Belgrade Media Report 04 October 2021
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Monday 4 October 2021
LOCAL PRESS
Vucic satisfied with withdrawal of ROSU from north Kosovo (TV Prva/Tanjug)
Vucic: The game was imposed on us, but we played better (TV Pink/B92/Politika)
Brnabic: World reminded of provisions of UNSCR 1244 (Tanjug/RTV)
Odalovic: KFOR finally started doing its job (RTS)
KFOR confirms deployment at Jarinje, Brnjak (Beta)
NATO, EU share interest in permanent political solution for the region (Beta)
Godfrey: Glad to see Brussels agreement being implemented; We must now focus on a durable solution (Beta/NSPM/RTV)
Petkovic: Implementation of all agreements from Brussels is starting (Tanjug)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Dodik praises Vucic for solving crisis in Kosovo (Srna)
Representatives of ruling parties in RS hold meeting in Banja Luka; Dodik says leaders of ruling parties agreed to be resolute in protecting RS’ competences (BHT1)
Dodik says to Escobar he does not care about new US sanctions (O Kanal)
Political analyst Kesic argues US diplomacy came down to threats, violence and ignoring of political will of Serb people, says one should have no doubt that threats with sanctions can be realized (RTRS)
Sattler: Dodik’s secessionist statements are road to nowhere (N1)
Palmer: Fuele’s model is not only one, we would also support variant of Fuele’s model (Hayat)
Palmer ends his visit to B&H after talks with opposition leaders on electoral reform (BHT1)
Komsic says Fuele’s model is unacceptable (FTV)
Sarovic, Borenovic meet Palmer, Sarovic argued SNSD, SDA and HDZ B&H are key to Election Law (BN TV)
Izetbegovic says Palmer expects him and Covic to untie knot in electoral reform (Hayat)
Sattler: With attention of EU and US, this is right moment to address constitutional and electoral reforms before 2022 (N1)
Banja Luka: Thousands of citizens gather at opposition protest under slogan ‘Stop choking media freedom, truth, rights and democracy!’ (Nova BH/RTRS/BN TV/BHT1)
Dodik: Gathering in Banja Luka showed that opposition is without program and ambition (RTRS)
Croatia
Plenkovic meets with Ambassadors of EU Member States; stresses need to ensure equality of all three constituent peoples in B&H (HRT1)
Montenegro
Krivokapic’s office: Previous disagreements as well as issues that halt work of government and parliamentary majority must end (CdM)
Consultations on government reshuffle begin, elections if no agreement reached; PzP wants Medojevic instead of Abazovic (CdM)
MANS: The Djukanovics set up trusts and companies at offshore destinations (Pobjeda)
Djukanovic’s office: Victoria Trust existed solely on paper, this is MANS’ malicious spin (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
Local elections campaign: VMRO-DPMNE holds a rally in Strumica, and SDSM goes to Kavadarci (Republika)
Bomb thrown at the house of Roma politician Gabriel Bajram (Republika)
Albania
Rama meets Borrell: We must maintain the momentum of reforms (Radio Tirana)
Escobar: US hopes that Tirana and Skopje will start negotiations with EU this year (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 4, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 4, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti warns reduction of Serbian imports, plans to increase trade with Albania (euronews.al)
• Lajcak in U.S. after events in the North, Serbian request for Association (RTK)
• Kosovo-Serbia agreement on license plates enters into force (euronews.al)
• War victims found in Serbian mass grave repatriated to Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)
• Tahiri: Brussels license plates agreement threatens state sovereignty (Telegrafi)
• Haradinaj: Government made harmful decisions, call for resignation is legitimate (RTK)
• Shala: You agreed with Serbia in Brussels about our internal affairs (RTK)
• Establishment of reciprocity, Svecla visits Brnjak (media)
• COVID-19: One death, seven new cases (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Covid-19: 28 new cases, one death registered in Serbian areas (Radio konakt plus)
• Traffic normalized at Jarinje and Brnjak, stickers’ regime started (RTS)
• Petkovic: Without dialogue there is no progress, I hope US will explain it to Kurti (Kosovo-online)
• “Serbs pleased with withdrawal of special police units from northern Kosovo” (Radio KIM)
• Odalovic: KFOR has finally started doing its job (RTS)
• Rakic: I expect agreement will be respected and enable free movement of citizens (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• EU top diplomat in Serbia: W. Balkans has no alternative to Union (N1)
Opinion:
• Kosovo – Serbia Micro “Cuban Missile” Crisis (KoSSev)
International:
• Kosovo Charges Ten with Ethnically-Motivated Attack on Serbs (Balkan Insight)
• Vehicles, Their State Symbols Hidden, Now Crossing Kosovar-Serbian Border (RFE)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 4, 2021
• License plates agreement: Sticker regime to enter into force today (media)
• Serbs lift roadblocks in Kosovo as NATO moves to end car plate row (Reuters)
• Kurti says they will work for full reciprocity with Serbia, addresses gas project (EO)
• “KFOR ready to perform its duties in support of local and regional stability” (media)
• U.S. commends progress in implementation of Kosovo-Serbia agreement (media)
• Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti meets management of the Kosovo Police (media)
• “The era when the Republic of Kosovo is oppressed is over,” says minister Svecla (euronews.al)
• Mehaj: National security challenged and provoked by Serbia (media)
• Shala in op-ed: Four lessons from the North of Kosovo (Klan Kosova)
• Phillips: Kosovo was late with reciprocity, Serbia to stop seeking preferential treatment (Telegrafi)
• Kurti to attend EU-Western Balkans summit in Slovenia (Kosovapress)
• Kandic: Serbia not ready to punish war crime perpetrators (Kosovapress)
• Kosovo Court urged to convict Serb ex-policeman of wartime killings (BIRN)
• COVID-19: Two deaths, 23 new cases (media)