LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: We remain with the red lines on Kosovo issues in Brussels on Monday (RTS/Tanjug)
• Dacic: Kosovo and Metohija top security issue for Serbia (Tanjug/RTV/RTS/Politika)
• Brnabic: Economic relations between Serbia, US on upscale (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Upgrading political, economic cooperation with US (RTV/Tanjug)
• NADA: Foreign investors not to leave Serbia if it refuses plan for Kosovo (Beta)
• Janjic: Vucic not to travel to Brussels unless Community of Serb Municipalitites is on agenda (Beta)
• EEAS: Vucic, Kurti have confirmed they will travel to Brussels (Tanjug)
• Report says media reporting on Ukraine, Russia changing (Beta/N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H Presidency adopts proposal on report of B&H State Border Commission regarding border agreement between B&H and Serbia (FTV)
• B&H Presidency adopts initiative to propose adoption of law on gas at B&H level without Cvijanovic’s consent; Cvijanovic: The RS will not give up on its competence in the field of energy (RTRS)
• Dodik: Agreement on gas interconnection with Serbia should be signed instead of raising the issue of adoption of law on gas at B&H level (Nova BH)
• Cvijanovic: B&H did not impose sanctions against the Russian Federation, regardless of what certain media think about it; B&H CoM: We did not discuss, nor issue any sanctions against Russia (ATV)
• Stevandic: The RS remains neutral and will not join anti-Russian hysteria (RTRS)
• General Assembly of UN in New York, Ukraine resolution as top priority (BHT1)
• B&H CC receives Becirovic’s motion re RS law on immovable property; OHR calls on B&H CC to urgently react in case Law on Immovable Property enters into force (Hayat/FTV)
• RS officials harshly criticize Becirovic’s motion to B&H CC seeking constitutional review of RS Law on Immovable Property (ATV)
• Izetbegovic: HR has strengthened ethnic principle so much instead of turning toward civic, toward something which means normally organized country (BIR TV)
• Lendo: I did not block anything; We wait for Friday to reach agreement on new FB&H government; I will not support Niksic as FB&H PM (Hayat)
• Borrell writes op-ed on occasion of first anniversary since beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine, accuses Russia of violation of international law (Nezavisne)
Croatia
• Plenkovic: I hope for better relations between Croatia and B&H, our ambition is for new B&H CoM to agree on key priorities that are clearly stated in context of EU candidate status (HRT1)
• Plenkovic: It is important to abandon the policy of naivety towards Russia (HRT)
• US Ambassador to B&H Murphy says denial of genocide and war crimes and glorification of war criminals are irresponsible and reprehensible (Vecernji list)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic expresses his satisfaction that Konakovic is visiting Montenegro, stressing that such quick visit is confirmation of good mutual relations (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• VMRO-DPMNE MP Nikolovski threatens: It is time for the Macedonians to stand up like the Albanians in 2001 (TV21)
• DUI: We condemn the scandalous statements of the VMRO-DPMNE MP, the country is following the European path (Kanal 5)
Albania
• Kishida: Japan will appoint an ambassador for the Western Balkans (Radio Tirana)
• Albania with patrol ship in the Mediterranean, 21-Armed Forces personnel part of the NATO operation (Radio Tirana)
• EU 82.6 million Euros to Albania in support of key reforms (Radio Tirana)
• Council of Albanian Ambassadors: Independence Day of Kosovo should be declared an official holiday (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 22 February 2023
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: West wants Kosovo card out of Putin’s hands (TV Pink/FoNet)
• Vucic speaks with Sanchez (RTS/Tanjug)
• Vucevic meets with Egyptian, Cypriot military officials in Abu Dhabi (Beta/RTV)
• Improving cooperation of Serbia, NATO in order to preserve peace, stability in region (Tanjug/RTV)
• Judicial conference: Judicial reform in Serbia should include changes to legal and political culture (Beta)
• Popovic says judiciary free of political influence (N1)
• Zubin Potok residents demand removal of special police bases (RTS/Politika/Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• RS parliament delegation pays visit to Moscow; Stevandic: RS will continue to cherish its neutrality (RTRS/FTV/Srna)
• Becirovic submits request for assessment of constitutionality of law on immovable property used for functioning of public authorities of RS (RTRS)
• HR Schmidt has passed decision amending law on Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Center (O Kanal)
• Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Center: Decision of HR to amend Law on Center for Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial and Cemetery for Victims of 1995 Genocide is historic (N1)
• Dodik: There was no genocide in Srebrenica (AJB/N1)
• Kristo, Covic meet Dodik in Banja Luka, discuss CoM, EU path of B&H, ways to unblock projects (RTRS)
• Kosarac calls for affirming of ‘New Eastern Interconnection’ project, claims Izetbegovic is regional problem (Dnevni avaz)
• Kosarac threatens that RS will block projects in FB&H if RS is not allowed to connect to gas pipeline from Serbia; Comments of politicians (Nova BH)
• Keso slams Konakovic’s announcement on B&H CoM and Croatian government talking about reform to Constitution, Election Law of B&H (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• Konakovic meets Croatian officials; Importance of bilateral and economic cooperation, readiness for addressing open issues underlined (HRT1)
Montenegro
• Strujic Harbic: Most important thing is that Constitutional Court starts working from Monday (Portal Analitika)
Albania
• Rama meeting with the speaker of the Assembly of Japan, Hosoda (Radio Tirana)
• Balla: Assembly, a special role in the process of European integration (Radio Tirana)
• Albania and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, cooperation in the fight against cybercrime (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Agreement with UAE on kamikaze drone purchase due within 48 hours (Tanjug/RTV)
• Brnabic: If Vucic was going to allow capitulation, he wouldn't be dealing with the Kosovo and Metohija issue (TV Pink/Tanjug)
• Miscevic: Change of neutral military status not on agenda (Beta)
• Serbia reliable partner in combating illegal migrations (Tanjug/Politika)
• Dveri calls on patriots to unite on Kosovo, Russia issues (Beta)
• Kosovo NGOs to Serbian Patriarch: “We feel like lambs before slaughter” (Beta)
• NGO activist: Nearly 40,000 Serbs have left Kosovo over the past 10 years (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Bradara and Stojanovic decide Bradara will be FB&H President; Lendo says this is unconstitutional decision (BHT1)
• Bradara: SDA wants to stay in power through blackmails and threats (Dnevni avaz)
• Lendo: What Bradara and Stojanovic think they decided is not legally valid and it will most likely go to FB&H HoR (O Kanal)
• Izetbegovic sends letter to Covic and Niksic, proposing them to meet and reach political agreement which will enable formation of new FB&H government (FTV)
• Covic: There is no need for anyone to write any letters to us; SDA is trying to block processes (Nova BH)
• Kosarac threatens with blockades in FB&H if eastern interconnection is not approved; Viskovic: This is important strategic project and it is high time that individuals from the FB&H stop obstructing it (RTRS)
• Konakovic on Kosarac's statement: We are not ready for any blackmail; Konakovic says he was greeted by pro-Russian offensive upon returning to B&H (O Kanal)
• UN is preparing new resolution condemning Russian aggression against Ukraine, EU and USA expect B&H to support it (Nezavisne)
Croatia
• Croatia plans to help diversify B&H’s natural gas supply (HRT)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic: After executive power consolidation, we’ll work on reaching standards for Montenegro to be the first next EU member (CdM)
• Radev to Djukanovic: We are convinced that Montenegro will preserve its leadership role in European integration (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Some people don't want good bilateral ties with Bulgaria and EU-integrated region, Kovachevski says (MIA)
• Kovachevski: No alternative to international security cooperation (MIA)
• Osmani visits Turkiye (Republika)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 20 February 2023

LOCAL PRESS

• Another country decided to withdraw recognition of Kosovo’s independence (B92)
• Vucic: Serbia reproached for not imposing sanctions against Russia (Beta)
• Serbia pays special attention to improving bilateral relations with Germany (Tanjug/RTV)
• Serbia committed to strengthening relations with China (RTS/RTV/Tanjug)
• Dacic: Serbia’s stance crustal clear (Euronews/Beta/Politika)
• Orlic receives Bundestag representatives (Tanjug)
• People’s Party: ZSO a Serbian delusion (Beta)
• Russian Patriarch thanks SPC for supporting canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Sputnik/N1)
• Lajcak: Undertaken obligations must be fulfilled (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Ceremony held in Sarajevo on occasion of Kosovo’s declaration of independence (Hayat)
• Becirovic has launched issue of border demarcation between B&H and Serbia (N1)
• Lendo fails to attend meeting organized by Bradara and Stojanovic to decide who will be new FB&H President (BHT1)
• Zukic argues FB&H government cannot be formed without SDA, says political agreement must be reached first (Dnevni list)
• Zvizdic criticizes attempts of SDA to block formation of FB&H government, says he expects High Representative to react should these blockades continue (Dnevni avaz)
• Marinkovic-Lepic says Lendo’s behavior is form of blockade, OHR should at least be consulted (Oslobodjenje)
• Konakovic meets French colleague Collona, talk about France’s support to B&H on its EU path (Dnevni list)
• Fajon: Slovenia offers technical support to B&H so that it can adopt 14 EU criteria (AJB)
• NATO approves package of assistance to defense and security system of B&H (ATV)
• Kristo and Kovacevski discuss intensifying of cooperation between two states and EU integration (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia
• Croatian PM meets HR Schmidt: Croatia continues to provide support to B&H on its European path (Hina)
• North Macedonia, Croatia firmly committed to shared values (Hina)
• Croatia PM at MSC: We continue supporting Ukraine according to our capabilities (Hina)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic and Plenkovic: Presidential and parliamentary elections the top priority for Montenegro (CdM)
• US supports contribution of Montenegrin armed forces to NATO-led missions (CdM)
• Herasymenko: We won’t forget Montenegro’s friendly gesture, Russia underestimated Ukrainians (RTCG)
• Democrats’ central election headquarters: Becic will run for country’s presidency (CdM)
• Djukanovic: I still haven’t made decision on whether to take part in presidential run (DW/CdM)
• DIK didn’t approve of Spajic’s presidential run (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• The government pushes for constitutional amendments, the opposition calls for early elections (Republika)
Albania
• Rama at the Security Conference in Munich (Radio Tirana)
• Rama meets Commissioner Timmermans, increasing support for the Western Balkans (Radio Tirana)
• Xhacka: Albania, a worthy ally for security in the region and beyond (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Russia serious state, I do not believe it is behind protest (Tanjug/RTV)
• Jevtic: Position of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija never worse 15 years since unilateral declaration of independence (RTS)
• Petkovic: Despite ceremonies, Kosovo is a political chamber (RTV/Tanjug)
• Selakovic meets with Babayev (Tanjug/Politika)
• Right-wing parliamentary parties deny accusations (N1)
• Russian Ambassador condemns threats against Vucic (N1)
• US authorities: Stance on Belgrade-Pristina mutual recognition unchanged (RFE/Beta)
• Biden seriously angered the Russians, Serbia is the main "culprit" (Sputnik/B92)
• Zakharova: Cooperating with West instead of Russia would have harmed Serbia (Beta/TASS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• FB&H HoR, HoP confirm new FB&H leadership, but SDA’s Lendo fails to show up at meeting and finish procedure (FTV)
• OHR welcomes election of FB&H leadership (Oslobodjenje)
• SNSD’s Spiric appointed as B&H HoP speaker, NiP’s Ademovic and HDZ B&H’s Covic appointed as deputy speakers (FTV)
• Kristo meets Plenkovic during her official visit to Croatia (Nova BH/N1)
• Cvijanovic on Borrell’s statement: If we introduced sanctions, why they convince us we should do it (Srna/RTRS)
• Borenovic: EU officials confirm that B&H introduced sanctions against Russia (BNTV)
• NATO approves military assistance to B&H (Nova BH)
Montenegro
• Abazovic: Those who acted unlawfully won’t escape the hands of justice (CdM)
• Spajic: I renounced my Serbian citizenship (MINA)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Parliamentary majority is greater than it was before, says PM Kovachevski (Libertas/Kajgana/MIA)
• State officials welcome the decision of ECHR (MIA)
• Bulgarian clubs that align with law and change names to resume operations, says PM (MIA)
• Cabinet reshuffle proposal debate in parliament continues (MakPress/360 stepeni/Opserver/Alsat M)
Albania
• Rama: Serbia must recognize Kosovo and at the end of this process the Albanians must unite (Radio Tirana)
• The 15th anniversary of Independence/ Begaj received by Osmani: No one can prevent Kosovo from building its independent future (Radio Tirana)
• May 14 elections/ OSCE-ODIHR brings 24 long-term observers and 300 short-term observers (RTSH)
• The Swedish Ambassador: Opening the first chapters of the negotiation by the end of the year, great ambition, but achievable (RTSH)