Belgrade Media Report 9 August 2021

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United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 9 August 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Drecun: Difficult challenge for the US, unless it is an agreement (TV Tanjug)
Djuric: Bunker mentality winning in Pristina (Tanjug)
Zaev: Our peoples have the same path (Politika)
Vukanovic: Vucic restraining Dodik at Germany’s order (Danas)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Izetbegovic says HR Schmidt should not meet with RS officials outside institutions (O Kanal)
Dodik says meeting with Schmidt will not be held unless all political parties agree on it (O Kanal)
Sarovic says he wants to believe EU, PIC and Schmidt are willing to work on creation of better atmosphere (N1)
Stevandic says unity of RS parties must not be threatened (N1)
Unity of ruling and opposition parties in RS is limited only to struggle against decision Inzko imposed and it does not include other political issues (Glas Srpske)
Radoncic says Dodik will not intimidate Bosniaks, notes it would have been better had Inzko imposed prohibition of genocide denial sooner (Dnevni avaz)
RS opposition parties reject Dodik’s idea bout concentration government in RS (Oslobodjenje)
Cubrilovic: Bosniak Caucus at RS CoP wants to minimize and put aside whatever RS has done (RTRS)
Zvizdic assumes post of B&H HoR speaker, says HR’s decision was good ground for stopping hate speech (Oslobodjenje)
Participation of B&H AF in NATO peace missions brought into question due to political crisis in B&H? (BHT1)
Egrlic, Cengic, Cenic disagree on whether B&H should join Open Balkans initiative (Oslobodjenje)
Two initiatives for connecting regional market of Balkans currently in focus one being Open Balkans other being Berlin Process continuation (N1)
Prosecutor’s Office of B&H asks for launching of proceedings against Croatian war commanders (RTRS)
Croatia

Croatia receives B&H’s request for transfer of proceedings against army officers (Hina)
Milanovic calls Bosnian Prosecution’s letter of request sabotage (Hina)
Montenegro

BIA approves the turncoats to return to ANB positions (Dnevne novine)
Albania

Minister departs towards Voskopoja as new fire starts in Albania; Harsh punishment for arsonists (ADN)

Belgrade Media Report 6 August 2021

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United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 6 August 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: We have US support for Open Balkans initiative (Tanjug/RTV)
Stefanovic: Serbia continues to lead a balanced defense policy (RTS)
Mustafa Ceric’s five advises to Christian Schmidt (Politika)
Bilcik: Serbia to stop glorifying war criminals (N1/RFE)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dodik’s announcement that there might be meeting with Schmidt after all causes reactions of RS opposition (FTV)
Vukanovic says RS opposition should not make any deals with Dodik as his policy is devastating primarily for Serb people in B&H and RS as a whole (FTV)
Borenovic: By attending meeting, opposition did not support Dodik, but right not to accept imposed solutions (Dnevni avaz)
Dodik says he will meet Schmidt only if all Serb parties agree on that (RTRS)
Source says Vucic complimented Sarovic at meeting in Belgrade; Analysts Soja, Topic argue Vucic made influence on Dodik to change stance on holding meetings with Schmidt (EuroBlic)
Komsic: Dodik went to Belgrade to complain to Vucic, but since he did not receive support for his actions, Dodik decided that he would meet with Schmidt (N1)
Komsic and Dzaferovic warn that Dodik’s loss of political compass causes direct damage to state of B&H and its citizens (Hayat)
Kalabukhov says he does not plan to cooperate with Schmidt (Nezavisne)
Bosniak Caucus in RS Council of Peoples raised issue of protecting vital national interest over Law on Non-Application of Decision of High Representative and Amendments to Criminal Code of RS (BHT1)
Prosecutor’s Office of B&H forms 22 cases upon reports for crime of denial of genocide (Nova BH)
Cvijanovic: B&H has no future because there is no dialogue (Nezavisne)
Cabinet of Serb member of B&H Presidency distances itself from Turkovic’s behavior in Tehran (Srna/RTRS)
Croatia

Croatia celebrates Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, and Croatian Veterans Day (HRT)
PM: We will not allow anyone to question legitimacy of operation Storm (Hina)
Bozinovic: Ustasha salute is banned and sanctioned (Hina)
Plenkovic expects from HR Schmidt to take care of equality of all three constituent peoples in B&H, especially about rights of Croat (Hina)
Montenegro

“No need for the Serbian world” Abazovic says (MINA)
Republic of North Macedonia

EU to send equipment, assistance to help Macedonia fight wildfires; VMRO-DPMNE seeks resignations (Republika)
Albania

Ex-candidate for DP’s chair attacks Basha as US targets Berisha (ADN)

Belgrade Media Report 5 August

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LOCAL PRESS

Remembrance Day of killed and expelled Serbs in operation Storm marked(Tanjug/RTS/Politika)
Obradovic: We decided to respond to President’s invitation after learning that their opposition will be present at the meeting with RS political representatives (Tanjug)
Opposition to merge with authorities? (Novosti)
EU: Serbia must adjust its system to join Eurodac (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Schmidt addresses press conference: B&H will not become centralized state, but its functionality must be improved (BHT1)
RS political leadership meets political leadership of Serbia (RTRS/FTV)
Leaders of all political parties in the RS and Serbia hold meeting in Belgrade; Comments (RTRS)
Viskovic: We must all take our tasks seriously and preserve unity we have achieved through conclusions of RS parliament (ATV)
Dodik: Only solution is for B&H to break up (RTRS)
Komsic, Kalabukhov meet and express readiness to work on improving of bilateral relations (Dnevni avaz)
NATO approves B&H’s status of operational partner of NATO Mission in Iraq (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia

Vukovar: Common wreath laid and candles lit (HRT)
The 26th anniversary of the operation Storm is being marked, and the entire state leadership is expected in Knin (Hina)
Montenegro

Krivokapic: I mourn the innocent victims and expelled Serbs in the operation Storm (MN. PM Twitter)
Republic of North Macedonia

Government recommended to declare 30-day nationwide state of crisis (TV21)
EU activates Civil Protection Mechanism to help various regions in the Mediterranean and the Western Balkans to fight devastating fires (Republika)
Albania

Meta and Basha expressed gratitude for EU support in combating fires (Radio Tirana)
Albanian arrested for arson in North Macedonia (ADN)

Belgrade Media Report 4 August 2021

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United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wedne​sday 4 August 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Imposed decisions are never good, all three peoples in B&H must agree with all decisions (RTS)
Stefanovic: Operation Storm not an operation to liberate, but shameful expulsion of Serbs (FoNet)
Vulin: Operation Storm was biggest ethnic cleansing since WWII (Beta)
Vulin says FBI not involved in breaking up crime group (N1)
Stefanovic denies saying FBI helped in bringing down crime clan (N1/B92)
Popovic: The plan is to weaken us (Novosti)
Tegeltija: Moves of RS were extorted (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Schmidt meets B&H Presidency members, Dodik fails to attend the meeting; Schmidt: We will return B&H to international agenda (O Kanal)
Dodik: B&H does not have High Representative (RTRS)
Sarovic welcomes Schmidt’s decision to look for compromise (RTRS)
Kalabukhov: Russia advocates respect for norms of international law and absence of consent of UN SC to Schmidt’s appointment deprives him of necessary legitimacy to be HR in B&H (BHT1/Srna)
Starovic says Schmidt’s thanks to Inzko for imposing of prohibition of genocide denial was not friendly gesture (Srna/Glas Srpske)
Linta: Certain Western power centers are responsible for crisis in B&H because they supported Inzko’s decision and Schmidt’s appointment (Nezavisne)
Tabakovic: Bosniak Caucus does not believe RS CC will grant its motion regarding RS parliament’s conclusions on Inzko’s decision (Hayat)
Petkovic says only Constitutional Court of RS can examine legality of law adopted by RS parlaiment on non-implementation of Inzko’s prohibition of genocide denial (Srna/Nezavisne)
Vulic: Izetbegovic is leading retaliatory policy aimed against RS and Serbs (Glas Srpske)
Cikotic: SIPA is active all over B&H, will continue its work in interest of all citizens of B&H (Dnevni list)
HNS on SDA’s conclusions: 18 unitary demands for continuation of discrimination, for taking control over judiciary and for elimination of non-Bosniaks from all elements of B&H society (Dnevni list)
Izetbegovic says SDA will not one-sidedly accommodate proposals of HDZ B&H, reminds SDA too has its own demands (Dnevni list)
HNC Assembly adopts amendments to HNC Constitution on constituency of Serb people and Bosnian language (N1)
Schmidt welcomes decision of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton to amend Constitution to recognize equality of Serb people and Bosnian language (FTV)
It is still unclear if Open Balkans initiative will be accepted by all countries in the region (Nezavisne)
Kosarac: Open Balkans initiative is opportunity for prosperity of entire region (Glas Srpske)
Croatia

Grlic Radman: High Representative in B&H remnant of past (Hina/FAZ)
Bosniak wartime internees resent Milanovic’s decision to decorate HVO units (Hina)
Montenegro

Krivokapic and Rama open joint border crossing between Montenegro and Albania (Gov. Press Service)
Republic of North Macedonia

Serbia sends four helicopters to extinguish fires in parts of the country; Serbian Interior Minister Vulin visits fire-hit municipality (Republika)
Albania

Rama: Open Balkans is a comprehensive initiative that targets all countries in the region (Radio Tirana)
Grenell: Kosovo was wrong for not taking part in the Open Balkans. I support Rama’s vision for the Balkans. I love Albania and I invite US investors in the country (Radio Tirana/News24)