LOCAL PRESS

Stankovic: They are dragging three municipalities into dialogue in vain (Novosti)
Dacic: I don’t believe EP will be objective (TV Vesti/RTV/Tanjug/FoNet)
Markovic Palma: No document about Egypt recognizing so-called Kosovo (FoNet)
Stano: Time to move forward on Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Tanjug)
CoE: Serbia makes some progress in rule of law, more to do (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dodik asks for special session of RS parliament regarding work of HR and OHR (BN TV)
RS officials react to Dodik’s request for special session (Nezavisne)
Appointment of Schmidt as HR is not done deal; Canada has their own candidate for post of new HR (Hayat)
Cvijanovic: Chances for coexistence are at lowest level (Glas Srpske)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: Those who oppose civil Montenegro and destroy the national identity will be held accountable for it (RTNK)
Republic of North Macedonia

Current government exhausted both politically and in terms of personnel, ministers with scandals, no projects, can’t endure the entire term (TV 24)
Selmani: Zaev made the offer for a broad government in haste (TV Telma)
Albania

US calls on party leaders: Select candidates don't have problems with the law (Radio Tirana)
Two largest parties submitted lists of their candidates for MPs in the 25 April elections. Strong changes made (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 8 March 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: West will demand that we recognize Kosovo (Tanjug/RTS/Politika/Novosti)
Selakovic: Fight against all forms of crime priority for government of Serbia (Tanjug/RTV)
Odalovic: Pristina needs to open archives (RTS)
Krivokapic: We would welcome Prime Minister Brnabic as the closest because we have no one closer than Serbia (Blic)
Palmer: Deal must be acceptable to both Belgrade and Pristina (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Sattler meets Izetbegovic, Covic and Dodik (Dnevni avaz)
Magazinovic says opposition must be included in process of changing of Election Law on B&H, says behavior of Ambassador Sattler is shocking (Dnevni avaz)
Mijatovic urges Sattler to include SDP B&H in talks on changes to Law on Elections of B&H (Dnevni list)
Joint Statement on Position of Returnees in RS and Srebrenica signed by Reis Kavazovic and representatives of pro-Bosnian political parties (Dnevni avaz)
Niksic explains he did not sign Statement on Position of Returnees in RS and Srebrenica for political reasons (Dnevni avaz)
Nesic, Stevandic claim goal of Statement of Srebrenica is to divert attention away from FB&H and to change constitutional structure of B&H (EuroBlic)
Schmidt’s appointment as new High Representative will be confirmed soon, he will take over office in June (Nezavisne)
RS parties and institutions reject initiative of Zvizdic to solve issue of non-prospective military property at B&H level (ATV)
Pahor points out importance of EU enlargement in Western Balkans (O kanal)
Vucic claims that changes of DPA are B&H’s internal issue and he does not want to interfere; Vucic dismisses possibility of RS seceding from B&H, claims that no one wants secession or creation of new states and it will not happen (Face TV)
Croatia

Mikulic criticizes Magazinovic over his statement on Ambassador Sattler (Jutarnji list)
Montenegro

We put an end to the Freedom of Religion Law, says Abazovic (CdM)
Niksic: Incident near Djukanovic’s house (CdM)
Russians won’t need visa to enter MNE (Dan)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev offered the opposition the possibility of forming a broad government (Sloboden pecat)

LOCAL PRESS

Selakovic: Neither side gets everything, both get enough (Politika/Tanjug/RTS)
Lajcak and Brnabic on implementation of agreed in Belgrade-Pristina talks (N1)
Lajcak: Both Belgrade and Pristina understand dialogue has no alternative (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Changes to B&H Election Law will not be agreed anytime soon because SDA and HDZ B&H’s completely opposite stances (Nezavisne)
Urgent, unannounced meeting of leaders of SDA, HDZ B&H and SNSD with Ambassadors Sattler and Nelson takes place; Izetbegovic satisfied with atmosphere of meeting and will of all attendees to create better atmosphere in B&H and to begin process of reforms (Nova BH)
New FB&H government has not been formed yet; Izetbegovic says current government reshuffle is necessary, opposition and HDZ B&H do not support this idea (BHT1)
Dzaferovic and Nelson discuss electoral, rule of law and economic reforms (Dnevni avaz)
Komsic with Schmidt: Electoral legislations of Germany and Croatia acceptable in B&H (Dnevni list)
Inzko sends letter to BPC authorities asking of annulling of decisions on removal of Milovic, Velic and Risljanin (Dnevni avaz)
B&H CoM adopts documents necessary for unblocking of delivery of vaccines through COVAX (BHT1)
Croatia

Freedom House: Croatia outscores the US in 2020 global freedom rankings (Hina/Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Krivokapic with Lajcak: This government has a chance to bring Montenegro to EU membership (RTCG)
Djukanovic meets Lajcak (CdM)
Djukanovic: Serbia persistently working to its detriment, sowing hatred towards everything Montenegrin (CdM)
Djukanovic: Montenegrin identity under attack (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

US reportedly rejected Zaev’s much criticized nomination of Ljubomir Frckoski as Ambassador to DC (Republika)
Albania

EP Draft Resolution on Albania: Elections, Fundamental for EU Integration (ADN)
President ready to resign if majority wins without manipulating votes (ADN)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 4 March 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Not everything for all and enough for everyone (Tanjug/RTS/Politika/Novosti/B92)
Selakovic: Long-term threat from Greater Albania (RTS/Tanjug/Politika)
Dacic and Braathu: Ready to continue constructive cooperation (Tanjug/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Vucic’s humanitarianism hurts many (EuroBlic)
Izetbegovic: Serbia's vaccine donation is a reciprocal gesture to B&H (N1)
‘Verlab’ says ‘AstraZeneca’ is considering lawsuit against B&H over latest statement given by B&H Minister of Foreign Affairs (N1)
Ambassador: B&H didn't respond to Russia's offer to sell FB&H entity vaccines (N1)
Interview with Slovenian President Pahor ahead of his visit to B&H (Dnevni avaz)
SDP and SDA enter battle with statements regarding FB&H government (Dnevni list)
SDA and HDZ B&H delegations to discuss Election Law and formation of FB&H government (Nezavisne/FTV)
Russian Ambassador proposes B&H’s inclusion in ‘Russia – Islamic World’ group (N1)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: Renunciation of anti-fascism recommended by those who want Montenegro to finally renounce its identity (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev calls for a vote of confidence in his government (Republika)
Triumph or escape from the end – confidence, but not people’s trust (Republika/Sitel TV)
Albania

Kurti on official visit in Tirana, meets with the candidate of VV (Radio Tirana)
Meta-Kurti share views on strengthening Albania-Kosovo coop (ADN)
DP Chair discusses Albania, Kosovo’s challenges with Kurti (ADN)
Freedom House: Albania less free in 2020, continues to be partly free (Tirana Times)

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: Serbia expects clearer guidelines in new EU methodology (Tanjug)
Patriarch Porfirije: Kosovo is not only a geopolitical issue for us but also an identity issue (RTS)
Germany honestly supports Western Balkans’ European perspective (Beta/N1)
Selakovic: German support important for Serbia (RTS/Beta/Süddeutsche Zeitung)
Djilas: Inter-party dialogue last chance, if fails protests follow (Newsmax Adria)
Serbia’s opposition to unite in preparing for election control (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Vucic visits Sarajevo, hands over 10,000 doses of ‘AstraZeneca’ vaccine against COVID-19 to B&H Presidency members (RTRS)
Turkovic: Vaccine donated by Serbia does not have license to be used in Europe; Reactions (Hayat)
Osmanovic: There is no chance for serious issue such are changes of Election Law to be solved without serious participation of IC (Oslobodjenje)
Montenegro

No one will influence the election process in Niksic (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Constitutional Court faces difficult decisions, set to discuss “North” and the Law on Languages (Republika)
Zaev announces a major anti-corruption plan, but puts the blame solely on the opposition (Republika)
Albania

Citizens urged to refrain from violence in election (ADN/Euronews)
Meta: I will resign if Rama will win elections to be in charge of the opposition (Tirana Times/News 24 TV)
Balla: In the coming days the EP will ask the Council to set the date of the First Intergovernmental Conference (Radio Tirana)