United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 17 May 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vulin: Serbia expects Russia’s support in preventing any changes in the mandate of KFOR and UNMIK (RTS/Tanjug)
Dacic: Request from withdrawal of KFOR more of a threat than realistic (TV Pink/RTV/Tanjug)
Pahor: EU underestimates emotions in Western Balkans (Tanjug)
Fifth session of the Committee on Kosovo and Metohija held (Serbian parliament)
NATO: All decisions about KFOR are consensual (EurActiv/Beta)
New non-paper: Kosovo remains in Serbia for 99 years, special status envisaged? (Tanjug/B92)
Working group for dialogue without foreign mediation formed (Tanjug/RTS/NSPM)
Holy Synod of Bishops of SPC to start on 24 May (RTS)
Cvijanovic: Peaceful dissolution can be an option (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dodik attends Delphi Economic Forum in Athens, says there is no other country in which High Representative decides on internal issues (Hayat)
Dodik says basis for peaceful dissolution of B&H was made in DPA (Srna)
Brdo-Brijuni Process will take place on Monday; Pahor: This may be chance to make something new for peace, stability in region; Dzaferovic: No talks about B&H outside of B&H; Pejanovic: Change of borders will not be on agenda (RTRS)
Cubrilovic does not expect concrete solutions from meeting of Brdo-Brijuni Process (Nezavisne/N1)
Kalabukhov says Russia's principled position is that OHR should be closed and that Russia will not support Schmidt's appointment to post of HR (N1)
Brkic holds phone conversation with Palmer and Murphy to discuss current political situation in B&H, B&H’s NATO path and changes to election legislation (Oslobodjenje)
Covic: B&H Election Law will be adopted by end of June with limited corrections of Constitution of B&H; There will be compromises but not about legitimate representation of peoples (RTV HB)
CoE, EU Delegation to B&H, OSCE Mission and UN to B&H say more has to be done in B&H (Oslobodjenje)
US soldiers who will participate in ‘Immediate Response 21’ military exercise arrive to Sarajevo (Nova BH)
‘Immediate Response 21’ military exercise serves as topic of political clashes in RS (Nova BH)
Netanyahu thanks B&H and other countries for supporting Israel in latest conflict with Palestinians; Dzaferovic, Turkovic: B&H does not and cannot support killing of innocent civilians in Gaza (O kanal)
Croatia

Citizens elect representatives in local elections (Hina)
Milanovic supports EU integration of Western Balkans as soon as possible (Hina)
Montenegro

Krivokapic to Lajcak: I believe Montenegro will be next EU member state (CdM)
Albania

April elections, first boxes to be reopened amid manipulation claims (ADN)
Conflict with Palestine, Israel’s PM thanks Albania for support against ‘terrorist attacks’ (ADN)
Plane with 267 American soldiers arrived at Rinas Airport (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Withdrawal of KFOR and UNMIK would be a disaster (Politika/Tanjug/B92)
Zakharova: Decision on withdrawal of KFOR from Kosovo can’t be made by only one state, but collectively, in accordance with international law (Sputnik/NSPM)
Vucic: Serbia insists on respect for UN-defined borders (Tanjug/RTS)
Pahor: Faster EU enlargement in Western Balkans a geopolitical necessity (Tanjug)
Only dialogue, compromise can ensure lasting solution to the Kovoso issue (Tanjug/FoNet)
Petkovic: Osmani as if incapable of understanding concept of peaceful politics (RTV/Tanjug)
Petkovic and Botsan-Kharchenko agree on the need to fully respect UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (Tanjug/RTV)
Advancing cooperation with Montenegro in field of education, science (RTS/Tanjug)
State Department says anti-Semitism rising in Serbia (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Inzko: Borrell will be informed about RS parliament’s decision and we will discuss joint steps together (BHT/FTV)
Dodik claims RS will know how to respond if HR Inzko decides to use his illegal powers (RTRS)
Stevandic warns that Great Britain and others are preparing sanctions due to latest conclusions adopted by RS parliament (RTRS)
SDA Presidency: RS parliament’s conclusions on dialogue on possible solutions for B&H contain series of inaccurate and arbitrary claims (Hayat)
FB&H officials on RS parliament’s conclusions: There is no point in dialogue initiated by the RS (O kanal)
Does SNSD have anyone to talk to in Sarajevo (EuroBlic)
International reactions to the RS parliament conclusions (O kanal/FTV)
Day of RS Army and Third Infantry RS’ Regiment of B&H AF marked; Dodik announced that he will correct a mistake accepting to abolish the RS Army (BHT1)
Dodik: RS Army can be mobilized soon; Reactions (N1)
Dodik meets Greek officials; Dodik: EU integration of B&H is supported but B&H is under international protectorate and cannot count on fulfilling conditions of sovereignty and stability (RTRS)
SDP B&H convenes new meeting of opposition parties from RS and FB&H for 18 May (RTRS)
Balkans countries are losing trust in EU enlargement strategy (Dnevni list)
Croatia

Three equal and constituent peoples are crucial concept for B&H (Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: We think region needs experience of living in a European value system; Orban: We’ll always be on your side (CdM)
Djukanovic: I warn you that 18 years after Thessaloniki, we are witnessing fatigue of a very successful European policy (CdM)
According to first draft, Fundamental Agreement was to be signed by Orthodox Church in Montenegro (Pobjeda)
Despite criticism from EU and VC, ruling majority members voted to amend prosecutorial law (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev promised Tusk that he will fight corruption and work with the opposition (Republika)
Dimovski: Prespa Treaty led to the dispute with Bulgaria (Republika)
Albania

Democrats seek to overturn election results (Tirana Times)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 12 May 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vilan: Israel recognized Kosovo under US pressure (TV Prva/B92/RTV)
Vilan: I have never said, nor do I believe, nor do I have a reason to say that Serbia has signed something with Kosovo (B92)
Selakovic: Vucic did not recognize the so-called Kosovo (TV Prva/B92)
Stefanovic: Improving defense cooperation with Spain (Tanjug/RTS)
Selakovic: Indonesia’s constant support (RTV/RTS)
EU approves new methodology for Serbia’s accession talks (Tanjug)
Brnabic: Serbia continues with European integration activities (Tanjug)
Petkovic: Failure to form ZSO obstacle to normalization with Pristina (Beta)
New municipal authorities in Presevo, but without Serb representatives (RTS)
Dialogue is priority (Novosti)
Inzko convinced in arrival of Christian Schmidt to B&H (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

RS parliament’s conclusions: High Representative abandoned the legal framework of his activities (N1)
RS parliament adopts conclusions for talks on possible solutions in B&H (RTRS)
Opposition in the RS presents their arguments against ruling majority during RS parliament session on Tuesday (BN TV)
Inter-Agency Working group holds inaugural session (BN TV)
Izetbegovic optimistic regarding work of IAWG (Hayat)
Covic with Plenkovic: Equality, non-discrimination and legitimate representation cannot be ignored (Dnevni list)
EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs comment on situation in B&H; Grlic Radman: I would like to emphasize importance of concept of three constituent peoples (Hayat)
EU’s ‘non-paper’ focuses more on Serbia and Kosovo than on B&H (EuroBlic)
Jansa announces Slovenia will organize conference on Western Balkans (Dnevni list)
B&H is part of grand US military exercise in Europe (EuroBlic)
Croatia

Croatian President: Serbia’s attempt to equate Mihailovic and Tito ‘pathetic’ (Hina)
Bosniak and Serb side ignore calls for reforms coming from Brussels and Washington (Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: Government should commit to sign Fundamental agreement with SPC that won’t harm Montenegro’s national interests (CdM)
Djukanovic: If EU forgets about WB, greater conflicts may occur (CdM/RTCG)
Picula: Prosecutor’s office must not be contaminated by the influence of political parties (Pobjeda)
Albania

EU Council convenes: Joint solution for Albania and North Macedonia (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 11 May 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Selakovic: OMIK to remain neutral (FoNet/RTV)
Selakovic: Improvement of cooperation with US one of foreign policy priorities (RTV/Tanjug)
EU: Chance for Belgrade-Pristina deal, no time to lose (Tanjug)
Borell: Belgrade-Pristina dialogue to resume by end of June (RTS/Tanjug)
US Embassy in Belgrade: We support process that leads towards comprehensive and binding agreement on normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, at the center of which is mutual recognition (Tanjug)
Vucic, Sapic: Unification until the end of May (Tanjug/B92)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

EU Foreign Ministers discuss problems and future of Western Balkan region, Croatian
‘non-paper’ calling for support to amendments to Election Law of B&H on table; European non-paper for Western Balkans presented to EU Foreign Ministers (N1/Nova BH)
Media in Croatia placed information that their version of non-paper was accepted in
the EU (BHT1)
Appointment of Brkic (Dnevni avaz)
Montenegro

Herceg Novi: Preliminary election results (CdM)
VC: Draft prosecutorial laws still contain shortcomings (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

It is not possible to decouple Albania from Macedonia (Euronews/Republika)
Macedonia will not negotiate about its national identity, Zaev told Sassoli (Republika)
Zaev – Von Der Leyen meeting: Identity issue non-negotiable, EC to be further engaged (Republika)
Zaev – Varhelyi in Brussels: Identity can’t be a reason for blocking EU integration (Republika)
Albania

Commissioner Varhelyi expresses optimism for the EU enlargement policy (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: We will not agree to humiliation in the region, especially from those who greeted Hitler’s army with flowers (B92/Tanjug)
Botsan-Kharchenko: Serbia, Russia together against attempts to rewrite history (Beta)
Vucic: Serbia will never allow Jasenovac, Storm to happen again (Beta)
Europe firm in its position that Serbia's future is in EU (Tanjug/Beta)
Petkovic: Kurti’s announcement of a lawsuit unfeasible (RTS)
Selakovic to Zagreb: No good-neighborly relations without sincere wish (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Sattler: B&H’s future on EU path can be bright only with maximum engagement of local politicians (FTV)
Day of Victory over Fascism marked all over B&H; Komsic: Fascism is often hidden in political ideas and ideologies of high-ranked and respected political officials; Dzaferovic: B&H is making progress on EU path, but blockades are created by retrograde policies (O kanal)
Day of Victory over Fascism marked in Banjaluka; Cvijanovic underlines that RS wants to live in peace with its neighbors; Cubrilovic expresses hope that Serbs will always be on right side (BN TV)
Working group of opposition parties for changing Election Law of B&H agrees that changing B&H Election Law is necessary and urgent process in order to prevent further electoral corruption (Oslobodjenje)
Some political factors in RS condition general elections 2022 with reshuffling of B&H CEC, some in FB&H condition it with changes of Election Law (Nova BH)
Dodik: Only reality here is for the RS to secede and to live alone, to join in federal or confederal form with Serbia, but that is contrary to western interests (RTRS)
Tegeltija claims that there are no legal grounds to deny Serb people in B&H of right to self-determination or to abolish RS (Face TV)
Inzko: Peaceful dissolution of B&H is contradiction and oxymoron because there will be no dissolution of B&H nor would it be peaceful (Face TV)
Sattler: There is tendency to speak about B&H as failed state which is untrue and represents distraction of attention from essential issues (N1)
Kalabukhov claims it is time to close OHR (N1)
B&H CC rejects motion filed by Bosniak delegates in RS CoP (Nezavisne)
Austrian novelist Handke decorated in Serbia with Order of Karadjordje’s Star; FB&H officials, representatives of victims’ families condemn this Serbian authorities’ move (FTV/AJB)
Croatia

Grlic Radman: Non-paper on B&H, signed by six countries, will be discussed in Brussels on Monday (HRT1)
Croatia’s President: Croatian troops in Kosovo not a provocation against Serbia (Hina)
Croatian FM says Minister Vulin promoting defeated Great Serbia policy (Hina)
EU requesting from B&H to change Law on Elections this year (Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Krivokapic meets with Croatian Foreign Minister (Gov. PR Service)
Abazovic, Grlic Radman: We are building bridges of cooperation with neighbours (Gov. PR Service)
Djukanovic: Relations with Croatia not only good neighborly, but also friendly and partnership-based (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev-Lajcak: Skopje did its part, time for Brussels to deliver (Republika)
Osmani: Macedonia has met the conditions, it’s EU’s turn now (Republika)
Albania

Dismissing the President: Socialists in a race against time (Tirana Times)