Belgrade Media Report 23 May 2023
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Tuesday 23 May 2023
LOCAL PRESS
• Serbia fully committed to reform process, EU membership (RTS/RTV/Politika/Tanjug)
• Dacic: There was no pronounced pressure on Serbia (RTV/Tanjug)
• Borrell: Either EU or Russia (FoNet)
• Dacic thanks Eswatini for Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty (RTV/Tanjug)
• Lajcak: Discussions to continue again in weeks to come (Tanjug/Politika)
• Support of UNICEF through expert assistance to youth (Tanjug/RTV)
• Giaufret: Cooperation between institutions, civil society key to Serbia EU path (Beta)
• Situation in north Kosovo extremely difficult – former N. Mitrovica mayor (TV Pink)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Konakovic attends FAC meeting and EU Foreign Ministers – Western Balkans Foreign Ministers informal meeting in Brussels (BHT1/RTRS)
• Konakovic speaks to media after FAC session; EU member states are unanimous that EU enlargement should be accelerated and that enlargement to the Western Balkans is one of EU priorities (Oslobodjenje)
• Dodik meets with Patrushev in Moscow (ATV/BHT1)
• Dodik’s interview: I will convey message to Putin that DPA has collapsed so strongly that the big question is whether it exists at all (ATV)
• Varhelyi: Allies of Brussels do not travel to Moscow; Sattler: Dodik’s visit to Russia opens path to isolation of B&H (RTRS/BHRT)
• Viskovic on criticism of Dodik’s visit to Russia: EU, world officials also go to Moscow (Nova BH)
• Helez and Heappey discuss issues important for Euro-Atlantic integration of B&H (FTV)
• B&H Delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly attends plenary session of 69th Spring Session of NATO, meets US Congressman Turner (Oslobodjenje)
• US Ambassador addresses IGES Conference; Ambassador underlines that USA firmly stands by B&H on the path to EU and NATO (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia
• FM: It’s crucial for W. Balkans to align with EU foreign and security policy (Hina)
Montenegro
• Biden congratulates Milatovic: Use the moment to implement reforms necessary for EU membership (CdM)
• DIK confirms: 15 lists in election race (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Osmani: Strategic determination needed over accelerated EU integration for region (MIA)
• Osmani – Varhelyi: EU to remain fully committed to faster integration of Western Balkans (MIA)
Albania
• Rama: “Defender 2023” for the second time in Albania, a special privilege for the Albanian Armed Forces (Radio Tirana)
• Begaj: Albania, a stabilizing factor in the Balkans (Radio Tirana)
• Assembly delegation participates in the Spring Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 23, 2023
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, May 23, 2023
Albanian Language Media:
• Konjufca: No Association without Serbs returning to institutions (Koha)
• Kurti: Judicial and prosecutorial system must be freed from political influence (Koha)
• Gervalla: The region doesn’t need another Republika Srpska (media)
• Krasniqi: Elected mayors will exercise their mandate according to law (media)
• New mayors of northern municipalities expected to swear in this week (RTK)
• EULEX on swearing-in of mayors: We are on standby 24 hrs to react (Front Online)
• Citaku: This government acts as a weak administrator of our taxes (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Radio Gorazdevac: House of a returnee in Vitomirica demolished despite Supreme Court ruling in his favour (Radio Gorazdevac, KoSSev, Kosovo Online)
• US Senators: Good faith should be a demand of negotiations, while joint action is key to the implementation of the agreement (KoSSev)
• Dacic: There was no pronounced pressure on Serbia (Tanjug)
• Former North Mitrovica mayor: Situation in north Kosovo extremely difficult (Tanjug, TV Pink)
• KP: Three minors arrested for shooting in Ugljare (Kosovo Online)
International:
• UK Ambassador Urges Kosovo to Draft Statute for Association (BIRN)
Humanitarian/Development:
• From the fields of Nivokaz (Kosovo 2.0)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, May 23, 2023
• Murphy: Association will lead to mutual recognition (RFE)
• Kurti: We have strengthened partnership and alliance with USA (media)
• Borrell: Tensions and mutual provocations have to reach an end (media)
• Mehaj met with US Senator, discuss about advancements of KSF (Euronews)
• Abbott: Vucic’s statement that Kurti plans to expel Serbs from north is ridiculous (Kallxo)
• Kosovo towards completion of genocide lawsuit against Serbia (media)
• Balkan Countries Host ‘Immediate Response’ NATO Exercise (BIRN)
• Witness at Thaci Trial ‘Found Body of Victim of Kosovo Guerrillas’ (BIRN)