LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic to MPs: Six priorities for new Serbian government (FoNet/RTS)
Belgrade-Pristina dialogue to continue on Thursday (Tanjug)
EU: ZSO will not be parallel authority (Beta)
Petkovic: No progress in dialogue without ZSO with all jurisdictions envisaged by Brussels agreement (RTV/Tanjug/FoNet)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dzaferovic, Inzko discuss political situation in B&H and reforms on EU path; Dzaferovic warns that Dodik’s recent statements represent danger for stability of B&H and entire region (BHT1)
US Embassy comments Dodik’s statement: Existence of entities depends of existence of the state of B&H (Dnevni avaz)
Visit of Russian FM Lavrov postponed since he has to go in isolation due to contact with person infected with Covid-19 (RTRS)
Lavrov: B&H and Serbia have friendly partnership; There is no need for revision of DPA but it is time to end presence of OHR; Claims about Russian malign influence in region are not based on facts (Glas Srpske)
Dodik: Stories about alleged malignant Russian influence in B&H come from West that has most interfered in B&H (RTRS)
Croatia

Lavrov says EU’s anti-Russian sentiment is stifling Russian-Croatian relations (HRT/Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Democrats provide list of the candidates for ministers (Dan)
Mandic and Knezevic met with Russia’s Ambassador to Montenegro (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Dimitrov goes to Paris to lobby for the opening of EU accession talks (Republika)
Albania

E. Code, Premier 'ignores' international calls for waiting (ADN)
SP considers as 'adventure' waiting for Venice’s opinion on E. Code Changes (ADN)
E. Code, Presidency repeats reflection appeal to majority (ADN)
Law Committee decides on President's refusal of E. Code Changes (ADN)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 27 October 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Parliament adopts Law on Ministries (RTS/Tanjug)
First session of the Committee for Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)
Lazanski on Belgrade-Moscow relations: One should not look for noises where there are none (RTS)
Borrell: Agreement on normalization urgent, crucial for Kosovo's and Serbia's European path (Beta/RFE)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dodik: Serbs and Croats will create joint statement on how B&H can function and if this is not accepted dissolution is only solution (N1)
SDA: Statement of Dodik is direct attack on DPA (Hayat)
Trisic Babic: Dodik did not call for war, he called for respect for original Dayton Agreement and organization of B&H (Glas Srpske)
Lavrov: Russia fully supports Dayton status of RS, there is no need for revision of Dayton Agreement (Glas Srpske)
Croatia

Lavrov: Principles of Dayton agreement guard security of B&H (Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Krivokapic sent a letter urging parties to submit names of their candidates for ministers (Dan)
DF to the US Ambassador: Does your administration support Krivokapic’s view? (CdM)
Husovic: Everything we have achieved since 2006 has been brought into question (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia

A new Macedonia name dispute, this time with Bulgaria (Republika)
Osmani confirms Mickoski’s claims: An additional annex to the Agreement with Bulgaria is being prepared (Republika)
Albania

Urgent letter of Albanian President to Venice Commission (ADN)
Rama: No one can question the will of the parliament, the Electoral Code will not change anymore (Radio Tirana)
Varhelyi urges the Albanian government to wait for the Venice Commission’s advice before re-voting on Electoral Code changes in parliament (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Interview: Serbia looks to broaden trade links with China at upcoming CIIE (Xinhua)

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic releases names of ministers in new government of Serbia (Tanjug)
Vucic: The decision was not unanimous; Belgrade will not leave the dialogue with Pristina (B92/Beta)
Dacic: You don’t count me in? Listen to me carefully... (TV Prva/B92)
Botsan-Kharchenko and Dacic on Lavrov’s visit (RTV/Tanjug)
Petkovic: Important role of OSCE Mission in Kosovo in creating safe environment (RTS/Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Stevandic thanks Vucic for Serbia’s aid to RS (Dnevni list)
Colak: Formation of FB&H government and changes to Election Law require partnership and trust (Nezavisne)
Dodik: Biden is Serb-hater, Serbs support Trump (ATV)
‘Vision of Joe Biden for America’s relationship with B&H’ sparks reactions (RTRS)
State Department criticizes B&H authorities, but US government’s aid will not be suspended for another year (Dnevni avaz)
Palmer: B&H is not moving forward on its European path in any meaningful way until it does something fundamental to address the problems of public corruption (FTV)
Borrell: Western Balkan political leaders should refrain from any statements that could contribute to political divisions and negatively impact good-neighborly relations (N1)
Croatia

Grlic Radman: Equality of peoples in B&H is guarantee of security (Jutarnji list)
Bickering between Milanovic and Plenkovic continues (HRT)
Pahor: Integration of Western Balkans into the EU is geo-political issue of first category (Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Krivokapic doesn’t want Mandic, Knezevic and Medojevic for ministers (CdM)
Mandic: I won’t let tycoons steal people’s will and form govt (CdM)
Mandic: New govt should have been formed by now (CdM)
Jokovic: Prime minister-designate should negotiate with SNP on govt departments (Pobjeda)
Djeljosaj: The fact that prime minister-designate has accepted our proposals doesn’t mean we will be part of the government (CdM)
Zenka: If they can forgive them for everything they did to the Albanian people, we wish them luck (Pobjeda)
Varhelyi: Montenegro shall meet the recommendations referring to protection of property rights and freedom of religion (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev sees no need for a new treaty with Bulgaria, is open to a clarifying statement or declaration (Republika)
Albania

Rama, Zaev, Vucic to invite Kosovo to Mini-Schengen (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Serbia to Become One of World’s Most Gender-Balanced Governments (Bloomberg)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 23 October 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Dacic: UNMIK to continue implementing its mandate (Beta)
Vucic: Things are more complicated than Pristina imagines (RTS/Tanjug)
Lajcak: Solution will be painful compromise (RTS/Tanjug)
Dacic: With Vucic it was not “take it or it leave it” (RTS/Tanjug)
Varhelyi says EU unconditionally committed to integration of Western Balkans (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dodik: Essence of talks and meeting between RS leadership and Lavrov will take place in Istocno Sarajevo (ATV)
Kavalec: B&H authorities, including CEC and Prosecutor’s Office, have to respond to reported election irregularities (Dnevni avaz)
B&H Prosecutor’s Office raises indictments against OSA’s Mehmedagic, Pekic (RTRS)
Montenegro

Ministry of Interior goes to DF, justice to Democrats and URA gets defense (Dan)
Medojevic: If Movement for Changes does not get vice-president’s position, we’ll think about entering the government (CdM)
Husovic: Abazovic will soon realize that he is in more unfavorable situation than Bosniak party (Antena M)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev sees no reason to resign if there is a Bulgarian veto (Republika)
Ramadani: NATO should react to Karakachanov’s threat to Macedonia (Kanal 5)
Albania

Albania first Muslim majority state to adopt IHRA Antisemitism Definition (ADN)
EU welcomes Albania’s resolution against antisemitism (ADN)
US: IHRA Antisemitism Definition continues Albania’s anti-hatred tradition (ADN)

LOCAL PRESS

Dacic: Pristina deceived both Serbia and EU (Tanjug)
Brnabic acting foreign minister (FoNet/RTV/NSPM)
Petkovic: Compromise solution for the Kosovo problem (RTS)
DFC: US knows normalization of Belgrade-Pristina relations cannot happen without resolution of political issues (Nedeljnik/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

US Ambassador Nelson says B&H citizens must be agents of change (O kanal)
German Embassy: Elections have to be in line with international standards (Dnevni avaz)
Inzko to submit his semi- annual report (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia

EU Human Rights Commissioner calls on Croatia to stop violence against migrants (Hina)
Montenegro

The majority of minority parties rejected Krivokapic (CdM)
Armed Forces of Montenegro will not give up on the exercise on Sinjajevina (CdM)
Albania

Albania- Greece relations: New positive dynamics (Tirana Times)
EC welcomes decision on maritime border issue (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Economic Agreement, Resumed Talks between Belgrade, Pristina, Mark Important Steps towards Reconciliation in Kosovo, Mission Head Tells Security Council (UN Press Release)