Belgrade Media Report 2 June 2023
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Friday 2 June 2023
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic from Chisinau: Serbia is an independent country that makes its own decisions (B92)
• Vucic to Borrell: Return to dialogue by Pristina a priority (Tanjug/Politika)
• Vucic thanks Macron for supporting Serbia on Kosovo and Metohija developments (Tanjug)
• Dacic: No one will be on Pristina’s side if it defies entire world (Tanjug/RTV)
• Drecun: Serbs in north Kosovo to keep protesting until situation is resolved (RTS)
• Grbovic says there will be no negotiating with Vucic (Vreme/Beta)
• Borrell: 3 clear demands – new elections, participation of Serbs and ZSO, otherwise there’ll be consequences (Tanjug)
• KFOR took off helmets; Wounded Serb in serious condition (B92)
• Condition of arrested Serb more stable, concerns for his safety remain – lawyer (Tanjug)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• ‘Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa Enclaves’ and UN Secretary General Guterres to discuss charges against Serbia and reparation 7 June, after judgement to Stanisic and Simatovic proves Serbian leadership involvement in war in B&H (Nova BH)
• Delegations of ruling parties meet in Mostar and express satisfaction over their progressing cooperation; They form task force to amend B&H Election Law (FTV/Nova BH)
• Lendo: B&H Election Law is very important for B&H and it should have been passed long time ago; When HR Schmidt intervened regarding authority formation, everything went wrong (Hayat)
• Konakovic speaks about GLOBSEC meeting and messages conveyed by EC President: EU in not conveying empty messages and they truly showed they want to make step forward in cooperation with the countries of the Western Balkans (Oslobodjenje)
• Becirovic with COWEB delegation; Becirovic underlines EU and NATO integration as strategic goals (Dnevni avaz)
• Cvijanovic attends Summit of European Political Community; She meets Vucic, Orban, Golob etc. at margins of the Summit: She tells Vucic that RS firmly stands by fraternal Serbia, its leadership and Serb people in Kosovo (RTRS)
Croatia
• Chinese Ambassador to Croatia: China must protect its integrity just as Ukraine protects its (HTV)
Montenegro
• Milatovic had a series of bilateral meetings: Expressed strong support for Montenegro’s European path (CdM)
• Milatovic: The government should be pro-European, there was no discussion about undesirables in it (CdM)
• Ibrahimovic in Brussels: After the elections on June 11, to move towards the formation of a pro-European government (CdM)
• Radulovic: NATO guarantor of stability in conditions of uncertain security situations (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovachevski: Our goal is EU membership by 2030, political decisions await (MIA)
• PM: EU enlargement considered as common need (MIA)
• Kovachevski-Metsola: EP strongly supports continuation on European path (MIA)
• Kovachevski-Recean: United Europe to ensure safe and stable future (MIA)
• Kovachevski: German Chancellor reaffirms Germany’s strong support for N. Macedonia’s EU integration (MIA)
• Kovachevski – Zelensky: North Macedonia on the right side of history, continues to support Ukraine (MIA)
• Kovachevski says elections in regular term (MIA)
Albania
• PM Rama meets Serbian President in Moldova (ADN)
• Threatening absurdity in the north of Kosova must be put an end; It needs to be resolved side by side with the democratic world (Radio Tirana)
• Novak in the Assembly of Albania: Peace and security in Europe depends on what she referred as the Western Balkans (Radio Tirana)
• Tensions in Kosova/ Begaj: Malicious actors seek destabilization of the region; Novak: Kosovo-Serbia peace should be achieved (Radio Tirana)
• NATO Summit, Xhacka: Full support for KFOR, unprovoked attacks in the north of Kosovo (Radio Tirana)
• “Defender Europe 23” was a concrete example that NATO and allies are stronger together (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 2, 2023
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 2, 2023
Albanian Language Media:
• Kosovo Assembly discusses situation in north (media)
• Osmani met British Foreign Minister Rishi Sunak (media)
• Lajcak and Escobar next week in Kosovo (media)
• Osmani describes meeting with Vucic: He was whining, complaining, and lying… (Koha)
• Gervalla: We showed we are open to early elections in the north (Nacionale)
• Bujar Osmani: As OSCE chairman, I join the call for new elections in the north (Reporteri)
• Von Cramon demands investigations of those who attacked NATO soldiers (RTK)
• Svecla visits police in north of Kosovo: Sovereignty is unalienable (media)
• Mayors resign in July, Osmani declares elections which are held in late August – this is the international plan to calm the north (Albanian Post)
• Hoxhaj: Serbia policy on Kosovo doesn’t have to do with people but territory (media)
• Events in the north, Gabriel Escobar’s post under question (Albanian Post)
• Kimberly West selected Specialist Prosecutor (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Hospital director: Condition of Dragisa Galjak still serious (Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: “Hunting lists for Serbs reveal fascist character of Kosovo government” (N1, BETA)
• Professors entered secondary school to get documentation in Zvecan, request school to be freed (KoSSev)
• Rajovic: Kosovo police does not allow Trepca miners to do their job (Radio KIM, N1, BETA)
• Drecun: Serbs in north Kosovo to keep protesting until situation is resolved (Tanjug)
• Daniel Fried to VoA: Kosovo government caused crisis, Washington is furious (N1, Danas)
• Senator Murphy: “If PR wants to argue, Congress should make a decision on whether we’re ready for this ride”; Kurti again about elections (KoSSev, RFE, media)
• Peci on crisis in northern Kosovo, possible resignation of new mayors (KoSSev)
• KiM radio: Petrovic and Obrenovic were detained before the start of the riots in Zvecan (gracanicaonline.info, media)
• Lawyer: Condition of Dusan Obrenovic more stable, but I am still concerned about his safety (Tanjug)
• Strpce and Gracanica sent messages of support to Serbs from the north of Kosovo (Kosovo Online, KiM radio)
Opinion:
• Janjic: New Kosovo elections to calm the situation, send Kurti into opposition (Beta, N1)
International:
• Kosovo Leaders Agree to New Elections in Restive North (BIRN)
• Democracy Digest: Hungary troops attacked in Kosovo (BIRN)
Humanitarian/Development:
• Plenty of Work Ahead to Improve Children’s Well-being in Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 2, 2023
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 2 , 2023
Albanian Language Media:
• Borrell: We have three clear demands (RTK)
• France and Germany demand new elections in the north (RFE Albanian)
• Kurti: Stop violence until new elections in north (media)
• Rama thanks Macron and Scholz for meeting with Osmani and Vucic (media)
• Hovenier: Kurti has not changed his mind about the U.S. demands (RTK)
• Kurti: More concerning than international sanctions, fascist militia in north (Koha)
• Kurti receives phone call from three U.S. senators (media)
• Several Kosovars arrested by Serbian authorities; Kosovo Foreign Ministry: Don’t travel through Serbia (media)
• COMKFOR congratulates soldiers: You prevented the clash that would lead to civilian casualties (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:
• Day 8th of crisis in northern Kosovo, requests to hold new elections (RTS, media)
• Gatherings in northern Kosovo continue, demands remain the same (KoSSev, media)
• Vucic: It is increasingly clear who is responsible for problems in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Dacic: No one will be on Pristina’s side if it defies entire world (Tanjug, media)
• Arsenijevic, Aktiv on remarks Pristina officials use about protesters in northern Kosovo (Radio KIM, social media)
• Two Serbs from central Serbia arrested at Jarinje sent to one month detention (Kosovo Online)
• Albanians protest in Mitrovica South following call for “March for the North” (N1)
International Media:
• Kosovar President Open To New Elections In Areas Of Northern Kosovo Where Clashes Occurred (RFE)
• Macron, Scholz call for new elections in tense northern Kosovo districts (France24)
• Kosovo crisis: France, Germany call for new elections (DW)
• Kosovo’s Kurti says mayors must work in offices, will not back down (Reuters)
• Standoff in Tense North Kosovo, as Serb Protests Continue (BIRN)
• Violence in northern Kosovo: The United States’ failed bet on Serbia (ecfr.eu)
• Kosovo Journalists Left Unprotected in Violent Protests in North (BIRN)
• Kosovo Holds Serbian Citizens for Weapons Possession Amid Protests (BIRN)