United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 9 August 2023

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Letter from European, US parliamentarians directed against Serbia (Beta/RTS/Tanjug/RTV/Politika)
• Vucic, Hill discuss Serbia-US ties, Kosovo and Metohija, Serbia's international position (Tanjug)
• Hill defends his support for regime figures’ pro-Western statements (Nova)
• Vucevic: Gratitude for Egypt's consistency and unchanged position on Kosovo issue (Tanjug/Beta/Politika)
• Lucic: Attempt at cancelling MTS in Kosovo and Metohija is Kurti’s political pressure (RTS)
• Tolkach calls on Serbia to align with EU policy and condemn Russian aggression (Beta)
• Aleksic presents new MP caucus (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik: there is no territorial integrity of B&H without territorial integrity of RS (RTRS)
• Becirovic answers Dodik: Sovereignty belongs to state of B&H not the entities (BHRT)
• Becirovic says B&H is under attack of nine dangerous strategies of lies and manipulation (FTV)
• Izetbegovic: Izetbegovic would certainly not give in to those who attack B&H (Nova BH)
• Ambassador Hartmann: Political crisis in B&H completely unnecessary, we want B&H as a good and stable neighbor and not its citizens emigrating to Austria and other countries (Nezavisne)
• RS Constitutional Court found that there is no violation of vital national interest of Bosniak people in provisions of Law on Amendments to Criminal Code of RS (ATV/FTV)
• Prosecutor’s Office of B&H files indictment against 13 RB&H Army members due to crimes against Serbs in Josanica (ATV)
Montenegro
• Grlic Radman: Zagreb will not allow Croats in Montenegro to be the target of persecution again (Pobjeda)
• Milatovic’s office: Consultations over prime minister-designate postponed for today (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Osmani begins Central Asia tour in Uzbekistan (MIA)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 8 August 2023

LOCAL PRESS

• EU, US parliamentarians want policy on Kosovo, Serbia reconsidered (Beta/RTS/RTV)
• Brnabic: Letter, tweets by Kearns, Roth prove Kurti has support for undermining peace (Tanjug/Beta)
• Vucic hosts lunch for outgoing Chinese Ambassador (Tanjug/Politika/RTS/RTV)
• Upward trend in defence cooperation between Serbia, Egypt (Tanjug/RTV)
• Lawyer of arrested Kosovo Serb appeals custody decision (Tanjug)
• Aleksic says signature collecting to start soon, expects party founding in September (N1/Euronews)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Becirovic meets former B&H Army general Dudakovic: Without 5th corps members, Bihac would have suffered Srebrenica’s destiny (Dnevni list)
• RS officials react to Becirovic’s meeting with Dudakovic; RS officials say this is warning that Sarajevo does not shy away from new war crimes (RTRS)
• German soldiers in EUFOR mission in B&H staying for another year (Nezavisne)
• SIPA arrested suspect for planning terrorist attack under ISIL guidance (N1)
Montenegro
• Milatovic concluding consultations on new premier designate (RTCG)
• Jokovic: Government should be formed with broad support, agreement possible in August (RTCG)
• Nimanbegu: In Montenegro, a lot done to prevent Spajic from getting mandate (CdM)
• Zenka: Stable government would consist of PES and Together coalition (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Osmani: Real deadline for constitutional amendments is end of parliament's term (Sitel/MIA)
Albania
• EU membership, Albania has made steps forward (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 7 August 2023

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: For us, sanctions against RS are inappropriate, we will not apply them (B92)
• Memorandum signed on construction of two memorial centres dedicated to victims of Jasenovac (RTS/Tanjug/RTV)
• Dacic: Relations with Pristina at lowest point (Alo)
• Drecun: Kosovo Serbs under continuous pressure (TV Pink)
• Petkovic: Unacceptable and worrying bomb attack on property of SL MP (RTV/Tanjug)
• Lucic: We will fight for unobstructed MTS operations in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)
• Telekom Srbija: Kurti wants to shut down Telekom Srbija in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV)
• Dveri Movement: Has Vucic given up on UN SC session on Kosovo (Beta)
• Miroslav Aleksic and a number of members are leaving the People’s Party (N1)
• Jeremic: Aleksic quitting is bad news for opposition (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Session of Council for Cooperation between RS and Serbia takes place in Banja Luka; Vucic says Serbia will act as if US sanctions do not exist; Dodik admits that US sanctions are not simple or easy, assessing that US leads anti-Serb policy (ATV)
• RS and Serbia commemorate day of remembrance of Serbs killed and exiled in operation ‘Storm’ in Prijedor; Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic says Serbia will always stand by its people and RS (RTRS)
• Becirovic: Vucic should start concretely respecting the sovereignty of the state of B&H (BHT1)
• Vucic’s Cabinet responds to Becirovic’s statement: We have no other option but to deliver each speech of President directly to Becirovic in advance (Nezavisne)
• Croatia celebrates Victory Day and anniversary of ‘Storm’; Milanovic, Plenkovic reject claims of Vucic and Dodik that ‘Storm’ was operation of ethnic cleansing (FTV)
Croatia
• Croatia celebrates Victory Day and 28th anniversary of Operation Storm (Hina)
• Milanovic: Without Croatia’s victory, there would be no Dayton Agreement (Hina)
Montenegro
• Milatovic: Recognition of Kosovo’s independence, NATO membership and sanctions against Russia are not in question (CdM/RTV)
• Djukanovic: Balkan nationalisms are conquering, fascist and villainous (CdM/RTV)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovachevski: No room for concern over new conditions from Bulgaria (MIA)
• Kovachevski: Government coalition stable, no changes expected in pro-European parties as for constitutional amendments (MIA)
Albania
• Cannabis in military base, ex-pm demands Minister's resignation (ADN)
• Under Rama's governance Albania met criteria to become drug cartel (ADN)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 4 August 2023
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic, Dodik lay wreaths at Petrovac Road memorial (Tanjug/B92/RTS/RTV)
• Dodik: We used to hide the suffering of the Serbs - until the arrival of Vucic (B92/Tanjug)
• Vucic: Serbia must not give up its support for the RS, no matter what force asks to impose sanctions against our people (RTS)
• Serbia will never turn its back on RS (Politika/Tanjug)
• Vucic thanks Serbian Patriarch for patience, understanding (Tanjug/B92/RTS)
• Vucevic meets with Minister Karan in Banja Luka: "Internal affairs and defense cooperation progressing" (Tanjug/RTV)
• Miscevic: Serbia ready for opening Cluster 3 for two years now (Beta/Tanjug)
• Second phase of withdrawal of police around municipal halls in north Kosovo starting on 4 August (Beta/RTS)
• Ponos: People are sick of ruling party (Beta)
• Dveri: Authorities in Belgrade must publicly extend support to RS leadership (Beta)
• Two Serbs banned from entering Kosovo and Metohija for 3 years for allegedly organizing unrest in the north (Kosovo Online/Tanjug/Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Vucic begins two-day visit to RS; Serbian Patriarch Porfirije meets with Vucic and Dodik (RTRS)
• Vucic: Serbia respects B&H, but loves the RS and it will continue to help its people; Dodik: B&H exists only in international, legal and political sense of the word and in no other way (ATV)
• Vucic’s interview for Avaz: I do not play double games regarding B&H (Dnevni avaz)
• RTRS ‘Dnevnik Plus’ hosts Dodik to discuss visit of Vucic to RS on occasion of marking of anniversary of operation Oluja (RTRS)
• SDA condemns decision to mark remembering of Serb victims of ‘Oluja’ in Prijedor (Klix.ba)
• Becirovic meets Schmidt to discuss attack on constitutional order of B&H (FTV)
• Niksic says he is satisfied with atmosphere that characterizes work of FB&H government (Fena)
Croatia
• Croatian President included on list of persons denying Srebrenica genocide (Hina)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic: What a smart person is ashamed of, Abazovic is obviously proud of; he doesn’t see he is politically disgraced for all time (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Osmani discusses constitutional changes with Geer, Jan Kop, Meyer (MIA)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 3 August 2023
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: No open issues between Serbia North Macedonia (Beta/RTV/RTS/Politika)
• Pendaroviski at marking of North Macedonia’s holiday in Proor Pcinjski Monastery (Beta/RTS)
• Vucevic: No de-escalation in Kosovo and Metohija because Pristina lacks will for it (TV Pink)
• Momirovic: Goal of ban of import of Serbian goods is expulsion of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV)
• Further comprehensive improvement of cooperation between Serbia, Japan (Tanjug/RTV/Politika)
• KFOR, EULEX, Kosovo police discuss situation in Kosovo’s north (Beta)
• Dacic: Those who attack RS are in fact destroying B&H, because they think that B&H should be Muslim and no longer be based on equality of peoples and entities (TV Pink)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Becirovic’s call to EU countries to impose sanctions against RS officials continues to spark reactions in RS (Nezavisne)
• Sattler: What I can confirm is that the US is a strategic partner of the EU and we agree on all issues concerning Western Balkans (RTRS)
• Starai: Sanctions against democratically elected leaders of RS entail only instability and deepening of conflicts, and instead, dialogue based on mutual respect should be built (Glas Srpske/MTI)
• Mazalica, Vulic: First adopt new Law on Constitutional Court of B&H, then appoint judges from RS (Vecernji list/Faktor.ba)
• EU publishes Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy with review of situation in B&H (Dnevni avaz)
Montenegro
• Sehovic: It is logical that Spajic should be PM-designate (CdM)
• Jokovic: Support in principle for Spajic to be PM-Designate, we don’t give blank support until a full agreement is reached (CdM)
• Abazovic after consultation with Milatovic: I’ll propose model if they fail to form government (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovachevski: Ilinden and ASNOM resolve, and spirit of togetherness guide us into the future (MIA)
Albania
• The Albanian army will continue to be part of the NATO mission in Bulgaria (Radio Tirana)