Belgrade Media Report 23 December 2022
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Friday 23 December 2022
LOCAL PRESS
• Brnabic: Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija are on verge of patience, strength (Tanjug/RTV)
• Dacic: Peaceful rally at Rudare response to Pristina’s threats, terror (Tanjug)
• Drecun: Pristina preparing new base in north of Kosovo and Metohija (TV Pink/Tanjug)
• Odalovic: KFOR to ensure security (TV Prva)
• Miscevic: EU members voice skepticism about it being time to discuss Kosovo’s membership (Beta)
• Petkovic: 10,000 Serbs in Rudare showed that they stand for peace (Tanjug/RTV)
• Serb arrested by Pristina held at Jarinje police base – lawyer (Tanjug/Politika)
• Serbs at the barricades on the 14th day; Resolution 1244 is functional in Kosovo (B92/STA)
• EULEX builds up presence in Kosovo’s north (Beta/Politika)
• Moscow is not hiding behind the Kosovo “precedent” (Politika)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H Presidency appoints Kristo as CoM Chairwoman-designate, Komsic votes against due to disagreeing with policy of newly-formed parliamentary majority at B&H level (N1)
• Kristo: B&H CoM should be initiator of the process on Euro-Atlantic path of B&H (AJB)
• SDP B&H, NiP and PDA welcome decision on Kristo’s appointment (N1)
• B&H CEC confirms its first decision, declares disputable ballot for B&H House of Peoples valid (N1)
• Cvijanovic: B&H CEC is under pressure and was given political task to undermine SNSD (RTRS)
• US Embassy responds to Izetbegovic’s statement; USA supports strong OHR (Dnevni avaz)
• Izetbegovic: If Schmidt is going to intervene, he should impose permanent rules that will apply to all parties and not only SDA (Oslobodjenje)
• DF’s Zilic on possibilities how FB&H government could be blocked (Dnevni list)
• Schmidt: Designation of 9 January as RS Day is unconstitutional (FTV)
Croatia
• FM: Refusal to train Ukrainian soldiers is Croatia’s only foreign policy ‘stain’ (Hina)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic: Montenegro needs EU help now, you heard yesterday’s messages that this was the last alarm (CdM)
• Lekic: No reason why someone shouldn’t cooperate with new government (RTCG)
• Garcevic: Current situation confirms that feeling for so-called national interest is pushed into background (RSE/CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Pendarovski: It is not excluded that current officials are also on the “black list” of the USA (Libertas)
Albania
• Rama receives his Greek counterpart, Kyrakios Mitsotakis, in Dervican of Dropulli (Radio Tirana)
• The Maritime Border Agreement in The Hague/Rama: We will respect the Constitution and the law (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 23, 2022
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 23, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti: Comprehensive digitization is one of the key objectives of the government (Klan)
• EU concerned over several provisions of new Kosovo Law on Public Officials (media)
• LVV MP: We will not give up on the implementation of the law in the north (Telegrafi)
• Pendarovski: There will be no problem for NATO if situation in north escalates (media)
• Government submits appeal against Court’s decision to suspend reduction of judges/prosecutors’ salaries (Kallxo)
• Trajkovic writes about consequences of her detention at the border (Telegrafi)
• Two minors physically attacked in Mitrovica north by some Serb citizens (media)
• A worker in Leposavic threatened with a weapon by four masked individuals (Telegrafi)
Serbian Language Media:
• Dacic: Peaceful rally at Rudare response to Pristina’s threats, terror (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Pantic’s lawyer: I spoke with him, he is well (N1, Tanjug)
• Kabasic on Self-determination Movement, militarization of north, and institutional crackdown on Serbs (KoSSev)
• Simic on “assessment” that 1.500 people attended protest in Rudare (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Jevtic refutes Kosovo police statement of not obstructing busses from Strpce (social media, media)
• Serbian List, Petkovic react to VV MP published list with names of Serbs (Kosovo Online, Tanjug, RTS, social media)
• Sweden to deal with Pristina’s EU bid once it is on agenda – ambassador (Tanjug)
• Odalovic: Resolution 1244 in function, KFOR to return ”ROSU” from northern Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever, TV Prva)
• Drecun: ”Pristina preparing KSF base in the North of Kosovo” (Tanjug, Dnevnik, Blic, TV Pink)
Humanitarian/Development:
• The fate of the missing politicised and neglected topic (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, KoSSev)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 23, 2022
Kurti: The law on public officials and the one on salaries, a big step (media)
Svecla: If KFOR does not act in time, we will remove the barricades(media)
Serbian List: Svecla’s threats do not scare anyone at the barricades (Koha)
Protesting Kosovo Serbs want ethnic Albanian police out of country’s north (Reuters)
Kosovo Police: About 1,500 participants in the protest in the north (euronews.al)
Haradinaj: The association should be part of the final agreement (VoA)
NATO’s KFOR Considering Serbia’s Request to Send Military to North Kosovo (exit.al)
Serbian President contradicts himself over liability for Kosovo roadblocks (Euractiv)
At least 3 TV crews attacked while covering protests in northern Kosovo (Committee to protect journalists)
Bieber: The current situation in Kosovo is worst in the last ten years (EWB)
Slovenia plans to increase troop numbers in Kosovo (STA)
Belgrade Media Report 22 December 2022
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Thursday 22 December 2022
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic addressed Kosovo Serbs ahead of today’s protest (B92)
• Vucic: Form ZSO first, then we will remove barricades (Beta/Politika)
• Vucic: KFOR fairer than some Western governments, but I expect negative response (Tanjug/Politika)
• Brnabic: Kurti clearly showing his intentions – ethnic cleansing of Serbs (TV Happy)
• Continuation of government’s dialogue with civil society organisations (Tanjug/RTS/RTV/Politika)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Serbia can rely on Russia on Kosovo problem (International Affairs/TASS/RTV/NSPM)
• Kosovo Serbs hold peaceful mass protest at Rudare (Tanjug/RTS)
• Serb, Kosovo NGOs: Constant escalation and de-escalation cycle reflect failure of political imagination (Danas/Beta)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Komsic: I would not like to see the NATO path to be halted, regardless of the fact it was not included in the agreement between ‘The Eight’, HDZ B&H and SNSD (O Kanal)
• RS parliament special session: Proposed new convocation of new RS government gets support (ATV)
• Radoncic: Departing of dynasty Izetbegovic is of historic importance (Dnevni avaz)
• Izetbegovic’s claims that foreigners played great role in elimination of SDA from authorities (BHT/EuroBlic)
Croatia
• Plenkovic: B&H is most important neighbour; Croats are constituent people in B&H (Jutarnji list)
• Croatia’s Janaf state-owned pipeline pens new contract with Serbia’s NIS (Hina)
Montenegro
• Fajon: EU could consider stopping negotiations with Montenegro, situation worrying, high time to react (CdM)
• Muleskovic: With OB, instead of money from EU funds, we’re choosing nothing, and Serbia will additionally “suffocate” our market (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• The government does not plan to hold presidential and parliamentary elections at the same time (Republika)
Albania
• Maritime Border’s issue / Xhacka: Compromise for sending to The Hague! Dendias: We support the European perspectives of the Balkans (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 22, 2022
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 22, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• Serbs in Rudare demand release of arrested and KP’s departure from north (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo Police denies speculations about obstruction of buses in Shterpce (Express)
• Kosovo Police calls for peaceful protest in north (Koha)
• EULEX: We are closely monitoring security situation in north of Kosovo (media)
• “Serbia’s illegal structures are intimidating Serbs and attacking policemen” (Albanian Post)
• Sources: Serbian structures oblige and threaten people to take part in protest (KP)
• EULEX present at the entrance of the road to Leposaviq (Kallxo)
• Osmani and Kurti appoint new KIA Inspector General (media)
• Central Bank foresees 3-4 percent increase in economic growth next year (RFE)
• PSD: Selective justice is not justice, it is confirmation of injustice (Paparaci)
Serbian Language Media:
• Kilometres-long column of people in the north of Kosovo, a large number of people at the protest in Rudare (N1, KoSSev)
• Serbian List, new speakers addressed protestors in Rudare (KoSSev, Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Vucic before the protest in Rudare: Serbs not asking for much, only what belongs to all civilised people in Europe (media)
• Radojevic: Barricades are reaction (RTS)
• Jevtic: Police returns buses transporting Serbs from Strpce to attend protest in Rudare (Novosti, social media)
• Vucicevic: “If Kurti goes against barricades that is road to bad direction” (RTS)
• Brnabic: Kurti clearly showed his intentions (Tanjug, RTV)
• EULEX: We closely monitor security situation in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Vucic: KFOR fairer than some Western gov’ts, but I expect negative response (Tanjug)
• Miscevic: Nobody imposes a condition Kosovo or the EU on Serbia (Danas, Beta)
• Police officers from the south warned not to publish photos from the north, what happened in the previous days? (KoSSev)
• What will happen to Pristina’s EU membership bid? (Danas, FoNet)
• Statistics Bureau Chief: 61.000 to 62.000 Albanians live in Bujanovac, Presevo and Medvedja (Bujanovacke, FoNet)
International:
• RSF Urges Kosovo to Protect Journalists From Attacks in North (BIRN)
• Kosovo Photographer Tracks Down Country’s Rarest Fauna (BIRN)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Capital Expects First Electric Buses Next Year (Prishtina Insight)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 22, 2022
• Police set up checkpoints on the Mitrovica-Leposavic highway (media)
• Serbs called to protest, KFOR ready to react if situation escalates (Koha)
• Kosovo Police investigating reports about kidnapping of Serbs in north (media)
• EULEX may increase number of police if needed (Klan)
• Kosovo Police confirms arrested ex-cop being held at police station (BIRN)
• After increase in attacks on journalists in Kosovo, police and international forces asked to provide better protection (Reporters Without Borders)
• Szunyog: Visa-free movement in 2024 is not yet final (Klan)
• Hovenier confirms support for Kosovo (RTK)
• Krasniqi: If Kurti can’t remove barricades, he should hand over mandate (Klan)
• Basha on KFOR’s statement: “Offensive to state and victims of war” (media)
• Kosovo EU bid to get careful consideration early next year (Bloomberg)
• PSD calls on Assembly to amend law on specialist chambers (media)
Belgrade Media Report 21 December
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic responded to direct threats from Germany (B92)
• Vucic: Aliyev understands Serbia’s difficulties regarding territorial integrity (Tanjug)
• Brnabic calls on NGOs to insist on respecting human rights in Kosovo and Metohija: We are on the brink of an armed conflict (RTV/Tanjug)
• Brnabic: Kurti has shown his true face (Tanjug)
• Vucevic: There are red lines – no Storm, no Flash, no March 2004 (RTS)
• An immediate response from KFOR is sought (Tanjug)
• KFOR only legitimate armed formation in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV)
• Navarro: Spain will not support so-called Kosovo’s EU bid (Tanjug)
• KFOR evaluating request of Serbia to send Serbian army to Kosovo (B92/RTV)
• EULEX says disturbed by presence of armed and masked individuals, groups (Beta)
• Romano takes over as chief of NATO Military Liaison Office in Belgrade (Beta)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Komsic requests that Kristo present her exposé in B&H Presidency, says he wants to know what is happening with NATO and are there plans to increase budget, especially for defense sector (N1/Avaz)
• Bradara: Election Law issue will be the first test for coalition between HDZ B&H and ‘The Eight’; Mehmedovic: Covic will probably get everything he wanted through agreement with ‘The Eight’, including changes to Election Law that he wants (Hayat)
• Boskovic: SDA is trying to remain in power by force; Electoral reform is condition for all other reform processes (Oslobodjenje)
• Kosarac with Kalabukhov: EU should insist on abolition of OHR, departure of foreign judges (Glas Srpske)
Croatia
• Milanovic criticizes EU for granting candidate status for Ukraine while B&H had to wait for it (Jutarnji list)
• Milanovic criticizes Borrell over Croatia’s participation in EUFOR Mission (Jutarnji list)
• Plenkovic: Milanovic is leading Croatia into foreign policy isolation (HRT)
Montenegro
• Organizer’s estimate: There were about 20,000 citizens at the protest; This is a fight for Montenegro, there’s no more time to wait (CdM)
• Djukanovic: Support peaceful protest against violation of constitutional order (CdM)
• Party of European Socialists condemns violation of Constitution, backing people in their fight for democracy (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Appellate Court issues explanation as Judicial Council held emergency session (MIA)
Albania
• Albania signs agreement for the purchase of three Turkish “Bayraktar” drones (Radio Tirana/Anadolu/RFE)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 21, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• KFOR publishes footage of patrols in the north (media)
• Police: Explosions in the north suspected to come from shock bombs (RFE)
• Kosovo Police Director of Operations interview with Kallxo
• Stoltenberg mentions Kosovo in his end of the year speech (Klan)
• KFOR says it is analysing Serbia’s request for return of army to Kosovo (Koha)
• Haradinaj calls on NATO to remove barricades as soon as possible (Telegrafi)
• Dendias mentions situation in the north of Kosovo also in Tirana (Klan)
• Jasharaj: If law on wages is adopted, strike will not continue in January (EO)
• The first results: Presevo Valley with over 100 thousand registered inhabitants (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:
• Spain MFA: We cannot support Kosovo’s application for EU membership (Kosovo Online, Blic, RTS)
• Petkovic: No response to request for phone call with Serb arrested by Kosovo police (Tanjug)
• Lawyer: Political process staged against Pantic, his rights are violated (Kosovo Online)
• Brnabic: On verge of armed conflict because of unilateral Pristina’s acts (RTV)
• Vucic: The statement of the German ambassador in Pristina dangerous, a threat to the Serbian people (Beta, N1, RTS)
• Brnabic on Twitter: Ambassador Rohde’s statements are outrageous (Tanjug)
• Serbian List, Petkovic react to Svecla’s allegations about Rakic (Kosovo Online)
• Starovic: Kurti told falsehoods that we had more than 100 exercises with the Russians (Tanjug)
• Day 12 at barricades in northern Kosovo (RTS)
• The Greek minister refused to hold a conference in front of the “Republic of Kosovo” sign (RTS, Blic, Ekonomia Online)
• NGOs from Serbia and Kosovo: Escalation and de-escalation reflect the failure of political imagination (Beta, N1, KiM radio)
• Aliyev: Serbia, Azerbaijan strategic partners, support territorial integrity (Tanjug)
• Stoltenberg: Security situation in Kosovo crucial for stability of Western Balkans (media)
• Rasic: In 2022, not a single house was built for returnees in Kosovo (Beta, Danas, KiM radio)
International:
• Kosovo Police Confirms Arrested Ex-Cop Being Held at Police Station (BIRN)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 21, 2022
• Kurti: Vucic is violating his beloved 2013 agreement (media)
• Kurti meets Dendias, discuss deepening of relations (media)
• Dendias: Pristina-Belgrade reached agreements should be respected (euronews.al)
• Svecla: Rakic, criminal gangs have blocked citizens in north (euronews.al)
• EULEX: Situation in the north, disturbing and tense (media)
• “Agreement with no mutual recognition may lead to new status-quo” (VoA)
• An explosion is reported in the north (media)
• EULEX supplied police in Jarinje with food, clothing, hygiene products (media)
• Arrested K-Serb police officer’s lawyer still unaware of his location (BIRN)
• Kosovo planning to purchase Bayraktar drones from Turkey (media)
• To resolve Kosovo-Serbia dispute, we must follow framework of Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue (The Parliament Magazine)
• EU invests 91 million euros in Kosovo for railway lines (euronews.al)
Belgrade Media Report 20 December
LOCAL PRESS
• Venice Commission gave a positive opinion on all judicial laws (RTV/RTS/Tanjug)
• Vucic asks Munsch that NATO protect Kosovo Serbs (Tanjug/RTS)
• Fajon: Respect of Brussels agreement crucial (Tanjug/RTS)
• Greece remains committed to territorial integrity of Serbia (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Czech Republic will not put so-called Kosovo’s EU membership request on agenda (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: His only goal is an ethnically clean Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV/Politika)
• Djuric: Secret indictments against Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija are an unacceptable form of political pressure (Politika)
• Eleventh day at the barricades (B92)
• Germany’s message to Serbia (N1/Kosovo Online)
• Moscow’s message to Pristina: Your fate will be very different (RT.rs/B92)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Niksic: SDP B&H and parties of ‘The Eight’ will certainly not betray any interest of state of B&H or citizens of B&H (O Kanal)
• Komsic wants to ask questions regarding NATO integration before voting on appointment of Chairperson of B&H Council of Ministers (Nova BH)
• Finci says he believes HR Schmidt will start working at full speed and will prevent announced blockades in formation of authorities (Dnevni avaz)
• Bradara: Election Law is test of our relations with ‘The Eight’ (Dnevni list)
• Djokic says he hopes projects in RS will be realized after new B&H Council of Ministers is formed (Nova BH)
• Covic writes to Plenkovic, expresses gratitude for contributing to B&H getting status of EU candidate (Dnevni list)
Montenegro
• Knezevic: The government will be formed in January regardless of possible obstructions (Pobjeda)
• Leader of Montenegro’s DF: We’ll form new government (Vijesti)
• Radulovic: International isolation of Montenegro and suspension of projects might happen (Pobjeda)
• Djukanovic: Snap parliamentary elections the only way to get a responsible government (CdM)
• LP calls for mass demonstrations: We do not accept the total isolation of Montenegro from the world (CdM)
Albania
• EU Ambassador appeals to politics: Strong leadership is needed! Come together to join (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 20, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti received Germany’s Secretary of State (media)
• Abbott: Resolving situation in north requires patience and calm thinking (media)
• PM Albin Kurti interview with The Guardian
• EU ambassadors approve visa liberalisation for Kosovo (media)
• Dendias: Implement everything that has been achieved so far (media)
• Non-paper from Kosovo, Serbia politicians and activists meet in Switzerland (Nacionale)
• No agreement without compromises from both sides, analysts say (RTK)
• Hoxha: Radoicic decided who was police chief, and who was municipal director (Kallxo)
• Qalaj: Police officers in Leposavic are sleeping on cardboards (teve1)
Serbian Language Media:
• Djuric: Secret indictments against Serbs in Kosovo unacceptable type of political pressure (Tanjug)
• President Vucic met NATO Admiral Munsch on Tuesday (Tanjug)
• Admiral Munsch: KFOR carefully monitors situation in northern Kosovo (Tanjug, RTS)
• Serbs from the north of Kosovo the 11th day at the barricades (NMagazin, Beta, RTS)
• Civil society: Detention conditions of Pantic represent serious violation of his human rights (Kosovo Online, Radio KIM)
• KP on smashed shop windows in Bosniak Mahala: The anti-terrorism unit involved in the investigation (KoSSev)
• Radojevic on breaking shops’ windows in Bosniak Mahala and lack of police reaction (Kosovo Online, Radio KIM)
• Petkovic: “Kurti threatens and calls for liquidation” (KiM radio, N1, Beta)
• Brnabic, Vucic, Rakic react to Kurti’s statement on barricades and casualties (RTV, Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• KFOR commander for N1: Parties in Kosovo to allow freedom of movement (Kosovo Online)
• Dacic says removal of causes may lead to de-escalation of situation in Kosovo (RTV)
• Rakic: “Release of arrested Serbs, withdrawal of all units, removal of secret hit lists, a recipe for removing barricades” (Kontakt plus radio)
• Navaro: Spain will not support Pristina EU membership bid (Kosovo Online)
• Fajon: Respect of Brussels Agreement crucial (Tanjug)
International:
• Kosovo PM says Russia inflaming Serbia tensions as Ukraine war falters (The Guardian)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, December 20, 2022
• Osmani: Final agreement must be based on mutual recognition (media)
• Kurti asks for more work from the diplomacy (media)
• Rohde: Association should be formed in line with Court’s decision (Koha)
• Osmani and KFOR Commander discuss security situation (media)
• Rohde criticizes Serbian List about Rada Trajkovic’s detention (Telegrafi)
• Ceku says artifacts stolen from Serbia will also be discussed in Brussels (media)
• LDK’s Haziri on Kosovo-Serbia “secret meeting” in Switzerland (Telegrafi)
• Greek chief diplomat Dendias to visit Kosovo today (media)
• Haradinaj: Kurti rejected Kosova C and U.S. gas pipeline project (Telegrafi)
• TV Crew Attacked Near Serbs’ Barricade in Tense North Kosovo (BIRN)
• Extreme Right-Wing Serbs Protest in Jarinje (Prishtina Insight)
• EU conditions monitoring of elections with finalization of reforms (Koha)
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