Belgrade Media Report, 27 May 2022
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Friday 27 May 2022
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic to talk to Putin about gas, cooperation on 29 May (Beta/RTS/Tanjug/Politika/Novosti)
• Vulin responded to Klichko: Who compares Kosovo and Metohija and Donbass should go all the way in comparison (RTV/RTS)
• Djilas’ party blasts Klichko over Kosovo statement (Beta)
• Mihajlovic, Friedman on cooperation in energy, including nuclear (Beta/Politika)
• Varhelyi: EU should step up engagement in Western Balkans (N1)
• National Convention on EU condemns minister’s hate speech against Albanians (Politika/Beta)
• Serbian-Albanian festival “Miredita, Good Day” interrupted die to bomb threat (Beta)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Bevanda removes decision on financing elections from session of B&H CoM; B&H CoM adopts draft law on budget of B&H institutions and international obligations (O Kanal)
• Rancic: There are no legal obstacles to allocating funds for financing elections without adopting budget of B&H for 2022 (O Kanal)
• Tegeltija certain that B&H CoM has capacity to adopt B&H Budget by June 10 (RTRS)
• OHR: There are no obstacles to B&H Council of Ministers approving funds for elections; EU Delegation, US Embassy and USAID also reacted (O Kanal)
• Izetbegovic comments on his conversation with Schmidt: I think he has already made decisions but has not announced them yet (O Kanal)
• Schmidt: Solution for electoral reform must come from local politicians but I will not hesitate to use Bonn powers if state and its structures are endangered (Nezavisne)
• Izetbegovic: By insisting on legitimate representatives of constituent peoples, HDZ B&H has been attempting to limit strength of multiple times stronger pro-Bosnian bloc and multiethnic factor that has stronger support than HNS (Hayat)
• Truss meets Turkovic; Truss: UK has been attempting to reduce influence of Russia in Western Balkans (Hayat)
• Truss meets with B&H Presidency members; Dodik: RS’ position is that foreigners cannot regulate relations in B&H; RS does not accept artificially imposed HR (RTRS)
• Dzaferovic: Truss sent the strongest messages of support for sovereignty and territorial integrity of B&H (BHT1)
• Russian Embassy in B&H comments on Dzaferovic’s stances: Accession of any country to Alliance implies absolute support for NATO’s military and political goals, i.e. anti-Russian steps (BHT1)
• Russian government accepts proposal to open branch office of Russian Embassy in Banja Luka (Nezavisne)
Croatia
• Russia says disappointed with Croatia’s hostile behaviour (Hina)
• Jandrokovic reassures Ukrainian official of Croatia’s continuing support (Hina)
Montenegro
• Djurovic: If Open Balkans would stop Montenegro’s European path, we wouldn’t be part of that initiative (CdM)
• Montenegro belongs to the European family (RTCG)
• Radulovic: Djukanovic showed in Kosovo that Montenegrins are not alone (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Vasilevska: There is organized chaos in the parliament, well directed by Xhaferi (Republika)
• Micevski: VMRO-DPMNE’s MPs to file non-confidence motion against Xhaferi (Republika)
• Aziri: AA to decide whether it will support VMRO-DPMNE’s non-confidence motion against Xhaferi (Alsat TV)
• Petkov gathers coalition partners to confirm veto on Macedonia (BNR)
• Osmani visits Ukraine (Republika)
Albania
• European Parliament: Albania’s foreign policy, fully in line with that of the EU, contribution to European security (Radio Tirana)
• Albanian government approves protocols for NATO membership of Finland and Sweden (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 27, 2022
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 27, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti: Dialogue with Serbia to end in mutual recognition (EO)
• Hovenier reacts to Russian foreign minister’s statement on Recak (media)
• EU and Kosovo sign IPA Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (media)
• Kurti underlines importance of Switzerland’s support for Kosovo (albinfo.ch/media)
• Kusari-Lila to opposition: The state does not collapse because you lost power (media)
• COVID-19: 4 new cases (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic to meet with von Cramon on Monday (Tanjug, media)
• Varhelyi: EU should step up engagement in Western Balkans (N1)
• Jeremic: If Vucic imposes sanctions on Russia it will move Serbia from Europe even further (Danas)
• Vucic: We are preparing big things for Open Balkan countries (Tanjug)
• The Embassy of Ukraine on Klitschko’s statement on Kosovo (N1)
International:
• Book Review: Conflict Resolution in the Shadow of Putin’s War (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Women in Albanian Media: From Secondary Victimisation to ‘Slut-Shaming’ (Balkan Insight)
• Overlapping crises in the Western Balkans (brookings.edu)
• Guarantees of origin scheme ready to go live in Energy Community markets (greenenergynews.com)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, May 27, 2022
• UK to invest $100 million in Western Balkans (Klan)
• Liz Truss warns Russian meddling could reignite conflict in Western Balkans (telegraph.co.uk)
• Lavrov: Events at Bucha, part of the same scheme as Recak (media)
• Kurti: The vote for Shaip Kamberi is a patriotic task (RTK)
• Abdixhiku: Kosovo needs a clear political project (media)
• Abazovic to go to Ohrid for the ‘Open Balkans’ Summit (media)
• ERO and U.S. Embassy discuss energy tariffs (media)
• IMF staff concludes visit to Kosovo (RTK)
• COVID-19: 9 new cases (media)