LOCAL PRESS

Phone conversation between Vucic and Tanin (RTS)
Pompeo thanks Vucic for helping Americans get back home in the time of coronavirus (RTS/Politika/Tanjug/Beta)
Israeli President voices support to the people of Serbia (RTS)
Vucic hands over 13 ventilators for hospital in Novi Pazar (RTS/B92)
Vucic: The next two weeks will determine our destiny (B92)
Brnabic: Next two weeks crucial in fight against coronavirus (TV Pink/Tanjug)
Dacic receives letter of gratitude from German, French, British Ambassadors (Beta)
Ljaljic: Reciprocity worse than taxes (Beta)
Borrell: Lajcak will be able to move the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (RTS)
Jeremic: Idea of borderless Europe shaken, international solidarity scant (Beta/BBC)
In Serbia 2,200 infected, 58 deaths (RTS)
All migrants in Serbia quarantined (FoNet)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

FB&H introduces new measures regarding the coronavirus pandemic (Hayat)
Measure preventing citizens to leave their place of residence during weekends enters into force in RS (BHT1)
FB&H government annuls decision on distribution of budget funds intended for cantons, cities and municipalities (BHT1/Dnveni avaz)
Representatives of municipalities with Serb majority in FB&H express dissatisfaction with both annulled decision and new decision of FB&H government on distribution of funds (RTRS)
Sattler says EU will give B&H 80 million Euros of assistance during coronavirus situation (FTV)
Inzko publishes video message to citizens and authorities in B&H, says politicians must work together (Dnevni list)
Number of persons infected with Coronavirus in B&H increases (O kanal)
In RS 10 people has died so far and 304 people have been infected (N1)
Two people died in FB&H (N1)
Eighty-three B&H citizens arrive to Sarajevo by plane from Stockholm (RTRS)
Croatia

In Croatia, 40 more infected, one more died (HRT)
Montenegro

Data shows significant number of children infected with coronavirus in Montenegro (CDM)
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Montenegro rises to 223 (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Leave the vanities, politics must now have only two goals, saving lives and economic chance of surviving the crisis (Republika)
Szijjarto: I’m here on invitation from Mickoski, who asked for our assistance (Republika)
Szijjarto: North Macedonia to start EU accession negotiations by June (MIA)
Filipche: Out of 555 confirmed coronavirus cases, 52 are healthcare workers (MIA)
Three patients died from the coronavirus in North Macedonia overnight (Atlas TV)
Health Minister: We enter new phase in COVID-19 pandemic management process (MIA)

Albania

Measures to be loosened after Monday (Radio Tirana)
The number of people infected with coronavirus in Albania has increased to 377 (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Sassoli responds to speakers of WB parliaments (EWB, 3 April 2020)

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: We will withdraw the decision on informing, we do not want to cast a shadow on our work (RTS)
Djuric: No blockade of trucks (FoNet/Tanjug/RTV)
Two more planes with equipment purchased by Serbia arrive in cooperation with EU (Tanjug)
Another plane arrives from China with medical assistance (Tanjug)
Fourteen million masks shipped from China (RTS)
In Serbia 111 people tested positive, totaling to 1171 cases (RTS)
SzS: Government should introduce possible movement ban without blaming people (Beta)
Lawyers question legality of state of emergency in Serbia (FoNet)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Mandic to replace Radoncic at helm of coordination Body until CoM’s final decision (Dnevni avaz)
Novalic meets with Heads of Caucuses in FB&H HoR, presents plan of economic measures aimed at mitigating economic consequences of coronavirus pandemic (Hayat)
Dodik: Budget of B&H institutions will not be adopted due to the lack of assessment on fiscal revenues (RTRS/N1)
Foreign ambassadors compliment domestic leaders for functioning without blockades and quarrels in fight against coronavirus pandemic (EuroBlic)
RS Main Coordination Team thanks Serbian leadership for first shipment of medical aid delivered to RS in fight against COVID-19 (RTRS)
Croatia approves construction of nuclear waste disposal site regardless of B&H’s disapproval (FTV)
PIC: International community will assist B&H (Oslobodjenje)
Letter of intent towards IMF for quick financing to help battle COVID-19 approved (O kanal)
Covic with Ivantsov: Everything must be done in B&H to prevent the crisis from being prolonged (Nezavisne novine)
Roth calls on political actors to implement unity presented during coronavirus crisis in their everyday approach (FTV)
B&H sees new fatalities; number of patients 512 (N1)
Banja Luka City Crisis HQ passes new measures in fight against COVID-19 pandemic (RTRS)
Kosovo government abolishes one hundred percent tariffs on raw materials and products from B&H (BHT1)
Croatia

Police in Istria charge two with spreading false information about coronavirus (HRT)
In Croatia, 1011 infected with coronavirus, another person dies (N1)
Montenegro

The number of infected people with coronavirus in Montenegro 140 (CDM)
Employees in quarantine are entitled to full salary (Dan)
Republic of North Macedonia

Filipche: Health system prepared for larger number of patients (MIA)
Osmani-Varhelyi: North Macedonia granted access to EU Solidarity Fund (MIA)
Thirty new cases of coronavirus in North Macedonia, total 384 (MIA)
Albania

Manastirliu: Public and non-public educational institutions and nursery schools stay closed down until the end of pandemics (Radio Tirana)
US assisting Albania, donating laboratory equipment and tests to detect COVID-19 cases (ADN)
EU Delegation and US Embassy praise Albanian gov’t for repatriation of citizens (Tirana Times)
In Albania 277 total COVID-19 cases confirmed, 16 victims (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 1 April 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Djuric: Kurti did not abolish taxes (RTS/RTV/Tanjug/Beta)
The first death in the Serbian government of a coronavirus: State Secretary deceased (B92)
Another 160 cases, totally 1,060 infected (RTS)
Brnabic: Coronavirus Self-Checker available as of today (Tanjug/RTS)
Vekic: Citizens to go to healthcare centers as soon as they symptoms (RTS)
Temporary hospital at Belgrade Fairgrounds meets all conditions prescribed (Tanjug)
Kon: No serious reason to shut down Belgrade (RTS/Beta)
Constitutional Court to assess legality of state of emergency measures (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dzaferovic welcomes decision of EU to allocate funds for healthcare sector and support to economy of B&H (Fena)
First contingent of Serbia’s assistance to arrive to the RS (RTRS)
Domestic, regional politicians and analysts agree that EU failed test of solidarity in crisis caused by coronavirus pandemic (EuroBlic)
In B&H, over 440 confirmed cases of the virus corona (N1)
Authorities in Una-Sana Canton intensively work on preparation of isolation facilities for patients infected with COVID-19 in all municipalities (FTV)
FB&H cantonal hospitals face lack of equipment and test kits (BHT1)
Less than 3,000 COVID-19 tests have been carried out in B&H since start of coronavirus crisis (N1)
Names of those violating home isolation measures in the RS published (ATV)
Croatia

In Croatia 963 infected: 96 new cases (N1)
Drive-in testing launches in Zagreb (Hina)
Montenegro

National Coordination Body of Montenegro extends application of temporary measures (CDM)
In Montenegro 14 people under the age of 18 infected with coronavirus (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Pendarovski: Situation remains complex, future developments depending on pandemic duration (MIA)
Osmani: Crisis teams to be set up in local communities to deal with Covid-19 (Republika)
Government presents second set of measures to cushion blow from coronavirus (MIA)
Mickoski: The set of measures is a huge disappointment for the citizens (Republika)
One patient died; 25 new cases registered in North Macedonia (MIA)
Albania

Albania confirms 16 new coronavirus cases (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Export of medical items to Serbia triggers debate (The Hindu)

LOCAL PRESS

Várhelyi to Vucic over phone: 15 million Euros to Serbia for urgent needs (RTS)
Brnabic: Our experts to consult with Chinese experts on all future decisions (Tanjug/Beta)
Joksimovic: Cooperation with Hungary in overcoming consequences of COVID-19 (Tanjug)
Stefanovic: 80,000 Serbian citizens in self-isolation (TV Pink/Tanjug)
The worst day for Serbia – seven more deaths (RTS)
Kon: 24 hour curfew only if situation gets much worse suddenly (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Cvijanovic: Veto of Bosniak Caucus on decision to declare state of emergency stops effective fight against pandemic (ATV)
RS Crisis Headquarters adjusts measures and prolongs them until 13 April (ATV)
RS MoI denies controlling entrance from Federation of B&H to RS (ATV)
Data of B&H Association of Independent Trade Unions show more than 7,000 workers in B&H got laid off because of coronavirus pandemic (BHT1)
B&H receives assistance in fight against Coronavirus (RTRS/N1/FTV)
In B&H 379 persons infected, three people die (O kanal)
RS: 201 people positive for COVID-19, 11 recover (ATV)
Croatia

Government temporarily closes six maritime border crossings for passengers (HRT)
Croatia reports 77 new cases (Hina)
Montenegro

Djukanovic congratulates Pendarovski on NATO accession (CDM)
Coronavirus epidemic in Montenegro is under control, says Mugosa (CDM)
Montenegro reports 14 new coronavirus cases (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Stoltenberg: NATO membership means that a potential attack on North Macedonia triggers response from the whole Alliance (MIA)
Filipche: Linear growth of new cases encouraging (MIA)
Albania

Government expects unemployment to rise (Top Channel/ADN)
Number of infected in Albania reached 243 (Top Channel)
Head of Microbiology lab gets infected with COVID-19 (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Serbia’s coronavirus state of emergency measures draw eyes of human rights groups (AP)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 30 March 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Within 3 to 4 days, the decision on a 24-hour curfew (TV Prva/B92)
Brnabic: State ready for more rigorous measures if necessary (TV Pink)
For the past 24 hours, three people died, another 44 infected, a total of 785 cases (RTS)
Joksimovic: Another 90 tons of medical equipment arrive at Belgrade airport (Tanjug)
Godfrey: Washington sending aid to Serbia (Beta)
First part of aid from UAE arrives (Tanjug)
Djilas’ open letter to Vucic (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

RS parliament declares state of emergency due to Coronavirus pandemic (BHT1)
Bosniak Caucus in RS CoP announces invoking of vital national interest in case of no compromise over declaration of state of emergency (BHT1)
Dodik: Bosniaks obviously want to obstruct decision on state of emergency in RS; Cvijanovic: Decision will be delayed due to the announcement by Bosniaks (ATV)
Inzko welcomes readiness of Cvijanovic to use emergency authority in interest of public health; US Embassy: We support authorities which are undertaking short-term, legal and appropriate measures in order to face the current pandemic (Oslobodjenje)
Dodik: EU’s assistance should have been in form of respirators, medical equipment (ATV)
RS registers 38 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday (ATV)
B&H introducing new measures as number of patients rises to 353 (N1)
Federation of B&H Crisis HQ declares movement ban between 20:00 and 5:00 hours (BHT1)
Srebrenik Crisis HQ declares quarantine for settlement Srednja Spionica (BHT1)
Croatia

There are 77 new cases of coronavirus in Croatia, a total of 790 patients; Police are turning away all the vehicles trying to enter Zagreb (Hina)
Croatia receives 12.5 tons of medical equipment from China (Hina)
Dragan Vasiljkovic released from prison, expelled from Croatia (Hina)
Montenegro

Montenegro asks NATO to provide medical equipment (CDM)
Six more test positive for coronavirus (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

North Macedonia becomes NATO’s 30th ally (MIA)
Filipce: 26 new cases of coronavirus registered, 1 deceased, 9 patients cured (MIA)
Mickoski: We are facing a disaster and the government acts as if they are not from around here (Republika)
Albania

Eleven new COVID-19 cases reported by Ministry of Health (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Turkey welcomes North Macedonia NATO membership (Daily Sabah)