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)