: “Kosovo cannot sue its own state” (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• Biggest problem of media reporting is the lack of cooperation with the institutions (KiM radio, Slobodno Srpski)
• Security, freedom and work of journalists in Kosovo endangered (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio, KoSSev)
• US State Department on Kosovo: Pressure on media, hampered restitution (media)
• BIRODI: Media in Serbia becoming industry of populism (Beta, N1)
• Vucic receives Russian ambassador (Tanjug, N1, Blic)
• SPC Patriarch: Cohabitation between Serbs & Albanians possible (media)
Opinion:
• The ‘non-paper’ carving up Balkans and undermining Europe (euobserver.com)
• Slovenia’s ‘Non-Paper’ is no Stunt but a Worrying Omen (Balkan Insight)
International:
• In Serbia, fake news is spread by state-backed media (euracticve.com)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Already Isolated, COVID-19 Takes Heavy Toll on Kosovo’s Disabled (Balkan Insight)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, May 4, 2021
• COVID-19: 101 new cases, 4 deaths (media)
• Kosovo leaders’ messages on World Press Freedom Day (media)
• Konjufca: We must not stop seeking justice for massacres (media)
• Pandemic leaves Kosovo without printed daily newspapers (AP)
• Experts fear Serbia could benefit from genocide lawsuit (Koha)
• “Kosovo must offer guarantees for freedom on bail of defendants” (media)
• “If Kurti doesn’t offer guarantees, he cannot be PM of Albanians” (media)
• Serwer: Serbia wants to benefit more than EU membership (media)
• Social housing issues remain overlooked in Kosovo (BIRN)
• Debate puts road safety in the spotlight (BIRN)
• Albanian PM: I never supported Kosovo-Serbia border changes (media)
• Vlora Citaku expected to be appointed Albania’s Foreign Minister (media)
LINKS
UNMIK
Peacekeeping
UN News Center
From Google News- Foreign Affairs’ Minister: Non-examination of Kosovo's request for membership in CoE, a missed opportunity - Euronews Albania 17/05/2024Foreign Affairs’ Minister: Non-examination of Kosovo's request for membership in CoE, a missed opportunity Euronews Albania
- Escobar: No secret that the US and Kosovo do not have the best relations - Euronews Albania 17/05/2024Escobar: No secret that the US and Kosovo do not have the best relations Euronews Albania
- Serbian politician sues his country for crimes committed in Kosovo - Euronews Albania 17/05/2024Serbian politician sues his country for crimes committed in Kosovo Euronews Albania
- Foreign Affairs’ Minister: Non-examination of Kosovo's request for membership in CoE, a missed opportunity - Euronews Albania 17/05/2024
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