LOCAL PRESS • Vucic: I spoke with Dacic, I don't think that elections are the best solution at this moment (TV Pink) • Dacic: Continuation of cooperation between SNS and SPS agreed in talks with Vucic (Tanjug/RTV) • Ugljanin calls on Vucic for Serbia to give equal rights to Bosniaks according to model for Serbs in Kosovo (Beta) • Klacar: SNS want to share political responsibility for Kosovo with SPS (Beta) • Hill: US insist on formation of ZSO (TV K1/RTV) • Lajcak discusses developments with Von Cramon (N1) • Stano: EU ready to organise high-level meeting, no date for now (Tanjug/RTS/Politika) • Serbia takes examples of best practice from developed media companies (Tanjug) • Ten years in prison for murder of 20 non-Serb civilians in Strpci (Beta) • Serbia deploying another rescue squad to Turkey (Beta) REGIONAL PRESS Bosnia & Herzegovina • Members of civil protection administrations from both entities depart to Turkey without decision of B&H CoM (N1) • B&H CEC verifies list of candidates for election of FB&H President and Vice-Presidents (BHT1) • Niksic says he does not know much about appointment of new PM and new government of FB&H (N1/Nova BH) • Dzaferovic says FB&H authorities cannot be formed without SDA, warns Dodik to be careful about what he says and does (BHRT/Dnevni list) • Konakovic and Varhelyi discuss EU path of B&H; Varhelyi: We stand ready to help B&H on its EU path (N1) • Dodik: US Embassy in B&H spoke about ‘Markale’ because in this way it defends the cause of NATO airstrikes on the RS during the defensive-patriotic war (RTRS) • Kalabukhov: Neither Russia, nor the EU, nor America have the right to determine which path B&H should take (RTRS) • RS parliament continues special session; Viskovic: RS government’s policy towards HR has not changed and will not change (RTRS) Croatia • Red Cross Croatia launches fundraiser for Turkey and Syria (HRT) Montenegro • Osmani Sadriu: Serbia doesn’t strive for good neighbourly relations; Djukanovic: We support Kosovo in an endeavour to become member of the Council of Europe and get a candidate status (CdM) • Osmani meets Abazovic, cooperation on focus (RTCG) • Djukanovic: We’ll propose candidate who can win, I’d like Abazovic to test his strength in the election (CdM) • Djukanovic the greatest rival of SPC, it’ll try to use several ways to overthrow him (Pobjeda) • Committee proposes judges of the Constitutional Court today: Beganovic and Resulbegovic in a race for the fourth judge (CdM) Republic of North Macedonia • North Macedonia to send emergency aid to Turkey after disastrous quake (MIA) • Osmani – OSCE Quint ambassadors: North Macedonia ready to provide political leadership of OSCE (MIA) • President Pendarovski meets OSCE ambassadors (MIA) Albania • Albanian search and rescue team in the ruins of the tragedy in Malatya, Turkey (Radio Tirana) • Iran's cyber-attack, Xhacka says had it been successful, the consequences for Albanians would have been extraordinary (Radio Tirana) • Hohmann: AKSHI should improve its role, protection from cyber-attacks, one of the conditions to become part of the EU (Radio Tirana) • Kim: Cyber-attacks will continue to be a threat (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS • Vucic: Mutual recognition, in your dreams! (Tanjug) • Vucic meets with Lajcak (Tanjug/RTS/RTV) • Vucic disappointed with SPS, ready for new election (Novosti/Beta) • Dacic: SPS supports Vucic's policy on Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug) • Vucevic talks Kosovo, cooperation and support with Slovak, Greek Ambassadors (Beta/RTV) • Serbia, Hungary committed to development of cooperation in field of energy (RTS/RTV/Tanjug) • Mojsilovic meets US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff (FoNet) • Dveri Movement refuses Vucic’s invitation over unacceptable condition (N1) • Tadic: West created precedent now used by Putin (Nationalinterest.org/N1/NSPM) REGIONAL PRESS Bosnia & Herzegovina • Results of early elections held on Sunday (BHT1) • ‘The Eight’ begins signature collection process in FB&H House of Representatives in relation to election of FB&H President and Vice Presidents and FB&H government formation (BHT1) • Konakovic meets Ambassadors Reilly, Stromquist, discuss bilateral relations, B&H’s EU and NATO path (Dnevni list) • US Embassy: Massacre in Markale committed by RS Army (Dnevni avaz) Croatia • Croatian MP barred from entering Serbia over claims of national security concerns (HRT) • Croatia’s demarche to protest against Serbia’s decision to ban an entry to Croatian MP (Hina) Montenegro • Spajic: We are not ready for Open Balkans, to focus on European integration and open up to the world (RTV Niksic/CdM) Republic of North Macedonia • Kovacevski-Novak: Europe needs Macedonia (Republika) • Novak-Pendarovski: Hungary is one of the loudest and most active countries in supporting Macedonia’s EU membership (Republika) • Pendarovski believes that the latest Bulgarian declaration is for election purposes (Republika) Albania • Begaj receives head of the NATO Military Committee: Albania committed in NATO missions and operations (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS • MPs adopt Report on negotiations with Pristina (Beta/B92) • Brnabic: Pressure on Belgrade getting stronger (RTS) • Drecun: French-German plan not take-it-or-leave-it deal, but platform (Tanjug) • Dacic: US has changed attitude toward Serbia (TV Pink/Beta) • Representatives of Bosniaks, Albanians from Serbia seek reciprocity with rights of Serbs in Kosovo (Beta) • Group of Albanians attack young Serb in Mogila (Tanjug) • Romano: We respect Serbia’s military neutrality (Kurir/Beta) • Criteria for opening Chapter 1 met, European Commission confirms (Tanjug/RTS) REGIONAL PRESS Bosnia & Herzegovina • Dodik on Kosovo issue: It is important that Serbia preserves its strength and remains most powerful and most important country in region (RTRS) • RS politicians express support to Serbian authority led by Vucic in finding solution for Kosovo issue (Nezavisne) • Izetbegovic: HR Schmidt is openly siding with certain political structures (Dnevni list) • Kovacevic: Izetbegovic denies DPA concept of B&H (ATV/MTV Igman) • Radanovic: Izetbegovic himself contributed to disappearance of Serbs from FB&H (Nezavisne) • B&H Central Election Commission confirms results for allocation of mandates in B&H House of Peoples from FB&H (N1) • Pod lupom observers submitted 11 complaints regarding early elections in six cities and municipalities (BHT1) • HNS holds 11th session Saturday, re-elects Covic as HNS President and adopts eight-point declaration that focuses on amendments to B&H Election Law in part related to legitimate representation (N1) • Becirovic meets Turner, other US officials; Becirovic: Sanctions against individual B&H politicians are not the happiest solution, but they are necessary at a time when politicians like Dodik are violating DPA (Nova BH) • Dodik on Becirovic’s statement about sanctions: Such things must end in interest of B&H (RTRS) • RS officials criticize Becirovic for calling on for introduction of sanctions against RS during visit to US (ATV) Croatia • PM: Croatia trying to facilitate cooperation with Bosnia after Schengen entry (Hina) Montenegro • Damjanovic and Escobar on the Open Balkans Initiative: Economic cooperation among countries of region very important (CdM) • Open Balkans because Belgrade says so. Berlin Process because Brussels says so. And what do you say? (By Andrej Nikolaidis, CdM) Republic of North Macedonia • Intensive talks for Taravari’s party to join government (MIA/Telma/Sitel TV) • Taravari: Would support minority government, prepared to head certain institutions (Telma) • AfA to finalize talks for entry in the government coalition (Telma) Albania • Legislation of commercial companies in the focus of talks Albania – EU (Radio Tirana) • Escobar: Albania, our reliable partner (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade Daily Media Highlights Friday 3 February 2023 LOCAL PRESS • Vucic: I never negotiated about staying in power (RTV/Tanjug) • Vucic: Serbia must engage in talks, maintain military neutrality (Tanjug/RTS/FoNet) • Brnabic: Vucic's address is responsible and historic (Tanjug) • US welcomes Serbia's constructive stance in dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija (RTS/Tanjug) • Djuric: I believe that 2023 could be a positive turning point in US-Serbia relations (RTS) • Protest in front of parliament against European proposal on Kosovo (Beta) REGIONAL PRESS Bosnia & Herzegovina • Dodik: RS will never allow B&H to recognize Kosovo; Declaration adopted by SC Assembly shows that mono-mono ethnic state is guarantee survival of the Serb people (RTRS/RT) • RS parliament and RS CoP Joint Commission fail to reach agreement on Law on Immovable Property, refers it to RS Constitutional Court (RTRS) • B&H CoM holds its first session; Konakovic says removal of Mehmedagic, Buha will be discussed at next session (ATV) • Konakovic and Kosarac meet to discuss Trgovska Gora issue, EU integration process (Dnevni list) • Konakovic on formation of new FB&H government: HR will probably have to intervene by additionally amending or explaining amendments to electoral legislation he imposed – the solution that created ground for this type of blockades (FTV) • Ambassador Murphy and Covic discuss formation of new authorities (O Kanal) • B&H CEC confirms nomination of Stojanovic for FB&H Vice President; denies candidacy of DF’s Zlatan Begic for FB&H President/Vice-President (O Kanal/N1) • Begic on B&H CEC’s refusal to verify his candidacy: This is joint criminal enterprise by HDZ B&H and HR Schmidt (Hayat) • B&H Presidency members attend National Prayer Breakfast in Washington; They meet with US’ Karlin and Chollet (N1/Al Jazeera) • HR Schmidt with Bundestag’s delegation, exchange views on current political and security environment in B&H (Dnevni avaz) Croatia • Zagreb and Warsaw will continue to support Kyiv (HRT) Montenegro • Djeljosaj: Minority parties to agree on the fourth candidate for judge of the Constitutional Court (CdM) • Key messages of candidates for judges of the Constitutional Court (CdM) • Leaders of the opposition met to discuss joint presidential candidate (CdM) • Krapovic: Becic serves citizens; if the party wishes him to run for president of MNE, he won’t refuse (Pobjeda/TVCG) • NOVA Main Board: Andrija Mandic to run for the country’s presidency (CdM) • Becic: Executive committee to decide on Democrats’ candidate, support for Spajic if we agree on a joint appearance (TV Vijesti) Republic of North Macedonia • Misajlovski: Current parliamentary composition doesn’t have the mandate to change the Constitution, elections are needed (TV Alsat) Albania • President Begaj receives the delegation of the friendship group of South Korea: Gratitude for the support given to Kosovo (Radio Tirana) • Albania and EU to harmonize trade exchange rules (Radio Tirana) • Movement in the Western Balkans, only with an ID card! (Radio Tirana) • Israel to assist Albania in cyber security (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS • Vucic: Most difficult part of plan envisages for us not to oppose Kosovo’s membership in international organizations (RTS) • Incident at Serbian parliament session on Kosovo (N1) • Dacic: Discussions at US State Department successful (Tanjug) • Djurovic: Quint states changed stance on Pristina's CoE bid in past two weeks (Tanjug/Politika) • Serbs from Dren village do not give up the protest, demand immediate suspension of works (RTS) • Hill: Serbia chose to go West, relations with Russia weakening by the day (N1) • Vucic speaks with US Secretary of State Blinken (N1) • Public figures appeal: Serbia taking Kosovo back is an illusion (Beta) REGIONAL PRESS Bosnia & Herzegovina • Konakovic and Dodik meet in Banja Luka: Authorities at B&H level are stable; Topics on which there is no agreement will not be discussed within coalition at B&H level (BHT1/N1/Nova BH) • Covic and Konakovic optimistically talk about formation FB&H government (FTV) • Niksic: We will talk to everyone at cantonal and FB&H level, but final decision will be reached by SDP Main Board (Dnevni avaz) • B&H Presidency members meet Finer, Sloat; They discuss political, security situation, formation of authorities (FTV/Nova BH) • Becirovic with Congresswoman Wagner: B&H must strengthen its presence in US (Dnevni list) • Dodik informs Macdonald that RS institutions are fully dedicated to implementation of economic and social reforms (RTRS) • Konakovic meets EU Ambassadors, Sattler, says EU path is priority (FTV) Croatia • Croatian President: Serbia will have to recognise Kosovo (Hina) • Croatian and Slovenian Presidents announce a Brdo Brijuni Process summit for the fall (HRT1) Montenegro • Djurovic: Agreement over three judges of the Constitutional Court reached (CdM) • Bilchik: End the mandate of the current government and pave the way for new elections (Pobjeda) Republic of North Macedonia • Gashi: Compromise possible, SDSM-AfA talks to finish first (MIA) • AfA: Justice and health sectors discussed in government talks (MIA) • Tupancheski: Not sure quick ministerial reshuffles is best solution (Sitel) • Grkovska-Escobar: North Macedonia on right path to achieve its objectives, considered model in region (MIA) • Oliver Varhelyi met with the so-called Macedonian Bulgarians (Republika/BGNES) • Geer: Inclusion of Bulgarians in Constitution not changing its essence (Telma) Albania • Role of the Assembly in the EU accession process/Balla meeting with the experts of the German Bundestag (Radio Tirana) • Begaj meets Ambassador of France in Albania, Elisabeth Barsacq; Pre-election situation on focus (Radio Tirana) • Kim: Independent and free media, vital for democracy (Radio Tirana)