Belgrade Media Report 27 March 2023
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Monday 27 March 2023
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic: “They planned a bleak fate for our people”; “We will save Serbia” (B92)
• General Romano: Serbia, NATO cannot forget the past, but are nevertheless moving forward (Beta)
• Stano: The first steps to start the implementation of the agreement from Ohrid in the coming days (RTS)
• Macron: Serbia-Kosovo agreement a major step forward, needs to be fully implemented right away (Beta)
• Member of European Parliament: Serb List’s refusal to run in election contravenes Feb. 27 agreement (Beta)
• The countries of the Quinte expressed their regret that the Serbian List is not participating in the elections (RTS)
• Jeremic: Referendum on EU Plan is only way to prevent high treason (Danas)
• Right-Wing supporters block traffic in front of the government for an hour (Danas)
• Defense Minister says Kosovo events high risk for Serbia (Beta)
• Office for KiM: Serbs are not legitimate targets, greater protection is necessary (RTS)
• Vucic meets with Hungarian Prime Minister in Belgrade (Beta)
• Serbia opens a consulate in Minsk – honorary consul Zivorad Smiljkovic (RTS)
• Declaration on cooperation of green parties of W. Balkans signed in Sarajevo (N1)
• Djilas: The party’s mission – Serbia’s membership in the EU (N1)
• Vucic: Major changes in global politics will change the dynamics of Serbia’s relations with the EU (RTS)
• Dacic: Sanctions against Russia possible if economy, citizens start suffering (Kurir)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Milanovic attends ceremony marking 31st anniversary of formation of 103rd brigade of Croat Defense Council Derventa (O kanal)
• RS officials criticise Croatian president’s visit (N1)
• Dodik’s Cabinet: NATO’s annual report is unilateral (ATV)
• Dodik: March 26 of every year is a difficult, sad and painful date for all Serbs (RTRS)
• ‘The Eight’ and HDZ B&H signed agreement on distribution of positions in FB&H Government, names of candidates for ministers to be submitted by March 28 (O kanal)
• Lendo on agreement of HDZ B&H and ‘The Eight’: Signatories obviously plan to ignore FB&H Constitution (O kanal)
• Niksic: I believe HR Schmidt will react in case FB&H VP Lendo (SDA) decides not to sign decision on appointment of FB&H Government (Face TV)
• EUD: EU calls on RS to withdraw draft amendments to RS Criminal Code (Dnevni list)
• Varhelyi calls RSNA’s decision step in wrong direction (BN TV)
• Dodik says RS Government was forced to pass decision to terminate cooperation with US and UK diplomats in B&H as “they were imposing problems on RS for 20 years” (ATV)
• US, UK Embassies: Decision to terminate contact with US and UK diplomats is one more step down dangerous path Dodik has chosen (N1)
• Becirovic: It is high time for Putin’s vassal to get united response of West (FTV)
• Dodik, Russian Embassy comment on Becirovic’s statement regarding RS’ decision to break off relations with US, UK diplomats (ATV)
• Members of RS ruling coalition support decision on termination of contacts with US and UK diplomats (ATV)
• RS opposition parties criticize RS Government’s decision to terminate contact with US and UK diplomats (BN TV)
• HDZ B&H leader Covic comments RS Government’s decision to terminate communication with US, UK diplomats, says everyone has right to make their own decisions (Glas Srpske)
• Niksic: RS Govt. decision will not influence cooperation with UK and US (Face TV)
• Milorad Dodik announces anti-LGBT legislation in RS (O kanal)
Croatia
• PM comments following two-day European Council meeting (HRT)
Montenegro
• Associations of Montenegrins from Kosovo: Diaspora should vote for Djukanovic (CDM)
• Djukanovic: I expect no less than 40,000 new votes, Milatovic’s statement unfounded and without any cover (CDM)
• Montenegro supported sanctions for the commander of the Moscow police, the Taliban minister… (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• DUI holds Central Presidency meeting – establishes “European front” (Telma)
• Party reactions to DUI initiative for “European front” (Alsat M)
• Petrovska: North Macedonia to donate 12 Mi-24 Helicopters to Ukraine (Alsat TV)
• Kovachevski-Chollet: North Macedonia, credible partner of EU and US, model of successful resolution of open issues (MIA)
• Spasovski-Meyer: North Macedonia-US cooperation to intensify in the upcoming period (MIA)
• Osmani meets ambassadors of EU member states (MIA)
Albania
• President Bajram Begaj receives the President of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen (Radio Tirana)
• The President of Austria: We will enhance economic cooperation! We encourage Albania to develop reforms! (Radio Tirana)
• Rama: Kurti has taken important steps in the normalization of relations with Serbia (Radio Tirana)
• Begaj receives Prime Minister Kurti, Ohrid agreement must be fully observed (Radio Tirana)
• Kurti meets Speaker Nikolla (Radio Tirana)
• Head of Freedom Party receives Kurti, the dialogue with Serbia should have the support of all political factors (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 27, 2023
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, March 27, 2023
Albanian Language Media:
• Leaders pledge to bring justice for war crimes in Kosovo (RFE)
• Kurti: Serbia must face its criminal past in Kosovo (Klan Kosova)
• Van der Bellen: Ohrid agreement, cornerstone in process of normalising relations (media)
• CEC certifies candidates for elections in the north (Reporteri)
• EU regrets that Serbian List didn’t use right to take part in elections (RFE)
• Abazovic: European proposal, a good solution (Reporteri)
• Molliqaj: What is Kosovo gaining from the Ohrid agreement? (Nacionale)
• Constitutional Court judges will not undergo vetting (RTK)
Serbian Language Media:
• Brnabic: We will never forget NATO aggression (Tanjug)
• Serbian President, Patriarch say keeping peace important (N1)
• Greece remains on its stance not to recognize Kosovo, supports agreements from Brussels and Ohrid (Tanjug)
• Jeremic: Referendum only way to prevent treason of Kosovo (BETA, Danas, KoSSev)
• Trajkovic: ”The price for CSM (ZSO) is an independent Kosovo” (Slobodno Srpski, NMagazin, Beta, Danas)
• Vucevic: Serbia must stay at negotiating table in Kosovo talks (Tanjug)
• Slavic family house broken into in Lepina, near Liplljan (Radio KIM)
• Vucic: Serbia, Hungary to set up strategic council (TV Pink, Tanjug)
• Hill: The issue of the Albanian minority in Serbia is exclusively the issue of the state of Serbia (Beta, NMagazin, N1)
• President of the EKF: The Kosovo karate delegation received instructions from the government not to participate in the European Championship (KoSSev, insidethegames)
Opinion:
• Janjic: No more buying time in Kosovo; The time of SL has passed; Serious political cleansing ahead (N1, KoSSev)
International:
• Wider Europe Briefing: The Obstacles Still Remaining To A Serbia-Kosovo Deal; EU Steps Up Military Aid To Georgia, Moldova (RFE)
• Kosovo prevented from competing under flag at EKF Senior Championships in Spain (insidethegames.biz)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 27, 2023
• Quint statement on local elections scheduled for April 23 (media)
• Kurti: Agreement with Serbia is de facto mutual recognition (Koha/Klan)
• PDK: As opposition, we will commit to protection of constitutionality (RTK)
• AAK: Drafting of anti-constitutional laws becoming a norm (Koha)
• Prosecution gives details about fire at Institute of Forensic Medicine (media)
• Kurti: Serbian forces destroyed bodies in an attempt to destroy the truth (Koha)
• LDK: The government is punishing the municipalities of Kosovo (RTK)
• Trajkovic talks about life threats she is receiving (Koha)
• Albanians in Kosovo protest EU proposal to establish Union of Serb Municipalities (Anadolu Agency)
• Right-Wing Serbian parties protest agreement with Kosovo on anniversary of NATO bombing campaign (RFE)
• Athens assures Belgrade it will not recognize Kosovo (Anadolu Agency)