Belgrade Media Report 16 February 2022

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United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Wednesday 16 February 2022
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Future of Serbia’s policy lies in independence (Tanjug/Politika/RTS/RTV)
• Brnabic: Serbia follows path of progress, statehood (RTS/Politika/Tanjug)
• Officials of countries worldwide congratulate Vucic on occasion of Statehood Day (Tanjug)
• Selakovic receives congratulatory note from Chinese Foreign Minister (Tanjug)
• Selakovic: Strengthening political dialogue, economic cooperation with Cameroon (RTV/Tanjug)
• Brnabic: Serbia continues to help Serbs from entire region (Tanjug)
• Dacic calls local elections for 3 April (Tanjug/RTS)
• Vucic calls parliamentary elections for 3 April (Tanjug/RTS)
• Brnabic shocked by Heinrich Bell Foundation chief’s interview (TV Happy/Nova)
• Ponos goes to Kosovo, draws fierce reaction from Serbian authorities (N1)
• Selakovic: They are twisting our arm about Kosovo in vain (Novosti)
• Angry drivers cause incidents at protest (N1)
• New provocations from Buzim with shouts ‘Allah Akbar’ (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Komsic congratulates Kosovo Independence Day to Kosovo President Osmani (BHT1)
• Kovacevic: Komsic’s congratulating Kosovo Independence Day is provocation; Kosovo is part of Serbia for B&H (RTRS)
• Second gathering under wartime flags of ARBiH in Buzim in past month sparks fierce reactions in the RS (EuroBlic)
• Embassies in B&H fail to react to gathering in Buzim and open calls for conflict (ATV)
• Roth on Russian relations with Dodik: EU needs to take stance because Russia continues to threaten peace in B&H and region (Nova BH)
• Dodik: I do not want war, that is not our agenda; I will not sacrifice peace for status of the RS (Financial Times/Dnevni list)
• FB&H Association of Judges expresses full support to B&H HJPC (Oslobodjenje)
• RS Ministry of Health and Social Protection responds to claims there will be no formation of RS agency for medicinal products and medical devices (RTRS)
• Orasac hosts central ceremony of marking of Serbian Statehood Day; Dodik: Serbs have two states – RS and Serbia (RTRS)
• Dodik meets Vucic; Dodik: RS is fighting for its constitutional position in B&H (RTRS)
• Becirovic: Messages about existence of two Serb states unreasonable and anti-Dayton; Salkic that the RS is neither the state, nor it is a second Serb state (Hayat)
• Mecacci meets with IAWG; Borenovic: For half of meeting, participants were forced to listen to frustrations of HDZ B&H and SNSD in regards to election of CEC members (FTV)
• Covic: HNS’ decisions and conclusions will be mandatory for all Croat officials, without exception (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• Ministers say Croatia and Kosovo will boost cooperation in transport, infrastructure (Hina)
• Croatian Prime Minister says NATO poses no threat to anyone (Hina)
Montenegro
• Djuraskovic: SDP and Old Guard of LSCG agree on cooperation in Cetinje (CdM)
• Becic: Democratic principle happened in Cetinje (CdM)
• Montenegrin officials congratulate the Statehood Day of Serbia (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• The parties found a field for a political contest (DW/Libertas)
Albania
• Rama meeting with Blinken in the US: We are proud to be your allies (Radio Tirana)
• Rama: Blinken gave 100% consent for the continuation of Open Balkans (Radio Tirana)
• Milo: Albania in SC will be a spokesperson for Kosovo and the entire region (Radio Tirana/RTSH)
• President Meta’s criminal indictment against parliament (ADN)

Belgrade Media Report 14 February 2022

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United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Monday 14 February 2022
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Serbia should not recognize Kosovo in any way (TV Prva/B92)
• Dacic: EU diplomats don’t have to come to ceremony if Dodik bothers them (FoNet/Blic)
• Selakovic: Support of Sao Tome and Principe on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija is of great importance for Serbia (RTS/Politika)
• Selakovic: Cooperation between Serbia and Sao Tome and Principe continues to deepen (RTV)
• Selakovic: Strengthening political, economic cooperation with Gabon (Tanjug/Politika/RTS)
• Selakovic: Serbia to continue to strengthen ties with US (Novosti)
• Petkovic: Osmani’s statement is absurd (Tanjug)
• SNS Presidency and Main Board sessions: Vucic to be the holder of all SNS lists during elections (B92/RTS/N1/Beta/Novosti)
• Dacic to head SPS list in parliamentary, Belgrade elections (Beta)
• Ponos: The fact that authorities are attacking means I pose a threat to them (FoNet)
• Godfrey: When I had to, I conveyed harsh messages, my successor will not be a ‘bad cop (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Media report on EU countries cancelling attendance at Serbia Statehood Day ceremony due to announced Dodik’s presence; Dodik: There is no reason why I should not be there, as well as RS leadership (N1)
• Borrell discusses B&H crisis with political leaders (ATV)
• Dodik: Schmidt cannot annul law adopted by RS parliament (Nova BH)
• Stevandic: RS must be ready for provocations and incidents because policy denying Serbs right to decide on their interests has experienced total failure (Nezavisne)
• SDA: Laws on HJPC, property and medicines direct attack on B&H Constitution and DPA and must be annulled (Hayat)
• FB&H parties comment RS parliament decisions; Call on Schmidt to react (N1)
• Power: RS is playing with fire (Dnevni avaz)
• OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call on RS parliament to withdraw Draft Law on RS HJPC (O Kanal)
• Della Vedova pays visit to B&H: We talked to Dodik about overall situation and we expressed concern due to decisions passed in the RS (Oslobodjenje)
• Dodik on video recording from Buzim: SDA is gathering veterans to mobilize them but there will be no war; Dodik accuses IC and West of supporting Islamic extremism in B&H (RTRS)
• Becirovic addresses Ambassadors and international organizations in B&H on attempts of Vucic to deny B&H CC’s decisions on state property (Dnevni list)
• Spiric: Complaints about Vucic begin when he comments on state of B&H, but not when he donates funds (ATV)
• State Department: Now is the time to focus on fundamental but meaningful and achievable reforms of rule of law, election and economic reforms (Dnevni avaz)
• B&H CEC: There are no legal grounds for postponement of elections (BHT1)
Croatia
• Picula: Forming pact with Dodik means you would get ‘Greater Serbia’ on Croatia’s doorstep (Vecernji list)
• Picula: Croatia should have developed a lot more active policy towards its neighborhood (Slobodna dalmacija)
• Croats in B&H, as least numerical people, must have special treatment (Vecernji list)
• Plenkovic welcomes continuation of electoral reform talks between Croat and Bosniak parties in Sarajevo Thursday (HRT)
• ‘Hrvatska matica’ wants from Presidents Biden, Macron, Chancellor Scholz, Pope Francis and UN SG Guterres to defend Croats in B&H (Vecernji list)
Montenegro
• No quick deal: Becic’s successor and the new government in March (Vijesti)
• URA: We’ve talked to DPS, DF, SD, SNP and minority parties, for now only Democrats aren’t taking part in talks (CdM)
• Koprivica: Abazovic a bridge to DPS, we continue protests (CdM)
• Mandic: If someone from For the Future of Montenegro coalition or three coalitions makes a deal with DPS, DF’ll block entire Montenegro (CdM)
• Abazovic: I’d sign fundamental agreement; I don’t see it being a problem (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Fourth expert meeting between Macedonia and Bulgaria ends without result (BNR/Republika)
Albania
• Rama-Blinken meet after decision to co-draft Russia-Ukraine issue stance (ADN)

Belgrade Media Report 11 February

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LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: Invitation to French companies to invest in Serbia (Tanjug/RTS)
Godfrey: Disappointed over Brnabic’s accusing US of financing ecological protests (Nedeljnik/Beta)
Serbia, Equatorial Guinea on path to strengthening cooperation (RTV/Tanjug)
Ponos: “Trained dogs” released, owner responsible (N1)
Opposition en route to securing 17,000 supervisors at voting stations (Nova/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

RS parliament adopts Law on Immovable Property, Draft Law on RS HJPC; Opposition and ruling majority exchange accusations (ATV)
PIC Ambassadors hold urgent session (Dnevni avaz)
Cvijanovic: PIC is once again trying to find ways in which it could make decisions and act on behalf of domestic institutions in B&H (Nova BH)
Stano: EU is ready to use all instruments to help B&H overcome crisis; FAC to discuss situation in B&H (Dnevni avaz)
MEPs Burkhardt and Koster call on EU to show solidarity with democratic partners in B&H and impose strict sanctions against Dodik (O Kanal)
US Embassy: Creating new HJPC will allow criminals to prosper and corruption to flourish (Dnevni avaz)
Dodik says that law on RS HJPC might enter into force 90 days after adoption (RTRS)
Covic sees nothing disputable regarding formation of RS HJPC (ATV)
Komsic: HR must annul unconstitutional laws (Hayat)
Osmanovic on RS parliament decisions: This happened due to lack of strong and concrete action of OHR and HR Schmidt (Nova BH)
Dodik: Russia has never been imposing solutions as Western representatives (RTRS)
Papandreou: Imposing of sanctions against RS is not good method (RTRS)
Negotiations on changing B&H Election Law continue in Sarajevo; Stances remain same; Izetbegovic mentions option to move elections for November, December (O Kanal)
Komsic changes his mind about visiting Kosovo and Metohija; Kovacevic claims Komsic is hypocritical (ATV)
Croatia

Croatian and Greek PMs call for defusing tensions between Ukraine and Russia (Hina)
Montenegro

Abazovic: I am in favor of the DF being a part of the government forming process (RTCG)
Sehovic and Abazovic talked about the minority government (CdM)
Mandic: Abazovic says he wants agreement within parliamentary majority, consultations with Djukanovic next week (CdM)
Krapovic: My priorities are not the Fundamental Agreement, the Open Balkans and the Census (CdM)
Markovic: Fundamental Agreement and census should be dealt with by strong, not minority govt; Bulatovic: It’s deceit of citizens (Pobjeda)
Albania

Constitutional changes to vetting approved, parties respond to international calls (Radio Tirana)
Soreca: Historic moment! This was a vote for Albania’s future in the EU (Radio Tirana)
Zingraf: This is a vote for Albania’s future in the EU (Radio Tirana)
OSCE: Completion of justice reform crucial (Radio Tirana)

Belgrade Media Report 10 February 2022

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United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Thursday 10 February 2022
LOCAL PRESS

• Serbian parliament approves constitutional amendments (Tanjug/RTS)
• EU: Serbia free to sign agreement with China, but needs to cancel it upon entry into EU (Beta)
• Stefanovic meets with Russian Ambassador (Tanjug/RTV)
• Serbian Patriarch says Kosovo dialogue is duty and mission (N1/Politika)
• Peach: Britain supports Belgrade-Pristina dialogue with EU mediation (RTV/Tanjug)
• ZSO must not be deprived of content (Politika)
• US Ambassador releases memory video before leaving Serbia (N1)
• Diplomacy privatized for destroying of RS (Novosti)
• Momcilo Babic is the new Serbian Ambassador to Russia (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• RS parliament discusses proposal of law on origin of property (RTRS)
• RS parliament discusses changes to Law on Republic Administration which stipulates establishment of Agency for Medicines and Medicinal Devices of RS (Oslobodjenje)
• RS parliament starts discussion on RS HJPC on Wednesday but they interrupt it and schedule it for Thursday; Dodik: I will personally advocate for law on RS HJPC to be implemented within 90 days after its adoption in March (BHT1)
• HJPC B&H: Latest activities of RS authorities on adoption of draft law on formation of HJPC RS violate constitutional order of B&H (BHT1)
• Zvizdic: Prosecutor’s Office of B&H and B&H CC can react to unconstitutional action by RS representatives (O Kanal)
• SDA officials criticize RS parliament conclusions (AJB)
• RS Representation Office in Brussels: RS respects constitutional organization of B&H (RTRS)
• Sarovic: If Komsic visited Kosovo as Presidency member, it would be diplomatic scandal (Nezavisne)
• Schmidt welcomes willingness to continue negotiation on improving Election Law (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia
• Croatian and Kosovo agriculture ministers meet in Zagreb (Hina)
Montenegro
• Protest in Podgorica: People of Montenegro, get ready for the elections (RTCG)
• Democrats: Abazovic stands behind arrests; He owes us an apology (CdM)
• Djukanovic expects a report on consultations today (Pobjeda)
• Djukanovic: There’s high level of concurrence, government should be elected quickly (CdM)
• Without the support of SDP, if the goals are Fundamental Agreement, the census, Vucic’s initiatives (RTCG)
• Maddocks: Both new government and elections legitimate solutions (RTNK)
Albania
• Internationals increase pressure on MPs to extend vetting bodies’ mandate (Tirana Times)
• Meta: My mandate ends on 24 July, there will be no dismissal (Radio Tirana)
• Rama meets Kim prior to his visit to Washington DC (Radio Tirana)