Belgrade Media Report 7 June 2023
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Wednesday 7 June 2023
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic tells Lajcak, Escobar time for Pristina to fulfil its obligations (Beta/Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Escobar speaks from Belgrade: Immediate de-escalation (B92)
• Vucic, Hokanson discuss regional peace, stability (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Petkovic: Kurti must be stopped in his aim to cause fire in Kosovo and Metohija (RTV/Tanjug)
• Osmani submits to OSCE plan for normalization of situation in northern Kosovo (Beta/TV Telma)
• Zakharova: Comparing Belgrade-Pristina agreements with Minsk agreement is wrong (Beta/RIA Novosti)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• RS parliament discusses Proposal of Resolution on Protection of Serbs in Kosovo and Territorial Integrity and Sovereignty of Serbia; Stevanovic: RS parliament sent clear message to leadership of Serbia that it has full support of the RS in protecting territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia (RTRS)
• SDS submits amendments to Resolution on Kosovo; Part of RS opposition argues that Kosovo issue was discussed in the RS parliament because of the vote in the CoE by which Kosovo received support of B&H (BN TV)
• Putin awards Dodik for contribution to development of cultural and humanitarian ties between Russian Federation and B&H (RTRS/ATV)
• Situation in HNC regarding formation of new government becomes more complicated after DF’s decision to leave bloc with SDP and NiP and remain in opposition (Nova BH)
• PIC SB starts two-day session in Sarajevo (Hayat)
• Von der Leyen tells authorities in B&H and highest elected officials of B&H that she insists on implementation of reforms they committed themselves to when B&H received status of candidate for EU membership at end of 2022 (O Kanal)
• Cvijanovic: Von der Leyen’s letter was sent to wrong address (Srna/RTRS)
• Chairwoman Kristo with EEAS’ Makovec: Compromise and consensus are key to further progress of integration process (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• Rise in APT cyber-attacks on Croatia’s infrastructure detected (Hina)
Montenegro
• Milatovic with Popa: Through dialogue with political subjects, I showed neutrality, necessary appointments in the judiciary (CdM)
• Knezevic: We extend a hand to Bosniaks and Albanians, we are ready to put a moratorium on the issues that divide us (TV Adria)
• DPS: Serbian leadership harms Montenegro’s sovereignty (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• EP calls for national consensus on EU integration towards goal of meeting criteria for EU membership by 2030 (MIA)
• Osmani: Decade of EU membership of Western Balkans, namely certain countries including North Macedonia (MIA)
• Marichikj: EU chance definitely missed if constitutional amendments not adopted (MIA)
Albania
• Tabaku, meetings in North Macedonia with a focus on the European integration of the region (Radio Tirana)
• Albania, Germany and France sign financial agreement to support electricity sector in Albania (Radio Tirana)
• Cuci signs the agreement with the head of FRONTEX for border operations: We guarantee human rights (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 7, 2023
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 7, 2023
Albanian Language Media:
• Sanctions awaiting Kosovo if Kurti says no (Albanian Post)
• Murati: If sanctions were to be discussed, they should be against Serbia (Koha)
• Ceku: Kurti will very soon have an answer for all (Koha)
• Stoltenberg: Violence is setting back Kosovo and the entire region (Koha)
• Haradinaj: We have votes to initiate motion against Kurti government (media)
• Abdixhiku to Abbott: Kosovo’s clash with allies, strategic deviation (media)
• Selimi: Lajcak, Escobar to report if Kosovo approved de-escalation plan (media)
• Peci: See you in isolated and bankrupt Kosovo (media)
• Raci: Hard to believe Kurti will be on list with Radoicic, Dodik (media)
• Fried: The government of Kosovo abused the trust of the USA (RFE)
• Unknown assailants attack two persons in their vehicle in Zvecan (media)
• Govt adopts Sovereign Fund bill; Kurti: The core of our economic sovereignty (Telegrafi)
• Rasic says not whole state of Serbia should be blamed for war crimes in Kosovo (Koha)
• LVV’s Atic meets PDK’s Peci: Northern municipalities will become citizens’ (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo, Albania governments to meet on June 14 (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Citizens in northern Kosovo continue protesting (Radio KIM)
• Lajcak: A long conversation with Vucic, an urgent political solution to the current crisis needed (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Lawyers of two Serbs arrested at Jarinje on May 31 file appeal against detention measure (KoSSev)
• North Macedonia FM submits to OSCE plan for normalisation of situation in N. Kosovo (Beta, N1)
• Liturgy in Leposavic: Bishop Teodosije called for peace; Gazeta Express: Inspires Serbs to violence (KoSSev)
• Dacic: Unity and political stability top state and national interest (Tanjug)
• Serb from northern Kosovo in detention in Belgrade, charged with urging Serbs to leave Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Petkovic meets Gori, discusses situation in northern Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
International:
• Kosovo president open to new elections in Serb-majority municipalities (Reuters)
• Kosovo Eyes Consequences as Deadline for US, EU Demands Approaches (BIRN)
• US, EU considering sanctions against Kurti if situation in north escalates (Euronews.al)
• Behind the Renewed Troubles in Northern Kosovo (Crisisgroup.org)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 7, 2023
Albanian Language Media:
• Escobar warns of consequences if international proposal for situation in the north is not accepted by Wednesday (Koha)
• Escobar: US-Kosovo ties are strong (Euronews)
• Lajcak told opposition consequences Kosovo will have from tensions in north (Koha)
• Lajcak, Escobar ask Serbian List to take part in new elections (RTK)
• Hovenier: De-escalation in north and new elections (Koha)
• Guerot: Situation in north worrying, stop divisive rhetoric (Telegrafi)
• Mehaj and Abbott talk about security situation in north (RTK)
• Kurti meets Australian ambassador, discuss Kosovo-Serbia relations (Koha)
• British MP slams US and EU for response to tensions in north (Euronews)
• Bislimi’s advisor: When will intl community react to Serbia’s obligations (media)
• Serbs in southern municipalities do not mind Kosovo police and flag (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:
• Vucic: Time for Pristina to meet its commitments (Tanjug, media)
• Escobar: Whenever we talk to Kurti and Bislimi, they only want to talk about Serbia (KoSSev)
• Escobar on A/CSM: It will be formed; the only question is who will form it and how long we have to wait (KoSSev)
• Lajcak to Serbian List: Serbs to participate in new elections in the north (Kosovo Online, Twitter)
• Serbian List representatives reiterated the demands of the Serbs to Escobar and Lajcak (Kosovo Online, FB)
• Escobar: The crisis in the North a failure of the political leadership of both sides (KoSSev)
• There are voices in the Serbian community that need to be heard, read the letter from the civil sector, said Escobar (KoSSev)
• Vucic and Brnabic to address public today (media)
• Mijacic: Kurti was late for the meeting with Lajcak and Escobar because of football (Danas, N1, Beta)
• Zakharova: Comparing Belgrade-Pristina agreements with Minsk agreement is wrong (Beta, N1)
• CCIS President: Region ready to become part of common EU market (N1, Beta)
International Media:
• EU and US Envoys with Requests for Kosovo Government (Prishtina Insight)
• Minister: Kosovo open to new elections in municipalities hit by unrest (Reuters)
• Will the United States Abandon Kosovo? (BIRN)
• Reporting on the Special Court from a distance (Kosovo 2.0)
• Albanian ‘terrorists’ in Milosevic’s prisons (Kosovo 2.0)
• Kosovo c-bank reopens competition for governor (See News)