United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 18 August 2023

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Policy of creating a Greater Albania is a process that will continue, Kurti will not stop (RTS)
• Seven Serbs leave ranks of Kosovo police (Indeksonline.net/Kosovo Online)
• EULEX concerned by resignation of Kosovo Serb police officers (Beta)
• Stefanovic: Opposition united on elections in Belgrade (TV N1)
• Aleksic: Silent majority in Serbia gas awakened, opposition needs to create as board a possible for elections (Nedeljnik)
• Obradovic sees People’s Party in patriotic opposition’s election bloc (Danas)
• Tepic: Administration in Belgrade has already collapsed, someone just needs to tell them that (Nova)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Banjaluka.net portal receives letter from group of judges of Court of B&H in which they state that indictment against Dodik and Lukic will be confirmed at suggestion of US Ambassador in Sarajevo Michael Murphy (RTRS)
• US Embassy says it is preposterous to suggest that US Embassy authored indictments against Dodik and Lukic (RTRS)
• Dodik: All problems B&H has were created by international officials such as US Ambassador to B&H Michael Murphy, including circus related to interventions in B&H Criminal Code (RTRS)
• No updates from Court of B&H on indictments of Dodik and Lukic, and Dodik’s indictments against Cosic (BHT1)
• Croatian authorities stop journalist Simic at border crossing (N1)
• Dodik: Detaining Simic at Croatia’s border is open pressure on media freedom and violation of human rights EU swears by (ATV)
• Cvijanovic: Simic’s human rights are violated (RTRS)
• Viskovic criticizes media and NGOs for being silent in case of journalist Simic (ATV/RTRS)
Montenegro
• Jokovic: Failure to form govt. would lead to instability and new elections (CdM)
• Zivkovic: I’m not thinking about candidacy; Milatovic shouldn’t give himself more importance than he deserves; Vucic pressuring Spajic (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Constitutional changes necessary for a European North Macedonia, elections not a solution: PM (MIA)
• Marichikj: Constitutional changes to be adopted if we wish the country well, and not isolation (Civil Media)
• VMRO-DPMNE: SDSM doesn't have enough MPs to change Constitution (MIA)
• SDSM: Parliament session to show who's for EU, who's against (MIA)
• DUI: MPs should vote for North Macedonia’s European future (MIA)
Albania
• US-Albania Law Enforcement cooperation, Balla meets the US Chargé d'Affaires, H. Martin McDowell (Radio Tirana)
• Intensification of parliamentary relations with Spain (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 17 August 2023

LOCAL PRESS

• Drecun: Survival of North Macedonia and Montenegro is defended in Kosovo and Metohija (RTS)
• Petkovic: Time when Kurti was allowed to do anything is over (Tanjug/RTV)
• KFOR to increase movement of troops during regular exchange of contingents in Kosovo (Beta)
• Protest continues in Leposavic over entry of deputy minister for communities, return to municipal building (Kosovo Online/Politika)
• EU: Elections in four N. Kosovo municipalities as soon as possible (N1/Beta/RTS/RTV)
• Jovanovic: Protests Serbia Against Violence not a platform for election campaign (Danas)
• Embassy of Serbia to Germany responds to text published in Berliner Zeitung (Politika)
• Germany is flexing muscles on RS (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H CoM fails to declare Wednesday day of mourning; Hadzovic: Dodik used chance to belittle state of B&H (FTV)
• OHR statement on Gradacac murders (AJB/Avaz/Oslobodjenje)
• OSCE: Prevention of violence against women and domestic violence more generally must be priorities for all relevant institutions in B&H (Fena)
• Milicevic: SDS will not support Dodik; Dodik is not the RS (RTRS)
• Dodik: I am concerned that Milicevic accepts views of both Sarajevo politicians and false representative on state property; I did not expect SDS’s support (RTRS/ATV)
• Viskovic: Milicevic does not have to protect Dodik but he should protect institution of RS President (RTRS)
• Kovacevic: SDS is servant of international community (ATV)
• EC answers RTRS’ inquiry for comment about indictment against Dodik (RTRS)
• B&H MoD and B&H AF launch procedure to determine if there was any criminal and disciplinary responsibility for incident at barracks in Pazaric (Nova BH)
Montenegro
• Gjeloshaj: I told Spajic to clearly specify those blocking govt. formation and that we should re-run in elections if necessary (CdM)
• Uljarevic: Spajic will try to “buy” ZBCG with good management and operational positions (MINA)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Osmani in letter to MPs: You decide whether we will continue EU negotiations or bring them to a standstill (MIA)
• Constitutional changes under Bulgarian dictate impossible, VMRO-DPMNE MPs will not support them, says party whip (MIA)
Albania
• US Embassy to Albania urges the magistrates to contribute to a justice system that is effective, transparent and fair (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic thankful to FAZ and CNN (N1/Beta)
• Petkovic: Now it’s much clearer under what influence Svecla was when he acted against Serbs (Novosti)
• Simic: Every Kurti’s decision is direct attack on Serbs (RTS)
• In its pursuit of Telekom Serbia, Pristina violates all principles of the rule of law (B92/Kosovo Online)
• Sir Ivor Roberts: Vucic and Kurti should be let continue the dialogue (Demostat/Beta)
• Party of Macedonians of Serbia: Skopje should reconsider recognition of Kosovo (N1/mkd.mk)
• Djilas to seek judicial protection from TV Pink’s fake videos (Danas)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik files criminal report against prosecutor of Prosecutor’s Office of B&H Cosic who filed indictment against him (ATV/BHT1)
• Kovacevic: Sarajevo has already convicted Dodik and Lukic, the process is just a political farce (ATV)
• Russian Embassy: Schmidt’s so-called decisions are illegal (ATV)
• ATV asked European Commission for comment on indictment against Dodik, but no response came (ATV)
• Crnadak says situation for Dodik is not simple, but no individual is above RS (BNTV)
• Trivic: People’s Front will in no way participate in the alleged homogenization attempt around the false president Milorad Dodik (ATV)
Dodik on German media claims Vucic directs his policy towards Moscow (RTRS)
• Milanovic awards the 1st Poskok Battalion of HVO in Siroki Brijeg, comments on Election Law of B&H, HR, indictment against Dodik (Hayat/Nova BH)
• Helez and Sattler meet to discuss cooperation and current situation (Avaz)
• Schmidt meets new French Ambassador to B&H Delmas (Avaz)
• Media learn Bosniak soldier attacks Serb colleague in military barracks in Pazaric (RTRS)
Montenegro
• Spajic: Meeting was very good, various opinions about participation of ZBCG in government (CdM)
• Mandic after meeting Spajic and Democrats: We’re very satisfied, we didn’t discuss the position of parliament speaker (CdM)
• Becic: No allocation of positions and functions was mentioned at the meeting (CdM)
Albania
• Greek officials at the protest, Rama: the electoral crime is not a matter of minority rights (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 15 August 2023

LOCAL PRESS

• Orlic: Standing strongly with people and leadership of RS (Politika/Tanjug)
• Odalovic: Kurti playing with fire, Europe on vacation (RTS)
• Serbian politicians express support to Dodik (Beta)
• Party: West’s responses to Kurti’s provocation warning to Belgrade against French-German plan (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H CoM fails to pass decision to declare mourning day at level of B&H after triple murder in Gradacac (O Kanal)
• Court of B&H has 15 days to decide whether or not to confirm indictment against Dodik and Lukic (BHT1)
• Petronijevic: More than hundred lawyers expressed willingness to defend Dodik (Glas Srpske)
• Lukic: B&H and its political system hits rock bottom with indictment issued against Dodik and me (ATV)
• Dodik: British Ambassador should know, and certainly knows, that as a diplomat he should primarily show respect for the institutions of the country he is in (RTRS)
• Reilly comments on Dodik's accusations that money came from UK for activities to destroy RS (BNTV)
• N1, BNTV, Capital and Buka respond to Dodik's threats (N1)
Montenegro
• Negotiations: Spajic meets representatives of parties over the formation of a new govt today (CdM/Vijesti)
• US Embassy: We back speedy formation of a govt which would be committed to Euro-Atlantic values, representing a multicultural Montenegro (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Osmani – Aggeler: US support of over USD 4 million in fight against corruption (MIA)
• Parliament to discuss need of constitutional changes Friday; procedure stages explained (MIA)
Albania
• Balla meets the Ambassador of Turkey to Tirana (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 11 August 2023

LOCAL PRESS

• Ukraine is Serbia’s friend, I don’t see a single problem in relations with Kiyev (TV Happy)
• Vucevic: Kurti wants to ethnically cleanse Kosovo (TV Prva/Beta)
• Contracts for delivery of weapons, military equipment for SAF signed (Beta/Politika)
• EU: Measures possible against Serbia is it fails do de-escalate in Kosovo (Beta)
• Stefanovic: Serbia least harmonized with EU foreign policy (Beta)
• Lawyer of arrested Kosovo Serb wants Kurti as defence witness (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Viskovic: Germany’s decision is continuation of political pressures on RS (ATV)
• Dodik says RS has friends, is not isolated (ATV/RTRS)
• Komsic reacts to indictment against former members of RB&H Army: Another attempt to equalize victims and war criminals (FTV)
Montenegro
• Milatovic proposes Spajic for PM-designate (CdM)
• Spajic’s 90-day deadline begins to run: Will he manage to form government? (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Taravari: AA to leave government now if VMRO-DPMNE votes for constitutional changes (TV 21/MIA)
• Aggeler: Ball is in your court, up to citizens and leaders to decide to move forward towards EU (Kanal 5 TV/MIA)
Albania
• Rama: Kurti stubborn and maximalist, should have made different choices (La Stampa/Radio Tirana)