United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 9 December 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic talks EU integrations, region and cooperation with European Ambassadors (Beta/RTS)
Roth: Opening of chapters depends on Belgrade, not on Brussels or Berlin (FoNet)
Serbia strategic partner of France in Western Balkans (Tanjug)
Serbia, Russia are developing best political, economic relations (Tanjug/RTV)
Vulin: Only hatred and lies about Serbia from Albright and Engel (Tanjug/RTS)
Belgrade is aware of what the Serwer-Albright-Engel trio is trying to do (Tanjug/B92)
Hague Court calls on Serbia again to arrest and extradite Jojic and Radeta (Beta)
Djukanovic: No one is ruling over Montenegro and no one has given up on me. I have no contact with Vucic (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Hearing on future approach to Western Balkans takes place in US House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Albright says main problem in B&H is corruption (O kanal)
Dodik: Series of attacks against RS is being prepared for time when Biden assumes post of US President; Serwer is enemy of RS (ATV)
Dodik, Cvijanovic support Tegeltija and warn staff from RS is under attack of political Sarajevo and part of international community (Nova BH)
Tegeltija meets Sattler: B&H works dedicatedly on EU integration despite challenges (RTRS)
EU Council adopts decision and regulation establishing global human rights sanctions regime (FTV)
EC spokesperson Mamer: Accession to EU is not bed of roses, but EU is dedicated to enlargement in Balkans (Nezavisne)
ECHR passes ruling in favor of former FB&H VP Pudaric in case against State of B&H (Nova BH)
B&H CEC orders recounting of votes in individual polling stations throughout B&H (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia

Minister says Dayton agreement must be amended (Hina)
Opposition MPs commend President Milanovic's policy towards B&H (Hina)
EUFOR erects monument to all fallen soldiers, Bosniaks boycott the ceremony (Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Democrats: PM Krivokapic breaks agreement by nominating Milosevic and Miljanic as secretaries in Ministry of Interior (CdM)
Injac: Montenegro remains reliable NATO ally (CdM)
Health Minister Borovinic Bojovic doesn’t recognize independence of Kosovo (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Socialist MEPs call on Borisov to lift the “disgraceful blockade” of Macedonia (Republika)
Reeker says the fact that Macedonia joined NATO membership is a huge step forward (Republika)
Rejecting EEA membership means rejecting Macedonia’s economic integration into the EU (Republika)
EEA – good enough for Norway and Britain, but not for Macedonia? (Republika)
Albania

Roth: Germany is committed in opening the negotiations with Albania (Radio Tirana)
European MPs call on opening membership talks for Albania and North Macedonia (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on pan-Albanian manifestations in the Balkans (The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation)

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic congratulates Krivokapic (RTS/RTV/Tanjug)
Joksimovic: Implementation of new enlargement methodology for Serbia should be shaped as soon as possible (Tanjug)
Djilas expects start of dialogue between authorities and opposition in March (Beta)
Serbian and British soldiers together in Cyprus (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Inzko: Respect for the victims is prerequisite for successful reconciliation (Dnevni list)
B&H HoR Constitutional-Legal Affairs Commission rejects initiatives of SDP B&H, HDZ B&H (FTV)
Joint Commission for Defense and Security rejects proposal for law on non-prospective military property (RTRS)
RS MoI summons Durakovic, Ahmetovic for questioning in relation to election irregularities in Srebrenica (Nova BH)
Tegeltija: If I resign, I would not do so due to moral reasons but rather due to stance of majority of HJPC members and safety reasons (Nova BH)
Preserve B&H and Kosovo and assist Serbia (Dnevni avaz)
Montenegro

Markovic hands over duty to Krivokapic (CdM)
Krivokapic: Law on government has to be adopted as soon as possible (CdM)
Merkel congratulates Krivokapic: I wish you success in your responsible job (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Dimitrov says that Macedonia will not react to it emotionally (Sitel TV)
Nikoloski: The protests prevented Zaev from capitulating to Bulgaria as early as last week (Republika)
VMRO is initiating a vote of no confidence in the Zaev government (Republika)
Albania

Accession talks with Albania, N. Macedonia not in EU agenda (ADN/abcnews.al)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 7 December 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic, O'Brien on bilateral relations in the Western Balkans (Beta/RTS)
Palmer: US remains committed to Belgrade-Pristina talks and the region (VoA/N1)
Stano: Belgrade-Pristina dialogue on 10 December (Beta)
Electricity supplying in Kosovo and Metohija will not be endangered (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Prosecutor’s Office of B&H files indictment against FB&H PM Novalic, suspended Director of FB&H Civil Protection Administration Solak, ‘Srebrena Malina’ owner Hodzic, FB&H Minister of Finance Milicevic in ‘Respiratori’ affair (BHT1)
Latest affair involving HJPC President Tegeltija has provokes reactions of international community: OHR, OSCE, EUD, UK, US Embassies (FTV)
Tegeltija to present decision on his resignation on December 10 (O kanal)
B&H CEC passes decision to check legality of work and individual responsibility of members of election administrations in Doboj, Srebrenica (O kanal)
Cvijanovic: B&H CEC decision to not publish Srebrenica and Doboj election results opposed to will of people (RTRS)
Office of Serb member of B&H Presidency: B&H Commission for Concessions does not have competence over RS territory (ATV/Srna)
Brussels has sent proposal to newly elected US President proposing methods of cooperation in Western Balkans (Dnevni avaz)
Montenegro

Montenegro gets new government (CdM)
First messages of new ministers (CdM)
Krivokapic: Amendments to the Law on Freedom of Religion have been drafted (CdM)
Varhelyi: Congratulations to the new government (CdM)
Krivokapic: EU must not turn a blind to religious nationalism in the region (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Ahmeti on Macedonian-Bulgarian dispute: The longer we wait, the more emotions flow into historical issues (Kanal 5)
Bulgarian media announces lifting of the veto, but Bulgaria will be able to block Macedonia’s EU path later on? (Republika)

LOCAL PRESS

Merkel to Vucic: Kosovo dialogue, rule of law of crucial importance (RTS; N1)
Vucic: It is a hostile act of Montenegro; I'm horrified (RTS)
Office for Kosovo and Metohija: Continuous efforts to Albanianize Serbian culture and history (RTS)
EU sources: Serbia will not open new chapter in negotiations this year (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Vulin meets with Lukac and Dodik; RS and Serbia to continue cooperation on migration, terrorism and suppression of organized crime (ATV)
B&H Presidency Chairman Dodik reacts to PIC SB’s Communiqué: Right to self-determination included in Constitution of B&H, Inzko behaves as if he has not read that (RTRS)
Nine of 14 HJPC members deem Tegeltija should resign; Tegeltija: Because of my deciding vote at the session, I will consider possibility of tendering my resignation (BN TV)
EUD to B&H calls on Tegeltija to act responsibly and protect HJPC by heeding calls of HJPC members for his resignation (FTV)
HR Inzko: HJPC is the problem of all problems in B&H (Hayat)
US Embassy: HJPC is in critical condition (BHT1)
Prosecutor’s Office of B&H receives criminal report filed by B&H HJPC President Tegeltija (EuroBlic)
‘NATO 2030’ expert report submitted to NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg: NATO needs to strengthen its role in B&H (Dnevni avaz)
NATO HQ Commander Edwards: NATO expects B&H to submit Program of Reforms for 2021 (Nezavisne)
It is questionable if joint military exercise of B&H and Serbia will be held under auspices of NATO (N1)

Montenegro
MPs to vote on Krivokapic’s government today (CDM)
Abazovic: It is true that I was offered 21 million euros not to overthrow the regime of Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic (TV Vijesti)

North Macedonia
Zaev’s political career ends in the coming days: There are coalition partners of Zaev who will support the vote of no confidence in the Government (Infomax)

Albania
European Parliament: The government and the opposition should commit for the upcoming general elections (Radio Tirana)
GRECO: Albania must implement laws to prevent corruption of Government (Tirana Times)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 3 December 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic thanks Slovakia for principled position not to recognize Kosovo (Politika/Tanjug)
Selakovic to Morton: Serbia fully committed to normalization of relations with Pristina (RTV/Tanjug)
Ambassador Nabhan: By opening a chamber of commerce office in Jerusalem Serbia gains nothing, can only lose (TV N1/Beta)
Lajcak: Highest-level meeting of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue in the works (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

PIC SB: B&H is single, sovereign state made of two entities that have no right to secede from it; Russian Embassy: Foreign protectorate is incompatible with sovereignty of B&H (N1)
HR Inzko: Some things have been repeatedly said for last 15 years such as message that B&H should focus its attention towards Brussels and EU instead of DPA (BHT1)
Position of B&H on 25th anniversary of DPA one of main topics at AFET’s online session; EU HR Borrell urges political leaders in B&H to carry out reforms needed for country’s progress (FTV)
Covic: Agreement between Bosniaks and Croats is crucial (Dnevni avaz)
Kristo addresses PACE rapporteurs for B&H (Vecernji list)
Magazinovic resigns from post of Chairman of SDP Main Board due to unprecedented scandal in Srebrenica (O kanal)
Montenegro

Discussion about government program and composition continues today (CdM)
Djukanovic: Krivokapic’s exposition was fraught with contradictions (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Varhelyi: Less and less chances that Macedonia will start EU talks this year (Republika)
Milososki: Bulgaria is supported by two other EU member states in its veto of Macedonia (Republika)
Today new blockade at government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Justice (Republika)
Albania

Venice Commission publishes preliminary opinion regarding Electoral Law (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Yes, Serbian Air Defenses Did Hit Another F-117 During Operation Allied Force In 1999 (The Drive)