United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 23 February 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: Quality of life in Kosovo and Metohija depends on dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (TV Happy/Tanjug/RTV)
Petkovic: Kurti abused attack on Nenad Rasic’s son for political purposes (RTS)
Brnabic attends dialogue with National Convent on EU (Tanjug/FoNet)
Faktor Plus: SNS, SPS would pass five-percent threshold (Tanjug/Blic)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Grujicic wins elections in Srebrenica, says that results almost similar to results from November are evidence that decision of B&H CEC to repeat elections was illegal (Nova BH)
Bosniaks announce they will not accept mandates they won in repeated elections in Srebrenica (Nova BH)
Jerinic and SNSD win elections in Doboj; Opposition claims that result of elections is evidence of frauds in November elections (RTRS)
SNSD: Someone needs to be held responsible for expenses and damages caused to Doboj and Srebrenica by annulment of elections (ATV)
Komsic: System of status of constituent peoples is outdated (Oslobodjenje/Fena)
Sattler: Current extent of presence of international community in B&H not compatible with EU integration (N1)
Cvijanovic, Viskovic meet Sattler to discuss political and economic situation (ATV)
Croatia

Croatian FM for keeping some space open for dialogue between EU and Russia (Hina)
Grlic Radman: It is important for EU and the US to continue working together on challenges that include Euro-Atlantic integration of Western Balkans (Hina)
Montenegro

Saving PM’s credibility (CdM)
Picula: Public administration reform should be based on expertise and without political revenge (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Arrest warrant issued for Saso Mijalkov, as the police are unable to locate him (Republika/Alsat-M TV)
Zaev: We’ve had another escape (Republika)
Pendarovski called on authorities to find Mijalkov (Republika)
Zaev’s key coalition partner Kasami turns on him – puts pressure on the Interior Minister, won’t help SDSM during the municipal elections (Republika)
State Department: Closely monitoring Mijalkov situation (Republika)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: We will defend our interests regardless of almost hopeless situation (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
Vucic: Relationship with Croatia is important, Serbia not hiding missing persons information (RTL/Beta)
European Parliament report calls Belgrade to resolve issues (N1)
Vulin: If you didn’t send us vaccines then you didn’t have to send us the amendments (Tanjug/RTV)
Third session of the Committee on Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)
Comoro Islands do not recognize so-called Kosovo (RTV/Tanjug)
Bosniaks are now against closing down of the OHR (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

CEC holds press conference: First preliminary election results presented, Jerinic wins 67.44% of votes, Grujicic wins 67.62% of votes (FTV)
‘My Address: Srebrenica’ leader Ahmetovic says boycott of elections in Srebrenica was 99 per cent successful (N1)
OHR, EUD, US Embassy express discontent with decision to boycott elections in Srebrenica (Dnevni avaz)
Inzko urges patience regarding appointment of new HR as most PIC members are yet to reveal their stances about possible appointment of German politician Schmidt (Face TV)
Inzko: Blagojevic will face consequences for ignoring B&H CC’s rulings regarding imposed laws and state property (Face TV)
Inzko sets deadline for adoption of law on ban on genocide denial, says there will be consequences unless decorations to war criminals are revoked (EuroBlic/Face TV)
RS officials strongly oppose Inzko’s insisting on adoption of law on ban on genocide denial (Glas Srpske)
CoE receives information that B&H Parliament’s interdepartmental working group should start working on constitutional reforms soon; Poirel: B&H Constitution outdated and in need of change (N1)
EU calls on B&H authorities to form new task group to amend electoral legislation, HDZ B&H and SNSD do not want B&H CEC members in this body (BHT1)
Blinken writes to Turkovic; Now, more than ever citizens depend of our leadership (Dnevni avaz)
Montenegro

Picula: All accusations made ahead of Niksic elections to be clarified ASAP (Pobjeda)
Radulovic already informed countries about the recall of ambassadors (Dnevne novine)
Djukanovic’s office: PM and Minister Spajic are embarrassing the state (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev doesn’t give up, asks the opposition to support the census (Republika)
Karakachanov says he will suggest that Macedonia and Albania be separated, so that Albania’s EU path isn’t blocked (Republika/BNT)
Albania

Why Albania’s foreign policy toward Serbia should change (Tirana Times)
Mazi reveals details from the meeting held by Rama with EU Commissioner (Radio Tirana)
The extradition treaty with the USA and Albania signed by American Ambassador Kim and Justice Minister Gjonaj (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 19 February 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Metropolitan Porfirije elected 46th Patriarch of Serbian Orthodox Church (Tanjug/RTS/RTV/Beta/B92)
First sermon of Patriarch Porfirije (RTS)
How Porfirije spoke about Kosovo and Metohija (RTS)
Vucic congratulated to Serbian Patriarch Porfirije (RTS/Tanjug)
Selakovic: Serbia is not violating Washington agreement but is not a “dumb observer” (Tanjug/RTV)
RTS crew banned from entering Kosovo (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Pro-Bosnian parties support Initiative ‘My Address: Srebrenica’ in boycott of Sunday’s elections; They file motion with CC demanding to annul elections (FTV)
Dzaferovic: I support boycott of Srebrenica elections; Dodik should know RS is of vital interest of Bosniaks (FTV)
Dodik meets Grujicic in Srebrenica ahead of Sunday’s elections, mentions possibility of boycotting 2022 elections (FTV)
Cubrilovic: B&H CEC did not contribute to democratization with decision to repeat elections in Doboj and Srebrenica (RTRS)
Cvijanovic pays visit to Doboj (RTRS)
Tegeltija: Three issues standing in way of status of EU candidate are laws on HJPC, public procurements and prevention of conflicts of interest; I see OHR as lawyer for some Bosniak parties (Vecernji list)
Dzaferovic: We expect slightly stronger engagement of the existing administration from Washington; B&H needs a more active HR (FTV)
Dodik: I do not oppose B&H based on DPA capacities, but I oppose unitary B&H; Biden will not solve B&H’s problems (ATV)
RS parliament adopts three conclusions regarding Inzko’s report; Opposition MPs refuse to participate in voting (ATV)
OHR responds to RS parliament request: HR reports are available on UN, OHR websites (FTV)
Croatia

Census in Croatia postponed due to epidemic (HRT)

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: OSCE support in almost all important reform processes (RTS)
Vucic: Good relations between Serbia and North Macedonia of greatest significance for entire region (Tanjug/RTV)
Petkovic: Pristina to ask itself what is it celebrating (Tanjug/RTV)
Five countries ready to withdraw recognition of Kosovo if Pristina violates Washington agreement (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dodik: There is no force in world that will abolish the RS; Schmidt replacing Inzko is another international bluff (RTRS/Sputnik)
Inzko rejects RS parliament request (RTRS)
US Embassy, EUD and OHR condemn negative rhetoric which undermines reconciliation (Srna/Glas Srpske)
Ambassadors Sattler, Nelson and Kavales publish joint op-ed underlining importance of electoral reform (Oslobodjenje)
Novakovic-Bursac says abolition of voting by mail and increase of threshold should be considered; Pekic and Sehic advocate introduction of modern technologies in election process (EuroBlic)
B&H Prosecutor’s Office files indictment against Mehmedagic, Cikotic and Druskic (RTRS)
Croatia

Plenkovic, Schmidt discuss support to European, reform path of B&H (N1/Vecernji list)
Montenegro

DF won’t vote for budget before amendments to prosecutorial laws are passed (CdM)
Mandic: The crisis of the parliamentary majority (RTCG)
Turning point for Democrats and URA (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Main parties will begin talks about the coming municipal elections next week (Republika)
Mickoski supports open lists and the first-past-the-post model for the coming municipal elections (Republika)
Dispute over identity cards threatens Zaev’s coalition (Republika)
Pendarovski doesn’t agree that ethnicity should be included in IDs, but he will sign the Decree (Republika/MKD.mk)
Kyuchyuk hopes that Macedonia will soon open its EU accession talks (Republika)
Basha meets Slovenian PM: Slovenia, Albania's strong advocate in EU membership process (Radio Tirana)
Albania

Basha meets Slovenian PM: Slovenia, Albania's strong advocate in EU membership process (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 17 February 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Serbia will be exposed to pressure, again; I would always choose Angela Merkel (Bild/Tanjug/B92)
Vucic with Slutsky: Friendly relations proven in various challenges (RTV/Tanjug)
Brnabic: Kurti’s statements unsurprising but regrettable (Tanjug)
Lajcak: It is absolutely possible to find a solution for Kosovo (Danas)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Mostar Mayor Kordic: Mostar was never a ‘case city’ but it was somewhat of a victim of experiments conducted by international community (O kanal)
Izetbegovic: Irma Baralija betrayed Mostar (Hayat)
International community congratulates formation of Mostar city leadership (O kanal)
Izetbegovic: Look at all the things that Serbia is doing so that Serbs who moved out of Srebrenica voted in Srebrenica (Hayat)
Cvijanovic: Bosniak politicians have never truly taken care of Bosniak or Serb people in Srebrenica, announcement of boycott is only piece of puzzle in plan for problematization of Srebrenica (Srna)
Viskovic visits Srebrenica: Decision of Initiative ‘My Address: Srebrenica’ to boycott elections represents hoax by Bosniaks (RTRS)
DNS and PDP sign agreement on support to SDS' candidate for post of Doboj Mayor Cvijan Filipovic (BN TV)
SNSD’s Jerinic certain about having stable majority in Doboj City Assembly, with more than 25 councilors (Nova BH)
Sattler: B&H must face its past and work on reconciliation, OHR needs to be gradually closed (Nezavisne novine)
Izetbegovic, Palmer discuss reform of Election Law and implementation of ECHR rulings (Oslobodjenje)
RS parliament adopts conclusion according to which HR is requested to create report on progress in implementation of peace agreement in B&H for period 2009-2020 and submit it with RS parliament within 90 days (RTRS)
Croatia

Croatian Foreign Ministry congratulates new Mostar mayor (Hina)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: We’ll overcome crises (CdM)
Krivokapic: Brussels is adamant – adopting the law on prosecution in this way would cross a “red line” (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Mickoski: The new treaty with Bulgaria negotiated by Buckovski will be a disaster (Republika)
Albania

Rama congratulates Albanians on Independence Day of Kosovo (ADN)