United Nations Office in Belgrade Daily Media Highlights Thursday 16 February 2023 LOCAL PRESS • Vucic: The country is ready (B92) • Three arrested for calling for violent change of constitutional order – police (Tanjug) • Vucic: Our state was born here and has never died since (Tanjug/RTV/RTS) • Brnabic: Serbia adopted one of Europe's most liberal constitutions 188 years ago (Tanjug) • Brnabic, Viskovic attend Statehood Day service at Oplenac (Tanjug/RTV) • Dacic: Serbia celebrates Statehood Day with pride (Tanjug) • Biden congratulates Vucic on Statehood Day (Tanjug) • Vucic speaks with Michel (Tanjug) • Vucic speaks with Sandu (Tanjug/RTV) • Serbia rejects insinuations about involvement of its citizens in possible violence in Moldova (Tanjug) • Petkovic: Pristina’s refusal to establish ZSO creating a frozen conflict (Politika/Beta) REGIONAL PRESS Bosnia & Herzegovina • B&H Presidency members meet with Michel and Borrell in Brussels (BHT1) • Zvizdic: I informed Guterres that B&H is strongly committed to key foreign policy priorities of B&H - EU and NATO integration (FTV/O Kanal) • Konakovic pays visit to Turkey, meets with Turkish FM and Cavusoglu (O Kanal) • Statehood Day of Serbia marked by awards granting ceremonies, Head of RS Representation Office among awarded ones (ATV) Montenegro • Abazovic: ANB will carry out additional checks on alleged participation of our nationals in destabilization of Moldova, if necessary (CdM) • Confusion about Europe Now leaders: DIK to consider Spajic’s candidacy today, MUP checking whether he has Serbian citizenship (CdM) Republic of North Macedonia • Parliamentary debate over dismissal of Bekim Sali continues (Alsat-M/Sitel/Telma/MRT) • Representatives of Bulgarian community meet FM Osmani (All media) Albania • Defense Minister Peleshi, attends the two-day meeting of the NATO ministerial in Brussels (Radio Tirana) • 15 years of Independent Kosova/ President Begaj: one nation divided into two states (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS • Drecun: Serbia's position is clear: There is no dialogue resumption (TV Prva) • Colomina: NATO expects Serbia to get behind EU plan for Kosovo (Beta) • Olenik: Russian Ambassador should be exiled from Serbia (N1) • Security Service Coordination Bureau: Security situation in Serbia stable despite threats (Beta) • Vucic made a decision to increase the number of special units (B92) • Putin sent a congratulatory message to Vucic on the occasion of Statehood Day (RTS) • Lavrov to Dacic: Russia ready for further development of relations with Serbia (Beta) • Contract signed: €165 million to Serbia. Vucic: "This is great and good news" (Tanjug) REGIONAL PRESS Bosnia & Herzegovina • RSNA Speaker Stevandic meets with Serbian Parliament Speaker Orlic; Orlic: RS can always count on Serbia (RTRS) • Executive Intelligence Commission of B&H CoM confirms nominations of Dzuvo for OSA B&H Director, Zaric for OSA B&H Deputy Director and incumbent OSA B&H Chief Inspector Bevanda for the same post (N1) • FB&H HoR to vote on Thursday to appoint FB&H leadership; Lendo denies Konakovic’s statement that he will block process of election of FB&H Prime Minister-Designate (Nova BH) • SDP’s Cengic: Niksic did not negotiate good enough, new FB&H authority will not be formed soon (Dnevni list) • B&H Foreign Minister Konakovic, US Secretary of State Blinken speak by phone about important issues related to bilateral cooperation (N1) • Stoltenberg: NATO ministers to discuss stepping up support for B&H, Georgia and Moldova, which face Russian threats (N1) • Stevandic and delegation of RSNA to visit Russia on February 20 (Glas Srpske) • Cvijanovic meets Croatian Ambassador Sabolic: Open issues should be resolved through dialogue (Glas Srpske) Montenegro • Vukovic: DPS to announce name of presidential candidate in next 3 days (Antena M) • Danilovic United Montenegro’s presidential candidate (CDM) • Europe now: Citizens of Podgorica expressed their support for Spajic with their signatures (CDM) • At the request of the Government: Extraordinary session of the Assembly on February 28 (CDM) • Adzic with the Kosovo minister: Good neighborly relations to be further strengthened (CDM) Republic of North Macedonia • A lot of “against”, a little “for” ahead of government reshuffle session (Republika) • Attempt to enlarge the ruling coalition marred by defections, corruption allegations (Republika) • Kovachevski: Stable parliamentary majority necessary for rapid development and progress (MIA) • SDSM and DUI lose another coalition partner – Pavle Trajanov withdraws his support, will not vote for the new Government (Republika) • Parliament session over the new ministers resumes (MIA) • Parliament ratifies Open Balkan labour market deals (MIA) • Marichikj: Open Balkan work permits to be abolished (MIA) Albania • Rama: Bavaria, the gateway of the Western Balkans to Germany (Radio Tirana) • Rama signs a series of agreements with the Bavarian counterpart: New cooperation bridges (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade Daily Media Highlights Monday 13 February 2023 LOCAL PRESS • Brnabic: The common position of Serbia and the Western partners is that the ZSO must be established (RTS) • Petkovic: Kurti's thin arguments against ZSO, the commitments undertaken must be respected (Tanjug) • Vucic: I would not like the elections to be held this year, but I do not exclude that possibility (TV Prva) • Vucic told Pristina: Congratulations, finally the truth (B92) • Chollet: Pristina accepted the EU's proposal for the normalization of relations with Belgrade (RTS) • Talks between Belgrade and Pristina - pressures, uncertainty and incidents (RTS) • Vucevic: Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija feel uneasy because they don't know what Kurti can come up with (RTS) • Janjic: Russian Ambassador’s statement on Kosovo hands Serbia the hot potato (FoNet) • Dacic: How long will Albanian politicians be allowed to falsify history (RTS) • Petkovic: Kurti criminalizes Serbs in order to find an excuse for an empty coffer (RTS) • Brnabic: Sanctions against Russia “condition of all conditions” for continuation of European Integrations (RTS) • Dodik: Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo should resemble the RS (Beta) • Xi Jinping congratulated Vucic on National Day: The friendship between the two countries is getting stronger (RTS) REGIONAL PRESS Bosnia & Herzegovina • Kovacevic says RS will always support Serbia, including Kosovo issue (Glas Srpske) • Sattler: New authorities should focus on key priorities and EU path; B&H was granted status of EU candidate because of war in Ukraine (Nezavisne) • Sattler: We expect B&H to align its foreign policy with EU regarding war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia (Nezavisne) • Young diplomats of the EU respond to ‘young diplomats’ of Russia and their spreading of myths and outright falsehoods (Oslobodjenje) • Minister Helez, Konakovic comment warnings of Ambassador Kalabukhov; Moscow will not be the one deciding about B&H’s NATO path (Oslobodjenje) • SDA announces it will file motion for assessment of constitutionality of RS Law on Immovable Property with B&H CC; Stevandic, Sulic claim SDA is losing its influence, B&H CC is its final resort (EuroBlic) • HR Schmidt faces criticisms; numerous former diplomats request his dismissal in letter to German Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee (N1) • Media investigate what could follow after upcoming confirmation of FB&H Vice Presidents – obstructions and blockade of FB&H, new agreement or possibly reaction of HR? (N1) • SDA’s Comor and DF’s Mesalic comment on calls from ‘The Eight’ for Schmidt’s intervention in formation of FB&H authorities, say it would be against all postulates of democracy (Hayat) Croatia • Croatian PM Plenkovic: Equality of Croats more important to Republic of Croatia than sending of soldiers (Vecernji list) • MEP Zovko calls for bigger support to Western Balkans (Dnevni list) Montenegro • Montenegro politicians should understand gravity of situation and get country out of crisis (Pobjeda) • Maddocks: We’ll cooperate with any democratically elected govt, but that doesn’t mean we support it (Gradska TV) Republic of North Macedonia • Alternativa goes in opposition, will support constitutional changes (MIA) • Parliament to hold session on Government reshuffle proposal on Monday (MIA) • Kovachevski expects cabinet proposal to be adopted, Mickoski criticises PM (Kanal 5) Albania • Albania-EU, the process of revising the legislation on financial services begins (Radio Tirana) • Rama meets today with the Prime Minister of Bavaria, Markus Soder (Radio Tirana) • Electoral promises during the opposition protest (ADN)

LOCAL PRESS • Brnabic: Government's first 100 days marked by four wholes (Tanjug/RTV/RTS) • Vucic: Community of Municipalities first, then discussions about all else (Tanjug/RTS/Beta) • Vucic: Agreement reached with Dacic - the state is above other interests (Tanjug/Politika) • Vucic: We highly appreciate Cuba's support for Serbia's territorial integrity (Tanjug) • Serbia committed to continuing partnership cooperation with OSCE Mission (Tanjug/RTV) • Continuation of work with ODIHR on improving electoral conditions in Serbia (Tanjug/RTS/RTV) • Great importance of status neutrality of OSCE Mission in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV) • Jeremic: Accepting Franco-German proposal is suicidal (Beta) • Botsan-Kharchenko: Final status of Kosovo after end of West-Russia conflict (Beta) • Serbian parliament adopts set of judiciary laws (Beta) • EU leaders called Belgrade and Pristina to implement all agreements (Beta) REGIONAL PRESS Bosnia & Herzegovina • Dodik on HR’s statement for NIN: Schmidt is lying about meeting me (ATV) • Kovacevic claims nobody from SNSD is contacting Schmidt (EuroBlic) • Russian Ambassador: The West is waging hybrid war against Russia; OHR needs to be closed down immediately (Glas Srpske) • RS CC rejects motion of Bosniak Caucus regarding RS Law on Immovable Property (N1) • B&H CoM adopts decision on appointment of Directors, Deputy Directors and Acting Directors at several B&H agencies and services (Hayat/FTV) • Borenovic: B&H CoM’s decision to remove Zolak and appoint Grubisa as Acting Director of B&H Medicines Agency is illegal (BN TV/Hayat) • New B&H OSA Director not appointed at Thursday’s session of B&H CoM; Konakovic: I will not speculate on names of OSA B&H Director candidates (ATV) • ITA leadership not appointed at B&H CoM’s session; SDP and SNSD both want position of Director of B&H ITA (O Kanal/Nova BH) • B&H Indirect Taxation Authority holds session on Thursday and appoints Tegeltija for new Chairman (BN TV) • Dodik: RS cannot be bypassed in its projects because SNSD will prevent all projects in FB&H that require CoM’s approval (Dnevni list) • Working group of ‘The Eight’ discusses measures to undertake in ministries in future FB&H government (Hayat) • Covic deems High Representative should not intervene in process of formation of FB&H authorities (Nova BH) Croatia • Plenkovic at the EU summit: Union leaders discussed "the most tense situation in the north of Kosovo so far" (Hina) Montenegro • Government confirms: Census to be carried out 1-15 November (CdM) • Census “crosses out” early elections (RTCG) • Konjevic: There’s still room for opposition parties to cooperate with Europe Now (Vijesti/CdM) Republic of North Macedonia • Alliance wants to get in, Alternativa doesn’t want to get out of the government (Republika) • Alternativa received an indecent offer from Kovacevski to remain in the government (Republika) • Government reshuffle possible with the entry of Alliance (Republika) Albania • President Begaj receives Lord Stuart Peach/ May 14 elections, corruption and organized crime, focus of discussions (Radio Tirana) • Berisha asks support of all Albania for Saturday's massive protest (ADN) • Scholz: EU should speed up the integration process of Western Balkans countries (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS • Vucic, Quint Ambassadors discuss Kosovo and Metohija, dialogue (Tanjug/RTS/RTV) • Brnabic: I've nothing to add to Vucic's words about SNS-SPS coalition (Tanjug/RTS) • Dacic: Continuation of SNS-SPS cooperation agreed with Vucic (Tanjug/RTS) • Djurovic: Pristina's CoE membership bid not discussed on Wednesday (Tanjug) • Congratulation from French President on Serbia's National Day (B92/Politika) • Cooperation with ODIHR on improving the electoral process in Serbia (Tanjug/RTV) • Hill says Serbia should focus on EU, Russia sanctions (N1) • Botsan-Kharchenko: There will be no conflicts outside of Ukraine’s borders (Beta) • Djedovic: UNDP significant partner in energy efficiency improvement in Serbia (Beta) • Borrell: I will ask EU leaders for strong support for proposal on Kosovo (Beta) • Bilcik: No progress in negotiations until Serbia makes progress (N1) • HR Schmidt - Politicians from RS secretly contact me (NIN) REGIONAL PRESS Bosnia & Herzegovina • B&H Presidency approves deployment of AF B&H members to Turkey to provide assistance in mitigating consequences of earthquake (BHT1) • Ademovic: It would be normal if authority in FB&H would be formed in line with will of FB&H citizens and parliamentary majority (Oslobodjenje) • PIC SB Ambassadors issue joint statement, reaffirm consistent support to HR Schmidt, underline importance of reforms (FTV) • Dodik meets Kalabukhov and expresses expectation that important strategic projects will be unblocked in near future (RTRS) • Cvijanovic sends initiative to abolish Public Relations Service of B&H Presidency; Her Advisor Aulic criticizes Becirovic’s behaviour (RTRS) Montenegro • Djukanovic: Constitutional Court completion opens up space for decision to shorten parliament mandate and go for early elections (CdM) • Pisonero: EC concerned about Law on Confiscation of Property (Pobjeda) • Meeting over: Sovereign bloc probably without a common candidate (CdM) • Medojevic files 4 criminal charges against Spajic with Novovic: Case made, preliminary proceedings underway (CdM) Republic of North Macedonia • Taravari: Majority of issues regarding AfA joining government solved, negotiations to conclude (Telma/Alsat-M) • Kovacevski gave a lowball offer to Gashi, is trying to push his party to leave the coalition (Republika) • Kovachevski: Talks on enlarging majority focus on country's EU integration (MIA) • Council of Europe found that Bulgarians are not discriminated in Macedonia (Sloboden Pecat) Albania • Xhacka: Agreements for the visa-free travel of Albanian citizens to the People's Republic of China and the United Arab Emirates approved (Radio Tirana)