United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 11 March 2022

LOCAL PRESS
• EP Enacts Resolution Condemning Russia's Attempt to Destabilize Western Balkans (Autonomija.info)
• Lavrov: Goal of West in Balkans was not to have too big states (Politika)
• Giaufret: Serbia's position specific, harmonization with EU policy still required (RTS)
• Vucic: Serbia has no place in NATO, we must forgive, but we mustn't forget (B92)
• Dacic: Vucic as president, me as prime minister - this is the best for Serbia (Happy TV)
• Democratic party leader: elections a question of survival (Vreme)
• Ponos: Vucic building unity based on fear (Nova S)
• Opposition leader says not running in election, as promised (Nova.rs)
• Opposition candidate says will ban construction of settlements in Makisko Polje because of tap water in Belgrade (Novi Magazin)
• RS President Cvijanovic meets Serbian Foreign Minister Selakovic, they conclude preservation of peace and stability is joint interest of RS and Serbia (Nezavisne)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• German FM Baerbock meets HR Schmidt; Schmidt: There can be no negotiations on borders of B&H; Baerbock: Those attempting to destabilize or divide B&H will be stopped (O kanal)
• Baerbock meets B&H Presidency members; Dzaferovic: Solution for current situation is to end blockade of B&H institutions; Dodik asks Barebock if she can affect Brussels administration to soften procedures for B&H so that it can get status of EU candidate country (O kanal)
• Baerbock meets B&H FM Turkovic; Turkovic: if further destabilization of B&H and blockade of state-level institutions is allowed, there is fear of threat to Europe’s stability and security (O kanal)
• Baerbock meets with members of Collegium of both Houses of B&H Parliament (BHT1)
• Baerbock meets Mayors of Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar, they visit religious sites in Sarajevo (BN TV)
• Zvizdic: Germany conveyed clear message of support to EU path of B&H; lack of activities of B&H CoM is part of plan to present B&H as dysfunctional (O kanal)
• Opposition in B&H HoR says HoR adopted on Wednesday two remaining laws that are important for acquiring EU candidate status for B&H (N1)
• Dodik arrives in Antalya to participate at Antalya Diplomatic Forum 2022 (RTRS)
• Commissioner Varhelyi: Free and fair elections have to take place (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia
• Bozinovic: Military service in Croatia has not been abolished, but frozen (HRT)
• Croatian MPs approve sending 70 soldiers to join Nato battle group in Hungary (Hina)
Montenegro
• Abazovic: I will announce the composition of the government soon, I am asking Bulajic to schedule a session, I believe that many in the DF see that this is a done deal (Pobjeda)
• Abazovic after meeting with Lajcak: New European government ready to implement reforms in Montenegro (CMD)
• The economic war between the EU and Russia will also affect Montenegro (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovacevski-Norman: Quick response by Macedonia regarding situation in Ukraine commended (Republika)
• Kovacevski: Price hikes are result of Russian-Ukrainian crisis, our prices are lowest in the region (Republika)
• We have stable economic policies even in times of crisis, Kovacevski tells “Euronews” (Republika)
Albania
• Protest escalates as citizens block Tirana main roads (ADN)
• PM Rama responds to citizens as protest continues (ADN)

LOCAL PRESS

Stefanovic with Giaufret: Serbia remains militarily neutral and at the same time open for cooperation (RTS)
Dacic: If we quarrel with Russia, Moscow will let Kosovo's independence pass in UN (RTV)
Opposition candidate: We are on Russia’s side (Beta)
US diplomat welcomes Serbia’s progress on path to Europe (N1)
Brussels satisfied with Belgrade's position on the situation in Ukraine (RTS)
EU sources say no pressure on Serbia, EP condemns arms exports (N1, Nova.rs)
European Parliament adopts Resolution in which it expressed concern with Orthodox Church’s promotion of Russia in Serbia and RS as protector of family values (Vecernje Novosti)
Rapporteur: German minister’s visit to Belgrade sends right message (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

EUFOR announces increased level of patrolling on streets of B&H cities (Dnevni avaz)
Minister Podzic: Citizens need to live normally, NATO and EUFOR are responsible for security of B&H (Dnevni avaz)
Reactions to intensified presence of EUFOR soldiers and Italian airplane overflights (ATV)
Komsic meets with NATO Sarajevo HQ Commander, Brigadier General Pamela McGaha; McGaha says NATO is committed to preserving security and protecting BiH's sovereignty and territorial integrity (O kanal)
US Embassy’s Attaché Tarquinto and EUFOR COM Wessely discuss security situation in B&H (Dnevni avaz)
Russian Ambassador Kalabukhov walks away from Brcko District anniversary ceremony after Head of EUD Sattler mentions war in Ukraine; EUD: The world can see what is happening in Ukraine (Dnevni avaz)
EP discusses situation in B&H including sanctions to B&H Presidency member Dodik (Nova BH)
US Ambassador Murphy meets with B&H Presidency member Dodik to underscore firm US support to B&H’s sovereignty and territorial integrity (BHT1)
Dodik meets Chinese Ambassador to B&H, they express content with development of cooperation between RS and China (ATV)
German FM Baerbock to meet B&H officials on Wednesday and Thursday (BHT1)
Commissioner Varhelyi says B&H Ministry of Finance needs to quickly make available to B&H CEC necessary budget for organizing election procedures; HDZ B&H representatives reiterate that legal requirements for calling elections have not been met (FTV)
Commissioner Varhelyi calls for holding of elections in October; Sehic says authorities are obliged to provide funding (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia

Croatian MEPs urge changes to Bosnia’s election law in European Parliament (Hina)
Croatian parliament adopts government report on situation in Ukraine (Hina)
National security committee chair: No immediate danger of war to Croatia (Hina)
Montenegro

Jokovic: We’ll leave Govt. if it fails to meet our requests (Niksic TV)
Abazovic: A pro-European government should be formed as soon as possible (Pobjeda)
Maddocks: Any threat to Montenegro as a NATO member would be an escalation of the war (RTCG)
Abazovic is meeting with Lajcak in Turkey today (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Russian Ambassador to Macedonia: The crisis will not spill over into the Western Balkans (TV Sitel)
Besimi-Byrnes: Opportunities for deepening economic cooperation with the US (Republika)
Albania
Albania has requested a review of the use of VETO in the Security Council (Radio Tirana)
Protest erupts in Albania after fuel price rise (ADN)
Ukraine has shaken EU attitude toward Western Balkan (ADN)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 9 March 2022

LOCAL PRESS
• Vucic: There will be a big fight - I am waiting for Putin's response (B92)
• Jovanovic: Balkans does not need tutors; Karanovic: There will be pressures related to Kosovo and RS (Vecernje Novosti)
• Vucic Szijjarto : Together we will overcome the world crisis (B92)
• Prime Minister: Cooperation with Council of Europe in conducting reforms vital (Beta)
• “We Must” coalition: First we win Belgrade, then Serbia (Beta)
• Opposition: Chance for winning in Belgrade must not be missed (Beta)
• Opposition ‘United Serbia’ promotional booth banned due to COVID-19 (Nova.rs)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik: Overflight of Italian military planes gross violation of B&H borders; This is another proof that B&H an international protectorate (RTRS)
• Dodik says conflicts in Ukraine cannot be compared to past civil war in B&H (RTRS)
• N1 investigates if war in Ukraine silence the rhetoric of divisions and dangerous announcements in B&H (N1)
• EP to discuss B&H and sanctions against Dodk; HR Schmidt comments on issue ahead discussion: EP does not have mandate for sanctions, but I know it has strong political influence (Hayat)
• EP starts discussion on situation in B&H; Varhelyi: B&H is crucial for Western Balkans and instead of internal conflicts, it is necessary to focus on European agenda (FTV)
Croatia
• President downplays tensions in B&H (Hina)
• Milanovic: I do not support Georgia in NATO (HRT)
Montenegro
• Abazovic: Congrats to SNP Main Board; if we don’t reach an agreement quickly, then we shouldn’t make it at all (CDM)
• What are the key tasks of the new government in the agreed agreement in principle (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Osmani: There is no information about military conflict in the Balkans at the moment (TV21)
Albania
• Head of the opposition under pressure since the defeat of Sunday's local elections (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Escobar “applauds” Western Balkans countries for their support for Ukraine (N1)
Stano: EU welcomes Serbia’s support of UN resolution on Russia (N1)
Giofre: The relationship between Serbia and the EU is a two-way street, Brussels needs a clear signal from Belgrade (RTS)
Yet another carrot from Europe (Vecernje Novosti)
Serbian Interior Minister Vulin comments Schwarz Schilling and Inzko’s claims about Serbia posing a threat to region: Serbia is threat to those who want to expel Serbs (Nezavisne)
Vucic in Leskovac: The state is not a toy - we have had enough wars (B92)
Opposition presidential candidate says Serbia not a democratic country (FoNet)
Serbia’s nationalist: People should opt for return of kingdom and dignity (Politika)
DS Official: United Serbia bloc will have controllers at all polling stations (VIP)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

EUFOR increases its presence in B&H; EUFOR specifies that this is all happening in the light of deteriorated international security situation and as precautionary measure (BHT1)
Sattler: These are precautionary measures; Tegeltija believes there was no need for increased EUFOR presence in B&H; Lukac appeals to RS citizens to calmly accept increased presence of EUFOR (RTRS)
RS Interior Minister Lukac: Security situation in RS and B&H is good, there is no possibility of a conflict (BN TV)
State Department: Russia instigates tensions in B&H; Congressmen ask for increase of diplomatic efforts in Western Balkans (Dnevni avaz)
Escobar: We need to use crisis to stop actions which endanger stability and progress in B&H (Oslobodjenje)
Reps in B&H HoR from FB&H adopt conclusion requesting suspension of Russia from PIC, IFIMES’ Becirovic says this is not so easy (O kanal)
EP to hold debate on situation in B&H on Tuesday; EU says situation in B&H is concerning and EU will use all instruments in order to overcome current political crisis (O kanal)
RS Mission in Brussels sends letter regarding RS positions ahead of discussion of European Parliament on situation in B&H (RTRS)
USC MoI police inspector Adi Crncevic posts photo of him in camouflage uniform holding machine gun in hands on Facebook, calls to war in B&H in his post (EuroBlic)
Croatia

PM: If you are on Russia's list, you've pursued a good policy (Hina)
Croatia extends rights to Ukrainian refugees (HRT)
Montenegro

SNP willing to join minority government (CDM)
Nikolic: Montenegro is a small country but won’t stay silent over destruction of an independent European country (CDM)
Picula: Security services should thwart attempt to destabilize Montenegro (CDM)
Ambassador Maddocks: Your best defense is to build a resilient state (CDM)
Vujovic: Russian aggression broke the fog called Open Balkans (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

MFA hands over a note of protest to Russian Ambassador Bazdnikin (Sloboden Pecat)
Osmani: EU enlargement in the region is becoming a security issue (Republika)
Huge blow to citizens’ pockets – fuel prices hit record high (Republika)
Russia put Macedonia on its list of “unfriendly countries” (Republika)
Albania
Rama: Europe is at war, we must get prepared for any scenario (Radio Tirana)
Basha: We will adopt the resolution condemning the Russian occupation (Radio Tirana)
President Meta welcomes the unanimous adoption of the resolution against aggression in Ukraine (Radio Tirana)
SP wins 5 mayoral by-elections over divided opposition, Berisha candidate wins Shkoder, Basha’s DP slips to third place (Tirana times)

LOCAL PRESS

Rallies in support of Russia and Ukraine held in downtown Belgrade (Beta)
Vucic, Johnson: Respect for territorial integrity is essential for Serbia (RTS)
Vucic talked with the President of France, Macron welcomed Serbia's vote in the UN (RTS)
Presidents of Serbia and Turkey on bilateral relations, the situation in Ukraine (RTS)
Vucic with Bocan-Kharchenko on Ukraine and geopolitics (RTS)
What messages does the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, brings to Belgrade? (RTS, Tanjug)
German Chancellor Scholz says clear stance must be presented to Western European countries which showed commitment to European perspective (Tanjug)
Vulin: Kosovo’s Accession to NATO would represent an armed conflict threat for Serbia (VIP)
Vucic: If Kosovo joins international organisations, Serbia will have surprising answer (Beta, N1)
SPC Patriarch: We pray for peace in Ukraine, for talks to start as soon (FoNet)
Tadic: Government first spreads panic, then swoops in to the rescue (Beta)
Ponos: Serbia must not recognize Kosovo (Beta)
Serbian elections (VIP, B92, N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

B&H HoR discuses situation in Ukraine, 13 MPs from RS fail to attend session (O kanal)
Dodik says emergency session of B&H House of Representatives was waste of time (ATV)
Dodik: We are not ready to introduce sanctions and to make Russians target of persecution; Dodik says Schmidt’s stance is not important (ATV)
Dodik’s Advisor Kovacevic condemns Komsic’s decision to send instructions to diplomatic and consular network regarding Ukraine (ATV)
Head of EUD to B&H Sattler: All countries in region, including B&H and Serbia, were right to support UN resolution condemning Russian invasion of Ukraine (N1)
Reinforcements for ALTHEA mission arrives in B&H in form of armoured vehicles and trucks; French fighter jets will perform training flights over Western Balkans including B&H as of Monday (O kanal)
Stoltenberg: NATO must support countries at risk (Nova BH)
Head of EUD to B&H Sattler: No further activities in electoral reform talks are possible without initial step made by HDZ B&H and SDA (N1)
Spokesperson for EU Delegation to B&H Koenig says there are no legal grounds to bring holding of 2022 elections in question (Dnevni list)
Izetbegovic says agreement on Election Law of B&H will be reached once Croats unblock FB&H (Srna)
Croatia

Grlic Radmna talks to Secretary Blinken about electoral reform in B&H (Vecernji list)
Escobar says Election Law reform is possible and necessary (HRT1)
Escobar on the situation in B&H: Dodik does not want independent RS, he wants to protect corruption (HRT1)
Rallies in support of Ukraine held in Zagreb and other cities (HRT)
Jandrokovic: Croatian people are compassionate to Ukrainian suffering in this “insane” attack (HRT)
Montenegro

Abazovic talked to Escobar: We’ll monitor the situation with Russian oligarchs, sanctions may be expanded (CDM)
Russian diplomat declared persona non grata (CDM)
Russia declares Montenegro an enemy state (CDM)
A rally in support of the Russians and Putin was organized again in Niksic (Pobjeda)
The DPS delegation strongly condemned the senseless act of Russian aggression against a sovereign, European state (CDM)
Pajovic: Importance of Montenegro’s membership to NATO now clear to everyone (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia

Macedonia out of view as new potential EU members step up (Republika)
Albania
Fuel price reaches record high (ADN, Tirana Times)