United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 30 March 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Drecun: Military base and exercise threatens security of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija (RTV/Tanjug)
Petkovic: Dangerous announcement of construction of KSF base in northern Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV)
Cooperation with National Convention on EU on Sustainable Development (Tanjug)
Presevo, no list able to form government on its own (RTS)
Milivojevic: Elections without opposition represent defeat for SNS (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Coalition for Free and Fair Elections ‘Pod Lupom’ hosts online conference on 2021 electoral reform; Sattler says country cannot let itself implement next elections under current system (BN TV)
Dodik: Proposed change to Election Law contribute to strengthening of RS; Cvijanovic welcomes initiative; Other reactions (RTRS)
Zvizdic: Time will tell whether statement of Russian Ambassador can be brought in connection with vaccines (Oslobodjenje)
Dodik criticizes EU due to failure to deliver vaccines through COVAX (Nova BH)
Vucic: Serbia cannot be successful if people in the region are not vaccinated (Nova BH)
Nelson and Inzko warn: There is intention to impose direct political control over ZDC Police (Dnevni avaz)
On political influence on police in FB&H (Dnevni avaz)
Montenegro

Leposavic: I won’t resign, I didn’t deny Srebrenica genocide (Government of Montenegro)
Government: We respect the Declaration on Srebrenica, stop politicking and manipulating the victims (Government of Montenegro)
EU condemns denial of Srebrenica genocide (RTCG)
German Ambassador: I’m worried about path Montenegro is taking (CdM)
Injac: Rise of extremism not good for Montenegro (Dan)
Bishop Bojovic: CPC cherishes no hatred for anyone (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Mickoski got Zaev to postpone his “corona census” for September (Republika)
Xhaferi opposes agreement to postpone census (Republika)
Albanian opposition leaders denounce decision to postpone the census (Republika)
Albania

Electoral College decides: DP with 69 candidates less in April elections (ADN)
Kim: Do not sell your right. Do not surrender your power to criminals. Only you have to choose your future (Radio Tirana)
Kim-Soreca: Cooperation in support of Albania is stronger than ever (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 29 March 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: Resolution speaks about EP (TV Happy/RTV/FoNet)
Vucic on EP Report: Blatant lies, lost in time and space (Beta/RTS/Politika)
Petkovic: Dangerous intentions of Kurti to end dialogue (Tanjug/RTV/RTS)
Joksimovic: Serbia examines responsibly opinions from EP Resolution (Tanjug)
Opposition parties favor joining forces in dialogue on election conditions (Beta)
Preliminary results of the local elections in Presevo, Zajecar and Kosjeric (Nova.rs)
SNS declares victory in local vote in two towns in Serbia; Analyst: SNS’ fall (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dodik: Europe does not want joining of this region (Nezavisne)
Dodik proposes change to Election Law which unifies post of RS President and Serb member of B&H Presidency; Opposition strongly criticizes initiative (BN TV)
Kalabukhov claims Bosniaks are still searching for their national identity, singles out OHR as main reason for current situation which resembles suffering (Face TV)
Sattler: For the EU, Western Balkans is strategic part of Europe (Oslobodjenje)
Brod Refinery connected to gas network in Croatia; Dzaferovic, Komsic claim project violates B&H’s sovereignty (N1)
Large number of B&H citizens travelled to Serbia to get vaccinated (FTV)
Zvizdic: Vucic’s visit and donations of vaccines to B&H represent efforts to present himself as a benefactor in the region (ATV)
Croatia

B&H gives up on Turk-Russian Stream, gas pipeline with Republic of Croatia priority (Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Leposavic doesn’t acknowledge Srebrenica genocide and disputes Hague Tribunal legitimacy (CdM)
Leposavic’s statement ‘dangerous and upsetting’, political parties seek his resignation (CdM)
Djukanovic: As long as there’re ideologies denying committed crimes, danger from new losses won’t cease (CdM)
Suljagic: Open Bosniaks hunting in Montenegro (Pobjeda)
US and UK Embassies: Krivokapic’s government to call the massacre what it was – genocide (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

North Macedonia announces greater participation in KFOR mission (MIA)
Albania

Rama calls on Albanians in North Macedonia to take part in the census (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: We are ready for dialogue with Pristina, but never for blackmail and threats (Tanjug/RTS)
Vucic appreciative of China’s consistent stance regarding respect of Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty (Tanjug)
Normalization with Pristina, respect of laws key - EP report (Tanjug/RTS/Beta)
Selakovic: Von Kramon against Serbia (Politika/Tanjug/RTS)
Bilcik: Serbia has to achieve progress in several areas (Beta)
Vulin: Kosovo cannot be a member of any international organization (Tanjug)
Lajcak: Vucic and Kurti meeting may happen soon (RFE/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Kalabukhov: B&H and NATO getting closer (Dnevni list/RTRS)
SDA sends yet another reply to Embassy of Russia to B&H and says NATO is defense alliance and not aggressor (Glas Srpske)
Komsic: We chose NATO with consensus and for several consecutive years (Hayat)
Brkic: B&H is ready to contribute to security and stability (Oslobodjenje)
Working Group of representatives of SNSD, HDZ B&H and SDA meets (Glas Srpske)
Dodik: I advocate agreement among Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats but dissolution of B&H remains last option if all other alternatives fail (Glas Srpske/TRT)
Chinese Ambassador to B&H Ji Ping; Solidarity and cooperation are most powerful weapons (Nezavisne)
US to introduce sanctions to all individuals, companies and organizations from B&H which in any way take part in Russian gas projects ‘Nord Stream’ and ‘TurkStream’ (Dnevni avaz)
One and a half years after Priebe’s report, his recommendations are still not implemented (Nezavisne)
Croatia

EP: Albania, N. Macedonia and Kosovo making progress towards membership (Hina)
Energoinvest’ company signs annex with Russian ‘Gazprom’ company, which undermines South Interconnection of Gas Network (Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Krivokapic: DPS shows by its actions that Montenegro has no greater enemy than themselves (RTCG)
Health and openness of Montenegro to the region are priority (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia

Another Albanian protest over the 2012 Good Friday massacre sentencing planned for today (Republika)
No obstacle for Macedonian citizens to get vaccinated in Serbia if they receive proper confirmation, says Health Ministry (Republika/SDK.mk)
Albania

DP gathers hundreds of supporters at opening of electoral campaign amid pandemic (ADN)
Premier attacks DP’s electoral campaign for mass gathering amid pandemic (ADN)
OSCE supports the CEC Head Celibashi, who asked parties and institutions to show restraint during election campaign (Radio Tirana)
Statement by Head of EU Delegation and Heads of EU Member States Missions to Albania on the 25 April parliamentary elections (Radio Tirana)
Rama sends congratulatory letter to Kurti (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 25 March 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Academy on occasion of the Day of Remembrance of victims of NATO aggression (RTS)
Vucic: Crime bigger than all crimes happened in spring of 1999 (Tanjug)
Vucic meets with UN’s Yamashita (Tanjug/Politika/Novosti)
Petkovic: Kurti announced end to dialogue, inadmissible for negotiations to be based on Pristina’s ultimatums (RTS/RTV/Tanjug)
Djuric: Kurti announced end to Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Tanjug/RTV)
Dacic: I don’t know when inter-party dialogue will begin (TV Pink/Beta)
SPC: Draft law on same-sex unions unacceptable (FoNet/RTV)
Schieb: Media freedom and NGOs crucial for democracy in Serbia (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Serbs have right to peaceful united Serb nation in this area (Srna)
Cubrilovic: Prove that NATO committed crime (Srna)
Croatia

Grlic Radman: B&H deserves European perspective, Croatia is its strongest advocator, non-paper is good basis for discussion (Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Krivokapic on the occasion of NATO bombing anniversary: We remember our victims with sadness (RTCG)
Secret CIA data reach Moscow (Pobjeda)
Montenegro is a credible partner of the European Union (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev says he may try to declare a state of emergency to get out of the parliamentary gridlock (Republika)
Macedonian chamber of commerce secures a major quantity of vaccines from Serbia (Republika)
Albania

Rama recalled the 22nd anniversary of NATO bombing of Belgrade to save Kosovo (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Russia Warns NATO Aggression Must 'Never Be Repeated' as U.S. Rallies Alliance (Newsweek)

LOCAL PRESS

Decision to bomb for the first time in history without approval of UN Security Council (RTS)
Vucic: Our obligation is to forgive, but to never forget; Kurti’s message to Serbs clear (Tanjug/RTV)
Office: Shameful sentence to Krstic, victim of political persecution from Pristina (RTS)
Serbian parliament committee rejects complaints of offensive language (Beta)
North Macedonia journalists vaccinated in southern Serbia (FoNet)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Russian Embassy to B&H: Russia has no intention of interfering in internal affairs of B&H (N1)
Novakovic-Bursac, Kovacevic claim there is no path to NATO, only cooperation with NATO; Borenovic argues B&H Presidency members cemented path to NATO in 2019 by delivering Program of Reforms to Brussels (EuroBlic)
Covic: Issue of Election Law is crucial, FB&H government depends on it (Dnevni avaz)
OHR, US Embassy to B&H warn of danger of rhetoric after Cvitanovic’ statement on Election Law (FTV)
Blinken’s visit to Brussels might open door to appointment of Schmidt as new High Representative (Nezavisne)
Vulic: Turkovic’s only unhidden goal is unitary B&H and that all Serbs and Croats move out from B&H (ATV)
Bosniak officials talk about civic state to cover up their true intention of establishing Islamic state in territory of B&H (Glas Srpske)
Serbia donates ventilators to the RS; Vucic: RS can always count on Serbia; Dodik: Serbia showed its leadership skills, within the country and in the region (RTRS)
Croatia

Pro-Bosniak parties want to push their Croat candidate into CEC (Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Djukanovic’s advisor: Maslennikov reiterated everything we could already hear from Russian hawks (CdM/Vijesti)
High Prosecutor’s Office is checking on disclosure of classified information (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Mickoski demands census postponement (Republika)
Micevski: SDSM-DUI coalition is weak, new stable parliamentary majority is needed (TV 24)
Albania

EU financially supports Albania in the fight against organized crime (Radio Tirana)