“The US Embassy in Belgrade requires the provision of media monitoring and press clipping services,” the document says.
US officials expect to have access to a database containing full transcripts of major news programs, morning shows and interviews over a period of at least three months.
“Please note that the embassy requires the ability to search a comprehensive database of transcripts of these programs using keywords at its discretion, and not a database compiled from excerpts related to a specific set of keywords specified in advance,” the US embassy emphasizes .
The agency is interested, among other things, in “clipping” (selection of publications) of print media, television channels, radio stations and online media using keywords and topics, including “US Embassy”, “US Ambassador”, “NATO”, “Ohio National Guard”.
Previously, the American agency had already requested services to monitor content in Serbian media.
At that time, the diplomatic mission showed interest in such issues as Serbia’s relations with the United States, the European Union, Russia, China, Ukraine, as well as topics related to NATO.
Political scientist Yuri Svetov, in a conversation with RT, suggested that the United States is thus preparing for manipulation in the upcoming elections in Serbia.
“I think that preparations are underway to intensify the pressure on Serbia, on the Serbian leadership.
That is, they study trends in order to understand what needs to be pressed, if necessary, to arrange something like a third round in the presidential elections.
And the goal is for all Balkan states to join both the European Union and NATO,” the expert noted.
USAID previously planned to conduct three public opinion surveys and three sets of focus groups in Serbia to learn about public attitudes toward U.S. assistance programs.