Press: Kosovo status, Red Star scandal

The Sunday papers are focusing on perhaps the two subjects most hotly debated in Serbia: Kosovo and football. BLIC – "Godfather racketeers godfather" is about the criminal underworld scene in Serbia, recently marked by numerous cases of extortion. Press: Kosovo status, Red Star scandal As for the southern province, Balkan Fund for Democracy Director Ivan Vejvoda says, "Kosovo is already partitioned". Police continue their sweep with arrests right in the heart of Serbia's football, in the wake of serious injuries suffered by one of MUP's officers last weekend. "Prosecution wants detention for Red Star executives", the daily reports. Looking at the New Year show business gigs, the paper says, "Cola and Ceca the most expensive", and explains that Zdravko Colic and Svetlana Raznatovic are most likely to cash in the largest amounts of money as they perform on December 31. VECERNJE NOVOSTI – "They have your number…" says a headline to an article dealing with protection of citizens' personal data. A successful pun in Serbian announces an interview with the Russian patriarch, Alexei II, which in English reads only as, "The bells toll for KiM", i.e., Kosovo and Metohija. "Money laundering paradise" is about a parallel investigation conducted into the dealings of Serbia's football clubs, this time looking into allegedly irregular transfers of players. Aleksandar Vlahovic, a Democrat lawmaker, is interviewed in a revealing piece under the headline, "I am a former ladies' man". GLAS JAVNOSTI – The newspaper is announcing its Kosovo special on the front page, "Kosmet – dialogue or war". A look at Serbia's troubles from a different era, and a headline claims, "Churchill men deposed Prince Pavle", about the March 27, 1941, coup in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Turning to culture and show business, the new manager of the National Theater Predrag Ejdus says, "Art needs freedom", while veteran folk singer Miroslav Ilic surprises his audiences in an article headlined, "I listen to folk artists the least". KURIR – Organized crime, MUP's specialized department and unit UBPOK, steal the tabloid's front page: "Kolesar decided on Sartid". The article alleges that former disgraced Djindjic cabinet associate, Nemanja Kolesar, was the one who decided to sell the Smederevo factory to U.S. Steel, and that UBPOK has the details. The Gorazdevac free-for-all is explored under the headline, "Ruecker beats people who show curiosity", and quotes a local Serb who claims that the UNMIK chief's security hurt him. POLITIKA – The daily is dedicating its Sunday issue to a light theme: the New Year preparations, and says, "Squares sold out". But it also carries two articles on Kosovo: "Troika does not recommend further steps", and "Kostunica: the most important thing is for the UN SC to support Russian stance". "Red Star executives interrogated", is the latest on the football scandal. PRESS – Finally, the tabloid also dwells on the Red Star arrests, and dubs the MUP action, "Football Saber!!!". No less than three exclamation marks are emphasizing the headline that refers to Operation Saber, launched in the wake of the Djindjic assassination. As for Serbia's politicians, the daily writes about them under a telling headline, "All Serbian politicians' manipulations".

Press: Kosovo status, Red Star scandal

As for the southern province, Balkan Fund for Democracy Director Ivan Vejvoda says, "Kosovo is already partitioned".

Police continue their sweep with arrests right in the heart of Serbia's football, in the wake of serious injuries suffered by one of MUP's officers last weekend. "Prosecution wants detention for Red Star executives", the daily reports.

Looking at the New Year show business gigs, the paper says, "Čola and Ceca the most expensive", and explains that Zdravko Čolić and Svetlana Ražnatović are most likely to cash in the largest amounts of money as they perform on December 31.

VEČERNJE NOVOSTI – "They have your number…" says a headline to an article dealing with protection of citizens' personal data.

A successful pun in Serbian announces an interview with the Russian patriarch, Alexei II, which in English reads only as, "The bells toll for KiM", i.e., Kosovo and Metohija.

"Money laundering paradise" is about a parallel investigation conducted into the dealings of Serbia's football clubs, this time looking into allegedly irregular transfers of players.

Aleksandar Vlahović, a Democrat lawmaker, is interviewed in a revealing piece under the headline, "I am a former ladies' man".

GLAS JAVNOSTI – The newspaper is announcing its Kosovo special on the front page, "Kosmet – dialogue or war". A look at Serbia's troubles from a different era, and a headline claims, "Churchill men deposed Prince Pavle", about the March 27, 1941, coup in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

Turning to culture and show business, the new manager of the National Theater Predrag Ejdus says, "Art needs freedom", while veteran folk singer Miroslav Ilić surprises his audiences in an article headlined, "I listen to folk artists the least".

KURIR – Organized crime, MUP's specialized department and unit UBPOK, steal the tabloid's front page: "Kolesar decided on Sartid". The article alleges that former disgraced Đinđić cabinet associate, Nemanja Kolesar, was the one who decided to sell the Smederevo factory to U.S. Steel, and that UBPOK has the details.

The Goraždevac free-for-all is explored under the headline, "Ruecker beats people who show curiosity", and quotes a local Serb who claims that the UNMIK chief's security hurt him.

POLITIKA – The daily is dedicating its Sunday issue to a light theme: the New Year preparations, and says, "Squares sold out".

But it also carries two articles on Kosovo: "Troika does not recommend further steps", and "Koštunica: the most important thing is for the UN SC to support Russian stance".

"Red Star executives interrogated", is the latest on the football scandal.

PRESS – Finally, the tabloid also dwells on the Red Star arrests, and dubs the MUP action, "Football Saber!!!". No less than three exclamation marks are emphasizing the headline that refers to Operation Saber, launched in the wake of the Đinđić assassination.

As for Serbia's politicians, the daily writes about them under a telling headline, "All Serbian politicians' manipulations".