United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Tuesday 4 January 2022

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Serbia always ready for dialogue, but without dictate (Tanjug/RTS)
• Vucic pleased with acquisition of Kornet missile systems (Tanjug)
• Serbia’s eyes on standards to close Rule of Law Cluster (EurActiv/Beta)
• Selakovic: We must not allow ourselves to suffer in challenging circumstances (Tanjug)
• Selakovic receives New Year’s, Christmas cards from Lavrov (Politika)
• Petkovic: Act of violence (B92)
• Drecun: It is Pristina that is blocking any kind of agreement (TV Pink)
• Gouillon: Kosovo Serbs need solidarity, outreached hand (RTS)
• Serbia’s foreign policy in previous year (Radio Beograd)
• Environmental groups block roads across Serbia (Beta)
• Bishop Grigorije: Stupid to see politics in supporting environmentalist protests (N1)
• Police officers’ singing in Priboj appalled people, Vucic promises reaction (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Schmidt calls for better path in 2022 (Nova BH)
• Komsic congratulates New Year’s Eve to B&H citizens (Nova BH)
• FB&H politicians comment on blockades in FB&H parliament (FTV)
• Cvijanovic talks about challenges and successes of RS in 2021 (RTRS)
• Covic: There will be no B&H without Croats (Dnevni list)
Montenegro
• Krivokapic: Negotiations were held in secret, new government was practically formed (Vijesti)
• Lajcak: I’m very worried because Brussels almost no longer sees Montenegro (Pobjeda)
• Stoltenberg: Montenegro has shown that reforms in the Balkans are possible (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• We expect constructive talks with the new Bulgarian government and a quick unblocking of the process, said Osmani (Republika)
• Mickoski: SDSM is not a factor in the government, DUI governs Macedonia (TV Alfa)
• Western Balkans to be a priority of France’s EU Presidency, but unclear in what form (MIA)
Albania
• Albania takes over its mandate in the UN Security Council, here is the focus (Radio Tirana)
• Barsacq: There should be no division in the EU integration process, between Albania and North Macedonia (EuroNews/Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Thursday 30 December 2021
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: We will defend if Pristina uses violence (Tanjug/RTS/B92)
• Questioning my responsibility for affairs is common phrase, Vucic says (N1)
• Mihajlovic: Rio Tinto has no right to lithium exploitation in Serbia (Insajder/FoNet)
• Cadez: 2022 to be year of big opportunities (Novosti/Tanjug)
• Joksimovic: Referendum an opportunity that should not be missed (Tanjug)
• Professor of law advocates postponement of referendum on constitutional amendments (Beta)
• Lawyer: Those who want to see Serbia in Europe rather than “Serbian world” will vote “yes” in referendum (Politika/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Komsic: Dodik tells people what they want to hear (O Kanal)
• USA will not hesitate (Oslobodjenje)
• If FB&H does not give up, crisis will be solved with breakdown of B&H (Nezavisne novine)
Croatia
• Izetbegovic: We are doing everything so that Croats in B&H feel relaxed, Dodik constantly insults B&H, sometimes Croats and international community (HRT1)
Montenegro
• MPs adopt interpellations for dismissal of Bratic, Stijovic and Radulovic; Prosecutorial Council members elected (CdM)
• Abazovic with Pope Francis in the Vatican (gov.me)
• Cabinet adopts National Employment Strategy until 2025 (gov.me)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Pendarovski gives Kovacevski the mandate to form the next government (Republika)
• Kovacevski plans to propose the government cabinet around 10-11 January (Kanal 5)
• Mickoski: I expect nothing new from Kovacevski, only the continuation of Zaev’s failed policies (Republika)
• A year ago Bulgaria made two unacceptable demands, Foreign Minister Osmani reveals (Republika)
Albania
• Kurti: We thank Rama for the support! (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Wednesday 29 December 2021

LOCAL PRESS

• Finance Committee accepts Serbia-Albania agreement on recognition of security certificates (Tanjug/RTS)
• Godfrey: We call on Kurti to adhere to the Brussels agreement (TV Prva/B92)
• Botsan-Kharchenko presents Stefanovic with medal (Tanjug)
• Stefanovic on the procurement of Cornets: Serbia has a powerful weapon now (RTS)
• Dacic: 15 February deadline for dissolution of parliament (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Djilas convinced of opposition victory in elections for Belgrade mayor and presidential race (Nova/Beta)
• Dveri: Vucic changing Constitution according to dictate from Brussels (Beta)
• Vucic’s claim: “I’m not often on TV” declared lie of 2021 (Istinomer/N1/NSPM)
• Locals appalled by President Vucic’s statement about Rio Tinto; New roadblocks (N1/nova.rs)
• Working Group for Security, Protection of Journalists holds meeting (Novosti)
• EU: Goal for 2022 to envision solution for W. Balkans stalemate (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Sarovic: Autonomy of RS, FB&H is product of DPA (VoA/BNTV/N1)
• Dodik: Sarovic is best proof how international community led by US disciplines politicians in RS through B&H judiciary (Srna)
• Lukac and Kasipovic questioned at B&H Prosecutor’s Office (RTRS)
• US Embassy to B&H rejects rhetoric encouraging division of B&H (FTV)
Croatia
• Dodik: There can be no B&H without third entity (HRT1)
Montenegro
• Draft Economic Recovery Platform for 2022-2026 presented (gov.me)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovacevski informed Byrnes that as soon as he becomes Prime Minister, he will immediately invite Petkov to a meeting (Republika)
• Mickoski: We will not support or respect an agreement that is detrimental to our interests (Macedonian Radio)
• Speaker Xhaferi refuses opposition request for a final chance to question Zaev and his ministers (Republika)
Albania
• Pacolli thanked Rama for solving the momentarily energy crisis in Kosovo (Radio Tirana)
• Albanian Army to establish a unit for cyber defense (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Rio Tinto project in Serbia still on (Tanjug/RTS)
Mihajlovic: Gold extraction by cyanide leaching out of question (Tanjug)
Selakovic thanks Azerbaijan for firm stance on Kosovo and Metohija (Politika/Tanjug)
Odalovic banned from entering Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTS/RTV Gracanica)
Media in Serbia dispassionate about Interim Supervisory Body’s work (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Akar: We view the people of B&H as one people (N1/BNTV)
Dodik: US diplomats are forcing unitarization of B&H under excuse of its functionality (RTRS/ATV)
RS politicians, analysts comment on change of Dodik’s rhetoric compared to his rhetoric at beginning of 2000s (BNTV)
Borrell: This year escalation and sharpening of rhetoric of divisions in Western Balkans hampered efforts to bring six countries of Western Balkans closer to their European future (RTRS)
Montenegro

Krivokapic: If proposed 2022 budget proves unsustainable, government to resign (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia

Kovacevski officially nominated prime minister-designate of the new government (Republika/TV21)
Ahmeti says gap with Bulgaria being bridged, urges respect for Friendship Treaty (Republika)

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: No alternative to implementation of Brussels agreement (Jedinstvo/Tanjug)
Vucic about the referendum: I will invite people to vote, in order to raise awareness (TV Prva)
Vucic speaks with Putin, Serbia to have sufficient gas supplies this winter (Tanjug)
Godfrey: US striving to support Serbia in its developmental goals (RTS)
Office for Kosovo and Metohija: Albanian hooligans won’t even let deceased Serbs rest in peace (Tanjug/RTS)
Can Inzko’s law be ‘fixed’ (Politika)
UNPROFOR was ‘clay pigeon’ for Stuart Peach (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dodik obstructs adoption of all agenda items at B&H Presidency Session (O Kanal/BHT1)
Dodik addresses press conference in Istocno Sarajevo after he votes against all items on agenda of session (BNTV)
Dodik: Foreigners who cause disorder in B&H represent problem (Die Welt/RTRS)
Cubrilovic, former RS parliament speakers, speakers of both Houses at B&H parliament sign joint statement on non-acceptance of violation of DPA (O Kanal)
EC warns RS officials of consequences if RS Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices is established (O Kanal)
IZ B&H Assembly adopts resolution on need to preserve peace in B&H (BHT1)
Turkovic sends letter to EU officials regarding Orban’s claims on Muslims in B&H (BHT1)
Cvijanovic says letter of Turkovic to EU officials is aimed to exert pressure (Srna)
Schmidt urges limited constitutional reform and changes to Election Law (AJB)
Who is Mister Schmidt representing in B&H? (Oslobodjenje, by Vildana Selimbegovic)
Botsan-Kharchenko: Biggest obstacle in facing political crisis and for stabilization of B&H is outdated institution of HR (Glas Srpske)
Croatia

Milanovic: Quite a vibrant democracy is functioning in Kosovo (HRT1)
Montenegro

Nikolic: Election of Prosecutorial Council members without broader agreement would block European path (Pobjeda)
Medojevic: Proposed budget is anti-government and treacherous, but I don’t want to destroy unity of DF and parliamentary majority (Pobjeda)
Zivkovic: Krivokapic a political grandmaster compared to DF; Radunovic: We control government (CdM)
Ibrahimovic: Political events confirm correctness of our idea of a minority government (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia

Oliver Spasovski resigned as Vice President of SDSM (Republika)
Almost half of the deadline for Pendarovski to give the mandate has passed (Republika)