LOCAL PRESS

Vucic-Merkel video meeting: Fast dialogue resumption (Tanjug/Beta/B92/RTS/RTV)
Brnabic: If needed, the state of emergency will last four months (Tanjug/B92)
Stefanovic: Thousands of potentially infected come to Serbia: 25.000 people in self-isolation (TV Prva/Tanjug)
Government suspends international passenger traffic from Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport until further notice (Tanjug/Beta)
Number of coronavirus cases rises to 97 in Serbia (N1)
Army of Serbia secures borders, migrant centers, hospitals, airports (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Thirty-nine confirmed coronavirus cases in B&H more than 15,000 under medical supervision (FTV)
B&H Presidency adopts decision on engagement of B&H Armed Forces (BHT1)
Dodik: Set up check point of our police at each border crossing; It is high time this was done at inter-entity boundary line as well (RTRS)
Extraordinary session of B&H Coordination Body for Protection and Rescue held (O kanal)
Federation of B&H Civil Protection Headquarters introduces two new measures due to coronavirus pandemic (FTV)
SC government adopts decision to declare state of natural and other disaster in SC (N1)
USC Crisis Headquarters bans work of restaurants, coffee bars and other services due to coronavirus pandemic (BHT1)
Border police officer arrested for allowing persons from countries with COVID-19 to enter B&H in return for money (ATV)
Minimum of 6,000 people receive decision on isolation in B&H (Hayat)
Croatia

President Milanovic addresses the nation on Coronavirus crisis (Hina)
In Croatia, 99 are infected with coronavirus (HRT)
Montenegro

Montenegro guarantees protection and assistance (CDM)
Six new cases of coronavirus in Montenegro (CDM)
New measures of Montenegro’s Ministry of Health (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

Pendarovski: The fact that we are declaring a state of emergency for the first time indicates how complex the situation in the country is (Republika)
Osmani: EU reaches consensus to launch accession talks with North Macedonia (MIA)
Seven new coronavirus cases confirmed Wednesday evening, total number of patients in Macedonia rises to 42 (Republika)
Albania

As of today, only 6 hours of pedestrian traffic permitted in Albania (Oranews)
Number of Coronavirus cases in Albania reaches 64 (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

China is winning the coronavirus propaganda war (Politico)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 18 March 2020

LOCAL PRESS

No one aged 65 is allowed to go outside, no one on the street from 8 pm to 5 am (B92/Tanjug)
Brnabic: Huge influx of Serbian citizens from abroad causes major concern (RTS/Tanjug)
Dacic instructs all diplomatic missions and consular posts (Tanjug/RTS/RTV/Beta)
Stefanovic: Two quarantine sites for Serbians returning home (RTS/TV Pink)
Godfrey calls on Serbian citizens to be responsible, self-isolate (Beta)
Várhely holds a video conference on COVID-19 with WB Prime Ministers (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Seven new cases of coronavirus confirmed in RS; RS Minister Klokic positive for coronavirus (BN TV)
New cases of Coronavirus in Federation of B&H (N1/FTV)
B&H CoM declares state of natural and other disaster in B&H over Coronavirus (BHT1)
Federation of B&H Civil Protection Headquarters bans all public gatherings (BHT1)
China donates disinfectants to RS authorities (ATV)
Croatia

Croatia COVID-19: 81 Cases, 12 New (TCN/Index)
Montenegro

First cases of coronavirus in Montenegro (N1)
Republic of North Macedonia

Four new corona cases in Macedonia, 35 in total; Macedonian citizens who are exiting the country to sign a statement that they will not return in three months (Republika)
Elections to be postponed (Republika)
We have no resources to enforce crisis situation nationwide, says Pendarovski (MIA)
King Felipe VI of Spain signs North Macedonia’s NATO Accession Protocol (MIA)
Albania

Albania tops 59 Coronavirus cases (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Serbia turns to China due to ‘lack of EU solidarity’ on coronavirus (EurActiv)

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Eyes of Serbia are looking to China now (Beta)
Brnabic: Possibility of introducing more drastic measures not excluded (TV Pink/Tanjug)
New government measures to combat COVID-19 virus (Tanjug/Beta)
Government of Serbia passed the Decree: Constitution guaranteed rights restricted (Tanjug/B92)
Dacic: Lavrov’s visit to Serbia postponed; assistance from Russia in fight against coronavirus (Tanjug/Beta)
WHO supports Serbia in fight against coronavirus (Tanjug)
Joksimovic asks EC to redirect IPA funds for fight against coronavirus (Tanjug)
Sixteen years since the March pogrom (RTS)
RIK: All election activities cease during state of emergency in Serbia (Beta/FoNet/N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

One more COVID-19 case of B&H, raising the number to 26 cases in total; Parliament declared the state of emergency (N1)
B&H Presidency adopts 18 conclusions on measures for fight against coronavirus epidemic in B&H (Hayat)
RS government declares emergency situation for territory of RS (ATV)
All citizens of B&H who enter country will be sent to self-isolation to prevent coronavirus outbreak (N1)
Izetbegovic: Drastic measures against coronavirus are necessary in order to stop epidemic (Hayat)
Serbia and Montenegro close down border crossings towards B&H (Hayat)
Croatia

Croatia confirms nine more coronavirus patients, announces new measures (Hina)
Croatian army activities reduced to minimum (Hina)
Von der Leyen proposes ban to entrance to EU for citizens of all non-EU countries (HRT)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: Abiding by recommendations, we protect ourselves, our families and our country (CDM)
Government outlines new measures to prevent coronavirus outbreak (CDM)
Getting to grips with the coronavirus (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia

North Macedonia closes borders, Skopje Airport amid coronavirus outbreak (MIA)
No need to rush into declaring national emergency or crisis situation, says Pendarovski (MIA)
Dimitrov warns citizens against traveling abroad amid COVID-19 pandemic (MIA)
Pendarovski: There should be no problem to postpone April elections (MIA)
Number of coronavirus patients in Republic of North Macedonia rises to 26 after three new cases confirmed (MIA)
Spanish Senate ratifies NATO Accession Protocol (MIA)
Albania

Number of the infected in Albania reach 55 (ADN)
Albania extends emergency measures to prevent COVID-19's spread (ADN)
Albania bans travels from UK (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 16 March 2020

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic introduced state of emergency in Serbia (B92/Tanjug/RTS/Beta)
Brnabic urges citizens to respect emergency measures (TV Prva)
Brnabic: Serbia closes borders due to coronavirus (RTS)
Vucic, Orban discuss cooperation in fighting Covid-19, Dacic meets with Dimitrov (Beta)
Video conference between Vucic and Merkel postponed until tomorrow (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Federation of B&H declares state of emergency over coronavirus (N1)
Total number of coronavirus infections in RS reaches 20; RS authorities announce new measures to tackle COVID-19 (BHT1)
B&H Presidency reached agreement on deployment of B&H Armed Forces to B&H border (BN TV)
US State Department's report shows significant human rights issues in B&H in 2019 (BN TV)
B&H Border Police faces new migrant wave with little equipment and low numbers of officers (FTV)
Croatia

Croatia to introduce strict measures to contain coronavirus spread (Hina)
Montenegro

Public Health Institute: Montenegro still coronavirus-free (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia

SEC proposes that the elections are postponed (Republika)
Albania

All Albania in lockdown as of Sunday as Coronavirus cases rise (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Serbia voices solidarity with Iran in fight against coronavirus (Tehran Times)
North Macedonia: Pre-Election Poll Shows Increased Economic Anxiety, Declining Hopes for EU Accession (International Republican Institute)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 13 March 2020

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic and Merkel to talk via video call (Beta)
• Vucic on latest measures: Additional pay rise for medical staff, formation of two crisis headquarters (Tanjug/Beta/B92/RTS/RTV)
• Forty-four border crossings temporarily closed due to coronavirus (Tanjug/RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Crisis HQs of Banja Luka limits working hours of restaurants, malls and similar facilities (ATV)
• Crisis HQ of Federation of B&H introduces more restrictive measures over COVID-19 (N1)
• Several border crossings in B&H closed due to coronavirus (FTV)
• B&H HoR replaces two B&H CEC members due to expiration of their mandate, it also extends mandate of two B&H CEC members from the rank of Bosniaks (RTRS)
• Dodik: SDS and PDP betrayed conclusions of RSNA and interests of RS; Reactions of other RS politicians (RTRS)
• Izetbegovic: Decision on replacements in B&H CEC was politically correct, but it had to be harmonized and coordinated with SBB and DF (Fena)
• Kristo: B&H HoR’s decision to replace B&H CEC members is illegal (BHT1)
Croatia
• Croatia reports more cases of coronavirus bringing total to 27 (Hina)
Montenegro
• Institute for Public Health proposes closure of schools and working from home (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
Albania
• Rama: Main cities completely quarantined for 3 days (Radio Tirana)
• Albania temporarily closes border with Kosovo (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• EU enlargement needs better strategic communication (EurActiv)