United Nations Office in Belgrade 

Daily Media Highlights 

Wednesday 20 July 2022 

LOCAL PRESS

Strategic partnership between Serbia, Egypt confirmed (Tanjug/RTS)
Botsan-Kharchenko: Serbia could get additional gas supplies if necessary (TV Happy/Beta/Politika)
Martyniuk: Kiev would buy arms from Serbia (Nova/Beta)
OSCE: Number of acts targeting cultural heritage in Kosovo increasing (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Bauer is visiting B&H, meets B&H officials (O Kanal)
Bauer meets with Dzaferovic, Komsic within his official visit to B&H (N1)
Podzic meets NATO’s Bauer, he thanked for NATO support to B&H (Srna/N1)
Okolic informs Bauer abut ‘Serb stance’ (ATV)
Dodik meets Israeli President, ministers in Israeli government, reps of World Zionist Organization in separate meetings (RTRS)
Cvijanovic meets US Office for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs’ Brooks on situation in B&H and RS (ATV/RTRS)
Consultations with NGOs and parliamentary parties on changes to FB&H Constitution and Election Law of B&H starts in OHR building (O Kanal/Istraga.ba)
Sattler: B&H needs to work on fulfilling priorities from EC’s Opinion and Election Law is among them (FTV)

Montenegro

Djukanovic-Abazovic: Professional and scientific public will check conformity of Agreement with SPC with Montenegro’s constitutional and legal system (RTCG)

Republic of North Macedonia

Varhelyi: There must be changes to the Constitution (Republika)

Albania

The flag of the European Union was raised in the Prime Minister's building in Tirana (Radio Tirana)
Opening of negotiations/ "We are ready", Xhacka in Brussels: A demanding process awaits us! (Radio Tirana)
Biden: We welcome important steps towards EU integration for Albania and North Macedonia (Radio Tirana)
Opening of negotiations / Yuri Kim: A historic step, the US will strongly support Albania for justice reform (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Request for Jasenovac visit first made in September (N1/Beta)
• Dacic says first session of new Serbian parliament next week (FoNet)
• Petkovic: Bislimi’s claims exchange of theses (RTV/Tanjug)
• Athens lodges official protest with Serbia over munitions plane crash (Beta/AP)
• Council of European Union extends Lajcak’s mandate (Beta)
• European path of B&H uncertain, Open Balkans blocked (Politika)
• Site of crimes is theater for them (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Cvijanovic: Decision of Croatian authorities is scandalous (RTRS)
• Dodik pays visit to Israel, honors victims of Holocaust, discusses improvement of cooperation with Lieberman (RTRS)
• B&H media receive confirmation that RS continues registering state property as its own (O Kanal)
• Russian Embassy: Russia remains guarantor of DPA and considers BiH friendly country despite all miserable intrigues of Western partners (FTV/Srna)
• Newly appointed British Ambassador submits credentials to B&H Presidency Chairman (N1/FTV)
Croatia
• Plenkovic: Vucic will pay a visit when the time is right (Hina)
• Bozinovic comments on Croatia’s ban on Vucic’s visit (HRT1)
Montenegro
• Abazovic: We’re continuing consultations on Fundamental Agreement with Djukanovic today or tomorrow (CdM)
• Krivokapic: SDP to formalize request to shorten government mandate (MINA)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovacevski congratulates country’s start of negotiations, says the goal is to join EU by 2030 (MIA)
• Kovacevski thanks Kljusev, Gligorov, Trajkovski and Crvenkovski (Republika)
• Varhelyi: You are a successful model of a multi-ethnic society (Republika)
• Mickoski on the protocol: Macedonia will have to fulfill Bulgarian wishes (Republika)
• Zaharieva: Macedonian language is dialect of Bulgarian, historical issues are part of the negotiating framework (Republika/BNT)
Albania
• Brussels/ Rama: "The moment starts now!"; The historic moment of the opening of EU-Albania negotiations (Radio Tirana)
• Rama: Thank you to the Albanian people who never gave up and never stopped dreaming of following the European path (Radio Tirana)
• EC President, Ursula von der Leyen: Historic moment for Albania and North Macedonia (Radio Tirana)
• Borrell: Albania will be supported by the EU to face the hostile influences of third countries (Radio Tirana)
• Kovacevski: We are ready for the EU; I congratulate the citizens of Albania for the opening of negotiations (Radio Tirana)
• Negotiations/ Foreign friends congratulate Albanians; EU-OSCE: A new chapter opens! CDU/CSU Germans: We do not forget the criteria (Radio Tirana)
• Deputy Assistant Secretary of State meets with the head of SPAK: USA supports the new justice; Proud of the cooperation (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 18 July 2022

LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Banning Vucic to visit Croatia is an anti-European and anti-civilizational decision (RTV/RTS/Tanjug/Politika)
• Selakovic: Decision is terrifying (RTS/Politika)
• Stefanovic: Decision of government in Zagreb is biggest shame in Europe after Second World War (RTS)
• Serbian Foreign Ministry sends note to Embassy of Croatia in Serbia but charge d'affaires at Embassy refuses to accept it (RTS)
• Popovic: Prohibiting President Vucic from visiting Jasenovac violation of basic EU principles (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Scandalous decision (RTS)
• Dodik: Decision to deny entrance to Vucic is incomprehensible (RTS)
• Zuroff calls Croatia to annul ban (Politika/Tanjug)
• Mihajlovic cancels her official visit to Zagreb after Croatian authorities forbid Vucic to visit Jasenovac (RTS)
• Vucic responds to threats from Ukraine (B92)
• Endangerment of Visoki Decani monastery reaffirmed (Tanjug)
• Stefanovic: Antonov was carrying munitions to Bangladesh (Beta)
• Vucic continues consultations with electoral lists (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik informs Vucic, Patriarch Porfirije of situation in B&H (RTRS)
• B&H CC: RS law stipulating that amendments to Criminal Code of B&H banning denial of genocide and war crimes will not be applied in RS territory is unconstitutional (O Kanal)
• Dodik: B&H CC’s decisions mean nothing for the RS (Al Jazeera Balkans)
• Cvijanovic: B&H CC wants to change constitutional system through political decisions (Nova BH)
• Other RS officials strongly criticize B&H CC decision to declare as unconstitutional RS Law on Non-Application of High Representative in RS (RTRS)
• Tahirovic says that is only decision that CC could make (Nova BH)
• Dodik arrives in Israel for official visit (RTRS)
• Kavalec invites B&H citizens to vote and make decisions about future (Fena)
• 27th anniversary of execution of six Bosniaks in Godinjske Bare marked Sunday (FTV)
• Monument Flower of Srebrenica in Italy (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia
• Croatia slams Vucic's plan for impromptu visit as being against protocol, malicious (Hina/Jutarnji list)
Montenegro
• Walker: Montenegro needs reforms instead of focusing on party politics (MINA)
Republic of North Macedonia
• SDSM MPs adopt French proposal (Republika)
• VMRO-DPMNE MPs notarized statements that they will not accept changes to the Constitution (Republika)
• Kovacevski congratulates MPs on voting in favor of European future of the country (Republika)
• US welcomes parliament’s decision: Now is the time to build momentum and work on the next steps (Republika)
• Scholz welcomes parliament’s decision: We will be by your side all the way (Republika)
• Macedonia and Bulgaria sign bilateral protocol (Republika)
• Genchovska: Bulgaria’s Macedonian language position remains unchanged, the Bulgarian position is guaranteed in the entire negotiating framework (Republika)
• Osmani: Conference to be held and screening to begin on Tuesday (Republika)
• Mickoski: DUI leadership is sticking a knife in Macedonians’ backs, Albania will continue with negotiations, and Macedonia will wait for better times (TV Sitel)
Albania
• The pro-Macedonian vote/ Rama: Finally..., the negotiations for Albania's membership in the European Union have no longer any obstacles! (Radio Tirana)
• MP Jorida Tabaku meets Escobar: Support for DP! Essential that Albania continues the EU integration process (Radio Tirana)
• Spiropali meets Zelensky's special envoy: The Ukrainian people are fighting for both the Balkans and the future of Europe (Radio Tirana)
• Blinken: A European Union that includes all of the Western Balkans, including Albania and North Macedonia, will be stronger and more prosperous (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic continues consultations (RTS)
• Zukorlic: SPP wants crucial participation (RTS)
• Petkovic: Belgrade committed to normalization of situation in Kosovo and Metohija (RTV/Tanjug)
• French Ambassador says EU is right choice for Serbia (Beta)
• Minister, Iranian delegation discuss cooperation in mining and energy (Beta)
• Gay lesbian Info Center launches petition to ban Dveri for 100 years (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Mostar City Council adopts decision to change disputed names of streets (BHT1)
• Russian Embassy in B&H: Military adventures of the US and its allies are still causing irreparable damage to countries and entire regions (RTRS)
• Russian Defense Ministry claims that 158 fighters from B&H are in Ukrainian army; B&H Minister of Security Selmo Cikotic points out that latest data show that only two men from B&H are waging war in Ukraine (Nezavisne)
• Dodik: Germany wants to return to command in B&H and there are echelons led by Schmidt who came here without decision or appointment in UN SC (ATV)
• Dzaferovic meets UK Minister Stuart; Dzaferovic supports imposing of sanctions against those who endanger DPA (FTV)
• Sarovic says he asked Schmidt to abolish Inzko’s decision banning genocide denial (BN TV)
• The OHR wasted paper in vain (Glas Srpske)
• Zvizdic criticizes Brnabic’s statements regarding Sattler’s blog, saying that she does not react to Vulin’s statement even though she is aware of them (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia
• Croatian FM: Entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO reinforces collective defense (Hina)
Montenegro
• Borrell, Varhelyi visit Podgorica, underline importance of integration of Western Balkans to EU; Varhelyi underlined Open Balkans is not replacement for EU membership (CdM)
• Borrell: Nothing should be more important to Montenegro than its EU journey (N1)
• Djukanovic: It is my duty to raise my voice against violent practice of Church of Serbia, which brutally destroys most sacred values of society by abusing state apparatus (RTCG)
• Abazovic: Djukanovic read the preamble of the Fundamental Agreement, was informed that the government will be voted on (TV Vijesti/CdM)
• Kovac: The contract with SPC will be signed soon in Podgorica (TV Vijesti/CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Von der Leyen: Europe is waiting for you; I believe that this is the moment for you to move ahead towards our common future (Republika)
• Varhelyi: Our eyes and ears are on Skopje (Republika)
• Kovacevski – Von der Leyen: It’s time for wise decisions, Macedonian language and identity are protected in EU (Republika)
• Pendarovski meets Von der Leyen: Macedonian language and identity must be guaranteed by EU (Republika)
• Xhaferi: Von der Leyen’s message is clear – the proposal refers to the Macedonian language and respects the national identity (Republika)
• Osmani meets EC president Von der Leyen (Republika)
• Mickoski after meeting von der Leyen: I showed her pictures of the Vatasha boys, Vera Ciriviri Trena, the deportation of the Jews: Shall we accept that they are administrators?! (Republika)
• Maricic: “The French proposal” is a compromise that we are making for our sake, not for Bulgaria’s sake (TV Kanal 5)
• Kovacevski: With clear conscience, I am asking you to vote for the French proposal (Republika)
Albania
• Rama: Kosovo participates in the Partnership for Peace, let's dialogue with Serbia! Stoltenberg: The Balkans are of strategic importance for NATO (Radio Tirana)
• Varhelyi visits the EU-funded Vlora Bypass Road (ADN)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 14 July 2022

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic says horrible crimes in Srebrenica were committed and wonders why nobody is talking about crimes against Serbs (Tanjug/TV Pink)
• Serbia advocates for respect for international law, peaceful dispute resolution (Tanjug/RTV)
• Selakovic says Serbs are proud of their history, warns no imposing has ever brought anything good to anyone (TV Pink)
• Vucic started consultations: With meeting with Kamberi (Tanjug/RTV)
• Mihajlovic to Ukrainian Ambassador: We know how hard it is to be in a war (Beta)
• Russian Ambassador says no problems with gas supplies to Serbia (FoNet/Russia 24 TV)
• Grenell: Europeans, Kurti are the problem (FoNet)
• Survey: Young people turning to the East, critical of sanctions against Russia (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Stoltenberg to MEPs: NATO is closely monitoring the situation in Western Balkans (N1)
• British parliament remembers Srebrenica genocide; Johnson: We will continue to combat war crime deniers, both in B&H and elsewhere (O Kanal)
• Dzaferovic meets with Hoyle, Peach and All-Parliamentary Group for B&H and thanks UK for continued support in fight for truth and justice (Hayat)
• Dodik comments on Sattler’s statement: This confirms Sattler supports Muslim side for some time already, his claim proves B&H is dysfunctional (RTRS)
• Other politicians from RS ruling coalition condemn stance of Sattler (RTRS)
• Russian Defense Ministry says 158 B&H nationals are currently fighting on Ukrainian side (Glas Srpske)
• RS CC will decide about laws on protection of language of Serb people, Cyrillic letter, law on elementary education (BHT1/RTRS)
Croatia
• Medved presents Ukrainian Ambassador with translations of laws on veterans (Hina)
• ICG issues report on Western Balkans, parts focus on situation in B&H (Vecernji list)
Montenegro
• Vucic congratulated Djukanovic on the occasion of Montenegro's Statehood Day (CdM)
• Blinken congratulates Montenegro’s Statehood Day (CdM)
• The Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral: Djukanovic should lead his politics beyond church issues (TVCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• NO, NO, NO! – Thousands of citizens on the streets across Skopje against the French proposal (Republika)
• Mogherini came for the name, Von der Leyen for the French proposal: EU following the same scenario for Macedonia (Republika)
• Kovacevski: I expect the MPs to think statesmanlike, as representatives of the people, not just the parties (Libertas)
Albania
• Stoltenberg press conference with Rama: I welcome Albania's support to Ukraine and its commitment to humanitarian aid (Radio Tirana)