LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: Kurti’s letter to UNESCO culmination of hypocrisy and cynicism (RTS)
Serbian Ambassador in UNESCO: Serbian assets in Kosovo and Metohija endangered (RTS)
Petkovic: At issue is a hypocritical way of acting and deception of international community (RTS)
Belgrade sees Beijing as one of the main allies in fight for Kosovo (Beta)
Godfrey says solutions for Western Balkans must come from Western Balkans (Politika)
Mexico respects Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and acts in those positions as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Inzko sends letter to Brnabic and Viskovic expressing opposition to planned construction of ‘Buk Bijela’ Hydropower Plant (Glas Srpske)
Cvijanovic: If political representatives of Bosniak people were interested in B&H's future, they would do something to secure it (ATV)
SDA Presidency calls on international community to impose sanctions against Dodik (Hayat)
‘Immediate Response 21’; Nelson: US is proud of B&H’s progress and remains committed to being strong partner on its Euro-Atlantic path (O kanal)
Komsic reveals that Dodik requested to meet US Army general in charge of NATO exercise in B&H alone (Face TV)
Conference ‘Integrity of Electoral Process in B&H’ held in Sarajevo (N1)
Komsic claims that Sattler and other foreign officials adopted wrong approach by holding talks on changes of Law on Elections solely between two political leaders (Face TV)
It is clear there will be no changes to Law on Elections, wonders if 2022 elections will be held at all (Dnevni list)
DNS and SNS sign agreement on joint participation in 2022 General Election (BN TV)
Reactions to Israel-Palestine Conflict (Hayat/N1/Oslobodjenje)
SDP: Grlic Radman’s visit to Stolac was full of diplomatic scandals, Croatian officials should issue apology to B&H citizens (Nova BH)
Croatia

Croatia marks 29 Years of UN Membership (Hina)
Montenegro

Abazovic on prosecutorial laws: Djukanovic not ready for justice, he is unnecessarily delaying his work (CdM)
Lajcak: Western Balkans is geostrategic priority for EU but accession is merit-based process (MINA)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev: I am not afraid of Greater Albania, we are a NATO member, but I can’t say “no” with certainty (MIA/Kurir)
Mickoski: Albanian parties will receive VMRO-DPMNE support in the local elections only if they respect the Macedonians (Republika/Fokus)
Albania

EU foreign ministers in Tirana, meeting with Xhacka: June is the right time to start negotiations with Albania! (Radio Tirana)
Soreca: Albania closer than ever to opening negotiations with the EU (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 21 May 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: We will have a lot of problems regarding Kosovo. I’m afraid it will start these days (Tanjug/Beta/RTS/B92)
Artifacts from Kosovo and Metohija part of cultural and historical heritage of Serbia (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
Selakovic: Serbia committed to respecting ideas of multilateralism, cooperation (Tanjug/RTV)
Serbian Ambassador to Poland revoked (B92)
Dacic: Not realistic for KFOR Mission to end by UN decision (TV Happy/Beta)
Opposition: Let us unite ahead of 5 October (Beta)
Gas interconnector Serbia-Bulgaria for greater energy security (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

International community will not change its stances and priorities for B&H, new HR Schmidt probably to be appointed in June (Nezavisne)
Nelson visits Banja Luka: B&H needs reforms (RTRS)
SDA: International experts must be involved in negotiations about Law on Elections (Dnevni list)
‘Immediate Response 21’ continues; Komsic to attend part of exercise on Saturday, Dodik’s cabinet informs that Dodik will not attend it (N1/Oslobodjenje)
Podzic: ‘Immediate Response’ exercise proves that B&H is constructive member of Euro-Atlantic community (Nezavisne)
Sattler: Recovery must be based on truth and justice, work of Srebrenica Memorial Center is crucial for this process (Nezavisne)
Croatia

Time is running out, three people must reach agreement (Vecernji list)
Milanovic says Bulgaria is setting unrealistic conditions for N. Macedonia (HRT)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: Montenegrin state foundation reliable, it is to withstand temptation it is going through now (RTCG)
Why Djukanovic returned Law on State Prosecutor’s Office to parliament (CdM)
Krivokapic: No revanchism, Montenegro has no future with Djukanovic (Gov. Press service)
Fejzic calls on MPs to vote for Resolution on Srebrenica Genocide (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

North Macedonia’s PM: EU leaves room for Russia & China by blocking Balkans (MIA)
EU's proposal for resolving Bulgaria’s veto on North Macedonia (MIA)
Zaharieva on Silva and Varhely’s visit: Proposal does not meet Bulgaria’s framework position (Republika)
Osmani-Angelov: Bulgaria remains open to pragmatic dialogue with Macedonia (Republika)
Zaev-Silvestri: Italy expresses strong support for Macedonia’s EU perspectives (Republika)
Osmani considers June as optimal chance for Bulgaria to remove veto on start of EU talks (Republika)
Albania

Berisha intends to sue Blinken for defamation (Tirana Times)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Kurti is not in a position to force anything on me (B92/Tanjug/RTS/Politika)
Selakovic: Government to discuss dismissal of Ambassador Zurovac today (TV Kurir)
Belgrade summons its Warsaw envoy for supporting Polish LGBT community (Blic/Politika/N1)
Lutovac: Vucic deceives Serbian citizens once again (Beta)
Zeman: I advised Vucic not to yield to pressure (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Tegeltija holds meeting with EU officials; Tegeltija expects B&H to get status of EU candidate country soon (RTRS)
Everyone hinders reforms, yet they always blame others (EuroBlic)
Inter-Agency Working Group for Electoral Reform fails to adopt RoP (FTV)
B&H officials, analysts believe B&H should not rush with recognizing of Kosovo, they are pessimistic that internal consensus on this issue is possible (Oslobodjenje)
Sattler, Ambassadors of Austria, Slovenia, Netherlands and Germany open Archive of Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Center (Hayat)
Croatia

Local elections main topic in Croatian parliament (Hina)
Milanovic comments on outcome of local elections, sources of parties’ funding (Hina)
Inzko: Instead of ‘Greater’ Serbia, B&H and Croatia, organize things like in Tyrol (Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: I did not talk to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (CdM)
Djukanovic won’t sign prosecutorial laws (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Bulgaria formally protests move by Milanovic to side with Macedonia in the historic dispute (Republika)
Albania

Kim: Position on Meta is the official Washington one (Tirana Times)
Soreca about elections and accusations of electoral crimes (Radio Tirana)
Sali Berisha and family blacklisted by US State Department (Tirana Times)
DP’s Chair seeks transparency on documents related to Berisha’s US ban (ADN)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 19 May 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: EU frustrated over dialogue postponement with Pristina (Tanjug/RTS)
A thing that can shake hard-won regional stability (B92/Tanjug)
Vucic: Serbia wants to join EU, Kosovo issue major problem (Tanjug/Radio Plus)
Vucic: Great political success of Serbia over past several days (Politika)
Godfrey: Economic relations between Serbia, US a strong aspect of bilateral relations (Beta)
Selakovic: Pristina’s request on Visoki Decani speaks enough about their intentions (Tanjug/RTV)
UK increases troops within KFOR (Tanjug)
Popovic and Kosachov: Unacceptable withdrawal of KFOR, Russia continued to offer support to Serbia regarding Kosovo and Metohija (RTV/Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Borrell hosts working dinner with Western Balkans leaders; Tegeltija; B&H's European path and obtaining EU candidate status was topic of meeting (O kanal)
Lovrinovic: SDA is constantly deceiving public that HDZ B&H wants divisions (Dnevni list)
Russia fully supports principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of B&H, equality of three state-building peoples and two entities with broad constitutional powers (RTRS)
SDP B&H hosts meeting of pro-Bosnian parties that plan to take part in general elections in RS in 2022; Reactions (N1/FTV/Nova BH)
RS representatives do not expect bloc of political parties with seat in Sarajevo will achieve any major results in upcoming elections (EuroBlic)
Salkic: What Vucic is saying about respect of territorial integrity and sovereignty of B&H is entirely different in practice (Hayat)
Croatia

Croatian FM condemns Hamas attacks, says he supports Israel’s right to defense (Hina)
Montenegro

Djukanovic in Brussels: Parliament makes decision on deploying soldiers in Kosovo mission (CdM)
Djukanovic: We’re further from EU today than in 2014 (CdM)
Djukanovic: I’ll decide whether or not to sign the Law on State Prosecutor’s Office (CdM)
Picula: Peaceful transition hasn’t strengthened dialogue (Pobjeda)
Abazovic: Prosecution reform is condition for EU membership, as well as for a strong fight against corruption and organized crime (Gov. Press service)
Republic of North Macedonia

Ahmeti – Galloway: Relations in the coalition are stable (Republika)
Kyuchyuk: It will be very bad if Macedonia and Albania are decoupled (Sitel TV/Republika)
Albania

President urges parliament to terminate inquiry committee (ADN)
Albania-Kosovo intensify defense co-operation, Peleshi: Balkans in NATO, guarantee of stability (Radio Tirana)
Slovenian PM to Meta: Internal reforms will accelerate Albania's integration process (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Zeman: I apologize for the 1999 bombing and ask the Serb people for forgiveness (RTS/B92/Beta/FoNet)
Vucic: Borders should not be changed, in accordance with the rules established by the United Nations (Tanjug/B92/RTS)
Vucic after the meeting with Stoltenberg: KFOR remains on Kosovo and Metohija (B92/Tanjug/RTS)
Vucic, Lajcak: Serbia ready to continue dialogue with Pristina (Tanjug/RTS)
Lajcak: I appreciate having talks with Vucic (N1)
Borrel expects Western Balkan leaders to explain political developments in the region (Beta)
Dacic: Important for UNMIK, KFOR to remain in Kosovo and Metohija (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Inzko on ‘Buk Bijela’ project: Foreign investments are welcome in B&H, but they have to be in line with B&H laws (Nova BH)
Istocno Sarajevo: RS, Serbian governments hold joint session; Brnabic: Serbia will invest EUR 787 million in the RS (RTRS)
Zvizdic: Serbian government’s neglecting attitude is result on non-functional Council of Ministers (Dnevni list)
Leaders of Brdo-Brijuni Process adopt joint declaration which says that EU needs to become more actively involved in Western Balkans and encourage countries to meet conditions for membership as soon as possible (Nova BH/N1)
B&H Presidency members without joint stance at summit of Brdo-Brijuni Process (BHT1)
Dodik: EU enlargement is key issue that does not depend on B&H; There is significant number of EU member states that oppose enlargement (RTRS)
Dodik: PDP, SDS brings so many problems to RS during their rule at B&H level, cleaning this mess is not easy; PDP’s Ivanic brings US soldiers on Manjaca with his decision (RTRS/Nezavisne)
Croatia

Croatian army company sent to serve as part of KFOR in Kosovo (Hina)
Montenegro

Abazovic thanks VC president and Varhely (CdM)
DPS to boycott parliament in coming days (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev: The next parliamentary elections will be held in 2024 and there will be no early elections (MTV/Republika)
Pendarovski: Historical issues have nothing to do with the EU integration process (Republika)
Milanovic: What is being done to Macedonia is trespassing, it shouldn’t be allowed (Republika)
Albania

"Albania-US Extradition Treaty" approved / Gjonaj: The most effective cooperation in the fight against crime is guaranteed (Radio Tirana)