Belgrade Media Report 8 June 2023
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Thursday 8 June 2023
LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic thanks India for supporting Serbia’s territorial integrity (Tanjug/RTV)
• Vucic: It’s clear we will have early elections; Brnabic: You have my resignation (B92)
• Vucic, Peach discuss developments in Kosovo and Metohija, region (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Serbia only sees KFOR as a legitimate armed formation in Kosovo and Metohija in accordance with UN Resolution 1244 (RTV/Tanjug)
• Drecun: Plan for de-escalation is introduction into a trap – for Belgrade to accept Kurit’s nothing (Tanjug/RTV)
• Petkovic conveys concerns for safety of Kosovo Serbs to German Ambassador (Tanjug)
• Hernandez: Cuba will always support the position that Kosovo and Metohija is part of Serbia (RTV/Tanjug)
• Opposition reacts to Vucic, Brnabic media conference (N1)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• PIC SB ends session and publishes Communiqué: Entities have no right to secede from B&H and only exist legally by virtue of B&H Constitution (NAP.ba)
• HR Schmidt hold press conference following PIC SB session: International community is determined to support B&H and those who play with secession will suffer consequences (AJB)
• Dodik describes PIC session as shady gathering of people who are falsely presenting themselves (ATV)
• Kovacevic says issue of RS property has been permanently resolved by Dayton Agreement (ATV)
• Mehmedovic criticizes Schmidt over stances on solving of state property issue (Hayat)
• Nesic and North Macedonian Minister Spasovski discuss help with B&H’s cooperation with Frontex and issue of foreign fighters (FTV)
Montenegro
• Jenca: Montenegro should continue on the path of progress in the effort to reach full membership in the EU (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Serbia and North Macedonia abolish road passenger and freight transport permits (MIA)
• Kovachevski brings three proposals to meeting table with Mickoski (MIA)
• Mickoski: VMRO-DPMNE not supporting constitutional amendments under current conditions, prepared to enter government with SDSM but not DUI (MIA)
• Kovachevski: VMRO-DPMNE not against constitutional amendments (MIA)
Albania
• President Begaj: Kosova authorities must be patient, listen and coordinate with strategic partners (Radio Tirana)
• Begaj with the Estonian counterpart: Integration of the Western Balkans, a guarantee to the stability in the region (Radio Tirana)
• Balluku: Cooperation between the countries of the Western Balkans and the EU, at the highest levels (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 8, 2023
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 8, 2023
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti: If there is compatibility, I can deepen my draft vision for Association (Reporteri)
• Albanian PM Rama submits draft on Association to Macron and Scholz (media)
• Hoxhaj: Rama is trying to help Kosovo, not damage it (Nacionale/Paparaci)
• Gashi to Rama: Only government of Kosovo is competent for Association (Koha)
• Bislimi: Belgrade wants Association as Trojan Horse, preparing way for partition (Koha)
• U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Robinson postpones visit to Kosovo (Nacionale)
• Kearns and Kurti talk about the need to de-escalate the situation (RTK)
• Ambassador Szunyog reiterates the EU’s call for return to dialogue (Reporteri)
• Mehaj talks to Clark about the latest situation and easing tensions (Klan)
• Kurti attends farewell reception for EULEX chief (media)
• “Vucic’s pretence coming out, surprisingly international factor trusts him” (Koha)
• AmCham in Kosovo calls on govt to take measures to lower tensions in north (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Serbs in northern Kosovo continue gathering (KoSSev, media)
• Petkovic: Kurti’s accusations of Belgrade no longer fly in West (Kosovo Online)
• Andric-Rakic, Petronic about situation in northern Kosovo, ‘lists of Serbs’ (Radio Mitrovica Sever)
• Vucic thanks India for supporting Serbia’s territorial integrity (Tanjug)
• President Murmu delighted to visit Serbia on her first trip to Europe (Tanjug, media)
• Vucic: There will be no transitional gov’t as long as I am president (Tanjug, media)
• Opposition reacts to Vucic, Brnabic public address (N1)
International:
• Turkey Likely to Take Command of NATO-led Force in Kosovo (Bloomberg)
• Kosovo’s Kurti Under Mounting Pressure Amid Quarrel with Western Allies (BIRN)
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 8, 2023
UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, June 8, 2023
Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti, Escobar deny claims of deadlines for proposals on situation in north (Koha)
• Escobar: For Euro-integration, Kosovo should give more autonomy to Serbs in north (media)
• Kurti replies to Escobar: Kosovo has not written a Draft for the Association (Express)
• U.S. Senators call for calm between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Kurti at Camp Belvedere: Amazing successes on law and order in north (media)
• Durmishi: We’ll never compromise with sovereign and territorial integrity (Koha)
• “Kosovo, not Kurti and Osmani, to pay price of breaking relations with US” (media)
• Begaj: Violence is not a solution, sovereignty is indisputable (media)
• Grenell: I’ve seen the consequences, it isn’t pretty (media)
• Vucic promises envoy he will convince Serbs to take part in elections (Koha)
• World Bank affirms Kosovo’s 3.7% GDP growth forecast for 2023 (SeeNews)
Serbian Language Media:
• PM Brnabic, President Vucic addressed public last night (N1, RTS)
• Vucic, Peach discuss developments in Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Drecun on plan for de-escalation, Pristina acts (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Grenell: Severe consequences for Kosovo if Kurti refuses US and EU demands (Danas, social media)
• Petkovic conveys concerns for safety of Kosovo Serbs to German ambassador (Tanjug)
• Srdjan Sentic appointed deputy Ombudsman in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• President of India visits Serbia (RTS)
International Media:
• Kosovo president open to new elections in Serb-majority municipalities (Reuters)
• Kosovo PM slams ‘Belgrade’s intrusion’, welcomes elections once ‘fascist militia’ brought to justice (France 24)
• US Balkan envoy urges Kosovo and Serbia to deescalate tensions or jeopardize progress toward EU (AP)
• US envoy urges Kosovo to grant Serbs autonomy (DW)
• Belgrade To Prod Ethnic Serbs In North Kosovo To Vote In Elections (RFE)
• To join EU, NATO, Kosovo needs to give Serbs more autonomy: U.S. envoy (tvpworld)
• EU, US want Serb-Kosovo spat resolved, demand new elections, dialogue (Euractiv)
• In North Kosovo, Expect the Expected (BIRN)
• Decades-old tensions drive escalating conflict in northern Kosovo (Courthouse News Service)
• Insights of an Adventurous Political Tour to Kosovo (Prishtina Insight)