LOCAL PRESS

• Dacic: For now no change to policy on sanctions against Russia (RTV/Beta)
• Vucevic: Army ordered to raise military alert level (TV Happy/Beta)
• Radojevic: Serbia will not change stance on re-registration (RTS)
• The first warning was issued on Kosovo and Metohija (Kosovo Online/B92)
• Hill: License plates not the most important issue in Kosovo (N1)
• State Department: Request to Pristina was clear, we are disappointed (KoSSev/N1)
• Dacic: Serbia continues to strengthen cooperation with China (Tanjug/RTS)
• Orlic with Brazilian Ambassador on friendship and cooperation (RTV/Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• RS opposition resumes insisting on annulment of elections for RS President (Nova BH)
• Mazalica accuses opposition of abusing institutions in B&H to settle accounts with authorities in RS (ATV)
• Covic: We expect authorities to be formed 30 days after the CEC publishes final election results (N1)
• Negotiations on authority formation for all levels to begin this week; Dodik, Crnadak, and Karajbic comment on upcoming formation of authority (BHT1)
• HR Schmidt sends regular six-monthly report to UN Security Council; Information on Schmidt’s report (BHT1)
• RS government submits 28th Report to UN Security Council (RTRS)
• Mazalica: German parliament is preparing resolution to contest Schmidt (ATV)
• Sarrazin: Germany government supports HR Schmidt (Oslobodjenje)
• Sarrazin: There will be no mora visas in the Balkans (Oslobodjenje)
• Komsic: Croatia is trying to destabilize B&H (Oslobodjenje)
• Milanovic: Americans and British want to create Libya, Syria and Bosnian spring due to Dodik’s election victory; SDA’s Mehmedovic: Belgrade and Zagreb obviously have strategic partnership with Dodik and Covic on destabilizing B&H (Hayat)
Montenegro
• Fierce debate over the Law on the President, Djurovic took a break; Zivkovic: This is a constitutional coup; Mitrovic: You are giving Lekic the opportunity to nominate himself as a representative (CdM)
• Montenegro doesn’t have ambassadors in 18 countries (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovachevski: Elections not a priority at the moment, focus is on economic and energy
• crisis (Telma)
• BESA to initiate a joint meeting of Albanian parties on the constitutional changes (TV Kanal 5)
• Ruling majority, opposition trade accusations over EC country report, non-functional
• parliament (Sitel)
• Kovachevski: Several key goals achieved for start of EU negotiations with clear Macedonian language and identity (BBC/MIA)
Albania
• Assembly’s plenary sitting: Majority, opposition clash on territorial reform (ADN)
• Rama downplays all other international reports but European Commission’s Albania Report (ADN)
• Berisha renews appeals for Rama’s resignation (Panorama)
• Media: Bardhi and Paloka in fresh meeting to heal DP rift (Panorama)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 31 October 2022

LOCAL PRESS

• Support to Serbia, Western Balkans in EU accession process (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Vucic, von der Leyen visit gas pipeline construction site (Tanjug/RTS/Politika/RTV)
• Preserving peace, stability in region in interest of Serbia, NATO (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Serbia’s diplomatic journey must be difficult (RTS)
• Petkovic: We saw announcements, we must see concrete action by Washington and Brussles (RTS)
• Drecun: Kurti doesn’t seek for a solution, wishes to cause clashes (Tanjug)
• EU: Kosovo entitled to phase out license plates in consultative way (Beta)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: No trade Kosovo for Donbass (Politika)
• Mali with Hill: New loan guarantee scheme from DFC soon (Tanjug)
• Kurti and Mustafa sign Memorandum on Cooperation (Danas)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Von der Leyen visits B&H, announces support package amounting to EUR 71 million; B&H Presidency members disagree on whether B&H will get candidate status (Nova BH)
• Sattler discusses Von der Leyen’s messages during her visit to B&H, possibility of EU candidate status and formation of authorities in B&H after elections (FTV)
• RS opposition parties file appeal against announced preliminary results of vote for RS President and Vice Presidents (Nezavisne)
• B&H Presidency gives consent to B&H CoM Chair Tegeltija to attend Berlin Process Summit, rejects Dodik’s request to declare Schmidt’s behavior as unconstitutional (FTV/Hayat)
• Covic: Official talks with other parties on formation of authorities will start on 3 or 4 November, but foundations have been laid (FTV)
• Dodik: Biggest threat to peace in B&H is fake HR Schmidt (RTRS)
• Lavrov congratulates Dodik on election victory (RTRS)
• Schallenberg: Austria supports role of HR Schmidt; EU enlargement is the strongest geo-political instrument that the EU has (Fena/Dnevni list)
Croatia
• Milanovic says not true that he ever denied genocide in Srebrenica: called Dodik a “Serb patriot” (TCN)
Montenegro
• Ursula Von der Leyen’s visit to Montenegro postponed (CdM)
• Abazovic: EU shouldn’t fall under influence of some structures in Montenegro (CdM)
• Djukanovic: Montenegro in institutional rot, urgent elections necessary (BBC in Serbian)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Albanian parties to sit together to discuss the opening of the Constitution (Alsat M)
Albania
• In Tirana, Von der Leyen promises 80 million Euros in grants to deal with energy crisis (Tirana Times)
• As 2023 mayoral elections date set, top opposition parties reach coalition deal (Tirana Times)

LOCAL PRESS

• Serbia’s commitment to improvement of individual, collective rights of national minorities (Tanjug)
• Vucic with Bauer: Important to avoid further escalation in Kosovo and Metohija (RTV/Tanjug)
• Mojsilovic meets with Bauer (Tanjug/RTS)
• Vucic congratulates Dodik on his election as Republika Srpska President (N1)
• Drecun on plates: The problem is in the Quint states (RTS)
• Giaufret: More than ever, enlargement policy is investment into peace, security, prosperity (Beta)
• Stano: Steps leading to escalation must be prevented (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Government adopts resolutions necessary for functioning of Brnabic’s office (Tanjug/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H CEC publishes election results for RS President and VPs (FTV)
• Dodik: We must all gather around the RS and its values (ATV)
• Cvijanovic: Will of people clear even on 2 October, we are moving towards rapid formation of RS institutions (RTRS)
• PDP's Trivic says she does not accept election result which is accurate sum of incorrect data (BN TV)
• Sarovic says B&H CEC missed historic opportunity to deal fatal blow to electoral corruption (BN TV)
• Komsic: Dodik’s victory expected given the election results of SNSD at all levels and Cvijanovic’s results in presidential race (FTV)
• US Embassy to B&H reacts to Dodik’s secessionist speech: Any action taken toward dissolution of B&H would violate Dayton and carry grave consequences (O Kanal)
• HR Schmidt submits semi-annual report on B&H to the United Nations Security Council: I prevented over-representation of constituent peoples in FB&H HoP (Oslobodjenje/Istraga.ba)
Croatia
• Government approves entry of US aircraft carrier (HRT)
• Government: Approved conclusion of agreement with Slovenia on natural gas solidarity (HRT)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic: Russia tries to regain Cold War geopolitical rules through history revisionꓼ we must punish aggressors (Portal Analitika)
• Djukanovic: The right we sought for ourselves also applies to others; EU and NATO should be more active in our region (Gradski portal)
• Abazovic and Adzic to head Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Mickoski: Not voting for constitutional changes under current conditions (MIA)
• Taravari believes early elections might happen if constitutional changes are not voted (TV Kanal 5/Vecher)
• Xhaferi: Von der Leyen visit confirms legitimacy of our commitment to EU membership (Sloboden pecat)
• Kovachevski – Peach: North Macedonia contributes to regional, European stability (MIA)
• Osmani – Peach: Cooperation and strong support from the UK to continue (MIA)
• Stano: Member states to decide on next steps in EU process with North Macedonia (MIA)
Albania
• Rama press conference with Ursula Von der Leyen/ Tirana-Rinas-Durres railway will be ready in 2024 (Radio Tirana)
• The opening of negotiations with the EU, the EC President from Tirana: This is your success! You are strengthening the rule of law (Radio Tirana)
• Blinken meets Xhacka: We discussed cyber protection; We will stand by you (Radio Tirana)
• Berisha-Meta meeting: Opposition’s pre-electoral agreement to be signed tomorrow (ADN)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 27 October 2022
LOCAL PRESS

• New government of Serbia elected (RTS/Tanjug)
• Vucic: Pristina’s regie threatens peace and survival of Serbs (RTV/RTS)
• Rakic: We will respond peacefully to violence (Tanjug/RTV)
• Rakic to KFOR Commander: Serbs will not give up their license plates (Beta)
• Stano: Serbia, Kosovo don’t need escalation and tensions (N1)
• Ambassador Hill happy that Serbia has a new Foreign Minister (Beta)
• Kovac, Cochard discuss Serbia’s EU Integration (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Control counting of ballots for RS President completed; B&H CEC to analyze report of Main Counting Center; B&H CEC: Outcome of recount of votes for RS President should be published on Thursday (RTRS)
• PDP: Serious irregularities established at three-quarter polling stations in B&H; PDP requests recount of votes for other levels of power in RS (BN TV)
• Dzaferovic requests constitutional review of HR Schmidt’s decision on Election Law of B&H and FB&H Constitution (O Kanal)
• MEP Strik: HR Schmidt amended Election Law to benefit of HDZ B&H, he should withdraw the amendments (Dnevni list)
• HDZ B&H’s Dzeba requests from HR Schmidt to annul Komsic’s election (Nova)
• EC announces it will increase support to border management in four Western Balkans countries (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• Croatian parliament discusses implementation of Declaration on Status of Croat people in B&H in last two years (HRT1)
Montenegro
• Western Balkans should be under special focus of the EU (CdM)
• Lazarevic: We have the responsibility to send ready soldiers to NATO tasks (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Details on energy aid package presented by Von der Leyen in Skopje (AJB)
• Is the mission accomplished: Von der Leyen certain of parliamentary majority for constitutional changes (Republika)
• Pendarovski: Process of constitutional revision not to be rushed (Sitel)
Albania
• Balla: North Macedonia to support Albania's request for the review of Dick Marty's Resolution (Radio Tirana)
• Nikolla meets Milanovic: Effective strategic partnership with Croatia (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic sees no end to war in Ukraine soon, announces major military spending (Beta)
• Serb List requests urgent meeting with Vucic (RTS)
• Vucic speaks with Rama, Kovacevski (Tanjug/RTS)
• Giaufret: Geopolitical situation emphasizes importance of energy savings (Beta)
• Kamberi: Escobar promised us a meeting with Lajcak (FoNet/RTV/Kosovo Online)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Rally 'Fatherland is calling' held in Banja Luka; Dodik says electoral will of RS citizens will be defended and that RS votes will not be counted in Sarajevo (RTRS)
• Cvijanovic addresses rally in Banja Luka: If B&H CEC does not change its decision and continues to insist on illegal decisions, 100,000 citizens of the RS will come to Sarajevo (RTRS)
• Ballots from less than 300 polling stations out of total of 2,239 in RS remain to be counted in Main Counting Center in Sarajevo (RTRS)
• B&H CEC orders new control recount of ballots from Gorazde, Mostar and Banja Luka, changes its decision on awarding compensational mandates (Nezavisne)
• Cvijanovic, Dodik meet with Sarazzin in Banja Luka and acquaint him with stances and constitutional position of RS within B&H (RTRS)
• Covic: Protesters from Monday’s protest in front of OHR are people who live trapped in past, we should turn to future (Nova BH)
Croatia
• Pelosi meets Plenkovic in Zagreb, discusses position of Croats in B&H (Vecernji list)
• Crimea Platform summit ends in Zagreb (HRT)
Montenegro
• Abazovic: Election results exceeded my expectations (RTCG)
• Markovic: I don’t doubt the DPS is going to analyze election results thoroughly (RTCG)
• Spajic: Early parliamentary elections to be held as soon as possible (Antena M)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovachevski: Parties should sit for talks over constitutional amendments (MIA)
• Pendarovski: If talks become just another Balkan never-ending story, interest in EU will plummet (Sitel)
• Xhaferi receives Ukraine Order (MIA)
Albania
• Parliamentary Summit of the Platform for Crimea, Nikolla: Political partnership makes military alliances more effective (Radio Tirana)
• EU-Western Balkans summit in Tirana, Hohmann: The integration of the Western Balkan countries into the EU is important (Radio Tirana)
• Albania-USA strategic dialogue/ Xhacka: Boosts relations between the two countries (Radio Tirana)
• Rama visits Abu Dhabi, meets the President of the United Emirates (Radio Tirana)