Belgrade Media Report 17 June
LOCAL PRESS
• Brnabic: Region’s integration into EU necessary for overall progress (RTS/Tanjug)
• Brnabic: Recognition of “Kosovo” not mentioned in negotiating position of EU with Serbia (Tanjug/RTV)
• Intensive political dialogue, economic cooperation with Turkey (Tanjug/Politika)
• Selakovic, Cavusoglu: Excellent relations to be advanced further (Tanjug/Politika)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Serbian-Russian relations essentially not changing despite voting for UN resolution (N1)
• Sapic put forward by SNS as new Belgrade mayor; formation of government waiting for repeat elections in Veliki Trnovac (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Serbian military sends new contingent to UNIFIL (N1)
• Lajcak: Brussels working on Vucic-Kurti meeting (Tanjug/TV21)
• Greece appoints Special Representative for Western Balkans (Politika/Tanjug)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• St. Petersburg: Dodik meets Lavrov, says B&H did not impose sanctions; Criticizes UK involvement in B&H (ATV)
• Dodik at session of SPIEF: B&H did not join sanctions against Russia because RS did not allow this, B&H still remains unstable, and it is state under protectorate of western world (ATV)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: RS remains one of most important foreign policy goals of Russia (BN TV)
• Officials in B&H comment Dodik’s visit to Russia (Nova BH)
• Dzaferovic addresses Baku Global Forum (BHT1/Hayat)
• France has sent non-paper to EU countries presenting idea of creating European political community, analysts deem this community would be replacement for EU membership (BHT1/Nezavisne)
• Pahor calls for B&H to be granted EU candidate status unconditionally in letter to Michel (Hayat)
• Media carried comment to Pahor’s letter, French non-paper; Dzaferovic: EU owes us in some way (O Kanal)
• Sattler: Brussels agreement paves the way further towards European integration, outlines which are the focuses from 14 key priorities (FTV)
• Cleverly meets Turkovic and B&H CEC reps, confirms UK’s support to continuation of reform processes in B&H (BHT1)
• OHR: Election financing, the functioning of state institutions, as well as payment of salaries to civil servants will never be put in question again (Nova BH)
• SDA and opposition in B&H HoR will not support HDZ B&H’s proposal of amendments to Election Law (BHT1)
• Novakovic-Bursac comments on adoption of amendments to Election Law on election of member of B&H Presidency from Croat ranks (ATV)
Croatia
• Grlic Radman: Things moving towards opening talks with N. Macedonia, Albania (Hina)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic: I warned earlier about Russia’s actions; Moscow wants USSR’s geopolitical position, but it doesn’t realize that this is an impossible mission (Portal Analitika)
• Abazovic: For me, Open Balkans is Berlin Process’s child; we’ve provided Ukraine with a modest war and financial aid; difficult autumn awaits us (TVCG)
• Konjevic: Our goal is the EU and not the Open Balkans, where some do not recognize Russia’s aggression against Ukraine (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• French proposal envisions joining EU only after meeting all Bulgarian requirements (MIA/Bulgarian National Radio)
• Mickoski: If the proposal is to assimilate us and be Bulgarians, then I do not want to join the European Union (TV Kanal 5)
• Pendarovski: Unfinished project of European integration has consequences for Western Balkans (Republika)
• Pendarovski: Words from the EU and Bulgaria are not enough for us; we want guarantees on paper (Republika)
• Michel: Macedonia and Albania to start EU talks as soon as possible (Republika)
• Pendarovski – Pahor: Formal start of accession talks with Macedonia must be an imperative for EU (Republika)
Albania
• As Bulgarian veto entangles region, Albania not hopeful on start of EU talks, PM says (Tirana Times)
• Michel: Good news for Albania and North Macedonia (Radio Tirana)
• Borell: We should urgently move ahead with EU integration process of Albania (Radio Tirana)
• Peleshi met with NATO representatives in the headquarters in Brussels (Radio Tirana)
• UN Security Council meeting, Minister Xhacka: We call on Russia to stop the war and get involved in the negotiations (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 17, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• Lajcak: Important agreement expected next week (euronews.al/media)
• No agreement reached between government and KLA veterans (media)
• Kosovo Government issues statement following meeting with KLA veterans (media)
• At Prespa Forum, Osmani has meetings with U.S., UK, German envoys (media)
• Milanovic: Kosovo’s non-recognition by Serbia, obstacle for EU enlargement (media)
• Several agreements expected to be signed in the Kosovo-Albania meeting of governments (KP)
• Konjufca travels to The Hague today to meet former KLA leaders (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Varhelyi: Cooperation with the Western Balkans is the EU’s geostrategic choice (RTS)
• Brnabic from Ohrid: General progress requires integration of the region into the EU (RTS)
• Starovic: The negotiation framework with the EU does not mention the recognition of Kosovo’s independence (Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Botsan Kharchenko: EU forcing Serbia to impose sanctions while remaining Russia’s largest economic partner (NMagazin, N1, Beta)
• Selakovic, Cavusoglu: Excellent relations to be advanced further (Tanjug)
• Petkovic on Twitter: “Freedom for Albanians accused of planning attacks on KFOR and SOC, real image of justice in Pristina” (Kosovo Online)
International:
• Paris moves to solve Sofia’s N. Macedonia veto, diplomats say (Euractiv)
• Ukraine should become a membership candidate to join the EU, commission says (CNBC)
• Montenegro PM Accuses Partners of Blocking Serbian Church Agreement (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Kosovo Digs Deeper as Search for Wartime Missing Intensifies (Balkan Insight)
• Eight journalists from Kosovo visited Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS) (KoSSev, Radio Mitrovica sever)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 17, 2022
• KLA veterans end protest after Assembly halts session (media)
• Kosovo Parliament Paralysed as War Veterans, Opposition MPs Protest (BIRN)
• Lajcak trying to set meeting between Kurti and Vucic before summer break (media)
• Osmani: Our path to EU cannot be stopped by Moscow (media)
• Cautious optimism over visa liberalisation for Kosovo (media)
• Kosovars tire of knocking at Europe’s closed doors (AFP/France 24)
• Greece appoints special envoy for the Western Balkans (Kallxo)
• Albanian PM Calls on Ukraine to Recognise Kosovo (Exit)
• Krasniqi: I don’t believe this government will see its term through (Koha)
• 72 bomb threats reported across Kosovo yesterday, all false (media)
• Police arrest, later release, PSD leader Dardan Molliqaj (media)
• Supreme Court rules in favour of new electricity tariffs (media)