LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic, Hill discuss security situation in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Dialogue framework for resolving open issues, Hill says at meeting with Vucic (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Popovic calls for rejection of so-called Kosovo's HCCH membership bid (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Becic: Serbia confident Russia-Ukraine challenges in PABSEC will be resolved (Tanjug)
• Vucevic: Inicidents in north Kosovo and Metohija messageto Serbs they are not desired (RTS)
• KFOR Commander: Mitrovica incidents concerning, we will not tolerate violence (Beta)
• Sarrazin: Pristina knows (Tanjug/RTV)
• Tension in Velika Hoca; Petkovic: ROSU is coming (Radio KiM/B92/Beta/Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Cvijanovic and Vucic deny signing any declaration at Tirana Summit (Glas Srpske)
• President Michel on possibility of B&H getting candidate status; HR Schmidt: Support of Croatia on B&H’s EU path is important (Dnevni list/Oslobodjenje)
• Representatives of HDZ B&H and 'The Eight' agree that HDZ B&H's Kristo will be appointed B&H CoM Chair and that SDP B&H leader Niksic will be appointed FB&H Prime Minister (N1)
• US Embassy to B&H disappointed with fact people who were ‘blacklisted’ were appointed to high positions in authorities in B&H (N1)
• B&H CEC elects three delegates to Croat Caucus in FB&H HoP and two delegates in Serb Caucus of FB&H HoP by drawing of lots (Nova BH)
• DF in Zenica Doboj Canton refuses to let HDZ B&H enter government with them (FTV)
• Bosnia Podrinje Canton becomes first canton in FB&H to form new government (FTV)
• SNSD submits complaint to decision of B&H CEC to recognize as valid vote for PDP’s list for delegates in B&H HoP; Criminal reports were filed against five B&H CEC members (RTRS)
• President Milanovic: Had Croatian government taken stronger position, Komsic would not have ended up in Presidency of B&H through deception again (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• Plenkovic: Constitutional foundation to help Ukraine is indisputable (HRT)
• Grlic Radman: The stay of Ukrainian soldiers in the Republic of Croatia cannot drag us into war (HRT)
Montenegro
• Ivanovic: SNP advocating for election of four Constitutional Court judges, we’ll vote for lifting immunity of DPS and SD MPs (CdM)
• Mugosa, Cikotic and Odzic resign from the positions of state secretaries (CdM)
• Abazovic is preparing a decision on Montenegro's entry into the Open Balkans (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Bulgarian Minister: Sofia, Skopje jointly observe St. Clement of Ohrid for the first time (MIA)
• We welcome US enhanced engagement in anti-corruption fight, says Osmani (MIA)
• N. Macedonia interested in NATO opening a cyber-security center in country (MIA)
• North Macedonia won’t introduce visas for Kosovo (MIA)
Albania
• Summit/ Rama from Brussels: We brought a smile to the EU! We cannot apply for membership without doing our homework (Radio Tirana)
• Begaj meets Mitsotakis: Any old or new issue will be treated with maximum seriousness! (Radio Tirana)
• Tirana Summit, Kim meets Begaj: Albania has US support, we strengthen cooperation in democracy, defense and business (Radio Tirana)
• Spanish Prime Minister's letter to Rama: Commitment to the European future of the Western Balkans and Albania (Radio Tirana)
• Scholz, Tirana’s commitment to the enlargement of the European Union (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 7 December 2022

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: It is good that Serbia participated in summit; Discussions we had on Tuesday were never more open and honest (RTS)
• Vucic: We know what happened in Kosovo and Metohija, we'll wait for the report (B92)
• Vucic meets with a number of officials at the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tirana (Novosti)
• Dacic says it was good decision to have Serbia participate in EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tirana (TV Prva/Politika)
• Vucevic: A single spark is enough to provoke clashes (TV Prva)
Increased presence of EULEX and KFOR (Kosovo Online/B92)
• Validity of vehicle registration with license plates of Serbian cities in Kosovo and Metohija extended (RTS)
• Ristic: I didn’t take a single Euro from Pristina (Danas/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Von der Leyen: We are the union of prosperity, but we are essentially the union of values; Von der Leyen hopes that B&H will get EU candidate status (N1)
• Michel: I think the integration process is key to stability (N1)
• Cvijanovic comments on EU-Western Balkans Summit: I am more optimistic that B&H will be granted EU candidate status mid-December (RTRS)
• Cvijanovic discusses B&H’s EU path with Nehammer, Borrell (N1)
• Becirovic, Sattler meet, discuss EU path, candidate status of B&H (Dnevni avaz)
• EC: Western Balkans countries to introduce visas for citizens of third countries (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia
• Plenkovic: EU leaders are calling on Vucic to join sanctions against Russia (Hina)
• Plenkovic: Croatia supports approving status of EU candidate to B&H as soon as possible (HRT1)
Montenegro
• Picula categorical: Varhelyi partial to Serbia, country not respecting some of fundamental EU values (CdM)
• DPS calls on meeting to discuss election of Constitutional Court judges (CdM)
• Djukanovic: Maybe now we can vote for the election of one judge of the Constitutional Court (CdM)
• Nikolic: Prosecutor’s office started political persecution upon the order of Dritan Abazovic (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• EU-Western Balkans Summit: Joint management of energy crisis effects (MIA)
• Kovachevski says country committed to screening process, expects constitutional changes soon (TV Sitel)
Albania
• EU-Western Balkans Summit Tirana Declaration, 6 December 2022 (Radio Tirana)
• Rama: These days, EU needs Western Balkans as much Western Balkans needs EU (Radio Tirana)
• Albanian opposition political parties organize protest during EU-Western Balkans summit in Tirana (N1)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic in Tirana: Better to be at the table than on the menu (Tanjug/B92)
• Reduction, abolishment of roaming prices between EU, Western Balkans countries (Tanjug)
• Latest proposal forwarded to Belgrade and Pristina (Tanjug)
• Policy based on international law protects Serbia’s interests the best (Tanjug)
• Belgrade constructive, predictable partner in dialogue with Pristina (Tanjug/Politika)
• Lajcak: I discussed with Vucic the way forward on normalization of relations (N1)
• Further strengthening of good bilateral relations with Czech Republic (Tanjug/RTV)
• Orlic informs Abdollahian about current events in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: We call on Serbs to remain calm (RTS)
• Brussels: Serbia to adopt new integrated border control strategy (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H CEC declares disputable ballot from RS parliament voting valid; If decision is confirmed, fifth delegate in Serb Caucus in BiH HoP to be elected by drawing of lots (Hayat)
• Dodik: SNSD to file appeal against CEC’s decision on ballot for B&H HoP and criminal reports against certain CEC members (N1)
• RS officials react to CEC’s decision on ballot for B&H HoP (RTRS)
• NiP leader Konakovic meets SNSD leader Dodik, discuss formation of new CoM, adoption of strategic documents (Dnevni list)
• Dodik announces that Cvijanovic will participate in summit of EU and countries of Western Balkans in Tirana (Nova BH)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic’s office found out about signing ceremony where a joint declaration on the Euro-Atlantic perspective of Ukraine that the outgoing PM Abazovic signed with the President Zelensky via media (Pobjeda)
• Picula: Montenegro increasingly synonymous with crisis, Open Balkans project on the way to becoming irrelevant (CdM)
• EU official: We’ll hear more from Djukanovic about situation in Montenegro, it’s important to have functional Constitutional Court (Pobjeda)
• Ramusovic: Russians are destroying the Balkans before the West’s eyes (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovachevski says fight against corruption is high on his agenda (MIA)
• Grubi-Aggeler: North Macedonia has no time to lose (MIA)
• Holstein: N. Macedonia’s EU progress depends on success in tackling corruption (MIA)
• Osmani holds briefing with heads of foreign diplomatic missions to N. Macedonia (MIA)
• Reactivation of Berlin Process is great news, says President Pendarovski (MIA)
Albania
• Host Albania has high hopes for EU-Western Balkans summit (AP/Radio Tirana)
• Balluku: Tirana tomorrow, the biggest political stage in Europe (Radio Tirana)
• Berisha warns thousands of protesters in Tirana for Tuesday’s protest (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 5 December 2022
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Necessity of implementation of ZSO agreement (RTS/Tanjug)
• Vucic: I am going to Tirana, I will fight for the interests of our people (RTS)
• Brnabic accuses Kurti of brutally violating Brussels agreement (TV Pink)
• Serbia remains committed to European integration process (RTS/RTV/Tanjug)
• EU membership Serbia’s strategic commitment (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Gratitude for Iran’s principled stance on territorial integrity (Tanjug/RTV)
• Relations of Serbia, Iran at high level (Politika/Tanjug)
• Stefanovic: Serbia will never recognize Kosovo (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• EU: Tirana Summit will be an opportunity to reaffirm significance of key partnership between Union and Western Balkan countries (Nezavisne)
• Dodik says he will decide with Vucic if B&H will take part in Tuesday’s summit in Tirana (RTRS)
• Becirovic assesses Dodik's views on B&H's participation in summit in Tirana as ungrounded (FTV)
• RS PM Viskovic carries out consultations on formation of RS authorities (FTV)
• SPRS Main Board adopts decision on coalition agreement with SNSD, DEMOS, ‘United Srpska’ and NPS (ATV)
• Covic says HDZ B&H and eight other parties agreed to form government (N1)
• Dodik: With election of four SNSD delegates to B&H HoP, no one will be able to impose anything on the RS anymore in next four years; Commissioner Varhelyi promised unblocking of EU funds that the RS requires (RTRS)
• B&H CC’s decision abolishing and declaring unconstitutional law on medicines and medical devices of RS, amendments to RS law on administration causes reactions in RS (ATV)
• Escobar: US will continue to implement sanctions against politicians in B&H (VoA/BN TV)
Croatia
• JL op-ed about upcoming Tirana Summit, noting that EU will repeat its promises it is giving since 2000 (Jutarnji list)
• JL carries draft conclusions prepared for upcoming sessions of EU bodies, which will discuss enlargement; Only disagreements regard decision to award status of EU candidate to B&H (Jutarnji list)
• Croatia is lobbying for granting B&H status of EU candidate (Vecernji list)
• Milanovic: Croat political parties should decide on who they will cooperate and how, Croatia will not interfere with that (HRT1)
Montenegro
• Vujovic: We’re flooded with political immorality, DF’s parliamentary majority tries to avoid elections with constitutional coup (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Taravari: AfA not holding talks to enter gov’t; will still vote for constitutional changes
• (MIA)
• Osmani: Constitutional changes should be discussed in Parliament as soon as possible (TV Sitel)
• Escobar: North Macedonia’s gov’t is a good partner in implementing EU agenda (Telma/MIA)
• Osmani: EU-W. Balkan Summit in Tirana a message of EU’s commitment to the region (MIA)
Albania
• Rama: EU-Western Balkans Summit to be held in Albania, a well-thought-out way (Radio Tirana)
• EU-Western Balkan Summit in Tirana, Rama: A strategic assessment, the most important in international relations (Radio Tirana)
• PM Rama says Vucic has no choice but to attend EU Summit (ADN)
• Rama: Sunak has expressed his regret for statements against Albanians (Radio Tirana)
• Kosovo-Albania, cooperation in the field of education and joint military exercises (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Situation among Serbs boiling, nobody wants to suffer Kurti’s terror (Tanjug/RTV)
• Vucic: Terrorist scum, take care... (B92)
• Vucic: EU has demonstrated anti-Serb attitude (TV Pink)
• Brnabic: EU's shameful reaction to appointment of Nenad Rasic (RTS)
• Dacic: Pristina sabotaging efforts for compromise (Tanjug)
• Bilateral meetings of Dacic on side lines of OSCE Ministerial meeting (Tanjug/RTV)
• Dacic: We will not let Pristina's CoE membership happen without a fight (Tanjug/Politika)
• Orlic with Varhelyi on Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV)
• Lajcak: I'm coming to Belgrade (Tanjug/Kanal10 TV/RTV21)
• Escobar: Serbia to impose sanctions on Russia, ZSO a legally binding obligation (FoNet)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• RS parliament elects delegates to B&H House of Peoples; SNSD to have four and SDS one delegate in B&H HoP (FTV)
• RS opposition dissatisfied with election of delegates for B&H HoP in RS parliament (BNTV)
• Inaugural session of B&H HoR held, Cavara, Zvizdic and Radmanovic elected to B&H HoR leadership (Hayat)
• FB&H HoR speaker and deputy speakers elected at FB&H House of Representatives inaugural session on Thursday (BHT1)
• Representatives in Posavina Canton Assembly elect delegates to FB&H House of Peoples (O Kanal)
• HNC Assembly elects six delegates in FB&H HoP (FTV)
• CBC Assembly elects seven out of eight delegates in FB&H HoP at inaugural session on Thursday (BHT1)
• Podzic: It is expected that allies will ask B&H to hold referendum on NATO membership (BHT1)
• Viskovic responds to Podzic: No one from level of B&H can organize referendum in RS (RTRS)
• Atlantic Council hosts online conference ‘Western Balkans’ Euro-Atlantic Future (N1)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic: Ready for dialogue, government’s adventure with attempt to introduce MNE into OB would be equal to high treason (RTCG)
• Abazovic’s government enables party-affiliated employment for over 3,500 citizens (Pobjeda)
• Konatar: Let’s choose all four Constitutional Court judges and we can agree on date for elections (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Pendarovski: Quality reforms to stop negative trends in rule of law (MIA)
• Osmani addresses panels on human trafficking and climate change at OSCE Ministerial Council (MIA)
• N. Macedonia’s OSCE chairmanship to focus on restoring peace and stability in Ukraine: minister (MIA)
Albania
• Steinmeier-Begaj: 6 December summit will illuminate the path to EU integration (Radio Tirana)
• Steinmeier in his speech in the Albanian parliament welcomes the European spirit of the Albanians (Radio Tirana)