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Belgrade Media Report 31 March

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic, Kovacevski: Serbia-North Macedonia relations best in modern history (Tanjug/RTV/RTS)
• Brnabic: Economic, political ties with North Macedonia steadily improving (Tanjug/RTV)
• Serbia, North Macedonia sign three MoUs on cooperation (Tanjug/RTS)
• Serbia committed to promotion of rights to freedom of opinion, expression (Tanjug/Politika)
• Serbian parliament speaker meets with UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur (Politika)
• Regional cooperation one of Serbia’s foreign policy priorities (Tanjug/Politika)
• Dacic: Government did not discuss sanctions against Russia (Kurir/Nova)
• Stano says license plate agreement has no deadline (N1)
• Pisonero: Serbia’s EU accession depends on judiciary, relations with Pristina (Beta/EWB)
• Poll: Number of citizens for and against membership in EU almost equal (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Blinken compares Dodik to Putin, Dodik flattered by comparison (ATV)
• RS officials responds to Blinken’s statements about Dodik (ATV)
• Russian Embassy to B&H comments on Blinken’s statement, says Putin’s path is path to independence and sovereignty (ATV)
• Kristo attends Summit for Democracy hosted by President Biden (Vecernji list)
• Bradara makes decision on new FB&H government appointment after concessions made within ‘The Troika’ (BHT1)
• Lendo holds meeting with Sattler to discuss formation of FB&H government; Lendo hopes agreement will be reached soon (FTV)
• OHR answers inquiry on speculation on amending FB&H Constitution: Whatever appeared in the media was pure speculation aimed to provoke (Oslobodjenje)
• ReStart, Krug 99 call for protests in front of OHR on Friday (Hayat)
• B&H HoP adopts Law on Budget of Institutions and International Obligations of B&H for 2023 (RTRS)
• Milanovic meets Karamatic, agree that legitimate representatives of Croats have to be in all institutions (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• Defence Minister: Croatian helicopters will soon arrive in Ukraine (Hina)
• Croatian and Slovenian Prime Ministers address the fight against illegal migration (HRT)
Montenegro
• MCP calls on citizens to vote against Djukanovic (CdM)
• Komsic: Support for Djukanovic - He made relations between B&H and Montenegro extremely friendly (CdM)
Albania
• Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro, platform for 100% harmonization with EU foreign policy (Radio Tirana)
• The Assembly of Albania and Kosova, cooperation for the drafting of the Code of Ethics (Radio Tirana)
• Spiropali meetings with representatives of the US Congress (Radio Tirana)

Belgrade Media Report 30 March

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Challenges require unity, respect of international law (Politika/Tanjug)
• Petkovic: Concrete steps to be discussed in Brussels, our red lines to stay (Radio Belgrade)
• NADA coalition: Vucic’s scandalous tactic on Kosovo (Beta/Politika)
• Opposition party: Unacceptable for Serbia to apply agreement without government or parliament approval (Beta)
• Cadez says EU needs stable Western Balkans (N1)
• PFG with Israel: Reconsider decision to recognise Kosovo (RTV/Tanjug)
• Will the Kosovo police apologize to Miljan (Novosti)
• Hill: Ohrid agreement will positively affect Balkans, not only Serbia (RTS/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Bradara fails to appoint FB&H government due to demand of Niksic to carry out additional consultations (BHT1)
• Becirovic reacts to possible new interventions by HR (Oslobodjenje/FTV)
• Zvizdic: If the blockade continues, the HR should react (Dnevni list)
• Sattler on FB&H government formation: Citizens expect that their election will is implemented (Dnevni list)
• Blinken: Dodik is on Putin’s authoritarian path (FTV)
• Senate of University of Sarajevo strips Izetbegovic of title of professor (N1)
Montenegro
• Government dismissed Brdjanin; Terzic new acting director of police administration (CdM)
• Djukanovic: Diaspora’s voting rights completely clear; diaspora shows exceptional devotion to state (TVCG)
• Gjeloshaj: It is disgrace to question diaspora, of course they should be allowed to vote in election (CdM)
• Knezevic: Nice to see Dritan’s adviser at the summit of Greater Albania (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Pendarovski acknowledged that the only way to make constitutional amendments is through VMRO-DPMNE (TV Sitel/TV24/Makpress/PlusInfo)
• Kovacevski: Constitutional amendments will not be delayed (Republika)
• Kovachevski – Stoltenberg: United and strong together in NATO, North Macedonia a factor of stability (MIA)
Albania
• Information society and media, meeting in Brussels for chapter 10 of the negotiations (Radio Tirana)

Belgrade Media Report 29 March

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Serbia wants to join EU but knows that does not depend only on us (RTS/RTV/Tanjug)
• Sakellaropoulou: Pressure does exist, but our stance on Kosovo remains unchanged (Tanjug)
• US Ambassador: Progress after difficult decisions (FoNet)
• Kosovo Serb arrested at Jarinje released from detention (Tanjug)
• Stano says EU will take first steps on Kosovo agreement (Beta)
• EU invites Pristina and Belgrade chief negotiators to Brussels on 4 April (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Bradara informs Lendo and Stojanovic that she will adopt decision on FB&H government formation (Hayat)
• Ambassador Murphy meets Head of Istocna Ilidza Bozovic (Oslobodjenje)
• Dodik: US Ambassador and his staff are hostile for the RS when they claim that the property belongs to the level of B&H; Dodik condemns Bozovic’s meeting with Murphy (ATV)
• Dodik claims he did not terminate cooperation with US but with US Embassy in B&H (BNTV)
• Dodik again makes homophobic comments referring to LGBTIQ community (ATV)
• EUD to B&H says latest developments in RS have quite terrifying effect both on minorities and LGBT community (N1)
Montenegro
• Milatovic addressed diaspora just like Zdravko Krivokapic back in 2021 (CdM)
• Abazovic: I told Brdjanin that he should resign (CdM)
• Djurovic: Parliament continues its work (MINA)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Osmani: Constitutional amendments to focus on EU, not to be burdened by other political issues (MIA/Alsat-M/Sitel/Telma/360 Stepeni)
• Kovachevski: Citizens want to live in EU but in our country, brave decisions needed (MIA/Netpress/Biznis Vesti)
Albania
• Xhacka meets the counterpart of North Macedonia: Cooperation and challenges in the region are in focus! (Radio Tirana)
• Xhacka meets with Xhaferi, Albanians in North Macedonia, an important role for the Euro-Atlantic perspective (Radio Tirana)

Belgrade Media Report 28 March

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic with Giaufret: Serbia dedicated to its European path (RTS)
• Lajcak and Bilcik on the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (RTS)
• Von Cramon: Vucic statement badly received (N1)
• Beta: Stano says EU will take first steps on Kosovo agreement (Beta)
• Djilas: Topic of Kosovo’s UN membership depends on Russia, China (RTV)
• Former minister: Serbia must not allow Kosovo to join UNESCO (Beta)
• U.S. Ambassador: Albanian minority in Serbia exclusively a matter for Serbian state to address (Beta)
• More houses in KiM have been robbed (RTS)
• Vucic with the President of Greece: Fraternal relations between Athens and Belgrade, territorial integrity of the two countries supported (RTS)
• PM Brnabic welcomes Greek President (FoNet, Beta)
• Dacic and Botsan-Kharchenko on the situation in the region and further cooperation between the two countries (RTS)
• FM Dacic says Serbia will not be led into isolation over Ukraine (N1)
• Minister to Ukrainian Ambassador: We want to help restore your cities (FoNet)
• Serbian PM, Hessian minister talk advancing relations, cooperation (Beta)
• Orlic with Orban in Budapest: Serbia deeply appreciates the level of cooperation with Hungarian friends (RTS)
• Hungarian Foreign Minister in Budapest (Beta)
• Opposition leader: Authorities form new movement to shun responsibility (Beta)
• Dveri: Vucic doesn’t dare utter the word “election”, President, Foreign Minister responsible for capitulation (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• HR Schmidt: Deadline for formation of the FB&H Government is just around the corner, it is time for political actors to act responsibly (FTV)
• ‘The Troika’ issues joint press statement commenting formation of FB&H Government (Dnevni list)
• Media carry details of HR's possible interventions to FB&H Constitution; Comments of politicians (FTV)
• Deadline to appoint new ministers in FB&H Government expires, Lendo will not support them, some speculate HR is seeking for solution (BHT1)
• SDA demands from Schmidt to confirm or deny speculations on his possible imposition of new decisions in FB&H; SDA prepared to let HDZ and 'The Eight' to form FB&H authorities if they amend FB&H Constitution (Nova BH)
• US Ambassador Murphy: USA is not enemy of Serb people and there is no intention to abolish RS, we deeply respect all citizens of B&H; Dodik used to be promising politicians but he has changed (Nezavisne)
• Murphy: B&H Parliament needs to adopt law on state property, RS's interests will be represented by its representatives in Parliament (Nezavisne)
• RS authorities announced rigorous measures if property law is imposed in B&H (O kanal)
• Vucic draws comparison between Sandzak and RS: Times of secession have passed (Dnevni avaz)
• Spiric and Radmanovic respectively meet with Ambassador Kalabukhov; They discuss current situation in B&H and region as well as global challenges (RTRS)
• Becirovic proposes adoption of action plan for fulfilling 14 key priorities from EC’s Opinion (Dnevni avaz)
• EUD says proposed laws in RS on defamation and non-profit organizations are step in wrong direction, Dodik’s statements on discriminating LGBT people in educational institutions are inappropriate (BN TV)
• RS politicians criticize EUD's call to RS authorities to withdraw proposed laws regarding defamation and non-governmental organizations (ATV)
Montenegro
• Abazovic offers that Montenegro hosts a new round of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Western Balkans vulnerable to third-party influence (MIA)
• Skopje, Tirana urge Serbia and Kosovo to implement Ohrid Agreement without delay (MIA)
• Xhaferi-Xhacka: North Macedonia and Albania build excellent bilateral relations (MIA)
• Moscow: Skopje’s decision to donate helicopters to Ukraine is a huge mistake (MIA)
Albania
• Xhacka-Pendarovski: The EU must maintain the intensity of the integration process (Radio Tirana)
• Begaj at the Austrian Business Forum: To enhance economic ties (Radio Tirana)
• Memorandum of Understanding with Italy on trade and investment opportunities for agricultural enterprises (Radio Tirana)

Belgrade Media Report 27 March 2023

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 27 March 2023

LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic: "They planned a bleak fate for our people"; "We will save Serbia" (B92)
• General Romano: Serbia, NATO cannot forget the past, but are nevertheless moving forward (Beta)
• Stano: The first steps to start the implementation of the agreement from Ohrid in the coming days (RTS)
• Macron: Serbia-Kosovo agreement a major step forward, needs to be fully implemented right away (Beta)
• Member of European Parliament: Serb List’s refusal to run in election contravenes Feb. 27 agreement (Beta)
• The countries of the Quinte expressed their regret that the Serbian List is not participating in the elections (RTS)
• Jeremic: Referendum on EU Plan is only way to prevent high treason (Danas)
• Right-Wing supporters block traffic in front of the government for an hour (Danas)
• Defense Minister says Kosovo events high risk for Serbia (Beta)
• Office for KiM: Serbs are not legitimate targets, greater protection is necessary (RTS)
• Vucic meets with Hungarian Prime Minister in Belgrade (Beta)
• Serbia opens a consulate in Minsk - honorary consul Zivorad Smiljkovic (RTS)
• Declaration on cooperation of green parties of W. Balkans signed in Sarajevo (N1)
• Djilas: The party’s mission – Serbia’s membership in the EU (N1)
• Vucic: Major changes in global politics will change the dynamics of Serbia's relations with the EU (RTS)
• Dacic: Sanctions against Russia possible if economy, citizens start suffering (Kurir)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Milanovic attends ceremony marking 31st anniversary of formation of 103rd brigade of Croat Defense Council Derventa (O kanal)
• RS officials criticise Croatian president’s visit (N1)
• Dodik’s Cabinet: NATO’s annual report is unilateral (ATV)
• Dodik: March 26 of every year is a difficult, sad and painful date for all Serbs (RTRS)
• 'The Eight' and HDZ B&H signed agreement on distribution of positions in FB&H Government, names of candidates for ministers to be submitted by March 28 (O kanal)
• Lendo on agreement of HDZ B&H and 'The Eight': Signatories obviously plan to ignore FB&H Constitution (O kanal)
• Niksic: I believe HR Schmidt will react in case FB&H VP Lendo (SDA) decides not to sign decision on appointment of FB&H Government (Face TV)
• EUD: EU calls on RS to withdraw draft amendments to RS Criminal Code (Dnevni list)
• Varhelyi calls RSNA’s decision step in wrong direction (BN TV)
• Dodik says RS Government was forced to pass decision to terminate cooperation with US and UK diplomats in B&H as “they were imposing problems on RS for 20 years” (ATV)
• US, UK Embassies: Decision to terminate contact with US and UK diplomats is one more step down dangerous path Dodik has chosen (N1)
• Becirovic: It is high time for Putin’s vassal to get united response of West (FTV)
• Dodik, Russian Embassy comment on Becirovic’s statement regarding RS’ decision to break off relations with US, UK diplomats (ATV)
• Members of RS ruling coalition support decision on termination of contacts with US and UK diplomats (ATV)
• RS opposition parties criticize RS Government’s decision to terminate contact with US and UK diplomats (BN TV)
• HDZ B&H leader Covic comments RS Government’s decision to terminate communication with US, UK diplomats, says everyone has right to make their own decisions (Glas Srpske)
• Niksic: RS Govt. decision will not influence cooperation with UK and US (Face TV)
• Milorad Dodik announces anti-LGBT legislation in RS (O kanal)
Croatia
• PM comments following two-day European Council meeting (HRT)
Montenegro
• Associations of Montenegrins from Kosovo: Diaspora should vote for Djukanovic (CDM)
• Djukanovic: I expect no less than 40,000 new votes, Milatovic’s statement unfounded and without any cover (CDM)
• Montenegro supported sanctions for the commander of the Moscow police, the Taliban minister… (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• DUI holds Central Presidency meeting – establishes “European front” (Telma)
• Party reactions to DUI initiative for “European front” (Alsat M)
• Petrovska: North Macedonia to donate 12 Mi-24 Helicopters to Ukraine (Alsat TV)
• Kovachevski-Chollet: North Macedonia, credible partner of EU and US, model of successful resolution of open issues (MIA)
• Spasovski-Meyer: North Macedonia-US cooperation to intensify in the upcoming period (MIA)
• Osmani meets ambassadors of EU member states (MIA)
Albania
• President Bajram Begaj receives the President of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen (Radio Tirana)
• The President of Austria: We will enhance economic cooperation! We encourage Albania to develop reforms! (Radio Tirana)
• Rama: Kurti has taken important steps in the normalization of relations with Serbia (Radio Tirana)
• Begaj receives Prime Minister Kurti, Ohrid agreement must be fully observed (Radio Tirana)
• Kurti meets Speaker Nikolla (Radio Tirana)
• Head of Freedom Party receives Kurti, the dialogue with Serbia should have the support of all political factors (Radio Tirana)