United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 14 June 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic tells Kurti to stop making threats and go ahead sue Serbia (TV Pink/Beta/RTS)
Brnabic: Kurti impossible to talk to (TV Prva/Beta)
Petkovic: We are going to Brussels to defend Belgrade’s position (RTS)
Long tradition of diplomatic, friendly relations of Serbia and Poland (Tanjug/RTS)
No consent within EU on opening new chapters with Serbia in June (RTS)
Botsan-Kharchenko: Pressures on Serbia to recognize Kosovo will not succeed (Tanjug)
Botsan-Kharchenko: I believe there are attempts to see how it is possible to make appointment of new HR without decision of UN Security Council (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

European Court of Human Rights gives B&H authorities until 1 September to implement Sejdic-Finci ruling (BHT1)
Sattler: EU is thinking about sanctions (Dnevni avaz)
Cosic: HR is not standard for anything, HDZ B&H does not have room for compromise any longer (Dnevni list)
Talks on amendments to Election Law of B&H underway, no consensus of all political actors on many proposals yet (Nova BH)
Novakovic Bursac: IAWG will soon reach stalemate unless political agreement is reached about the most important issues (Glas Srpske)
B&H CEC presents proposal of amendments to Election Law, Dodik rejects all proposals unless agreement on election of members of Presidency is reached (BN TV)
Dodik: There is entity border between RS and FB&H, we do not intend to move it, but we intend to strengthen it (ATV)
Izetbegovic: If Serb diplomats decide to work in line with Dodik’s announcement, Dodik might get processed for misuses of office (Hayat)
RS government takes note of Report of Independent International Commission for Investigation of Suffering of All Peoples in Srebrenica Region in Period 1992-1995; Dodik says most important thing of Report is fact that term genocide cannot be applied to events in Srebrenica (BHT1)
Komsic reacts to Milanovic’s statements on NATO Declaration: By forcing concept of constituent peoples, Croatia is coming into conflict with NATO (N1)
Croatia

NATO summit in Brussels; Milanovic: Some countries reject mentioning DPA in joint Declaration; Milanovic accuses Plenkovic and Grlic Radman of not doing enough (HRT1)
Montenegro

Montenegrin parliament fails to vote on Resolution on Genocide in Srebrenica (CdM)
PM risks new elections under old rules (Dan)
Republic of North Macedonia

VMRO-DPMNE resumes its protests, will block the Foreign Ministry for two hours (Republika)
Borisov warns of growing hatred between Bulgarians and Macedonians (Republika)
State Department: US supports beginning of Skopje's negotiations with EU (MIA)
Albania

Blinken-Rama: US greatly appreciates your leadership, this partnership will be long remembered (Radio Tirana)
Rama commemorates 22nd anniversary of liberation of Prishtina (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 10 June 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic expects difficult talks in Brussels (Beta)
Brnabic: Cooperation in the region should be separated from narrow political interests (RTS/Tanjug/Beta)
Brnabic responds to Kurti’s provocations in Tirana (Tanjug)
Tirana summit ends without joint declaration after Kurti's request (Tanjug)
Popovic: Kosovo to stay in preamble to Serbian Constitution (TV Prva)
Drecun: Except for KFOR, there should be no other military formation (RTS)
Selakovic: Dialogue only right path to achieving sustainable agreement based on compromise (Beta/RTS)
Botsan-Kharchenko: Cooperation between Russia and Serbia at an exceptional level, continued support in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (RTV)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dodik: Ambassadors from rank of Serb people should act upon my instructions rather than instructions of anyone else in B&H especially not those of FM Turkovic (ATV)
Dodik and Chinese Ambassador Ping discuss joint projects in field of energy and transport; Dodik: RS not to accept appointment of HR in B&H without UN SC resolution (RTRS)
Radmanovic: The Hague Tribunal failed in reconciling of peoples in B&H; Accuses SDA for almost all blockades in B&H, saying they constantly whine and weep for Bonn powers (Oslobodjenje)
Kalabukhov: Before one considers extension of EUFOR mission in B&H, one needs to solve issue of High Representative (O kanal)
Nelson informs Dodik about US’ executive decree on expansion of scope of sanctions regime for Western Balkans; Dodik: Decree is neither democratic nor in spirit of respect of human rights and rule of law (N1)
CoE Committee of Ministers: Maintaining of current discriminatory electoral system represents obvious violation of European Convention on Human Rights (O kanal)
Western Balkans leaders request digital green certificates to be recognized by EU; Commissioner Varhelyi stresses importance of closer cooperation and regional market (BHT1)
Kalabukhov’s op-ed: Why NATO will not solve problems in B&H (Oslobodjenje)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: I return with optimism; European future of WB could be both realistic and foreseeable (CdM)
DF to Krivokapic: We will either agree or ask people (Dan)
Charles to Djukanovic: EU ready to support Montenegrin economic recovery and development (CdM)
Knezevic: Ivanovic called Krivokapic in Patriarchate telling him not to sign Fundamental Agreement (CdM)
Katnic: I don’t know what Krivokapic was doing in Belgrade, nor did I plan to arrest him (Antena M)
Republic of North Macedonia

Macron tells Zaev that he now supports opening EU accession talks with Macedonia (Republika)
Protests will continue until Zaev reveals what he is negotiating with Bulgaria (Republika)
Albania

Socialists remove the President from Office (Tirana Times)
President decrees laws ratifying Albania-US, Albania-Germany deals (ADN)
Rama opens the summit of the leaders of the Western Balkans: Plan for economic recovery! (Radio Tirana)
Rama conference with Varhelyi: Commissioner took off the mask of Brussels in Tirana, Schengen regional strategic project (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Petkovic: Belgrade ready for dialogue – recognition not a topic (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
Dacic: Parliament to hold session on Kosovo and Metohija on 22 June (Tanjug)
Biden signs executive order to sanction persons contributing to destabilizing Western Balkans (Beta/VoA)
EU: We will not follow Biden in the Western Balkans (Tanjug/Sputnik/B92)
Starovic says he hopes US Administration will punish those who violated 1244 Resolution and DPA (Novosti)
Djuric: Serbia will carefully analyze contents of Biden’s decision (Politika)
Botsan-Kharchenko in Nis: Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center one of most important projects of two countries (RTV)
Djukanovic: Fundamental Agreement can’t be reason for new government dethronement (Danas)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Address of Ambassador Alkalaj to UNSC causes conflict between B&H Presidency members (BHT1)
Dodik: Alkalaj violated RoP of Presidency and did not get consent to talk on behalf of B&H (ATV)
Reactions to final verdict against Mladic (AJB/Dnevni list/Nezavisne/Hayat)
Families of 350 victims of Srebrenica genocide can file compensation claims to The Netherlands as of next week (FTV)
Dodik: US is powerful country, however executive order may be proof of their weakness (RTRS)
IAWG convenes to discuss work methodology (BN TV)
Croatia

Numerous recommendations before Croatian Eurozone Membership provided (Hina)
Montenegro

Becic: We’ll be partners if PM and Govt believe refreshment is needed (Pobjeda)
Bojanic meets with Croatian Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev claims that the Biden decree fully legitimizes his government (Republika)
Albania

Meta dismissed with 104 votes by the MPs (Radio Tirana)
C. Court can abrogate parliament’s decision on dismissing President (ADN)
Rama in Bulgaria with President Radev (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 9 June 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Call on UN SC to help in neutral approach to international law (Tanjug/RTS/Politika)
Brnabic: Hague Tribunal has moved region away from reconciliation (TV Pink/Tanjug)
Vulin: Verdict against Mladic is verdict against justice; Other reactions (Novosti/Politika/N1)
Odalovic: Hague Tribunal is not a court that brought law and justice (RTS)
Djuric on Vucic’s speech (TV Prva)
Stano: Vucic, Kurti to meet on 15 June in Brussels (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

MICT Appeals Chamber sentences Mladic to life in prison for war crimes in B&H including genocide in Srebrenica, Mladic acquitted of charges for committing genocide is six other municipalities (Hayat)
MICT Chief Prosecutor Brammertz: Mladic’s guilt is his and his alone (BHT1)
Attorney Stojanovic: MICT’s final verdict to Mladic inadequate and unacceptable (BN TV)
War victims and witnesses’ associations, satisfied with final verdict against Mladic, although there was degree of disappointment since Mladic was not convicted of genocide in other six municipalities in B&H (O Kanal)
Other reactions to final verdict against Mladic (Hayat/RTRS/ATV/N1)
Croatia

Grlic Radman attends ministerial meeting on Berlin Process (Hina)
Croatia joins United Nation's Economic and Social Council (Hina)
Montenegro

The government is not dividing, but trying to solve problems (RTCG)
Montenegro exposed to malevolent impact of third countries (CdM)
Appointment without consent, playing with the reputation of Montenegro (RTCG)
Radulovic seeks state leadership consultations over ambassadors (Dan)
Medojevic is no longer an MP (RTCG)
Joanikije persuaded DF to vote for budget (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev calls on Europe to “keep him motivated” with a decision to open accession talks (Republika)
Maas calls for opening of EU accession talks with Macedonia and Albania (Republika)
Zaev claims that the deal he is negotiating with Bulgaria is “excellent” (Republika)
US to blacklist anyone who opposes the Ohrid and Prespa Agreements (Republika)
Albania

Rama in Sofia: Serbia should have recognized Kosovo a long time ago! Bulgaria and North Macedonia should talk and find solutions (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: We have won fight for successful Serbia (RTS/Tanjug)
Selakovic: Serbia attaches great importance to Berlin Process (Tanjug/RTS)
Petkovic calls for shedding light on fate of missing persons (Beta/RTV)
Serbian parliament passes motion to amend constitution (Tanjug/RTS)
Dacic: Important process in Serbian parliament, amendment to Constitution must end in this mandate (RTV)
People’s Party: Vucic amending Constitution to get full control over judge selection (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

MICT Spokesperson Eggleston: Everything is prepared for rendering of verdict against Mladic (RTRS)
Dodik: The Hague Tribunal failed to establish truth and to contribute to reconciliation (BHT1)
Dodik and Covic hold meeting in Banja Luka; Dodik says there will be no reform of electoral legislation without agreement on election of B&H Presidency members (ATV)
Kalabukhov: Appointment of new High Representative needs to be approved by UNSC (BHT1)
Dodik says that his statement that RS might mark 15 February as RS Day was hypothetical answer (N1)
Croatia

Milanovic says he never insisted Operation Storm celebration not be held in Knin (Hina)
Montenegro

Appointment without consent, playing with the reputation of Montenegro (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia

Bulgarian Minister Stoev demands guarantees from Zaev that he will implement the 2017 treaty (Republika)
Zaev makes another public promise to protect the Macedonian language as reports grow that he offers new concessions to Bulgaria (Republika)
Mickoski calls citizens to turn out in large numbers for protests against Zaev’s new concessions to Bulgaria (Republika)
Albania

Ruci to Konjufca: Serbia is glorifying its criminals. Konjufca: we should function as two countries that constitute a single nation (Radio Tirana)
Konjufca reveals details of the meeting with Basha (Radio Tirana)