LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: We won't let them steal the will of people. Elections are as clean as a tear (TV Pink)
• Petkovic: Kurti trying to shift blame for failure of dialogue on Belgrade (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Dacic: Regardless of protests Serbia's position on state issues will be firm (TV Prva)
• EC for N1: Complaints of election irregularities need to be properly investigated (N1)
• CoE envoy to visit Belgrade over serious election irregularities (Beta)
• Students hold protest, demand opening of voter registry, repeat of elections (N1)
• Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government: Voter registry is open (Beta/Politika)
• Zakharova: West attempting to “maidanize” protest in Belgrade, incompetent in solving Kosovo situation (Beta)
• So-called Kosovo police are again searching building near Leposavic (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H MPs meet with B&H CEC representatives; HDZ B&H and SNSD against SDA’s proposal of changes to B&H Election Law (N1)
• Kovacevic: Schmidt does not have the possibility to impose anything, citizens elected their representatives, and we know what we need to do to protect their interest (RTRS)
• Dodik: RS will not nominate or appoint B&H CC judges (RTRS)
• Dodik: Property is red line that will not be crossed (RTRS)
• Vulin appointed RS Senator (RTRS)
• SDA Presidency adopts six conclusions; Izetbegovic urges Ambassador Murphy to present proof for his recent claims on him, says Dodik must be prevented from undermining constitutional order in B&H (Klix.ba)
• Interview with Commander of NATO HQ Sarajevo, Brigadier General Pamela McGaha; NATO cares for permanent peace in the Balkans; NATO will not allow security vacuum in B&H or Western Balkans (Oslobodjenje)
• Russian Embassy issues statement reacting to interview with NATO HQ Commander McGaha: NATO is not interested in permanent peace (Oslobodjenje)
Montenegro
• Knezevic: Referendum on independence of Montenegro stolen (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovachevski: Political parties to meet legal requirements over caretaker government (MIA)
• Xhaferi: New parliament speaker by 20 January (MIA)
• Xhaferi: SEC in charge of administering elections, will have my full support (MIA)
Albania
• Balluku: The national strategy for combating money laundering will be ready within the first half of 2024 (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Repeating elections at several polling stations cannot significantly change results (Beta/Tanjug/RTV/RTS)
• Stano: EU waiting for Kosovo to abolish stickers on Serbian licence plates (Beta)
• Dacic: All politicians have high level of responsibility not to incite violence (Tanjug/RTV)
• Nestorovic: Both government and opposition working against state interests (N1/NSPM/Beta)
• Serbia Against Violence will not run in Saturday's partial repeat elections (Tanjug/RTV)
• ProGlas calls for new elections to be held in six months, invites citizens to peaceful protests on 30 December (Beta/N1)
• Aleksic: Police detaining opposition members involved in protests (Nova/N1)
• EU: Violence at protests in Serbia unacceptable, investigate elections irregularities (VoA/Beta/RTV)
• Ninth protest over alleged election fraud held in Belgrade (Beta/N1)
• Suspects for chaos in Belgrade interrogated: Seven pleaded guilty (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Stevandic sends letter to foreign judges in B&H CC calling them to resign (RTRS/Klix.ba)
• Cvijanovic: Legitimacy of B&H CC ends with retirement of Zlatko Knezevic (RTRS)
• Dodik: We shall never accept to abolish autonomy of the RS, to hand over property and some competencies, to form ministry of agriculture at B&H level (TV Una/Oslobodjenje)
• RS MoI continues preparations for marking of RS Day (ATV)
Montenegro
• Krapovic: Events in the Morinj camp were not a consequence of Greater-Serbia aggression, but the war in Yugoslavia (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Xhaferi: SEC in charge of administering elections, will have my full support (MIA)
Albania
• Parliament of Albania: There is no loss of data from the cyber-attack; We are working on full recovery! (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: SPN demands release of "thugs" they previously claimed were "inserted elements" (Tanjug/RTV)
• Serbian government passed decision on free movement of all vehicles from Kosovo and Metohija (RTS/Tanjug)
• Aleksic: By accepting Kosovo license plates, Vucic proved willingness to cling to power at any cost (Beta/FoNet/NSPM)
• Dacic: Security situation stable, we will continue to protect constitutional order (Tanjug/Politika)
• Unified Voters’ Record one of most up-to-date records in Serbia (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Higher Court in Belgrade upholds decision by city electoral commission (Tanjug)
• Tepic on protests: The intent was to address citizens from the City Hall balcony (N1)
• Milivojevic: Riots caused by hooligans from Serbian government’s recruitment center (Beta)
• US State Department: Authorities in Serbia should investigate OSCE allegations about elections (VoA/Beta)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Vucic possesses evidence that the West is behind protests in Belgrade (Beta/RIA Novosti)
• Nestorovic: We will not join any coalitions, protest was not Maidan attempt (Sputnik Serbia/Beta)
• Eighth protest over alleged election fraud in front of RIK seat in Belgrade (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Nesic: Serbian opposition promotes violence (Dnevni avaz)
• Kovacevic: Events in Belgrade are worrisome (ATV)
• Stevandic: Connection between events in B&H and events in Belgrade on Sunday can be found (ATV)
• Marking 9 January as RS Day again becomes top political topic in B&H; HR says celebration is crime, calls on prosecutor’s office and police to react (O Kanal)
• Dodik threatens to arrest Schmidt, claims activities of Prosecutor’s Office will be banned in the RS if they attempt to intervene in 9 January celebrations (Nova BH)
• Medvedev congratulates holidays to Dodik (RTRS)
• Dodik: RS will not appoint new judges in B&H CC until foreign judges are removed (RTRS)
• Dodik: We preserved the RS, its institutions and is economy; I would prefer the RS to leave B&H as soon as the opportunity arises (Banjaluka.net/RTRS)
• Salkic: Dodik’s continuity of approach throughout history to impose a lie as truth on the rest of the world by persistently repeating lies is doomed to failure (Klix.ba)
Montenegro
• Koprivica - Herasymenko: Montenegro firmly stands by Ukraine (CdM)
• The relations between Montenegro and B&H are friendly (CdM)
• Knezevic: We strive to reconcile Serbs and Montenegrins and equate the Serbian with Montenegrin language after the census (RTCG)
• Uljarevic: Mandic the actual leader of parliamentary majority, For the Future of Montenegro wants to enter govt asap (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• North Macedonia to become EU member by 2030 with pro-European coalition and gov’t, says PM (Civil Media/MIA)
• Kovachevski: Discussions on election coalitions ongoing (MIA)
• Alliance for Albanians yet to decide on coalition ahead of elections, says Aliu (MIA)
• Opposition coalition of ethnic Albanian parties threatens to boycott parliament if no SEC member by 31 December (MIA)
• Ahmeti: Europe is country's future, Balkan countries to step forward together (MIA)
Albania
• Opening of the first chapters - EC confirms the process, but removes the deadline (Public TV/Radio Tirana)
• Albania-Italy agreement/ Minister Tajani in Tirana, meeting with Rama (Radio Tirana)
• Gonzato meets Dumani: Full EU support for an independent and efficient SPAK (Radio Tirana)
• Manja hosts Gonzato: Support from the EU's best anti-corruption expertise (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 20 December 2023

LOCAL PRESS

• Petkovic: Banjska resort raid part of plan to ethnically cleanse Serbs (Tanjug/RTV/Politika)
• Serb List condemns police incursion into Rajska Banja complex (Tanjug)
• Second citizens’ protest starts in front of electoral commission in Belgrade (Beta)
• Tepic: We won’t give up until the Belgrade elections are annulled as well as the parliamentary elections in Belgrade (RTS)
• Stefanovic: Over 40,000 voters without any legal basis to vote bussed into Belgrade to vote (N1)
• Nestorovic: We won't form coalition with "Serbia against violence" (Novosti)
• Kamberi: Political struggle of Albanians from Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja will continue (bujanovacke.rs/Beta)
• US calls for investigation into election fraud claims (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Schmidt sends last warning to B&H authorities to swiftly change Election Law (Hayat)
• Troika: Schmidt’s announcement is final warning (Avaz)
• Main hearing in case against Dodik and Lukic for disobeying Schmidt’s decisions to be held before Court of B&H on Wednesday (RTRS)
Montenegro
• Montenegrin parliament session – highlights (CdM)
• Irena Radovic officially took over as the new governor of CBM (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Annual parliament address of President Stevo Pendarovski (MIA)
• No coalition with VMRO-DPMNE unless country heads down EU path, says Alliance for Albanians leader (Sloboden Pechat)
Albania
• Spiropali meets Ambassador King-Smith, strengthening the role of the Assembly (Radio Tirana)
• US State Secretary receives the Albanian Ambassador to the US (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• RIK releases preliminary results for parliament (N1/Beta/Tanjug/RTS/FoNet)
• Belgrade: Per results from 92.54 polling stations, SNS gets 49 Seats, Serbia Against Violence 42 (Beoinfo/Beta)
• Head of RIK: Protest turned into violence; They deliberately interfere with our work (B92)
• Vucic: If Nestorovic won’t vote for anyone, you will go to repeated elections (RTS)
• International observers say elections marred by irregularities (N1/Beta)
• EC expresses concern over Serbia elections (N1)
• Bilcik: No major irregularities noted (Insajder)
• Serbia Against Violence coalition holds protest rally in Belgrade (Beta/FoNet/N1)
• Milivojevic: Nestorovic is the most desirable coalition partner, perhaps Belgrade’s next mayor (Beta)
• UN adopts Resolution on Protection of Whistleblowers on Serbia’s proposal (RTS/Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Mehmedagic and Debevec arrested for abuse of office (FTV)
• Bubic confirms that trial hearing in case of Dodik is to be held on 20 December (RTRS/Nova BH)
• Zvizdic: Islamophobia in Balkans in string, Dodik is Russian proxy, there is visible rift between Dodik and Vucic (Oslobodjenje)
Montenegro
• Milatovic: Mandic shouldn’t have been present in any election headquarters in Serbia (RTCG)
• Remikovic: So far, 564,000 people have been enumerated, there’s enough time to complete census within deadline (TV Vijesti)
• MONSTAT terminates contract with one instructor and 16 enumerators and condemns publication of their identities (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Osmani: Adriatic Charter has fulfilled its goals, time for a new strategic concept (MIA)
• Negotiating framework serves as wall for Bulgarian demands, constitutional changes much greater obstacle: FM (MIA)
• Mickoski: VMRO-DPMNE should participate in caretaker government, but abstain in parliament vote (360 stepeni/MIA)
Albania
• We already own over 50% of the capacity to be considered ready for EU membership (Radio Tirana)
• EU Negotiations, Dhuka: The voice of the Albanians resonated strongly in Brussels (Radio Tirana)
• Albania takes the presidency of the A-5 Charter, Hasani: Priority to unblock the impasse for Kosovo's membership (Radio Tirana)