United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 26 June 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Grenell and Vucic rescheduled the meeting (Tanjug/B92)
Vucic: I expect Serbia to become a member of the EU by 2026 (Tanjug/B92/RTS)
Fabrizi: Vucic's visit to Brussels shows readiness for talks with Pristina (TV Prva/FoNet)
"There're indications that they'll sign an agreement, why meet at the White House?" (Tanjug/B92)
Sapic says he is ready to join cabinet (Beta)
Another 193 cases (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dodik: RS purchases three helicopters from Russia, B&H will not be member of NATO (RTRS)
Coordination of Serbs Mostar: Serbs need equal representation in Mostar (FTV)
Dodik: I will impose topic of migrants and demand they be expelled from B&H (ATV)
Croatia implements 14-day self-isolation obligation for citizens of B&H and other countries (O kanal)
SDA: Croatia’s decision was hasty and shortsighted (Hayat)
Other reactions to introduction of self-isolation for B&H citizens in Croatia (N1)
B&H reports 140 new Covid-19 cases in one day (N1)
Croatia

Prime Minister issues message on Independence Day (Hina)
Croatian general election preview (TCN)
Croatia reports 56 new cases of Covid-19 (N1)
Montenegro

Markovic: Dialogue should be held in the institutions (CDM)
National Coordination Body bans religious and political gatherings in open public spaces (CDM)
Institute for Public Health confirms another 35 coronavirus cases (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

SEC dismisses complaints over early election campaigning (MIA)
Zaev: We cannot go back to where we used to be (MIA)
Mickoski: VMRO-DPMNE will protect nation’s dignity (MIA)
Alliance for Albanians and Alternativa hold campaign convention in Tetovo (MIA)
North Macedonia registered 163 new cases of Covid-19, 3 persons died (24.mk)
Albania

Accusations against Thaci and Veseli, Rama: Experimental trial that throws mud on all Albanians (Radio Tirana)
Albanian Acting Minister in Washington for Kosovo-Serbia agreement (ADN)
Former minister urges Kosovo-Serbia dialogue to continue (ADN)
In Albania 77 new Covid-19 cases (Tirana Times)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Kremlin Says Monitoring Impact Of Accusations Against Kosovo Leader On Talks With Serbia (UrduPoint News/Sputnik)
Broken Or A Breakthrough? Surprise Kosovo War-Crime Charges Have Put Balkan Talks In Limbo (RFE/RL)

LOCAL PRESS

Drecun: They wanted to trade in Washington in order to be removed from indictments (RTS)
Gratitude for Brazil’s firm and principled support on non-recognition of so-called Kosovo (Tanjug/RTS)
Djuric: Terror against Serb population in Metohija continues (RTS)
"Presently, Pristina is a big factor of insecurity, and as for Vucic..." (Tanjug/B92)
Petritsch doubts US success in Belgrade – Pristina talks (N1)
Local elections in Sabac to be repeated (Glas Podrinja/N1)
RIK rejects all complaints about Serbia's elections; ENEMO: Race imperiled (Beta)
Another 137 cases (B92)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Victory Parade held in Moscow; Dodik attends ceremony (ATV)
New EUROPOL report: Western Balkans is still home to radical groups (Dnevni list)
Croatian President Milanovic refers to B&H as state with three entities (O kanal)
Mesic: Story about third entity is dangerous for the region (Dnevni avaz)
Increasing the number of infected in B&H: 119 new cases in one day (N1)
Croatia

Croatia imposes new 14-day quarantine for travelers from four Balkan countries (N1)
Croatia reports 95 new cases of Covid-19, a total of 2,483 (N1)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: SPC is an instrument in the hands of the Great Serbian nationalism (CDM/HRT)
Markovic: Nowhere in the world can you see MPs boycotting the parliament for four years (CDM)
Another six persons in Montenegro test positive for coronavirus (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Zaev: The citizens alone decide who will be the next prime minister (MIA)
Vote for renewal of Macedonia, VMRO-DPMNE’s Mickoski tells Ohrid rally (MIA)
Telma poll: SDSM holds slight lead over VMRO-DPMNE (MIA)
North Macedonia reports 153 new cases of Covid-19, 6 patients died (24.mk)
Albania

Meta: KLA's war resulted right and decisive (ADN)
Bushati: Vucic has a 'one color' parliament and more MPs than Putin and Erdogan (ADN)
Bushati: Possible indictments cannot deviate historical significance of Kosovo liberation war (ADN)
The Political Council concludes its work with the Electoral Code (Radio Tirana)
Albania tops 2.192 cases as Coronavirus spreads (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Kosovan president’s war crimes indictment puts West in a bind (Politico)
Hashim Thaci's past catches up with Kosovo's future (DW)
Indictments Are against Individuals, Not an Attack on KLA, Says Former Chief Prosecutor Clint Williamson (Exit news)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 24 June 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic attends Military Parade in Moscow (RTS/Tanjug)
Vucic after meeting Putin: "We discussed issues I cannot talk about in public" (B92)
Vucic with Putin on Kosovo and Metohija: Russia respects Serbia’s stands (RTS/Tanjug)
Brnabic: Serbia appreciates EU's efforts to resolve Kosovo issue (Tanjug)
Godfrey: US is offering Belgrade and Pristina a chance (Danas)
Serbian opposition agrees - parliament illegitimate (Beta)
Another 143 cases (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Sattler meets B&H parliament Commission for EU Integration (FTV)
Oslobodjenje interview with B&H Presidency member Komsic (Oslobodjenje)
Dodik arrives in Moscow for Victory Day parade (RTRS)
RS Crisis HQ extends protection measures by 6 July (BHT1)
B&H records 88 new Covid-19 patients, no new fatalities (N1)
Croatia

Plenkovic: 5 July remains election date (Hina)
War, missing, Croatian minority's status remain in focus of Serbia-Croatia relations (Hina)
Bozinovic: Border regime with B&H and Serbia likely to be changed (Hina)
Croatia reports 22 new Covid-19 cases, a total of 2,388 (N1)
Montenegro

Tensions in Budva continue: Police stand guard in front of the Municipal building (CDM/RTV Budva)
Nuhodzic: Montenegrin institutions will act decisively and strongly to prevent violence (CDM)
Markovic: Montenegro has proven to be the most promising and closest to EU membership (CDM)
Institute for Public Health confirms five new coronavirus cases (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Dimitrov: Let’s give Berlin a good argument to help us (MIA)
Roth: W. Balkans to remain an important issue during Germany’s EU presidency (MIA)
Borders to reopen Friday, airports to start operating as of 1 July (MIA)
PM: Opening of borders not a political decision, based on Commission’s opinion (MIA)
North Macedonia reports 136 new Covid-19 cases, 43 patients recover, 8 die (MIA)
Albania

Bushati urges Presevo Valley to unite for national identity (ADN)
Rama: Albania doesn't have to meet 15 conditions (ADN)
Calavera: There are not 15 conditions to open the first round of talks, they must be met in the future after the opening of talks (Radio Tirana)
Rama in his capacity as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office addressed the 2020 Annual Security Conference (Radio Tirana)
Albania ends state of emergency but some restrictions remain (ADN)
Covid-19 Safety protocol for public transport published (ADN)
In Albania 67 new Covid-19 cases (Tirana Times)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Meeting with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic (The Kremlin)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: We are dealing with painful issues, compromise is not easy for Serbia (Tanjug/B92)
EC: Belgrade and Pristina teams in Brussels on 25 June in separate meetings (N1)
RIK: 70.57 votes processed, SNS is the absolute winner - turnout higher than 50 percent (B92)
Djuric: Voter turnout in Kosovo and Metohija 60 percent, SNS wins nearly 86 percent (RTS)
OSCE: Election in Serbia marked by political polarization and opposition boycott (Beta)
Tiodorovic: No rationale for reintroducing state of emergency (TV Prva/Beta)
Another 102 cases (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Avaz interview with Serbian President Vucic (Dnevni avaz)
RS officials congratulate Vucic on election victory (ATV)
HDZ B&H Presidency holds session (Hayat)
SNSD will not support solution for Mostar elections agreed by SDA and HDZ B&H (FTV)
NS President Kojovic slams SDA-HDZ B&H agreement on Mostar (Dnevni list)
SC and TC most affected by Coronavirus in FB&H (N1)
RS Minister of Health Seranic: Increasing number of infections in significant number of municipalities in the RS is concerning (ATV)
Another 53 coronavirus cases reported in B&H (N1)
Croatia

Milanovic on official visit to Montenegro (HRT)
Croatian President cancels visit to Russia (Hina)
Milanovic: I don't see any legal basis to postpone election (Hina)
In Croatia 30 new Covid-19 cases today (N1)
Montenegro

Milanovic to Djukanovic: Montenegro will be the next EU member; Kosovo issue must be resolved (CDM)
Djukanovic: I am dispelling nationalists’ illusion about Greater Serbia (CDM)
Democrat deputies entered the Municipal Assembly of Budva (RTCG)
Amfilohije invited for an informative talk (RTCG)
Montenegro records 51 Covid-19 infections (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

PM Spasovski congratulates Serbia’s Vucic and SNS on election victory (MIA)
Nikoloski rejects DUI demand that the next Prime Minister is an ethnic Albanian (Republika)
Traveling without coronavirus test, quarantine for Macedonians only possible in Serbia, Albania, and Kosovo (MIA)
EC: Decision on opening of borders with Western Balkans in hands of member-states (MIA)
SEC inspects polling stations for safety and health protocols (MIA)
In North Macedonia 118 new cases of Covid-19, 74 patients have recovered, 4 people have died (Libertas)
Albania

EP special session for Albania: No opening of negotiations without fulfilling 15 conditions (ADN)
President Meta meets chief negotiator with EU Mazi (Radio Tirana)
Details of the agreement of the Political Councils will be closed within this week (Radio Tirana)
In Albania 53 new Covid-19 cases (Tirana Times/Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Grenell: Economy 'First Step' to Serbia-Kosovo Peace (NewsMax)
Serbia: Joint Statement by High Representative/ Vice-President Josep Borrell and Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi on the elections (European External Action Service)
Fajon and Bilcik: The dramatic change in the new parliament will present a challenge for the future Serbian government (EWB)

LOCAL PRESS

RIK: 62.73 percent of the electorate processed, 3 lists passed the threshold (Tanjug/B92/RTS)
Votes from Kosovo and Metohija delivered to Vranje (RTS)
Ipsos, CeSID: 93.2% of the votes processed: A convincing victory of SNS (B92)
Vucic declares victory; "More than two million votes" (B92)
Dacic: Absolute winner are SNS and Vucic; we are vice champions (Nova)
Sapic: We have made an extraordinary result (RTS)
Pastor: Historical success (RTS)
Reactions of heads of election lists to election results (RTS)
Djilas: Boycott successful, government won't have legitimacy (Beta)
Jovanovic: Mass boycott in Belgrade, turnout some 35 pct (N1)
Cajetina municipality remains opposition-held after Sunday’s vote (Beta)
Elections in Belgrade: Changes in several municipalities (Novosti/B92)
Gratitude to Mexico for its principled position on Kosovo issue (Tanjug)
Another 96 cases (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Dodik and Cubrilovic say strong Serbia is guarantee of existence and survival of RS (ATV)
Izetbegovic: Elections will take place in autumn (Glas Srpske)
Prutina’s statement regarding possible further postponement of elections sparks reactions of RS officials (ATV)
B&H politicians comment on SDA-HDZ B&H agreement regarding Mostar (Nezavisne novine)
Radoncic: Neither Izetbegovic nor Covic should take agreement on Mostar as personal success (Face TV)
Dodik: Serbia has clear approach to Kosovo issue and UN Resolution 1244 will be rehabilitated (ATV)
Cvijanovic: Lavrov knows situation very well and we are grateful to Russia which is dedicated to DPA (Glas Srpske)
Salkic: None will be able to erase Bosniaks in the RS and Serb representatives should understand this (Fena)
Bijeljina City Assembly: SNSD takes over posts, SDS loses power after 30 years (FTV)
Radoncic: We expect from IC to put pressure on Dodik and Covic so that issue of illegal migrants is no longer issue for Bosniaks solely (Face TV)
Sattler: Burden of migrant crisis should be borne by all in B&H (Hayat)
PCR tests done in B&H not recognized in the EU (BHT1)
Turkovic: B&H CoM to discuss travel restrictions for neighboring countries in July, Slovenia’s restrictions for B&H citizens are confusing (Glas Srpske)
B&H sees surge in new coronavirus infections, with 93 cases recorded in a day (N1)
Croatia

Croatia tightens border controls with B&H and Serbia (Hina/Jutarnji list)
Bozinovic: Most of new cases of Coronavirus were imported (HRT1)
Croatian President begins two-week foreign tour on Monday (Hina)
Croatia reports 19 new Covid-19 cases, a total of 2,336 (N1)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: There’s no compromise with nationalists (CDM)
Parliamentary and local elections scheduled for 30 August, decided Djukanovic (CDM)
Coronavirus in Montenegro on the rise (CDM)
Erakovic: The situation will get worse if we don’t accept the fact that the virus is there (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

State of emergency expires in North Macedonia, election campaign to be launched Wednesday (MIA)
Zaev: DUI going into opposition after 17 years is healthy for country (MIA)
In North Macedonia 90 new cases of Covid-19, 48 recovered, 9 people died (Libertas)
Albania

Tirana International Airport resumes all flights; sea borders also reopen (Tirana Times)
Montenegro is closing its land border with Albania due to the upward trend of infected (Radio Tirana)
In Albania 33 new COVID-19 cases (Tirana Times)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Serbia holds parliamentary elections amidst COVID-19 risk (Xinhua)