LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Pristina experienced political defeat; new police actions possible (Tanjug/RTV)
Vucic: We can do much together with Hungary (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
Petkovic: Serb List leaving Pristina institutions in north of the province if ZSO is not formed (NSPM/Tanjug/N1)
EC to recommend opening of two clusters with Serbia (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
Dacic: Opposition to propose representative for media monitoring bodies (Beta/Tanjug/RTS)
Venice Commission praises Serbia’s constitutional amendments (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

RS government holds special session and discusses decisions on returning competencies to RS (N1/BNTV)
Prosecutor’s Office of B&H forms case against Dodik (Nova BH)
US Embassy: US ready to use sanctions against those who undermine Dayton Peace Agreement; UK Embassy: UK uses sanctions when and where it considers it to be most effective (Hayat)
Dodik votes against all items discussed at session of Presidency (ATV)
SDA: Laws and decisions passed by B&H parliament can only be changed by B&H parliament; Dodik is endangering peace and stability (Nezavisne)
Mothers of Enclaves of Srebrenica and Zepa’ appeal to international institutions to stop Dodik’s violation on UN Genocide Convention (Dnevni list)
Covic, Izetbegovic meet Covic: Our joint priority is to stabilize political situation in B&H ASAP (N1)
FAC holds session to discuss Borrell’s report on situation in Western Balkans: Serious concern over situations in B&H, Kosovo expressed (N1)
EU Foreign Affairs Council extends EUFOR mission in B&H (FTV/Nova BH)
Croatia

Grlic Radman: Croatia has support for stance on B&H and W. Balkans (Hina)
Montenegro

Minority government backed by DPS and DF a way out of political crisis (Pobjeda)
Abazovic and Radulovic pay a working visit to Washington D.C. (Gov. Press office)
Protest in Podgorica (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

SEC: VMRO-DPMNE won 22, SDSM 9, DUI 3 mayors (Republika)
Zaev one day after the first round of local elections: Now the most important thing is unification (Republika)
Ahmeti thanks voters: I will never disappoint you (Republika)
OSCE/ODIHR: Local elections showed the need for substantial law reform (Republika)
Albania

Albania-Kosovo set up a joint Secretariat for the implementation of agreements between them (Radio Tirana)
Basha reveals details from meeting with Kosovo Deputy PM (ADN)
European Integration/Commission publishes progress report on Albania and other aspiring countries (Radio Tirana)
Soreca-Ibrahimaj: Essential to redouble efforts to move the reform agenda forward and improve the business climate in Albania (Radio Tirana)
Slovenian Ambassador from Korca: Albania has done everything necessary to open negotiations (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 18 October 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Selakovic: UNMIK necessary, balance of responsibility artificial (Tanjug/RTS)
Selakovic: Guterres shares position of UNMIK Head on Pristina’s actions (RTS)
Brnabic: Finding compromise solution to Kosovo in Serbia’s interest (Novosti)
Vucic: I want close relations with UK, but I’m nobody’s fool (TV Prva/Beta)
Serb List declares election victory in Kosovo’s Serb-majority municipalities (N1)
Brnabic sends congratulatory letter to Serb List (RTS)
Drecun: Serbs told Kurti at the elections that there is nothing from the false state of Kosovo (RTS)
Petkovic congratulates Serb List (RTS/Tanjug)
Ambassador: Serbia values highly Holy See’s stance on Kosovo (Politika/Beta)
Positive opinion of Venice Commission for changes to Constitution (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

B&H Presidency meets Linhard; Dodik: B&H is stable in terms of security, but will never be united (ATV)
Dodik: RS has right to its own army; I would not sacrifice peace for the RS (RTRS)
Dodik: Proposal of Izetbegovic to add Jasenovac to imposed law is humiliating (ATV)
Dodik and Izetbegovic rule out possibility of their meeting (ATV)
Komsic and Dzaferovic label Dodik’s announcements as adventurism (ATV)
SDA Presidency convenes in Banja Luka; Izetbegovic: It is up to OHR to react to current situation (Nova BH)
SDS Main Board: SDS to attend special RS parliament session if scheduled, but will not follow Dodik’s initiatives and policies (BN TV)
Borenovic: We have to say we are fed up of Bakir’s motions before B&H CC, we are fed up of Dodik’s false referendums, we are fed up of imposed Inzko’s laws and we are fed up and had enough with Covic’s frustrations (Oslobodjenje)
State prosecutor Pasic asks for case to be formed against Dodik over threats to B&H (N1)
EUFOR: Entities cannot unilaterally withdraw from state institutions (Dnevni avaz)
Escobar: We will be working to isolate those who do not want inclusive and democratic Western Balkans (FTV)
Radoncic dismisses possibility of armed conflicts as highly unlikely (Face TV)
Sarovic: I truly believe how Dodik is biggest danger to RS and B&H (Face TV)
Turkovic meets Linhart, Turkovic says Austria and Minister Linhart understand current challenges that B&H and the region face (Hayat)
TV/ATV)
Montenegro

Nikolic: Government in Montenegro on the verge of collapse (CdM)
Djukanovic: Government dysfunctional and needs to be replaced (CdM)
Kentera: Montenegro mustn’t be governed by Serbia, Russia or China… (CdM)
Rising Reinke: Stay true to vision of secure, democratic, multiethnic Montenegro (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Mickoski declares a major victory for VMRO-DPMNE (Republika)
Zaev blames his minor partners for the defeat, insists that his coalition will survive (Republika)
BESA’s Kasami says he is in the lead in the race in Tetovo, as he heads to a run-off against Teuta Arifi (Republika)
Albania

Open Balkans finalized/The Rama-Vucic-Zaev agreement becomes official (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: It’s not Kurti who came up with this idea, it’s designed by others (Politika/B92)
EU calls for dialogue, says unauthorized actions by Kosovo authorities should be avoided (Beta)
Vucic discusses northern Kosovo with Borrell (Beta/RTS)
Russia’s fierce message to NATO: KFOR to fulfill its obligations in keeping with Resolution 1244 (Politika/Beta)
Godfrey: Serbia, US partners in facing joint challenges (Beta/RTS)
Selakovic: 3.100 days without progress (Tanjug/B92)
Petkovic: Kurti is generating a crisis for a handful of votes (RTS)
Serbia ready to hand over case of Edin Vranj and 26 other cases to B&H (Novosti)
Brammertz: I am grateful to Vucic (B92)
Dodik: High time to establish control over forces under Pristina authority (Novosti)
US President nominates Christopher Hill new Ambassador to Serbia (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

RS officials comment Vucic’s claim that great powers will demand abolition of RS: RS can resist all pressure (Nezavisne)
Dodik invites Ambassadors of EU member states for meeting in Istocno Sarajevo; Quint Ambassadors fail to attend meeting; Dodik: This is not about secession, people should not be afraid, there will be no war (FTV)
PIC Ambassadors meet; OHR: PIC expects from all leaders to dismiss rhetoric that leads to destabilization (O Kanal)
EUD: EU supports territorial integrity and sovereignty of B&H (Hayat)
Stano: Commitment of EU to territorial integrity, unity and sovereignty of B&H is only framework (BHT1)
US Embassy: US steadfastly supports B&H sovereignty (Dnevni avaz)
NATO: We support sovereignty and integrity of stable and safe B&H (Dnevni avaz)
Schmidt and Linhart discuss crisis in B&H (BHT1/N1)
RS President says RS leadership has been trying for months to hold talks with political parties in FB&H to jointly resolve problems, Croats ready for talks but Bosniaks reject them (RTRS)
Sarovic: SDS supports transfer of competences to RS; SNSD is dragging RS into chaos and dead ends (BN TV)
Trivic: It is Dodik’s wish to live in constant political chaos and constant political crisis, which he believes he would profit from (Nova BH)
Nesic: Dodik and SNSD do not deserve this much attention (Dnevni avaz)
Banjac: B&H must return to original Dayton Agreement (Nezavisne)
Niksic: This is the most radical that we saw from Dodik until now; B&H has never been in such big crisis since Dayton Agreement; I do not think HR is passive (FTV)
Croatia

Malenica: The purpose of the request of the Prosecutor's Office of B&H is to defame Operation Flash (HRT)
Montenegro

URA and DPS together against the SPC: Is the vote in the Constitutional Committee of the parliament of Montenegro an announcement of a new coalition? (Vijesti/Novosti)
Markovic: Political crisis can be overcome through elections; DPS ready to resolve situation together with civilian and European forces (CdM/Vijesti)
Abazovic, Zaev: Relations between Montenegro and North Macedonia are an example that other WB countries should follow (Gov. Press Service)
Albania

Venice Commission: Constitutional Court has no jurisdiction to review the validity of local elections (Radio Tirana)
Basha meeting with the US congressional delegation; US our strategic partner (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 14 October 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: We have some malicious people in the international community who want conflicts and want to drag us into them (B92/RTS/Tanjug/Politika/Beta/Novosti)
Vucic tells Gendarmerie to be ready (RTS/Beta/N1)
Peaceful but tense in northern Kosovska Mitrovica (RTS)
Drecun: Pristina crossed all red lines by using firearms (RTS)
Godfrey: Strong pressure (Novosti)
US Embassy: Present Ambassador Godfrey remains focused on his job (Beta)
NATO: We’re fully focused on situation in Kosovo as per UNSCR 1244 of 1999 (N1)
Borrell calls for urgent end to violence in northern Kosovo (Beta/B92)
Selakovic: Gratitude to Argentina for supporting our territorial integrity (Politika/Tanjug)
Selakovic thanked Eritrea for its consistent support on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija (Politika/Tanjug)
Relations between Serbia and DR Congo have traditionally been good and friendly for 60 years (Tanjug/RTV)
Friendship between Serbia and Bangladesh dates back to the early days of the NAM (Tanjug)
Use the potentials to improve cooperation with Belarus (Tanjug)
Venezuela firm in supporting Serbia’ territorial integrity (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dodik: RS will initiate procedure of restoring of its competence with or without support of RS opposition (RTRS)
RS opposition says they support genuine DPA, but what Dodik is doing by announcing return of RS competences can be very dangerous for RS (BN TV)
Reactions of other RS politicians to Dodik’s latest announcement on independent RS in scope of Dayton B&H (EuroBlic)
Crnadak: HR is reality and he already visited Belgrade twice and talked to Serbian officials (Oslobodjenje)
Dodik expects fight against law imposed by Inzko will continue before B&H CC (Nova BH)
Covic perceives SNSD’s initiatives in the same way he perceives those who want to dismantle B&H and create a state without three constituent peoples; Magazinovic: Everything that Dodik is doing has characteristics of coup d'etat (FTV)
OHR Press Service currently unable to specify when they can provide answer on whether OHR would react to political situation and Dodik’s announcements; EUD and US Embassy express support to territorial integrity and sovereignty of B&H (N1)
Komsic, Dzaferovic meet Roth and warn that current developments undermine constitutional organization of B&H (N1)
Leadership of B&H HoP meets over coffee, agree they will continue talks; Izetbegovic says he is ready to talk with Dodik without international mediation even about application of law former HR imposed (BHT1)
Croatia

Bozinovic: EU unprepared for new migrant wave, Croatia nod doing dirty work (Hina)
Montenegro

Knezevic: If negotiations fail, we’ll boycott government laws and require international intervention for new elections (Pobjeda)
Zekovic: Government and Becic block parliament; instead of dealing with citizens’ problems, they deal with their positions (CdM)
Krivokapic: If I am a problem, dismiss me; if you want elections, tell that to citizens; position on DF once majority declares (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Pendarovski talks with Portuguese FM to lift EU blockade (Nezavisen vesnik)
Albania

Strong message of Yuri Kim: Leaders on all sides must make difficult, but necessary changes for a better future (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Importance of spirit of multilateralism, international cooperation, solidarity (Tanjug/RTS/Politika)
Message of peace and togetherness sent from NAM summit (RTS)
Selakovic thanks India for supporting Serbia’s territorial integrity (Tanjug/Politika)
Wang: NAM an indispensable force in international relations (Tanjug/Politika)
Serbia committed to gender equality, empowerment of women (RTS/Tanjug)
Mihajlovic, Safari discuss cooperation (Tanjug)
Vucic: We haven’t used NAM to campaign against Pristina (Beta/Politika)
Petkovic: Local elections in Kosovo and Metohija of crucial importance (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
Brnabic: I call on the international community, KFOR and NATO to react urgently (Tanjug/Kosovo Online/B92/RTS)
Petkovic: Kosovo police shoot Serbs in north of Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)
Vucic heads to Raska for meeting with Kosovo Serbs (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dodik announces implementation of project ‘Independent RS within Dayton B&H’ (RTRS)
Borenovic: We will not support SNSD’s initiative that may endanger RS (RTRS)
Sarovic, Milicevic and Crnadak oppose Dodik’s initiative for RS’ withdrawal from B&H AF, ITA, and HJPC (ATV)
Kovacevic: Opposition should realize importance of this moment for RS (ATV)
Osmanovic: Dodik will either succeed in becoming some sort of hero in the RS or he will be sanctioned (Nova BH)
Several MEPs ask for sanctions against RS, EC still needs to respond; EU Delegation calls on politicians to focus on reforms and EU accession (Oslobodjenje)
Komsic said the other day there will be no American sanctions during current fiscal year (Dnevni list)
Dodik claims RS has support of Russia in process of return to original DPA (Nezavisne)
RS law on non-application of Inzko’s decision banning genocide denial published in RS Official Gazette (N1)
SDP says it wants to stop brutal attacks on the state, will request meetings with Schmidt and Sattler (Dnevni list)
Decision on cancelling exercise of Serbian Army, B&H AF reached at working lunch in Vares at which Serbs, Croats were not invited and allegedly, Podzic, Komsic, Dzaferovic and Masovic attended (Glas Srpske)
Dzaferovic criticizes Dodik for taking part at summit in Belgrade; Kosarac responds: Dzaferovic uses political positions in order to cover up responsibility for war crimes (O Kanal)
Turkovic: Clear European prospects is key to security and stability of entire Western Balkans region (Hayat)
NATO Parliamentary Assembly holds annual session; Stoltenberg says NATO supports reform processes in B&H (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia

Milanovic tells troops: You are first of all Croatian Army, then Army within NATO (Hina)
Montenegro

Abazovic: Citizens should not be held hostage to the desire for positions (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev: An Albanian president will be elected when all citizens are ready to vote for him (Libertas)
Albania

Kim: We urge authorities to act on this and other recommendations of OSCE/ODIHR regarding 25 April election (Radio Tirana)
Morton: Fruitful discussion with Basha (Radio Tirana)