United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 19 August 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic offers additional rewards for information about attack in Gorazdevac (Beta)
Irreplaceable role of UN Mission in Kosovo and Metohija (FoNet/RTV)
Selakovic visits Serbian peacekeepers in southern Lebanon (RTV/Tanjug/Beta)
Agreement on electoral conditions due in first half of September (Tanjug)
IDPs from Kosovo and Metohija still face entry restrictions (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Merkel meets HR Schmidt and expresses full supports to his work (AJB/Hayat/Oslobodjenje)
EU is not considering any sanctions against B&H politicians at the moment (Nezavisne)
Ivanic, Lukic argue former High Representatives worsened situation in B&H, Colo says OHR has never been part of problem in B&H (EuroBlic)
Patriarch Porfirije meets with leaders of all RS parliamentary parties (BN TV)
Kovacevic: Pressures aimed at disappearance of RS and Serbs from B&H are certainly issue for Serb Orthodox Church (Dnevni list)
SDS Presidency concludes that SDS does not support arrival of any HR in B&H (BN TV)
Covic: We need constitutional changes and amendments to Election Law (Dnevni list)
The dangerous Balkan standstill (Project Syndicate/Dnevni list)
Croatia

Indictment against a Serbian citizen for crimes in Glina (HRT)
Montenegro

The enthronement on 5 September, Porfirije to be welcomed in Podgorica (Pobjeda)
Kascelan to ambassadors: Preservation of peace is a priority, Joanikije’s enthronement should be carried out elsewhere (CdM)
Threats to Veljovic joined by a gusle player, a religious processions hero (Dnevne novine)
Niksic Mayor Marko Kovacevic questioned by prosecution for denying genocide in Srebrenica (MINA)
Republic of North Macedonia

Mickoski invites Levica to join forces in the municipal elections (Republika)
Zaev again insists on holding a census in September (Republika)
Majority of 450 Afghan civilians to arrive in the country by the end of the week (Republika)
Protest against the construction of a center for asylum seekers in Skopje (Republika)
Albania

Albania expecting 1000 Afghan refugees within week (ADN/El Periodico)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 18 August 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: We want the best possible relations with Montenegro (Beta)
EU: No specific meetings in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, only contacts on different levels (Beta)
Selakovic: Lebanese officials express principled support for Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty (RTV)
Office for Kosovo and Metohija: They are drawing targets on Serbs with messages from Pristina (RTV/Tanjug)
Appointment of Schmidt is illegal and illegitimate (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

B&H Presidency members Komsic and Dzaferovic hold session without Dodik, approve decision to hold ‘Quick Response’ exercise (BHT1/FTV)
Dodik’s cabinet: Komsic and Dzaferovic continue to degrade B&H Presidency and turn it into circus (RTRS)
Prosecutor’s Office of B&H confirms that it received criminal report against Dodik (BHT1)
Sarajevo politicians use wildfires in FB&H to blame RS, Dodik; Kovacevic: This is how they hide their incompetence (ATV)
Opposition leaders mostly agree that Dodik should give his consent for deployment of Armed Forces in firefighting operation (Glas Srpske)
Cvijanovic: It is obvious that Russia and China tried to bring order into procedures and manner of HR’s appointment in B&H (ATV)
SDP to Embassies of Russia and China: Respect the legitimacy of HR (Dnevni list)
B&H MPs comment Russia, China stances regarding appointment of HR Schmidt (Oslobodjenje)
RS CoP fails to harmonize views on invoking of protection of VNI in case of law on non-application of decision of HR and law on amendments to RS Criminal Code (RTRS)
HJPC confirms second instance disciplinary commission in procedure against Gordana Tadic did not make decision (RTRS)
Croatia

Croatian MEP: NATO has to understand its Afghanistan mistakes (Hina)
Montenegro

Krivokapic: I got the information about coup plot (CdM/Nova)
Fierce reactions from Montenegro to Drasko Stanivukovic’s statement (N1)
Dritan’s “new hope” denies Montenegrins (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Nikoloski: This will be the first election in which the government didn’t accept the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations over the Electoral Code (Republika)
Osmani: Turns out we need a political government in Sofia to negotiate with after all (Republika)
Macedonia and Turkey to sign agreement for military and financial cooperation (Republika)
Region praises Zaev, Kosovo and Albania’s readiness to accept refugees from Afghanistan (Republika/ANA-MPA/Documento)
Albania

Rama: An honor and duty for us to host the Afghan refugees, surprised by the rich countries (Tirana Times/The Guardian)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 17 August 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Pressure on Serbia to grow but we will always be with our people (Tanjug/RTV)
Petkovic: Only Serb List candidates have Belgrade’s support (RTS)
Dacic: We organized Afghanistan peace talks three times in Belgrade (TV Pink/Tanjug)
Serbian Foreign Ministry condemns relativization of Jasenovac crime (Tanjug/RTS)
Afghan refugee wave to reach Serbia only in a couple of months (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

B&H Presidency holds extraordinary session, calling on HR to get involved in resolving current situation regarding fires that are raging in B&H (Nova BH)
OHR: HR expects relevant domestic authorities to act within the scope of their responsibilities and address pressing needs of local communities in wildfire-affected areas (Nova BH)
Kovacevic: Two B&H Presidency members show that they are afraid of Serb unity (Srna/ATV)
Chinese Embassy to B&H: Chinese authorities do not accept Schmidt’s legitimacy as new HR (Dnevni avaz)
Dzaferovic in Buzim: Ideological and political followers of those who are the main organizers of genocide, interfere with our progress towards EU and NATO membership (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia

Grlic Radman: Everyone who is responsible should work on changes to Law on Elections (Vecernji list)
Plenkovic talks to Slovenian counterpart Jansa on the phone (HRT)
Foreign Ministry confirms eight Croats have been evacuated from Afghanistan (Hina)
Montenegro

Krivokapic, Abazovic and Becic to be ready to take responsibility (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

DUI party splits in its main stronghold of Kicevo, warns that a Macedonian could be elected Mayor instead of an Albanian (Republika)
Unable to withdraw its own citizens from Kabul, Macedonia offers to accept Afghan asylum seekers (Republika)
Albania

Albania: Protesters criticized Rama for being part of the Open Balkans project (ADN)
Preparations are being made to receive the Afghan nationals (Radio Tirana)
Xhacka: Albania is ready to receive the Afghan citizens, in collaboration with allies (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 16 August 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Those rocking Pristina in the cradle, will continue so (RTV/RTS/Tanjug)
Odalovic: Wherever the Americans were, they left that place, Pristina needs to thinks about that (RTS)
Mirovic says goal of activities related to Srebrenica is to guide political processes in certain direction (Novosti)
Governments of Serbia and RS are working as a team (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Merkel calls on Inzko and Schmidt for consultations on Wednesday and after that, she will meet with Putin (ATV)
Vulin: Serbia is against any kind of imposing of laws in B&H and against any kind of disrespect for Dayton Agreement (ATV)
Lukac and Vulin hold meeting with representatives of Serbs in FB&H; Vulin: As long as Vucic is President of Serbia, Belgrade's policy will be preservation of peace and stability in region (RTRS)
Experts say Moscow's diplomatic note stating that it does not accept Schmidt as new HR represents strong support to RS and commitment of RS institutions for respecting DPA (RTRS)
Embassy of Russian Federation in B&H issues diplomatic note officially stating that it does not accept Schmidt as new HR in B&H (FTV/N1)
Cubrilovic: Purpose of Inzko’s decision is to justify unitarization of B&H (Fena/Nezavisne)
Trivic: We remain to be opposition to SNSD and Dodik, but not to the RS (Oslobodjenje)
Dodik to Ambassador Nelson: Enough of your meddling in B&H (Srna/Nezavisne)
Prodanovic says current crisis is biggest since Dayton, argues part of international community bears responsibility for it (Glas Srpske)
RS MoI: Ministry did not issue an order for acting in accordance with the law imposed by Inzko (Srna)
Head of Jablanica Municipality announces that he will file criminal report against Dodik because he did not give consent for use of B&H AF helicopter in extinguishing fires (O Kanal)
B&H Presidency adopts conclusion tasking B&H Ministry of Security with using all mechanisms to ensure adequate response to current and future situations related to natural disasters, including wildfires (O kanal)
EUFOR replies to Komsic: EUFOR does not possess equipment for extinguishing of wildfires from air (BHT1)
Grlic Radman calls on Prosecutor’s Office of B&H to process war crimes against Croats (Dnevni list)
Croatia

Plenkovic: Repatriation of Croatians from Afghanistan organized (Hina)
Cavara: Bosniak political elites still have wartime goals; We do not place hopes on role of HR; HRs have made big damage to Croats so far (Slobodna Dalmacija)
Montenegro

Joanikije’s enthronement a final step in the occupation of Montenegro (Dnevne novine)
SDP seeks urgent session of Cetinje assembly: Joanikije’s enthronement should be cancelled (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Mickoski: VMRO-DPMNE to run for a convincing victory with many new names (Republika)
Macedonia’s government prepared to help US and accept Afghan civilians, says Zaev (Republika)
Albania

Open Balkans, EU reacts: We welcome the leaders’ commitments for regional cooperation (Radio Tirana)
American Department of State in favor of the Open Balkans initiative: Common Regional Market, essential for the progress of the Western Balkans! (Radio Tirana/VoA)
Open Balkans, Kurti strong messages to Tirana (Radio Tirana)
US government in talks with Tirana to shelter Afghani citizens (Tirana Times)
DP Chair calls for Albania helping Afghans fleeing Taliban (ADN)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 13 August 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Petkovic: Crime in Gorazdevac will not and must not be forgotten (RTS)
Patriarch sent a letter to Krivokapic (Tanjug)
Tanaskovic: Pristina has new tactic on Serbian heritage (Tanjug/RTS)
Twenty-one percent of Serbia’s youth has positive attitude toward EU (Beta)
Unity of Serb parties in the RS at test (Politika)
Even strong word kills Serbs’ (Novosti)
How will Bosniaks do without HR (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dodik: I would rather go to prison than admit that genocide took place in Srebrenica (BHT1)
Dodik: There are two preconditions for peaceful dissolution of B&H (RTRS/Sputnik)
Nelson: Washington is committed to DPA and territorial integrity of B&H; Inflammatory rhetoric that calls for divisions is unacceptable (AJB)
Becirovic sends message to Dodik: You should either respect Dayton Constitution or Constitution of B&H will be applied again (Dnevni list)
Milorad Dodik pens op-ed for RS, SR media (EuroBlic)
Wildfires break out near Jablanica; Support of AFBiH impossible due to blockade in B&H Presidency (Nova BH)
Politicians criticize Dodik’s behavior regarding wildfires in Herzegovina and use of B&H AF helicopter (O Kanal)
Linta calls on Serbia and RS to protect Savcic (Nezavisne)
Cavka: B&H should join ‘Open Balkan’ to avoid isolation (Dnevni list)
Kosor: There is impression that political motive stands behind launching of criminal procedures against Croatian Generals (Dnevni list)
Croatia

Plenkovic: No one can call legitimacy of operations Bljesak, Oluja into question (AJB/HRT)
Wartime commander reported for using Ustasha salute (Hina)
Resolving of Croat issue crucial for B&H (Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Konjevic tweets: Govt to adopt Census Law on 26 August (CdM)
Krivokapic establishes a party (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Xhaferi meets General Al-Issa (Republika)
Osmani-Byrnes: Macedonia and US enjoy strong and friendly bilateral ties (Republika)