Belgrade Media Report 7 June
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic: Emergency state de facto introduced in Serbia (RTS)
• Vucic receives Botsan-Kharchenko after Lavrov visit cancellation (Tanjug/RTS)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Introducing sanctions against Russia to harm Serbia’s economy, social spheres (Beta/Izvestia)
• Stefanovic: Serbia refuses to be a pawn (Beta)
• State Department: Serbia to focus (VoA/Tanjug/B92)
• Stefanovic discusses cooperation in defense sector with French Ambassador (Beta)
• Improving cooperation with Turkey in field of defense (Tanjug)
• Presevo Valley a matter to be brought before UN (Beta/Bujanovacke/Danas)
• Nikolic: Substituting Russian crude oil imports to be no problem (Tanjug)
• Air assault against neutral Belgrade (Novosti)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Ruling majority in RS parliament adopts conclusions opposing introduction of sanctions against Russia, supporting extension of EUFOR’s Althea mission in B&H and postponing return of RS competencies from B&H level for six months (BN TV)
• Dodik and Kalabukhov address RS parliament special session (ATV)
• Leaders of parliamentary political parties address RS parliament special session (ATV)
• Opposition in RS wonders if Dodik wants support in RS parliament for potentially imposing sanctions against Russia; Bosniak representatives leave session during Kalabukhov’s address (AJB)
• Trivic says she believes RS parliament’s special session will produce nothing good for RS (BN TV)
• Komsic: B&H will not change its foreign policy priorities because they are now problem for Kalabukhov (Nova BH)
• Ambassadors of EU and US call on RS parliament not to support policy of disinformation about Russian invasion of Ukraine (AJB)
• Dodik: I will have opportunity to meet Lavrov in the next ten days in St. Petersburg (N1)
• US blacklists FB&H President Cavara and RS Health Minister Seranic (FTV)
• Seranic: Despite sanctions, I will continue to work in the interest of citizens; Everything I have done in the past four years was in the best interest of the RS citizens (ATV)
• Radoncic: US sanctions will have positive consequences (Dnevni avaz)
• B&H CoM adopts special decision on lending BAM 9.7 million to CEC for general elections: CEC: BAM 12.5 million required, OHR should pass decision on full amount (Nova BH)
• Fajon and Schallenberg discuss Austrian ‘non-paper’ on Western Balkans (AJB)
Croatia
• Plenkovic: Serbia, as all countries in such circumstances, must be very careful about what side it chooses and supports (Hina)
• Agreements for Croatia-Serbia cross-border cooperation granted (Hina)
Montenegro
• Russian threats to Montenegro over Lavrov: Rogozin threatens with rockets (CdM/RIA Novosti)
• The end of the Open Balkans (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Macron ready to meet Sofia and Skopje when the time comes (MIA)
• Osmani acknowledges that Bulgaria wants their demands to be included in the EU negotiating framework (TV Sitel)
• Osmani on Lavrov’s plane ban: It’s not response to the Russian Federation, but to the aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine (Republika)
• Russia says it will stop the gas supply for Macedonia after the government didn’t allow Lavrov’s plane to fly through the country’s airspace (Republika)
Albania
• Open Balkans, meeting in Ohrid/Abazovic participates for the first time (Radio Tirana)
• Three-year cooperation agreement signed between Albania-Italy/ Minister Franceschini: Italy will strongly support Albania’s EU accession (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 7, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• Scholz in Kosovo on Friday; 4 hours in Prishtina, 2 hours in Belgrade! (Indeksonline)
• Joseph: Lavrov gave ‘Open Balkan’ the kiss of death (Telegrafi)
• Finance Minister: €80 million a year for the veterans; lists must be cleaned (Koha/RTK)
• Prime Minister Kurti meets UK Minister of Armed Forces (media)
• “Croatia fully supports Kosovo membership in EU and NATO” (media)
• Swiss State Secretary to visit Kosovo, Serbia over threats against Marty (Klan Kosova)
• Rizvanolli: Renewable energy of 500 MW to be achieved in three years’ time (Koha/RTK)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic: Preventing talks with Sergey Lavrov must be condemned (Tanjug, RTS)
• Vucic announces changes in gov’t, Belgrade city authorities (Tanjug, RTS)
• Stefanovic: Serbia refuses to be a pawn (N1)
• State Department: Sovereign decisions of Montenegro, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia (RTS, VoA)
• Stano: EU welcomes Lavrov flight ban (N1)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Invitation to Selakovic to visit Russia accepted (N1)
• EU document on Serbia: “Vucic postpones the break with Russia, and the opposition is helping him” (RFE)
International:
• Serbian Leader Rages About ‘Hysteria’ After Russian Minister’s Visit Blocked (BIRN)
• Russia’s Lavrov Slams Balkan States for Blocking His Serbia Visit (BIRN)
• Albania’s Rama Bets on Military Man for ‘Normal’ President (BIRN)
Humanitarian/Development:
• KFOR distributes food packages to families in Istok and Klina municipalities (Kosovo Online)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 7, 2022
• KLA war veterans threaten to block Government and Assembly (media)
• Prime Minister Kurti: Kosovo, a success story (media)
• Pride Week starts in Kosovo: “LGBTI+ rights are human rights” (RFE)
• President Osmani to visit Slovenia in July (media)
• Haradinaj, Hovenier discuss latest developments (media)
• “Decision to block trip, reflects commitment to hold Russia accountable” (Kallxo)
• Russia supports Open Balkan; reactions follow (Koha/RTK/Klan Kosova)
• Two die as storm winds, lightning hit Kosovo (Reuters)
• Polish Airlines begins operations from Kosovo (Kosovapress)