United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 5 May 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Are you threatening Serbia with a genocide lawsuit? (B92)
Selakovic: EU must put Pristina under pressure over commitments (Tanjug/RTV/RTS)
Gonzalez: Spain does not recognize Kosovo, supports Serbia (Tanjug/RTS)
Office: Pristina’s provocation unsuccessful buying time (RTS)
Opposition demand: Free national frequency for professional TV channel in Serbia (N1/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Inzko presents 59th report on B&H to UN Security Council (O kanal)
Russia's representative to UN SC Evstigneeva says Inzko's report is unbalanced and does not reflect real situation in B&H (FTV)
Kovacevic: HR’s criticism towards the RS is something that RS officials have already gotten used to (ATV)
Minister Schallenberg: Territorial integrity and sovereignty of B&H are unquestionable and cannot be subject of any negotiations (Hayat)
Cavusoglu: Main Turkish goal in Balkans is to preserve peace and stability in region and increase its welfare (Nezavisne)
Former HRs Lajcak, Bildt warn EU has neglected Western Balkan region, which led to occurrence of non-papers predicting new divisions (N1)
RS parliament prepares initiative for talks on possible solutions for B&H calling on FB&H institutions, Bosniaks and Croats to engage in political dialogue on B&H’s future (FTV)
Cubrilovic: We should talk among ourselves, without influence by foreign factors, to reach certain level of consensus on functioning of B&H (Nova BH)
SNSD’s initiative on peaceful dissolution does not have support of opposition parties in the RS; Vukovic: PDP will not take part in any talks on peaceful dissolution in B&H because this topic is doomed to failure in advance (BN TV)
Reactions to alleged document of EEAS (Glas Srpske)
Montenegro

We care about Montenegro and the Western Balkans (RTCG/CdM)
Krivokapic: Fundamental agreement can’t be inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of MNE (CdM)
Joanikije chose Democrats, but will the SPC choose him? (Dnevne novine)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev, Varhelyi and Edtstadler at joint press conference: This day is an expression of solidarity and unity (Republika)
Mickoski meets Edtstadler at the Austrian Chancellery (Republika)
Varhelyi: Start of accession negotiations requires progress from Skopje and Sofia (Republika/MIA)
Albania

Rama reiterates the invitation to the opposition (Radio Tirana)
Basha's order to new opposition MPs (ADN)
Rama: Defender Europe 21, a turning point of US-Albania relations (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Serbia vows to never impose sanctions against Russia, says ambassador (Izvestia)
Bosnia and Herzegovina must end discrimination to ensure its EU future (EurActiv)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Publication of non-paper a strategy of circles closer to Pristina (Tanjug/RTS)
Vucic: Elections to be held in March or April (Blic)
Patriarch: I believe in the coexistence of Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija (Radio Belgrade/Tanjug)
Selakovic visits Spain’s Congress of deputies (RTS/Tanjug)
Selakovic: Spain and Morocco important, friendly countries that didn’t recognize Kosovo (Tanjug)
Selakovic: Foreign Ministry to get economic diplomacy sector by end-May (Tanjug)
Vulin: Creating of Serb world is solving national question of Serbs (Novosti)
Russian Balkan Center opened in Belgrade (Tanjug/RTV/Politika/Novosti)
Dacic: Inter-party talks under EP auspices in Serbia not before June (TV Pink/Beta/N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Campara: I am warning Vulin, you will break your teeth on every attempt to start process of uniting of Serbs to detriment of B&H (Oslobodjenje)
Dodik accuses US Ambassador Nelson of undiplomatic behavior: Nelson should not speak on behalf of B&H citizens, which he often does, because citizens did not give him mandate for that (N1)
US Embassy: Our stance on Dayton Peace Accords and future of B&H remains unchanged (Glas Srpske)
Palmer says it is up to people of B&H to bring relations in B&H in order, expresses support of USA (N1/ Dnevni list)
Russian Embassy reacts to Nelson and Palmer's statements (N1)
Maas rejects claims that Germany took part in drafting non-papers that allude to changing borders in region (O kanal)
Dodik: The RS has prepared its own non-paper (Nova BH)
Dacic: Good thing about non-papers is possibility of autonomy of northern part of Kosovo and merging of the RS with Serbia (RTRS)
RS government sends 25th report to UN Security Council (RTRS)
B&H CEC will not be included in negotiations on changes to Election Law (N1)
Glas Srpske gets insight into document of EEAS that allegedly reads EU is strengthening pressure on B&H regarding changes to B&H Election Law with aim to speed up its European path (Glas Srpske)
Croat Caucus in HNC Assembly launches initiative to give Serbs status of constituent people in HNC (FTV)
SNSD, HDZ B&H delegates in B&H HoP voted against inclusion of Serbian language and Cyrillic alphabet in constitutions of several FB&H cantons (FTV)
Croatia

Borovo hate speech suspects placed in police custody (N1)
Members of IAWG tasked with drawing changes/amendments to Law on Elections of B&H appointed (Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Joanikije: Fundamental agreement for now just a draft, government’s position pending (CdM/Radio Svetigora)
Timonier: Nationalist forces in region survive and are an obstacle to reconciliation (Dnevne novine)
Republic of North Macedonia

Osmani in Berlin: Macedonia delivered and deserves to start the EU negotiation process (Republika)
Maas: Dispute between Macedonia and Bulgaria to be resolved by experts, without external pressure (Republika)
Albania

Presidency calls for full administration of April 25 election process (ADN)
DP’s Chair refuses to recognize election results (ADN)
The socialists discuss the removal of President Meta (Tirana Times)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 29 April 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Non-paper surprise, Serbia to face growing pressure (Tanjug/RTS)
Vucic to Godfrey: Belgrade ready for open talks with Pristina (FoNet)
Fabrizi: Serbia should show commitment to achieve progress (N1)
No statements from Serbian ruling, opposition parties after meeting (N1)
Serbian parliament backtracks on adopting resolution on EP report (N1)
Janjic: Serbian Minister Vulin’s statement related to solution for Kosovo and RS is political propaganda not official stance of Serbia (Al Jazeera Balkans)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Nelson: The future of all citizens is single B&H of two entities, three constituent peoples (Dnevni avaz)
SDA: We have been warning of dangers of rhetoric that Ambassador Nelson talks about; Other reactions to Nelson’s blog (Nova BH)
US Embassy: State Department’s Chollet calls on B&H leaders to discuss progress on key reforms and reaffirms Blinken’s message (Dnevni avaz)
Dodik: Komsic left meeting with Borrell after I highlighted his illegitimacy (FTV)
Dzaferovic: Dodik acted inappropriately towards Komsic during meeting with Borrell; I will not be candidate for member of B&H Presidency in 2022 (Nova BH)
SNSD: Postponement of discussions creates room for harmonization of joint conclusions with opposition and public in general, we will not accept any kind of HR’s ultimatums or deadlines (ATV)
US, UK Embassies to B&H criticize rhetoric of genocide denial and glorification of war criminals (Oslobodjenje)
Izetbegovic will reject all proposals for electoral reform in order to push legitimate Croat representatives out of political scene after 2022 elections (Glas Srpske)
Croatia

Plenkovic: State is functioning normally, I am not squabbling with President Milanovic (Hina)
Grlic Radman says Ambassador Biscevic enjoys government's support (Hina)
Montenegro

Krivokapic: Leposavic expressed his personal position on Srebrenica, and he wasn’t entitled to that (CdM)
Moscow silent on government messages that Russians can come unconditionally (Pobjeda/Business FM)
Albania

Socialists secure 74 mandates as the opposition moves towards non-recognizing the results (Tirana Times)
US DOS: Respect for the results of legitimate elections strengthens Albania’s democracy (Tirana Times)
UK pushes Albania to investigate alleged 25 April polls irregularities (ADN)
Ambassador Bucci congratulates Rama on elections’ victory (ADN)

LOCAL PRESS

Dacic: Every time dialogue was stopped it was exclusively because of Pristina (RTS/Tanjug)
Petkovic: Pristina manipulates with so-called non-paper (RTV)
Bilcik: Serbia not ready for EU membership (N1)
Djuric meets with Reeker (Tanjug)
First meeting on dialogue without EP mediation to be held on 28 April (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

EC President’s office say EU unequivocally supports integrity of B&H (Dnevni list)
B&H Presidency members hold online meeting with Borrell; Dodik: Interest of RS is to discuss open issues (ATV)
Dzaferovic: B&H will remain integral (Oslobodjenje)
Dodik: PIC is maintaining stereotype that the RS is to be blamed for everything (RTRS)
Viskovic: PIC stances are hypocritical; Other reactions to PIC SB’s statement (RTRS)
Sarovic: There will be no war, but stories about referendum, third entity or abolition of entities will continue for as long as these parties are in power (Oslobodjenje)
B&H HoP forms inter-institutional working group that will be tasked with preparing amendments to B&H Election Law (ATV)
B&H HoP rejects SDP’s proposals of changes to B&H Election Law preventing dual mandates (N1)
Covic with State Department’s Chollet: Political agreement on electoral reforms and limited changes to the Constitution are necessary (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia

Milanovic to recall ambassador to Serbia over his alleged disregard for ethnic Croats (Hina)
Montenegro

Abazovic: We shouldn’t spark tensions over the agreement with SPC (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

In addition to vaccines, Macedonia will receive high-speed railroad line from Vucic (Republika)
Pendarovski meets top EU officials, says Macedonia is ready to resume talks with Bulgaria any time (Republika)
Zaev congratulates Edi Rama in Albanian (Republika)
Albania

Rama declares victory as elections are marked again by vote-buying (Tirana Times)
President delivers a message to the citizens (Radio Tirana)
EU calls for acceptance of result (Radio Tirana)
Rapporteur for Albania in Bundestag: We need cooperation and not warfare! (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 27 April 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Meeting on dialogue will not be easy for either side (Tanjug/RTS)
Borrell: Reforms, alignment with EU foreign policy required (Tanjug/RTS/Beta)
Bilcik: Vucic commitment to reforms crucial (N1)
Vucic: We will analyze the non-paper, recognition of so-called independence of Kosovo unacceptable (Tanjug/RTV/RTS)
EC: We haven’t seen non-paper; Bloc is against border changes (N1/Beta)
Dveri agrees to take part in inter-party dialogue (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

PIC SB condemns moves of RS regarding peaceful separation in B&H (O kanal, Nova BH)
Russian Embassy to B&H responds to PIC SB’s statement: Inadequate steps were taken by all sides (RTRS)
Dodik: Croats are meaningless because Bosniaks sideline them, I am convinced B&H will fall apart (Dnevni list)
Izetbegovic reveals that few years ago Pahor asked him about breakup in B&H (BHT1)
RS parliament expected to discuss proposal of initiative for talks between RS and FB&H and three constituent peoples on possible solutions for B&H (BHT1)
B&H HoP to discuss changes to Election Law eliminating double functions in legislative and executive institutions (Nezavisne)
Montenegro

Ministers Spajic, Milatovic: Croatia strongly supports Montenegro's European path (Gov. PR Service)
Republic of North Macedonia

Mickoski: The Macedonian Spring is coming (Republika)
Albania

Vote buying marks Albanian elections (Tirana Times)
Joint Observation Mission of the OSCE/ODIHR, the OSCE PA and PACE make preliminary remarks on elections in Albania (Radio Tirana)
Last ballot boxes to be counted – results (ADN)
NATO’s Defender 21 exercise kicks off (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

U.S. Commitment to the Western Balkans (Press Statement)