Belgrade Media Report 19 August 2021
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Thursday 19 August 2021
LOCAL PRESS
Vucic offers additional rewards for information about attack in Gorazdevac (Beta)
Irreplaceable role of UN Mission in Kosovo and Metohija (FoNet/RTV)
Selakovic visits Serbian peacekeepers in southern Lebanon (RTV/Tanjug/Beta)
Agreement on electoral conditions due in first half of September (Tanjug)
IDPs from Kosovo and Metohija still face entry restrictions (Beta)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Merkel meets HR Schmidt and expresses full supports to his work (AJB/Hayat/Oslobodjenje)
EU is not considering any sanctions against B&H politicians at the moment (Nezavisne)
Ivanic, Lukic argue former High Representatives worsened situation in B&H, Colo says OHR has never been part of problem in B&H (EuroBlic)
Patriarch Porfirije meets with leaders of all RS parliamentary parties (BN TV)
Kovacevic: Pressures aimed at disappearance of RS and Serbs from B&H are certainly issue for Serb Orthodox Church (Dnevni list)
SDS Presidency concludes that SDS does not support arrival of any HR in B&H (BN TV)
Covic: We need constitutional changes and amendments to Election Law (Dnevni list)
The dangerous Balkan standstill (Project Syndicate/Dnevni list)
Croatia
Indictment against a Serbian citizen for crimes in Glina (HRT)
Montenegro
The enthronement on 5 September, Porfirije to be welcomed in Podgorica (Pobjeda)
Kascelan to ambassadors: Preservation of peace is a priority, Joanikije’s enthronement should be carried out elsewhere (CdM)
Threats to Veljovic joined by a gusle player, a religious processions hero (Dnevne novine)
Niksic Mayor Marko Kovacevic questioned by prosecution for denying genocide in Srebrenica (MINA)
Republic of North Macedonia
Mickoski invites Levica to join forces in the municipal elections (Republika)
Zaev again insists on holding a census in September (Republika)
Majority of 450 Afghan civilians to arrive in the country by the end of the week (Republika)
Protest against the construction of a center for asylum seekers in Skopje (Republika)
Albania
Albania expecting 1000 Afghan refugees within week (ADN/El Periodico)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 19, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 19, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 2,236 new cases, 8 deaths (media)
• US sends 35,100 anti-COVID-19 vaccines to Kosovo (media)
• Four Kosovo citizens evacuated from Afghanistan (media)
• Foreign Ministry approves visit of Serbian official to Kosovo (media)
• PDK: Ministry of Education is failing another school year (media)
• Police fines 509 people for not respecting anti-COVID Law (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• 24 new cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Vucic: With requests for recognition Pristina freed Serbia’s hands (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic on two-day visit in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• One of attackers against Nikola Peric arrested (Radio KIM)
• Serbian broadcaster says will boycott Twitter; Recalls NATO bombing (N1)
• Vucic: Serbia will always stand with Serbs in Kosovo, Republika Srpska (N1)
• Petkovic: Upcoming elections would increase anti-Serbian rhetoric (Radio KIM)
• Displaced people still cannot enter Kosovo through all administrative crossings (KoSSev)
• Randjel Nojkic: Sooner or later I expected rift within Serbian List (Danas)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 19, 2021
• COVID-19: 2,110 new cases, 4 deaths (media)
• Kurti appeals to people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 (media)
• Kurti government doesn’t feel responsible for alarming number of cases (Koha)
• Ministry of Education plans for new academic year to start in schools (RFE)
• Kurti meets German Ambassador Rohde (media)
• Bahtiri: Vetevendosje will win 15 municipalities in local elections (media)
• Osmani: Kosovo ready without hesitation to shelter Afghan refugees (BBC)
• Montenegro dismisses media reports about hosting Afghan refugees (BIRN)
• Think tank defends Serbia hosting secret Afghan Govt-Taliban talks (BIRN)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 18, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 18, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 2,110 new cases, four deaths (media)
• The U.S. Embassy: Anti-COVID vaccines do not change human DNA (media)
• PDK’s Hoxhaj gets second vaccine dose, calls on teachers to get vaccinated (Zeri)
• EU responds positively to Osmani’s request to monitor local elections (media)
• Kurti: Have to deal with the past; no luxury for mistakes or experiments (EO)
Serbian Language Media:
• EU spokesperson says Belgrade-Pristina dialogue activities continue (N1)
• KP: Three people detained over physical attack on young man in Mitrovica North (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Serbia to offer additional reward to find those responsible for crime in Gorazdevac (Kosovo-online)
• Leposavic-based TV Mir part of cable network in northern Kosovo again (Radio kontakt plus)
• Stojanovic on reasons why he decided to run for mayor (KoSSev)
• Serbian List in Gracanica: Branimir Stojanovic wishes harm to Serb people (KoSSev)
• Two Serbian nationals evacuated from Kabul, one remains (N1)
• Serbia donates coronavirus vaccines to Lebanon (N1)
• Bregovic confirms performance in Korca (KoSSev)
International:
• Balkan countries affirm US alliance by accepting Afghan refugees (politico.eu)
• Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia Prepare to Shelter Fleeing Afghans (Balkan Insight)
Belgrade Media Report 18 August 2021
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Wednesday 18 August 2021
LOCAL PRESS
Vucic: We want the best possible relations with Montenegro (Beta)
EU: No specific meetings in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, only contacts on different levels (Beta)
Selakovic: Lebanese officials express principled support for Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty (RTV)
Office for Kosovo and Metohija: They are drawing targets on Serbs with messages from Pristina (RTV/Tanjug)
Appointment of Schmidt is illegal and illegitimate (Novosti)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
B&H Presidency members Komsic and Dzaferovic hold session without Dodik, approve decision to hold ‘Quick Response’ exercise (BHT1/FTV)
Dodik’s cabinet: Komsic and Dzaferovic continue to degrade B&H Presidency and turn it into circus (RTRS)
Prosecutor’s Office of B&H confirms that it received criminal report against Dodik (BHT1)
Sarajevo politicians use wildfires in FB&H to blame RS, Dodik; Kovacevic: This is how they hide their incompetence (ATV)
Opposition leaders mostly agree that Dodik should give his consent for deployment of Armed Forces in firefighting operation (Glas Srpske)
Cvijanovic: It is obvious that Russia and China tried to bring order into procedures and manner of HR’s appointment in B&H (ATV)
SDP to Embassies of Russia and China: Respect the legitimacy of HR (Dnevni list)
B&H MPs comment Russia, China stances regarding appointment of HR Schmidt (Oslobodjenje)
RS CoP fails to harmonize views on invoking of protection of VNI in case of law on non-application of decision of HR and law on amendments to RS Criminal Code (RTRS)
HJPC confirms second instance disciplinary commission in procedure against Gordana Tadic did not make decision (RTRS)
Croatia
Croatian MEP: NATO has to understand its Afghanistan mistakes (Hina)
Montenegro
Krivokapic: I got the information about coup plot (CdM/Nova)
Fierce reactions from Montenegro to Drasko Stanivukovic’s statement (N1)
Dritan’s “new hope” denies Montenegrins (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
Nikoloski: This will be the first election in which the government didn’t accept the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations over the Electoral Code (Republika)
Osmani: Turns out we need a political government in Sofia to negotiate with after all (Republika)
Macedonia and Turkey to sign agreement for military and financial cooperation (Republika)
Region praises Zaev, Kosovo and Albania’s readiness to accept refugees from Afghanistan (Republika/ANA-MPA/Documento)
Albania
Rama: An honor and duty for us to host the Afghan refugees, surprised by the rich countries (Tirana Times/The Guardian)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 18, 2021
• COVID-19: 1,783 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Health Minister: 99 percent of tested samples resulted with Delta variant (media)
• Health Institute chief appeals for vaccination against COVID-19 (Indeksonline)
• Kosovo approves vaccinations for over-12s (Exit News)
• PDK’s Nikaj slams government for poor management of pandemic (EO)
• Osmani: Two Kosovars safely evacuated from Afghanistan (media)
• Kurti: I cannot disclose number of Afghans that will be sheltered (AP/Klan Kosova)
• Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia prepare to shelter fleeing Afghans (BIRN)
• Controversial Kosovo Serb powerbroker’s libel case dismissed (BIRN)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 17, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 17, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 1765 new cases, five deaths (media)
• Ministry to discuss additional anti-COVID measures today (Koha)
• Kurti: Sheltering Afghans in Kosovo is done in coordination with US (media)
• U.S. Senate and Ambassador thank Kosovo for agreeing to provide shelter to Afghan refugees (Express)
• About 9 thousand applications from diaspora for October 17 elections so far (Telegrafi)
• Caka-Nimani meets UK Ambassador Nicholas Abbott (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• 18 new cases of Covid-19 in Serbian areas in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Stojanovic hands over candidacy for mayor in Gracanica, reactions follow (Radio KIM, media)
• Aleksandar Arsenijevic candidate for mayor in Mitrovica North (Kosovo-online)
• Kosovo Serb media editors on Serbian List attitude toward media (KoSSev)
• Serb young man assaulted in Boshnjak mahala, Radojevic informs Carabinieri Commander on incident (Kosovo-online)
• Anti-Albanian graffiti inscribed than painted over in Gracanica (Radio KIM)
• Serbia’s nationals could return from Afghanistan during day, N1 learns (N1)
• Lawsuit of Milan Radoicic against Rada Trajkovic rejected (KoSSev)
• Belgrade surprised by Twitter move (N1)
International:
• Serbia ‘Hosted Afghan Govt-Taliban Negotiations’, Says Ex-Minister (Balkan Insight)
• Twitter Labels Numerous Media Accounts in Serbia ‘State Affiliated’ (Balkan Insight)
Belgrade Media Report 17 August 2021
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Tuesday 17 August 2021
LOCAL PRESS
Vucic: Pressure on Serbia to grow but we will always be with our people (Tanjug/RTV)
Petkovic: Only Serb List candidates have Belgrade’s support (RTS)
Dacic: We organized Afghanistan peace talks three times in Belgrade (TV Pink/Tanjug)
Serbian Foreign Ministry condemns relativization of Jasenovac crime (Tanjug/RTS)
Afghan refugee wave to reach Serbia only in a couple of months (Beta)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
B&H Presidency holds extraordinary session, calling on HR to get involved in resolving current situation regarding fires that are raging in B&H (Nova BH)
OHR: HR expects relevant domestic authorities to act within the scope of their responsibilities and address pressing needs of local communities in wildfire-affected areas (Nova BH)
Kovacevic: Two B&H Presidency members show that they are afraid of Serb unity (Srna/ATV)
Chinese Embassy to B&H: Chinese authorities do not accept Schmidt’s legitimacy as new HR (Dnevni avaz)
Dzaferovic in Buzim: Ideological and political followers of those who are the main organizers of genocide, interfere with our progress towards EU and NATO membership (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia
Grlic Radman: Everyone who is responsible should work on changes to Law on Elections (Vecernji list)
Plenkovic talks to Slovenian counterpart Jansa on the phone (HRT)
Foreign Ministry confirms eight Croats have been evacuated from Afghanistan (Hina)
Montenegro
Krivokapic, Abazovic and Becic to be ready to take responsibility (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
DUI party splits in its main stronghold of Kicevo, warns that a Macedonian could be elected Mayor instead of an Albanian (Republika)
Unable to withdraw its own citizens from Kabul, Macedonia offers to accept Afghan asylum seekers (Republika)
Albania
Albania: Protesters criticized Rama for being part of the Open Balkans project (ADN)
Preparations are being made to receive the Afghan nationals (Radio Tirana)
Xhacka: Albania is ready to receive the Afghan citizens, in collaboration with allies (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 17, 2021
• COVID-19: 740 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Berlin: We’re aware of Open Balkan; we support Common Regional Market (media)
• Vaccination of groups over 12, allowed (RTK)
• Kosovo Government decides to shelter Afghans (Telegrafi)
• 94 political entities applied for local elections (Koha)
• LDK with three women mayor candidates for first time in Kosovo (Koha)
• Hoti reacts to Odalovic: Desire for massacres still runs in your blood (Zeri)
• 250 Afghan refugees to arrive in Albania this week (Voice of America)
Belgrade Media Report 16 August 2021
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Monday 16 August 2021
LOCAL PRESS
Vucic: Those rocking Pristina in the cradle, will continue so (RTV/RTS/Tanjug)
Odalovic: Wherever the Americans were, they left that place, Pristina needs to thinks about that (RTS)
Mirovic says goal of activities related to Srebrenica is to guide political processes in certain direction (Novosti)
Governments of Serbia and RS are working as a team (Politika)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Merkel calls on Inzko and Schmidt for consultations on Wednesday and after that, she will meet with Putin (ATV)
Vulin: Serbia is against any kind of imposing of laws in B&H and against any kind of disrespect for Dayton Agreement (ATV)
Lukac and Vulin hold meeting with representatives of Serbs in FB&H; Vulin: As long as Vucic is President of Serbia, Belgrade’s policy will be preservation of peace and stability in region (RTRS)
Experts say Moscow’s diplomatic note stating that it does not accept Schmidt as new HR represents strong support to RS and commitment of RS institutions for respecting DPA (RTRS)
Embassy of Russian Federation in B&H issues diplomatic note officially stating that it does not accept Schmidt as new HR in B&H (FTV/N1)
Cubrilovic: Purpose of Inzko’s decision is to justify unitarization of B&H (Fena/Nezavisne)
Trivic: We remain to be opposition to SNSD and Dodik, but not to the RS (Oslobodjenje)
Dodik to Ambassador Nelson: Enough of your meddling in B&H (Srna/Nezavisne)
Prodanovic says current crisis is biggest since Dayton, argues part of international community bears responsibility for it (Glas Srpske)
RS MoI: Ministry did not issue an order for acting in accordance with the law imposed by Inzko (Srna)
Head of Jablanica Municipality announces that he will file criminal report against Dodik because he did not give consent for use of B&H AF helicopter in extinguishing fires (O Kanal)
B&H Presidency adopts conclusion tasking B&H Ministry of Security with using all mechanisms to ensure adequate response to current and future situations related to natural disasters, including wildfires (O kanal)
EUFOR replies to Komsic: EUFOR does not possess equipment for extinguishing of wildfires from air (BHT1)
Grlic Radman calls on Prosecutor’s Office of B&H to process war crimes against Croats (Dnevni list)
Croatia
Plenkovic: Repatriation of Croatians from Afghanistan organized (Hina)
Cavara: Bosniak political elites still have wartime goals; We do not place hopes on role of HR; HRs have made big damage to Croats so far (Slobodna Dalmacija)
Montenegro
Joanikije’s enthronement a final step in the occupation of Montenegro (Dnevne novine)
SDP seeks urgent session of Cetinje assembly: Joanikije’s enthronement should be cancelled (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
Mickoski: VMRO-DPMNE to run for a convincing victory with many new names (Republika)
Macedonia’s government prepared to help US and accept Afghan civilians, says Zaev (Republika)
Albania
Open Balkans, EU reacts: We welcome the leaders’ commitments for regional cooperation (Radio Tirana)
American Department of State in favor of the Open Balkans initiative: Common Regional Market, essential for the progress of the Western Balkans! (Radio Tirana/VoA)
Open Balkans, Kurti strong messages to Tirana (Radio Tirana)
US government in talks with Tirana to shelter Afghani citizens (Tirana Times)
DP Chair calls for Albania helping Afghans fleeing Taliban (ADN)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 16, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 16, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 740 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Recommendations how to increase vaccination rates (Koha)
• Foreign Ministry working to evacuate three Kosovars from Afghanistan (media)
• “Frequent changes of government delayed issue of missing persons” (EO)
• VV, LDK and AAK to run with single list in Gracanica (Kallxo)
• €2.6 million for environmental protection and diaspora investments (media)
• Protest in front of Albanian PM office against Open Balkan (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Ten cases of Covid-19 registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• UNS and its branch in Kosovo: Serbian List to invite journalists without selection to events of public significance (Radio KIM)
• Serbian List submitted list of candidates for mayors (Radio KIM)
• Vucina Jankovic new head of North Mitrovica administrative district (KoSSev)
• Citizens’ associations and Serbian media in Kosovo – Pandemic of security incidents (Danas)
• Serbian minister says third vaccine dose as of this week (N1)
• One more “KLA” graffiti inscribed in Gracanica (Radio KIM)
• “Wherever Americans were, they left eventually, Pristina must think about that” (B92, RTS)
International:
• Balkan states scramble to evacuate stranded citizens From Afghanistan (BIRN)
• Balkan countries offer refuge to Afghans after Taliban takeover (BIRN)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Wasted Water: Leaking Pipelines Threaten to Let Balkans Run Dry (Balkan Insight)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 16, 2021
• COVID-19: 1,096 new cases, 4 deaths (media)
• Kosovo opens doors to Afghan refugees (Koha Ditore)
• US: Kosovo joins calls for safe departure of Afghans (media)
• Albright thanks Kosovo for offering to refuge Afghan allies (media)
• Citaku: Kosovo should shelter some refugees from Afghanistan (RTK)
• Kosovo parties ponder joint candidates in Serb-majority areas (BIRN)
• Kosovo without protect against Russian propaganda (Radio Free Europe)
• COVID-19 spike adds to jitters over new school year in Balkans (BIRN)
LINKS
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