Belgrade Media Report 1 February
LOCAL PRESS
Selakovic: Joint visit by Lajcak-Escobar has symbolic significance (TV Pink)
They are destroying ZSO, it reminds them of RS (Novosti)
Rinkevics believes Lajcak will find solutions to open issues (RTV/Tanjug)
Dacic, Schieb: Readiness to continue cooperation between Serbia and German parliaments (RTV/Tanjug)
Veljanovksi: Things can’t change just prior to elections (N1)
Retired professor, right-wing politician to be opposition man for Belgrade Mayor (N1)
Dacic: It’s only logical for Jankovic to be right-wing candidate (TV Pink)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Borrell: Withdrawal from negotiations on constitutional and election reforms that the EU also actively support will not be acceptable option (O Kanal)
EUD comments Neum talks: We call on IAWG to finalize integrity package (Oslobodjenje)
Negotiations on changes to B&H Election Law yield no results (Nova BH)
DF, SDP, Our Party officials comment on negotiations on B&H Election Law (FTV)
Aftermath of negotiations on B&H Election Law; Covic: No conditions to hold elections; HR, Bakalar: Elections will be held (O Kanal)
Nelson states elections in B&H must be held this year; Key is to implement four goals set within negotiations (BHT1)
UK Embassy confirms that UK is looking for ways to restore its military presence in B&H (Nezavisne)
Croatia
Grlic Radman: Croats in B&H are most interested in changes to the Election Law; President Milanovic should do his job (HRT1)
HDZ Croatia Presidency discusses position of Croats in B&H (HRT1)
FM describes president Milanovic as ‘vermin’ over his remarks on Ukraine (Hina)
Montenegro
Election of prime ministers after consultation with all parties (RTCG)
Abazovic: Politics to be conducted sovereignly from Montenegro; Fundamental Agreement should be signed (CdM)
Koprivica took over the protests, the organizing committee gave an ultimatum to the parliamentary majority (Pobjeda)
Djukanovic presents ambassadors with current political situation: Every next government must be strongly democratic, civil and Euro-Atlantic (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
British envoy visits Skopje (MIA)
Mickoski: 4.6 % advantage in the polls is more than 85,000 votes difference (Republika)
Albania
Albania’s Ambassador to the UN: We support Ukraine’s sovereignty (Radio Tirana)
Slovenian Ambassador: Albania to show patience for integration, there is no decoupling from North Macedonia (Euronews/Radio Tirana)
Kosovo, Albania to form cross-border administrative area (N1/Koha)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 1, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• COVID-19: 2,033 new cases, six deaths (media)
• Krasniqi: PDK supports a final agreement that does not undermine state sovereignty (media)
• LDK: Kosovo-Serbia dialogue to conclude in mutual recognition (media)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo-Serbia agreement to include mutual recognition under existing borders (media)
• Tahiri: EU to speak in a clear voice, avoid ambiguous communication (media)
• Analysts view Escobar, Lajcak visit as pressure on dialogue and Association (RFE)
• Government to ERO: Block tariff to be 1,000 instead of 600kWh (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:
• Covid-19: 140 new cases, three deaths registered in Serbian areas (KoSSev)
• Petkovic: Dialogue cannot be treated as a monologue of one side that blackmails; return to the negotiating table (media)
• UNS, Cup: Systematic discrimination of Serbian media outlets (KoSSev, Kosovo-online, TV Most)
• Yugoslav Army General who signed agreement ending Kosovo war dies (N1)
• Brnabic says April elections crucial (N1, Happy TV)
Opinion:
• Diplomacy over War; Truth over Lies (Gazeta Metro/media)
International:
• Džihić: The awakening of civic movements has imposed the logic that change is possible (EWB)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Could Sundance stormer ‘Hive’ be Kosovo’s first-ever Oscar contender? (euronews)
• “We are losing the Balkan lynx” (balcanicaucaso.org)
• Media: Kosovo has lowest minimum wage in Europe (Beta, N1)
• Kosovo Albanians Join Video Campaign to Support Folk-Dancing Teacher (Balkan Insight)
• NGO LINK with the support of UNMIK encourage the development of youth entrepreneurship (Radio Mitrovica sever)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, February 1, 2022
• In visit to Kosovo, Lajcak and Escobar meet institutional leaders (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, functioning not to be undermined by anyone (media)
• Osmani: Serbia blocking progress in dialogue (media)
• Kosovo’s DPM Bislimi meets U.S. and EU envoys, Escobar and Lajcak (media)
• Vela: Escobar’s positions in line with those of Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Experts: Almost impossible to reach Kosovo-Serbia agreement in 2022 (VOA)
• COVID-19: 1,593 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Fejzullahu: Energy in the north is a political issue (KTV)
• Balkan parties join rightist summit in Madrid to “Defend Europe” (BIRN)