LOCAL PRESS

RIK: Vucic leads presidential race with 95.08 pct of votes counted (Tanjug)
Vucic: SNS won 44 pct of votes in parliamentary elections (Tanjug)
Vucic: I accomplished something no one else ever did (B92)
Ponos: Start of the end for Vucic (N1)
Dacic: Socialists won more votes than before (N1)
CRTA NGO says Vucic coalition won more than 40 percent (N1)
IPSOS/CeSID release projection of parliament, presidential elections (N1)
CRTA: 57.3 pct turnout in Belgrade based on 96 pct of votes counted; SPS leads (N1)
CRTA: Many irregularities, but no effect on results; Worst damage done before (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Serbian citizens in B&H vote at 15 polling stations in B&H (N1)
Guliyev: Parties should resolve all issues and prepare themselves for this year’s election (Dnevni list)
Kristo: There is no more important issue than changes to Law on Elections (Dnevni list)
Muhic underlines that Bosniak authorities believe that Bosniaks should not be electing Croat representatives (Dnevni avaz)
Dodik: There is option for RS to organize elections on its own (RTRS)
Cooper: Russia always wants to stir up tensions in the region (VoA/Dnevni list)
Turmoil over construction of airport in Trebinje continues; Turkovic and RS officials exchange accusations (BHT1)
Russian Embassy: Schmidt cannot be considered HR in B&H and his expected report to UN SC is nothing but opinion of private person (ATV)
Croatia

Dubrovnik mayor asks B&H govt to halt construction of Trebinje airport (Hina)
Serb flag again removed from Serb minority council building in Varazdin (Hina)
Montenegro

Medojevic: War between Russia and Ukraine spills over into Montenegro, no one to protect state (CdM)
MEPs condemn the DF's ties with Russia, and call for the unblocking of the parliament as soon as possible (Pobjeda)
No reason for fear of intelligence leaks in Montenegro, strong alliance against Russian pressure (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Talks between Macedonian and Bulgarian historians end (Republika)
Albania

Elections' standard is still a problem, Meta receives director of ODIHR (Radio Tirana)
Meta condemns Russia's attack on Bucha (ADN)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 31 March 2022

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Here’s how I see Serbia in 2025 (Blic)
• Dacic: Kingdom of Eswatini recognizes Kosovo because of undeveloped ties with Serbia (Beta)
• Office: There’s neither justice nor fair trials for Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija (RTV/Tanjug)
• Ukrainian Ambassador to Serbia: Putin started the war, and can stop it right away (RTS/Beta)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Moscow expects Ukrainian provocations (TV Happy/Beta)
• Dacic: Serbia right place for peace talks (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Messages ahead of Sunday presidential vote in Serbia: Pride, warnings, promises (N1)
• Serbia’s opposition: We want to restore justice, crackdown on corruption (FoNet/N1)
• Jankovic: Opposition stands real chance of winning in Belgrade (Nova/Beta)
• Ponos: Rigging elections would be playing with fire (Danas/Beta)
• Faktor Plus: SNS to win 53.6 pct of votes, United for Victory, SPS follow (Blic)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Ujic: Around 300 people banned from entering B&H including 27 Serbian citizens (RTRS)
• Dzaferovic pays visit to Brussels, accuses RS authorities of undermining all reforms implemented in B&H in post-war period (O Kanal)
• Dzaferovic meets Von der Leyen; EU committed to country’s sovereignty, integrity and EU path (Dnevni avaz)
• EU Delegation warns that B&H politicians must start turning their pro-EU rhetoric into concrete action that will bring country closer to EU (Nezavisne)
• B&H CoM in session: B&H Ministers from the RS vote against resolution banning and changing access of Russia and Belarus to EBRD resources (FTV)
• Sarovic: Consultations of RS authority and opposition underway ahead of B&H HoR’s session in order to take single stance about issues that are not in interest of RS (RTRS)
• Nesic, Stevandic: Zvizdic is abusing his position to convene urgent session on Ukraine and thus provoke new crisis in B&H (BHRT/Glas Srpske)
• Sattler meets Sarrazin: Looking forward to cooperation supporting B&H’s path to EU (Dnevni avaz)
• Sarrazin meets Forto, Turkovic; Discussions focus on electoral reform and upcoming general elections (Oslobodjenje)
• Arnautovic elected new President of B&H CEC (O Kanal)
Croatia
• Croatian Ambassador to Serbia criticized in Croatian parliament (Hina)
• Opposition meets reshuffle announcement with call for snap election (HRT)
• JANAF to suspend business with Serbian company NIS over EU sanctions (HRT)
Montenegro
• Radulovic and Hahn: Montenegro and the EU together and in the new geopolitical reality (CdM)
• Will the outgoing Prime Minister Krivokapic again refuse to impose sanctions on Russia (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• US Secretary Blinken spoke with Kovacevski on Ukraine (Republika)
• Tomorrow will be known who made concessions: Positive atmosphere between Macedonian and Bulgarian historians (MIA)
• Census results: Macedonians 54.21 percent, Albanians 29.52 percent (Republika)
Albania
• Rama: The government is closely monitoring the difficult situation (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 30 March 2022

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic thanks Italy for support, protection of Kosovo Serbs (Politika/Tanjug/RTV)
• Mihajlovic: National security depends on energy stability (Tanjug)
• Ukrainian Embassy calls on Serbian authorities to remove letter "Z" and support Ukrainians (Beta)
• Opposition United for Serbia’s Victory calls on people to vote on Sunday (N1)
• Ponos: I will unite Serbia and be president of all citizens (Tanjug)
• PACE delegation to observe Serbian elections (Tanjug/Beta)
• Serbia’s officer killed in UN mission in Congo (FoNet/N1/Reuters)
• Demostat: Voter sentiment has changed (Tanjug)
• Demostat: 13 percent of Serbian citizens believe that Serbia should be on Ukraine’s side (Beta)
• Man says Kosovo Serb businessmen were behind politician’s killing in 2018 (KRIK/N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• EU, US ambassadors and OSCE submit package of integrity changes to B&H Election law (FTV)
• Zvizdic: B&H needs European perspective; Jandrokovic: Croats are constituent people and must have same rights as other peoples (Oslobodjenje)
• Lovrinovic: There is still time for agreement about Law on Elections (FTV)
• Dodik and Kalabukhov discuss political and economic situation in B&H (RTRS)
Croatia
• Jandrokovic: EU should focus on SE Europe, Moscow might use vulnerabilities (Hina)
• PM given green light for cabinet reshuffle (HRT)
• Croatian oil pipeline Janaf will stop transports to Serbia due to EU sanctions (Hina)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic with Lundberg: Quickly elect a new government in order to fulfil its obligations with the UN (CdM)
• Pisonero: Montenegro should refrain from measures that would jeopardize EU path (RTCG)
• US General's report: Russia and China encourage divisions in the Balkans (AJB)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Macedonian historians expected to make major concessions to Bulgaria in a meeting later this week (Republika/MIA)
Albania
• Meta receives Soreca: Opening of membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia is of primary importance for the EU itself (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 29 March 2022

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: I think I know what Putin is waiting for - that worries me (TV Happy/B92)
• Lavrov: There is no place to Nazism among European values (Politika/Novosti/Tanjug)
• Ukrainian Embassy tells Serbian Minister Ukraine has always stood with Serbia and expects sanctions against Russia (Beta)
• Serbia, Angola sign four agreements on cooperation (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Stefanovic meets with Dos Santos (Tanjug)
• High-level defense cooperation with Italy (RTS)
• Cochard: France wants to bring dynamics into Western Balkans’ EU accession (Beta)
• New US Ambassador arrives in Belgrade soon, says: Let’s look to the future (Tampa Bay Times/N1)
• Scholz: W. Balkans progress to EU necessary to prevent other players’ influence (Beta/N1/Reuters)
• Lutovac: We’ll use all means to defend the will of the people (Beta)
• Lompar: Vucic-Brnabic regime abolishes Serbian statehood in Kosovo (Beta)
• Report: 80 percent of electoral lists in Serbia deny Srebrenica genocide (FoNet/N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dzaferovic and EU ambassadors about aggression of Russia against Ukraine (Nova BH)
• Dodik: B&H Presidency has not discussed restrictive measures against Russia (Srna)
• Schmidt and B&H CEC members discuss organization of general elections (FTV)
• Cvijanovic: Manipulation with votes from abroad unacceptable and should be penalized (RTRS)
• Zovko: If elections in B&H are held, they will be absolutely illegitimate (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• Croat representatives will insist on new round of talks on electoral reform, but if it fails they will file lawsuit with ECHR (Vecernji list)
• Government silent on possible cabinet reshuffle (HRT)
• Moscow protests over Croatian FM’s insulting language (Hina)
Montenegro
• URA celebrates too early: Ulcinj’s DPS, DUA and FORCA have thin majority (CDM)
• Abazovic: During the week we will know who will be in the minority government, personally I have nothing against SD and SDP joining (CdM)
• Krivokapic on local elections: Great defeat of the constituents of the minority government (RTCG)
• Joanikije hosted refugees from Ukraine in Bar (CdM)
• Petition of the Embassy of Ukraine: Rename the street where the Russian Embassy in Podgorica is located (CdM)
• Lavrov: Russia is introducing visas for hostile countries, including Montenegro (CdM/TASS)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Macedonia expels five Russian diplomats; Moscow announces "adequate response" (Republika/Nezavisen)
• Petkov announced "good news" for lifting the Bulgarian blockade (Libertas)
• Scholz: EU negotiations with Skopje and Tirana should start as soon as possible (Libertas)
Albania
• Meta decrees agreements with Kosovo on social security and border crossing rules (Radio Tirana)
• Soreca: Political co-operation remains key to EU integration (Radio Tirana)
• Mazi: Albania has met all the requirements to start membership talks (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: Serbia's policy will not be shaped by desires of big powers (Politika)
Vucic: We appreciate Angola's support for Serbia's territorial integrity (RTS/Tanjug)
Vucic: Kosovo Albanian police would shoot Serbs if they vote (RTS)
Vucic: Serbia is nobody’s servant (TV Prva/Politika)
Vucic: Brussels agreement no longer exists (B92)
Stefanovic finishes visit to Serbian peacekeepers in Lebanon (Politika/RTS)
Peach: I am disappointed that Pristina rejected the election proposal (Politika/Vijesti)
Lavrov to Serbian reporters: Belgrade should continue smart choices (Novosti)
CRTA asks Ministry to shed light on voting notice issue (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Pilipson says Russia’s announcement of counter-measures to sanctions imposed against it is justified, rejects claims that it is trying to destabilize B&H (Oslobodjenje)
International community disappointed with work of B&H parliaments (Nova BH)
Covic comments on B&H HoP’s session: Only reason not to vote for reform laws was the fact these laws were proposed by the opposition (FTV)
Cudic slams SNSD, HDZ B&H for rejecting laws needed for obtaining of candidate status, slams Dzaferovic for not informing collocutors in Brussels about it (Dnevni list)
Ruling coalition’s leaders convene in Banja Luka; Dodik comments on conclusion on B&H at NATO Summit saying that the RS will not succumb to pressure to impose sanctions against Russia or anyone else and will remain neutral in regard to Ukraine (ATV)
EU Council adopts ‘Strategic Compass’ which calls for non-discrimination of citizens and constituent peoples in B&H; Netherlands and three other countries express discontent with fact discriminatory concept of constituent peoples was included in this document (O Kanal)
HDZ B&H and HNS welcome text of Strategic Compass and conclusions by European Council; Covic says it is opportunity continue with negotiations and implement what has already been agreed (AJB)
Mazalica: ‘Strategic Compass’ is good for Croats, but also for position of RS in case of changes of Constitution and electoral reform; Ambassador Kalabukhov comments on ‘Strategic Compass’ (RTRS)
Komsic holds meeting with Delegation of Committee for European Affairs of Netherlands; Komsic’s cabinet announces after meeting: Concept of constituent peoples is unacceptable and elections must be held (FTV)
Izetbegovic addresses EU and Croatian officials in response to Covic’s letter (FTV)
Croatia

PM pushes for election reform in B&H (HRT)
Ambassador: B&H media invent allegations on Croatia pushing for polls' postponement (Hina)
Montenegro

Abazovic announces fast agreement regarding new Montenegrin government (CdM)
URA won the most mandate in Ulcinj, coalition around DPS won in Berane (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia

Skopje and Sofia have come closer, but are still far from an agreement (MIA)
Albania

Xhacka: Albania and US at forefront of condemning Russian aggression (Radio Tirana)
Rama receives Abdixhik: Friendly conversation with the chairman of LDK! (Radio Tirana)
Ambassador of North Macedonia: The two Balkan countries have achieved stability! (Radio Tirana)