LOCAL PRESS

Vucic after talks with Lajcak: Ready for dialogue, we understood Kurti’s messages (Tanjug/RTV/RTS)
Von der Leyen: EU ready to support Belgrade-N. Macedonia railway (Tanjug)

Drecun: Continuation of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue not disputable, the agenda is (RTS)

Vucic: I don’t expect pressures in Brussels but talks on Serbia’s future (RTS)

Godfrey: Unresolved Kosovo issue main obstacle on EU path (Beta/Tanjug)

Vucic likely to attend dialogue with opposition that is not mediated by MEPs (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Slovenian government issues statement on disputable non-paper (BHT1)
OHR: Entities do not have right to secession (Glas Srpske/RFE)
SDA: Dodik hides responsibility for secessionist policy with lies (Hayat)
Osmanovic writes to EP, expects from EP to condemn the non-paper (Oslobodjenje)
Dodik: It is clear that concept of unified B&H under principles of SDA and international community has not succeeded (RTRS)
Ivanic: It is obvious that non-paper most of all benefited Dodik and Izetbegovic; Constitution changes are not possible; CoM is not inefficient as if it does not exist (Oslobodjenje)
Radmanovic: Non-paper goes in favor of creating of Greater-Albania and there is no doubt it was created in Albanian kitchen (Glas Srpske)
Niksic: Ethno-nationalist leaders in B&H have lost touch with reality and they are either trying to persuade everyone that everything is good or to increase tensions with warmongering (Face TV)
Dodik: Position of RS is clear, High Representative in B&H is not welcome (RTRS)
Istraga.ba publishes NATO’s document sent to B&H which clearly shows that B&H is aspirant to NATO membership and has activated MAP (O kanal/Istraga.ba)
Komsic confirms authenticity of NATO document (N1)
Cikotic at own initiative stops deployment of B&H police officers to UN Mission in South Sudan (RTRS)
Croatia

President: Croatia flag removal from ambassadorial residence in Belgrade could not happen in Zagreb (Hina)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: Montenegro ready to share experiences with Kosovo for progress on EU and NATO path (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Protesters demand release of the imprisoned patriots and early elections in October (Republika)
No progress in the latest round of talks between Macedonian and Bulgarian historians (Republika)
Macedonian diplomats plan a mass vaccination trip to Serbia (Republika/MKD.mk)
Albania

Preliminary election results (Tirana Times)
First reaction of the Socialist party after the closure of voting stations (Radio Tirana)
Opposition leader announces victory (ADN)
Kim and Soreca: Be patient and accept the election result! (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 23 April 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: We will do our best to boost friendship with US (Tanjug)
Vucic: We are ready to continue dialogue, compromise a goal (Tanjug/RTS)
Maas: Right time for results in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Beta)
Selakovic: Scandalous political audacity of Vjosa Osmani (RTS)
Petkovic: Any kind of revision impermissible (RTS)
Porfirije: Consent reached on Agreement with Prime Minister Krivokapic (Tanjug)
Jansa’s extras in Balkans’ (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Leadership of Serbia visits Banja Luka (RTRS)
Serbian and RS officials condemn warmongering rhetoric following alleged non-paper and calls for peaceful dissolution of B&H (RTRS)
Turkovic comments visit of Serbian delegation and Dodik statements; Calls for ending of obstructions (Hayat)
Vucic awarded Key to City of Banja Luka; Mayor Stanivukovic causes scandal with hidden microphone (ATV)
US Ambassador Nelson comments on inflammatory rhetoric in B&H (FTV)
Sattler meets Dzaferovic: EU supports B&H sovereignty and territorial integrity (FTV)
Zvizdic: There cannot be dissolution of B&H without conflict, B&H needs stronger internal dialogue (Oslobodjenje)
Ivanic: I believe neither Serbia nor Croatia are interested in break-up of B&H (FTV)
Zunic says time is right for dialogue of RS and FB&H on future of B&H (EuroBlic)
Sattler, Nelson meet with Izetbegovic, Covic to discuss necessary reforms (Oslobodjenje)
OHR: RS authorities should offer public and transparent explanation about procurement of weapons for the RS MoI; Salkic said that many police officers in RS participated in genocide against Bosniaks (Dnevni list/Fena)
Croatia

Plenkovic: NDH is one of most tragic periods in Croatian history (Hina)
Israeli Ambassador: Jasenovac commemoration must be above daily politics (Vecernji list)
Connecting economies of Croatia, Israel and B&H cantons (Hina)
Brkic underlines importance of dialogue and consensus for NATO path: It is important that reform program stays aside from internal political outwitting (Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Abolition of term Orthodox Church contrary to SPC Council document of 2006 (Pobjeda)
Abazovic doesn’t know when government will discuss Fundamental Agreement with SPC (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Durlovski calls on public to turn out for protest on Sunday (Republika)
Albania

US Senate Foreign Relations Committee: We expect all candidates to act in accordance with democratic norms (Tirana Times)
US and EU ambassadors call for a peaceful and orderly electoral process (Tirana Times)
Ambassadors in Albania video message to citizens: Do not sell the vote. Vote for a better future! (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Peace, working together is future (Tanjug/RTS)
Session of Coordination Body for Serbia’s EU accession held (RTV/Tanjug)
Bujanovac joins “Community of Albanian Municipalities in the Region” (Juzne vesti/RTS)
Vucic with Kurti in Brussels in mid-May (Politika)
Dacic calls inter-party dialogue meeting for 28 April (FoNet)
Patriarch tells OSCE mission chief church ready to discuss problems (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dacic’s message to Bosniak politicians in B&H: Do not support independent Kosovo (Dnevni list)
Roth: Fantasies about changing borders belong to failed past (Nezavisne/DW)
US, UK Embassies, EUD condemn negative rhetoric; OHR is silent regarding Izetbegovic’s statements (Dnevni list/RTRS)
Turkovic sends instructions to B&H embassies in regards to non-paper (BHT1)
Reactions to Turkovic’s instruction sent to B&H diplomatic offices regarding non-paper (ATV)
Idea of peaceful dissolution and mentioning of war stir controversy on political scene in B&H (N1)
SDA calls on PIC SB to sanction Dodik due to secessionist threats (Hayat)
Cvijanovic: SDA has undermined all that could have been undermined in already weak B&H and now they want to wage war again and impose sanctions on politicians in RS; RS will not wage war (Srna/RTRS)
RS parties, officials comment Izetbegovic statement, idea of peaceful dissolution; Borenovic calls on Dodik to end political cooperation with SDA (N1)
Leaders of opposition parties in RS meet on Mt Jahorina, discuss preparations for 2022 general elections in B&H, refuse to reveal names of their candidates for Serb member of Presidency, President and PM of RS (N1)
Croatia

Grlic Radman and Logar claim that disputable non-paper does not exist (HRT1)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: Vucic’s self-pitying whining; he puts himself in role of promoter of Greater Serbia politics, redrawing borders would cause war (CdM)
Abazovic promises public debate and VC’s opinion (Dan)
Injac meets with President Pahor (Gov.PR Service)
Albania

Elections, one killed and four wounded in Elbasan (Tirana Times/VoA)
President seeks return to normalcy as murders, wounding’s engulf Albania (ADN)
EU Delegation: We call for restraint and avoidance of violence (Tirana Times)
Soreca: 50 EU teams to monitor polling stations and the counting process (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 21 April 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Petkovic: Resolution for issue of Kosovo and Metohija through dialogue (RTV)
Nabhan: OIS members could withdraw recognition of Kosovo (Tanjug/Politika/Novosti)
Slovak Embassy: We are not changing position on so-called independence of Kosovo (B92/Tanjug/RTV)
Dacic: I am signing first invitation for dialogue with opposition on 21 April (TV Happy/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

RS ruling coalition announces initiative for forming RS’ team for negotiating with FB&H on peaceful dissolution (N1)
Reactions to SNSD’s launching of initiative on talks on possibility of peaceful separation in B&H (N1)
Dodik informs Israeli Ambassador conditions for talks on future of B&H are met (RTRS)
Izetbegovic: War is not likely to happen in B&H; I do not believe that Slovenian non-paper does not exist (O kanal)
RS reactions to Izetbegovic’s statement that Serbs are genocidal people: This is dangerous, insulting, warmongering rhetoric, RS advocates peace, it will not wage wars (RTRS)
Turkovic sends instruction to all diplomatic and consular representative offices on activities after occurrence of ‘non-paper’ for Western Balkans (ATV)
EUFOR: We are competent for implementation of military aspects of DPA (BN TV)
Vucic: Serbia will not recognize independent Kosovo in order to get RS (Dnevni list)
Croatia

No joint ceremony to pay tribute to Jasenovac victims (Hina)
Montenegro

Does Krivokapic know what he will sign? (Pobjeda)
Status of religious communities under scrutiny of Council of Europe (Dan)
Albania

The political climate becomes tenser after the shooting in Kavaja (Tirana Times)
Will opposition succeed in overthrowing rule of Rama? (ADN)

LOCAL PRESS

Petkovic: Brussels agreement important, we insist on its implementation (RTS/Tanjug)
Cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo chambers of commerce and regional initiatives (Beta)
Loud silence of West to announcement on “Great Albania” (Politika)
Serbian and British Armies together in UN Mission in Cyprus (Politika)
Vulin: Serbs should live in one state, Serb national issue should be solved by uniting all Serbs in one state (TV Pink)
Inzko: Do not open Pandora’s box with ‘non-paper (Politika/Tanjug)
Logar: Discussion on alleged ‘non-paper’ is of use to nobody (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Kovacevic: RS ruling coalition to discuss information that possibility of peaceful disintegration of B&H is being discussed at numerous important addresses within the EU (Srna/RTRS)
SNSD RS MPs submit initiative for dialogue with FB&H on future of B&H; SNSD members believe that either the ultimatums in B&H will stop or process of peaceful dissolution will begin (N1)
Jansa condemns protest in Sarajevo as extremist (RTRS)
Bogovic: I never heard anything about change of borders in Western Balkans (Dnevni avaz)
Covic: Fabricated documents aimed at diverting attention from fundamental political issues (Dnevni list)
Djokic: Law on Elections should be changed to eradicate political anomalies (Dnevni list)
Organizing Committee for Marking 26th Anniversary of Srebrenica Genocide requests from OHR to impose law banning denial of genocide (FTV)
B&H’s Commission for Cooperation with NATO unanimously adopts draft document ‘Program of Reforms 2021’ (Hayat)
B&H lacks any progress in implementation of GRECO recommendations referring to judiciary officials and parliamentarians (Oslobodjenje)
Montenegro

Only Krivokapic and Leposavic got acquainted with content of agreement with SPC (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia

Mickoski: Bulgaria has no right to demand any additional concessions from us (TV Klan)
Albania

DP secretary for Kavaja wounded by a firearm inside electoral office (Tirana Times/VoA)
Basha accuses PM of assassination attempt (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Serbia’s Marko Đurić urges ‘just solution’ to bitter Kosovo dispute (The Washington Diplomat)