Belgrade Media Report 21 February 2022
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Monday 21 February 2022
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic says Serbian people do not want NATO (Beta/RTS/Tanjug/Politika)
• Vucic: Everybody knows our position on Ukraine crisis (Tanjug)
• Iran to continue to respect Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty (Beta/Politika)
• Selakovic thanks Guatemala for principled position regarding Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Cooperation with China important for region’s dynamic development (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: We want normalization of relations with Pristina but two are necessary for dialogue (RTS)
• Stano: Petkovic, Bislimi to meet in Brussels on Tuesday (Tanjug)
• Cadez: Western Balkans a priority for new German government (Tanjug)
• Manuel Sarrazin becomes Germany’s first envoy for Western Balkans (Beta)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• HNS conclusions: In case that de-constitution of Croat people continues, HNS will launch all legal procedures and political steps for new institutional and territorial organization of B&H based on principles of federalism and consociation democracy (ATV)
• Covic sends letter about HNS’s conclusions to international addresses (Hayat)
• Dodik: There is nothing disputable about HNS conclusions (RTRS)
• SDA: HNS’ conclusions are unacceptable, territorial reorganization and additional ethnic divisions will not happen; Statements of SDA officials (ATV)
• Komsic on HNS’ conclusions: Elections will be held despite efforts to block or postpone them (Nova BH)
• SDP on HNS’ conclusions: Elections will be held and no boycott can prevent them from taking place (O Kanal)
• Mijatovic: I will request formation of government of national salvation of B&H (Dnevni list)
• SBB B&H comments HNS conclusions stressing there is no alternative to talks and dialogue and calls for stronger mediation of Washington and Brussels (Dnevni avaz)
• NiP: HDZ B&H does not want agreement, but they copy Dodik’s approach (O Kanal)
• Borrell: We will not allow dissolution of B&H (Nova BH)
• Schmidt: Threat with re-establishing RS army has weakened (Dnevni avaz)
• Stevandic criticizes Schmidt for meeting with Kurti (Glas Srpske)
• Dodik deems statement of Lavrov that citizens of B&H are hired for Ukrainian battlefield should be taken seriously (ATV)
• Radoncic reacts to Lavrov’s statements: Statement are anti-Muslim and attempt to present Muslims from the Balkans as security threat in heart of Europe (Dnevni avaz)
• Truss: Putin wants to take over Western Balkans (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• Covic: HNS session had major historical dimension and it sends message of unity of Croat people in B&H (HRT1)
• Croatia opposed to elections in B&H if legislation remains unchanged (Hina)
• Milanovic on elections in B&H (Hina)
• Fleming: There are two problems with regard to progress of B&H – problem of rhetoric and separatist acting of the RS and limited constitutional and electoral reform (Slobodna Dalmacija)
Montenegro
• Abazovic: If there’s wisdom, we’ll form government quickly (CdM)
• Bosniak Party: By the end of the week, it will be known who will enter government (Gradska RTV)
• Vucurovic: DF offers two proposals for technical government (RTCG)
• Becic: We are going to the elections (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovacevski: The clear EU perspective for Northern Macedonia is of strategic importance for the region (Libertas)
Albania
• Munich Conference / Chancellor Scholz: “We must advance with the integration of the Balkans” (Radio Tirana)
• Xhacka meets with German and regional counterpart in Munich, discussions on the situation in the Western Balkans (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 21, 2022
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 21, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti: We had 17 bilateral meetings at Munich Security Conference (media)
• Kosovo Assembly to discuss the dialogue on Thursday (Koha)
• “Decision on energy tariff increase could end up at Constitutional Court” (EO)
• Kosovo continues preparations for “Dynamic Front 22” (media)
• Ukraine – Russia conflict doesn’t dim interest in Kosovo – Serbia dialogue (RTK)
• Hoxhaj: Kosovo is first line of aggressive Russian campaign in the Balkans (media)
• COVID-19: 101 new cases, one death (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Visoki Decani Monastery: SOC will use all legal means to protect its identity (Radio KIM)
• Raska-Prizren Diocese: Unacceptable that Kurti violates court’s verdicts (RTS)
• Google Maps once again shows the wrong location of Visoki Decani (KoSSev)
• Tourist panel in centre of Decani without photo of monastery (Kosovo-online)
• Slovakian Minister of Defence: Stance on Kosovo remains unchanged (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic thanks President of Iran over stance on Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Vucic: Everybody knows our stance on Ukraine crisis (N1)
• Media: Russian official and Vucic to discuss recruitment of warriors from Balkans (N1)
• Vucic calls National Security Council session (RTS)
• EU: Belgrade-Pristina negotiating teams to meet in Brussels on Tuesday (N1)
• “Kurti accuses Serbia at Munich conference; Petkovic reminds him of crimes against Serbs” (RTS)
• Investigation against ten Serbian List officials over not reporting assets launched in Pristina (RTS)
• Ponos: Kosovo inalienable part of Serbia, to find solution for people living there (KoSSev, Nova TV)
Opinion:
• Palokaj: Bosnia, as a warning for EU and Kosovo (Koha)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Hate speech can lead to tragedy (Kallxo)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, February 21, 2022
• Kurti meets Lajcak, Borrell, insists on agreement on mutual recognition (media)
• Osmani expresses concern over Russian influence in Western Balkans (media)
• Osmani and Kurti meet Greek PM Mitsotakis (media)
• Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia deny sending ‘mercenaries’ to Ukraine (BIRN)
• Kosovo reacts to Russia’s claims of involvement in recruiting mercenaries (Koha)
• Sarrazin to become German Representative for Western Balkans (EWB)
• Mehaj: Kosovo to sign security information agreement with U.S. (media)
• Why does the business community think Kosovo has failed? (euronews.al)
• COVID-19: 183 new cases, two deaths (media)