United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 21 July 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic with Quint Ambassadors on dialogue, government formation (RTS)
Dacic: Relationship between Progressives and Socialists rests on national interests (Beta)
Djuric: Lie that there will talks on recognition of Kosovo (RTV/Tanjug)
Albanian parties signed coalition agreement in Bujanovac (RTS)
Vucevic: SNS asked for a mandate (B92)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

EUD, US Embassy and OHR called on politicians to adopt 2020 budget and secure holding of local elections (Dnevni avaz)
Osmanovic admits this party has deliberately blocked appointments in joint institutions (ATV)
Dodik: Inzko would not miss opportunity to show that he is not in B&H to monitor implementation of DPA but to implement Muslim policy wrapped up in EU integration (ATV)
Tegeltija and Varhelyi discuss current situation in B&H (RTRS)
Croatia

Prime Minister presents new government cabinet (HRT)
President will not attend formation of new parliament (HRT)
Montenegro

Lekic: The call of the authorities for the Serbian Orthodox Church is a cheap trick (CDM)
Mesic to Djukanovic: Montenegro is a successful European story (CDM)
The Bosniak party goes to the polls on its own (Dan)
Zivkovic: URA is a Trojan horse of DF (CDM)
URA: Our vision is Montenegro as one family, unlike DPS who sees as Montenegro in the ownership of one family (CDM)
DF: We are open to any agreement; We are waiting for other opposition parties to announce decisions and demands (CDM)
Rakocevic: The DPS list will be the best political option so far (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia

Ziberi: DUI maintain “Albanian PM” position, door for talks not closed (MIA)
Alliance of Albanians rejects offer of cooperation from DUI, says it stole the Albanian vote (Republika)
VMRO declares that the elections were held in an undemocratic environment (Republika)
Albania

Albanian opposition leader meets with Kosovo President (Tirana Times)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Nothing gets done by sitting out (EurActiv)

LOCAL PRESS

Odalovic: Most important that dialogue resumed (RTS)
Borell: Belgrade-Pristina meeting important to EU (N1)
US happy with restoration of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Beta/VoA)
Vucic continues consultations on new government with Dacic (N1)
EC says monitoring rule of law in Serbia (Beta)
Dodik: Entire Serbia should back Vucic as negotiator (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

B&H CEC verifies applications of 87 political parties for participation in local elections in November 2020 (Hayat)
Tegeltija: It is time to appoint Serb director of ITA, blockades are never a solution; Local elections can and must be held (Glas Srpske)
Softic: HDZ B&H cannot block adoption of budget (Dnevni avaz)
FB&H Ministry of Health declares state of epidemic (FTV)
Brussels will include Balkan in package for healthcare (Nezavisne)
Croatia

Brussels summit on EU budget and recovery plans resumes, end not in sight (Hina)
Montenegro

Markovic called on the Serbian Orthodox Church to continue negotiations (Vijesti)
Konjevic: We don’t want to negotiate with those who deny Montenegro’s independence
Republic of North Macedonia

SEC dismisses all complaints over early parliamentary polls (MIA)
Albania

Socialist majority withdraws attempt to impeach President Meta (Tirana Times)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Interview: Belt and Road Initiative contributes to global fight against COVID-19, says Serbian scholar (Xinhua)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 17 July 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: We aren't negotiating here only with Pristina; Two principles have been agreed (Tanjug/RTS/B92)
We expect a lot from the EU (TV Pink)
Lajcak: Next high-level political meeting in September (Tanjug)
Zakharova: Solution for Kosovo and Metohija with UN consent and in Serbia’s interest (RTV/Tanjug/Beta)
Sapic: We talked about state issues, not about SPAS in the government (Tanjug/B92)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Citizens of countries of EU and Schengen zone able to enter B&H with negative Covid-19 test (BHT1)
Cvijanovic: Holding of elections does not suit SDS and SDA; Dodik: Elections will be held (ATV)
Sattler welcomes adoption of B&H budget; Izetbegovic: SDA is willing to accept certain HDZ B&H’s demands only to allow things to move forward; Dodik warns that SDA is not willing to accept all of SNSD’s demands, which implies removal of foreign judges from B&H CC (O kanal)
Trump signs Executive Order extending sanctions for those undermining implementation of Dayton Agreement (Dnevni avaz)
Dodik: Komsic openly interferes in Serbia’s internal matters (ATV)
Croatia

President gives Andrej Plenkovic mandate to form government (HRT)
PM joining other leaders for first face-to-face Brussels summit in months (HRT)
Montenegro

Trial of Joanikije postponed for September (RTCG)
Picula: Citizens must not allow political manipulations hidden behind religious mask (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia

SEC: Coalition ‘We Can’ gets 46 MP seats, VMRO-DPMNE-44, DUI-15 (MIA)
Mickoski: Most voters opted for change, VMRO is best placed to form the next coalition (Republika)
Spasovski: Elections confirm our European capacity, SEC to announce results (Republika)
US Embassy: Elections represent an important step for democracy (MIA)
North Macedonia’s early parliamentary elections well managed despite pandemic but legal instability remains a concern, international observers say (MIA)
Credible elections set ground for continued reforms: MEPs (MIA)
Albania

Gov't "rips up" agreement with opposition (Tirana Times)
Proposals beyond 5 June agreement must be discussed at Political Council (ADN)
MEPs urge parliament to adopt 5 June agreement (Tirana Times)
Brussels warns Albanian parliament about constitution amendments (Tirana Times)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Serbia and Kosovo resume rocky road towards an accord (EurActiv/AFP)

LOCAL PRESS

Belgrade-Pristina dialogue continues with Vucic and Hoti meeting in Brussels (RTS)
Shieb: The goal is comprehensive legally binding agreement between Belgrade and Pristina (RTV/Tanjug)
Less: EU has nothing to offer to Serbia (Tanjug/B92)
RIK allocates terms of office to MPs (Tanjug)
Protest in front of Appeals Court (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

B&H HoR adopts budget of B&H for 2020 (N1)
Tegeltija delivers to B&H HoR decision on appointment of Cikotic as new B&H Minister of Security (FTV)
Sarovic expresses dissatisfaction over appointments of heads of certain agencies carried out by B&H Council of Ministers (BN TV)
Appointments of Serb staff in state institutions of B&H continue to spark reactions (N1)
Cvijanovic: SDS and SDA do not want elections, SNSD has nothing to fear (Nezavisne)
Resolution that condemns genocide in Srebrenica presented in US Congress (N1)
Croatia

EU Ombudsman: Concerns about Von der Leyen support to HDZ 'well-founded' (Hina)
Plenkovic: I don't see any problem with European Commission President participating in HDZ's election campaign (Hina)
Plenkovic forms new government (Jutarnji list)
Montenegro

Markovic: Hahn is Montenegro’s friend and supporter (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

SEC: SDSM wins 36.13%, VMRO-DPMNE 34.65%, DUI 11.57% (MIA)
Electoral Commission preliminary projection shows SDSM lead by two seats in a hung parliament (Republika)
Zaev: Coalition ‘We Can’ wins, we have three more MP seats, number could rise (MIA)
Janushev: VMRO-DPMNE in race to secure majority for new government (MIA)
Ahmeti: DUI wins 100,000 votes and 12 MP seats (MIA)
Albania

Soreca: EU recognizes the role of parliament in the electoral reform (Radio Tirana)
Meta-Basha meeting/Meta: The opposition must adhere to 5 June agreement (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Italy imposes travel ban on Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo (ANSAmed)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 15 July 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Missing and internally displaced first dialogue topic in Brussels (FoNet/Tanjug/RTV)
Dacic: Russia against one stakeholder obtaining monopoly over solution to Kosovo issue (TV Happy/Beta)
Dacic to Darmanovic: What would King Nikola say (RTS/Tanjug)
Group of academics, intellectuals announce formation of parliament of free Serbia (Beta/Danas)
Stricter measures in fight against COVID-19 from 17 July (Tanjug)
EU removed Serbia from the list of safe countries: Ban for at least two weeks (Tanjug/Reuters)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Process of appointment of directors of institutions at B&H level unblocked (BHT1)
CEC President Bakalar discusses with IC reps financial problems regarding organization of local elections (BHT1)
OHR: Failure to adopt state budget will have serious consequences and will jeopardize elections process (Oslobodjenje)
DF calls on SDP and Our Party to vote for adoption of budget of B&H institutions and enable holding of local elections (Oslobodjenje)
B&H authorities prevented arrival of Russian diplomat, Vladislav Filippov, suspected of espionage; Russia gives up on Filippov’s appointment to post of military attaché (Dnevni avaz)
Dodik reacts to request Dzaferovic had for President of Swiss Confederation, in regards to her video message for commemoration in Srebrenica (ATV)
US Congress discusses Resolution condemning genocide and other crimes against Bosniaks in Srebrenica (Dnevni avaz)
B&H Embassy to Canada fails to lower B&H flag at half-mast on 11 July (N1)
B&H CoM: Entry to foreigners will be allowed as of 16 July with negative test for Coronavirus (N1)
Croatia

All opposition parties turn down meetings with PM (HRT)
Montenegro

Of 2.000 coronavirus samples sent to Germany, 475 were positive (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Early parliamentary election in North Macedonia (MIA)
Albania

Socialist Party breaks electoral reform agreement (Tirana Times)
Presidency: Current parliament cannot make constitutional changes (ADN)
United opposition against unilateral constitutional changes (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Patriarch Kirill calls on Montenegro to repeal law which discriminates against Church (Interfax)
Trump Ex-Adviser Bolton Laments Lost Opportunity on Kosovo (BIRN)