Belgrade Media Report 20 June
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic: After the consultations, I will make a decision whether to go to Brussels (Tanjug)
• Brnabic from Ohrid: International law “broken on the back” of Serbia (RTS)
• Putin again mentions so-called Kosovo: And? Did we have the right to recognize it? (Tanjug)
• Bocan Harchenko: The pressure on Serbia is incredible (RTS)
• Former presidential candidate: Serbia should follow EU policy on Russia (N1)
• Serbia’s Interior Minister: Russia is not changing its position on Kosovo (N1)
• EU expects Kosovo and Serbia to reach energy deal this week (Beta)
• EU Official: Not sure whether Serbia will be able to open new cluster (Beta)
• Dodik says B&H has not imposed and will not impose sanctions against Russia, reiterates RS is against admission to NATO (Novosti)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H Presidency member Dodik and Russian President Putin meet in Saint Petersburg, discuss RS’ position on sanctions against Russia, future cooperation (ATV)
• Milorad Dodik says Russia is not leaving its friends and that talks with Putin convinced him of that again (RTRS)
• Dzaferovic: Nothing has changed in B&H’s position on Russian invasion of Ukraine nor can it change with Dodik’s departure to St. Petersburg (Nova BH)
• Sarovic, Borenovic claim that B&H will harmonize again with EU sanctions against Russia (BN TV)
• UK Minister Truss calls for end of Russian influence in B&H (FTV)
• EU FMs to discuss initiative to grant status of EU candidate to B&H; Pahor to demand support to initiative (FTV)
• Message of Pahor is sign of friendship (Dnevni avaz, Hayat)
• MEPs and members of Bundestag meet with B&H activists in Sarajevo; MEP Viola von Cramon-Taubadel says everyone is against accelerated, short negotiations for membership in EU (N1)
• Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu visits B&H, meets B&H officials (Nezavisne)
Croatia
• Officials from Western Balkans react to decision to give EU candidate status to Ukraine (HRT1)
• Milanovic: Ukraine’s EU candidate status should be made conditional on Bosnia’s (Hina)
• Cavusoglu meets Grlic-Radman: Both countries support stability, integrity of B&H (HRT1)
• Foreign ministry warns against false info from Russian Defence Ministry (HRT1)
Montenegro
• Montenegro will remain safe haven for all exiled Ukrainians (CDM)
• Abazovic: I’ll invite Serbia’s prime minister to visit Montenegro as soon as appointment happens (Portal Analitika)
• Marovic: Working group on the Open Balkans soon to be formed (MINA)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovacevski after meeting with coalition partners: Parliamentary elections to be held in 2024 (Republika)
• Escobar: As long as the Western Balkans meet the conditions, we will continue to provide support (Republika)
• VMRO-DPMNE: The French proposal is blackmail and total fiasco (Republika)
• Dimitrov: French proposal is debacle of Macedonian diplomacy; government puts our fate entirely in Bulgaria’s hands (Republika)
• Mickoski on French proposal: VMRO-DPMNE will not accept any agreement that is detrimental to Macedonian interests (Republika)
• Kovacevski: The Macedonian language must be pure in the negotiation framework (Libertas)
• Serbian Patriarch Porfirij to visit Ohrid (Republika)
Albania
• Rama: Open Balkan is not an instrument for Serbia! The agreement for the Port of Durres was postponed by Kosovo (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 20, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• Kosovo, Albania governments hold eighth joint meeting (media)
• Rama: Open Balkan does not unite us, but it does not divide us either (media)
• EU member states agree to extend Lajcak’s mandate for another 18 months (RFE)
• KLA war veterans warn with other protests in front of Assembly (media)
• Sunny Hill Festival returns to Kosovo (RFE)
• Slovenia supports visa liberalisation for Kosovo (Telegrafi)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic: Decision on EU-WB summit to be made after consultations (Tanjug, Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Rakic: Return to Kosovo on the lowest possible scale (Kosovo Online, TV Most)
• EU enlargement hot topic again, WB leaders in Brussels on Thursday – what is on the table (RTS, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Florian Bieber: Vucic still trying to avoid deciding on sanctions against Russia (N1, nova.rs)
• Petkovic: We are close to reaching an agreement on energy (Kontakt plus radio)
• Jablanovic: Kurti’s government is anti-Serbian (KiM radio, Slobodno Srpski)
Opinion:
• The EU Mustn’t Betray its Promises to the Western Balkans (Balkan Insight)
International:
• EU Rapporteur Adds To Pressure For Brussels To Give Balkans ‘Something’ Amid Ukraine Push (RFE)
• Kosovo Reclaims Dua Lipa Festival After Sudden U-Turn (BIRN)
• Slovenia to Seek EU Candidate Status for Bosnia (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Film Recreates Albanian’s ‘Swim to Freedom’ from Communism (Balkan Insight)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 20, 2022
• Kosovo, Albania governments to meet today in Prishtina (media)
• Rama: Albania will remove all customs tariffs with Kosovo (media)
• Rama: Funny and sad how Open Balkan is interpreted in Kosovo (media)
• Rama hosts dinner in Prishtina with critics of Kurti’s government (Nacionale)
• Government: Venice Commission gave green light for vetting in judiciary (RFE)
• Haxhiu: We have Plan B if opposition blocks the vetting (media)
• Dialogue continues with expectations for concrete agreements (Koha)
• Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu visits Kosovo (media)
• Von Cramon: We need to give something to the Western Balkans (Kosovapress)
• Leaders’ messages on Day for Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict (media)
• Health Ministry not alarmed over slight increase in new COVID-19 cases (Koha)