Belgrade Media Report 5 February 2024
United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Monday 5 February 2024
LOCAL PRESS
• Brnabic: Now right time to request urgent UNSC session (TV Pink)
• Petkovic: Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija in a very difficult satiation, we will fight for an urgent session of the SC (RTS)
• Dacic: Kosovo issue of highest national and state interest (Tanjug)
• More concrete cooperation with Gambia in many fields (Tanjug)
• An introduction to a total exodus of the Serbian people? (Tanjug/B92)
• EU concerned over sudden closure of Serbia-run institutions in Kosovo (N1)
• France calls for immediate suspension of decision to ban dinar in Kosovo (N1/Politika)
• Zakharova: By protecting Kosovo, Serbia is protecting the center of Europe from total devastation (Beta/Politika)
• Brussels formally proposes including obligations from Ohrid in accession talks with Serbia (RFE/Beta/Novosti)
• Li Ming: Position of the Chinese side on Kosovo issue is consistent and clear. We firmly support Serbia’s efforts to protect its national sovereignty and territorial integrity (Politika)
• Former diplomat: No one believes Vucic anymore (Beta)
• Displaced Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija announce three-hour blockades (RTS)
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
• O’Brien delivers lecture at Sarajevo University, promising that USA will respond to any unconstitutional actions and will not allow malign actors to divide B&H; Expresses strong support for Schmidt, criticizes Dodik, Izetbegovic and Covic (O Kanal)
• O’Brien: We will respond to anti-Dayton and unconstitutional actions and will not allow malignant actors to divide this country (O Kanal)
• Dodik: Everything that O’Brien said in Sarajevo confirmed his subservience to Bosniaks in B&H and politics advocated by Sarajevo (RTRS)
• Dodik: O’Brien’s performance in Sarajevo is demonstration of arrogance and lack of ideas (ATV)
• RS politicians criticize O’Brien’s statements during visit to B&H (ATV)
• Niksic: There is no alternative to put policy of dialogue and agreement; O’Brien’s message demonstrates support to policy we have been advocating (Dnevni avaz)
• Parties of ‘Troika’ believe that highest officials of NATO and US recognized that there are pro-state forces in B&H that very responsibly and in no way populist lead key processes at different authority levels despite so many obstructions (Hayat)
• SDA reacts to O’Brien’s statements, criticizes Troika (FTV)
• Sebija Izetbegovic: Those informing O’Brien should have devised more convincing arguments against me (Dnevni avaz)
• EU approves funds for Western Balkans and its southern neighbors for safety of EU borders and solving of problem of illegal migrations; Minister Nesic says everything can be solved in line with constitutional competencies of B&H and entities (Nezavisne)
Montenegro
• We expect that the US will dedicate special attention to Montenegro, Zivkovic says (VoA/CdM)
• Ivanovic at the State Department: Strong US support for reforms on the European path (CdM)
• If strikes happen, state to face collapse (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Action Plan draft sent to Brussels, roadmaps to be adopted once conditions in place: Deputy PM (MIA)
• Kovachevski: Political parties belong to coalitions sharing same values (MIA)
• Leader wants AA to join opposition of ethnic Albanians, secretary-general says party has decided to run alone (MIA)
• Marichikj says no problems in functioning of caretaker government (MIA)
Albania
• Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Tajani gathers the heads of diplomacy of the Western Balkans in Rome (Radio Tirana)
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 5, 2024
UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 5, 2024
Albanian Language Media:
• German Defense Minister arrives in Kosovo (media)
• Osmani: CBK regulation is not against dinar and it does not mention it (media)
• Hovenier insists on postponing implementation of CBK regulation (media)
• Muja: No one is fueling the fire; some statements can be used for tensions (media)
• Kosovo citizens advised not to travel through Merdare (media)
• Feith: Kosovo should be careful, don’t make mistakes (Reporteri)
• Konjufca: Serbia poses a danger to our region and beyond (media)
• Gervalla in Rome with Western Balkans foreign ministers (Albanian Post)
• Zlatan Arsic acquitted of war crime charges (Koha)
• Gervalla meets Belgian Ambassador, focus on political situation (media)
• CEC: Signatures for dismissal of mayors in the north are being verified (Koha)
• Police begin investigations into posters with Radoicic in the north (media)
• Serbian police continue to mistreat Nikola Sandulovic’s family (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Stano: Concern growing in EU due to decision of CBK and police operations against Serbian entities (N1)
• Brnabic on request for extraordinary session of UN SC: We will fight with all diplomatic means (Beta, NMagazin, TV Pink)
• Dacic: Kosovo and Metohija issue of paramount state and national interest of Serbia (Tanjug)
• Hovenier after meeting Kurti: We hope to see postponement of Central Bank decision (Kosovo Online)
• China: Unilateral Pristina’s actions do not lead toward resolution of Kosovo issue (Tanjug)
• Self-determination Movement lists their January successes including ban on dinar (KoSSev)
• Zlatan Arsic acquitted (RTS, N1)
• Lawyers: Zlatan Arsic is a free man (Kosovo Online)
• OSCE: It is of crucial importance that rights of Kosovo Serbs are fully respected (Kosovo Online, media)
• Rohde: Unilateral measures only add fuel to fire, opposite of reducing tensions (Kosovo Online, KoSSev, social media)
• Simic: Serbs in Kosovo frightened by silence of international community, statements are not enough (Beta, Danas, TV Pink)
• Grenell on German officials’ reactions to latest Pristina authorities acts (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Chinese Ambassador to Belgrade: Solve Kosovo issue without double standards (Beta, NMagazin, Politika, KiM radio)
• Haziri: Government increased national sentiment, reduced European one among citizens (Kosovo Online, VoA)
Opinion:
• Palokaj: Kosovo is asked not to do what it has the right to do (Koha)
• Serwer: How to counter the Serbian world (media)
International:
• Kosovo Euro Rule, Closure of Belgrade-Run Offices, Draw International Criticism (Balkan Insight)
Read More →UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, February 5, 2024
Albanian Language Media:
• U.S., EU react to latest decisions by Kosovo authorities (media)
• Governor: This is a fight against money laundering and terrorism (Kallxo)
• German Defense Minister to visit Kosovo today (media)
• Kurti remembers Albanian civilians killed in Mitrovica North in 2000 (media)
• “Association current draft status creates room for Republika Srpska” (media)
• Kurti: First 100MW solar auction bidding process successful conclusion (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Displaced Serbs from Kosovo announced a three-hour blockade of the road in Rudare on Monday (euronews.rs, Kosovo Online)
• Petkovic: Serbs in Kosovo in a difficult situation; we ask for an urgent session of the UN SC (NMagazin, RTS, media)
• Tabakovic: Serbia cannot renounce the use of the dinar in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Vecernje Novosti, Blic)
• Serbian List: The Quint countries responsible for the moves that Albin Kurti makes without bearing the consequences (RTS)
• SNV again sent a request to Bishop Teodosije to schedule a national assembly (Danas, KiM radio, KoSSev)
• The Bishop of Raska-Prizren visited the Serbian people in Osojane to encourage them to stay (Tanjug, KiM radio)
• Dimitrijevic: The Pristina government destroying one of the last positive examples of coexistence (KoSSev)
• The new DSS adopts the Declaration on Kosovo, requests the state to declare the occupation of that part of the territory (Beta, NMagazin, RTS)
• Surlic: Amendments to Chapter 35 call dialogue and European integration into question (Tanjug)
• Office for KiM : “Post” workers detained in Gorazdevac, Kurti’s terror against Serbs continues (Kosovo Online)
• Post of Serbia: The arrest of our workers in Kosovo another in a series of attacks on Serbs (NMagazin, Beta)
• KP: Seized 4,000,000 dinars from the Post of Serbia pending the decision of the CBK (Kosovo Online)
• The Post Office in Ugljare robbed (KiM radio)
• HLC: Arsic found guilty of expulsion, robbery, burning property, and no direct evidence was provided (KoSSev)
• Serbian List: Radoica Radomirovic placed posters (KiM radio)
• Posters against Radoicic and the SL in the north of Kosovo (Danas, KoSSev)
• Reactions to acquittals in Slavko Curuvija case (Beta, N1, nova.rs)
International Media:
• US Slams Kosovo for Unnecessarily Raising Ethnic Tensions (Bloomberg)
• EU Council Formally Asked To Insert Recent Kosovo Commitments Into Serbia’s Accession Talks (RFE)
• ‘They hit me so hard I lost consciousness’: Serbian opposition politician tells of secret service ordeal (The Guardian)
• Rights Groups, U.S. Assail Serbian Court’s Acquittal Of Ex-Intelligence Officers In 1999 Murder Of Journalist (RFE)