LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: I have had many meetings in New York with nearly all European leaders (Tanjug/RTS)
• Vucic: We will be strongly protecting Serbia's position at UNGA session (Tanjug/RTS)
• Dacic: Those who talk about preserving territorial integrity have double standards (Tanjug/RTV)
• Dacic speaks with large number of FMs in New York (Tanjug)
• KFOR Commander: Political solution needed for peace, stability in Kosovo (Beta)
• Petkovic: Svecla's threats will never prevent Vucic from helping people in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV)
• First hearing in case of MTS in Kosovo and Metohija ends, both sides maintained their position (RTS/Tanjug)
• Lucic with international representatives on Pristina’s intent to ban work of MTS (RTS)
• Two more Serbs arrested in northern Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)
• France and Germany present plan on reform of EU for enlargement by 2030 (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• RS officials react to latest Schmidt’s interview, Nesic appeals to Germany to withdraw Schmidt; Kovacevic: Unlike Schmidt, politicians from the RS have legitimacy as citizens elected them (ATV)
• Popovic: RS is preparing lawsuit against Schmidt in Germany (ATV)
• Schmidt expands Srebrenica Memorial’s activities, announces national war crimes register (N1)
• Media publish part of transcript from Dodik-Sarrazin meeting, Dodik says RS would introduce Ruble should it secede (Nezavisne)
• Sattler discusses EU path and migration issues with B&H ministers Nesic and Hurtic (O Kanal)
• UN GA session in New York; Climate change and growing crisis in this field main topic -along with Russian invasion of Ukraine; B&H Presidency Chairman Komsic to address UN GA on Wednesday (BHT1/AJB)
Croatia
• Slovenia not considering introduction of border controls with Croatia (HRT)
Montenegro
• Informal lunch of leaders of the Western Balkans: An opportunity for open dialogue and exchange of ideas (CdM)
• Milatovic with Blinken: We expect the USA to further support Montenegro in accelerating its European path (CdM)
• Milatovic: We believe in even stronger support from Berlin to speed up Montenegro's EU path (CdM)
• Milatovic with Steiner: We are working together to create a world of equality and accessibility for everyone (CdM)
• Abazovic meets Al Khateeb in NY: Saudi Arabia approves $3m grant to Montenegro (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Pendarovski to attend opening of 78th UNGA session General Debate (MIA)
• Xhaferi meets with Danish parliament delegation (MIA)
• Ahmeti on Mickoski's statements: What Bulgarian dictate, it is a Franco-German proposal (MIA)
Albania
• Rama: Today, Albania assumes the leadership of the Security Council (Radio Tirana)
• Meetings at the UN Assembly, Rama meets with Cleverly (Radio Tirana)
• Begaj meets with Borrell (Radio Tirana)
• Rama with the chief diplomat of the UAE: Finalization of the investment package in Albania (Radio Tirana)
• Spiropali hosts Soreca: Albania's EU integration, an agenda with an unchanging direction (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: I invited Scholz (B92)
• Dacic at UN at opening of Summit on Sustainable Development Goals (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Dacic holds bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of several countries (Tanjug)
• Milivojevic: If all elections take place the same day by year’s end, opposition has no chance (Beta)
• US Embassy denies inviting Vulin to public event (Nova)
• EU calls on Belgrade, Pristina to meet commitments and work to establish Community (Tanjug/Beta/RTS/RTV)
• Szijjarto: Kosovo issue should be condition for Serbia’s EU membership (Kosovo Online/B92)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Schmidt: RS is not separate state, but entity in B&H; Schmidt said that he will hold on to his promise and defend DPA in every part of B&H (O Kanal/Oslobodjenje)
• Karan: Schmidt’s “incognito” visit to Banja Luka again confirms the stance of RS officials that Schmidt is not a diplomat at all, but an ordinary tourist, who wants to provoke incident (Srna)
• OHR: There is no state border between entities (Dnevni avaz)
• Schmidt sends letter to Cvijanovic, says her statement on 1 September protest being ‘trial run’ is threat of confrontation and violence (Nezavisne)
• Delegate Smajic announces Bosniak delegates will block B&H HoP session to prevent departure of foreign judges from B&H CC (Dnevni list)
• B&H Presidency Chairman Komsic, B&H FM Konakovic in New York (O Kanal)
Croatia
• Grlic Radman calls for opening of negotiations between B&H and EU soon (HRT1)
Montenegro
• Bogdanovic: Democrats wouldn’t support formation of a govt if the DPS were to give a decisive vote (CdM)
• Abazovic is in New York, he has about thirty meetings, and dinner with Blinken is also planned (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Osmani in New York to establish diplomatic ties with South Africa (MIA)
• Osmani meets Western Balkan ministers in New York meeting organized by Italy (MIA)
• President Pendarovski meets German Chancellor Scholz in New York (MIA)
Albania
• President Bajram Begaj participates in the High Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development (Radio Tirana)
• Ambassador Soreca participates at the OSCE Media Development Conference in Tirana (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 18 September 2023

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic at UN General Assembly from 18 to 22 September (RTS/Office for Media Relations)
• Vucic: We will call elections by the end of 2023 (TV Pink/B92)
• Petkovic: Kurti does not want any dialogue, forming ZSO is Pristina's obligation (RTS/RTV/Tanjug)
• Stano: EU saw no readiness for progress in Kosovo dialogue (FoNet)
• Lajcak: On situation in north Kosovo strategic talks with US and EU partners (RTS)
• Orlic thanks Angola for supporting Serbia's territorial integrity (Tanjug)
• Serbia gets new ambassadors (Tanjug)
• SSP adopts declaration on preventing decline of Serbia (Beta)
• Lutovac says wants fair election this time (Beta)
• Hill certain that Lajcak is working on solution for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Blic/Beta)
• New Serbia Against Violence protest in Belgrade (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• HR Schmidt visits Banja Luka and meets with Bishop Komarica (Nova BH)
• Dodik demands that it is determined on what basis HR Schmidt's diplomatic passport was issued (O Kanal)
• Arnaut: There is no investigation on Schmidt's passport in Germany (FTV)
• Proposal of law on immovable property used for functioning of public authority to be discussed for third time in RS parliament (BHT1)
• Radmanovic on possibility of leaving state institutions: There are always several options (Dnevni list)
• Ambassador Murphy: Dodik is wrong if he thinks he can confront international community, criticizes Izetbegovic for saying he inherited SDA (Face TV)
• Zukic: SDA is not against USA (Dnevni avaz)
Montenegro
• Government not in sight (CdM)
• Abazovic doesn’t rule out the possibility of extraordinary parliamentary elections: Elections the best option in crisis situations (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• President Pendarovski heads delegation at 78th UNGA in New York (MIA)
• Osmani at 78th UNGA in New York (MIA)
• Osmani: Constitutional changes to enable continuation of EU path (Frontline/Civil Media)
• Hahn: North Macedonia joining EU within a couple of years feasible, giving specific date unserious (Telma/MIA)
• MFA: Note presented to Russia diplomats over activities contrary to Vienna Convention (MIA)
• MFA urges Macedonians in Albania to freely express ethnical, linguistic and religious affiliation at coming census (MIA)
Albania
• Rama to lead the meeting of the Security Council at the UN (Radio Tirana)
• 78th session of the UN General Assembly/ Begaj travels to New York (Radio Tirana)
• Kingji participated in the meeting of the NATO Military Committee (Radio Tirana)
• Bulgarian vice president invites the minority in Albania to declare in the 2023 Census (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 14 September 2023

LOCAL PRESS

• A new round of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Vucic and Kurti in Brussels (RTS, N1)
• Covic on dialogue: Brussels is slyly subverting again, I don't see a place where we can make concessions (RTS)
• Sarazzin on new Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue meeting: No great enthusiasm (N1)
• The Prime Minister with Sarazzin on bilateral relations and the situation in the region (RTS)
• Dacic, German Western Balkan envoy discuss bilateral relations (Beta)
• EC President Von der Leyen: Future of Western Balkans countries is in EU (N1)
• Bilcik: EU ready for enlargement, Belgrade and Pristina to normalize relations (RTS)
• Djuric with Escobar: Belgrade remains firmly committed to peace and cooperation (RTS)
• West keeps sending warnings that Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo must not become new RS (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Prosecutor’s Office of B&H proposes ban on performance of official duty for Dodik, Lukic in duration of ten years (Hayat)
• Dodik’s Meeting with RS Representatives (ATV)
• Viskovic says property of RS is red line that must not be crossed, claims Court of B&H is not working in line with laws (EuroBlic)
• Russian Ambassador to Serbia Botsan-Kharchenko says Dodik and Putin are in constant contact (Oslobodjenje)
• SDA: If Schmidt does not implement his mandate in entire B&H, then Dayton agreement is brought into question (Dnevni avaz)
• NES leader calls on HR Schmidt to urgently remove RS President Dodik or to leave office (Hayat)
Montenegro
• Milatovic: WB will be stable only when it is part of EU, ties with crime probably reach top of former regime (MINA)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Constitutional changes session to resume once conditions arise, says PM (MIA)
• Kovachevski: Amendments to Criminal Code in line with EU legislations (MIA)
• Mickoski: We won't accept constitutional changes under Bulgarian dictation now or in the future (MIA)
• Osmani – Stoltenberg: Joint NATO and EU approach in Western Balkans key for regional stability (MIA)
Albania
• Rama addresses Albania’s Security Council leadership, Beleri, and Kurti-Vucic meeting (EuroNews Albania)
• Berlin process to be held in Tirana on October 16th (Radio Tirana)
• Ministerial of Interior Ministers to be held within the framework of the Berlin Process on Sept. 14th (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• EEAS: Vucic and Kurti to meet in Brussels on Sept. 14, focus on Ohrid agreement implementation (Beta)
• Escobar: US calls on Belgrade, Pristina to take their obligations seriously (Beta)
• Escobar: I did not receive assurances from Kurti about commitment to normalization (Politika)
• The OSCE High Commissioner expressed concern about the situation in Kosovo and Metohija (B92)
• U.S. Embassy denies allegations that Washington is trying to prevent elections in Serbia (Beta)
• Russian ambassador: Hill literally stuck his finger in Serbia's eye (B92, Sputnik)
• Some opposition parties demand proportional airtime in news programs on state public broadcaster RTS (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• OHR issues statement after HR Schmidt cancels his visit to Banja Luka (BHT1)
• Court of B&H issues statement after upholding indictment against Dodik and Lukic (BHT1)
• Dodik: It is my obligation to sign decree on promulgation of laws adopted by RSNA (RTRS)
• Cvijanovic harshly criticizes indictment against Dodik (ATV)
• Minister Bukejlovic says Dodik acted in line with RS Constitution, confirmation of indictment was formality (Nezavisne)
• Blagojevic: Serbia can address UN and request opinion of International Court of Justice on whether rule over B&H by High Representative is in line with UN Charter (Glas Srpske)
• RS Ruling Parties’ Officials Announce Possible Blockades of State Institutions (BHT1)
• Reactions of politicians to possible blockades of state institutions (BHT1)
Montenegro
• Radunovic: Spajic doesn’t have majority to form govt, PES losing more and more supporters, URA should be part of govt. (A plus TV)
• Gorcevic: If you ask PES, there’s no split between Spajic and Milatovic, and there’s no need to be worried; They’re a great duo (Gradski.me)
• Escobar: Avoid introducing an anti-Western party into the Montenegrin government (CDM, VOA)
• Milatovic to meet Escobar on 18 Sept. in New York. It could be an unpleasant conversation for the Montenegrin president (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Roth urges MPs to vote for constitutional changes, says people are impatient (MIA)
• Kovachevski-Roth: Firm Bundestag support for Euro-integration process, constitutional changes to secure European future (MIA)
• Xhaferi-Roth: Political compromises are required for a functioning democracy (MIA)
• FM Osmani to visit Brussels on Wednesday (MIA)
Albania
• EU Chargé d'Affaires Soreca meets President Begaj: Albania's role, a constructive regional actor (Radio Tirana)