LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Nuclear energy required for higher growth rates (Tanjug/RTV)
• Vucic: I had important discussions with Macron, Von der Leyen (Tanjug/RTV)
• Relations between Serbia, Russia based on mutual trust, respect (Tanjug/RTV/RTS)
• Brnabic elected Serbian parliament speaker (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Lajcak expects concrete proposals on Dinar issue form Belgrade, Pristina on 25 March (Beta)
• Two opposition coalitions seek dialogue on conditions for fair and democratic elections (Beta/Politika/RTV)
• Lazovic: Talks in Bundestag focused on December elections (N1)
• Serbian opposition to Austrian parliament: Election fraud must not be ignored (N1)
• Serbian Embassy in Moscow marks anniversary of NATO bombing (RTS)
• State Duma of Russia adopts draft UN address, regarding the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik congratulates Brnabic: I am sure that she will be defending Serbia's interests (Srna)
• Varhelyi meets Forto and Cudic (Nova BH/FTV/AJB)
• Covic: How can we expect a green light from Denmark and the Netherlands when we have the High Representative who imposes laws (RTVHB)
• Dodik expects positive decision of European Council, but stresses that there will be a lot of work to be done if B&H gets the green light (RTRS)
• Bundestag gives green light for opening negotiations between B&H and EU (AJB)
• Dutch parliament adopts resolution leaving possibility for PM Rutte to vote in Brussels for decision to open negotiations with B&H (FTV)
• Meloni: We are ready to support opening of accession negotiations with B&H (Klix.ba)
• Austrian Minister for EU Edstadler: Use positive moment and open negotiations with B&H (Nezavisne)
• Danish Foreign Minister Rasmussen: EU must not abandon its merit-based approach, situation in B&H is still fragile (Nezavisne)
• French Embassy: B&H’s future is in EU, it is necessary to continue with reforms (Fena)
• Dodik insults Becirovic over Easter Assembly (Avaz)
• Becirovic replies to Dodik’s insults (Oslobodjenje)
Montenegro
• Milatovic’s councillors overthrowing Podgorica local govt. together with DPS (CdM)
• Szijjarto: Publicly everyone in EU is in favour of enlargement, but secretly majority is against it (Dan)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Not thousands of citizens, but only VMRO-DPMNE MPs back Siljanovska Davkova, Pendarovski's team says (MIA)
• SEC: Diaspora voters to vote only for President; not enough interest for parliamentary elections (MIA)
Albania
• Rama meeting with the US Assistant Secretary (Radio Tirana)
• Robinson's meetings with Manja and Balla/American embassy: It is important to maintain pace for the Reform in Justice (Radio Tirana)
• Spiropali: Boosting the strategic partnership with the USA, a priority (Radio Tirana)
• Contact Group for Ukraine, Peleshi: Albania remains committed to playing a leading role (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 20 March 2024

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic congratulates Putin on election win, informs him of situation in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/Politika)
• Formation of Community of Serb Municipalities remains key topic of negotiations with Pristina (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Petkovic: Solution must include continued Postal Savings Bank operations in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)
• Lajcak: Dialogue to be continued on Monday (Tanjug)
• Dacic: UN Security Council session regarding NATO bombing of Yugoslavia anniversary still uncertain (TV Pink/Beta)
• Hill: ZSO is overdue (RTS)
• Varhelyi says Serbia should open next cluster (Beta)
• Revision of Pogrom and Kalimero (Danas)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Venice Commission adopts Opinion on certain issues related to functioning of Constitutional Court of B&H (Hayat/N1)
• Dodik: Schmidt is constantly messing around, shifting the blame to the RS (ATV)
• Varhelyi expresses support to B&H ahead of European Council session (FTV)
• GAC meeting: Several EU-member states and MEPs call on European Council to approve opening of B&H’s accession negotiations (Hayat)
• Becirovic, Schmidt speak about EU path of B&H (FTV)
• Helez to Dodik and Goganovic: When B&H gets the green light for negotiations with the EU, it will continue path towards full NATO membership (Avaz)
• Speaker Stevandic address Russian Duma: Serbs are being brutally punished because of refusal to join the anti-Russian hysteria (RTRS)
• Stevandic and Volodin sign agreement on cooperation between RS parliament and Russian Duma (ATV)
Montenegro
• Dragovic: Government stable, appointment of Police Directorate acting director legal (RTCG)
• In a letter sent to Milatovic, Emmanuel Macron said it would be a pleasure to visit Montenegro (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Party structures decide on coalitions, says SDSM leader (MIA)
• Ahmeti: Constitutional change, country's EU membership of great importance (MIA)
• SEC: Inspection of Electoral Roll, diaspora voter registration officially closed (MIA)
• Deadline to hand in presidential candidacies expires on Wednesday (MIA)
Albania
• Albania's reforms and contribution to global developments, Begaj meets QUINT countries Ambassadors (Radio Tirana)
• Hasani: OSCE, valuable contribution to promoting stability and cooperation in the region (Radio Tirana)
• US Assistant Secretary, Todd Robinson meeting with the head of SPAK and the head of National Bureau of Investigation (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: There is no kind of agreement related to use of Serbian Dinar (RTS/RTV/Politika)
• Vucic: No voter roll access to foreigners (FoNet/N1/Politika)
• Brnabic: Derecognitions of so-called Kosovo biggest success of Serbian authorities (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Vucic, Dodik announce great Easter assembly of Serbia, RS (Beta)
• Dacic: UNSC session on NATO aggression on FRY scheduled for 25 March (Tanjug)
• Trilateral meeting of Petkovic, Lajcak and Bislimi begins in Brussels (Tanjug/RTV)
• ODIHR confirms invitation to observe Belgrade elections (N1)
• Serbian parliament constitutive session resumes (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H HoP’s session interrupted after Law on B&H CC was included in agenda and after Bosniak Caucus decides to leave session (Hayat)
• HR Schmidt: Removal of international judges from B&H CC would violate Constitution and principles of independent jurisdiction (AJB)
• FAC holds session ahead of session of European Council; Schallenberg: There is possibility B&H will be finally given green light for beginning of pre-accession negotiations (Nova BH)
• Dodik meets EUFOR Commander, stresses importance of continuation of good cooperation of RS institutions and EUFOR; Karan also meets Sticz (RTRS)
• Putin’s victory sparks positive reactions in RS (RTRS)
Croatia
• Constitutional Court: The President of the Republic of Croatia cannot be a candidate in the elections (HRT)
• Plenkovic: This is an attempt at a mini-coup (HRT)
• Milanovic: Constitutional Court’s decision is tantamount to a constitutional coup (HRT)
Montenegro
• Spajic: Montenegro should be EU member state, period; Escobar: Government under PM’s leadership has already taken huge steps (CdM)
• Ibrahimovic with Escobar: The Bosniak Party is an important partner of the USA in Montenegro (CdM)
• Gorcevic with Escobar: Montenegro should continue to confirm its adherence to Euro-Atlantic values (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Council for coordination of security services holds session on electoral process (MIA)
Albania
• US Assistant Secretary Robinson to visit Albania and Kosovo (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 18 March 2024

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: No one can take away Serbia’s right to truth about March pogrom (RTS/RTV/Politika)
• Vucic: They did not listen carefully - no surrender of Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV)
• Dacic: Worst crimes committed against innocent people and clergy during Pogrom in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV)
• Vucic: Meeting with Lajcak addressed unbearable living conditions for Kosovo Serbs (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Brnabic: Continuation of work on fulfillment of ODIHR recommendations (Tanjug)
• Significant cooperation with OSCE Mission, US Embassy to Belgrade (Tanjug)
• NADA coalition demands mixed committee to clean up voter roll (N1)
• Blinken: Kosovo, Serbia need to meet their obligations stemming from EU-mediated dialogue (Beta)
• Borrell: Time for Belgrade, Pristina to stop tensions, apply agreement (Beta)
• Giaufret: Opposition should take up its role in parliament (Beta/Politika)
• Djilas responds to EU Ambassador: Opposition would like to take parliamentary seats that belong to it, but they were stolen (N1)
• Serbian parliamentary constitutive session resumes (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik: Persecution of Serbs from Kosovo continues even after 2004 pogrom (Srna)
• Becirovic: I hope decision of European Council will be positive, negative decision would only make Moscow happy (Dnevni avaz)
• Dodik: Becirovic needs to explain to the public what kind democracy allows foreigner to annul decisions of institutions (RTRS)
• Becirovic: Statements of some politicians that opening of negotiating process basically means relocating of OHR do not have any foundation in DPA (Klix.ba)
• Escobar: RS has no capacity to oppose NATO or to declare independence (O Kanal)
• Dodik: Escobar’s assessment about the RS is lie (N1/Srna)
• Covic attends 20th HDZ Croatia General Assembly: April 17, when Croatian elections will be held, will be a non-working day in B&H as well (N1)
• Milanovic: Things done by HDZ B&H and its leader Covic, i.e. on the Zagreb-Mostar line, show that these people do not wish to solve problems of Croats in B&H (FTV)
Croatia
• Milanovic decided: Parliamentary elections on Wednesday, 17 April (HRT)
• Milanovic to head the SDP list: I will resign after the election victory (HRT)
• Plenkovic: Milanovic’s election run dispels the myth of presidential impartiality (HRT)
Montenegro
• Escobar: The most important task for Montenegro is to support everything the Prime Minister does, a risk if the former DF enters the government (RFE/CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovachevski: Upcoming elections to decide if country joins EU or gets stuck in uncertainty, isolation, divisions (MIA)
• Siljanovska-Davkova: Scandinavian policy toward neighbors, no need for veto threats (TV24)
• Bekteshi: Whoever loses should step back from politics (MIA)
Albania
• Begaj in Baku, meeting with the Deputy Secretary General of the UN (Tirana Times)
• Balla meets his Romanian counterpart: Deepening of cooperation between the police (Radio Tirana)
• Ambassador of the EU, Silvio Gonzato: I appreciate the leadership and responsibility shown by the parties in reaching the agreement (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 15 March 2024

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic after the meeting with Soder: We proposed 7 important things (B92/Tanjug)
• Petkovic: Kurti cannot break Kosovo Serbs' ties with their state (Tanjug/RTV)
• Dacic: Inadmissibility of any attempts by "Kosovo" to achieve membership in the Hague Conference (Tanjug/RTV)
• Orlic: New Serbian parliament to have six deputy speakers (Tanjug/RTV)
• Escobar with Kurti on Dinar issue: I hope Kosovo govt will be flexible (KoSSev/N1)
• Jovanovic: We are waiting for authorities' response to call for dialogue (N1/Beta)
• Opposition party files criminal complaint against two ministers (Beta)
• Serbian Patriarch: We will speak Serbian, not gender-sensitive language (Beta)
• NATO report: Presence in Kosovo remains key to stability of Western Balkans (Beta)
• Serbian government extends decision on protection of displaced Ukrainians (Beta)
• Stano: Chief negotiators of Belgrade, Pristina to meet in Brussels Tuesday (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik, Covic and Niksic at panel discussion ‘The Future of B&H: On the Path to the EU’ in Vienna; Dodik: B&H will stop being a colony after 21 March (RTRS)
• Commissioner Varheyli: If Council adopts proposal, EC will immediately start with preparing of negotiating framework (Oslobodjenje)
• Covic: B&H will receive the invitation next Thursday, and it is necessary to prepare to make much bigger steps forward than was the case until now (Dnevni avaz)
• Ambassador Arnaut: Germany will continue to provide help to B&H regarding preparations for EU negotiations (N1/Dnevni list)
• 4th session of the SAPC ends in Strasbourg: Institutions of B&H lack capacity for accession negotiations (Dnevni list)
• RS government adopts Action Plan for alignment of RS regulations with EU acquis (BHRT)
• US Embassy: Annual Threat Assessment warns of Dodik’s provocative steps (Oslobodjenje)
• Dodik: All scribblings from the US are created by US Embassy in Sarajevo, with Murphy at helm; Murphy is trying to stuff as much garbage as possible on the RS (RTRS)
• Dodik: It is ridiculous for US to impose sanctions against my associates because of celebration; Additional statments (RTRS)
Croatia
• 10th convocation of Croatian parliament dissolved by unanimous vote (HRT)
• Milanovic to announce election date (HRT)
Montenegro
• Mandic: Continuation of parliamentary session on 18 March, it’s time for compromises and mature decisions (CdM)
• Spajic: No political instability, question for Democrats is whether they will leave government (CdM)
• Forty-six percent of Montenegrin citizens support NATO, 44 percent of them support leaving the Alliance (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Escobar: North Macedonia should be immediate candidate for EU membership (MIA)
Albania
• Begaj in Azerbaijan, meeting with his counterpart Aliyev: Energy and tourism, at the top of the agenda (Radio Tirana)
• Albania becomes a member of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats (Radio Tirana)