LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: I spoke with Dacic, I don't think that elections are the best solution at this moment (TV Pink)
• Dacic: Continuation of cooperation between SNS and SPS agreed in talks with Vucic (Tanjug/RTV)
• Ugljanin calls on Vucic for Serbia to give equal rights to Bosniaks according to model for Serbs in Kosovo (Beta)
• Klacar: SNS want to share political responsibility for Kosovo with SPS (Beta)
• Hill: US insist on formation of ZSO (TV K1/RTV)
• Lajcak discusses developments with Von Cramon (N1)
• Stano: EU ready to organise high-level meeting, no date for now (Tanjug/RTS/Politika)
• Serbia takes examples of best practice from developed media companies (Tanjug)
• Ten years in prison for murder of 20 non-Serb civilians in Strpci (Beta)
• Serbia deploying another rescue squad to Turkey (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Members of civil protection administrations from both entities depart to Turkey without decision of B&H CoM (N1)
• B&H CEC verifies list of candidates for election of FB&H President and Vice-Presidents (BHT1)
• Niksic says he does not know much about appointment of new PM and new government of FB&H (N1/Nova BH)
• Dzaferovic says FB&H authorities cannot be formed without SDA, warns Dodik to be careful about what he says and does (BHRT/Dnevni list)
• Konakovic and Varhelyi discuss EU path of B&H; Varhelyi: We stand ready to help B&H on its EU path (N1)
• Dodik: US Embassy in B&H spoke about ‘Markale’ because in this way it defends the cause of NATO airstrikes on the RS during the defensive-patriotic war (RTRS)
• Kalabukhov: Neither Russia, nor the EU, nor America have the right to determine which path B&H should take (RTRS)
• RS parliament continues special session; Viskovic: RS government’s policy towards HR has not changed and will not change (RTRS)
Croatia
• Red Cross Croatia launches fundraiser for Turkey and Syria (HRT)
Montenegro
• Osmani Sadriu: Serbia doesn’t strive for good neighbourly relations; Djukanovic: We support Kosovo in an endeavour to become member of the Council of Europe and get a candidate status (CdM)
• Osmani meets Abazovic, cooperation on focus (RTCG)
• Djukanovic: We’ll propose candidate who can win, I’d like Abazovic to test his strength in the election (CdM)
• Djukanovic the greatest rival of SPC, it’ll try to use several ways to overthrow him (Pobjeda)
• Committee proposes judges of the Constitutional Court today: Beganovic and Resulbegovic in a race for the fourth judge (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• North Macedonia to send emergency aid to Turkey after disastrous quake (MIA)
• Osmani – OSCE Quint ambassadors: North Macedonia ready to provide political leadership of OSCE (MIA)
• President Pendarovski meets OSCE ambassadors (MIA)
Albania
• Albanian search and rescue team in the ruins of the tragedy in Malatya, Turkey (Radio Tirana)
• Iran's cyber-attack, Xhacka says had it been successful, the consequences for Albanians would have been extraordinary (Radio Tirana)
• Hohmann: AKSHI should improve its role, protection from cyber-attacks, one of the conditions to become part of the EU (Radio Tirana)
• Kim: Cyber-attacks will continue to be a threat (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Mutual recognition, in your dreams! (Tanjug)
• Vucic meets with Lajcak (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Vucic disappointed with SPS, ready for new election (Novosti/Beta)
• Dacic: SPS supports Vucic's policy on Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)
• Vucevic talks Kosovo, cooperation and support with Slovak, Greek Ambassadors (Beta/RTV)
• Serbia, Hungary committed to development of cooperation in field of energy (RTS/RTV/Tanjug)
• Mojsilovic meets US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff (FoNet)
• Dveri Movement refuses Vucic’s invitation over unacceptable condition (N1)
• Tadic: West created precedent now used by Putin (Nationalinterest.org/N1/NSPM)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Results of early elections held on Sunday (BHT1)
• ‘The Eight’ begins signature collection process in FB&H House of Representatives in relation to election of FB&H President and Vice Presidents and FB&H government formation (BHT1)
• Konakovic meets Ambassadors Reilly, Stromquist, discuss bilateral relations, B&H’s EU and NATO path (Dnevni list)
• US Embassy: Massacre in Markale committed by RS Army (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia
• Croatian MP barred from entering Serbia over claims of national security concerns (HRT)
• Croatia’s demarche to protest against Serbia’s decision to ban an entry to Croatian MP (Hina)
Montenegro
• Spajic: We are not ready for Open Balkans, to focus on European integration and open up to the world (RTV Niksic/CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovacevski-Novak: Europe needs Macedonia (Republika)
• Novak-Pendarovski: Hungary is one of the loudest and most active countries in supporting Macedonia’s EU membership (Republika)
• Pendarovski believes that the latest Bulgarian declaration is for election purposes (Republika)
Albania
• Begaj receives head of the NATO Military Committee: Albania committed in NATO missions and operations (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• MPs adopt Report on negotiations with Pristina (Beta/B92)
• Brnabic: Pressure on Belgrade getting stronger (RTS)
• Drecun: French-German plan not take-it-or-leave-it deal, but platform (Tanjug)
• Dacic: US has changed attitude toward Serbia (TV Pink/Beta)
• Representatives of Bosniaks, Albanians from Serbia seek reciprocity with rights of Serbs in Kosovo (Beta)
• Group of Albanians attack young Serb in Mogila (Tanjug)
• Romano: We respect Serbia’s military neutrality (Kurir/Beta)
• Criteria for opening Chapter 1 met, European Commission confirms (Tanjug/RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik on Kosovo issue: It is important that Serbia preserves its strength and remains most powerful and most important country in region (RTRS)
• RS politicians express support to Serbian authority led by Vucic in finding solution for Kosovo issue (Nezavisne)
• Izetbegovic: HR Schmidt is openly siding with certain political structures (Dnevni list)
• Kovacevic: Izetbegovic denies DPA concept of B&H (ATV/MTV Igman)
• Radanovic: Izetbegovic himself contributed to disappearance of Serbs from FB&H (Nezavisne)
• B&H Central Election Commission confirms results for allocation of mandates in B&H House of Peoples from FB&H (N1)
• Pod lupom observers submitted 11 complaints regarding early elections in six cities and municipalities (BHT1)
• HNS holds 11th session Saturday, re-elects Covic as HNS President and adopts eight-point declaration that focuses on amendments to B&H Election Law in part related to legitimate representation (N1)
• Becirovic meets Turner, other US officials; Becirovic: Sanctions against individual B&H politicians are not the happiest solution, but they are necessary at a time when politicians like Dodik are violating DPA (Nova BH)
• Dodik on Becirovic’s statement about sanctions: Such things must end in interest of B&H (RTRS)
• RS officials criticize Becirovic for calling on for introduction of sanctions against RS during visit to US (ATV)
Croatia
• PM: Croatia trying to facilitate cooperation with Bosnia after Schengen entry (Hina)
Montenegro
• Damjanovic and Escobar on the Open Balkans Initiative: Economic cooperation among countries of region very important (CdM)
• Open Balkans because Belgrade says so. Berlin Process because Brussels says so. And what do you say? (By Andrej Nikolaidis, CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Intensive talks for Taravari’s party to join government (MIA/Telma/Sitel TV)
• Taravari: Would support minority government, prepared to head certain institutions (Telma)
• AfA to finalize talks for entry in the government coalition (Telma)
Albania
• Legislation of commercial companies in the focus of talks Albania – EU (Radio Tirana)
• Escobar: Albania, our reliable partner (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 3 February 2023

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: I never negotiated about staying in power (RTV/Tanjug)
• Vucic: Serbia must engage in talks, maintain military neutrality (Tanjug/RTS/FoNet)
• Brnabic: Vucic's address is responsible and historic (Tanjug)
• US welcomes Serbia's constructive stance in dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija (RTS/Tanjug)
• Djuric: I believe that 2023 could be a positive turning point in US-Serbia relations (RTS)
• Protest in front of parliament against European proposal on Kosovo (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik: RS will never allow B&H to recognize Kosovo; Declaration adopted by SC Assembly shows that mono-mono ethnic state is guarantee survival of the Serb people (RTRS/RT)
• RS parliament and RS CoP Joint Commission fail to reach agreement on Law on Immovable Property, refers it to RS Constitutional Court (RTRS)
• B&H CoM holds its first session; Konakovic says removal of Mehmedagic, Buha will be discussed at next session (ATV)
• Konakovic and Kosarac meet to discuss Trgovska Gora issue, EU integration process (Dnevni list)
• Konakovic on formation of new FB&H government: HR will probably have to intervene by additionally amending or explaining amendments to electoral legislation he imposed – the solution that created ground for this type of blockades (FTV)
• Ambassador Murphy and Covic discuss formation of new authorities (O Kanal)
• B&H CEC confirms nomination of Stojanovic for FB&H Vice President; denies candidacy of DF’s Zlatan Begic for FB&H President/Vice-President (O Kanal/N1)
• Begic on B&H CEC’s refusal to verify his candidacy: This is joint criminal enterprise by HDZ B&H and HR Schmidt (Hayat)
• B&H Presidency members attend National Prayer Breakfast in Washington; They meet with US’ Karlin and Chollet (N1/Al Jazeera)
• HR Schmidt with Bundestag’s delegation, exchange views on current political and security environment in B&H (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia
• Zagreb and Warsaw will continue to support Kyiv (HRT)
Montenegro
• Djeljosaj: Minority parties to agree on the fourth candidate for judge of the Constitutional Court (CdM)
• Key messages of candidates for judges of the Constitutional Court (CdM)
• Leaders of the opposition met to discuss joint presidential candidate (CdM)
• Krapovic: Becic serves citizens; if the party wishes him to run for president of MNE, he won’t refuse (Pobjeda/TVCG)
• NOVA Main Board: Andrija Mandic to run for the country’s presidency (CdM)
• Becic: Executive committee to decide on Democrats’ candidate, support for Spajic if we agree on a joint appearance (TV Vijesti)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Misajlovski: Current parliamentary composition doesn’t have the mandate to change the Constitution, elections are needed (TV Alsat)
Albania
• President Begaj receives the delegation of the friendship group of South Korea: Gratitude for the support given to Kosovo (Radio Tirana)
• Albania and EU to harmonize trade exchange rules (Radio Tirana)
• Movement in the Western Balkans, only with an ID card! (Radio Tirana)
• Israel to assist Albania in cyber security (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Most difficult part of plan envisages for us not to oppose Kosovo’s membership in international organizations (RTS)
• Incident at Serbian parliament session on Kosovo (N1)
• Dacic: Discussions at US State Department successful (Tanjug)
• Djurovic: Quint states changed stance on Pristina's CoE bid in past two weeks (Tanjug/Politika)
• Serbs from Dren village do not give up the protest, demand immediate suspension of works (RTS)
• Hill: Serbia chose to go West, relations with Russia weakening by the day (N1)
• Vucic speaks with US Secretary of State Blinken (N1)
• Public figures appeal: Serbia taking Kosovo back is an illusion (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Konakovic and Dodik meet in Banja Luka: Authorities at B&H level are stable; Topics on which there is no agreement will not be discussed within coalition at B&H level (BHT1/N1/Nova BH)
• Covic and Konakovic optimistically talk about formation FB&H government (FTV)
• Niksic: We will talk to everyone at cantonal and FB&H level, but final decision will be reached by SDP Main Board (Dnevni avaz)
• B&H Presidency members meet Finer, Sloat; They discuss political, security situation, formation of authorities (FTV/Nova BH)
• Becirovic with Congresswoman Wagner: B&H must strengthen its presence in US (Dnevni list)
• Dodik informs Macdonald that RS institutions are fully dedicated to implementation of economic and social reforms (RTRS)
• Konakovic meets EU Ambassadors, Sattler, says EU path is priority (FTV)
Croatia
• Croatian President: Serbia will have to recognise Kosovo (Hina)
• Croatian and Slovenian Presidents announce a Brdo Brijuni Process summit for the fall (HRT1)
Montenegro
• Djurovic: Agreement over three judges of the Constitutional Court reached (CdM)
• Bilchik: End the mandate of the current government and pave the way for new elections (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Gashi: Compromise possible, SDSM-AfA talks to finish first (MIA)
• AfA: Justice and health sectors discussed in government talks (MIA)
• Tupancheski: Not sure quick ministerial reshuffles is best solution (Sitel)
• Grkovska-Escobar: North Macedonia on right path to achieve its objectives, considered model in region (MIA)
• Oliver Varhelyi met with the so-called Macedonian Bulgarians (Republika/BGNES)
• Geer: Inclusion of Bulgarians in Constitution not changing its essence (Telma)
Albania
• Role of the Assembly in the EU accession process/Balla meeting with the experts of the German Bundestag (Radio Tirana)
• Begaj meets Ambassador of France in Albania, Elisabeth Barsacq; Pre-election situation on focus (Radio Tirana)
• Kim: Independent and free media, vital for democracy (Radio Tirana)