LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic meets with Botsan-Kharchenko (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Vucic: $1 billion loan from UAE will ensure Serbia’s liquidity (RTS)
• Hill: Serbia needs to deal with energy dependence (Beta)
• Serbia's cooperation and partnership with ICRC, UNHCR (Tanjug)
• Mihajlovic: Serbia to stop importing Russian oil via JANAF (Tanjug)
• Ponos: Vucic actively desensitizing his voters (Nova/Beta)
• Rejected; Serbia voted against Russia (Blic)
• Italian General takes over as KFOR Commander (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H CEC orders recount of ballots for RS President (N1/Nova BH)
• RS opposition welcomes B&H CEC’s decision (N1)
• Dodik holds press conference in Belgrade and he accuses RS opposition of working with foreigners, primarily Schmidt (RTRS)
• Dodik announces lawsuit due to B&H CEC’s decision to recount votes for RS President: B&H CEC's decision is politically motivated (RTRS)
• Cvijanovic wonders whether B&H CEC’s decision is evidence they were afraid of protests that RS opposition planned to hold in Sarajevo (Nova BH)
• OHR supports B&H CEC’s decision to order recount of ballots for RS President (FTV)
• B&H CEC representatives say that by adopting new implementing act, they will be able to implement decisions published in B&H Official Gazette (BHT1)
• Schmidt announces that he will soon take action regarding state property which will also apply to RS (FTV)
• Dzaferovic receives credentials of new German Ambassador (BHT1/FTV)
Montenegro
• Abazovic meets Pope Francis (gov.me)
• Picula: Kentera played an important role, it’s hard to say why he was dismissed (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
Albania
• President Bajram Begaj convenes the meeting of the National Security Council (Radio Tirana)
• Kodheli in Pristina: Attention to Russian interventions in the region (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 10 October 2022

LOCAL PRESS

• Kosovo as UN member unacceptable for Serbia (RTS/Tanjug/Politika)
• Drecun on pressures and sanctions to Russia: Belgrade will have to atone moment, Russia doesn’t understand this (Tanjug/RTV/Politika)
• Selakovic: Serbia still a country with long-term displacement crisis (RTV/Tanjug)
• Vulin, Greek Minister sign agreement on joint police patrols (Beta)
• Jeremic: Vucic considers new concessions in Kosovo (FoNet)
• Djilas: Serbia left without Russian oil for not applying EU policy (Nova)
• PSG: Introducing sanctions against Russia is no longer a question of if, but when (Beta)
• Good cooperation with UN Women on gender equality projects (Tanjug)
• ODIHR urges applying recommendations to level playing field in next election (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H CEC publishes update preliminary election results; SDA in lead for B&H and FB&H parliaments (Hayat)
• B&H CEC reveals updated elections results, Dodik and Cvijanovic in the lead (RTRS)
• Opposition stages new protest in Banja Luka, demand recounting of ballots for RS President (N1)
• Crnadak: We constantly send objections to CEC B&H about election theft (Dnevni list)
• Kovacevic: Opposition will not succeed to weaken the RS in this turbulent time and make it unstable and vulnerable (ATV)
• SDA Presidency discusses elections and HR Schmidt’s decision on Election Law (Nova BH)
• Schmidt: Vucic’s opinion differs from Dodik’s (Face TV)
• Dodik: It is politically indecent that Zelenskyy advises anyone including people in Balkans (Srna/RTRS)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic: This is not about David but brother Abaz, servant of Greater Serbia (CdM)
• Government dismisses Savo Kentera (CdM)
• Kentera on his dismissal (Pobjeda)
• Abazovic meets EU Special Representative Lajcak (gov.me)
• Lajcak: There’s only one word for Montenegro in Brussels – disappointment (TV Vijesti)
• Podgorica hosts 10th Montenegro’s Pride March (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovachevski: Government is stable, no need for grand coalition (TV21)
• Ohrid club opening a provocation by Macedonian citizens, says PM Kovachevski (TV21)
• Spasovski: Absolutely unacceptable to promote fascism-related figures (Makfax)
• Osmani calls opening of Bulgarian club in Ohrid a provocation (All media)
• Ambassador Koja: N. Macedonia made historic progress, but much remains to be done in key areas (MIA)
Albania
• Albania's journey towards the EU, on 7 November, the bilateral review of the legislation to be negotiated (Radio Tirana)
• Xhacka, commitment to cooperate with EC in all the fields (Radio Tirana)
• Cuci welcomes the EC vice-president: Support in the field of immigration (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Decision on Russian oil imports postponed until 1 December (Tanjug/RTS)
• Vucic from Prague: Are you punishing Russia or Serbia? (B92)
• Vucic meets with Macron, Scholz in Prague (Tanjug/Politika)
• Vucic, Zeman discuss global challenges, energy situation (Tanjug/Politika)
• Serious economic consequences of ban on import of Russian oil (TV Prva)
• Selakovic: Not exempting Serbia from EU sanctions – alarming and hostile (Beta)
• Von Cramon says EU can’t tolerate Serbia’s behavior, Selakovic responds (Nova/N1)
• EC Vice-President visits Asylum Centre in Obrenovac (Tanjug)
• Stano: Energy road map running late (KoSSev/Beta)
• Milivojevic: Vucic not strong enough to topple Dodik (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H CEC updates results of elections; No significant changes recorded in the race for the B&H Presidency, B&H parliament and entity parliaments (O Kanal/ATV/N1)
• Leaders of opposition in RS organize protests in Banja Luka due to election theft (BNTV)
• Dodik: SNSD-SPRS-United Srpska-DEMOS-NPS-NDP coalition in the RS will remain united at the level of B&H (BHT1/N1)
• Cvitanovic: Party achieves good results, imposed changes to Election Law will give chance to move things from deadlines, no coalition with Komsic and DF (FTV)
• SDA, HDZ B&H, SDP B&H win majority in FB&H HoR, things will be far more interesting and far more complicated in FB&H HoP due to imposed changes of HR (O Kanal)
• First summit of European Political Community to discuss common challenges opens in Prague, war in Ukraine is central topic (Hayat/N1)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic: Montenegro will continue to play an important role as a promoter of European values in the Western Balkans (CdM)
• Heated cabinet meeting discussion (CdM)
• Abazovic on ANB’s work: Session possible soon, these things shouldn’t be discussed publicly; Konjevic: Congratulations to ANB, serious activities carried out (CdM)
• Konjevic: While Abazovic was sending messages that cigarette smuggling was clinically dead, Milosevic apparently didn’t hear him (RTCG/Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Kovachevski in Prague: Solidarity and cooperation necessary to overcome energy crisis (MIA)
• Kovachevski-Nehammer: Austria strongly supports EU accession of North Macedonia and region (MIA)
• JPC debate marked by provocations from Bulgarian MEPs (Sitel/Telma/Kanal 5)
• MFA calling for responsible behavior after announced opening of a new Bulgarian association (All media)
• Rexhepi: I’m going to join DUI parliamentary group (Alsat M)
Albania
• Rama from Prague: Energy Ministers of Balkan countries will be part of the EU meeting on the energy crisis (Radio Tirana)
• Meeting of the European Political Community/Rama: I hope we build something for our people! (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic in Prague: They made up that I said Croatia is to blame, it simply did what it's been doing for decades (RTS/Tanjug)
• No Russian oil for Serbia as of 1 November, Brnabic: Croatia’s ultimatum (TV Happy/FoNet)
• Still no decision to start Kosovo's CoE admission procedure (Tanjug/Beta/Politika/RTS)
• Petkovic: Decision on re-registration illegal (Tanjug/RTV)
• Stefanovic and Hill discuss Serbia’s EU path (Tanjug/RTV)
• Vulin: Migration pressure on borders rising (Tanjug/RTV)
• Szijjarto: We will defend Serbia-N. Macedonia border together (Tanjug/RTS)
• Dveri submits four parliamentary initiatives on Serbia’s foreign policy (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Media carry latest update of results of general elections in B&H for all levels of authority (N1)
• PDP, SDS and List ‘For Justice and Order’ request recount of votes and repeating of elections for RS President (BNTV)
• Representatives of RS ruling coalition: Losers have the right to be angry (RTRS/BHT1/O Kanal)
• Borrell issues statement commenting elections in B&H; EU expects quick formation of authorities; EU takes note of HR Schmidt’s decision (Avaz)
• Schmidt: Election Law needs urgent reform, implementation of rulings of ECHR and B&H CC should be first tasks of newly-elected officials (Al Jazeera Balkans)
• Consensus on appointment of FB&H CC’s judges reached (O Kanal)
Croatia
• Plenkovic: HR brought certain safeguards for participation of Croat people and legitimate Croat political parties in authorities (HRT1)
Montenegro
• Abazovic at SDT: We’re doing state affairs, things will be known in coming days (Antena M/CdM)
• What Milosevic’s resignation delivered to Abazovic says (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• North Macedonia-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee convenes in Strasbourg (MIA)
• Geer: European Political Community not a replacement for enlargement process but forum for joint management of challenges (MIA/Sitel)
• Committed to negotiations, need for national consensus on EU, Marichikj tells JPC (TV 21/Kanal 5/360 Stepeni/MIA)
Albania
• Local elections, Balla to Begaj: Within April-May, Socialist Party is ready for any date (Radio Tirana)
• Local elections date, Alibeaj to Begaj: Let's give Albanians the right to vote as soon as possible (Radio Tirana)
• Zingraf: Germany, reliable partner of Albania (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Vucic to come under fire in Prague (TV Pink/Tanjug/Beta)
• Serbia, US preparing strategic agreements on energy (Tanjug)
• It's uncertain whether Pristina's bid will be on agenda, there's understanding for Belgrade's position in CoE (RTS)
• Some opposition parties, professors, academicians unveil proclamation on unification for defending Kosovo (Beta)
• Stefanovic: Vucic’s Serbia will defend Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV)
• Serbian troops return home from UN mission in Lebanon (N1)
• Konrad: Celebration of German Unity Day overshadowed by new war (Beta)
• Stano: No plans for new meetings in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue for now (Tanjug/Kosovo Online)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H Central Election Commission publishes updated preliminary results of General Elections 2022 (N1/Hayat/O Kanal)
• SDA, HDZ B&H and SNSD supposed to get most mandates in B&H parliament (BHT1)
• Cvijanovic: Goal is to have two-thirds majority in RS parliament to confirm the veto of Serb member of B&H Presidency when there is need for it (ATV/Glas Srpske)
• Covic: Bosniaks have again elected two members of B&H Presidency (ATV/Dnevni list/Nezavisne)
• Enough with quarrels and divisions, let’s turn to future (Avaz)
• Trivic insists SNSD stole her votes, argues she will go all the way and use all legal and civilized means (Oslobodjenje)
• Komsic: I am not ready at this moment to accept HDZ B&H candidate as B&H CoM Chair designate (Nezavisne)
• Dodik says he already discussed formation of authorities at B&H level with Covic; Dodik points out that B&H CoM cannot be formed without SNSD and HDZ B&H (Al Jazeera/Nova BH/ATV/RTRS)
Montenegro
• Abazovic: Konjevic dismissed as chief coordinator of BOK (CdM)
• Konjevic: Certain indications suggest 90% of cigarettes mentioned by both Abazovic and Milosevic in media were smuggled, while only 10% were destroyed (CdM)
• Rade Milosevic resigns (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• No need for broad coalition and caretaker government: PM (All media)
• Milevski’s resignation submitted to parliament (All media)
• Kovachevski: VMRO-DPMNE proposals to be looked into (All media)
• EU Delegation Deputy Head Vassallo comments on several topic (All media)
Albania
• Elections 2023/Meta after the meeting with Begaj: The date is not important, but pluralism restoring (Radio Tirana)
• Kosovo customs at Durres Harbor, Ibrahimaj: We aim for a customs unification (Radio Tirana)