Belgrade Media Report 31 August
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic with Peach: Determined for intensification of Serbian-British cooperation (RTS)
• Serbia making efforts to reach sustainable deal with Pristina, Vucic tells Turner (RTV/Tanjug)
• Albanians didn’t corner us, we didn’t even have a corner, but Vucic came and created a corner (TV Pink/Tanjug)
• Petkovic: Pristina is using the fate of the missing for a political showdown with Belgrade (RTS)
• France welcomed the agreement on the freedom of movement of Belgrade and Pristina (Tanjug)
• Lajcak: We have two months to find a solution for the plates (Tanjug)
• Borrell: Prevent Russia’s attempt to destabilize the Western Balkan region (Beta)
• KFOR: We are closely monitoring the situation, we are staying in Jarinje and Brnjak (RTS/Kosovo Online)
• Disclaimers on IDs placed at administrative checkpoints in Kosovo and Metohija (RTS)
• Vulin denies preparing extradition of former Ukrainian secret service chief to Russia (Nova/Beta)
• Lavrov dismisses Minister Mihajlovic’s claims about abusing Serbia’s friendship (Beta)
• Mihajlovic: Lavrov making Serbia’s position even more difficult (Beta)
• Jovanovic to head parliamentary Defense Committee (Tanjug/RTS)
• Becic to head parliamentary Security Services Control Committee (Tanjug/RTS)
• Slovenia appoints Anzej Franges as Special Representative for Western Balkans (Tanjug)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• HR Schmidt, Escobar participate in panel discussion on Western Balkans within 17th Bled Strategic Forum (N1)
• Turkovic addresses 17th Bled Strategic Forum: Many things are slowing down B&H on European path, such as recent blockade of institutions, pro-Russian influence and fact that country did not receive candidate status (BHT1)
• Turkovic openly advocates civic B&H, accuses Serbia and Croatia of interfering with B&H Election Law at 17th Bled Strategic Forum (RTRS)
• Dodik: I will declare independence if certain constellation of relationships coincides in world, Europe and America (ATV)
• Sarrazin, Peach: B&H in most serious crisis since 1995 (Dnevni list)
• Covic: HR Schmidt will have to impose a decision (Nova BH)
• Komsic: Schmidt is under pressure and he will impose changes to B&H Election Law that benefit HDZ B&H (Hayat)
• Magazinovic: Schmidt should not impose any decisions at this moment (O Kanal)
• Forto and Cudic arrive in official visit to Ukraine as part of ALDE Party delegation (N1)
• Grlic Radman, Plenkovic wants HR Schmidt to use Bonn powers to secure equality of peoples in B&H (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• War Veterans Minister says Serbia not cooperating in search for war missing (Hina)
Montenegro
• DPS: Two years since our country started to collapse, elections to be organized ASAP to change the worst govt ever in Montenegro (CdM)
• Mandic: DF ready to take responsibility for Montenegro and comply with undertaken international obligations (CdM)
• Medojevic: In order to reset the winning majority, it is necessary for Abazovic and Djurovic to resign (CdM)
• Krivokapic: It is naive to expect that only the European Union has a policy of expansion into the Western Balkans (CdM)
• Lajcak: The EU is watching how Montenegro will find the compass lost two years ago; Escobar: There is no alternative to EU integration (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• VMRO-DPMNE confirms that active blockade continues, they will not go to coordination with Xhaferi (MIA)
• Mickoski meets Felix Schreiner, member of the German Bundestag (Republika)
• Szijjarto: Europe will have new strategic problems if it does not integrate the Western Balkan countries (Republika)
Albania
• Rama meets his Slovenian counterpart, Golob (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 31, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• Osmani hosted by the president of the Czech Senate (media)
• Specialist Chambers judge Mihael Bolander resigns (media)
• Thousands participate in the protest after the rape of the 11-year-old (media)
• Director for Treatment of Prisoners and Juveniles resigns (media)
• The saga of the Serbs towards the Kosovo documents (RFE, media)
• COVID-19: 191 new cases and two deaths (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic met US Congressman Turner (Tanjug)
• Belgrade, Zagreb, Pristina trade blame over missing persons (N1)
• Disclaimers on ID cards placed at administrative crossings towards Kosovo (RTS)
• KFOR: We are closely monitoring the situation, we are staying at Jarinje and Brnjak (RTS, Kosovo Online)
• Lajcak: Two months to find a solution for the vehicle plates, some ideas proposed (RTS, Tanjug)
• Mihajlovic: Lavrov makes Serbia’s position even more difficult (NMagazin, Beta)
• Nine Covid-19 cases in Serbian areas (KiM radio)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 31, 2022
Escobar: European integration, only alternative for Western Balkans (Kosovapress)
Gervalla: We are not asking for privileges or shortcuts to join EU (media)
Opposition leaders want Kurti to focus on final settlement, not technical issues (RFE)
Kosovo protesters demand action after rape of 11-year-old (BIRN)
Kosovo Police Director resigns (media)
Dugolli: GDP rising, but talks with Serbia at an impasse (The Washington Diplomat)
Slovenia appoints Anzej Franges, emissary for the Western Balkans (RTK)
Tuhina: Now the pressure can be directed towards Kosovo (RTK)
Kosovo Urged to Take ‘Inclusive Approach’ to War Memorialisation (BIRN)
Belgrade Media Report 30 August
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic decorates Rodriguez Parrilla with Order of Serbian Flag, First Class (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Vucic: They will try to change plates as of 1 September, we are not thinking about change of policy towards Russia; no Europride (RTV/Tanjug)
• Moscow welcomes the agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, the unresolved fundamental issue of the Community of Serb Municipalities (Tanjug)
• Orlic with Hill on the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina: Sincerely committed to seeking a solution that preserves peace (RTS)
• Orlic: A special session of the parliament on Kosovo and Metohija probably on 13 September (RTS)
• Escobar: Vucic is fully committed to regional stability (Tanjug/Euronews Serbia)
• MEPs meet Brnabic to discuss Europride (N1/FoNet/Nova.rs)
• Odalovic: Almost 10,000 persons missing, around 4,000 bodies waiting for identification (RTS)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H HoP adopts initiative to remove Turkovic from post of B&H Minister of Foreign Affairs (FTV)
• Dodik: Turkovic has been doing everything to break B&H’s foreign policy into pieces; She does not deserve to wait for the end of her mandate as the B&H FM (ATV)
• Scholz supports enlargement of EU to Western Balkans (FTV)
• Zvizdic: B&H needs democratic solutions which will not mean further discrimination and further ethno-territorial divisions (O Kanal)
• Court of B&H dismisses lawsuit against decision of B&H parliament on appointment of members of B&H CEC (O Kanal)
• Latest statement of Croatian President Milanovic sparks reactions (Hayat/ATV/O Kanal)
Croatia
• Pahor urges Von der Leyen for B&H to receive EU candidate status in 2022; Von der Leyen: We must support democracies that are most exposed to foreign threats (AJB)
• Bled Strategic Forum: Plenkovic, Grlic-Radman talk with HR, support imposing of changes to B&H Election Law (N1)
Montenegro
• Krivokapic: Constructive partnerships conditioned by the indisputable Euro-Atlantic course (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Bulgaria will not be able to abuse the membership: The German Chancellor announces cancellation of the right of veto in the EU (Republika)
• Osmani thanks Boone over Macron’s engagement to overcome Euro-integration blockage (Republika)
• Petrovska: Despite being most recent NATO member, Macedonia has proven it can serve as model that actively contributes to region’s stability and security (Republika)
Albania
• Rama from Slovenia: It is a great shame that the citizens of Kosovo cannot move freely, but are held hostage by the EU (Radio Tirana)
• Rama: EU should not make the shameful mistake as it did during the pandemic, by not donating vaccines (Radio Tirana)
• Rama: We don’t need Russian gas (ADN)
• Von der Leyen: The opening of negotiations for Albania and North Macedonia was a success (Radio Tirana)
• Rama urges finding reason why Russian ‘spies’ come to Albania (ADN)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 30, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• President Osmani travels for an official visit to the Czech Republic (media)
• Gervalla participating at Bled Forum (Telegrafi)
• Kurti: Archives in Belgrade should open so truth about our loved ones can be found out (Klan)
• Osmani, Kurti, Hovenier pay tribute to the disappeared (media)
• UNMIK in support of the families of persons missing from the war in Kosovo (Klan)
• EULEX: In one year, three missing persons were identified, hundreds over years (Koha)
• PSD calls the agreement on ID cards “legalization of parallel structures” (Koha)
• Government to establish a Professional Committee after rape of the 11-year-old, (Klan)
• COVID-19: 91 new cases (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• SRSG Ziadeh: Pristina and Belgrade cooperation crucial for progress on the issue of missing persons (Kontakt plus radio)
• “It turns out to be a miracle that pain united us” (KiM radio, KoSSev)
• Vucic: The problem with the vehicle plates will not be solved before September (NMagazin, Beta)
• State Department: The agreement between Serbia and Kosovo is a step towards the normalization of relations (Beta, N1, VoA)
• Serbian FM Selakovic met Cuban FM Parrilla (Tanjug)
• Serbian Parliament Speaker Vladimir Orlic met Ambassador Hill (Tanjug, media)
• Citizens on the ID agreement: Not supported by the majority “because it is not beneficial to both sides” (KoSSev)
• Hrnjaz: Serbia did not recognize Kosovo with the new agreement, it does not mean it has not been moving towards it politically for 10 years (KoSSev)
International:
• Germany’s Scholz Backs EU Expansion To Include Western Balkans, As ‘Center Of Europe Is Moving Eastwards’ (RFE)
Humanitarian/Development:
• New Book Tells Stories of Kosovo’s Child Casualties of War (Balkan Insight)
• Greece increases electricity exports to neighboring Balkan countries (balkangreenenergynews.com)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 30, 2022
Borrell: Issue of license plates, more difficult to resolve (RFE)
Kosovo-Serbia deal on IDs raises implementation question, expert says (BIRN)
Recognition of documents does not mean Serbia has recognised Kosovo (Koha)
PDK leader Krasniqi says no to PM Kurti’s invitation to meet (media)
LDK leader Abdixhiku agrees to meet PM Kurti on dialogue (media)
Escobar: Vucic committed to regional stability; good will from both sides (media)
East and West clash in a proxy conflict over Serbia, President Vucic says (Reuters)
It’s Never Too Late to Find the Kosovo War’s Missing Persons (BIRN)
Kosovo leaders call for deserved punishment for raping of minor girl (media)
Belgrade Media Report 29 August
LOCAL PRESS
• Brnabic says it will be easy to write her PM’s exposé: Goals are clear, Kosovo and energy are priorities (RTS)
• Agreement on identity cards for normal life of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija (TV Prva)
• Vucic: We fought for Serbian statehood in Kosovo and Metohija (RTS)
• Vucic: Brnabic to be put forward as PM designate (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Solution for license plates must be same as for IDs (Tanjug/RTV)
• Petkovic: We kept Serbian IDs, we will not give up from KM license plates (RTS)
• Agreement reached regarding freedom of movement and Serbian documents in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)
• Borrell: We have an agreement on documents; Lajcak: Thanks; “It will calm tensions” (B92/Kosovo Online)
• Selakovic with Parila: Cuba’s active support regarding Kosovo and Metohija (RTV/Tanjug)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• RS officials congratulate Brnabic for appointment as Serbian Prime Minister (RTRS)
• Consultations on amendments to B&H Election Law under baton of OHR continue (BHT1)
• HNV encourages HR Schmidt to focus his decisions on preventing abuses and blockades during implementation of election process, as well as election results, despite political pressure from different sides (Nova BH)
• Izetbegovic: There will be no imposing of election law (Oslobodjenje)
• SB&H prepares lawsuit against EU, Schmidt and Republic of Croatia (N1)
• HDZ B&H urges FB&H VPs not to block appointment of FB&H CC judges (Nova BH)
• Murphy: USA, EU and NATO will not leave B&H to Russia; Russia does not decide on your EU or NATO accession (RFE/Dnevni avaz)
• Dodik welcomes statement of Ambassador Murphy on NATO path (ATV)
• Russian Embassy in B&H; Russia has its national interests that it defends, but unlike Western countries, trained in hypocritical rhetoric, it prefers open and friendly dialogue with its partners in B&H (FTV)
• Germany harshly reacts to failure of B&H Presidency to accept accreditation of new German Ambassador (N1)
• B&H Ministry of Foreign Affairs requests meeting with Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany to clarify situation related to rejection of agrement for future Ambassador of Germany to B&H (BHT1)
• Dodik: I am not concerned about announcements from Germany (N1/ATV)
• Milanovic: Croatia has powerful instruments at its disposal, Dayton Agreement must be respected (Dnevni list)
Montenegro
• Abazovic welcomed the agreement between Belgrade and Pristina: Dialogue is the solution to overcome any crisis (CdM)
• Sehovic: We don’t need new experiments, rather elections and govt to prepare them (Pobjeda)
• Montenegro exposed to new series of organized cyber-attacks on government’s servers (CdM)
• Abazovic hosts dinner for Patriarch Porfirije (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Maricic is pushing for the opening of the Constitution (Kanal 5)
• Osmani visiting Macedonian minority in Albania (Republika)
• Osmani: French proposal pulled country out from Balkans’ whirlpool at the last moment (Republika)
Albania
• Kosovo-Serbia agreement/Rama: Good news, the solution to the issue of free movement through dialogue; President Begaj: The agreement is in the best interest of all citizens (Radio Tirana)
• Rama at the press conference with Bettel: The negotiation process is for ourselves, not for the EU. It helps us to fulfil criteria (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 29, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti invites opposition leaders to meet on Tuesday (media)
• Haradinaj responds positively to Kurti’s invitation for a meeting (media)
• Murati: Government will proceed with salary law, educational staff should start work (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo has provided shelter for 1798 Afghans (RTK)
• Lavrov: The West is ready to recognize independence declared illegally (media)
• Tahiri: Why isn’t the text of the agreement on ID cards being published? (Klan)
• COVID-19: 89 new cases (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic: Agreement with Pristina makes it easier, not harder, for everyone (media)
• Opposition on the BG and PR IDs agreement (media)
• Stoltenberg welcomes the agreement on IDs: NATO and KFOR will remain vigilant (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Michel, Varhelyi, Rohde, Rama welcomed the agreement reached on IDs (media, Twitter)
• OPEN initiative seeks the C/ASM to be formed (Kosovo Online, KoSSev)
• NGO Aktiv: 51 incidents recorder in the first six months of 2022 (KoSSev)
Opinion:
• In the history of international law, it never happened that a state recognizes another through license plates or identity cards (Danas, N1)
• Unbalanced Vucic-Rama Double Act Benefits Only Serbia (Balkan Insight)
International:
• Afghans adrift on US ‘lily pad’ in Kosovo (DW)
• ‘Everyone loved each other’: the rise of Yugonostalgia (The Guardian)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 29, 2022
Borrell: Deal reached on freedom of movement between Kurti and Vucic (media)
Borrell: If no agreement, there could’ve been a crisis on Sept 1 in north (media)
Osmani: Freedom of movement, foundation of democratic societies (media)
Kurti: Reciprocity is spirit of principled and just solution (media)
NATO SG welcomes agreement on free movement (media)
Kurti: Full reciprocity until agreement on mutual recognition is reached (Kallxo)
Kurti’s warning for a government reshuffle seen as an urgency (Koha)
Kurti: Energy price always on the rise; we need to save (Telegrafi)
COVID-19: 89 new cases, two deaths (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 26, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• Prime Minister Kurti’s interview for Welt (media)
• They protest for increased wages, but they “risk” current wage too (RFE)
• LDK: Asking for lists of strikers is a practice typical for autocrats (Koha)
• “As of 2014, 75% of time, primary and secondary education under strike threats” (media)
• Bugajski to Lajcak: When will you meet Albanians in Serbia? (Demokracia)
• Sinani calls on Lajcak and Escobar to meet Albanians in Serbia too (Kosovapress)
• Pendarovski: EU has forgotten about Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo (media)
• LDK: Instead of solving demands of the strikers, government is threatening them (RTK)
• COVID-19: 188 new cases, no deaths (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Escobar: I am convinced that the Serbs in the north of Kosovo will not see any change on September 1 (NMagazin, Beta)
• Lajcak: I appreciate Vucic’s sincere effort to support the European solution (RTS)
• Vucic: Discussions to be continued, we are fighting for peace (Tanjug, media)
• Petkovic: Kurti openly threatens with violence in the north, we will not allow the persecution of Serbs (RTS)
• Jeremic: The Parliamentary Club of People’s Party propose a negotiation platform (KiM radio, Beta)
• Demostat: Kurti’s rigid stance could lead to new elections in Kosovo (N1, Beta)
• Association of the Missing: 1,621 more persons from Kosovo have not been found (Kontakt plus radio, Beta, N1)
• KP: ”Ethnically motivated cases in the first half of 2022 in decline compared to the same period in 2021” (KoSSev)
Opinion:
• Zizek: Degeneracy, Depravity, and the New Right (The Daily Star)
International:
• Number plate row fuels Kosovo’s ethnic tensions as Serbia seeks more talks (Reuters)
• Picturing War: Macedonian Boys Fetch Ammo in the Thick of Fighting (Balkan Insight)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 26, 2022
• Escobar: Kosovo and Serbia to pledge there won’t be violence (RFE)
• U.S., EU want violence to be avoided on September 1 (Koha)
• Kurti presents 6 chapters of agreement to Quint and EU (media)
• ‘Time Is Ripe’ for Final Deal With Serbia, Kosovo Premier Says (Bloomberg)
• Kurti for Al Jazeera: No one can stop Kosovo Police from going north (media)
• Lajcak, Escobar meet Serbian President Vucic in Belgrade (media)
• “ROSU cannot go to north, if NATO doesn’t stop it, Serbs will” (Koha)
• Leaders of four northern municipalities come out with a statement (Koha)
• Selimi: Biden asked Hill to return from retirement, serve in Balkans (Express)
• Abdixhiku: We have a PM that covers up failures with fear and threats (media)
Belgrade Media Report 25 August
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic: Name of PM designate to be announced on Friday or Saturday (Tanjug/RTS/B92)
• Members of northern Kosovo local assemblies back Vucic to find solution (Tanjug/Politika)
• Hill entertains hope of war in Ukraine bringing Serbia closer to EU, US (Beta)
• Lajcak, Escobar meet Kosovo Serb representatives (KoSSev/FoNet/N1)
• Lajcak: Vucic-Kurti meeting in Brussels not in vain (BBC/Beta)
• KFOR in regular contact with Serbian Armed Forces representatives (Tanjug/RTS)
• Orlic: Important information to be disclosed at September session (Beta)
• Stefanovic: Milanovic protects child killers, not showing a shred of humanity (Tanjug/RTV)
• Council of Europe Serbia’s partner in drafting judicial laws (Tanjug)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Cavara presents names of new FB&H Constitutional Court judges (FTV/O Kanal)
• Dodik files criminal report against Dzaferovic; Dzaferovic: criminal report against me is ungrounded (AJB)
• Dzaferovic and Komsic vote against all five agenda items proposed by Dodik; Dodik: I will obstruct projects in FB&H in response to obstruction of projects in RS (RTRS)
• Russian Embassy: Russia regrets aspirations of certain Bosniak political representatives to join illegal anti-Russian restrictions (RTRS)
• Israeli PM Lapid reprimands Israeli Ambassador to Albania and B&H over his support to HDZ B&H’s proposal of electoral reform in B&H (Hayat)
• Covic: HR Schmidt should impose changes to Election Law and complete the process (Dnevni list)
• Ljubic: I expect that High Representative will make appropriate decisions which will enable legal implementation of indirect elections for House of Peoples, which includes legitimate political representation (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia
• Conference of Croatian ambassadors, consuls and military envoys to be held, improvement of status of Croats in B&H one of foreign policy priorities of Croatia (HRT1)
• President: Serbia has no right to issue indictments against Croat commanders (Hina)
• Croatian FM: I expect Russia to withdraw from Ukraine (Hina)
Montenegro
• New decision: Elections in Podgorica and Zeta on 23 October (CdM)
• Picula: Montenegro should decide where it wants to go – in the EU or in the orbit of the Russian-Serbian world (Nova M)
• Abazovic: Montenegro stands with the Ukrainian people (CdM)
• Abazovic: Montenegro continues to act in order to support the Ukrainian people for the sake of establishing peace and stability (CdM)
• Djukanovic: Montenegro stands by Ukraine and the brave Ukrainian people; Djurovic: Montenegro calls on Russia to stop hostilities (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• In order to start negotiations on chapters, constitutional amendments are needed that will include parts on other nations (Libertas)
Albania
• Russia’s note on the event in Gramsh, MFA: We acted according to the Vienna Convention, the Russian detainees did not request contact with them (Radio Tirana)
• Rama at “European Alpbach” Forum: The war in Ukraine, a chance to use green energy (Radio Tirana)
• Independence anniversary/ Xhacka: Proud of everything Albania has done for Ukraine and its people (Radio Tirana)
LINKS
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