Belgrade Media Report 19 January 2022

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United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Wednesday 19 January 2022

LOCAL PRESS

• Ziadeh: UNMIK to continue to support dialogue (Tanjug/RTS)
• Vucic and Erdogan discuss bilateral cooperation, situation in region with focus on B&H (RTS)
• Vucic: Peace, stability priceless (Tanjug)
• Vucic: Someone smarter will lead SNS as of May, June (Beta/Politika)
• Dacic: Serbia works with ODHIR on improving election process (Beta)
• Council of Europe hails Serbian referendum results as important step in de-politicizing judiciary (Beta)
• Fajon, Bilcik concerned about reports that local voting committees were not ready for referendum (Beta)
• Activists attacked in Belgrade, call for new protests, refuses talks with Dacic (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• UK parliament Foreign Affairs Committee discusses situation in B&H (Hayat)
• Field: Elections best instrument to remove unsuccessful politicians, sanctions are not a magic wand (Dnevni list)
• German and Russian Foreign Ministers discuss situation in B&H; Lavrov: Russia, as PIC member, wants return to consensus in PIC (O Kanal)
• Dzaferovic says he is not sure if sanctions will bring any good; Dodik says it is clear whose card Americans play; Other politicians comment on US sanctions (ATV)
• Cubrilovic: RS parliament most likely to discuss Vucic’s request at session in February (FTV)
• Vidovic, Dragisic questioned at Prosecutor’s Office of B&H as part of an investigation on attack on constitutional order of B&H (BN TV)
• HNS B&H adopts proposal for changes to B&H Election Law and Constitution; Comments on HNS members (Nova BH)
• HNS’ proposal of Election Law sparks reactions; Osmanovic: HDZ B&H and SDA should not be the only parties to decide on Election Law (N1)
• Political officials, analysts comment Croatia, Russia policy towards B&H, arguing that they are voice of instability of B&H (Oslobodjenje)
• Plenkovic meets Michel: It would be very important to discuss situation in B&H at high level and to ensure that all constituent peoples in B&H feel better (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• Milanovic says he sees RS and Dodik as Croatia’s partners in B&H; Komsic reacts to Milanovic’s statement (HRT)
Montenegro
• Krivokapic: Minority government is a fraud, the fairest solution is early elections (CdM)
• URA explains what kind of minority government they want (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Skopje, Sofia resolve name issue (Nezavisen.mk)
• Petkov did not say when or whether will Bulgaria lift its veto against Macedonia (Republika)
• Mickoski met with Petkov: I stood by my positions (Republika)
• Ahmeti calls on the government to accept Petkov’s demands and amends the Macedonian Constitution (Republika)
• Gruevski calls on Petkov to drop his claim that the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria does not exist (Republika)
Albania
• Veto holding Albania hostage on integration path, Luhrmann: We have received positive signals from Bulgaria (Radio Tirana)
• Meta congratulates the new President of the EP: I welcome the cooperation in the process of integration of the country! (Radio Tirana)

Belgrade Media Report 18 January 2022

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United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Tuesday 18 January 2022
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Pristina’s decision disgraceful (TV Prva)
• Brnabic: Government soon to make decision on Rio Tinto (Tanjug/RTV/RTS)
• Odalovic: Absurd that Kurti could have voted in another country – Albania, and Serbs cannot in their own (RTS)
• Giaufret: Higher turnout would be better, but referendum results positive (RTS)
• Stano urges Belgrade-Pristina agreement enabling Kosovo Serbs to vote (Tanjug)
• EU hails Serbia referendum as important step towards more independent judiciary (Beta)
• EU welcomes results of Serbian referendum (Tanjug)
• Leading MEPs welcome constitutional changes approved in Serbia’s referendum (N1)
• Donation by Serbian UNIFIL troops to monastery in Lebanon (N1)
• Schmidt wants to kick Dodik out from politics? (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Escobar: Sanctions result with effect, there will be more, corruption is main problem in Western Balkans (VoA/O Kanal)
• Lavrov: US continues to interfere in internal affairs of B&H and approves attempts to turn B&H into unitarian state (BN TV)
• Kalabukhov: PIC violates spirit and letter of DPA (AJB)
• Dodik says Vucic’s suggestion to return to B&H institutions should not be ignored although he himself believes that RS representatives should return to B&H institutions in full capacity only after demands that arise from RS parliament conclusions are met (RTRS)
• Zunic: Talks about Vucic’s proposal for return to institutions of B&H in the following days (Glas Srpske)
• SDS, PDP members hold meeting: Only place where decisions about RS should be made is RS parliament (BN TV)
• Petkovic questioned at Prosecutor’s Office of B&H as witness in ‘Attack on B&H’s constitutional order’ case (BHT1)
• Schmidt’s statement on Dodik sparks reactions in RS: Dodik depends solely on support of Serb people (Nezavisne)
• USAID’s Power expresses support to Schmidt (AJB)
• Kavazovic meets Schmidt: It would be good B&H parliament confirms changes to B&H Criminal Code that ban denial of genocide (FTV)
Croatia
• Grlic Radman meets Lavrov in Moscow (HRT)
Montenegro
• Abazovic: We offer minority government without DPS and DF, it would be phenomenal if they also supported it (CdM)
• DF: We are not ready for new experiment, we are for election of new government (CdM)
• Sehovic: Krivokapic’s government fall and election of new one in February (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Mickoski calls on Kovacevski to hold snap elections without a technical government! (TV 24)
• Petkov insists that he will not undermine the Macedonian nation and language (Sitel TV)
Albania
• Turkish aid to Albania, growing ties and friendship with PM highlighted during President Erdogan visit (Tirana Times)
• President Erdogan addresses the Albanian parliament (Radio Tirana)

Belgrade Media Report 17 January 2022

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United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Monday 17 January 2022
LOCAL PRESS

• RIK: 59.71 percent for constitutional amendments, 39.26 percent against
• (RTS/Tanjug)
• Dacic: Referendum held in democratic atmosphere (RTS)
• Brnabic: Referendum major step in strengthening rule of law (Tanjug/RTV)
• Vucic: Citizens voted in favor of constitutional amendments (Tanjug/RTS)
• Vucic: Ban on Serb voting in Kosovo to have far-reaching consequences (Beta/RTS)
• EU officials welcome outcome of Serbian referendum (N1)
• Gatherings in Kosovska Mitrovica, Belgrade on anniversary of Ivanovic murder (N1/Beta)
• Dodik: We only want to return to the original constitutional order in B&H; RS will continue to mark its day (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Sarovic: Dodik leads RS, Serbia into difficult situation, Vucic is forced to solve crisis Dodik causes (BN TV)
• Schmidt: I am waiting to see what will happen; Bonn powers are at my disposal and they are not just about removing somebody from position (Face TV/N1)
• Dodik’s son announces lawsuit against Nelson (FTV)
• German government has decided, there will be sanctions against Dodik (Dnevni list)
• B&H parliament members from RS: Centralization of B&H is not acceptable, key to end of political crisis is dialogue (EuroBlic)
• Dodik announces talks in RS on return to work in B&H institutions (BN TV)
• Beginning of February could bring chance to unblock work of B&H institutions; Sarovic: RS parliament should decide on possible return of RS representatives to B&H institutions (BHT1)
• Varhelyi denies allegations on his agreement with Dodik: Bosnian Serbs should return to B&H institutions (BN TV)
• New round of talks on electoral reform in B&H will be held this week; HDZ B&H, SDA partially optimistic regarding possible agreement, which is not case with opposition leaders (BHT1)
Croatia
• Covic meets Plenkovic, Milanovic, stress importance of reaching agreement on electoral reform (Vecernji list)
Montenegro
• Montenegro needs a stable government and it doesn’t have it now (Pobjeda)
• SNP: MPs of parliamentary majority to launch a vote of no-confidence (CdM)
• Saranovic: If a part of parliamentary majority launches a no confidence vote, it’ll represent a deal with DPS (CdM)
• Radulovic: The state trapped in an invisible coalition between two populisms (Vijesti)
Republic of North Macedonia
• The government of Kovacevski was elected, he called on the opposition to cooperate (Nezavisen.mk)
• Kovacevski took over the post of Prime Minister from Zaev (Nezavisen.mk)
Albania
• Erdogan in Albania / Here are the 7 important agreements to be signed in Tirana (Radio Tirana)

Belgrade Media Report 14 January 2022

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United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Friday 14 January 2022
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic asked for Serbs to return to joint institutions and protect RS interests (RTV/Tanjug/RTS)
• Vucic with Kosovo Serbs; Rakic: Serbs want to the referendum (RTV/Tanjug)
• EU, US call on Pristina to allow Serbs to vote in referendum (Tanjug/RTS)
• Vucic: Gratitude for Egypt’s understanding for Serbia’s positions on the Kosovo and Metohija issue (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Selakovic calls on citizens to support constitutional changes in referendum (Beta)
• Djilas says elections boil down to choosing whether or not we want a normal life (Nedeljnik/Beta)
• OSCE Head draws fierce criticism from Serbian opposition leader (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• German Embassy to B&H: Bilateral funds for B&H will not be allocated to RS (O Kanal)
• EC: Varhelyi’s statements on B&H are in line with stances of EU and EC (Nezavisne)
• Kukic decides to leave post after US sanctions imposed against him (O Kanal)
• US Embassy condemns incident in Buzim; No comment from Office of the High Representative; Vucic says he is not surprised by lack of reaction (ATV)
• Vidovic, Petkovic, Dragisic, Karan summoned for questioning by B&H Prosecutor’s Office in relation to attack on constitutional order of B&H (N1)
• Izetbegovic on current political, security situation in B&H with representatives of the B&H Association of Generals and unilateral moves form RS: Institutional response is necessary (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia
• Plenkovic: Croatia is against any kind of separatist tendencies in B&H (HRT1)
• Pupovac: Peaceful reintegration helped restore inter-ethnic trust (Hina)
Montenegro
• Ruling parties to raise the issue of no confidence in the government (RTCG)
• Minority government until the election a good solution (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• A day after his dire warning, Nikola Dimitrov calls on the EU not to allow Macedonia to suffer another defeat (Republika)
• SDSM and DUI are likely preparing another referendum as an excuse to impose a new treaty with Bulgaria (Republika)
• Pendarovski postponed meeting with representatives of Macedonians in Bulgaria because of the pandemic (Nezavisen.mk)
• Bomgartner: There is no deadline for negotiations with Macedonia (Nezavisen.mk)
Albania
• DP factions rule out compromise following violent clashes (Tirana Times)
• Meta meeting with Becirovic: EU membership for Albania and North Macedonia, contribution to peace consolidation (Radio Tirana)