LOCAL PRESS

• Dodik, Vucic and Porfirije meet in Belgrade, discuss upcoming Resolution on Srebrenica (RTS)
• Vucic before his trip to New York: "On Thursday, we will know who our friends are. We will resist strongly" (B92/Politika)
• Vucic in crowded Spens: This team is like Real Madrid compared to others; I want you to fight for people (B92)
• Vucevic: Gabon will not vote for Srebrenica resolution (Tanjug/RTS)
• Friendly relations between Serbia, Hungary reaffirmed (Tanjug/RTV)
• Dacic: Only votes for and against are counted when adopting the resolution on Srebrenica (TV Prva)
• BIRODI: Vucic continues to violate international standards, Serbian Constitution, laws (Beta)
• Both Schmidt and Becirovic in UN SC without authority (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Konakovic sends letter to Commissioner Varhely: What is it that Vucic, Dodik and you defend Serb people from? (Oslobodjenje)
• SDA statement criticizes Varhely’s statement; European Commission has special obligation to publicly distance and condemn Varhely’s objection to adoption of the Resolution (Dnevni list)
• Varhelyi, Konakovic issue joint statement: Genocide in Srebrenica unquestionable (FTV)
• Becirovic resumes with lobbying for adoption of Srebrenica Resolution (O Kana/ Dnevni avaz)
• RS PM Viskovic: Adoption of Resolution on Srebrenica might be beginning of end of United Nations in its current form (Banjaluka.net/ATV)
• Dodik: Serb people in Srpska will be exposed to great pressures; Serbs in the RS have no future without status accession to Serbia (O Kanal)
• Finalized text on Srebrenica Genocide Resolution ready, condemns denial and glorification of war criminals (FTV)
• HR Schmidt: Resolution on Srebrenica only contains legally established facts, I do not see any plans that resolution would impose collective guilt on Serb people (Face TV)
• Stevandic invites all parliamentary parties in RS and parties in local communities to meeting on local elections, RS opposition rejects invitation (ATV)
• HR Schmidt: Elections in B&H will be more efficient with technical amendments to Election Law; Rulings such as in ‘Sejdic-Finci’ case need to be implemented (Face TV)
Montenegro
• Spajic’s Cabinet: Montenegro’s amendments prevent further politicization and are a victory for all nations in the region (CdM)
• Majority proposes Jasenovac resolution (RTCG)
• Vukovic: Resolution on Jasenovac should be withdrawn from procedure, we have to return to ourselves and our national interests (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Mickoski says next government to lead principled neighborly policy (MIA)
• Mitsotakis urges Siljanovska Davkova to avoid 'similar unlawful and provocative actions' (MIA)
• Worth It leaders meet Kosovo PM Kurti in Pristina (MIA)
Albania
• Rama: Albania in 2030 will be at the EU table (Radio Tirana)
• Rama: Roads should open to the common European market without needing EU membership (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 17 May 2024

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: I guarantee to the people that I will do everything to preserve the honor and image of our Serbia (RTS/B92)
• Vucic: Pristina's announcement another trick by Kurti, lobbyists (Tanjug)
• Vucic, O'Brien discuss situation in region, Kosovo and Metohija (Politika/Tanjug/RTV)
• Vucic speaks by phone with Kobahidze (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Improving bilateral relations with United States in all areas of mutual interest (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: CoE must not fall for Kurti's trick (Tanjug/Politika)
• Kosovo announces draft ZSO statute, Stano says it should be presented in dialogue (N1/Radio KiM)
• No CoE Committee of Ministers debate on Pristina's membership bid (Tanjug/RTV)
• Go-Change movement confirms participation in Belgrade elections (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik: Necessary measures will be adopted at Assembly of all Serbs as response to Srebrenica resolution (RTRS)
• Dodik: Schmidt, Becirovic’s addressing UN SC shows how much UN SC is derogated (RTRS)
• US Ambassador to UN Robert Wood says stability of B&H is key for peace in Europe (Dnevni avaz)
• US Ambassador to B&H Murphy openly criticized Komsic, SDA’s Izetbegovic and HDZ B&H’s Covic (FTV/N1)
• RS CoP in session: No consent in regards to Election Law and Law on Referendum and Civic Initiative of RS (Hayat)
• SNSD Presidency discusses current situation in RS; Dodik: SNSD proposes other parties in RS not to participate in local elections in line with Schmidt’s imposed decisions (ATV)
• SDS rejects Dodik’s call for boycotting local elections (Klix.ba)
• Stanivukovic: Banja Luka was ready to hold elections according to new RS election law, but those who passed it were not ready (Klix.ba)
• “One region – common vision” taking place in Kotor, to discuss Growth Plan for the Western Balkans (RTRS)
Croatia
• HDZ and Homeland Movement sign a post-election coalition agreement (HRT)
• Croatia’s new parliament is constituted (HRT)
Montenegro
• Spajic: Montenegro is the true center of the Western Balkans; Varhelyi: At the end of the mandate of the current composition of the EC, the European Union will be ready to receive new members (CdM)
• Bregu: One region, common vision (CdM)
• Spajic - O'Brien: Montenegro is a cohesive factor of the Western Balkans (CdM)
• Milatovic with Carpenter: to raise the relations between Montenegro and the USA to the level of a strategic partnership (CdM)
• Danilovic: I think that Srebrenica is not genocide, I admit that one of the biggest crimes in B&H happened (Pobjeda)
• Stojovic: There is no genocidal nation; Janovic: Judgments of international courts show everything (RTCG)
• Djeljosaj to Bislimi: Kosovo has the full support of Montenegro on the path of Euro-Atlantic integration (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• VMRO-DPMNE and Worth It working groups conclude first meeting in coalition talks (MIA)
• Mickoski says VMRO-DPMNE successfully consolidated 61 MPs (MIA)
• Xhaferi: Electoral engineering in process, aims to alter parliament composition (MIA)
• Expect roadmaps on accelerated advancement towards common internal market to be implemented, says Xhaferi (MIA)
Albania
• WB-EU Summit in Montenegro, Rama calls on EU: Grant us access to your market; Let's create a common customs union (Radio Tirana)
• €6 billion plan for the Western Balkans, Varhelyi: EU to move forward before summer (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 16 May 2024

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Everyone should make a decision on the resolution; I have no message for Montenegro (Tanjug)
• All Belgrade’s proposals regarding use of Dinar in Kosovo and Metohija rejected (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Stano, Lajcak: No readiness of Belgrade, Pristina to find compromise agreement (Beta)
• Vucic: Nation that does not know its past has no future (Tanjug/Politika/RTV/RTS)
• Allen: Continuous progress in Belgrade-Pristina normalization is important (Beta)
• Vucevic: Azerbaijan's support in UN, CoE extremely important to Serbia (Tanjug)
• Brnabic meets with Varhelyi (Tanjug)
• Varhelyi also meets with Serbian opposition (Beta)
• Initiators of Srebrenica resolution: Document is not targeting Serbia or implying collective guilt (Beta/VoA)
• Djilas urges opposition parties to withdraw their candidates (Nova)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Schmidt presents report on situation in B&H before UN SC (Hayat)
• Becirovic addresses UN SC session (N1)
• Reactions to Becirovic’s address before UN SC (Dnevni avaz, RTRS)
• Schmidt's report, HR's mandate, Srebrenica Resolution supported by majority of countries at UN SC session; Russia and China present different opinion (RTRS)
• Croatian Ambassador to UN Simonovic: Support to Schmidt’s decisions and calls B&H for solving of election issues (Radio Sarajevo)
• Dodik visits Hungary, meets PM Orban to discuss many topics from the area of agriculture, energy and political-related issues (ATV)
Montenegro
• Senators after the meeting with Milatovic: Montenegro is an important member of NATO, Russia and China represent a serious threat to transatlantic security (CdM)
• Gjelosaj with Gervalla: We will continue to cooperate at all levels and work on our common European perspective (CdM)
• Serbia resents the resolution on Srebrenica, and Croatia resents the resolution on Jasenovac (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Greece to be strict on North Macedonia's consistent implementation of Prespa Agreement: FM (MIA/Mega)
Albania
• Following Vulin's statement of 'Serbs and Greeks united against Albania', Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs summoned in the Serbian Ambassador (Radio Tirana)
• Meloni: Agreement with Albania on migrants, an inspiration for other countries (Radio Tirana)
• UK installs cameras worth £1.6 million at Albania-Kosovo border to reduce illegal immigration (Radio Tirana)
• Albania partially suspends visa liberalization with Belarus (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: US should step up engagement to help preserve regional stability (Tanjug/RTV)
• EU membership remains strategic goal (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• EU membership remains Serbia’s foreign policy priority (RTV/Tanjug)
• Serbia remains committed to European path (Tanjug/RTV)
• Preservation of regional stability of strategic interest of Serbia (RTS/RTV)
• Strengthening cooperation with European institutions to combat irregular migration (Tanjug)
• Continuation of successful cooperation between Serbia, US (Tanjug/RTV)
• Djuric: Srebrenica resolution diplomatic ambush for Serbia (Tanjug)
• Room for economic improvement of cooperation with France (Tanjug)
• More than 12,000 people won’t be able to vote at their new residence addresses (Beta/TV Kurir)
• UN peacekeeping instructors program being held in Jug base near Bujanovac (Beta)
• Kosovo’s admission to CoE not on agenda of Committee of Ministers session (FoNet)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• HR to present report on situation in B&H before UN SC on Wednesday; Schmidt praises efforts of Troika, harshly criticizes RS authorities and Dodik in his new report to UN SC (Buka.com)
• RS’ politicians criticize HR’s report to UN SC (ATV)
• Srebrenica Resolution to be discussed by UN GA on May 23rd (Politicki.ba/N1)
• RS government delivers conclusions of International Commission for Investigation of Sufferings of All People in Srebrenica Region from 1992 to 1995 to UN SC along with its 31st Report (RTRS)
• US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Allen visits B&H: This visit is another indicator that the U.S. is committed to Western Balkan region and its future (O Kanal)
Croatia
• Croatia moves closer to a new Sabor and a new government (HRT1/N1)
Montenegro
• Parliamentary majority meeting: Preparation of Jasenovac Resolution text agreed (CdM)
• Knezevic: Questionable support for the government if Montenegro supports the resolution on Srebrenica (Portal Adria/Kurir)
Republic of North Macedonia
• North Macedonia joined NATO under constitutional name (MIA)
• President Siljanovska-Davkova meets EU Ambassador Geer (MIA)
Albania
• Rama announces creation of new autonomous force, independent from Ministries (Radio Tirana)
• Hasani meets Tomlinson: Positive Political Dialogue with the UK (Radio Tirana)
• Rama: Albania ready for EU in 2030, trend of emigration from the country will be stabilized (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 10 May 2024

LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Xi's visit is an additional boost for improvement of relations with China (Tanjug)
• After Xi’s visit, Serbian FM says cooperation with US a priority (Beta)
• Vucic: It is important to remember the reasons for the establishment of the EU, we remain on the European path (RTS)
• Vucic with the UAE minister on the situation in KiM, cooperation and geopolitics (RTS)
• Djuric with the head of Greek diplomacy: 145 years of close relations (RTS)
• Lajcak spoke with Guterres and Francis about the situation in the Western Balkans (Tanjug)
• Agreement reached on amending law to prevent voter migration (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Joint column by Sattler and Sturtewagen on occasion of Europe Day: It is time to make EU complete (Dnevni list)
• IC representatives, B&H politicians congratulate and stress importance of Europe Day (BHT1)
• Dodik: B&H is unsuccessful country; We will never accept narratives that Serb people is genocidal; Cvijanovic: Resolution is instrument of Bosniak policies to implement anti-Serb measures around the world (BNTV)
• OHR: Obligation of the authorities in B&H is the unhindered implementation of the election process (Dnevni list)
• Dodik: RS ruling parties will wait to see what happens before deciding whether to participate in elections or not; EU should explain why did it move on as if nothing happened after it initially condemned Schmidt’s decision to impose changes to Election Law (Nova BH)
• Sattler speaks about political crisis in B&H, B&H’s European path, Dodik’s policy, Election Law of B&H and Konakovic’s pressures on media (Klix.ba)

Montenegro
• Spajic confirmed: Montenegro will vote in favor of the resolution on Srebrenica (CDM)
• Zivkovic: Mandic enters Government which he calls anti-Serbian because of position; PES and ZBCG get to DPS policy (CDM)
• Mandic: Montenegro's accession to the EU would be a good signal for all countries of the Western Balkans (CDM)
North Macedonia
• SEC publishes preliminary official results of double elections (MIA)
• North Macedonia’s elections were competitive and voters well informed, although the process remains insufficiently regulated: international observers (MIA)
• Mickoski: VMRO-DPMNE's coalition could ‘consolidate’ 61 MPs by May 28 (MIA)
Albania
• “Charlemagne Prize”/ Rama: Proud that religious tolerance is part of Albanian identity (Radio Tirana)
• Country’s European integration is a moral obligation to future generations (Radio Tirana)