United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 15 April 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced his visit to Serbia in talks with Vucic (B92/Politika/Novosti/RTS)
Vucic: There will be no exception for Easter (B92)
Vucic: Curfew from 5 pm on Friday, to 5 am on Tuesday (RTS/B92)
Patriarch: We must understand state effort, and also participate in liturgy (Beta)
EU continues to help Serbia in fight against coronavirus (Beta)
Joksimovic, EU ambassadors speak about fight against COVID-19 (Tanjug)
False state of Kosovo cutting off electricity under the corona veil (Novosti)
FoNet: No more e-mail questions to government pandemic team (FoNet)
In Serbia, another 408 cases, five more deaths (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

B&H CC to decide on 22 April on whether ban on movement of citizens younger than 18 and older than 65 due to coronavirus pandemic is violation of citizens’ rights (FTV)
Main Coordination Team of RS calls on citizens to act responsibly during upcoming holidays (ATV)
OSCE urges RS to withdraw 'fake news' decree-law (N1)
TC Civil Protection Crisis HQs wants to allow work of some shops in TC, while FB&H Civil Protection Crisis HQs deems cantons should not make decisions contrary to its orders (O kanal)
IMF’s report: B&H’s economy to drop by 5 percent this year (O kanal)
Izetbegovic: IMF loan is one fifth of funds we need to support B&H (FTV)
Dodik: There is no need for Komsic to be concerned about RS (ATV)
Hungary’s assistance will be distributed equally to Sarajevo and Banja Luka (BHT1)
In B&H 1110 infected, death toll 41, 253 recovered (N1)
Croatia

Croatia reported 37 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the national total to 1,741 (HRT)
Montenegro

Religious rites only without the faithful (RTCG)
Institute for Public Health confirms five new cases of coronavirus (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Government asks President Pendarovski to extend the state of emergency (Republika)
Pendarovski-Meta: Regional cooperation needed to tackle COVID-19 crisis (MIA)
Parliament to stay dissolved: Constitutional Court decides not to initiate procedure (Republika)
Hutchison: NATO setting up counter-hybrid support team in Macedonia (MIA)
Macedonia comes second according to coronavirus mortality rate compared to countries in the region (Republika)
In North Macedonia 66 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed, 1 person died, 12 patients recovered (Libertas)
Albania

Cakaj 'gathers' Albanian political factor in Balkans (ADN)
Rama: Good news, Brussels allocates 100m Euros for the reconstruction of Albania (Radio Tirana)
Criminal Code approved in Law Commission/Fines and sentences for violators of quarantine during infectious diseases (Radio Tirana)
In Albania 494 total COVID-19 cases confirmed, 24 victims (Tirana Times)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Fighting COVID-19 in Serbia is not a suppression of democracy (The Washington Times)
Congressman Engel and Senator Menendez: Trump Administration unbalanced between Serbia and Kosovo (EWB)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 14 April 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic speaks with Lajcak (RTS)
Vucic: I will discuss election date with politicians who said they will participate in them (TV Prva/Beta)
Joint battle of EU, Serbia in coronavirus-caused crisis (Tanjug/RTV)
Belgium grateful for support for returning its citizens (Tanjug)
Stefanovic: 157 police officers infected with coronavirus (RTS)
Djuric: Doctors and nurses to get jobs in Serb-majority areas in Kosovo and Metohija (TV Pink)
In Serbia 4,465 confirmed cases (RTS)
Demostat: US, EU stances on Kosovo diverging (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Central Election Commission confirms that local elections have to be announced by 4 May, unless changes are adopted to Election Law of B&H (Glas Srpske)
Radoncic, Dodik and Lukac meet and agree that part of Turkey’s humanitarian aid intended for RS will be given to B&H Border Police and police in two cantons in FB&H (BHT1)
B&H Fiscal Council reaches agreement on Letter of Intent for IMF (Dnevni avaz)
SDA Collegium welcomes agreement on IMF arrangement; Criticizes countries which send assistance only to one of B&H entities (Dnevni avaz)
Nelson, Sattler give support to B&H political leaders, drawing attention to importance of working faster, greater trust and more efficient action in times of crisis (O kanal)
Dodik announces police will not act in accordance with decree-law on ban on spreading of public panic (RTRS)
Dodik: New restrictive measures during holidays possible; RS representatives will not take part in joint meeting that OHR has called (ATV)
RS Crisis Headquarters prolongs restrictive measures until 27 April (RTRS)
RS: Movement outside of place of residence prohibited; Citizens must wear facemasks and gloves outdoors (BHT1)
Minister Seranic: Even when we alleviate measures, we will have to continue wearing masks, probably even during the summer and fall (Glas Srpske)
FB&H Civil Protection Crisis Headquarters adopts 12 new orders and measures against COVID-19 (BHT1)
HNC Civil Protection Crisis Headquarters orders restriction of movement of citizens outside their place of residence in HNC; WHC follows example (BHT1)
Team of Russian experts begins disinfection of hospitals in RS (ATV)
Migrants and refugees under intensified measures of medical supervision in order to prevent cases of COVID-19 (N1)
Croatian government continues actions towards construction of radioactive waste disposal site near border of B&H (RTRS)
A total of 1,083 tested positive for coronavirus in B&H (N1)
Croatia

Beros: We will consider easing restrictions in upcoming phase (HRT)
In Croatia, 54 newly infected, totaling 1704, six deceased patients (N1)
Montenegro

New measures in place for the next 7 days, says Djeljosaj (RTCG)
Hrapovic: Abolition of measures can be expected in the second half of May (Dnevne novine)
Montenegro reports 278 Covid-19 infections (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Pendarovski: National Security Council to decide on extension of state of emergency on 16 April (MIA)
Nationwide lockdown likely to be extended during upcoming Easter holiday (MIA)
Mandatory quarantine for citizens returning to Macedonia increased to three weeks (Republika)
In North Macedonia 54 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed, 6 patients died - 42 recovered (Alsat TV)
Albania

President Meta salutes the stance of the Council of Europe (Radio Tirana)
In Albania, 475 total COVID-19 cases confirmed, 24 victims (Tirana Times)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 10 April 2020

LOCAL PRESS

UN SC session on Kosovo and Metohija may be postponed but not canceled (Politika)
Brnabic sends greetings for Easter according to Gregorian calendar (RTS/Tanjug)
Vucic awards Dimcevski for personal heroism and skillful command (RTS/Tanjug)
Joint struggle between Serbia, Hungary against effects of coronavirus (Politika/Tanjug)
Swiss Embassy on measure to help Serbia fight COVID-19 (Beta)
Russian military experts disinfect three hospitals in Belgrade (Tanjug/Novosti)
EIB earmarks €700 million to help the Western Balkans fight COVID-19 (Tanjug)
Another 238 confirmed cases, five more deaths in Serbia (RTS)
Djuric: 38 patients with COVID-19 in Serb communities in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

IMF says it is ready to approve €330 million in assistance to B&H, but only after authorities in B&H reach agreement on distribution of those funds between two entities (RTRS)
Sattler signs additional €5 million of EU assistance to B&H (Dnevni avaz)
Airplane carrying medical equipment, disinfection materials and medical experts from Russia arrives to Banja Luka, two more airplanes to arrive on Thursday (RTRS)
Dodik: RS healthcare system has capacities to combat coronavirus (RTRS)
RS government adopts decree prescribing measure of direct price control in RS, as well as decree delaying payment of income and real estate tax, forest and fire protection fees, and certain RS and local taxes (RTRS)
Central Election Commission launches initiative for adoption of changes to Election Law, which would allow it to postpone local elections in B&H (BHT1)
HNC bans movement of citizens outside place of residence as of Friday (BHT1)
Some public areas in Banja Luka to be closed due to mass gatherings (RTRS)
Association of Forensic Experts decides they will not perform autopsies on victims of coronavirus (O kanal)
B&H citizens come from London at International Airport in Sarajevo on Thursday; Plane with 31 foreign citizens takes off from Sarajevo (BHT1)
Bus with 45 citizens of B&H arrives at border crossing Izacic on Thursday (BHT1)
New official data on the number of infected people with coronavirus in B&H (N1)
Croatia

Croatia to provide €5.6m to B&H to fight COVID-19 (Hina)
Thirty more residents of Split nursing home test positive for coronavirus (HRT)
Total of 1,495 people infected by Coronavirus in Croatia (N1)
Montenegro

Government bans coffee machines (CDM)
Institute for Public Health confirms three more coronavirus cases (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev, Mickoski in mandatory self-isolation after interview with coronavirus-infected journalist (MIA)
Filipche: Plans for easing of lockdown measures made when conditions in place (MIA)
Skopje’s Shutka prison detainee tests positive for COVID-19 postmortem (MIA)
Two new deaths and 48 newly infected with coronavirus in North Macedonia, a total of 711 people (Alsat)
Albania

Government to begin easing restrictive measures from next week (Tirana Times)
President Meta concerned over health of Presevo Valley citizens (ADN)
Kim: Proud to oversee the donation of US aid with medical equipment to Albanian health personnel (Radio Tirana)
In Albania 416 total COVID-19 cases confirmed, 24 victims (Tirana Times)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Heated Parliamentary Debate on Budapest-Belgrade Railway Mega-project (Hungary Today)
EU agrees on €500B of economic aid but no ‘corona bonds’ (Politico)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 8 April 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: Great importance of China’s support and assistance to combat coronavirus (RTS/Tanjug)
Serbia receives assistance from Turkey (RTS)
Defense Ministry: Russian teams disinfected over 150,000 square meters in Serbia (Beta/Politika)
Russian analyst: Serbia shifting direction (Beta/Nezavisimaya Gazeta)
SzS: Vucic continuing campaign, delaying donations (Beta)
Curfew from Friday through Monday (Tanjug/B92)
In Serbia 219 new cases and four deaths (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dodik: Experts say peak of epidemic in B&H will be reached at beginning of May (FTV)
Law on Mitigation of Negative Economic Consequences Caused by Coronavirus Pandemic submitted into parliamentary procedure (Hayat)
B&H CoM appoints members of delegation that will lead negotiations on potential credit loan agreements between B&H and IBRD (FTV)
IMF ensures crisis package for B&H worth USD 330 million; Dodik: This assistance is not operational because of inability to reach agreement between entities and FB&H cantons (RTRS)
Dodik: B&H Central Bank did nothing to help authorities, economy (FTV)
Dzaferovic: US and Slovenia to provide assistance to B&H (Oslobodjenje)
Italian Ambassador Minasi: Coronavirus epidemic is test for cooperation between EU and B&H, you should establish an umbrella crisis HQ at level of state (Nezavisne)
Kosarac on possible establishing of nuclear waste disposal at Trgovska Gora (O kanal)
New official data on the number of infected people with coronavirus in B&H (N1)
Croatia

EU member countries did not manage to come to an agreement on a plan for economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic (HRT)
Croatia postpones Zagreb Summit (HRT)
New official data on the number of infected people in Croatia (HRT/N1)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: Montenegro and Turkey together in fight against COVID-19 (CDM)
Police arrest person suspected of leaking list of persons infected with COVID-19 (CDM)
Confirmed coronavirus cases in Montenegro rise to 248 (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Dimitrov: Citizens to be cautious, state of emergency is fertile soil for fake news (MIA)
Pendarovski-Stoltenberg: Joined allied forces to curb COVID-19 pandemic (MIA)
Eighteen new cases of coronavirus in North Macedonia and 2 deaths (MIA)
Albania

Albania requests NATO aid in medical supplies (Tirana Times)
Synchronizing policies between Albania and Kosovo, an opportunity to save tourism this year (Radio Tirana)
Coronavirus cases rise again after Albania hit lowest number (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Serbia, coronavirus, and autocracy (Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 7 April 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Erdogan sends letter of support to Vucic (RTV)
Stefanovic: Forty-two police officers infected (TV Pink/Tanjug)
Ljajic: Pop-up hospital to open in Novi Pazar (TV Prva/Tanjug)
Joksimovic: Serbia buys 75 medical ventilators from EU funds (Tanjug)
Another 247 cases, in total 2,447 infected in Serbia (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

B&H Presidency returns draft of B&H budget for 2020 to B&H CoM (BHT1)
Dzaferovic: B&H CoM was tasked with drafting another B&H Budget proposal (FTV)
Dodik: Measure of 14-day quarantine for people who arrive from abroad key in preventing spreading of epidemic (BHT1)
Covic: Some, especially in Sarajevo, tried to abuse pandemic and make political profit on it (Srna)
Cvijanovic: Conditions met to adopt decree-laws on court proceeding deadlines and misdemeanors causing panic and riots during state of emergency in RS (RTRS)
EU Ambassadors to B&H, COMEUFOR, Head of EU Delegation issue joint statement regarding Coronavirus fight (Vecernji list)
Coronavirus to cut short deadlines from Election Law of B&H? (Nezavisne)
FB&H government adopts law on support for businesses affected by pandemic (N1)
Quarantine areas will be formed on all border crossings that are controlled by FB&H Civil Protection Administration (FTV)
In B&H 762 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (N1)
Croatia

EU defense ministers hold videoconference on COVID-19 (HRT)
In Croatia, 60 new patients, 1282 in total; Measures to be loosened (N1)
Montenegro

As of last night, six more people in Montenegro positive on coronavirus - 239 in total (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

US provides assistance to North Macedonia to respond to COVID-19 (MIA)
Twenty-nine new cases of coronavirus and 5 deceased (MIA)
Albania

Coronavirus measures, daily movement permit to be extended (Tirana Times)
Only 6 persons in Albania tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours (Radio Tirana)
Kim: Rama, Basha and Meta to unite! War is not won without discipline (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Heads of EU and Member State missions in Belgrade and Pristina welcome the appointment of Lajčák (EWB)
Russian Foreign Ministry calls on Kosovo to drop anti-Serbian measures (TASS)