LOCAL PRESS

Remembrance Day of killed and expelled Serbs in operation Storm marked(Tanjug/RTS/Politika)
Obradovic: We decided to respond to President’s invitation after learning that their opposition will be present at the meeting with RS political representatives (Tanjug)
Opposition to merge with authorities? (Novosti)
EU: Serbia must adjust its system to join Eurodac (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Schmidt addresses press conference: B&H will not become centralized state, but its functionality must be improved (BHT1)
RS political leadership meets political leadership of Serbia (RTRS/FTV)
Leaders of all political parties in the RS and Serbia hold meeting in Belgrade; Comments (RTRS)
Viskovic: We must all take our tasks seriously and preserve unity we have achieved through conclusions of RS parliament (ATV)
Dodik: Only solution is for B&H to break up (RTRS)
Komsic, Kalabukhov meet and express readiness to work on improving of bilateral relations (Dnevni avaz)
NATO approves B&H’s status of operational partner of NATO Mission in Iraq (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia

Vukovar: Common wreath laid and candles lit (HRT)
The 26th anniversary of the operation Storm is being marked, and the entire state leadership is expected in Knin (Hina)
Montenegro

Krivokapic: I mourn the innocent victims and expelled Serbs in the operation Storm (MN. PM Twitter)
Republic of North Macedonia

Government recommended to declare 30-day nationwide state of crisis (TV21)
EU activates Civil Protection Mechanism to help various regions in the Mediterranean and the Western Balkans to fight devastating fires (Republika)
Albania

Meta and Basha expressed gratitude for EU support in combating fires (Radio Tirana)
Albanian arrested for arson in North Macedonia (ADN)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wedne​sday 4 August 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Imposed decisions are never good, all three peoples in B&H must agree with all decisions (RTS)
Stefanovic: Operation Storm not an operation to liberate, but shameful expulsion of Serbs (FoNet)
Vulin: Operation Storm was biggest ethnic cleansing since WWII (Beta)
Vulin says FBI not involved in breaking up crime group (N1)
Stefanovic denies saying FBI helped in bringing down crime clan (N1/B92)
Popovic: The plan is to weaken us (Novosti)
Tegeltija: Moves of RS were extorted (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Schmidt meets B&H Presidency members, Dodik fails to attend the meeting; Schmidt: We will return B&H to international agenda (O Kanal)
Dodik: B&H does not have High Representative (RTRS)
Sarovic welcomes Schmidt’s decision to look for compromise (RTRS)
Kalabukhov: Russia advocates respect for norms of international law and absence of consent of UN SC to Schmidt's appointment deprives him of necessary legitimacy to be HR in B&H (BHT1/Srna)
Starovic says Schmidt’s thanks to Inzko for imposing of prohibition of genocide denial was not friendly gesture (Srna/Glas Srpske)
Linta: Certain Western power centers are responsible for crisis in B&H because they supported Inzko’s decision and Schmidt’s appointment (Nezavisne)
Tabakovic: Bosniak Caucus does not believe RS CC will grant its motion regarding RS parliament’s conclusions on Inzko’s decision (Hayat)
Petkovic says only Constitutional Court of RS can examine legality of law adopted by RS parlaiment on non-implementation of Inzko’s prohibition of genocide denial (Srna/Nezavisne)
Vulic: Izetbegovic is leading retaliatory policy aimed against RS and Serbs (Glas Srpske)
Cikotic: SIPA is active all over B&H, will continue its work in interest of all citizens of B&H (Dnevni list)
HNS on SDA’s conclusions: 18 unitary demands for continuation of discrimination, for taking control over judiciary and for elimination of non-Bosniaks from all elements of B&H society (Dnevni list)
Izetbegovic says SDA will not one-sidedly accommodate proposals of HDZ B&H, reminds SDA too has its own demands (Dnevni list)
HNC Assembly adopts amendments to HNC Constitution on constituency of Serb people and Bosnian language (N1)
Schmidt welcomes decision of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton to amend Constitution to recognize equality of Serb people and Bosnian language (FTV)
It is still unclear if Open Balkans initiative will be accepted by all countries in the region (Nezavisne)
Kosarac: Open Balkans initiative is opportunity for prosperity of entire region (Glas Srpske)
Croatia

Grlic Radman: High Representative in B&H remnant of past (Hina/FAZ)
Bosniak wartime internees resent Milanovic’s decision to decorate HVO units (Hina)
Montenegro

Krivokapic and Rama open joint border crossing between Montenegro and Albania (Gov. Press Service)
Republic of North Macedonia

Serbia sends four helicopters to extinguish fires in parts of the country; Serbian Interior Minister Vulin visits fire-hit municipality (Republika)
Albania

Rama: Open Balkans is a comprehensive initiative that targets all countries in the region (Radio Tirana)
Grenell: Kosovo was wrong for not taking part in the Open Balkans. I support Rama’s vision for the Balkans. I love Albania and I invite US investors in the country (Radio Tirana/News24)

LOCAL PRESS

Selakovic: If Pristina violates obligations, we know what we need to do (RTS/Tanjug)
Petkovic: Kurti directly undermining dialogue and everything agreed (RTS/Politika)
Election dates leaked from ruling coalition-opposition meeting (N1)
570 attorneys to defend Serbs from persecution! (Novosti)
Inzko violently stamps over law (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Schmidt: I am pleased to have opportunity to serve citizens of B&H (Hayat)
Reception on occasion of official takeover of duty by newly-appointed HR Schmidt held (FTV)
Dodik: RS does not trust either HR or western part of international community (RTRS)
Viskovic: If you have HR, you have protectorate and that means you have no sovereignty (RTRS)
Sarovic: SDS will not accept any use of Bonn powers (BN TV)
Izetbegovic, Osmanovic welcome arrival of new HR Schmidt (FTV)
Niksic hopes that Schmidt’s mandate will be marked by active work (FTV)
SDA Presidency welcomes Inzko’s decision on amending Criminal Code of B&H (Hayat)
Okic: Bosniak Caucus in RS CoP to invoke mechanism for VNI protection (Hayat)
Cikotic and Berger discuss improving of security situation (Dnevni avaz)
HNC Assembly adopts amendments to HNC Constitution giving equality to all peoples with constituent status (Hayat)
Montenegro

Picula: EU won’t tolerate government’s irrationality (Vijesti)
Medojevic: EU should bring Krivokapic and Becic to senses (CdM)
Krivokapic and seven ministers fined (Vijesti)
Konjevic: Krivokapic’s government, a joint project of SPC and Vijesti, seems to be dying out (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Pendarovski-Radev phone call: Bulgaria to send firefighting units to Macedonia (Republika)
Albania

Meta meets Grenell: Promoter of economic cooperation in the region (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 2 August 2021

​
LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Open Balkans is an historic step for the region (Politika)
Vucic: Open Balkans initiative historic (RTS)
Zaev convinced more countries from region will join Open Balkans in spite of negative reactions of Montenegro, B&H and Kosovo (Tanjug/Novosti)
Selakovic: Germany very important political, economic partner of Serbia (Tanjug/RTV)
Visegrad Group welcomes Open Balkans initiative (N1)
Petkovic and Berger on situation in Kosovo and Metohija and Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (RTS)
Dacic: Inter-party dialogue can only succeed if proposals are realistic (RTS)
Medieval monuments in Kosovo remain on UNESCO World Heritage List in danger (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Newly appointed HR Schmidt arrives in B&H, says joint efforts can help B&H return to path of progress (Nova BH)
Dodik: Schmidt is not High Representative (RTRS)
Dodik: Schmidt is not legitimate and not welcome here; RS will not accept new High Representative and will offer strong answer (RTRS)
RS parliament adopts amendments to RS Criminal Code and law on non-implementation of HR Inzko’s decision in RS (RTRS)
RS parliament laws enter into force day after publishing in RS Official Gazette; Bosniak Caucus in RS CoP expected to invoke protection of VNI (N1)
Cubrilovic: Laws adopted by RS parliament are forced solutions for decision made by HR Inzko (ATV)
OHR reminds that HR’s decisions must be implemented, Bosniak Caucus in RS CoP expects from new HR to react before B&H CC is asked to assess constitutionality of RS parliament’s law (BHT1)
PIC SBA strongly condemns escalations of tensions and actions undertaken by RS parliament; Russia does not agree (AJB)
Sarovic: PIC SB exceeds its competences with comments to RS parliament conclusions; PIC should not give lectures to anyone (BN TV)
Vukanovic: Dodik should end coalition with SDA in Srebrenica and remove Durakovic from post; Dodik announces Durakovic’s dismissal (BN TV)
Izetbegovic: Entity parliament cannot impose its will neither on state of B&H nor on OHR (Hayat)
Dzaferovic: Unity of Serb parties is not surprising (O kanal)
Reactions in FB&H: Decisions of RS parliament are legally-groundless and non-binding (N1)
100,000 citizens of RS so far signed petition rejecting imposed decision of outgoing HR Inzko (ATV)
Berger meets B&H Presidency members Dzaferovic and Komsic, members of B&H CEC; Significance of OHR in implementation of new reforms highlighted (AJB)
Izetbegovic attends unveiling of monument in Fazlagica Kula, says they will do everything possible to ‘get revenge in our own way’ (Nezavisne)
Croatia

Inzko’s law: Initiator of changes or road into a bigger chaos? (Slobodna Dalmacija)
Croatia’s PM: Croatia and Kosovo act together in accidents (Hina)
Montenegro

Papovic: Abazovic agreed with Serbian World creators (Vikend novine)
Populism swallowing our reforms, EU silent about Serbian World (Dnevne novine)
Democrats to DF: Go on, overthrow the government, if you dare (CdM)
Krivokapic: I call on all majority parties to elect a non-political Prosecutorial Council (CdM)
Albania

Berisha accuses US Ambassador for racist language (ADN)

LOCAL PRESS

Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania sign three documents for better regional cooperation (Tanjug/RTS)
Vucic: Kurti is wrong, but I have nothing against it (Tanjug/B92/Politika/RTS)
Vucic: Belgrade expects Berlin’s support in dialogue with Pristina (Beta/RTV)
Cadez: Economies got strong political support (FoNet)
Dveri: Union with Montenegro, RS in Serbia’s interest (Beta)
EC denies access to document about non-paper on Western Balkan borders (Beta/APA/N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

B&H CoM’s session cancelled due to Serb political representatives’ boycott (O kanal)
EU officials from Brussels warn that blockade of B&H institutions is unacceptable (AJB)
B&H institutions faced with blockade as RS representatives in B&H institutions continue to boycott their work; Izetbegovic comment on current situation (N1)
Sarovic: Srebrenica should be place of reconciliation, we will never be opposition to RS (Dnevni list)
Stevandic says survey on 10,000 citizens of RS show that 95.7 percent of them do not support HR’s decision (RTRS)
Inzko says reactions from RS to his decision to prohibit genocide denial were even milder than expected (Dnevni list)
Covic: Inzko came to B&H as friend yet he is leaving as someone who significantly set back projects in B&H (FTV)
Dodik: I am willing to resign from post of B&H Presidency member but I demand that new Serb member is not elected (Nova BH/ATV)
Dodik causes uproar with statements about police and acting against SIPA (Nova BH)
RS government approves two law proposals ahead of RS parliament session (BN TV/BHT1)
Dzaferovic says facts established by courts cannot be punishable under any law (BHT1)
Ahmetovic: RS is genocidal trophy which lives on (Oslobodjenje)
Borenovic: Opposition does not wish to be part of SNSD-led government (BN TV)
Impact of HR’s decision on judiciary, journalists, security agencies (FTV/BHT1)
HR’s decision to impose law banning genocide denial causes confusion in B&H judiciary (RTRS)
Croatia

Grlic-Radman: Everyone ‘can be happy’ with Peljesac Bridge, including B&H (Hina)
Montenegro

Krivokapic: Staying in the Prime Minister armchair it not my interest (RTCG)
Janjic: I expect DF to stage political rebellion and overthrow the government (Dnevne novine)
Republic of North Macedonia

“Open Balkans” aims to contribute positively to the common future of citizens and the entire Western Balkans (Republika)
Mickoski: Mini Schengen can’t be an alternative to EU integration (Republika)
Macedonian parliament adopts the VMRO proposed resolution that draws red lines in the negotiations with Bulgaria (Republika)
Albania

OPEN BALKANS: no borders between three countries as early as 2023 (Tirana Times)
Economic Forum/ Vucic: "On 1 January 2023 we will have no borders" (Radio Tirana)
Balkans Schengen, DP’s Chair: Hypocrisy must end for free movement to work (ADN)
Mini-Schengen, SMI accuses premier of selling Albania and hating Kosovo (ADN)