United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 17 August 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Dacic: There will be no unpleasant surprises in Washington (RTS)
Djuric: Pristina is trying to obstruct talks in the White House (TV Happy/Tanjug/RTV)
Request to UNESCO to react to threat to Visoki Decani (Tanjug/RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Number of coalitions increases ahead of elections, no principled connection within coalitions (FTV)
Political parties begin announcing names of candidates for upcoming local elections (N1)
DF: Joint participation of pro-Bosnian parties to prevent Covic and Dodik’s overtaking of Mostar (Oslobodjenje)
Viskovic: B&H CEC is illegal but regardless of that, SNSD believes in its election win (Srna/Nova BH)
Results of public opinion research show SNSD has by far greatest support of RS citizens (ATV)
Dodik: RS is not responsible for fact B&H did not get 250 million Euros from EU help for solving of consequences of pandemic (FTV/ATV)
Ambassador Jukic requests explanation from Montenegro authorities about new measures concerning entrance of B&H citizens to this country (RTRS)
Montenegro

Markovic to diaspora: Montenegro is your country, you’re always welcome home (CdM)
President’s Cabinet: Just another untruth of IFIMES (CDM)
The “sleeper agent” of the Serbian Orthodox Church as new DF marionette (Dnevne novine)
Residents of the USA and countries in the region allowed to enter Montenegro (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Talks on government formation continue (MIA)
Albania

Albania humanitarian crisis escalates at Greek border (Tirana Times)

LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: Serbia will not stop seeking justice for the killed Serbian children in Gorazdevac (Tanjug)
Vucic: we will take part in talks in White House (TV Pink/Tanjug)
Djuric: Essential for Serbia to have a populous and influential state like India on its side in international arena (Tanjug)
Dacic: Arrest of Hasanov internal matter of Azerbaijan (RTV/Tanjug)
Vulin: No Serbian soldiers injured in Lebanon (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dodik: B&H does not have a foreign policy, there is one policy conducted by SDA (Srna)
Field and CEC President Bakalar discuss elections (Nezavisne)
Cikotic tells one thing to public, SDA does another (EuroBlic)
Montenegro

PACE won’t monitor the elections (CdM)
Sehovic: We will never enter into alliance with deniers of Montenegro (Dan)
“Resolutely for Montenegro” coalition has the highest rating (CdM)
Mugosa: Montenegro opens its borders to Serbia tomorrow (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Pendarovski: If no one forms a government, and parliament doesn’t dissolve itself, Spasovski will be interim prime minister (Republika)
Milososki: Instead of the Constitution, Pendarovski chose Zaev, who does not have 61 signatures from MPs (Republika)
VMRO-DPMNE freezes relations with President’s office (MIA)
Zaev-Ahmeti meeting: Foundations have been laid for progress (MIA)
US Ambassador Byrnes congratulates Zaev on mandate to form government (Republika)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Azerbaijani ambassador to Serbia detained as suspect (Trend)
Trump White House Will Host Talks for Leaders of Serbia, Kosovo (Bloomberg News)
US concerned about Serbia’s intention to buy Chinese weapons (InfoBrics)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic with Irinej: Discussing all important national topics (B92)
Patriarch Irinej: Talks on Kosovo and Metohija uncertain, situation is difficult (Tanjug/B92/Nova)
Dacic: If Pristina does not respect agreements, we will continue with the campaign of withdrawing recognition (TV Prva/RTV/Tanjug)
Vulin: Serbia must neither forget nor forgive (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

B&H Procurement Review Body rejects appeal in case of tender for printing of ballots (Nova BH)
CEC starts process of verification of political entities for local elections in Mostar (Hayat)
SDP and NS sign coalition agreement in Mostar for elections in December (O Kanal/FTV)
Entrance of 155 illegal migrants prevented near Zvornik (Srna)
Montenegro

Voting in Montenegro can be conducted with an expired document, even from the SFRY period (Vijesti)
Markovic: There is no public officials’ campaign, we are only doing our job (CdM)
Djeljosaj: We are going to win two terms of office (Dan)
Republic of North Macedonia

Pendarovski hands mandate for formation of new government to Zaev (MIA)
DUI: We have not reached agreement with SDSM yet (Sitel TV)
Xhaferi cancels the session of parliament which would’ve revealed if Zaev has the necessary majority (Republika)
Kasami to skip meeting initiated by Ahmeti, proposed new model (MIA)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: I have a vague idea who will be in the government (B92)
Vucic says Serbia still thinking about buying Chinese anti-aircraft system (Beta)
Vulin: None has offered to give Serbs in B&H something that they never had (TV Pink)
Lutovac: We will persuade majority of citizens to vote against incumbent government (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Decision on complaint for printing ballots today (Nezavisne)
Cikotic discusses migrant crisis with representatives of local authorities in Bihac (FTV)
Certain individuals want migrants on Serb property (Glas Srpske)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: We’ll take Montenegro to its goal – European quality of life of citizens (CdM)
Markovic: We work hard and make best use of potentials, while they boycott the state and even earn salary for doing it (CdM)
Beslin: Serbian nationalism only recognizes Montenegro’s right to renounce itself (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia

Xhaferi: It would be unconstitutional to entrust a mandate without having an elected speaker of parliament (TV21)
Pavle Trajanov: Request for Albanian prime minister unacceptable, the party that will accept such blackmail should be removed from the political stage (Kanal 5)

LOCAL PRESS

Kuburovic: We will not drop warrants against KLA members (Novosti)
Vulin: Pristina wants to include its policemen in patrols (Tanjug)
Chinese Ambassador: Kosovo and Metohija issue to be solved within Resolution 1244 (Napredak/Politika/Tanjug)
Stefanovic in Azerbaijan – support to principles of territorial integrity (RTS)
United Opposition of Serbia established (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Bihac Mayor Fazlic, Advisor to Director of B&H Border Police Hoffmann, B&H Service
for Foreigners’ Affairs Deputy Director Buzar comment on migrant crisis in B&H (FTV)
Cikotic, Varhelyi discuss migrant crisis in B&H (FTV)
Montenegro

National Coordination Body: Pre-election campaign facilitated (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Parliament sworn in once MP terms are verified, says Pendarovski’s office (MIA)
Unsuccessful Zaev – Ahmeti meeting: No agreement on government formation reached (Republika)
Mickoski: Ahmeti told me he will try to negotiate with Zaev, I wished him good luck (Republika)
MoI says regulation on bilingual police uniform emblems should be sent to the government (Republika)
Albania

Integration / Germany has set these conditions for Albania (Radio Tirana)