Belgrade Media Report 04 March 2022
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Friday 4 March 2022
LOCAL PRESS
• Petkovic: Pristina is using the crisis in Ukraine to realize its ideas (RTS)
• Serbian official says KLA graffiti painted on Kosovo Serb homes (Beta)
• Vucic with Ukrainian Ambassador: We will accept refugees (B92)
• Opposition politician: Serbia’s regime uses Ukrainian war to spread fear (Nova S, N1)
• Some opposition parties blast Serbia voting yes on U.N. resolution condemning Russia (Beta)
• Vucic’s allies are not thrilled with the resolution either (VIP)
• The United States supported Serbia (Fonet)
• Swedish ambassador concerned over misinformation in Serbia media (FoNet)
• CoE delegation notes tense political situation in Serbia prior to elections (N1)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Komsic: Serbia’s vote for the Resolution condemning Russian aggression may be a surprise, but it is good for peace in our region (Nova BH)
• SDS, PDP comment on Serbia’s vote in UN GA; Crnadak: RSNA should make decision on this matter soon (O kanal)
• Serbia’s condemnation of Russian aggression was met with exuberance and hysteria in political Sarajevo; Izetbegovic goes to see Erdogan who said he will not introduce sanctions against Russia (Dnevni list)
• Russian Ambassador to UN Nebenzia forwards to UN Secretary General Guterres the letter of Dodik in which Dodik presented the opinion that B&H is neutral regarding the conflict in Ukraine (Dnevni list)
• Ambassador Alkalaj: B&H took the right side with voting on UN Resolution; Dodik’s letter caused ridicule among Ambassadors (Dnevni avaz)
• SDS’ Vukanovic slams Dodik over his letter to UN (Oslobodjenje)
• Serb representatives not to attend B&H HoR’s emergency session on Ukraine because foreign policy is not B&H HoR’s competence (RTRS)
• Sarovic: Debate on war in Ukraine is not topic for B&H Parliament but for B&H Presidency (BN TV)
• HR Schmidt: There will be no war in B&H; Not possible to remain neutral on issue of war; Elections have to take place; I am ready to withdraw Inzko’s law (Dnevni avaz)
• B&H FM Turkovic: Forces must be united, we must stop with our political bickering and outsmarting, and we must fight for B&H, all its peoples and citizens; B&H will follow EU sanctions against Russia and they will be implemented accordingly (FTV)
• Turkovic asks from EU to grant B&H status of EU candidate (Oslobodjenje)
• Covic: Danger of escalation in B&H is realistic, I am convinced wisdom will prevail (RTV)
• FB&H HoP adopts statement condemning Russia’s military aggression on Ukraine (FTV)
• FB&H Tourism Minister Djapo says FB&H will vote to expel Russia from World Tourism Organization (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia
• Milanovic calls on Dodik to return RS representatives to B&H institutions; Dodik: RS representatives did not leave joint institutions but some others in B&H have abandoned B&H Constitution (HRT1)
• Grlic Radman: Putin should be convinced by pressure of senselessness of invasion (Hina)
• Prime Minister says Croatia will consistently implement sanctions against Russia (Hina)
• Croatian military attaché refuses Moscow’s note alleging Croatians fighting in Ukraine (HRT)
• Croatia agrees to send 70 troops to the new NATO battalion stationed in Hungary (Hina)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic gives mandate to Abazovic for composition of Govt. (CDM)
• Uljarevic: Abazovic a connective tissue of unconnected parts of political spectrum; every government part of political agreement (CDM)
• Abazovic: We’ll wait for SNP until Sunday, Ibrahimovic can also schedule parliamentary session (Vijesti TV)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Almost unanimously, Macedonian Parliament adopts declaration condemning Russian aggression on Ukraine (Republika)
• Nikoloski: What’s happening in Ukraine is war, not a military operation (Republika)
• Bekteshi doesn’t know what sanctions Russia could impose on Macedonia (Republika)
• Nikoloski announces protests meant to secure early general elections (Republika)
• Osmani at a meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Brussels (Nezavisen Vesnik)
• Osmani: Accelerate EU enlargement in the name of security (Nezavisen Vesnik)
• Xhaferi on an official visit to Kosovo (Nezavisen Vesnik)
Albania
• Meta urges Kosovo’s NATO Membership ASAP (ADN)
• Extraordinary meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Brussels, Xhaçka also present (Radio Tirana)
• From planes and ships to defense plans / Minister Peleshi shows NATO response to Russian occupation of Ukraine (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 4, 2022
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 4, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• Konjufca: Serbia’s aggression against Kosovo cannot be ruled out (Koha)
• Musliu: No room for panic; we’re not threatened by any insecurity (EO)
• Kosovo’s Deputy Minister of Defense: KSF ready for any challenge (RTK)
• Kusari-Lila: Serbia is a Small Russia in the Balkans (RTK)
• COVID-19: 52 new cases, one death (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Petkovic: Pristina used to create tensions, undermine peace (Radio KIM)
• NGOs and media: Unfounded speculations threat to security of people in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Marinkovic: Campaign and statements of Pristina officials stir concern among Kosovo Serbs (KoSSev, media)
• Rasic: Statements of Kosovo officials are not surprising but worrisome (Radio KIM)
• KLA graffiti inscribed on several Serb houses in Suvi Do village (Radio KIM)
• Brussels: Enlargement process has not changed (Radio KIM)
• Vucic speaks with Johnson (Tanjug)
• Von Cramon: There is no reason for concerns about security in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Escobar: US supports Serbia on its EU path (Kosovo-online)
• Mojsilovic: All conditions for securing administrative line have been met (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic calls public not to believe nonsense about shortages of food and fuel (N1)
• NATO official: Kosovo cannot join Alliance (BETA, N1)
• Vulin: Kosovo membership in NATO is ‘a threat to Serbia by armed confrontation’ (Kosovo-online)
• Ponos: Democratically elected government won’t recognize Kosovo (N1)
• Aleksic: Regime uses Ukrainian war to spread fear among population ahead of elections (N1)
• German FM to visit Belgrade on March 11 (Tanjug)
International:
• Kosovo Whistleblower ‘Fired’ for Warning of Safety Risks at Airport (Balkan Insight)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 4, 2022
• Kurti meets EP rapporteur Viola von Cramon (media)
• Bislimi: The parties should be equal in dialogue (media)
• Kurti and Szunyog, discuss war against corruption (media)
• Kajari: KFOR has full control over its monitoring points (media)
• NATO: Kosovo airspace remains open (Koha)
• Meta meets Osmani: Kosovo in NATO as soon as possible (RTK)
• Kurti: We have condemned, and continue to strongly condemn the Russian aggression (media)
• Xhavit Haliti: Serbia is preparing scenarios to attack the north of Kosovo (Klan)
• Balje claims her opinion against same-sex marriages is the same as of all Kosovars (Express)
• Kosovo parliament urges government to start NATO membership bid (Reuters)
• Ukraine is a ‘Sarajevo in the making’, warns Kosovo’s PM (The Independent, media)
• Why Putin keeps talking about Kosovo (Foreign Policy)
• Kosovo whistleblower ‘fired’ for warning of safety risks at Airport (BIRN)