LOCAL PRESS

• Open Balkans states sign agreements on cooperation (Tanjug/RTS)
• Vucic: We are much stronger together (Tanjug/Politika)
• Mangue: Serbia important partner to Equatorial Guinea (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Varhelyi: Open Balkans could change reality of region (Beta/Politika)
• Serbian Foreign Ministry: A series of untruths on Kosovo and Metohija in Schieb’s interview (Politika/Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• 23rd anniversary of the Kumanovo Agreement (RTS)
• Arifi: US promises special treatment of Albanian issue in southern Serbia (Bujanovacke/Beta)
• Belgrade court confirms indictment against Croatian pilots (N1/Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• PIC SB adopts conclusions: B&H faces unprecedented political crisis that threatens stability and prosperity of B&H as well as Balkans (FTV)
• Russian Embassy to B&H: Russia has nothing to do with Communique issued by SB PIC (ATV)
• US Embassy to B&H issues statement regarding PIC SB meeting, expresses full support to HR Schmidt (N1)
• Crnadak on PIC SB conclusions: RS authorities deceive citizens in regards to transfer of RS competences (BN TV)
• B&H Presidency adopts draft budget which provides BAM 12.5 million for elections and funds for increasing salaries of workers in B&H institutions; Dodik proposes Dzaferovic’s removal; Dodik invokes Vital National Interest to reject agreement on trade and cooperation with UK (ATV)
• All items proposed by Dodik rejected at B&H Presidency session, including item on B&H Presidency’s position on unconstitutional and illegitimate activities of Christian Schmidt (RTRS)
• Russian Embassy to B&H: Schmidt’s decision on financing elections is shameless (O Kanal)
• HNS reacts to HR Schmidt’s use of Bonn powers: Foreigners’ imposing of decisions undermines sovereignty rather than contributing to functionality of B&H (FTV)
• B&H CEC expresses gratitude to HR Schmidt and disappointment with B&H authorities (Nova BH)
• Tegeltija at ‘Open Balkans’ summit in Ohrid: I am certain B&H will become member of ‘Open Balkans’ sooner or later (FTV)
Croatia
• Grlic Radman: Proposal for declaration on B&H, prepared by representatives of ruling coalition in Germany, does not send good messages and strong Bosniak lobby is visible in it (Hina)
• Belgrade court confirms indictments against Croatian pilots (HRT)
Montenegro
• Vucic to Abazovic: If you want to – join Open Balkan, if you don’t – it’s your own will, no one will force you; Abazovic: Hand outstretched for all initiatives that mean progress (CdM)
• Abazovic: Final decision on Open Balkans when we sum up everything (CdM)
• Escobar: Open Balkans should remain economic initiative, I want more clarity on how it should work (CdM)
• Djukanovic: We’re witnessing start of new geopolitical cycle, no one can say for sure what it will look like (CdM)
• Abazovic to officially visit Serbia on 29 June (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovacevski: Open Balkan is an excellent initiative, but no substitute for EU (Republika)
• Macedonia, Serbia, Albania connect toll systems (Republika)
• Mickoski after meeting Varhelyi: Macedonia to start EU negotiations as soon as possible (Republika)
Albania
• Regional leaders gather for Open Balkan summit, with Kosovo absence and Russian meddling looming over meeting (Tirana Times)
• EU integration, Rama: The war has made it the most necessary initiative! The problems of the past are solved through rapprochement (Radio Tirana)
• Ministerial Dialogue on the food crisis/Xhacka asks countries to put pressure on Russia (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 8 June 2022

LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Agriculture, defense key fields of cooperation with Equatorial Guinea (Tanjug/RTS)
• Kovacevski: Western Balkan countries depend on each other (Tanjug)
• Vucic: Open Balkans an unstoppable initiative (Tanjug/RTS)
• Rama: We must speak more openly, rather than be afraid (Tanjug)
• Selakovic: For Moscow date unknown, talks with Scholz important (TV Pink)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Moscow not changing position on Kosovo and Metohija (RTV/Politika)
• Dacic: EU membership is Serbia’s strategic priority, ‘Open Balkans’ initiative is not replacement for EU integration (Beta)
• Conference: EU will lose credibility if it neglects Western Balkans (Beta)
• Dacic: Electoral process to end in ten days or in a few weeks (Tanjug)
• Agreement on cooperation in road infrastructure in Western Balkans signed (Tanjug/RTS)
• Serbian troops deployed in eight peace missions (FoNet)
• Scholz’s package 3+1 for Serbia (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Schmidt imposes decision on financing general elections, securing full amount envisaged for B&H CEC and all future financing of elections (O Kanal)
• US Embassy welcomes HR’s decision on financing of general elections (Nova BH)
• Dodik reacts to Schmidt’s decision: International officials are trying to impose themselves as deciding factor in B&H (O Kanal)
• Dzaferovic, Komsic welcome HR’s decision (BHT1)
• Lovrinovic: Schmidt’s decision was wrong (N1)
• SDA and SBB welcomes HR Schmidt’s decision; Other comments (O Kanal)
• Tegeltija says Schmidt’s decision was unnecessary and useless (RTRS)
• RS ruling parties’ politicians criticize Schmidt’s decision (Nova BH)
• Sarovic, Borenovic claim that RS ruling coalition is the most responsible for the fact Bonn Powers are used again (Nova BH)
• RS parliament adopts set of conclusions that postpone implementation of conclusions from December 2021 (Nova BH)
• Escobar meets with ‘Troika’ representatives; US Embassy to B&H: Focus on reforms is more important than ever (FTV)
• Dodik: PIC is self-organized body that does not base its mandate on DPA or UNSC resolution (RTRS)
• Cvijanovic: Austrian non-paper seems like reasonable proposal (Srna/RTRS)
• Tegeltija calls on B&H Presidency to make decision on B&H’s accession to ‘Open Balkans’ initiative (RTRS)
Croatia
• Milanovic, Grlic Radman react to sanctions against Cavara (Jutarnji list)
Montenegro
• Abazovic: We are not joining the Open Balkans (CdM)
• Krivokapic: Lavrov could have come by train (Antena M)
• Djukanovic: Lavrov’s attempt noting but politicization and creation of illusion about Russophobic atmosphere in Europe (CdM)
• Djukanovic in Istanbul: Stability and multiethnic character greatest values of modern Montenegro (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• ‘Open Balkans’ Summit takes place in Ohrid (AJB/RFE)
Albania
• Russian support for ‘Belgrade-led initiative’ is ‘a kiss of death’ for Open Balkans, critics say (Tirana Times)
• Varhelyi attends the Open Balkans meeting (Radio Tirana)
• Open Balkans in Ohrid/ Agreements to be signed and the USA and EU messages (Radio Tirana)
• State Department official: Albania and North Macedonia should join the EU as soon as possible (Radio Tirana/VoA)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Emergency state de facto introduced in Serbia (RTS)
• Vucic receives Botsan-Kharchenko after Lavrov visit cancellation (Tanjug/RTS)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Introducing sanctions against Russia to harm Serbia’s economy, social spheres (Beta/Izvestia)
• Stefanovic: Serbia refuses to be a pawn (Beta)
• State Department: Serbia to focus (VoA/Tanjug/B92)
• Stefanovic discusses cooperation in defense sector with French Ambassador (Beta)
• Improving cooperation with Turkey in field of defense (Tanjug)
• Presevo Valley a matter to be brought before UN (Beta/Bujanovacke/Danas)
• Nikolic: Substituting Russian crude oil imports to be no problem (Tanjug)
• Air assault against neutral Belgrade (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Ruling majority in RS parliament adopts conclusions opposing introduction of sanctions against Russia, supporting extension of EUFOR's Althea mission in B&H and postponing return of RS competencies from B&H level for six months (BN TV)
• Dodik and Kalabukhov address RS parliament special session (ATV)
• Leaders of parliamentary political parties address RS parliament special session (ATV)
• Opposition in RS wonders if Dodik wants support in RS parliament for potentially imposing sanctions against Russia; Bosniak representatives leave session during Kalabukhov’s address (AJB)
• Trivic says she believes RS parliament's special session will produce nothing good for RS (BN TV)
• Komsic: B&H will not change its foreign policy priorities because they are now problem for Kalabukhov (Nova BH)
• Ambassadors of EU and US call on RS parliament not to support policy of disinformation about Russian invasion of Ukraine (AJB)
• Dodik: I will have opportunity to meet Lavrov in the next ten days in St. Petersburg (N1)
• US blacklists FB&H President Cavara and RS Health Minister Seranic (FTV)
• Seranic: Despite sanctions, I will continue to work in the interest of citizens; Everything I have done in the past four years was in the best interest of the RS citizens (ATV)
• Radoncic: US sanctions will have positive consequences (Dnevni avaz)
• B&H CoM adopts special decision on lending BAM 9.7 million to CEC for general elections: CEC: BAM 12.5 million required, OHR should pass decision on full amount (Nova BH)
• Fajon and Schallenberg discuss Austrian ‘non-paper’ on Western Balkans (AJB)
Croatia
• Plenkovic: Serbia, as all countries in such circumstances, must be very careful about what side it chooses and supports (Hina)
• Agreements for Croatia-Serbia cross-border cooperation granted (Hina)
Montenegro
• Russian threats to Montenegro over Lavrov: Rogozin threatens with rockets (CdM/RIA Novosti)
• The end of the Open Balkans (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Macron ready to meet Sofia and Skopje when the time comes (MIA)
• Osmani acknowledges that Bulgaria wants their demands to be included in the EU negotiating framework (TV Sitel)
• Osmani on Lavrov’s plane ban: It’s not response to the Russian Federation, but to the aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine (Republika)
• Russia says it will stop the gas supply for Macedonia after the government didn’t allow Lavrov’s plane to fly through the country’s airspace (Republika)
Albania
• Open Balkans, meeting in Ohrid/Abazovic participates for the first time (Radio Tirana)
• Three-year cooperation agreement signed between Albania-Italy/ Minister Franceschini: Italy will strongly support Albania's EU accession (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 6 June 2022

LOCAL PRESS

• Russian Ambassador informs Vucic of reasons that prevented Lavrov visit (RTS/Tanjug)
• Lavrov: Shameful prevention of visit will not destroy relations with Serbia (Tanjug/RTV)
• Brnabic: Extremely complicated (TV Pink/Beta)
• Zakharova: Serbia's neighbors close communication channel (RIA Novosti/ TV La7/Tanjug)
• Drecun: They are introducing us into the role of a hostage (RTS)
• Serbia, Greece committed to deepening cooperation (Tanjug)
• Autocephaly of Ohrid Archbishopric officially recognized (Beta/Politika/Novosti)
• Schieb: Donbas and Kosovo cannot be compared at all (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs call on political actors in B&H to invest efforts in securing organization of elections in October (FTV)
• Dzaferovic: It is time for High Representative to impose law on budget (Hayat)
• Reactions to Bundestag’s Resolution on B&H (Oslobodjenje/BHT1/RTRS)
• State Department publishes annual report of Office for International Religious Freedom; Report criticizes SDA and its leader Izetbegovic (Dnevni list)
• Komsic: Inviting Kalabukhov to special RS parliament’s session is suicidal move of Dodik; Bubonjic: Inviting Russian Ambassador is provoking of West (FTV)
• Exclusive interview with Lavrov (RTRS)
• Turkovic: In an interview with RTRS, Lavrov presented a series of misinterpretations and incorrect information that could mislead the public (FTV/ATV/Srna)
• Orban responds to Dodik’s letter: We will do everything in interest of renewal of Europe based on Christian civilization, sovereign nations; RS can count on friendship and support in years to come (FTV)
Croatia
• Milanovic, Pahor and Van der Bellen meet in Brijuni; Support to Western Balkans expressed; Pahor proposes EU to give candidate status to B&H without conditions (HRT1)
• Finnish EU Minister: We understand the concerns expressed by Croatia (HRT)
• Croat wounded in Ukraine; MFA: He will be provided with transport to Croatia (HRT)
Montenegro
• Bogdanovic: We don’t need way stations to the EU (RTNK)
• Djukanovic on the occasion of 5th anniversary as a NATO member: Proud of contribution we’re giving in defense of shared values; DF MP: Montenegro has broken relations with traditional allies (CdM)
• Djukanovic: I hope that in 2024 we’ll be able to tell EU – We are ready (CdM)
• Due to the aggression on Ukraine, Krivokapic is not going to the reception on the occasion of the Day of Russia (CdM)
• Montenegro’s shown it is strong enough to defend its sovereignty (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Nikoloski: Early elections do not depend on negotiations, the political crisis is becoming both economic and national (Republika/RFE)
• Mickoski after meeting with Gencovska: Bulgaria to lift the veto and stop the conditions towards Macedonia (Republika)
• Kovacevski- Heger: EU to start accession talks without delay to ensure stability in the region (Republika)
Albania
• Former armed forces chief Bajram Begaj to serve as Albania’s seventh president (Tirana Times)
• Osmani congratulates the newly elected President Begaj: We will work to deepen the fraternal relations even further (Tirana Times)
• US congratulates Bajram Begaj: He contributed to the field of defense! We look forward to working with him (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Serbia cannot survive without gas, working on diversification of supplies (Tanjug/RTS/Politika)
• Vucic: Situation around Lavrov’s visit to Belgrade getting complicated (TV Pink/Beta)
• Vucic, Lajcak discuss Brussels dialogue, situation in region (Tanjug)
• Vucic meets with Bilcik (Tanjug)
• Vucic receives Dendias (Tanjug/RTS)
• Amendments to Public Information and Media Law among priorities (Tanjug)
• Serbian Constitutional Court stops Kosovo from joining ACCF (N1)
• Albanians demand for repeated voting rejected (Novosti)
• Zakharova: Lavrov to visit Serbia on 6-7 June (Tanjug/RIA Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Izetbegovic: HDZ B&H’s goal was to obstruct the elections; HDZ B&H and SNSD’s plan is to bring functioning of B&H into question (Nova BH)
• Komsic: Holding of general elections should not be called in question, essence in delay in providing funds for elections lies in HDZ B&H’s last attempts to carry out pressure related to Election Law (FTV)
• Session of SEECP in Athens; Kristo: Changing Election Law is the biggest challenge for B&H (Glas Srpske)
• Bundestag to discuss Resolution on B&H (Oslobodjenje)
• Dodik tells members of Bundestag not to interfere in B&H's internal affairs, he harshly criticizes Ahmetovic (ATV)
• Cvijanovic accuses Germany of needlessly interfering into B&H’s affairs, not wanting to deal with its situation and problems that exist in Germany (BN TV)
• Viskovic: It is illogical for t Bundestag to deal with B&H in the midst of economic crisis that is shaking Germany the most (ATV)
Croatia
• Croatia prepares for another massive jump in fuel prices (HRT)
Montenegro
• Lajcak with Djukanovic: We are continuing the conversation about the situation in Montenegro and the Western Balkans (CdM)
• State Department: The government has not taken any steps to resolve the SPC and CPC disputes (CdM)
• Democrats: Becic has expressed reservations about the foggy Open Balkans regional initiative (CdM)
• Osmani: Open Balkans doesn’t respect principle of inclusion (MINA)
• Abazovic sends letter of support to Zelenski: We stand firmly with our Ukrainian friends (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovacevski: Failure to open accession negotiations with the EU will not be a defeat for Macedonia, but a defeat for the EU (TV Kanal 5)
• Macedonia – US Strategic Dialogue begins (Republika)
• Osmani signs Ottawa Agreement in Washington (Republika)
Albania
• US: Justice Reform is essential in the field of investments in Albania (Radio Tirana)
• UN Security Council debate/ Human rights violations, our priority in the UN Security Council (Radio Tirana)
• Xhacka: UN Security Council chaired by the Albanian Presidency, a historic moment for the country (Radio Tirana)