United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 24 December 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Petkovic to von Cramon: Serbia not calculating with issue of Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV)
Dacic and Cubrilovic on Improving Cooperation between Serbia and RS (Tanjug/Beta/RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

IOM leaves ‘Lipa’ center (BHT1)
USC Assembly, Operational Group for Monitoring of Migrant Crisis in USC hold sessions (BHT1)
Tegeltija: B&H carries too big burden in migrant crisis (ATV)
Mostar local elections ballots transferred to B&H Central Election Commission; B&H CEC publishes new preliminary results (O Kanal/Nova BH)
HDZ B&H Board Mostar criticizes fact that results local elections in Mostar have not been published yet (N1)
Covic and Plenkovic call on relevant B&H authorities and international partners to protect integrity of Mostar elections (Dnevni list)
Russian Foreign Ministry states that Russia handed over to B&H Embassy in Moscow icon that Dodik presented as gift to Lavrov (BNTV)
Montenegro

Montenegro and UK are committed to improving cooperation within the framework of bilateral defense projects (CdM)
URA Main Committee supports the amendments to the Law on Freedom of Religion (CdM)
Markovic to URA: Reconciliation is not built on the acquisitions of an abducted state and dethroned dynasty (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Buckovski expects a response from Bulgaria after New Year (Republika)
Maas: Germany not giving up on finding solution for dispute between Skopje and Sofia (DW/MIA)
Albania

Meta decrees sixth member of Constitutional Court (Radio Tirana)
Varhelyi: Significant achievement, completes the list of conditions for the first intergovernmental table (Radio Tirana)
OSCE Ambassador praises election of sixth member of Constitutional Court (ADN)
Soreca considers the appointment of the 6th member of the Constitutional Court a significant achievement (Radio Tirana)
US supports free and fair elections in Albania (ADN)
Kim met with the newly appointed minister of Interior Çuçi (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 23 December 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Drecun: Longer delay in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Tanjug)
Dacic: Pristina acting irresponsibly (TV Happy/Beta)
Dacic, McAllister on inter-party dialogue (Tanjug/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Eighty-three per cent of votes from Mostar processed (Hayat)
B&H CEC recounts ballots in Mostar (N1)
HNS demands resignation of B&H CEC members due to alleged election frauds in Mostar (O Kanal)
Komsic: High time for amending DPA has passed a long time ago (O Kanal)
B&H Ministry of Security issues instruction for temporary reopening of ‘Bira’ center (O Kanal)
Office of B&H Presidency Chairman Dodik: Orthodox Christian icon gifted to Lavrov not stolen (RTRS)
Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies in B&H: Neither INTERPOL nor B&H law enforcement authorities received request to investigate icon (N1)
Montenegro

Opposition’s request: Minister Radulovic to be interrogated (CdM)
Bishop Joanikije: Our lawyers amended the law, whereas we were just monitoring the process (Radio Svetigora/CdM)
Becic: Parliament to meet on Monday (CdM)
Bosniak Party urges parliament to adopt resolution recognizing the Srebrenica massacre (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev expresses gratitude to Borisov for the promise to share the coronavirus vaccines (Republika)
Borisov: We donate the vaccines without any hidden intentions (Republika)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Secretary‑General Appoints Mari Yamashita of Japan Representative, Director of United Nations Office in Belgrade (UN Press Release)
Czechia and Slovakia block an important document for EU enlargement (DPA)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 21 December 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: No recognition of Kosovo, nor membership in NATO (TV Prva)
Vucic: With changes to Dayton Agreement, one is asking for the RS not to have entity competences (TV Prva)
Party of Freedom and Justice warns EU Ambassador of becoming a political accomplice to the Serbian regime (Beta)
First gas through Turkish Stream pipeline on 1 January (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Vucic says he respects integrity of B&H, but that he cannot accept ideas of abolishing RS; Zvizdic reacts to Vucic’s statement (RTRS)
After 12 years, local elections in Mostar take place without major incidents (Nova BH)
B&H CEC presents preliminary results of elections in Mostar, turnout around 55 percent (BHT1)
NGO ‘Pod Lupom’ detects minor irregularities (O Kanal)
Covic presents serious accusation against SDA (N1)
Covic: I believe HDZ B&H will form two-third majority in Mostar City Council with future partners (FTV)
B&H politicians comment on first preliminary results of local elections in Mostar (BHT1)
Inzko visits Mostar and welcomes elections in Mostar as holiday of democracy (FTV)
Sattler and US Ambassador Nelson visit Mostar (Hayat)
Russian Foreign Ministry says Orthodox icon that Minister Lavrov received as gift from Dodik will be returned for further clarification of its origin through Interpol (Nova BH/RT)
Croatia

Grlic Radman: HDZ Croatia believes Mario Kordic would be excellent Mostar Mayor (HRT1)
Montenegro

Inexperienced apostles have pushed the state into uncertainty (Dnevne novine)
Montenegro enters temporary financing; budget scheduled for March (CdM)
PM and ministers met with heads of caucuses over trust and division of power (Dan)
Abazovic about appointment of Vuksic: It’s a good solution (CdM)
Leposavic: We weren’t obliged to hold public discussion, amendments to the Law were urgent and necessary (CdM)
Abazovic claims that he has nothing against Montenegrin Orthodox Church (CdM)
Medojevic: Prime Minister’s huge embarrassment (CdM)
Abazovic has no control over important appointments in the government (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

VMRO: Zaev is a proponent of Bulgarian interests in Macedonia and he can’t make a good deal with Borisov (Republika)
Zaharieva insists that pressure from other EU countries won’t dissuade Bulgaria, calls on Pendarovski to stop misrepresenting the dispute (Republika)
Karakacanov says that adding Slovakia and Czechia to the dispute with Macedonia doesn’t contribute to EU stability (Republika)
Slovakian Foreign Minister responds to Bulgaria that he won’t allow historic narratives to become a condition of EU membership (Republika)
Albania

PM expresses gratitude to chief police for clarifying Rasha’s death (ADN)
US Embassy: Justice Reform must continue to move forward step by step (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic and Borrell: Political and economic aspects of negotiations (Tanjug/RTV)
Brnabic: Next year to be more successful in terms of EU integration (Tanjug/RTV/Novosti)
Dacic: EC Report for the first time before MPs by the end of the year (RTS/Tanjug)
Memorandum on joint use of diplomatic missions with Hungary signed (Tanjug)
Serbia takes over chairmanship of Energy Community (Tanjug/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Ukrainian Embassy to B&H demands explanation from B&H about icon Dodik gave to Lavrov as gift, claiming it is Ukrainian stolen cultural heritage (FTV)
Komsic: If information about icon proves to be true, someone has to be arrested (O kanal)
Radoncic criticizes B&H politicians for searching outside assistance in their election campaigns (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia

Croatia, international community promise help to Mostar after elections; Sattler: Independent observers will monitor elections in Mostar (HRT1)
Montenegro

Krivokapic: Montenegro wants the best relations with everybody (CdM)
Adzic: SPC will have to register (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

EU conclusions blocked: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria say Bulgaria is allowed to take things too far (Republika)
Czech Republic and Slovakia on ‘veto on Bulgaria’: We will not allow EU to be the judge of our shared history, how we identify ourselves or the language we use (Republika)
Bulgaria complains to EU about the blockade of the Czech Republic and Slovakia (TV 24)
Mickoski: Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria reacted in time not to destroy Macedonia’s history (Republika)
Albania

Osmani from the Albanian parliament: Serbia must apologize and be punished (Tirana Times)
Rama meets Osmani (Radio Tirana/Euronews Albania)
Ruci with Osmani: Let us not allow the truth about Kosovo be overturned before our eyes! (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Vitale: Public diplomacy one of the biggest challenges for NATO in Serbia (EWB)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 17 December 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Selakovic says Serbia respects territorial integrity of B&H but loves RS (Politika/TV Pink)
Joksmovic: Successful realization of program of cross-border cooperation (Tanjug)
Lorenz: Serbia should step up efforts to align with Brussels (Beta/RTV)
Less: There will be no pressures on RS, Biden needs assistance of Serbia in Kosovo (Politika/Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Covic: Dzaferovic and Komsic act in line with instructions of SDA leader (BHT1)
Izetbegovic denies claims that he suggested or ordered Dzaferovic and Komsic not to meet with Lavrov (FTV)
Dodik congratulates Biden victory in elections (RTRS)
Palmer: Changes to Constitution of B&H as well as changes to structure of authorities will be necessary (Dnevni list)
Sabolic: Question about necessity to change DPA need to be answered by legitimate political representatives (Dnevni avaz)
HR Inzko visits Mostar, meets with ‘Coalition for Mostar 2020’ candidates; Representatives of Serb parties in Mostar reject meeting with Inzko (Hayat/ATV)
Tegeltija resigns as HJPC President; Gorusanovic-Butigan to be at head of HJPC by February next year when new leadership of HJPC should be elected (O kanal)
DF presents set of laws which should make possible full reform of HJPC (Hayat)
Croatia

Plenkovic and Lavrov talk political and economic ties between Croatia and Russia (Hina)
Lavrov says relations with Croatia are good in spite of Brussels (HRT)
Croatia and Russia sign program for boosting cultural cooperation (Hina)
Montenegro

Radulovic: Cooperation with Serbia is high on the agenda (CdM)
Radulovic initiates recall of several ambassadors (CdM)
Leposavic voted for the document which declares Mandic and Knezevic pro-Russian opposition leaders (Pobjeda)
Montenegro’s strategic goal is to be 28th EU member state (CdM)
Injac visits Alliance: NATO membership requires high level of commitment (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev: We are united with the President on our EU future and resolving the issues with Bulgaria (Republika)
Albania

Meta receives Osmani (Radio Tirana)
Osmani: Mini-Schengen a bad decision, exchange of territories a dangerous adventure (Tirana Times)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

FM Szijjártó Urges EU to Accelerate North Macedonia’s Integration (Hungary Today)