Belgrade Media Report 28 February
LOCAL PRESS
Vucic: Serbia considers the Russian and Ukrainian people to be fraternal peoples, we respect the norms of international law (RTS, B92)
The Government adopted the Conclusion of the National Security Council (Tanjug)
Brnabic: Serbia will protect its interests (Prva TV)
Dacic: Serbia to look after its own interests in Russia Ukraine conflict (Beta)
Foreign Minister: Serbia believes that violating Ukraine’s territorial integrity is a big mistake (Beta)
Selakovic informed the Ukrainian ambassador about the conclusion of the National Security Council (RTS)
Sharp response from Ana Brnabic to Philip Kosnett: Vucic chose international law and peace (B92)
The American embassy supported Vucic’s position regarding Ukraine (Danas)
EP rapporteur for Serbia Bilcik: Serbia’s decision on sanctions will define relations with EU (N1)
The European Union is analysing Vucic’s assessments regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (FoNet)
Ambassador of Ukraine in Belgrade on the position of Serbia (RTS)
Russian Ambassador on the position of our country: We understand Serbia, we are not asking for anything (Tanjug)
Trifunovic: All embassies welcomed Serbia’s position on Ukraine, taking into account very specific position in which Serbia finds itself (Nezavisne)
Vucic: The situation is not naive; I should remind them what they did to Serbia (Tanjug)
Bildt: Serbia disqualified itself from EU accession (N1)
Former Serbian Prime Minister Covic slams USA for violating international resolutions and agreements, claims USA is accusing Russia of what it has been doing worldwide for decades (Vecernje Novosti)
DF Mandic: The Serbian people from Montenegro welcome Vucic’s decision! (Novosti)
Kosovo police are stepping up logistics at the Brnjak checkpoint near Zubin Potok (RTS)
Vucic on the provocations of Pristina: We are monitoring the situation, but we do not want to agree to their game (RTS)
Vulin with the president of Interpol on Pristina’s request for membership (RTS)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Dodik: B&H has no united foreign policy due to SDA (RTRS, Oslobodjenje)
RS President Cvijanovic: RS has neutral stance regarding conflict in Ukraine (ATV)
Turkovic: B&H will follow EU’s position on Ukrainian crisis (Nova BH)
HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic calls for end to conflict in Ukraine, calling it invasion (O kanal)
HNS condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (N1)
EUSR Sattler: EU wants B&H to harmonize its foreign policy with EU foreign policy and take EU’s stance on Ukraine (Nezavisne)
SDS Main Board: Dodik to present his stance about Ukrainian-Russian conflict in B&H Presidency; Sarovic: SDS respects territorial integrity of Ukraine but it opposes sanctions; Radovic: Authorities to find ways to address economic consequences of conflict (BN TV)
B&H officials claim that international community is considering sending NATO troops to B&H (N1)
MEP von Cramon-Taubadel says EU member states think about possible impact of Ukrainian conflict on security situation and stability in B&H (Face TV)
Borrell says EU is afraid that Russia will not stop in Ukraine; stresses that EU has to remain vigilant on impact of crisis in Western Balkans and look at what is happening (AJB)
Croatia
Milanovic, Plenkovic criticize Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (Hina)
Plenkovic: Croatia on right side of history (Hina)
Plenkovic: Croatian Government will adopt package of measures to oppose Russian aggression on Ukraine (AJB)
Former Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kovac condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, points out importance of membership in NATO (Oslobodjenje)
Coalition partners support government measures against Russia, aid for Ukraine (Hina)
First Croatian volunteers arrive to join the Ukrainian Army (TCN)
Croatia begins taking in Ukrainian refugees (HRT)
Montenegro
Abazovic left for London, Ukraine conflict accelerated processes over the formation of a new govt (CDM)
MFA: Montenegro has joined the European Council’s restrictive measures against Russia; Bilchik: Putin’s attempt to weaken the EU failed (CDM)
Djukanovic: Montenegro stands in solidarity with Ukraine, it’s a security threat, both NATO and EU values have to be preserved (CDM)
Konjevic: It is important that all parties clearly define their attitude towards the tragic Ukrainian events (CDM)
URA: Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine for harsher condemnation (CDM)
GP New Left: Impose full sanctions on Russia, provide all necessary military and financial assistance to Ukraine (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
Mickoski distances himself from Russophiles in party, demands declaration of support for Ukraine (Nezavisen vesnik)
Zaev: I strongly condemn the aggression against Ukraine, the whole democratic world is on the side of peace (Libertas)
Government: Banned flight for Russian planes over Macedonian territory! (Libertas)
Sela: Open Balkans risks becoming Putin’s Trojan horse (Libertas)
Albania
Kurti and Rama express solidarity with Ukraine (Radio Tirana)
Xhacka: Resolution proposed by Albania & USA, condemning the attack on Ukraine had been adopted (Radio Tirana)
Meta: I encourage civil society to pursue humanitarian assistance (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 28, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti: Kosovo offers many opportunities for foreign investors (media)
• Knaus: Kosovo should become member of the Council of Europe (Telegrafi)
• Hoxhaj calls for Kosovo’s membership of NATO (media)
• Haxhiu: One of the Serbs arrested in Pristina communicates with Russia (media)
• Gervalla: The Allies should take Serbia’s threats more seriously (media)
• Ukrainian MP: We should recognise Kosovo independence (media)
• AAK demands parliamentary debate on security in Kosovo (RTK)
• COVID-19: 55 new cases, one death (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Selakovic: Resolving all open issues for lasting reconciliation in the region (N1, Beta)
• Varhelyi: Stability of Western Balkans more important than ever (N1)
• Vucic: I don’t know how much the danger is of Kosovo becoming a member of NATO, but it is not naïve (media)
• Serbs arrested in PR for terrorism-related crimes released from custody (KoSSev)
• Vucic: Serbia advocating peace, respect of international law (Tanjug, media)
• Brnabic: Vucic did not choose Putin, but international law; Kosnett: Vucic chose Putin, not the West (KiM radio)
• MTS has removed Russian TV channels (RFE, RTK2)
• Situation at Brnjak crossing without any change (RTK2)
• Vucic: We don’t want to agree to the game of provocations of Kosovo Police (KiM radio, RTS, Tanjug)
Opinion:
• Can the Czech EU presidency bring Western Balkans accession any closer? (Balkan Insight)
International:
• Serbia Supports Ukraine’s Sovereignty But Opposes Sanctions on Russia, Vucic says (Balkan Insight)
• In Albanian City Once Named ‘Stalin’, a Base for NATO (Balkan Insight)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, February 28, 2022
• EU concerned that crisis may spread to Western Balkans (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo President: Vucic obviously playing by Putin’s book (Koha)
• Kosovo joins Western sanctions on Russia (BIRN)
• Kosovo asks US for permanent military base, NATO membership (Al Jazeera/Reuters)
• Threat from Russian scenario, KFOR is asked to step up presence in north (Koha)
• Kosovo Police reacts to statement by Serbia’s Office for Kosovo (media)
• Haradinaj wants a fund to be created for the army (Ekonomia Online)
• Media commission: Stopping Russian channels in Kosovo deemed necessary (Koha)
• COVID-19: 81 new cases, one death (media)