Belgrade Media Report 25 February 2022
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Friday 25 February 2022
LOCAL PRESS
• Serbia rejects EU suggestion to support Ukraine territorial integrity (Nova.rs)
• Serbia opposes the suspension of Russia’s membership in the CoE (VIP)
• Ukrainian ambassador expects strong Serbian support (N1)
• Zdravko Ponos: Military Solution is Unacceptable (Twitter)
• Right-Wing coalition demands not taking sides (VIP)
• Roth calls for concrete political moves of EU regarding Western Balkans (N1)
• German politician in Bundestag: We have no moral right to criticize, remember Serbia (Tanjug)
• The Year of Morocco in Serbia and Serbia in Morocco – strong diplomatic and friendly ties (RTS)
• Serbia’s opposition named another presidential candidate (Beta, N1)
• Selakovic and Osmani: Extremely good and friendly relations between Serbia and Northern Macedonia (RTS)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Komsic, Dzaferovic strongly condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (O kanal)
• Komsic: You cannot invade other people’s countries because you do not like something (Hayat)
• RS President Cvijanovic: Stances of Komsic and Dzaferovic represent their personal stances that contribute to deeper divisions in B&H (RTRS)
• Dodik: Alkalaj acts without authorization when joining B&H to EU statement on Russian-Ukrainian crisis; B&H should remain neutral in regard to Ukraine (ATV)
• B&H MFA establishes crisis headquarters that monitors situation in Ukraine and undertakes activities related to assisting B&H citizens located in Ukraine; B&H nationals in Ukraine advised to contact B&H Embassies in Hungary, Moscow and Warsaw (BHT1)
• EUFOR sends 500 additional soldiers to B&H as precautionary measure (O kanal)
Croatia
• Parliamentary committee condemns aggression against Ukraine with a declaration (HRT)
• Croatian President condemns aggression on Ukraine, NATO should not expand eastward (Hina)
• Croatian PM talks with his Ukrainian counterpart (Hina)
• Croatia plans to send up to 10 Soldiers to NATO’s Rapid Response Force (Hina)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic starts consultations on PM-designate (CDM)
• We are waiting for the position of the SNP; I would like them to be part of the government (CDM)
• Kascelan: DPS has capacity to gather and lead sovereigntist bloc (Pobjeda)
• Bulajic won’t schedule parliamentary session, he seeks agreement from parliamentary majority (CDM)
• DF blocks 17 roads throughout Montenegro (CDM)
• Mihailo writes to Biden: New Montenegrin govt. violates Constitution and discriminates against Orthodox Montenegrins (Pobjeda)
• Djukanovic at the invitation of Stoltenberg at the extraordinary summit of NATO heads of state and government (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovacevski condemns Russia of open military aggression against Ukraine (Republika)
• Defense Minister Petrovska and US Ambassador Byrnes jointly addressed the war in Ukraine (Republika)
• Nikoloski: Military aggression is unacceptable, we fully support the territorial integrity of Ukraine (Republika)
• Russia prepares its own sanctions against the West; Macedonia will also be targeted (Republika)
• New demand from Sofia: Bulgarians insist that everywhere is stated that Tsar Samuil was Bulgarian ruler (Pressing TV)
• Proposal to make the Bulgarian demands part of Macedonia’s EU accession process is unacceptable to VMRO-DPMNE (Republika)
• If Kovacevski accepts Bulgarian demands to enter the negotiating framework, then it could lead to deprivation of identity (Republika)
Albania
• Meta in a press conference/ We condemn the Russian attack on Ukraine (Radio Tirana)
• Kim meets Rama: US and Albania will coordinate actions against Russia (Radio Tirana)
• The US and Albania submit to the Security Council a draft resolution condemning Russia (Radio Tirana)
• Rama announces an extraordinary conference, after the invasion that Russia made of Ukraine (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 25, 2022
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 25, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti: Kosovo to apply this year for EU membership (media)
• Kosovo adopts sanctions against Russia (RFE)
• Kosovo MPs discuss dialogue with Serbia (media)
• COVID-19: 140 new cases, three deaths (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• New session of Serbian National Security Council takes place today (RTS)
• Ponos: Military resolution of Ukrainian crisis unacceptable, Serbia went through such experience in 1999 (KoSSev)
• Serbian political parties continue reacting to situation in Ukraine (Danas, media)
• Serbia, Morocco to celebrate 65 years of diplomatic relations (RTS)
• Rakic-Andric: Announcements of spillover of violence in Balkans and Kosovo unfounded (Danas)
• Milivojevic: Pristina lobbies for new recognitions with US support (Kosovo-online)
• Serbia ranked partly free in Freedom House report (N1)
• Serbian opposition named another presidential candidate (N1)
International:
• Balkan Countries Evacuate Citizens From Ukraine, Assess Security Threats (Balkan Insight)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, February 25, 2022
• Kosovo institutional leaders strongly condemn Russia’s assault in Ukraine (media)
• Osmani: Serbia wants to achieve in Western Balkans what Russia wants in Ukraine (Klan)
• Kurti: Our thoughts and prayers are with people of Ukraine (media)
• UK’s Johnson compares Russian assault in Ukraine to that of Milosevic’s in Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo Leaders Condemn Russian Attack, Affirm Solidarity With Ukraine (BIRN)
• Fake news in Kosovo sponsored by Russia and Serbia – part of hybrid war, panelists say (Kallxo.com)
• PM Kurti meets KFOR Commander, MG Kajari (media)
• Kosovo Assembly expected to debate on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue today (Koha)
• EU Doubles Bosnia Peacekeepers as Global Security ‘Deteriorates’ (BIRN)
• COVID-19: 189 new cases, three deaths (media)