United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 14 July 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: We will inform Turkey, but I want people to know (TV Pink/B92)
Selakovic: Serbia supports values, goals of Non-Aligned Movement (Tanjug/RTS)
Selakovic thanks Kenya for principled position on non-recognition of Kosovo (RTV/Tanjug)
Serbian, Egyptian Ministries of Defense pen Memorandum of Cooperation (Beta)
Falconi: Continuity in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue important (Tanjug/RTV)
Cadez: EAEU trade deal does not block access to EU (Tanjug)
Srebrenica new condition for EU (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Tegeltija meets Borrell in Brussels, Borrell says there is no room in EU for deniers of genocide and verdicts of ICTY (Nova BH)
Dodik’s advisor Kovacevic: B&H does not have High Representative, so there is nobody to impose any law (Dnevni list)
Viskovic: Inzko’s home country itself committed genocide at the time, so he can take law banning genocide denial with him to his home country (Nova BH)
EU-B&H Stabilization and Association Council holds fourth meeting in Brussels (RTRS)
IAWG for Amendments to Election Law discusses need to shorten deadlines during election process (N1)
Milanovic says concrete solution on election of B&H Presidency members must be achieved by B&H political officials (FTV/AJB)
Izetbegovic on Milanovic’s visit: Arrogance and lack of respect for B&H, its institutions, its Capital City and Bosniaks (Hayat)
Cardinal Puljic: I do not understand international community’s weird moves, which persistently denies our survival and identity (Dnevni list)
Final conference of project ‘EU4Justice: Support to Fight against Organized Crime and Corruption in B&H’ held in Sarajevo (N1)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: 13 July is our bulwark against rewriting history and signpost for European future (CdM)
Erakovic: Bedrocks of Montenegro haven’t been shaken despite all that effort, money and propaganda (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev signals he will reject the VMRO-DPMNE resolution on Bulgaria, because it doesn’t include the name “North Macedonia” (Republika)
ID cards with country’s new name to be issued in several languages, ethnicity will not be included so far (Republika)

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: All messages at commemoration in Potocari, Srebrenica aimed to attack Serbia (TV Pink)
Vulin says no one has even tried to identify persons who attacked Vucic in Potocari (TV Pink)
Neu: There is attempt to present it as if Serb soldiers killed innocent civilians (Politika/Tanjug)
Selakovic: India great friend, important partner to Serbia (RTV/Beta)
Mihajlovic: Serbia, US partners in energy transition (Tanjug)
Dacic expects EP representatives to offer draft conclusions on inter-party dialogue (TV Happy/Beta)
Radic: Kosovo wants to create impression that it has armored corps (Beta)
Stano: Vucic and Kurti to meet on 19 July (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Bosniak politicians demand law banning denial of genocide (ATV)
Milanovic: Croat people in B&H unable to elect their member of B&H Presidency, B&H unimportant to EU (FTV)
Milanovic meets with Covic and other HNS representatives (FTV)
Dzaferovic: Milanovic attempts to deal with internal issues in B&H characterized by ignorance (Hayat)
Other B&H politicians comment on Milanovic’s statements and his visit to B&H (N1)
Radoncic: I agree with Konakovic, it is correct that Croats elect their legitimate representative into Presidency of B&H (Dnevni list)
Two-day session of IAWG starts on Monday; IAWG members discuss voter’s register, verification and running in elections, implementation of elections (Hayat)
Montenegro

Montenegro celebrates Statehood Day – 13 July (CdM)
Bugajski: Krivokapic took Vuksic to London to convince them that ANB won’t cooperate with Moscow (Pobjeda)
Djenovic: There are two versions of Fundamental Agreement (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia

Dimovski: No change in Bulgaria’s position toward Macedonia at least until October (Republika)
Albania

Xhacka: Slovenia, commitment to the integration of the Western Balkans (Radio Tirana)
Slovenian Ambassador to Albania Peter Japelj expresses optimism that Balkans will move towards the opening of negotiations (Radio Tirana)
Network of smuggling Albanians to US, UK dismantled (ADN)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 12 July 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: Belgrade-Pristina dialogue precondition for regional security (TV Pink/Tanjug/RTV)
Brnabic: Impossible to talk to Kurti (TV Prva//B92/Tanjug/RTS)
Bilcik, Dacic: Inter-Party dialogue talks were constructive (N1)
They got 22 years for murdering 3, 267 Serbs (Novosti)
Dveri to Orban: Show that you are Serbia’s sincere friend by withdrawing recognition of Kosovo’s independence (Beta)
Molina: Spain doesn’t recognize Kosovo because it adheres to international law (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Genocide in Srebrenica recognized through Resolutions in countries across the world, Serbia refuses to recognize it as genocide and calls it massacre (FTV)
Suljagic: Serbia is a regional representative of genocide denial (Nova BH)
Dzaferovic: Time has come to ban genocide denial; Izetbegovic: Denial of genocide and spiteful policy of regimes in Serbia and the RS have contributed to movement of world against such behavior (O kanal)
Inzko: Law on Denial of Genocide needs to be adopted by B&H officials (Nova BH)
Borrell and Varhelyi: We share grief of families of Srebrenica genocide victims and that of genocide survivors (O kanal)
Michel: We are united in our sorrow, but also hope (Dnevni avaz)
Sattler: 11 July should be mourning day in entire B&H (Dnevni avaz)
Erdogan: Turkey will never forget genocide in Srebrenica (BHT1)
Guterres: Denial of genocide and glorification of war criminals is unacceptable (Dnevni avaz)
Kennedy: Srebrenica happened before eyes of many who took vow to protect it, including USA, UK, France as well as UN leadership (Dnevni avaz)
Blinken: US remains strong partner of B&H on path of its democratic development and full Euro-integration (BHT1)
Nelson: What happened in Srebrenica 26 years ago is the fact that must not be forgotten, rejected or minimized (BHT1)
Raab: Srebrenica genocide was one of worst crimes in Europe after WW II (Nova BH)
Dodik criticizes Raab over statement regarding Srebrenica genocide (Nova BH)
Dodik: Marking of the events in Srebrenica is being misused in Sarajevo for political confrontations (RTRS/Srna)
Abazovic is visiting B&H, meets Turkovic, Dzaferovic and Komsic, confirm good-neighborly relations, express wish for bigger cooperation in all sectors (O kanal)
Interview with Abazovic (Nezavisne)
Dodik: Montenegrin delegation attending commemoration is attempt to strengthen position of Montenegro in region; Messages conveyed from Potocari are aimed to intimidate Serb people (ATV)
Srebrenica Municipal Assembly holds commemorative session for all war victims from Srebrenica; Bosniak representatives refuse to attend (BHT1)
Memorial service was held in Bratunac to mark deaths of 3,267 killed Serbs in Bratunac and Srebrenica villages in 1992; Montenegro MP Marko Milacic comments on resolutions on Srebrenica (RTRS)
Dzaferovic calls on Inzko to impose Law banning genocide denial; Reactions from RS officials (ATV)
One of discussions about changes to Law on Elections is about lowering the threshold for general elections (Glas Srpske)
SDA, SDP delegations meet to discuss SDP’s proposal for rationalization of FB&H (Dnevni list)
Niksic denies HNS accusations: SDP’s proposal is not aimed at abolition of cantons (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia

Milanovic: Croatia, for as long I am the president, will no longer yield to anyone and make concessions concerning rights of Croats in B&H (Vecernji list)
Schmidt addresses Dubrovnik Forum: EU membership of B&H should remain in political agenda (Hina)
Plenkovic: Croatia wants equality for Croats in B&H (N1)
European Committee of Regions (CoR) presents recommendations about B&H (Vecernji list)
Palmer on engagement of US in Western Balkans; Palmer: It is up to parties in B&H to reach compromise on electoral reform (HRT1)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: We rejoiced too early that retrograde ideas were buried together with Srebrenica misfortune (CdM)
Becic: Criminals are shells filled only with evil, neither God nor Allah is with them (CdM)
Abazovic: We’ll investigate responsibility of our people or politicians in bloody dissolution of Yugoslavia (CdM)
Rakocevic: Crisis can be solved only by new EU Govt (Dnevne novine)
Efendic hosted Abazovic and thanked him for the Resolution on the genocide in Srebrenica (Gov. Press service)
Cikotic to Abazovic: Your move is brave and beneficial in the long term (Gov. Press service)
Abazovic in Potocari (Gov. Press service)
Republic of North Macedonia

VMRO calls on SDSM and DUI to stop with their intrigues and support the joint resolution on Bulgaria (Republika)
Albania

The Economist Roundtable in Athens, Rama: We are moving ahead with the reforms and all the steps needed to reach the EU (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Stefanovic to Osmani: There is no border with Kosovo and Metohija (RTS/Tanjug)
Brnabic: I believe agreement on election conditions is possible (Beta)
Vucic tells MEPs every pragmatic suggestion is welcome (Beta)
MEPs: Dialogue tied to Serbia’s strategic choice (Blic/Beta)
Dacic: There will be progress in dialogue once Pristina is put under pressure (K1 TV/Tanjug)
Odalovic: The Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija is under international administration; Resolution 1244 is alive (RTS)
US: Outstanding Bytyqi case illustrates urgent need for Serbia to focus on rule of law (Beta)
Lutovac: If we cannot have free elections, then there is rebellion and disobedience (RTS/Beta)
CRTA: Authorities and opposition extremely unequal on prime time news (Beta)
Forum ‘Deconstruction of myths on co-existence in Sarajevo and Srebrenica genocide’ takes place in Belgrade; Dodik: More Serbs suffered in Sarajevo than Bosniaks in Srebrenica (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

State-level authorities in B&H did not declare 11 July as mourning day for Srebrenica victims this year; FB&H declares 11 July as mourning day in FB&H (N1)
Zvizdic: There is neither wish nor will in B&H CoM to declare Day of Mourning in B&H (O kanal)
Abazovic attends Genocide Denial and Right-Wing Narratives forum in Sarajevo (BHT1)
Dacic: It is not acceptable to condemn crimes committed against only one side (Srna/Nezavisne)
Uebber says German government proposed Schmidt for new HR in B&H because he is well familiar with situation in B&H (BHT1)
Dodik: Merging of offices of RS President and Serb member of B&H Presidency is good for RS because it would allow RS representative presence on international scene (Nezavisne)
Sarovic: Dodik’s wish to merge post of B&H Presidency member with RS President will not be fulfilled (FTV)
Zvizdic: Milanovic’s bypassing B&H institutions and B&H officials during his upcoming visit to B&H is deliberate provocation (O kanal)
US Ambassador publishes new blog post: It is time for a truly independent judiciary to hold corrupt actors accountable (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia

EP: Croatia meets all conditions to join Schengen (HRT)
Montenegro

Djukanovic to Palmer: Ruling powers change, but Montenegro will always be a reliable partner in preserving stability (CdM)
Becic: No alternative to dialogue if the EU is our top priority (CdM)
Szijjarto: Montenegro did everything to become EU member (Vijesti)
Republic of North Macedonia

Mickoski: So long there is VMRO-DPMNE, the Prespa Treaty will not be a done deal (Alfa TV)
Former US general Clark meets with Zaev and Ahmeti (Republika)
Albania

Rama makes an appeal to state Police: A 100-day deadline to find out and bring to justice all the infiltrators within the State Police, who cooperate with crime (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 8 July 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Orban explained, Vucic thanked him (B92/RTS/RTV/Tanjug)
Brnabic: Brussels agreement must be implemented, it has EU’s signature (Tanjug/RTS)
Brnabic: I respect our text (Novosti)
Petkovic: Discussions were not easy, we fought using arguments (Tanjug/RTS)
Lajcak: End of new round of Belgrade-Pristina technical dialogue (Beta)
Agreement with Eurasian Economic Union useful for Serbian companies (Beta)
MEPs’ goal for Serbia’s elections is to be fair, not boycotted by opposition (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Kosovo Assembly adopts Resolution on Srebrenica genocide; Comments (O kanal/RTRS)
Dodik instructs B&H Ambassadors from RS not to act upon Turkovic’s instruction to lower flags half-mast 11 July (ATV)
Tegeltija says Turkovic’s initiative to declare 11 July Mourning Day for Srebrenica victims submitted too late (Nova BH)
Heads of Municipalities and Mayors react to Inzko’s statement regarding removal of murals dedicated to Ratko Mladic (ATV)
Mektic: Inzko wasted 12 years doing nothing in B&H, he should not react to anything now (Nova BH)
Covic sends letter to Izetbegovic: Way we reached solution for Mostar is path to solve biggest chapter of EU path of B&H (N1)
Stevandic: Both Izetbegovic and Covic are dishonest, SDA advocates unitarism, deceives public and has bad intentions (Glas Srpske)
Croatia

Croatian Foreign Minister: Croatia speaks about need for electoral reform in B&H at all international forums (Hina)
Montenegro

Djukanovic to Palmer: Ruling powers change, but Montenegro will always be a reliable partner in preserving stability (CdM)
Kurti: Current demarcation unfair and wrong (Pobjeda)
DF: Anti-Serbian resolutions unite Djukanovic, Krivokapic, Becic, Kurti, Thaci and Haradinaj (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

VMRO-DPMNE’s resolution in parliament by Friday, Albanian parties still reserved (Republika)
Kumanovo attack trial: Attorneys acknowledge that the terrorists were in Divo Naselje, but claim they were duped into taking up arms (Republika/Balkaninsight)
Albania

Policemen and prosecutors arrested for international drug smuggling (Tirana Times)
Kim: "USA continues to support and work in partnership with you in your endeavor to build a more prosperous, secure, and democratic Albania" (Radio Tirana)
Soreca, and the ambassadors of other EU countries held a meeting with Basha (Radio Tirana)