LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Ukraine can count on Serbia’s help, support (Tanjug/RTV)
• Serbian Foreign Affairs Ministry slams Croatia’s FM over statements on Serbia and Vucic (Beta)
• Dacic: Croatia systematically building attitude of hatred towards Serbia, Serbs (TV Pink)
• Brnabic said that Belgrade will most likely see new, not repeated elections (TV Prva/FoNet)
• Office for KiM reacts to attack on Serb priest in Prizren (Tanjug/RTV)
• Petkovic: Our visits to Kosovo and Metohija support Serbs to stay (Tanjug/RTV)
• Stano declines to specify whether 27 February Brussels meeting will be held (Tanjug)
• Escobar: Serbia must implement ODIHR recommendations by next vote (VoA/Beta)
• Stefanovic: EU ready to send two missions to Serbia (Nova/Beta)
• Cochard thanks Serbia for providing refuge to young Russians escaping war (Beta)
• Ukrainian Ambassador: Russian propaganda has impact on decisions made in Serbia (N1)
• KFOR withdraws troops in Zvecan (N1)
• Brnabic arrives at EBRD headquarters for Western Balkans investment summit (Tanjug)
• Vucic started cosultations on Prime Minister candidate (RTS/RTV)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik addresses press conference in Banja Luka: Putin is committed to preserving peace and stability in B&H; Russia is protecting DPA from USA (RTRS/BNTV)
• Magazinovic in visit to Ukraine: B&H supports Ukraine (N1)
• Magazinovic meets with Stefanchuk, Malyuska in Kyiv: Aggression against Ukraine is not only war against this country but attack on entire Europe (BHT1)
• Becirovic expresses support to Ukraine: B&H completely harmonized foreign policy with EU’s (Oslobodjenje)
• ‘Misinformation and Malign Foreign Influence’ conference takes place in Sarajevo; Kojovic claims Ambassador Kalabukhov drew image of future flag of B&H on piece of paper for him (Dnevni list)
• State Department: US stands by the people of B&H, supports safe and prosperous future and country in the Euro-Atlantic community (VoA/Klix.ba)
• Russian Embassy: Process of EU enlargement in ongoing under Washington orders (Slobodna Bosna)
• Cvijanovic: Russia has never done anything against Dayton B&H and Dayton-verified RS (Banjaluka.net/RTRS)
• Issue of B&H’s membership in BRICS (O Kanal/RTRS)
• Dodik compares EU path of B&H to ‘hide and seek mice’ game; Cvijanovic moderately optimistic (ATV)
Croatia
• Grlic Radman: Serbia has to decide on whose chair it will sit; Serbia sends protest note due to Grlic Radman’s statement (HRT1)
• Grlic Radman discusses issue of Election Law of B&H with UN Secretary General (Vijesti)
• Covic meets Plenkovic: Election Law and other reforms are urgently needed to stabilize situation (HRT1)
• Zagreb holds rally in support of Ukraine (HRT)
Montenegro
• Milatovic: I quit all party posts (CdM)
• PES on Milatovic’s resignation: It’s good to be clear about our relations, that might stop obstructions (CdM)
• Zenka: Milatovic’s resignation as PES member might lead to early parliamentary elections (Gradski.me)
Republic of North Macedonia
• ELECTIONS 2024 / Kovachevski: On election day citizens will state which proposals they support (MIA)
• Toshkovski, Bojmacaliev meet Serbian Ambassador Jovanovic (MIA)
• Interior Minister and deputies meet Kosovo Ambassador (MIA)
• Mitreski at Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine: As history has shown, democratic values will defeat aggression (MIA)
• Mitreski - Stefanchuk: North Macedonia and Ukraine should join EU as soon as possible, parliaments to implement necessary legal changes (MIA)
Albania
• Albania on the side of Ukraine and in the defense of universal values (Radio Tirana)
• Zelensky's message to Begaj: We appreciate Albania's support and look forward to securing a peaceful European future (Radio Tirana)
• Two years since the aggression against Ukraine, Hasani: By supporting Ukraine, we contribute to the stability of the region (Radio Tirana)
• Peleshi: Albania supports the allies in helping the Ukrainian people and government (Radio Tirana)
• Nikolla: Albania, determined against the aggression and in favor of Ukraine's just war (Radio Tirana)
• Demonstration in Tirana in support of Ukraine, Ukrainian Ambassador: Albania, solidarity and support for our citizens (Radio Tirana)
• US-EU: Ukraine could not have a better supporter than Albania in the Security Council (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 23 February 2024

LOCAL PRESS

• Stano: Lajcak invited Belgrade and Pristina to a meeting on February 27, Bisljimi's behaviour is unacceptable (RTS)
• Lajcak in Rome about the latest events in Kosovo and the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina (RTS)
• Starovic: The situation in Kosovo is very complex, it is high time for the international community to react (RTS)
• Protest of healthcare workers in Gracanica due to the ban on the use of dinars (RTS)
• KFOR: We are committed to the efforts of the international community for permanent security in Kosovo (RTS)
• Defense Minister says Serbia holds cooperation with the U.S. in high regard (Beta)
• Ukrainian Ambassador: Society in Serbia not capable of objectively looking at war in Ukraine due to Russian propaganda (Beta)
• The movement We - the Voice of the People fell apart: Nestorovic made a decision (B92)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• EU Delegation on Dodik’s meeting with Putin: Maintaining close ties with Russia and Belarus is incompatible with the European path (Oslobodjenje)
• RS officials welcome Dodik's meeting with Putin as very significant for RS (Glas Srpske)
• Dodik: I hope RS will get opportunity to obtain observer status in BRICS (RTRS)
• RS Government adopts information on implementation of mutual cooperation in field of agriculture between RS and Belarus (ATV)
• Viskovic: Serb people will never forget what Churkin did in UN SC for Serb people when he vetoed UK resolution according to which Serbs are genocidal people (RTRS)
• Magazinovic to pay visit to Ukraine (Dnevni avaz)
• FM Konakovic holds series of meetings on sidelines of New Delhi conference, EU path of B&H focus of meetings (Dnevni avaz)
• New York Times on moves of Covic, Dodik in relation to gas supply of B&H (N1, Jutarnji list)
• Chairwoman Kristo meets COMEUFOR Sticz, discuss cooperation between B&H and EUFOR, EU path of B&H (Vecernji list)
Croatia
• Croatian parliament debates motion to dissolve parliament until wee hours (Hina)
• Plenkovic on elections: I don't understand why the fuss, they will happen when they happen (HRT)
Montenegro
• Gjeloshaj: Those not ready to respect agreement won’t be part of Government (RTCG)
• Nurkovic: Spajic-Ibrahimovic communication exists (TV E)
• Consultations on foreign policy have begun: the selection of ambassadors must be a quality and professional process (CDM)
• Joanikije: I am convinced that Rodic will make a full contribution to improving relations between Montenegro and Serbia (CDM)
• Hrebickova & Herasymenko: Russia mustn’t win the war, we owe a debt of gratitude to Montenegro (CDM)
North Macedonia
• ELECTIONS 2024 / Collection of signatures for presidential candidates begins (MIA)
Albania
• The passing of the agreement on immigrants, Rama: Albania shared the burden that Europe must bear united (Radio Tirana)
• The first in the region in regards to the amount of protected areas, fully converged with the EU idea (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Serbia will never accept international investigation into national elections (Beta)
• Giaufret: We will encourage Serbian government to fulfill all ODIHR election recommendations (Beta)
• Deeping cooperation with Portugal in areas of common interest (Tanjug)
• Nestorovic quits party expected to provide majority in Belgrade Assembly; Nestorovic: We didn’t quit the movement (N1)
• We – The Voice of the People member: Nestorovic’s decision plays into Vucic’s hands (N1)
• SPN refuses to take part in government consultations (N1)
• Stefanovic: No such thing as partial legitimacy of Belgrade authorities (Beta)
• Stano: EU expects Serbia to implement ODIHR recommendations (Nova)
• Protest over blockade of Dinar in Kosovo and Metohija, Pristina claims this is not topic for Brussels (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik meets Putin in Kazan: We refuse to join the West’s sanctions against Russia and will not join NATO (RTRS)
• OHR on Dodik-Putin meeting: B&H has to follow EU foreign and security policy (RFE/Faktor.ba)
• Kovacevic: No institution at B&H level has made decision to impose sanctions on Russia, so interpretations of OHR officials regarding foreign policy of B&H do not make any sense (RTRS)
• Dodik meets with head of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov in Kazan; Minnikhanov points out that Russia always looks forward to successes and progress of RS (RTRS)
• Schmidt: Politicians cannot toy with me, technical changes to Election Law must be implemented during 2024 local elections (Klix.ba)
• Izetbegovic: Schmidt will damage his authority if he is afraid of what Dodik says; I encourage HR not to hesitate (Hayat)
• Dodik says B&H is serious lie that cannot function, criticizes partners in authorities at B&H level for not respecting agreements (Dnevni list)
• Schmidt: Issue of state property must be solved, Dodik should not make threats (Klix.ba)
• PM Niksic with US Embassy’s Mennuti, focus on fight against corruption (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia
• Opposition demands dissolution of parliament: ‘Ruling coalition has crossed the line’ (N1)
• Russian Ambassador summoned to Foreign Ministry over Navalny’s death (Hina)
Montenegro
• Varhelyi to Spajic: Montenegro has political will and excellent communication with the EU in the field of smart specialization (CdM)
• Gjeloshaj: I represented Montenegro at Kosovo Independence Day celebration (TV Vijesti)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Xhaferi reaffirms support for Ukraine at meeting with Ambassador (MIA)
• Defense Ministry raises Ukrainian flag ahead of second anniversary of Russian invasion (MIA)
Albania
• Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Hasani on an official visit to India aiming to expand strategic projects (Radio Tirana)
• British Ambassador to Tirana: Electoral Reform to adopt before the parliamentary elections (Radio Tirana)
• The social security agreement between Albania and Bulgaria gets ratified (Radio Tirana)
• Peleshi: Unprecedented increase in the defense spending of NATO allies in Europe (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 21 February 2024

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: The movement is important. I'm only interested in Serbia, that we save Kosovo and Metohija (RTS)
• Vucic talks with Michel about relations between Serbia, EU (Beta)
• Brnabic: Government ready to cooperate with ODIHR, international probe would be loss of sovereignty (Tanjug)
• Drecun: Kurti creating obstacles in dialogue through unilateral moves (TV Pink)
• Djuric: We have exposed Kurti's disinformation systematically (Tanjug/Politika)
• Ambassador says Russia wants Kosovo issue back in UN SC (Sputnik/N1)
• Stano dismisses reports Borrell has postponed trips to Belgrade, Pristina (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Kristo meets members of GAC, expresses conviction EU Council will open accession negotiations with B&H in March (RTRS/Nova BH)
• Kristo meets Commissioner Varhelyi; Varhelyi: B&H authorities need to engage in solving of open issues so that the EU related reforms can be resumed (N1)
• Edtstadler after meeting with Kristo: B&H is committed to the process of joining the EU (Klix.ba)
• Dodik pays visit to Tatarstan: If opportunity presents itself, I will meet with Putin (RTRS)
• Lukashenko: B&H, Moldova, Georgia and Serbia will be drawn into NATO, in line with the Ukrainian scenario (RTRS)
Croatia
• Grlic Radman with Bulgarian FM Gabriel: I especially appreciate Bulgarian support to European path of B&H (Vecernji list)
Montenegro
• Special Envoy of France for the Western Balkans: The government's work in the first hundred days is impressive (CdM)
• Zivkovic with Troccaz: Full commitment to EU membership, concern about the reconstruction of the government with anti-European parties (CdM)
• Maslenikov: Spajic made a rather interesting statement, the expansion of the EU to the Balkans means drawing the countries of the region into a confrontation with Russia (Russian Izvestiya/CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Toshkovski and Bojmacaliev meet Slovenian Ambassador Presker (MIA)
• ELECTIONS 2024 / Dashtevski: Parliamentary elections campaign to continue during presidential campaign silence (MIA)
• Kovachevski: Electoral Code amendments ready, SDSM to support them once on parliament agenda (MIA)
Albania
• Zelensky in Tirana/ Rama: Erdogan to deliver his message at Southeast European countries Summit (Radio Tirana)
• Erdogan: Albania and Turkey, factors of peace in Europe and the Balkans (Radio Tirana)
• Peleshi: The Military Cooperation Agreement with Turkey, an expression of the close relationship between the countries (Radio Tirana)
• Albania-Turkey/ 6 agreements and memoranda of understanding signed (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Serbia to keep rejecting anti-Russian sanctions despite Western pressure — Vucic (TASS/Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Vucic thanks Tokayev for Kazakhstan's stance on Serbia's territorial integrity (TanjugRTS)
• Dacic: Inadmissibility of so-called Kosovo's request for CoE membership (Tanjug/RTV)
• Brnabic: I see no victory in postponement of Belgrade city assembly session (Tanjug/RTV)
• Fila: We have a majority in Belgrade, but didn’t want to form city government (TV Nova/Beta)
• Sapic: Belgrade city assembly to be inaugurated by 3 March, if there’s no majority, new elections follow (Beta)
• Andjelkovic: Vucic ready to bargain to avoid international investigation (Beta)
• Stano: New round of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue not yet in sight (Beta)
• Wang: China to continue to support Serbia in safeguarding its sovereignty (Xinhua/Tanjug/RTS/RTV)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik meets with Lukashenko in Minsk: Belarus is always ready to support the RS (RTRS)
• Dodik meets Golovchenko in Minsk; Golovchenko announces Belarus will assist development of RS (RTRS)
• Vukanovic: By meeting with Lukashenko and lower-level officials, Dodik is attempting to show that all doors, in the East and the West are still open to him (Nova BH)
• Zvizdic: Dodik's visit to Belarus is latest example of paradox in which one is standing up for European values, while at same time visiting president who rules his country in anti-democratic way (BHT1)
• Konakovic: President Erdogan is true friend of B&H (Anadolu/Slobodna Bosna)
• Munich Security Conference: HR Schmidt underlines necessity for B&H to prioritize its Euro-Atlantic integration efforts (BHRT)
• Kristo to meet with EU GAC members in Brussels (BHRT/Nova BH)
• Konakovic meets with B&H EU Ambassadors to discuss lobbying for opening of accession negotiations between B&H and EU (Dnevni avaz)
• Dodik: I have strong impression that coalition partners in the FB&H will lose this chance of B&H on the EU path; This time, RS will not take role of culprit (ATV)
• Kovacevic: If Schmidt imposes changes to B&H Election Law, RS will immediately pass its own Election Law (RTRS)
• Session of HNS Presidency in Mostar; HNS calls on political leaders for dialogue and compromise (FTV)
• Covic says issue of Election Law of B&H is priority in terms of B&H’s European path, Bosniak people must be discouraged from voting for Croat member of B&H Presidency (Klix.ba)
Croatia
• Eleven riotous revolutionaries insulted the Prime Minister and the Croatian Democratic Union (HRT)
• Croatia’s FM: Putin must show readiness for dialogue for war in Ukraine to end (Hina)
Montenegro
• Spajic – O’Brien: Montenegro is future Europe’s Singapore (CdM)
• Spajic: We want BS in government, I’m convinced no one will have anything against it (CdM)
• Vucurovic: ZBCG has nothing against entry of BS into Government (Gradska TV)
• Nenezic- Gerasimenko: Bar extends a hand of solidarity to Ukraine, launched initiatives to support the Ukrainian diaspora and refugees (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Avramovska Madikj – Malenica: Croatia to aid North Macedonia’s Euro-integration path (MIA)
• Marichikj – Verola: Italian support for North Macedonia’s progress on EU path (MIA)
Albania
• OSCE, a comprehensive support for the Constitutional Court of Albania (Radio Tirana)