Belgrade Media Report 09 December 2021
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Thursday 9 December 2021
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic: I returned Law on Expropriation to parliament, Referendum Law to be revised (B92/Tanjug/RTS/Politika)
• Law on Expropriation withdrawn from parliamentary procedure (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Government cannot withdraw adopted law (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Dacic says expropriation law up for public debate (TV Pink/FoNet)
• US identifies five Kosovo Serb businessmen as leaders of organized crime group (N1)
• Serbian environmental organization wants Rio Tinto plans removed (N1)
• Working Group for Rio Tinto project involves President’s aides, but diplomats, too (Beta/NSPM)
• Stefanovic: KFOR to act within the given mandate, Security Council Resolution 1244 and the Military Technical agreement (Tanjug/Beta)
• SNS MP: Vulin responsible for police acts, alleged deal with Russians (N1)
• Lecturer: Summit for Democracy – a bad idea for the world (Beta)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Escobar meets B&H Presidency members: Dzaferovic: Me and Komsic are encouraged by constant support that comes from US (Hayat)
• Dodik tells Escobar that international community needs to find way to withdraw Inzko’s law (RTRS)
• Izetbegovic’s announcement that all decisions of RS parliament on restoration of competences will be annulled by Constitutional Court causes reactions from RS: This is proof that SDA controls judiciary (Glas Srpske)
• Dzaferovic: RS parliament’s discussion of issues of B&H institutions would only lead to further escalation of already bad political situation (Hayat)
• IMF warns of consequences if RS decides to withdraw from ITA B&H (O Kanal/RTRS)
• Dodik says US tried to remove him and replace him with Cvijanovic; Cvijanovic: There are efforts to isolate Dodik (RTRS)
• Colomina: We call on Russia to take constructive role in Western Balkans (Oslobodjenje)
• Vulin with Viskovic; Vulin: Serbia insists on respecting DPA as only way to preserve peace (N1)
• Izetbegovic: It will be HNS’ fault if negotiations fail (Dnevni list)
• Bajrovic on possible boycott of elections by SNSD and HDZ B&H: Boycott of elections will not have any meaning, as other parties from the RS do not support the idea (O Kanal)
• PIC SB warns that any unilateral decisions will endanger peace in B&H; Schmidt: Entities are constitutional part of state, but that does not give them right to unilaterally secede from B&H (Hayat)
• Russian Embassy reacts to PIC SB’s session: B&H does not include entities, but it is made out of entities, OHR should be closed and NATO will never be a goal (O Kanal)
• Dodik harshly criticizes Schmidt and PIC SB’s conclusions (Hayat)
Croatia
• Milanovic comments PIC SB Communiqué: Report has all elements of colonial administration, which they try to systematically impose onto B&H (Hina)
• Milanovic: It bothers me that Serbs are insinuated that they are a genocidal people (N1)
• Plenkovic visits Ukraine amid rising tensions with Russia (HRT)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic: I’m optimistic that government will fall; If a policy similar to reality shows prevails in Montenegro, I won’t be its stakeholder (Portal Dnevne)
• Government won’t fall – PM supported by Pozitivna and Democratic parties (CdM)
• Becic: I hope they’ll stick to his words and that parliamentary majority won’t support initiative for no confidence in government (CdM)
• Radulovic, Plenkovic: Croatia supports Montenegro’s European path (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• Minister Radulovic meets with his Croatian counterpart Gordan Grlic Radman (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Bulgaria maintains its position and does not withdraw its veto – Albania can start negotiations with the EU, North Macedonia cannot (Libertas)
Albania
• US Ambassador to Albania reacts after sanctions imposed on Serb Group in Kosovo (ADN)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 9, 2021
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 9, 2021
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti: We want a legally binding agreement centred on mutual recognition (Kosovapress)
• Svecla: Sanctions against Veselinovic’s group prove our fight against corruption was legitimate (media)
• UK’s Abbott welcomes U.S. sanctions against Veselinovic’s group (Telegrafi/RTK)
• Haradinaj hails U.S. sanctions as ‘excellent news for Kosovo’ (media)
• Radule Stevic and tenders awarded to him by Kosovo institutions (RFE)
• Minister Aliu confirms having a contract with company sanctioned by the U.S. (EO/Zeri)
• Kosovo joins U.S. in diplomatic boycott of Winter Olympics in China (Koha/Telegrafi)
Serbian Language Media:
• Covid-19: 33 news cases in Serbian communities (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• I did not yield to protests; I only met people’s demands, President Vucic says (N1)
• Borrell: US sanctions important step in fight against organized crime in Western Balkans (Kosovo-online)
• Millions worth tenders of an entrepreneur from the north of Kosovo, to whom the US imposed sanctions (RFE, KoSSev)
• Trajkovic: Serbian-Albanian connections (Radio KIM)
• KLA flag in Bosniak Mahala, Mitrovica North removed (KoSSev)
• Serb accused of committing war crimes arrested at Jarinje (KoSSev)
• Vucic participates in online Summit on Democracy (RTS)
• Admiral Bauer and General Wolters with KFOR Commander on security situation in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian Parliament Speaker says expropriation law up for public debate (N1)
International:
• As Russia’s Balkan Allies Toy With War, Kosovo Banks on U.S. Protection (Newsweek)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Berkovo: Struggling with Covid-19, without technical and potable water (Radio KIM, Radio Gorazdevac)
• Mitrovica North residents on new Covid-19 measures: political decision, making peoples’ lives more difficult (KoSSev)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 9, 2021
• U.S. imposes sanctions on controversial Kosovo Serb businessman (BIRN)
• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s statement on sanctions (media)
• Kosovo’s leaders welcome sanctions against Veselinovic and his group (media)
• Vucic: We’ll look into any serious allegations (media)
• Collaku: Kurti should change strategy to win ground with Serbia (euronews.al)
• Hasani: Constitutional Court has cemented obligation to form Association (media)
• Gastronomes to protest against government measures on December 15 (media)
• COVID-19: Ten new cases, no deaths (media)