LOCAL PRESS

• Serbs continue their protests, goods from central Serbia still cannot go to KiM (RTS)
• Escobar: We asked Vucic to remove troops from the border and encourage the Serbs to return without setting conditions, he agreed to both (FoNet)
• Vucic: I'm going to Brussels, but I won't talk to Kurti (RTS)
• Borrell with Vucic and Kurti separately in a series of meetings (Beta)
• At the summit in Brussels, EU leaders will condemn the violence in the north of KiM and call for immediate de-escalation (RTS)
• Kosovo’s Kurti addresses Kosovo citizens in Serbian via Facebook (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Cvijanovic outvoted at B&H Presidency session on one point from domain of foreign policy (RTRS)
• RSNA adopts 10 conclusions: Serbs representatives to leave BiH institutions if Law on B&H CC is not adopted (RTRS)
• RSNA MPs adopted Draft Law on Amendments to Law on Publication of Laws and Other Regulations of RS; Decisions of OHR and Schmidt not to be published in RS Official Gazette (RTRS)
• Dodik: RS cannot cooperate with High Representative in B&H, because he currently does not exist (O kanal)
• Reactions to RSNA Session/RS Stances on B&H CC (BHT1, Nova BH)
• Slovenian top officials issue joint statement on occasion of marking of anniversary of EU-Western Balkans Summit in Thessaloniki: Western Balkan countries that want to join EU can count on Slovenia (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• Military helicopter crashes in Dalmatian hinterland (N1)
• Banozic: We expect an investigation into the crash of the Hungarian helicopter soon (HRT)
Montenegro
• Election results won’t be announced within legal deadline, by 26 June (RTCG)
• Abazovic: Montenegro unreservedly stands by the Ukrainian people (CDM)
North Macedonia
• FM Osmani at Ukraine Recovery Conference in London, reaffirms support as response to common security challenges (MIA)
• Escobar: US State Department’s decision on Merko to aid Gov’t in fight against corruption (MIA)
• N. Macedonia grateful for three decades of UK support, Osmani tells King Charles III (MIA)
• FM meets Azeri, Moldovan counterparts in London (MIA)
• President Pendarovski meets delegation of France's Parliamentary Friendship Group (MIA)
• Spasovski – Predoiu: Continuing together for a safer Europe (MIA)
Albania
• Rama in Tel Aviv, visiting the company known for cyber security (Radio Tirana)
• Ambassador Kim: Justice reform and eradication of corruption, request of the USA! Proud of Albania's progress (Radio Tirana)
• Meeting on the implementation of the National Strategy for Migration (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Peaceful night in Kosovo, citizens continue to gather in front of municipalities in the north (RTS)
• Petkovic: There was no kidnapping, an absolute lie by Kurti and Gervala (RTS)
• Bishop Teodosije: Arrests, threats and abuse of arrested Serbs lead to an even greater conflict (RTS)
• Lajcak: The Kosovo issue should be resolved by the end of the year; Escobar: The crisis in Kosovo has the potential to become a regional conflict (RTS)
• Biden ordered: Extend the state of emergency; The Balkans poses threat to the USA (Tanjug)
• Brnabic: I am asking you, dear friends from the EU, to help us preserve the peace (RTS)
• Vucic: We can always count on the support of Cuba; Diaz-Canel: We want to improve economic ties (RTS)
• Dacic: Gratitude to Algeria for not recognizing the unilaterally declared independence of KiM (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• RS institutions representatives and ruling coalition party leaders hold meeting on B&H CC’s decision, demand from B&H CC to reverse its decision until noon Friday (Nova BH)
• Opposition leaders fail to attend Dodik’s meeting; Milicevic: There is no B&H CC without Serb judges (BN TV)
• Tegeltija says B&H CC’s latest decision changes nature and character of this institution (Nezavisne)
• FB&H HoR Commission on Election and Appointment postpones session to discuss appointment of B&H CC judge (Nova BH)
• Ambassadors Sattler and Murphy stress importance of having most competent people in B&H Constitutional Court (Nova BH)
• RS Govt discusses amendments to law on publishing laws that stipulate decisions of HR not to be published by Official Gazette of RS (RTRS)
• US Embassy: By refusing to publish High Representative’s decisions in RS Official Gazette, RS is violating its obligations under Dayton Peace Agreement (Dnevni avaz)
• Zvizdic: We are ready to submit a motion to the Constitutional Court of B&H (FTV)
• Orban to pay visit to RS on Thursday and Friday (RTRS)
• B&H CoM and Croatian Government hold joint session in Zagreb, discuss cooperation and open issues between two countries; Minister Kosarac expresses concern over Croatia’s position on Trgovska Gora (Nova BH)
Croatia
• PM: Bosnian and Croatian governments’ joint session will boost bilateral ties (Hina)
Montenegro
• Six years have passed - Montenegro has not closed a single EU chapter (RSE)
• Report of the European Parliament: List to be implemented by the end of the year in accordance with EU standards (RTCG)
North Macedonia
• Osmani: All parties to work towards de-escalation of situation in Kosovo (MIA)
• Osmani in London: Stable and prosperous region in United Kingdom’s focus (MIA)
• Government endorses text of EC agreement on North Macedonia-Serbia cross-border cooperation programme (MIA)
• U.S. designates Struga Mayor Ramiz Merko for significant corruption (MIA)
• Aggeler: United States to continue to call out anyone who undermines rule of law (MIA)
Albania
• DoS supports Albanian Police's action in Mujahideen camp (ADN)
• MEK's violence against the Police is unjustified, we have offered them everything according to the agreement (Radio Tirana)
• E.U.-Western Balkans Summit of Thessaloniki/ Twenty Years of Hopes and Dreams (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 20 June 2023

LOCAL PRESS

• Orban: We see what is being done to Serbs in Kosovo (B92)
• Hungary "defended" Serbia (Tanjug)
• Vucic calls for release of Kosovo Serbs before crisis meeting (B92)
• Protest march in northern Kosovo in support of arrested Serbs (N1)
• Odalovic: KFOR must order the withdrawal of special units from northern Kosovo (RTS)
• Truck drivers from Jarinje and locals blocked the Kosovska Mitrovica-Raska road (RTS)
• Stoltenberg: Belgrade and Pristina to cease escalating, return to dialogue (Beta)
• Grenell: A plan has been made for the NATO troops to withdraw from Kosovo (Kosovo online)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Constitutional Court of B&H changes rule on postponing sessions if there are not enough judges, condemns political pressure exerted on judge Knezevic (O kanal)
• Cvijanovic: B&H Constitutional Court has undermined its own constitutional position and purpose (RTRS)
• Dodik’s Advisor Tegeltija: Constitutional Court of B&H struck at the foundations of the Dayton Peace Agreement (RTRS)
• Konakovic: Dodik’s opposition to appointment of new judges from the RS to B&H CC causes the most damage to RS citizens (BN TV)
• Dodik reacts to Konakovic’s criticism of him (ATV)
• Schmidt: Parties to Annex 10 of Dayton Peace Agreement, including RS, have obligation to fully cooperate with High Representative (BN TV)
• Russian Embassy to B&H reacts to OHR’s statement (RTRS)
• Ambassadors Sattler and Murphy to meet FB&H officials on Tuesday and hold political dialogue (Dnevni avaz)
• UN coordinator: We are worried that hate speech in Bosnia goes unpunished (Fena)
• B&H CoM and Croatian Government to hold joint session Tuesday in Zagreb; Minister Konakovic: Session will not resolve issues, nor it will be historic, but it clearly indicates willingness to open some topics (Nova BH)
Croatia
• Presidency of Croatian HDZ discusses upcoming joint session of B&H CoM and Croatian Government; Grlic Radman reminds Croatia strongly supports B&H’s EU path (HRT)
Montenegro
• Janovic: We won’t support minority government or some other experiments – either we are in government, or we’ll be constructive opposition (CDM)
• Milatovic and Maddocks: It is necessary to form a stable government as soon as possible (CDM)
• Abazovic with Maddocks and Gerasimenko on the eve of the Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine: Montenegro is a recognized and valued partner (CDM)
• Milatovic spoke with Gerasimenko: Montenegro will continue to support Ukraine (CDM)
North Macedonia
• Spasovski: Prespa Forum takeaway – dialogue solves problems (MIA)
• Mickoski: No constitutional changes under Bulgarian dictate, elections only way out of political crisis (MIA)
• Marichikj: Mickoski's demands within scope of negotiating framework worth contemplating (MIA)
• Kovachevski: Leaders' meeting a good basis to take next step and make right decisions (MIA)
• Crvenkovski promotes initiative for Western Balkans' access to European single market (MIA)
• Xhaferi – Norlen: Accession a benefit for future, not a return to past (MIA)
• Osmani and Cleverly discuss British support, North Macedonia's European file (MIA)
Albania
• The EU-Albania Stabilization-Association Parliamentary Committee meets in Tirana (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Another Serb arrested in Leposavic, today a protest march in Kosovska Mitrovica (RTS)
• Vucic visited soldiers and policemen in the Land Security Zone last night (Novosti)
• Serbs ready to form ZSO on their own? (Blic)
• Vucic: The dialogue is completely meaningless, it’s out of the question to talk until the arrested Serbs are released (RTS)
• Stano: The EU expects Vucic and Kurti to respond to Borrell's call without preconditions (RTS)
• Another arrest and attack on Serbs in KiM (RTS)
• Petkovic: Kurti's special forces occupied Mitrovica, tried to arrest Serbs (RTS)
• Lajcak announced his departure to Washington for talks on the situation in KiM (RTS)
• Visoki Decani Monastery: Urgent appeal for peace and restraint in KiM (RTS)
• KFOR could not determine where Kosovo Police officers were arrested (Beta)
• Escobar: Collaboration or Consequences (RTS)
• Seventh ‘Serbia against violence’ protest held in Belgrade (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dacic: Ultimate goal of temporary authorities in Pristina is complete emigration of Serb people from Kosovo (RTRS)
• Dodik: Let's support Vucic in the fight for KiM, attacks on him only increase his popularity (Nezavisne)
• Dodik criticizes recent meeting between HR Schmidt and Kosovo PM Kurti (ATV)
• Cubrilovic criticizes recent meeting between HR Schmidt and Kosovo PM Kurti (RTRS)
• Dodik: RS has friends in the world; West asks RS to follow their geo-strategic politics, which is negative toward Serbs; EU path was attractive 20 years ago, but enthusiasm is no longer there; Criticizes US politics in world and in B&H (Srna)
• Dodik: B&H will not maintain imposed solutions, RS cannot be bypassed; B&H CC is usurper and violates the Constitution; HR decision from 20 years ago confirms entities are owner of property on their territory (Srna)
• Dodik expresses his belief that there is no party in the RS that would accept SDA, whose policy is separating the RS from Serbia as much as possible (RTRS)
• Izetbegovic reacts to Dodik’s statement: With help of foreigners, SNSD and HDZ B&H got disabled structure for partners (FTV)
• Stevandic: RSNA’s session which will discuss non-publishing of Schmidt’s decisions in RS Official Gazette is not coup d'état (RTRS)
• Becirovic comments announced RSNA session: This demands urgent reaction of OHR, PIC and witnesses of DPA (Dnevni Avaz)
• Venice Commission calls on RSNA to withdraw call for resignation of Zlatko Knezevic (Nova BH)
• HR Schmidt says pressures against judge Knezevic are unacceptable (Dnevni list)
• US Senate to discuss Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act which strongly supports ‘Open Balkan’ initiative (Nezavisne)
Croatia
• Minister: PM’s Subotica visit chiefly a message of support to Serbia Croats (Hina)
• President in North Macedonia for Prespa Forum (HRT)
• Metsola tells Croatian voters to elect pro-European politicians to EP (Hina)
Montenegro
• Abazovic: The hesitancy of the EU is sometimes demotivating, Montenegro is ideal to revive the enlargement process (CDM)
• Abazovic: Montenegro is ready to host the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (CDM)
• Vucic responds to Abazovic and Milatovic: Save your hospitality, we don’t care about your sea and mountains (MINA)
• Milatovic: Everyone needs a prosperous region of the Western Balkans, Montenegro to play as active a role as possible (CDM)
• US Senator: We hope that we can continue to support Montenegro on its path to full integration with the West (VoA)
• EU delegation: We expect the formation of the Assembly and the Government, which will be able to make progress in the reforms towards the Union in the shortest possible time (Portal Analitika)
• Markovic: It’s clear who won’t be part of govt, informal negotiations on its formation have begun (RTCG)
• Bogdanovic: It’s fair that URA doesn’t burden coalition with their views (Vijesti)
North Macedonia
• Osmani in London at invitation of UK's Cleverly (MIA)
• Xhaferi attends conference on democracy in Europe in Stockholm (MIA)
• PM: Bundestag voiced unequivocal support for N. Macedonia’s EU membership with protected language, identity (MIA)
• Kurti optimistic over de-escalating situation on the ground, says early elections needed in north of Kosovo (MIA)
• President Pendarovski meets with Croatian President Zoran Milanovic (MIA)
• Kovachevski – Milatovic: N. Macedonia and Montenegro an example of goodneighborly cooperation, contributing to European stability (MIA)
• President Pendarovski meets Montenegrin counterpart Jakov Milatovic (MIA)
• Pendarovski meets with Albania's President Begaj (MIA)
• Petrovska at North Atlantic Council on strengthening defense, stable funding, support for Ukraine (MIA)
Albania
• Albanian PM warns 'icy' relations with Serbia if Kosovo cops aren't released (ADN)
• Orban, joint press conference with Rama: The slowness of the EU enlargement process, shameful (Radio Tirana)
• Rama: New phase of traditional friendly relations with Hungary (Radio Tirana)
• Begaj from the Prespa forum: Kosovo and Serbia must undertake historical responsibilities (Radio Tirana)
• Peleshi in Brussels: The three kidnapped Kosova police officers should be released (Radio Tirana)
• President Begaj: NATO member countries in region to speak in one voice against provocations that destabilize Kosova and the entire region (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 16 June 2023

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: It's boiling. No one will put up with their terror anymore (B92)
• Vucic thanks bin Zayed for his engagement towards resolution of issues (Tanjug/RTV)
• Brnabic: I will not propose dismissal of Gasic (RTV)
• Dacic: Constant escalation suits Kurti, we want peace (TV Pink)
• Urgent statement of the Ministry of Defense after an arrest of Kurti's special forces (B92)
• KFOR sends team to area where Kosovo police troopers were arrested (N1)
• Borrell to call Kosovo crisis-management meeting (N1)
• Stano: Belgrade, Pristina invited to Brussels meeting over crisis in north Kosovo (Tanjug)
• State Dept spokesman says release Kosovo police officers (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik: No document created by OHR on state property will be discussed by relevant bodies of RS (FTV)
• Venice Commission and OSCE/ODHIR issue joint opinion on RS Draft Law on Special Registry and Publicity of the Work of Non-Profit Organizations (N1)
• Schmidt and Eichhorst call on B&H authorities to work on returning integrity to the electoral process (Hayat)
• Niksic meets UN’s Macdonald, discuss FB&H government’s priorities (Dnevni list)
• Minister Nesic at Prespa forum: B&H has intensified process of return of migrants to countries of origin (Dnevni list)
Montenegro
• Abazovic: Cooperation with PES is possible (TVCG/CdM)
• Perovic at the ministerial meeting in Brussels: Montenegro will stand by Ukraine as long as necessary (CdM)
• Survey: Record high support of citizens for Montenegro’s membership in the EU (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Pendarovski meets UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, Miroslav Jenca (MIA)
• Kovachevski - Pope: North Macedonia contributes to management of migration and security in Europe (MIA)
• Kovachevski: Realistically looking at 2030 as an achievable goal for the country's full-fledged EU membership (MIA)
• Shekerinska: For Prespa Agreement to be alive and kicking, we do need EU context (MIA)
• Spasovski: Western Balkans to contribute to European stability by joining EU (MIA)
• Osmani: We don't want to see alternative approaches to EU membership, but ways to speed up the process (MIA)
• Marichikj: We need EU's clear vision for Western Balkans (MIA)
• Bundestag resolution a symbolic recognition of Macedonian identity, says FM Osmani (MIA)
• Sarrazin: German parliament recognizes Macedonian identity, language and history (MIA)
• Milatovic: In order to de-escalate tensions, it is necessary to re-hold elections in the north of Kosovo and fulfil the prerequisites for the formation of the ZSO (MIA)
Albania
• Rama: 100% focused on the release of the officers in Kosova, de-escalation remains a priority (Radio Tirana)
• Xhacka: Kurti should listen to the internationals (Radio Tirana)
• Contact Group, Albania reaffirms support for Ukraine (Radio Tirana)
• Manja: Justice Reform, the government's biggest investment against corruption (Radio Tirana)