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)

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)

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)

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)

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)