UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 8, 2022
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 8, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• PM Kurti for RFE: Situation in north could have escalated into armed conflict
• PM Kurti interview with La Repubblica
• Joseph: Open Balkan undermines the Berlin Process (Deutsche Welle)
• Turkish President Erdogan to visit Balkans next month (Klan Kosova)
• Two deaths and 331 new cases with COVID-19 in last 24 hours (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Pristina claims licence plates not topic of 18 August meeting, Escobar, journalists think otherwise (KoSSev)
• I expect Brussels meeting to be constructive, Brnabic tells Hill (Tanjug)
• Peoples’ Party (NS) demands extraordinary Parliament session on Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Russian journalist declared ‘persona non grata’, banned from visiting Kosovo (KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
• Serbian List: Do not fall for Pristina’s provocations (RTS)
• Rohde responds to Petkovic (Kosovo Online)
• Insulting graffiti and swear-words written in Donja Brnjica (Radio KIM)
• State Secretary Starovic: Kurti’s behaviour pattern unlikely to change (N1)
• Selakovic attends inauguration of new Colombian President (N1)
• Global Firepower: Serbia ranks 61 on Global Firepower index (N1)
• Brnabic: SNS consultations on PM designate, gov’t to begin on Monday (N1)
International:
• ‘Spying’ Russian Journalist Rejected by Kosovo Back in Serbia (BIRN)
• ‘It’s a privilege to represent my country’: Dua Lipa is made an Honorary Ambassador of Kosovo by President Vjosa Osmani (Daily Mail)
• Wild east: five Balkan countries to discover for your next holiday (The Guardian)
• Bangs for Bucks: Serbian Arms Dealer Makes Mockery of US Sanctions – Again (BIRN)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Broken dreams’ of Murdered Women Become Mural in Prishtina (Prishtina Insight)
• Joksimovic: EU approves 223.7 million Euro grant for projects in Serbia (N1)
• Saudi Arabia approves meat, milk imports from Serbia (Tanjug)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 8, 2022
• Borrell confirms invitation to Vucic and Kurti to discuss way forward (Koha)
• Kosovo pledges no talks with Serbia two topics that activated the north (Koha)
• PM Kurti says “criminal gangs” behind attack against police in north (media)
• EULEX chief condemns attack against police in the north (media)
• Interior Minister Svecla visits Bernjak border crossing (Kallxo)
• Russian reporter Daria Aslamova declared persona non grata in Kosovo (media)
• Kandic: Regions where Delic operated, over 2,000 civilians killed (RTK)
• Dua Lipa Thrills Fans Performing on First Day of Sunny Hill (BIRN)
• ‘Sunny Hill was kept where it belongs’, Kurti receives Dua Lipa (euronews.al)
• 618 new cases, one death from COVID-19 in last 24 hours (media)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 5, 2022
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 5, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• US proposes a bipartisan bill to fight corruption in the Western Balkans (VoA)
• Vetting in the judiciary heading toward finalisation (RTK)
• 1,266 new cases with COVID-19 in last 24 hours (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic: Operation Storm is no myth, we do not dream of revenge, we want peace (N1)
• UNS and DNKiM says Radio Gorazdevac journalists should be protected from threats (Radio KIM)
• Appeal of Rexhep Selimi on detention dismissed (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic thanks Pinter for support and understanding position of Serbian people (Kosovo Online)
• “What is Serbian List really doing in Kosovo institutions?” (RFE)
• Vlajic: There are no grounds for filing criminal reports against Serbs on barricades (Kosovo Online)
Belgrade Media Report 5 August 2022
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Friday 5 August 2022
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic at the commemoration of Operation Storm: We’ll never be silent again (B92)
• Djilas says those responsible for Operation Storm need to be punished, people need reconciliation (Beta)
• Pusic: It’s a shame Operation Storm still a challenge in Croatia-Serbia relations (Danas)
• Selakovic thanks Cuba for consistent support for preservation of Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity (Tanjug)
• Petkovic receives in farewell visit Hungarian Ambassador (RTV/Tanjug)
• Stefanovic: Allow free movement for all car plates (Beta)
• Borrell: Kosovo must implement agreement on ZSO (Beta/Politika)
• UNOPS support for green transition, empowerment of women in Serbia (Tanjug)
• Stano: Vucic, Kurti to meet with Lajcak in Brussels on 18 August (Tanjug)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Izetbegovic: We stopped OHR’s attempt to impose bad solutions (Dnevni list)
• RS public condemns statements of Dzaferovic about RS being descendant of genocidal policies (RTRS)
• China’s Ambassador in B&H thanks Dodik for supporting Beijing on Taiwan issue (N1)
• B&H CC extends deadline for RS to deliver response to motion for constitutional review of RS law on medicinal products and medical devices (Glas Srpske)
• RS, Serbia jointly honor Serb victims in Croatian operation Oluja: No one prosecuted for crime (Glas Srpske)
• Dodik: Serbia is my country, I have no other identity (N1)
Croatia
• PM issues message for Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day (Hina)
• Medved’s conveys greetings for Day of Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving (HRT1)
Montenegro
• Reward or punishment: What awaits Abazovic because of his “brave” deed with SPC (Nova S)
• The initiators for the dismissal of the government lack five votes (RTCG)
• Abazovic: I don’t know if the government will survive 19 August, I know that politically some of those who initiated the no-confidence procedure will not survive (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• We will have the fastest integration in the EU, claims Kovacevski (Channel 5)
Albania
• One million euros to Ukraine/ Marchenko: We are grateful to the government of Albania (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 5, 2022
• EU confirms meeting between Kurti and Vucic on August 18 (Koha)
• Borrell: Association, verdict on Decani Monastery should be implemented (media)
• Osmani and Hovenier talk about latest developments in Kosovo (RTK)
• LDK won’t cooperate with Serbian List to bring down Kurti government (media)
• AAK against cooperation with Serbian List to bring down Kurti (Kallxo)
• SL reacts to Hovenier about Radoicic: Don’t make lump sum assessments (Koha)
• What’s behind the renewed tensions between Serbia and Kosovo? (AlJazeera)
• Assembly adopts law on funding of political parties; EUSR welcomes it (media)
• Svecla: We welcomed another 146 Afghans in Kosovo today (media)
• Blakaj: Delic suspected of killing 2,000 civilians in Kosovo (Klan Kosova)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 4, 2022
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 4, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• PM Kurti responds to opposition criticism for postponing reciprocity (media)
• Haradinaj slams government for “lack of vision” (Ekonomia Online)
• Hoxhaj asks Kurti: Will you create an Association with latest actions in north? (Express)
• U.S. Ambassador Hovenier meets Serbian List leader Rakic (media)
• “Govt violating Brussels agreement; we’ll join opposition in bringing it down” (Klan)
• “The greater the resistance to the Association, the closer it gets to Serbian idea” (RFE)
• 1,155 new cases with COVID-19, one death (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• “Neither concrete solutions, nor consultations with local population” (Radio KIM)
• Vucic and Stoltenberg: Dialogue must continue, peace of vital importance (N1)
• Rakic tells US Ambassador crisis needs to be resolved while respecting needs of Serbs (TV Most)
• Brnabic, Chinese Ambassador discuss economic cooperation (N1)
• Petkovic responds to Rohde (Kosovo Online)
• Bilcik congratulates speaker, deputy speakers: More pluralism in Parliament (N1)
• Vucic: New government to be formed by end of month (Tanjug)
• Selakovic travels to Cuba, Colombia, Costa Rica, Venezuela (Tanjug)
• Selakovic: Firm support of Cuba to preserving territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia (Kosovo Online)
• Covid-19: 18 new cases in Serbian areas (Kosovo Online)
Opinion:
• N1: Crisis in Kosovo in the grip of Russian propaganda
International:
• Serbia is playing with matches again (Foreign Policy)
• Don’t Let License Plates Start a New War (Washington Post)
• Croatian Serb War Victims Hope Compensation Claims Finally Pay Off (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• DokuFest Bringing Global Award Winners to Kosovo’s Prizren (Prishtina Insight)
• Rame Lahaj International Opera Festival Finishes Second Edition on High Note (Prishtina Insight)
Belgrade Media Report 4 August 2022
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Thursday 4 August 2022
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic, Stoltenberg discuss situation in north of Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/Politika/Novosti/RTS/RTV)
• Serbia supports one-China policy; Continuation of outstanding overall relations between Serbia, China (Tanjug/RTV/Novosti)
• Serbia committed to strengthening cooperation with Latin American countries (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: Why hasn’t Germany done anything regarding ZSO? (Tanjug/RTS)
• Ukraine withdraws soldiers from KFOR (Beta/Novosti)
• Orlic: I’ll follow Vucic’s policy with all my heart and soul (TV Happy/Beta)
• Commissariat: Serbia remembers ethnic cleansing during Croatia’s Storm Operation (Beta)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Reactions to statements of Izetbegovic keep on coming; Reactions by Vucic, OHR, UK Embassy, Russian Embassy to B&H (ATV)
• Dodik welcomes signing of Fundamental Agreement between Montenegro and Serbian Orthodox Church (Nezavisne)
• Balakar explains which new provisions of Election Law imposed by Schmidt will be implemented in 2022 General Election process (Dnevni avaz)
• Cavara: HR threatens Croat people; Someone wants to enable Islamization of B&H (Glas Srpske)
• UK Embassy: UK remains strongly committed to security and stability of B&H and whole Western Balkans (N1)
• Bilde demands investigation of threats of Turkey towards B&H (FTV)
Croatia
• Granic: Schmidt will be up to historic responsibility that guarantees protection of vital interest of Croat people in B&H (Vecernji list)
• Anti-War protest: Crimes in Storm Operation are responsibility of us all (Hina)
• Defense Minister won’t attend President Milanovic’s reception (Hina)
Montenegro
• Montenegro signs fundamental agreement with SPC without presence of media and without previous announcement; DPS, SDP, Liberal Party, Social Democrats and Democratic Union of Albanians announce no-confidence motion in Abazovic’s government (Nova)
• Krivokapic: Act was authorized in Belgrade, that’s why we couldn’t change a thing; Abazovic: Prosecute – I won’t move an inch (CdM)
• PM: They want north Kosovo situation in Podgorica (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Arsovski: Intra-party consultations on referendum question still ongoing, as soon as a decision is made, we will present it publicly (Republika)
• VMRO-DPMNE: Kovacevski is ignoring the people by running away from the referendum (Republika)
• Kovacevski says a referendum would only be going backwards (TV Kanal 5)
• Zakharova: Skopje’s donation of tanks to Kiev a big mistake of Macedonian authorities; MFA and MoD: Macedonia makes decisions independently (Republika)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 4, 2022
• Stoltenberg talks with Vucic, makes clear NATO readiness to intervene (media)
• Germany supports Kosovo’s reciprocity towards Serbia’s documents (media)
• Serbia, Kosovo officials to meet in Brussels after tensions (BIRN)
• Serbian List: We want to bring down the Kurti-led government (media)
• Lladrovci calls on PM Kurti to dismiss Rakic (media)
• Ukraine begins to withdraw troops from Kosovo (media)
• Kosovo’s draft security strategy under fire (BIRN)
• U.S. Ambassador welcomes inauguration of Commercial Court (media)
• Justice Minister meets Prishtina Mayor, discuss domestic violence (media)
• Reactions against Delic’s election as vice president of Serbian Parliament (Koha)
• “Specialist Chambers jeopardizing Veseli’s constitutional rights” (Epoka)
• Montenegro govt faces no-confidence vote over church deal (BIRN)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 3, 2022
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, August 3, 2022
Albanian Language Media:
• Kosovo Interior Minister Svecla’s interview with RTK
• Serb civil society calls for peaceful solution to crisis in the north (media)
• Bundestag defence committee to discuss situation in Kosovo today (DW)
• Latvian Defence Minister: Tensions in Kosovo initiated by Serbia and Russia (Zeri)
• Serwer: Kosovo acted rightfully, the ball is now with Serbia on September 1 (Nacionale)
• CDHRF: Any backing down from reciprocity will damage Kosovo (media)
• Working group formed for bureau for verification and confiscation of wealth bill (media)
• Two deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours in Kosovo (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Media: Residents in northern Kosovo report mistreatment by special police units
• Petkovic: Serb arrested in Rudare released (KoSSev)
• Drecun on Kurti and violence against Serbs (RTV, Tanjug)
• Serbian Orthodox Church and Montenegro sign Fundamental Agreement (N1, BETA)
• Kisnica: Name is Serbian covered with black paint, “KLA” board set up (Radio KIM)
• Serbian List reacts to Svecla’s statements (Kosovo Online)
Opinion:
• Op-ed by Veton Surroi: We, the residents of Mitrovica North (Koha)
• Operation Storm Anniversary Highlights Croatia and Serbia’s Bitter Mistrust (BIRN)
International:
• Kosovo War-Era General Elected as Serbian Parliament Official (BIRN)
• Montenegro Govt Faces No-confidence Vote Over Church Deal (Balkan Insight)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Radio Gorazdevac on fake news: “How did another armed conflict in Kosovo break out on TV Pink?”
Read More →Belgrade Media Report 3 August 2022
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Wednesday 3 August 2022
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic: Worst case scenario was barely avoided two days ago in Kosovo and Metohija, we were one step away from a catastrophe (RTS)
• Vulin: Peace in B&H is not Izetbegovic’s decision, but it is the decision of Serbia and the RS (Novosti)
• Petkovic: Pristina’s police have hijacked ambulance, driver kidnapped (Tanjug/RTS)
• Petkovic: Driver of the ambulance Spahic released (Tanjug/RTS)
• Botsan-Kharchenko says EU, US are behind Belgrade-Pristina conflict (Beta/ Solovyov Live)
• Serbia cherishes spirit of friendship with North Macedonia (Tanjug/RTS)
• Parliament speaker, seven deputy speakers elected (N1/Beta)
• Traffic at Jarinje, Brnjak and Merdare administrative crossings functioning smoothly (Beta)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik criticizes Izetbegovic’s statement about Serbia and Russia (RTRS)
• Novakovic Bursac: Izetbegovic’s inflammatory statements are in function of the desired Unitarian Islamist state (ATV)
• Stevandic: Izetbegovic is man of war who advocates conflicts (RTRS)
• Nesic: Izetbegovic, leave Serbia and Russia alone, deal with Bosniak people (RTRS)
• Vukovic: Izetbegovic is cancer of the Balkans; Other politicians from RS opposition comment on Izetbegovic’s statement (RTRS)
• Russian Embassy: Russia brings peace and even short-sighted politicians should realize that (RTRS)
• US Embassy says it will not take part in new talks on changes to Election Law (Patria/Dnevni list)
• Novakovic Bursac: There is no intention to improve election process but to complicate things and to discipline a certain political corps led by SNSD as well as some Croat parties in the FB&H (ATV)
Montenegro
• Abazovic and Porfirije secretly signed the Agreement between Montenegro and the SPC (CdM)
• DPS to launch motion of no confidence in government today: Agreement with SPC to be suspended immediately after new government election (CdM)
• Kovac: We will not change the Fundamental Agreement, it will be signed in the first half of August (RTCG)
• Bastijancic: Djukanovic made a new decision – elections in 13 municipalities and Podgorica on 23 October (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• North Macedonian state and church delegation visits Prohor Pcinjski monastery (MIA)
Albania
• Tirana praises Pristina ‘maturity’ in latest Serbia ‘provocation’ (Tirana Times)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, August 3, 2022
• Osmani: Preparations by Serbia to escalate Western Balkans and Kosovo (BBC)
• Kurti: Russia is helping Serbia to destabilize the Balkans (RTK)
• Kurti-Vucic meeting on August 18? (RTK)
• Vucic: I will go to Brussels; I expect nothing from the meeting (media)
• “Moderation is needed, Pristina is doing well by postponing measures” (RTK)
• Kosovo Police issues statement rebutting reports in Serbian media (media)
• Police stops vehicle in the north suspected of smuggling medicaments (media)
• A Dispute Over License Plates Is a Reminder of Deep, Ongoing Kosovo-Serbia Tensions (Time)
• Kosovo: Why is trouble flaring between Serbs and Albanian-led government? (BBC)
• How to stop Serbia spat from spiraling out of control (atlanticcouncil.org)
• How pro-Russian and Russian Telegram channels spread misinformation about Kosovo (The Geopost)
• Hoxhaj: September will shift talks to dialogue on mutual recognition (Nacionale)
• Kosovo Issues Emergency Energy Measures Ahead of Winter (Prishtina Insight)
Belgrade Media Report 2 August 2022
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Tuesday 2 August 2022
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic receives Botsan-Kharchenko (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Selakovic: Serbia, Cyprus support each other on key issues (Tanjug/Beta/RTS/RTV)
• Petkovic: We were one step from serious conflict (Beta/Politika)
• Jarinje, Brnjak border crossings open, traffic back to normal (N1)
• Stano: EU has invited Belgrade, Pristina to Brussels meeting (Tanjug)
• Kremlin fully supports Belgrade in dispute with Kosovo (Beta)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik reacts to developments in Kosovo: We in RS fully and strongly support Serbian leadership in their efforts to deescalate situation (ATV)
• Izetbegovic: We have friends in the east and west and together we will direct HR Schmidt in regards to solutions for B&H Election Law (FTV)
• Becirovic: Covic and HDZ must realize there will never be third entity in B&H (Dnevni list)
• Other FB&H politicians comment on reaching of solution to B&H Election Law (BHT1)
• Cubrilovic: RS parliament paves way for return of RS competences, we demand only what belongs to us (Glas Srpske)
• Bakalar: Technical changes are implementable although it is not wise to change the rules during a match (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• Plenkovic: It seems to me that events in Kosovo were less tense than it seemed (Hina)
• Plenkovic: Croatian government always stands by Croats in B&H, I hope next moves of HR Schmidt will ensure at least minimum equality of Croats after elections (Hina)
Montenegro
• Abazovic rejects all objections to Agreement with SPC (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Mickoski: Because of Pendarovski and Kovacevski, what we had to negotiate with Bulgaria is now on the negotiating table with entire EU (Kanal 5)
Albania
• The tense situation in the north of Kosovo; Rama reacts for the first time (Radio Tirana)
• Sanchez supports the integration of Albania into EU (Radio Tirana)
• President Begaj telephone conversation with Vjosa Osmani: Open issues between Kosovo and Serbia can only be addressed through dialogue (Radio Tirana)
• Xhacka: The government of Kosovo showed maturity, it has the right to exercise its sovereignty in every cm of the territory (Radio Tirana)
• Nikolla reacts to the tensions in the North of Kosovo (Radio Tirana)
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