United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 22 June 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic informs Serbian MPs on Belgrade-Pristina negotiations (Beta/B92)
Vucic presents report on dialogue with Pristina to part of opposition (RTS/Tanjug)
Dacic before the session on Kosovo and Metohija: Difficult to reach consensus, parties must not be divided on most important issues (RTS)
Support of Italy to Serbia in EU integration process at all levels (RTS/Tanjug)
Reactions of Serbian officials to the statement of the Montenegrin Foreign Ministry (RTS)
NATO plants resolutions on Srebrenica throughout Balkans (Novosti)
Borrell: EU-US cooperation to help Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Tanjug)
Brnabic, Borrell to attend EU-Serbia IGC (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Cvijanovic confirms that negotiation team for talks on future of B&H is formed; Reactions (RTRS)
Cvijanovic and Tegeltija react to Turkovic’s initiative for exhibition at UN headquarters in New York dedicated to Srebrenica genocide (ATV)
Podzic’s statement that B&H is one step ahead of NATO membership provokes reactions in RS (BN TV)
Interview with German Ambassador to B&H (Nezavisne)
Montenegro

Resolution on Srebrenica is not directed against Serb people and Serbia (MFA)
Djukanovic: Serbian officials are manipulating (RTCG)
Mandic comments on Resolution on Srebrenica: Montenegro is platform and tool in hands of Serb enemies (MNA)
Bojovic wonders why parliament of Montenegro neglects WWII crimes committed in Montenegro while Srebrenica Resolution passed procedure so quickly (MNA)
Republic of North Macedonia

Nikoloski addresses Bulgaria at the Council of Europe: Regardless of your veto, we are Macedonians who speak Macedonian (Republika)
Albania

US lobbies strongly for opening of negotiations with Albania; Pressure on EU (Radio Tirana)
Soreca: It's the first time that all member countries have clearly expressed their support for Albania (Radio Tirana/Euronews)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic thanks Kazakhstan for supporting Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty (Tanjug/RTS)
Vucic: No resolution on Srebrenica as long as I am President (Beta/RTV)
Patriarch Porfirije: You betrayed Amfilohije (Tanjug/B92)
Brnabic: Austria-Western Balkans Summit in Vienna without concrete agreements (Tanjug/RTS)
Selakovic: Cooperation with Russia key to preserving Serbia’s positions (Tanjug/RTS)
Grushko: Solution to Kosovo issue exclusively within UNSCR 1244 (Tanjug/RTS)
Stefanovic denies claims a deal to counter Russia’s influence was signed during Wallace’s visit (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

B&H Presidency members assess attendance at SEECP summit in Antalya as successful for B&H (Hayat)
Dodik says he stressed that there is no consent in B&H for path to NATO membership during recent meetings he held in Turkey (Nova BH)
Dodik comments on his participation at SEECP Summit and talks with Turkey’s President Erdogan, says RS opposition spreads lies about what Declaration promotes (RTRS)
Podzic: B&H is on the last step for NATO membership (FTV)
Zunic: NATO membership will never be option; Formation of team for talks with FB&H about future of B&H is underway (ATV)
B&H Presidency members hold separate meetings with Lajcak (FTV)
Dzaferovic says Turkey plays constructive role in Western Balkans, notes The Hague Tribunal played important role in establishing of facts and truth (Federalna.ba)
Cavara accepts call of RS to talks on future of B&H; SNSD’s Majkic says Bosniaks are not showing readiness for any kind of dialogue; United Srpska’s Vasic claims Izetbegovic is obstructing all processes with goal to abolish RS (EuroBlic)
Izetbegovic sends letter to Covic, says negotiations are over (Hayat)
Izetbegovic says SDA is ready to continue talks on changes to Law on Elections but only if it would gather representatives of all parliamentary parties, legal experts (Dnevni list)
Dodik says SNSD will not support only symbolic changes to election legislation (Oslobodenje)
Komsic and Dzaferovic commend decision of Montenegrin parliament to adopt Resolution on Srebrenica (BHT1)
Dodik says Resolution on Srebrenica is hostile act (BHT1)
RS officials strongly criticize adoption of Resolution on Srebrenica in Montenegrin parliament (ATV/Glas Srpske)
Izetbegovic: Serbia is not prepared to face the truth of the past under Vucic (N1)
Croatia

Milanovic calls for unity on status of Bosnia Croats (Hina)
Montenegro

Adoption of Resolution on Srebrenica and removal of Minister Leposavic continue to spark reactions in Montenegro (Nova M)
Abazovic: It should be clear to everyone, especially to official Belgrade, that Montenegro is an independent state (Vijesti)
Knezevic comments on Resolution on Srebrenica, says he expects wave of similar resolutions in region aimed at abolition of RS (Nova M)
US State Department welcomes Resolution on Srebrenica (MINA)
Albania

Xhacka in Antalya: EU must continue to remain committed to the region through concrete actions and keeping its promises (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic meets with Wallace (Tanjug/RTS)
Serbia, UK sign arrangement on improving defense cooperation (Tanjug)
Selakovic: Cooperation, good neighborly relations in general interest of entire region (Tanjug/RTS)
Bilcik's response to Vucic (Tanjug/B92)
EU-Western Balkans business platform launched (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Cvijanovic: RS is not preparing for peaceful separation but it prepares negotiation team for dialogue with FB&H about future of B&H (RTRS)
Reactions to behavior of Croatian officials in NATO and EU institutions continue (Oslobodjenje)
Tegeltija says six out of 14 European Commission’s priorities fulfilled (Hayat/AJB)
Vulic and Minister Turkovic dispute over discrimination of Serbs and Croats in B&H Foreign Ministry (ATV)
Zvizdic criticizes B&H CoM: They are slow and need to work more efficiently (Hayat)
Nelson, Sattler and Kavalec meet B&H CEC members, urge IAWG to seriously consider B&H CEC’s proposal on changes to Law on Elections (Dnevni list)
Two proposals for changes to B&H Election Law to be discussed by B&H parliament without involvement of IAWG (Glas Srpske)
Mostar Agreement remains dead letter (Dnevni list)
Croatia

Grlic Radman calls on remaining EU countries to recognize Kosovo (Hina)
Milanovic: There is a plan to change Dayton Agreement (N1)
Montenegro

Djukanovic receives Mothers of Srebrenica: It’s important to preserve memory of great misfortune and do everything to prevent it from happening ever again (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Mickoski presents the new VMRO-DPMNE strategy – Macedonia for all (Republika)
A day before his meeting with Zaev, Bulgarian Prime Minister Janev says there will be no compromise (Republika)
Albania

EU will never be complete without Albania "! Speaker of the Portuguese parliament, video conference with Ruci: We support integration (Radio Tirana)
The Netherlands gives green light to start of Albania's EU integration process (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 16 June 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Pristina side came with intention not to have dialogue (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
They said: recognize Kosovo’s independence; I've never experienced anything like this (TV Prva/B92)
Irresponsible statements hinder normalisation of Belgrade-Pristina relations (Tanjug)
Odalovic: Kurti’s statement for daily use, he did damage to the search for the missing (RTS)
Drecun: Preparation for the meeting not done properly (RTS)
Serbia took all steps to speed up EU integration (RTS/Tanjug/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Turkovic, Dzaferovic welcome NATO declaration; Other reactions to NATO declaration (N1)
Komsic: Constituent status of people in B&H is not in accordance with NATO values which is why this was not brought up; Dodik, Pendes disagree with Komsic’s statement (ATV)
EUD: 2022 general elections should be held in line with improved constitutional and electoral framework (Dnevni list)
Nelson: IAWG should overcome political discussions and focus on concrete proposals in order to reach wider consensus on much needed election reforms (FTV)
Borenovic: All political elites must accept reality of DPA which created B&H as it is today; Election Law must be amended in order to have fair elections which reflect true will of voters (Dnevni list)
Representatives from Croatia fail to support report on B&H that AFET established (FTV)
Cvijanovic: Final version for talks on future of B&H will be sent to representatives of authorities in FB&H soon (RTRS)
Croatia

Milanovic: Any changes in B&H must not happen without Croatia and Serbia, original signatories of DPA (Hina)
Milanovic: Reference to Dayton was opposed by Germany, Italy and other states (Hina)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: Great comeback of a friend, partner and ally (CdM)
Djeljosaj to visit the US and discuss relationship between Krivokapic’s govt and minority nations (CdM)
The government is tarnishing the country's reputation (RTCG)
Lukovac: Ministry of Foreign Affairs seriously damages Montenegro’s reputation (Pobjeda)
The opposition left the Committee on Electoral Reform (CdM)
MPs to discuss Leposavic’s dismissal (CdM)
Albania

Soreca meets Basha (Radio Tirana)
Albania and Greece agree to speed-up negotiations for maritime-dispute (Tirana Times)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: I said we would never recognize Kosovo and then Kurti exploded (RTS/B92/Tanjug)
Petkovic: Belgrade is committed to continued dialogue, Borrell will inform Biden about that (Tanjug)
Lajcak on Belgrade-Pristina meeting: Wasn’t easy, but important it happened (N1)
Vucic: Pristina representatives to continue their show (TV Pink/Tanjug/RTS/Beta)
Brnabic: Serbia shows greatest dose of flexibility in relations with Pristina (TV Pink/Tanjug)
EU expects Vucic and Kurti to continue dialogue, not start new talks (Beta)
Dacic: Serbian Orthodox heritage in Kosovo and Metohija in danger (Tanjug/RTV)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

EUD: Sattler says any boycott of 2022 elections would be unacceptable (Faktor.ba)
Becirovic: Accepting changes to Law on Elections of B&H proposed by Covic would be betrayal of B&H (Dnevni list)
Sehic, Novakovic-Bursac say problem of change of ethnic affiliation must be tackled through changes to Law on Elections (EuroBlic)
Sattler: Closing of OHR is not an option at this moment, Schmidt is experienced politician with good knowledge about B&H and region (Fena)
NATO summit begins, final NATO Declaration includes DPA, but not constituent peoples (BHT1)
Komsic: Croatia is coming into conflict with NATO by forcing concept of constituent status of peoples, which is long-outdated concept for European standards (N1)
Croatia

Croatian government: NATO Summit is not dedicated to B&H, but to series of security challenges and threats, cooperation between allies, collective defense mechanisms and climate changes (Jutarnji list)
Minister says President's statements about NATO Declaration unsubstantiated (Hina)
Grlic Radman: It was agreed to include issue of Election Law of B&H in NATO Declaration (HRT1)
Montenegro

Krivokapic talked to Biden and Macron (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev at NATO Summit: Leaving vacuum in this part of Europe is not an option (MIA)
Zaev: This is a historic NATO Summit for Macedonia (Republika)
Zaev meets with Biden, invites him to visit Macedonia (MIA)
Zaev meets Radev in Brussels, to pay visit to Sofia this week (Republika)
VMRO-DPMNE resumes protests in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building (Republika)
Albania

Parliament submits decision on President’s dismissal to C. Court (ADN)