Serbien

MPs voted for a new law on public information and media and amendments to the law governing electronic media despite widespread criticism by watchdogs and media experts who claim the changes could boost government control over television.

President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, said that they are ready for parliamentary, provincial and Belgrade elections on December 17.

Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania responded sharply after Serbian Defence Minister Milos Vucevic said that their recognition of the independence of Kosovo will cause a harsh reaction “just like in Ukraine”.

Legal reforms in Serbia must be accompanied by the effective implementation of laws to counter dangerous rhetoric against minorities, journalists and activists, UN independent human rights expert Irene Khan said on Thursday, concluding an official visit to the country.  … However, she was also alarmed by “the toxic public discourse, … .

Protesters have demanded that President Aleksandar Vucic pull out of negotiations with Kosovo. Vucic called the protesters "anti-Serbian" and said they were funded by a foreign country.

Serbian parliamentarians came close to physical conflict with one another on Thursday as the President addressed a special session on the so-called Franco-German plan to resolve Serbia-Kosovo relations.

Serbia has been given an ultimatum from powerful Western nations to normalize ties with Kosovo or face measures that would do “great damage” to the country, the president said Monday.

Serbia is pursuing EU membership yet continues to cultivate ties with Russia. To secure President Vucic’s cooperation and win over the disgruntled Serbian public, the union must use its leverage in the region.

Aleksandar Vucic said nine more countries – six of them in Africa – had withdrawn their recognition of the former Serbian province, claiming that now 'only 84 [countries] unequivocally recognize it'.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, commenting on the tensions in Kosovo and Metohija, sent a clear message to both sides.