Belgrade Media Report 1 December
LOCAL PRESS
Vucic attends United Russia conference, thanks Putin (Tanjug/RTS)
Dacic calls referendum on constitutional amendments for 16 January (Tanjug/RTS/RTV/Beta/Politika/Novosti)
Selakovic: Serbia fosters friendly relations with African states (Tanjug/RTV)
Selakovic meets with Agius, Brammertz (Tanjug/Politika)
New KSF commander is a cousin of Adem Jashari, one of the founders of the terrorist KLA (Novosti/Tanjug/Indeks Online)
Stefanovic: I do not expect essential change of policy conducted by Pristina institutions (RTV/Kosovo Online)
Romanian Embassy condemns hate speech against Romanian minority in Serbia (Beta/Politika)
Romanian MEP: Insults to Serbia’s politician sad, shame for state (Nova/N1)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Dodik: I will inform Putin about initiative to return RS competencies (RTRS/ATV)
Schmidt: I was told I have support of Moscow; I have support of Vucic and Plenkovic (Oslobodjenje)
Palmer and Eichhorst meet with leaders of HDZ B&H and SDA; Radoncic: Both Izetbegovic and Covic are showing full readiness and will for reaching compromise solution (AJB/BHT1)
Palmer, Eichhorst meet Komsic; Komsic not optimistic about reaching of agreement (Nova BH)
US Embassy comments talks on electoral reform (Dnevni avaz)
Komsic, Dzaferovic meet Kalabukhov who informs them about Russian response to their letter: Russia supports sovereignty, territorial integrity of B&H (BHT1)
Borrell: Enough of past, reforms are priority (N1)
Stoltenberg: NATO concerned over rhetoric in B&H (BHT1)
Banozic meets Covic; Banozic: HDZ in B&H advocates equality of all peoples and they are heading in this direction when it comes to changes to B&H Election Law (BHT1)
Tegeltija meets Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon; Tegeltija: It is necessary to immediately abolish Inzko’s decision regarding genocide denial (RTRS)
Bosniak delegates in B&H HoP vote against conclusions proposed by Serb Caucus (EuroBlic)
Komsic on B&H HoP’s session: HDZ B&H ranked itself among those who deny genocide (N1)
DF Presidency: Concessions to Dodik and Covic lead to undermining of state institutions (Oslobodjene)
Borenovic: We will not follow Dodik’s political conformism (Dnevni list)
Croatia
Serbia continues to block efforts to find missing persons from the Homeland War (HRT)
Netherlands refusing to confirm Croatia’s admission to Schengen (Vecernji List)
Montenegro
Krivokapic meets with Director for the Western Balkans in the German Foreign Office (Office of the Prime Minister)
German companies show increased interest in investing in Montenegro (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister)
Republic of North Macedonia
Ahmeti does not “accept” Zaev’s resignation until March (Sloboden pecat)
Grubi: Alternative is welcome in the government (Alsat TV)
Radev-Zaev: Dialogue at high level crucial for building trust, solving disputes (MIA)
Serbian government approves opening of Macedonian consulate (MIA)
Albania
Bulgaria proposed start of EU negotiations for Albania, President welcomes decision (ADN)
Former Velipoja mayor and MP gunned down (Tirana Times)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 1, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• Stoltenberg: We are concerned with rhetoric in Bosnia and Kosovo-Serbia tensions (Klan)
• PDK’s Citaku accuses Minister Mehaj of legal violations (media)
• Kosovo’s deputy minister denies allegations of Mehaj-Rama disagreements (Telegrafi)
• Former KSF commander to represent Kosovo at RACVIAC organisation (Telegrafi)
• Quint must not put pressure on Kosovo institutions, historians say (media)
• KSC prosecution opposes interim release of former KLA leaders (media)
• Court fines Klina mayor on conflict of interest charges (Zeri)
• Kurti on anti-COVID measures: They respond to current situation (media)
• COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Dacic calls referendum on constitutional amendments for January 16 (media)
• New assemblies constituted in Serbian municipalities in Kosovo (RTS)
• Visoki Decani: Without respect for the rights of all communities, there is no sustainable democratic development (Kosovo Online)
• PM Brnabic to von Cramon: ”I understand that Kosovo is part of Serbia for you as well, and I appreciate that” (Kosovo Online, Blic)
• The north of Kosovo among the reasons for the change in the KSF; the position of the USA awaited (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian Defence Minister Stefanovic about the change of the KSF head (Kosovo Online)
• Todosijevic, Serbian List member who was sentenced to prison, still MP (RFE)
• Serbian Ministry of Culture returned Kosovo and Metohija to the Law on Cultural Heritage (KiM radio, Beta)
• Stano: Both Belgrade and Pristina to allow official visits (RTS, Tanjug)
• Borrell: Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is the only way to stabilization (RTS, Tanjug)
Opinion:
• Serbia’s War on Free Media is Moving to ‘Street Level’ (Balkan Insight)
International:
• Havana Syndrome: The Perfect Disease for a Post-Truth World (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• World AIDS day finds Kosovo with eight new HIV positive cases (RFE/Koha)
• Quarantine in Kosovo Sparks Revival in Greenhouse Gardening (Prishtina Insight)
• Workshop on Participatory Strategic Planning organised in Kosovo* (CoE)
• Massive protests in Serbia against Rio Tinto’s lithium mining ambition, pollution (balkangreenenergynews.com)
Belgrade Media Report 30 November
LOCAL PRESS
Vucic isn’t sure if he signed Law on Referendum, which entered force (N1/TVPink)
Vucic on Law on Expropriation: It seems to me that I will sign it (B92)
Selakovic: Support of Netherlands to Open Balkans an encouragement (Politika)
Von Cramon: Berlin could change approach towards Belgrade (N1)
Brnabic: Von Cramon has double standards for Belgrade and Pristina (Tanjug/RTV/B92)
Referendum question designed: Serbian citizens should provide answer to this question (RTS)
Part of opposition supports new environmental protest (Beta)
Some 28,000 refugees in Serbia with unresolved status (Beta/Danas)
Tanjug to join EU’s European newsroom (Tanjug)
Disputes of ruling and opposition parties ahead of RS parliament session (Politika)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
New round of talks on election changes starts, Palmer and Eichhorst meet with leaders of SDA and HDZ B&H; Palmer: We are not here to advocate for any plan (Hayat)
Sattler hosts working dinner for Dodik, Covic, Izetbegovic and US, EU representatives for election reform in B&H (RTRS)
Palmer and Eichhorst meet with representatives of opposition parties in FB&H, opposition insist on fair elections (BN TV)
Palmer and Eichhorst meet civil sector and B&H CEC members (Hayat)
Dodik: I will not succumb to threats of western sanctions, sanctions and abolition of EU financing will only force me to accept investment offers from China, if West introduces sanctions, Russia and China will support RS (RTRS/The Guardian)
Vulin: Very powerful centers are working to ensure that RS is not guarded and preserved (Nezavisne)
B&H House of Peoples holds session about current blockade of B&H parliament (BHT1)
MPs disagree on whether Inzko’s decision on prohibition of genocide denial should be revoked before politicians try to reach agreement on changes to Criminal Code of B&H (EuroBlic)
Croatia
Bosniak media and politicians attacking US’ and EU’s envoys for not supporting their agenda (Vecernji list)
Croatia buys 12 Rafale fighter jets, Serbia responds by announcing a similar purchase (TCN)
Montenegro
Opposition’s proposal: Reasons for voting on no confidence in Krivokapic’s governement (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
Zaev-Gashi meeting ended with agreement for cooperation, consultations on government positions underway (Republika)
Dimovski: Grubi can stop Zaev’s resignation (Republika)
Albania
Lajcak: EU should accelerate integration process of Western Balkans (Radio Tirana)
Ambassador of Croatia: Open Balkans legitimizes ‘Serbian World’ (ADN)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 1, 2021
• The Quint calls on Kosovo to implement decision on Decani Monastery land (media)
• Osmani asks Slovenia to persuade partners to lift visa requirements (BIRN)
• Government doesn’t expect results from dialogue before Serbia elections (Koha)
• EU: Serbia should allow Kosovo ministers to visit Presevo (media)
• LDK MP: I don’t believe there should be early elections (media)
• Dugolli: We will have helicopters during this mandate (KTV)
• Von Cramon’s call to Germany on changing its stance on Serbia angers PM Brnabic (euronews.al)
• Surroi: Kurti, Rama wouldn’t mention referendum if not asked (Klan Kosova)
• Only 19 percent of women elected to municipal assemblies (Lajmi)
• Albania, Kosovo plan joint children’s textbook for 2022 (BIRN)
• COVID-19: Eight new cases, one death (media)