Belgrade Media Report 17 December 2021

By OSCPA M  /  17/12/2021  /  UN Office in Belgrade Media Report  /  Comments Off on Belgrade Media Report 17 December 2021

United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Friday 17 December 2021

LOCAL PRESS

• Selakovic, Le Drian: Bilateral relations between two countries on an upward trajectory (RTS/Tanjug)
• Selakovic: Partnership with France gained strength with Macron’s visit to Serbia (Politika/Tanjug)
• Cochard: Western Balkans remains a priority for France (Politika/Beta)
• Stefanovic: We expect KFOR to continue its status neutral mission (Tanjug/Politika/Beta)
• Italian General Zanitti takes over as Chief of NATO Liaison Office in Belgrade (Beta)
• CEFTA rejects Pristina’s request to represented without UNMIK (RTS)
• Drecun: Pristina’s unilateral moves are not sanctioned (RTS)
• EP adopts resolution on forced labor, environmental protests in Serbia (Beta/Politika)
• Dacic: EP resolution an example of hypocrisy (Tanjug/RTV/Politika)
• The so-called Kosovo is being offered to “rent” a prison (B92/Danish Radio)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• German Foreign Ministry says Germany will not cooperate with entity that works on B&H’s destruction (O Kanal)
• Dodik talks to Varhelyi: RS remains dedicated to peace, dialogue and B&H Constitution (Oslobodjenje)
• Field: UK government is negotiating sanctions against certain individuals and Dodik, but behind closed doors (BHT)
• UK House of Lords discusses situation in B&H; Helic says crisis in B&H is not political, but security crisis which requires urgent, security response (FTV)
• Turkovic discusses political situation in B&H with UK envoy Peach; Peach announces close cooperation with US and EU (O Kanal)
• Chollet warns Dodik of consequences for anti-Dayton actions; Dodik: it would have been fair if Chollet had said what I told him (BHT1)
• Zakharova says Schmidt does not have mandate to make decisions, impose measures (RTRS)
• Covic hosts Christmas reception in Mostar; Dodik: RS has no intention to give up on its interests and goals (N1)
• SDP calls on NATO to deploy its troops in Brcko District and some other areas in B&H (N1)
• Dacic: Serbia will not allow sidelining of Serbs in B&H (Dnevni avaz/Dnevni list)
• SDP and DF withdraw from negotiations on amendments to Election Law and Constitution of B&H (BHT1)
• Osmanovic: First unblock state and continue talks on change of B&H Election Law when political situation calms down (FTV)
• Stevandic, Novakovic-Bursac claim Bosniaks are trying to find excuse for failure of talks on electoral reform so they blame RS (EuroBlic)
Croatia
• President’s office publishes contents of entire letter to PM (HRT)
• Plenkovic comments on Council Conclusions on Bosnia (Hina)
Montenegro
• Markovic: DF has our support for shortening the mandate (RTCG)
• Jokovic: As for the SNP, goodbye to Krivokapic and this government; Ibrahimovic: The government is doomed, it is counting the last days (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Mickoski: In 2022 I expect early parliamentary elections and a stable government formed by VMRO-DPMNE (TV21)
• Mickoski: Ahmeti and I talked about a new agreement with Bulgaria and early parliamentary elections (TV21)
• Bulgarian President Radev tells Macedonia that it must change its Constitution (Republika/Euractiv)
Albania
• On the eve of the National Assembly, head of DP Basha calls for democrats to choose the future (Radio Tirana)

Belgrade Media Report 16 December

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LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: Referendum only and exclusively on the issue of justice (TV Vesti/RTV/Tanjug)
Stano: Petkovic should have been allowed to visit (RTS/Tanjug/Kosovo Online)
Petkovic: Kurti’s self-will is direct violation of basic human rights (RTS)
Lajcak: Serbia, Kosovo experts discuss license plates issue (N1)
USAID strong development partner for Serbia (RTS/Tanjug/RTV)
Djuric: Business with the Balkans round table held in Washington (Tanjug)
Joksimovic expects progress in EU talks during French presidency (Tanjug/RTV)
Stefanovic: Serbia determined to strengthen cooperation with EU in defense (Tanjug)
Serbian, Russian general staff officers discuss cooperation in Moscow (Beta)
Aspen Institute report warns of lack of media freedom in Serbia (N1)
Journalist to run for Serbia’s president in 2022 (N1)
Hill’s hellish agenda for Serbs (Novosti)
Army of B&H’ is being lined up, yet West is shutting its eyes before it (Novosti/Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Peach resumes with visit to B&H, meets with MPs, opposition, international representatives (Nova BH)
Peach addresses citizens of B&H via video message: It is great to be back (Nova BH)
Schmidt: I do not rule out possibility of imposing sanctions against RS (BN TV/ Deutschlandfunk)
Strik: EU needs urgent change of policy in B&H (Nova BH/BHT1)
Chollet: Undermining of B&H institutions is unacceptable (Dnevni avaz)
HJPC to harmonize statement regarding RS parliament’s decision to suspend Law on HJPC, form HJPC and appoint judges and prosecutors at RS level (O Kanal)
Dodik: RS will form its own HJPC; If sanctions are imposed against the RS, German officials will be unable to speak to any RS’ official from ruling majority at any authority level (ATV)
Stanivukovic: I am categorically against sanctions against Dodik, he represents RS (Dnevni list)
Serbian leaders on B&H political crisis (ATV/RTRS)
Palmer, Eichhorst postpone visit to B&H; Negotiations on B&H Election Law halted (N1/Hayat/BHT1)
Osmanovic about postponing of electoral reform: First unblock work of institutions (Dnevni avaz)
EUD/ US Embassy issue joint statement about talks on electoral reform: Leaders have not done the work necessary to bring the B&H political system in line with EU regulations and court rulings (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia

Milanovic sends letter to Plenkovic expressing dissatisfaction with EU GAC conclusions on B&H (Jutarnji list)
Bosniak parties achieved their goal; Palmer and Eichhorst not coming to B&H (Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Memorandum of Cooperation signed (CdM)
This is not the creation of a minority government, the DPS is not coming back (RTCG)
Abazovic: Criminal organisations were created with the support of certain political structures (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev to decide on his resignation next week (TV 24)
BESA demands early elections as soon as possible (Republika)
Pendarovski and Kurti reaffirm interest in promoting cooperation between Skopje and Pristina (Republika)
Pendarovski visits KFOR Regional Command – West in Kosovo (Republika)
Osmani would cooperate in Zaev’s planned review of the Kumanovo terrorist attack trial (Republika)
Pendarovski welcomed Bulgaria’s new approach to Macedonia (Republika)
Albania

Xhacka receives her Montenegrin counterpart Djordje Radulovic (Radio Tirana)
Meta: EU membership is uncompromising, inalienable and indestructible with other deadlocks (Radio Tirana)
Still no date for the first intergovernmental conference with the EU (Radio Tirana)

Belgrade Media Report 15 December 2021

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United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Wednesday 15 December 2021
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic, Brnabic: Opening of Cluster 4 signal of EU support; Vucic: Pristina will not allow holding of referendum (Tanjug/RTS/Politika/RTV/Beta)
• Borrell congratulates Brnabic on opening of Cluster 4 in EU talks (Tanjug/Beta/RTS)
• Selakovic with Chen Bo: Serbia and China continuously strengthening friendship (RTV)
• Dacic expects continuity of policy of growth in 2022 (Tanjug/Politika)
• Hill: Mutual recognition between Serbia and Kosovo best way to strengthen regional stability and security; Resilience to malign external influence, including from Russia and China (Beta/NSPM)
• Vitale: NATO offers support, respects Serbia’s neutrality (FoNet)
• Petkovic once again banned from visiting Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• General Affairs Council adopts conclusions on enlargement and stabilization and association process; Condemn blocking of B&H institutions and delay in reform processes in B&H (AJB)
• Schmidt: Parliaments in B&H can discuss any issue, as long as it is in line with DPA framework (FTV)
• UK Special Envoy Peach starts visit with members of B&H Presidency (O Kanal)
• President of Hungary meets with B&H Presidency members; Dodik attends meeting as well due to close relations with Orban (FTV/O Kanal)
• Sarovic: Restoration of entity competences is legitimate, but risky and dangerous (Dnevni list)
• Bosniak officials: Return of RS competences from level of B&H is very dangerous and anti-constitutional process (Hayat)
• Mijatovic: I asked Ambassador Kalabukhov to condemn unconstitutional decisions of RS parliament (O Kanal)
• SDP, NiP, NS issue statement asking SDA to confirm honesty of their intentions (Dnevni avaz)
• Dzaferovic and Komsic meet with members of ‘Association of RBIH Army Generals’ and nobody from international community reacts (Nezavisne)
• Okolic: Waitz is certainly not well-intentioned towards all citizens in B&H; Meeting with generals is message to Serbs that Sarajevo will defend its interest with threats (ATV)
• B&H HoR’s session adjourned without agenda being adopted; Representatives accuse HDZ B&H of supporting SNSD and blockade (BHT1)
• “Pro-Bosnian” parties to possibly withdraw from talks on electoral reforms; Lovrinovic criticizes such move (FTV)
• Grlic Radman: I doubt there is majority support in EU for sanctions against Dodik (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• PM: B&H Crisis should be solved through agreement, starting with election law (Hina)
• Plenkovic against erasing of peoples in electoral reform in B&H (Vecernji list)
• Sarajevo-based parties threaten they will boycott continuation of electoral reform talks (Vecernji list)
Montenegro
• URA, SNP, CIVIS and minority parties to sign Memorandum of Cooperation (CdM)
• DPS would get 30.5% of votes; DF 20.4; Democrats 19.3% (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• BESA party calls for early elections after the latest veto Macedonia received at the European Council (Republika)
• Osmani believes that six months is too long time to wait for the Bulgarian veto to be lifted (Republika)
• Alternative party willing to overlook the latest veto in exchange for the promise of its share of government largesse (Republika)
• Mickoski: We will have open relations with our neighbors, but we also demand reciprocity (MRT)
Albania
• EC gives “OK” for first intergovernmental conference with Albania (Radio Tirana)
• Former minister arrested over corruption related to trash incinerators (Tirana Times)
• SP Group chair meets PM of Kosovo (ADN)
• Analysis: Future uncertain for DP as parallel assemblies strive for control (Tirana Times)

Belgrade Media Report 14 December

By OSCPA S  /  14/12/2021  /  UN Office in Belgrade Media Report  /  Comments Off on Belgrade Media Report 14 December

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Serbia to enter 2022 with healthy public finances, preparedness for challenges (Tanjug/RTS)
Brnabic: Opening of Cluster 4 important turning point for Serbia (RTS/RTV/Tanjug)
Joksimovic: Opening of Cluster 4 great success for Serbia (Tanjug)
Selakovic: Meetings in London good opportunity to represent Serbia (RTS/Tanjug)
Botsan-Kharchenko: Pristina’s demand for Serbia to recognize Kosovo is nonsense; Russia advocates abolishment of HR in B&H (FoNet/RTV/Tanjug/NSPM/N1)
IRMCT again tells UN Security Council that Serbia should extradite Radicals Jojic and Radeta (Beta)
Brammertz: Genocide deniers still exist in Serbia (N1)
Germany asks from EU to impose sanctions against Dodik (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

German government calls on EU to impose sanctions against Dodik (FTV/BNTV)
Dodik: If Germany introduces sanctions, RS will respond (FTV)
Schmidt condemns conclusions passed by RS parliament (BNTV)
MEPs Franz, Waitz meet B&H Presidency members, members of IAWG to amend Election Law of B&H, RS reps boycott meetings (FTV)
Truss reiterates UK’s commitment to protect democracy and freedom in region (Al Jazeera Balkans/BHT1/O Kanal/N1)
Komsic and Dzaferovic discuss current security and political challenges in B&H with representatives of B&H Generals’ Association (Nova BH)
Kovacevic says Komsic and Dzaferovic are thinking about war due to their meeting with Association of Generals of B&H (ATV/RTRS)
Covic says Dodik is not bluffing (RTL/RTRS)
Dodik is threatening, but Schmidt is not waking up (Oslobodjenje)
Disband House of Peoples of parliament of B&H (Dnevni list)
RS CC’s VNI Protection Council rejects Bosniaks’ motion for VNI protection (Nova BH/BNTV)
Hatred and genocide denial have to stop (Oslobodjenje)
Bosniak lobbyists advocate sanctions (Glas Srpske)
Croatia

Plenkovic: Croatia does not wish to see any separatist and secessionist tendencies within B&H (HRT1)
Montenegro

Krivokapic: Resignation only if we don’t implement budget by June; $20m squandered to overthrow government (CdM)
Krivokapic’s Op-Ed: Honor and shame live forever (gov.me)
Milatovic and Kordic in Brussels: EU membership is Government’s strategic priority (gov.me)
Minister Radulovic meets with US Deputy Assistant Secretary Escobar in London (gov.me)
Republic of North Macedonia

No support in the EU to let Albania go ahead with its accession talks without Macedonia (MIA)
Osmani thanks Escobar on US strong support for start of EU accession talks (Republika)