Belgrade Media Report 20 January 2022
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Thursday 20 January 2022
LOCAL PRESS
• Brnabic: Serbian citizens understood importance of changes leading to more independent judiciary (RTS/Tanjug)
• Mojsilovic: SAF to react to unilateral actions in north of Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTS/Novosti)
• Stefanovic: Serbia no threat to anyone (Tanjug/Beta/N1/Novosti)
• Dacic: Sanctions for Kurti for announcing to ban vote in April (B92/Beta)
• Petkovic: Kurti’s claims untrue (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Serbia’s activist announces new protests to make regime keeps its word (N1)
• Macron advocates clear perspective for Western Balkans’ EU accession (Beta)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• US Embassy officials look for prosecutor to press charges against Dodik (RTRS/Srna)
• Biden responds to letters of B&H diaspora; we will always stand by the side of our friends (Dnevni avaz)
• Schallenberg calls for reaction of international community due to undermining of B&H (FTV)
• Power arrives to reaffirm US’ commitment to partnering with citizens of B&H (O Kanal)
• Turkovic: There will be sanctions, however I do not believe that they will be unanimous when it comes to the EU (Hayat)
• Stanivukovic, others condemn sanctions against ATV (ATV)
• ATV investigates if Serb representatives will return to work in joint institutions of B&H (ATV)
• Dodik grateful to Vucic, Erdogan for caring for B&H (RTRS)
• Izetbegovic: There is no agreement on holding meeting of leaders of the three peoples in B&H with Vucic and Erdogan (BHT1)
• SBB B&H criticizes Turkish, Serbian initiative, arguing that Bosniaks must not take part in this (Dnevni avaz)
• Sattler: Regardless of final outcome of negotiations, October elections will take place (FTV)
Croatia
• Milanovic expresses readiness to mediate talks of representatives of three peoples in B&H together with Presidents of Turkey and Serbia (Vecernji list)
Montenegro
• URA submits initiative to parliament for vote of no confidence in government (CdM)
• Krivokapic submitted an initiative to remove Abazovic, proposing Spajic as vice president (CdM)
• Protest in Podgorica due to the initiative for a vote of no confidence in the government (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Mickoski called for snap elections without a technical government (Republika)
Albania
• Laws on the border regime and social security with Kosovo are approved (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 20, 2022
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 20, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 2,708 new cases, one death (media)
• Kurti justifies increase of energy price (media)
• Rizvanolli: We are working to resolve lack of electricity bills’ payment in north (media)
• “Even if tariffs proposed by ERO are approved, price of electricity in Kosovo is the lowest in Europe” (Ekonomia)
• Gashi: We will stop increase of energy price with resolution, LVV made it impossible for us to debate (Ekonomia)
• Coordination and Evaluation Committee proposes new measures to slow down increase of COVID-19 cases (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Covid-19: 235 new cases registered in Serbian areas (Kosovo-online)
• Petkovic: Serbia paid for every KW of electricity consumed in north until 2021, it was Serbian electricity (KoSSev)
• Unvaccinated students to miss exams at Mitrovica North University (Kosovo-online)
• Mojsilovic: Serbian Army will react to attempts to endanger Serbs in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Serbian school children going to school every other day (N1)
• Gov’t set to confirm Rio Tinto’s departure from Serbia (Tanjug)
International:
• Kosovo War Victims ‘Fear Betrayal’ over Compensation Hopes (BIRN)
• Berisha’s Antics Are Useful Distraction for Albanian Govt’s Failures (Balkan Insight)
• Israeli Historian ‘Will Correct Srebrenica Death Toll in Bosnian Serb Report’ (Balkan Insight)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 20, 2022
• Kosovo reports over 2,000 new daily COVID cases as Omicron surges (media)
• New anti-Covid-19 measures to be discussed today (media)
• Kurti: The government will increase support for consumers (media)
• Kosovo’s electric bills could increase two-fold (Euractiv)
• Hovenier: U.S. dedicated to strengthening the rule of law in Kosovo (media)
• Gervalla in Athens to meet Dendias (Ekonomia)
• EU millions for rule of law did not translate into substantive reforms (Koha)
• RTK Director sacked; board cites numerous violations (media)
• Serwer: Good on recognition but oversold on strategic impact (media)
• Macron: Clear accession perspective of Western Balkans and EU reform (EWB)
• Landscapes of industrial ruin (Kosovo 2.0)