Belgrade Media Report 31 January 2022

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United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Monday 31 January 2022
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Gratitude to Latvia for its contribution to security in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV)
• Gratitude to Latvia for support to Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Tanjug/RTV)
• Selakovic: There probably will not be any dialogue as long as Kurti is in Pristina (RTS)
• Drecun: ZSO model agreed in Brussels the only acceptable one (Tanjug)
• Lajcak: Experts from Belgrade, Pristina discuss license plates (N1)
• Lajcak: ZSO agreement must be implemented; No one wants another RS in Kosovo (Beta/Politika/Gazetaexpress)
• SNS, SPS to run separately in elections, will continue to cooperate (Tanjug/Novosti)
• Brnabic talks with mediators in inter-party dialogue (Tanjug/RTS)
• Vucic meets with European Parliament mediators (Tanjug/RTS)
• Inter-party dialogue concludes, 16 measures adopted (RTS/Tanjug/Politika)
• Bilcik: Progress noted, along with delays in implementing pre-election steps (Beta)
• Escobar: US, EU don’t decide on distribution of power in Serbia (FoNet/Nova)
• Obstructions in processing of crimes against Serbs in B&H (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Schmidt calls on all political forces in B&H to work constructively on new Election Law, says 2022 elections will be held no matter what (O Kanal)
• Komsic comments negotiations on Election Law (Hayat)
• Dodik rejects Komsic’s claim: RS acts responsibly and in line with Constitution (Nezavisne)
• RS politicians did not take part in Election Law talks in Neum (FTV)
• Dodik: Only direct election of Serb B&H Presidency member and authentic representation in parliaments is acceptable (ATV)
• Overview of proposed amendments to B&H Election Law related to strengthening electoral process integrity in seven areas (Hayat)
• Negotiations on changes to B&H Election Law conclude in Neum without concrete agreement (O Kanal)
• Covic: HDZ B&H will not allow concept of constituent peoples to be erased from B&H Constitution; Izetbegovic believes that they were not far from solutions regarding the part related to transparency and integrity of election process (FTV)
• Dodik: The fact is that negotiations in Neum have failed, optimism in Neum was not grounded, and another attempt of the US and Europe has brought no results (Nova BH)
• Dodik: Test for return of RS representatives into B&H institutions will be proposed law (ATV)
Croatia
• Granic: Serb separatist and Bosniak centralist policies are equally dangerous for B&H (Hina)
• President Milanovic: I am neither enemy of Ukraine nor friend to Russia (Hina/RTL)
• MEP: Milanovic’s statement for internal face-off, but damage is in Foreign Affairs (Hina)
Montenegro
• Krivokapic: This government likely to be overthrown, all parties register rating falling except Democrats (RTCG)
• Konjevic after opposition meeting with EU, USA and GB diplomats: Elections the best solution (CdM)
• Radulovic: Krivokapic and some ministers demanded closure of embassies in region; sending protest notes to EU and UN (CdM)
• Experts to set up a political party called ‘Europe Now’ (CdM)
• Picula on situation in Montenegro: I’m worried (CdM)
• Porfirije: The basic agreement will be signed as soon as the political situation in Montenegro normalizes (CdM)
• Abazovic: I did not want Porfirije to be persuaded by manipulation into attitudes contrary to mine (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Mickoski: We will propose reduction of number of MPs and one constituency (Alsat M)
• Mickoski: United anti-DUI/SDSM front is needed against corrupt politicians if we want to have a modern state (Republika)

Belgrade Media Report 28 January

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LOCAL PRESS

Starovic: Bigger escalation between Russia, Ukraine would negatively affect Serbia (RTS/Beta)
Selakovic, Pendarovski on improvement of minorities’ position in Serbia (Beta)
Obradovic running for Serbian president (Beta)
Fajon: More recommendations for Serbian elections (N1)
There is no solution in sight; There’s nothing to offer to Serbia (TV Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Palmer and Eichhorst meet with IAWG members, present proposal of changes of electoral legislation (Hayat)
Palmer and Eichhorst meet with representatives of several political parties (Hayat)
SDP: Election changes which will bring additional divisions of B&H along ethnic lines are unacceptable just as every asymmetric solution on election of B&H Presidency members (Dnevni list)
Hartmann: I am fully convinced that there will be elections in B&H because boycott of elections is completely unacceptable in democracy (Nezavisne)
MPs in Bundestag discuss situation in B&H; MP Wagner: Freedom and peace in Western Balkans are at risk, because people denying genocide have been living in some parts of Western Balkans (Hayat)
Grmusa: Schmidt was not appointed High Representative in B&H in accordance with Annex 10 of DPA, which is why he was not allowed to address UN SC (Glas Srpske)
Dodik announces special law on prohibition of use of term ‘genocidal’; Comments of RS officials (EuroBlic)
Dodik reveals condition for return to B&H institutions; Comments of FB&H politicians, political parties (FTV)
Softic: I do not believe that state institutions will be unblocked soon, sanctions must expand to judicial office holders too (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia

Grlic Radman: EU is against those who stall reforms and support status quo (Vecernji list)
Plenkovic says Milanovic’s statements scandalous, undermine Croatia’s reputation (Hina)
Foreign Minister calling his counterparts to apologise over President’s statements (Hina)
Montenegro

Krivokapic: This government likely to be overthrown; I doubt that I will be the one signing the Fundamental Agreement (RTCG)
Becic says he has not seen Fundamental Agreement, he keeps silent about whether Democrats are paying for arrival of citizens to protest in Podgorica (CdM)
DF after talks with SNP: Protests if parliamentary majority makes any agreement with DPS (CdM)
Jokovic: Signing of the Fundamental Agreement with the Serbian Orthodox Church, correcting injustice towards it (N1)
Mandic and Knezevic discussing current situation with Vucic: Peace and stability in Balkans priceless (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Osmani asked to testify on state of negotiations with Bulgaria (Republika)
We didn’t have essential differences with Dimitrov in the process, but in the work discipline, says Osmani (TV Kanal 5)

Belgrade Media Report 27 January 2022

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United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Thursday 27 January 2022
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Never closer to EU, never further from agreement with Pristina (RTS)
• Von der Leyen: Good meeting with Brnabic (Tanjug)
• Vucic, Botsan-Kharchenko discuss bilateral, global affairs (RTS/RTV/Tanjug)
• Stefanovic: Serbia has significant role to play in stability of region (RTV/Tanjug)
• Serbia, UK sign readmission agreement (RTS)
• Petkovic acquainted Dmohovski with Pristina’s announcement that it will ban Serbs to vote in elections (RTV/Tanjug)
• Drecun presents report to Committee for Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/FoNet)
• Dacic: SNS, SPS to meet by end of week to discuss elections (Tanjug)
• Sapic confirms he will run for Belgrade mayor (Tanjug)
• Abazovic in Belgrade (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Schmidt briefs members of Committee on EU Affairs of German Bundestag on current situation in B&H (BN TV)
• Dzaferovic and Dodik welcome UK parliament Foreign Affairs Committee; Current political and economic situation in B&H discussed (RTRS)
• Dodik: RS will propose law which will stop misuses of Inzko Law; This law is condition to return to B&H institutions (ATV)
• Izetbegovic rejects Cubrilovic’s proposal for him to address RS parliament at its next session (Hayat)
• Palmer and Eichhorst meet members of Collegium of both Houses of B&H parliament (Hayat/Nova BH)
• Palmer and Eichhorst hold meetings with representatives of ruling and opposition parties in B&H (BN TV)
• Palmer, Eichhorst meet Izetbegovic, Covic, Dzaferovic (BHT1)
• US Embassy: It is necessary to discuss electoral reform, as well as integrity and functionality of state institutions (Dnevni avaz)
• DF, SDP DF refuse to participate in negotiations on changes to Election Law, Our Party will participate only if their proposal is on agenda (O Kanal/Dnevni avaz)
• Vukadin, Cvitanovic, Karamatic: Croats should insist not to erase ethnic prefix in negotiations on changes to B&H Election Law (Nezavisne)
Croatia
• Milanovic: Survival, constituent status and well-being of Croats in B&H is Croatia’s strategic interest (HRT1)
• Martinovic: FB&H would be entity of majority people if there were no constitutional protection instruments (Vecernji list)
• Ukraine summons Croatian Ambassador over Milanovic’s statements (Hina)
• PM: Croatia continues to foster friendly ties with Ukraine, normal ties with Russia (Hina)
Montenegro
• Adzic: We must not be prisoners of fear of the return of the DPS (RTCG)
• Minority government as a transitional solution (RTCG)
• Spajic: Fundamental Agreement the best possible at the moment (RTCG)
• Abazovic’s desperate attempt to involve the SPC in the policy of overthrowing the Montenegrin government (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Xhaferi is buying time before putting VMRO proposal for changes in the electoral code to a vote (Republika)
• Kaevski: We will overcome all open issues with Bulgaria in the next six months (Republika)
Albania
• Albania-Kosovo agreements, draft laws on customs facilities approved (Radio Tirana)

Belgrade Media Report 26 January

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LOCAL PRESS

Belgrade and Brussels are committed to Serbia’s EU perspective (Tanjug)
Brnabic: The visit to Brussels was successful, the talks show how committed the EU is to Serbia (Tanjug)
Brnabic: Serbia has never progressed so swiftly towards EU (RTS)
Petkovic with Davenport on the situation in Kosovo and Metohija (RTS)
Selakovic with Davenport: We expect that voting in the elections will be possible in KiM (RTS)
Davenport on holding elections in Kosovo and Metohija: OSCE ready to help (RTS)
Stefanovic with the envoy of the British Government for the Western Balkans (RTS)
SNS says will run as single party in Serbia’s April elections; SPS: We will see (Nova daily)
Democrats’ leader refuses to run for Belgrade mayor (Beta)
Djilas certain Vucic will be ousted in April elections (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

EU HR Borrell replies to group of MEPs: For now dialogue is option, EU has instruments if the situation continues to escalate (Dnevni list)
French MEPs Mariani and Juvin: Sanctions to individuals do not bring anything good (RTRS)
Croatian President Milanovic: If someone votes for sanctions against Dodik, he is traitor; Izetbegovic is trying to buy time so that elections in B&H can be held according to the old system that discriminates against Croats (ATV)
Cubrilovic: Dialogue is needed to solve problems in B&H in consensus; RS officials never mentioned war as an option (Glas Srpske)
RS opposition on Cubrilovic’s call to Covic, Izetbegovic to attend RSNA session: This is Dodik’s order, he is inviting his coalition partners (BN TV)
Kavalec says elections will be held regardless of outcome of talks on election reform, calls citizens to elect politicians who will secure prosperous and stable future for B&H (Dnevni avaz)
HDZ B&H leader Covic: Constituent status of people, legitimate representation and competences of FB&H HoP are minimum below which they will not go (FTV)
Stances of B&H political parties ahead of new round of negotiations on election reform (Nova BH)
Sejdic: HNS proposal of election changes does not resolve issue of judgement in ‘Sejdic-Finci’ case (N1)
B&H Presidency Chairman Komsic addresses PACE session: Some political forces want to create new constitutional arrangements and electoral system with deeper discrimination; Neighbouring countries want to achieve wartime goals (O kanal, N1)
Komsic’s speech at PACE session met with harsh criticism, his attendance assessed as ‘misused option of speaking on behalf of B&H’ (Glas Srpske)
Croatia

Croatian President says Ukraine should not be part of NATO (Hina)
Plenkovic apologizes to Ukraine for Milanovic’s statement that it is corrupt (AJB)
Montenegro

Krivokapic: Government ready to sign Fundamental Agreement with SOC (RTCG)

Krivokapic: Minister Radulovic works for minority government since September (RTCG)

Abazovic: I don’t care about dismissals, they are a reflection of helplessness (RTCG)
DF asks Abazovic: Seek solution within parliamentary majority, there must be no cooperation with DPS (CDM)
Krivokapic’s Cabinet: Session of National Security Council not held, Prime Minister to schedule new session (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Nikolovski: With the current government, the foundations of the state are being destroyed, early elections needed (TV Sonce)
Borissov: Don’t repeat our mistake, immediately resolve the most difficult issues in Bulgarian-Macedonian relations (Republika)
The Macedonian Army is preparing a plan for possible participation in NATO intervention in Ukraine (Telma TV)
Reaction of the Russian Embassy in Skopje: We are surprised by the statements of the Macedonian Minister of Defense (Republika)
Albania

President Meta explains decision to hold elections on March 6 (ADN)
President meets head of Armed Forces, focus on Ukraine conflict (ADN)