United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Wednesday 24 November 2021
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Serbia demands dialogue with Pristina at all levels (Tanjug/RTS)
• Vucic: Serbia's economic progress also due to ties with Russia, China (Solovyev Live/Tanjug/Politika/RTS/RTV)
• Brnabic: 2022 Budget to secure economic growth, higher standard of living (RTS/Tanjug)
• Mihajlovic: Unacceptable pressure on Kosovo Serbs (RTV/RTS)
• Selakovic: Relations and cooperation with France developing in spirit of strategic partnership (Beta)
• Mojsilovic with NATO official about cooperation between Serbia and NATO (Tanjug)
• Lajcak: Lengthy, detailed discussion with Vucic (Beta)
• EU’s Min: No support for opening of new clusters with Serbia; note some progress (N1)
• ISAC Fund says majority of Serbians see Russia as ally, oppose NATO membership (FoNet)
• Pristina again bans Petkovic from visiting Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik meets with Vucic ahead Vucic’s meeting with Putin (RTRS)
• MEPs discuss situation in B&H: No one can endanger DPA and call B&H's integrity into question (FTV)
• Dutch parliament raises initiative on imposing EU sanctions against Dodik (BHT1)
• Schmidt: RS army will not be formed (N1/VoA)
• Stoltenberg: Inflammatory rhetoric in RS is concerning (BHT1)
• Schmid stresses need for B&H institutions to start functioning in full capacity (O Kanal)
• Covic talks to Plenkovic, Grushko, focus on Law on Elections (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• Grlic Radman and Varhelyi discuss situation in B&H and Western Balkans (Vecernji list)
• Croatian parliament’s Committee for Croats outside Croatia discuss electoral reform in B&H (HRT)
Montenegro
• Krivokapic, Varhelyi: Continued reforms will lead to Montenegro's membership in the EU (Gov. Press service)
• Krivokapic attends a working breakfast with GAC ministers in Brussels (Gov. Press service)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Bulgaria’s veto remains, Macedonia did not meet the criteria for start of EU accession negotiations (Republika/BNR/MIA)
Albania
• Slovenian EU presidency: A few more weeks to unblock Bulgarian veto; Hopes for solution (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic accuses international community of hypocrisy (Beta/RTS/Tanjug/Politika)
Vucic nearly absolutely certain Spain will not change stance on Kosovo (Tanjug/Politika)
Vucic: Relations with Holy See based on mutual respect, trust (Tanjug/Politika)
Brnabic: Serbia committed to improving relations with Holy See (Tanjug/Politika)
Gratitude to the Holy See for principled support on the Kosovo issue (Tanjug/Politika/RTS/RTV)
Vulin: Kosovo won’t be admitted to Interpol (Beta)
Dacic: Law on referendum must be adopted now (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Iancu sends letter to Tegeltija demanding urgent meeting with B&H Fiscal Council (FTV)
Turkovic meets with OSCE Secretary General Schmid: Blockade of progress and arbitrary interpretation of DPA in B&H have raised concerns (FTV)
Schmidt meets US National Security Advisor Sullivan; Sullivan expresses US support to HR and mandate to oversee civilian implementation of DPA (Dnevi avaz)
OHR forming working group of experts to assist in drafting law on management and use of state property in B&H (FTV)
Dodik: OHR does not exist as legal category (ATV)
Dodik, Kalabukhov, Jefrem visit construction site of Serb-Russian church; Dodik: Big and powerful Russia, which witnessed signing of DPA, is still here to ensure its implementation (ATV)
Vucic denies that he and Dodik will travel to Russia together (ATV)
Opposition leaders still have not responded to Dodik’s invitation to meet and discuss restoration of competences (Nezavisne)
Izetbegovic at public forum in Brussels: B&H has sent too many its warriors all over the world (Dnevni list)
Dodik criticizes Izetbegovic’s statement that B&H citizens were one people a few centuries ago (ATV)
‘United Srpska’ believe that Izetbegovic’s behavior is just continuation of implementation of SDA’s ‘Islamic Declaration’; Other reactions (ATV)
Croatian Embassy: Izetbegovic presented numerous unacceptable thesis (ATV)
Croatia

HNS criticizes Izetbegovic’s statements, saying that he made warmongering statements and denied war crimes of B&H Army, continuing to promote B&H as SDA’s bey-land (Vecernji list)
Ljubic: Problem in B&H is disrespect for principle of constituent peoples (HRT1)
Plaque commemorating Croatia and Slovenia's cooperation in 1990s war unveiled (Hina)
Macron to visit Croatia: Rafale purchase agreement, support for Schengen and the Eurozone (HRT)
Montenegro

Abazovic in Germany: We want to change the image of the Western Balkans (Gov. Press service)
Republic of North Macedonia

TRAGEDY: 46 dead in a Macedonian bus fire in Bulgaria (Republika/MIA)
Albania

Albania and Kosovo conclude negotiations for the recognition of social security (Radio Tirana)
Bulgarian veto / US ultimatum to Sofia: You have 40 days for Albania and North Macedonia (Radio Tirana/VoA)

United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Monday 22 November 2021
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Kurti’s statement can destabilize entire region (Tanjug/Politika/Novosti/RTS/RTV)
• Selakovic: Von Cramon’s task is satanization of Serbia (RTV/Tanjug)
• Petkovic: International community should react to Kurti’s statement (Beta)
• Petkovic: Pristina must talk about forming ZSO (Novosti)
• Dacic: First the should change the name because Kosovo is a Serbian word (RTV/Novosti/Kosovo online)
• Adviser to the UN Secretary-General: Please remove the Mladic mural (N1)
• CoE officials call Serbian authorities to remove Mladic mural (N1)
• Case of Mladic’s mural part of well-designed and coordinated strategy aimed against Belgrade and Banjaluka (Novosti)
• Serbian opposition parties expect agreement on elections (Nova/N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Sunday marked 26th anniversary of initialing of Dayton Peace Agreement (FTV)
• Dodik writes to Maas, says Maas based his opinion on misinformation and wrong interpretations (ATV)
• Dzaferovic, Komsic send letters to heads of states, governments, members of PIC, EC, CoE saying activities of RS jeopardize peace in B&H (ATV)
• Lukac: Fight for transfer of competencies to entity level, as envisaged by DPA, will be political one; war or conflict are not option (RTRS)
• RS authorities call on opposition to discuss key issues for RS (RTRS)
• Meeting of opposition in RS postponed due to Sarovic's obligations; Dodik says he is ready for talks on RS regardless of who initiator is (ATV)
Croatia
• Grlic Radman meets with B&H High Representative at Halifax Forum (HRT)
Montenegro
• Knezevic: DF to offer on Monday its last offer to get out of crisis, Abazovic wants to be PM (CdM)
• DPM Abazovic pays working visit to Germany (Gov. Press service)
• DF: Djukanovic violated the Constitution; DPS: Attempt to compromise (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Dimitrievski: I do not want to elect a puppet leader who will be in the function of the former leadership (TV Sitel)
• Talks with Alternative continue, Zaev will resign next week in SDSM (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Negotiations more important than EU membership (MIA)
• Zaev, Duda: EU enlargement must continue (MIA)
Albania
• The Embassy of Peace for the Balkans inaugurated in Tirana (Radio Tirana)
• Meta: Albania should fulfill all obligations of Albania as a member of NATO (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Selakovic with Giaufret, EU ambassadors: Pristina persistently avoids fulfilling its own obligations (Tanjug/RTV/RTS)
Dacic and Nderitu discuss situation in region (Beta/RTS)
Matic: New measures announced by Pristina gross violation of CEFTA agreement (RTS/Tanjug)
Petkovic: Pristina not interested in normalization (Tanjug/RTV)
Lajcak: Second meeting held of Working Group on License Plates between Belgrade and Pristina (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Field: Sanctions are relevant and on the table; Best sanctions are actually domestic sanctions coming on the day of the elections and from local courts (AJB)
Szijjarto says Hungary will not oppose any concrete position, but does not think sanctions by EU are number one tool to achieve desired results (BHT1)
Tegeltija discusses cooperation and European integration with Szijjarto: Tegeltija: B&H political crisis should be resolved through internal dialogue rather than imposed solutions (FTV)
Cvijanovic meets Sattler; Cvijanovic: RS is committed to resolving open political issues in B&H through dialogue and without threats and imposition of solutions (ATV)
Cubrilovic meets Sattler; Cubrilovic: Agreement should be reached by domestic political leaders who can make enforceable decisions (BN TV)
Cubrilovic, Uebber discuss current situation in B&H; Cubrilovic: Solution for political situation in B&H can be achieved only by respecting all three constituent peoples (RTRS)
Law on Medicines and Medical Devices of RS not endorsed in RS CoP, Bosniak Caucus in RS CoP invokes mechanism for protection of VNI (FTV)
RTRS investigates who intimidates population by talking about possible consequences of regaining competencies (RTRS)
Croatia

Ljubic writes to EU and USA: B&H is threatened with ‘Cyprian scenario, Law on Elections prevents that (Vecernji list)
Slovenian Minister says Croatia should join Schengen, supports border fences (Hina)
Croatian Ambassador called to Austrian foreign ministry over Milanovic’s comment (Hina)
Montenegro

Montenegrin statehood can’t be questioned while striving for EU membership (Dnevne novine)
DF: Djukanovic violated the Constitution; DPS: Attempt to compromise (RTCG)
Krivokapic meets with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic Buric (Gov. Press service)
Krivokapic, Buquicchio: Prosecutorial and judicial independence must be a priority (Gov. Press service)
Krivokapic meets with ECHR President Robert Spano (Gov. Press service)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev: We do not expect early elections until the regular ones in 2024 (Libertas)
Pendarovski: I did not disappear for Mickoski when he was trying to form a parliamentary majority (Nezavisen vesnik)
Bulgaria says it will not support the start of EU negotiations with Macedonia (Republika/BGNES)
Albania

In official visit to Italy, Rama seeks renewed bilateral relations, support on EU challenges (Tirana Times)

United Nations Office in Belgrade
Daily Media Highlights
Thursday 18 November 2021
LOCAL PRESS

• Selakovic: Serbia for lasting peace and stability in Western Balkans (mfa.gov.rs)
• Selakovic: Intense dialogue with high EU officials (Beta)
• Popovic: Numerous bilateral agreements with Russian Federation being prepared (Tanjug)
• Drecun: Pristina playing games, EU should return mandate to UN (TV Prva/Tanjug)
• America launches attack on Dodik and RS (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Chollet ends visit to B&H, says US and European partners will continue to sanction destabilizing conduct and put focus on corruptive networks (O Kanal/EurActiv/AP)
• Nelson: US’ clear message that B&H must move forward and implement reforms (BN TV)
• Blinken’s letter calls on B&H Presidency members to commit to de-escalation of current political crisis in B&H and to get engaged in program of reforms (FTV)
• RFE learns that Germany has launched issue of imposing sanctions against RS officials who endanger DPA (O Kanal/RFE)
• Zakharova: Moscow is convinced that Maas’ biased assessment regarding internal crisis in B&H is disastrous (RTRS)
• Letter of Blinken sparks reactions; Dodik: In case of sanctions, our moves will be even more radical (ATV)
• Sarovic says that people need to be convinced that they should not go into adventurism and endanger RS because they do not need any other agreement for B&H besides DPA (BN TV)
• Covic says sanctions have never been part of solution, he sees solution to current political crisis in amending Election Law of B&H (FTV)
• Instead of talks, Sarajevo believes only in sanctions against Dodik (EuroBlic)
• Vucic says it is important for Serbia to preserve peace in B&H at any cost, sanctions do not bring good to anyone (FTV)
Montenegro
• Minister Radulovic meets with MEPs in Brussels (Gov. Press service)
• Djukanovic: I believe we’ll be first next EU member (CdM)
• Djukanovic: We’ll support every initiative for government removal; goal is not for it to be launched, but to be successful (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Lorer: 14 December unrealistic date as deadline for resolving dispute between Sofia and Skopje (Republika/BTV/Tribuna)
• Brussels should not play with feelings of citizens, there should be a date for negotiations (Republika/Telma TV)
Albania
• Draghi: We fully support the EU integration of Albania (Radio Tirana)
• Foreign Minister of Italy, Di Maio: Albania a close partner of Italy (Radio Tirana)