Belgrade Media Report 24 January
LOCAL PRESS
Vulin: Organized crime group plotting to assassinate Vucic (Tanjug/RTS/Politika/Novosti)
Brnabic: Vucic’s murder planned in the first half of February, we have it in writing (TV Prva/B92)
Vucic on assassination threat: I don’t want to panic (TV Pink)
US, British and German Embassies dismiss allegations of financial support to protests in Serbia (Beta)
Djilas for Ponos as opposition’s presidential candidate (Beta)
People’s Party says learned from media that Djilas wants Ponos for president (Beta)
New US strategy in Western Balkans: Fight against corruption according to political criteria (Politika)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Power meets B&H Presidency: Focus of B&H need to be reforms (N1)
Dodik expresses gratitude to Power for projects in RS, argues US officials always have hidden agenda of removing him and SNSD from political scene (ATV)
OHR: High Representative supports efforts of EU and USA related to electoral reform in B&H; EU Delegation to B&H says electoral and constitutional reforms are of crucial importance on B&H’s path to EU (Oslobodjenje)
Izetbegovic: Electoral reform talks are good, US’ engagement should be used to B&H’s benefit (Hayat)
Serb representatives dismiss Izetbegovic’s proposal of indirect election of B&H Presidency members (Glas Srpske)
Izetbegovic: Bosniaks are afraid what will happen if Covic and Dodik are elected in B&H Presidency (RTRS)
US Senators call for review of approach to key reforms in B&H (FTV)
Inzko confirms ‘non-paper’ on change of borders in Balkans existed, claims it was stashed in his drawer for four years (Necenzurirano/Klix.ba)
Dodik: B&H is a failed project – Croats, Muslims and Serbs should separate (El Mundo/Nezavisne)
Field: We will not allow division of B&H (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia
Grlic Radman: B&H needs changes to B&H Election Law (Hina)
Izetbegovic: Croats and Bosniaks do not have a single reason for conflicts, while they have hundreds of reasons for cooperation (Vecernji list)
Montenegro
According to the Constitution, the new Prime Minister cannot be appointed without elections (RTCG)
Montenegrin Prime Minister wants new elections (Nova)
Krivokapic to form Christian Democratic Party, coalition with Democrats possible (RTCG/CdM)
Democrats set out conditions to take part in negotiations over minority govt, they want written guarantees (CdM)
Opposition MPs signed: Proposal for Becic’s dismissal submitted (CdM)
DF will vote for Abazovic’s dismissal (CdM)
Maddocks: If a minority government is formed, it’s a decision of representatives of people – that’s how democracy works (CdM)
Weber: Formation of a new government a legitimate move (Pobjeda)
Political forces to work on reducing divisions in Montenegro (RTCG)
EU urges political actors in Montenegro to lower tensions (Nova)
Republic of North Macedonia
VMRO-DPMNE will submit a proposal for changes to the electoral code and for early elections to parliament (Republika)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 24, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti: We need to jointly discuss a way out of crisis (Kallxo/Express)
• Abdixhiku: Government’s delayed response on energy shows regime’s inexplicable fear (Klan)
• PDK: Institutions were indifferent to announcements of energy price increase (Kallxo)
• Kusari-Lila: No going back to past practices regarding Serbia’s elections (Telegrafi)
• Greece’s Dendias expresses support for progress in Kosovo-Serbia relations (media)
• COVID-19: 2,243 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Haradinaj asks Kurti to lift COVID-19 border measures (media)
• North Macedonia urges Kosovo to review recent COVID-19 measures (media)
• Why Kosovo Shrugged off Balkan Conspiracy Theories About Vaccines (Prishtina Insight)
Serbian Language Media:
• Covid-19: 155 new cases registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Kosovo-online)
• Blakaj: Kosovo institutions have not done enough to gather evidence of the war (Danas, KiM radio)
• Greek FM lends support to Lajcak’s efforts on Kosovo (N1)
• Complaints over new decision of Kosovo government that booster dose is needed to enter Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Vucic on voting in Kosovo on April 3 elections (TV Most)
• Dacic says international community should ensure that Serbs vote in Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• US, UK & German embassies deny PM claim they finance protests in Serbia (N1)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Olympic dreams come true for Kosovo skier Kiana Kryeziu (AP)
• Europe could be headed for pandemic ‘endgame’: WHO (france24.com)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 24, 2022
• COVID-19: 2,957 new cases, one death (media)
• Kosovo implements stricter measures as daily cases surpass 2,900 (Exit News)
• Assembly to meet today over possibility of increased energy prices (Koha)
• B2 block resumes operation; Kurti calls it “great news” (media)
• U.S. Department of State: Kosovo and Serbia to prioritize dialogue (RFE)
• Joseph: Ideally, the Association would be negotiated as a final status issue where Serbia recognizes Kosovo (Express)
• Pro-Ukraine positioning; risk of Russian scenario unfolding at Kosovo-Serbia border (Koha Ditore)
• Serb MP challenges Kosovo institutions with public position in Serbia (Koha)