United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 22 January 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic to Quint Ambassadors: Initiative to amend the Constitution adopted and forwarded to Serbian parliament (RTV/Tanjug)
Dacic: Italy is one of Serbia’s most important foreign trade partners (RTV/Tanjug)
Djuric: I am convinced that we will establish excellent relations with the new administration as well (B92)
Interstate agreement on encouraging investments signed with the US (Politika)
Godfrey: New administration will continue to improve relations with Serbia (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

B&H CEC annuls elections in Srebrenica and Doboj (Nova BH)
Dodik: We will appeal decision of B&H CEC even though we have no confidence in the court; SNSD will block elections in 2022 (BN TV)
Cvijanovic condemns CEC’s decisions regarding Doboj and Srebrenica (ATV)
SDS, PDP, DNS hold joint press conference following announcement of B&H CEC to annul election results in Doboj (BN TV)
US Embassy comments B&H CEC decision: We welcome all measures in line with Election Law and CEC procedures (Oslobodjenje)
Inzko: Basically, in some way, my Bonn Powers were taken from me, not formally, but de facto; I believe that it is good that new High Representative will arrive (O kanal)
Izetbegovic: New High Representative just needs to do his job and not allow anti-Dayton activities in B&H; Biden’s win could bring back ‘April Package’ to the table (FTV)
Dodik: If SDA continues with attempts to reorganize B&H, we will host referendum on independence (RTRS)
Komsic slams Covic, says he should stop claiming that Sarajevo wants some kind of Muslim state (Oslobodjenje)
Police clash with migrants, two police officers injured (N1)
SDA: We give full support to police bodies to use all capacities to establish public peace and order in migrant camps (Hayat)
Montenegro

PM now claims he did not offer congratulations for the Day of RS (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Government passes census law with 62 votes, methodology yet to be determined (Republika)
Albania

Serbia-Albania deal on freedom of movement enters into force (ADN)
Albania declares Russian diplomat persona non grata (ADN)
Ambassadors Kim and Soreca at the Constitutional Court; US will continue to strongly support the implementation of Justice Reform (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic congratulates Biden (Beta/RTS)
Vucic: KFOR has a vital role in maintaining peace and stability in Kosovo and Metohija (RTS)
Brnabic: Washington agreement remains (TV Happy/Tanjug/RTV)
Selakovic: I expect a meeting between Vucic and Biden by year’s end (RTS)
Selakovic: Serbia has understanding towards Bulgaria’s position regarding Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV/RTS)
Office for Kosovo and Metohija: Pristina’s attempt to prevent vaccination in Serb communities (Tanjug/Politika)
Dveri calls on boycott of Kosovo elections (RTV/Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

B&H officials congratulate Biden (Fena/N1)
Dodik: Structures in Sarajevo expect much from Biden (ATV)
Russian Embassy to B&H: Russia continues to be of opinion OHR should be closed (RTRS)
Izetbegovic addresses EPP group in EP: We have to remove mechanisms which enable blockades (Oslobodjenje)
Mostar: Results of local elections leave parties discontent, deadline for formation of authorities is 14 days, negotiations are underway (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia

Milanovic after Biden inauguration: Light ultimately triumphs over darkness (Hina)
Montenegro

Djukanovic congratulated Biden: Montenegro reliable partner and responsible ally (CdM)
Reinke: When cohabitation fails, everyone loses (CdM)
Djukanovic’s office: Meeting will be held in President’s office, it’s not about foreign policy consultations (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Macedonian leaders congratulate Biden on his inauguration (Republika)
Audio tape between Zaev and Verusevski causes a stir, Gruevski responds (Republika/Infomax)
Zaev: With Bulgaria we are negotiating about the name, about hate speech and minority issues (Republika)
Mickoski and Nikoloski meet with Jansa to discuss Macedonia’s stalled EU integration (Republika)
Zaev on census results: The percentages will not affect acquired rights (Republika)
EC expects Macedonia to hold a census in line with European standards and regulations (Republika)
Albania

President Meta conveys congratulations to new US President (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Bulgaria’s President Had Meeting with Foreign Minister of Serbia (Novinite)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 20 January 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Petkovic: Belgrade will not fall for threats from Pristina (Tanjug/RTV)
Serbia’s opposition to MEP: Start inter-party dialogue as soon as possible (N1)
Bilcik: I support everything that strengthens trust in media and elections (Danas)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dodik: I will ask Vucic to give part of vaccines to the RS (RTRS)
RS opposition criticizes Dodik for his announcement that he will ask from Serbia to give part of vaccines to the RS (BN TV)
Dodik responds to accusations of RS opposition (RTRS)
B&H CEC publishes confirmed results of local elections in Mostar (O kanal)
Covic meets Plenkovic and Radman, Covic says elections in Mostar have been compromised (Dnevni list)
DPC’s analysis suggests international community and B&H citizens must exert pressures on domestic political elite, propose strengthening of EUFOR and NATO in B&H as well as distancing from Zagreb and Belgrade (Dnevni avaz)
Borrell sends letter to B Dodik, again requesting equal distribution of migrant crisis burden in B&H (Nova BH)
Montenegro

Amendments to Law on Freedom of Religion adopted again (Vijesti)
Abazovic and Radulovic invited Djukanovic to talks (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia

EU ambassadors to Macedonia urged Zaev to “complete the process with Bulgaria” as soon as possible (Republika)
Albania

Albanian PM insists on EU criticism (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Serbia Filing First Lawsuits Against NATO on Behalf of 1999 Bombing Victims, Lawyer Says (Sputnik)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Haradinaj is a dangerous man, Greater Albania is a threat to the entire region (RTS)
Varadi: Kosovo secession illegal, yet it’s not part of Serbia at this point (N1/Beta)
Several opposition parties to take part in talks on elections with authorities (Beta)
Bilcik: We are ready for Serbia’s inter-party dialogue right now (N1)
First lawsuit against NATO ready: Compensation sought for people ill with cancer because of bombing (Tanjug)
New Allied Joint Force Command Naples Commander for cfsp.rs: NATO and Serbia are close partners, stable Kosovo essential for regional stability and security (Council for Strategic Policy)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Radmanovic: There is no DPA nor B&H without internal agreement (Srna/ATV)
Covic sends open letter to officials of international community requesting resignation of B&H CEC members (BHT1/N1)
Energy Community imposes sanctions against B&H (Hayat/BN TV/RTRS)
OHR, EUD call on FB&H authorities to secure unblocking of functioning of Securities Commission of FB&H (Oslobodjenje)
B&H Court confirms indictment in ‘Respirators’ case (O kanal)
Montenegro

Gegaj: The one-nation Krivokapic’s government is permeated by the Chetnik ideology (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Mickoski and Orban discussed Macedonia’s blocked EU accession process (Republika)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 18 January 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: Government will continue to investigate Ivanovic’s murder (Tanjug)
Vucic: We have a picture of possible participants in Ivanovic’s murder (RTS/Tanjug)
Rakic: Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija must be under one flag (Novosti)
Judge Danica talks about Racak case: ​​Walker destroyed Serbs in Kosovo, it was all a fraud (Telegraf)
Dodik: RS will give up on 9 January when USA gives up on 4 July (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Leadership of Tuzla Canton Assembly and Tuzla Canton Prime Minister submit irrevocable resignations (O kanal)
Deadline for publishing final results of Mostar elections expires in 3 days; SDP demands recount of votes; HDZ B&H calls on B&H CEC to resign (O kanal)
EC warns about repercussions for B&H if migrant crisis is not solved (Hayat)
Tegeltija says B&H does not need new migrant camps, holds EU responsible for migrant crisis (Dnevni list)
Croatia

Kristo: Turning Croats into minority would lead to end of state of B&H (Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Montenegro parliament rejects initiative of Bosniak party on adoption of resolution on Srebrenica genocide (CdM)
Montenegro wants to reset its relations with Serbia (CdM/DW)
Krivokapic met with Djukanovic, Becic and Abazovic (CdM)
Six ambassadors won’t go to consultations? (Antena M)
Republic of North Macedonia

Pendarovski confirms that Macedonia’s nominee for military representative to NATO failed the security check (Republika)
Albania

France sends a note of protest to Prime Minister Rama (Tirana Times/Top Channel)
Rama on the note of protest by France: I haven’t attacked any ally (Tirana Times)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

The Silent Persecution of Christians in Kosovo (National Catholic Register)