LOCAL PRESS

• Dacic gives Diplomatic Academy students lecture on Serbian foreign policy priorities (Beta/Politika)
• Serbia, NATO committed to further improving partnership cooperation (Tanjug/Beta/Politika)
• Government passes new measures against coronavirus spread (Tanjug/RTS/RTV/Beta)
• EU wants Belgrade-Pristina dialogue to resume as soon as possible (Tanjug)
• Analyst: Russia’s three steps in preventing international recognition of Kosovo (Beta/Regnum)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H bans entry for foreigners from countries severely affected by COVID-19 (ATV)
• Field: Dayton Agreement is not perfect, but consensus is needed for adoption of changes (Nezavisne novine)
• Croatian Ambassador Sabolic presents program of Croatia’s EU Presidency to delegation of Federation of B&H HoR Commission for European Integration (FTV)
Croatia
• Number of coronavirus cases in Croatia rises to 19 (Hina)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic: There have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Montenegro; On negotiations between the government and Metropolitanate, useless to organize talks if nobody was willing to change anything (CDM)
• Markovic: The coronavirus situation is serious, public assemblies will be banned in case virus breaks out in Montenegro (CDM)
• Boskovic: Montenegro is our one and only sanctity (Avangarda)
• Fejzic: Cultural heritage is state-owned everywhere in the world (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• US Department of State releases report on Macedonia: High-level corruption main issue (Republika)
• Spanish Senate closes down due to coronavirus: Vote on Macedonia’s NATO accession protocol postponed (Republika)
• Prohor Pcinjski border crossing closes on Thursday (Republika)
Albania
• Rama imposes tougher preventative measures (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Migrants in new clashes on Greek-Turkish border (ANSAMed)
• Migrants on Greek islands to be offered €2,000 to go home (The Guardian)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 11 March 2020
LOCAL PRESS

• Opening of Embassy in Yerevan an expression of friendship (RTV/Tanjug)
• Dacic: We continue with anti-recognition campaign until deal or compromise (TV Happy/FoNet)
• Dacic urges unconditional abolishment of taxes (Tanjug)
• SNS and opposition cancel all campaign rallies until 1 April over coronavirus (Tanjug/RTS/B92)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• RS government decides to ban public gatherings and close down schools until March 30 (N1)
• Stoltenberg meets Turkovic, Podzic; Podzic: We discussed implementation of B&H Program of Reforms (O kanal)
• Cormack: Different leaders have stood in the way of progress of B&H (Dnevni list)
• Radoncic: If migrant crisis escalates, Dodik should change his stances on engagement of B&H AF in protection of borders (FTV)
• Foreign Ministers of Berlin Process countries meet in Skopje (FTV)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic: WB is closer to European values now than ever (CDM)
• Darmanovic in Skopje: Europe remains committed to the WB (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• SDSM cancels all public party events to avoid the spread of the coronavirus (Republika)
Albania
• COVID-19 Outbreak, US Embassy urges politics to be united (ADN)
• Coronavirus Outbreak: Nurseries, educational institutions, nightclubs gyms and private sector in Albania to close down (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• U.S. Senator Calls On Kosovo To End Tariffs Or Face U.S. Troop Withdrawal (RFE/RL)
• Montenegro Suspends Army Officer for Joining Church Protests (BIRN)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Albanians do not want compromise, Serbs want frozen conflict in Kosovo (TV Kopernikus/Tanjug)
• Brnabic: US policy clear, I would like EU policy to be clearer (Tanjug/RTV)
• Vulin: Тhaci revealed his mission (RTS/Tanjug/Novosti)
• Gojkovic thanks Armenia for not recognizing unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H Presidency member Dzaferovic meets with US’ Cormack and Nelson, underlines that blockade of institutions of B&H is unacceptable (BHT1/Nezavisne)
• Dodik: When it comes to migrants, this is sort of civilizational occupation of Christian world and not humanitarian story (ATV)
• Cvijanovic: I would support idea to form mixed police and military units of countries of Western Balkans and deploy them on external borders to prevent influx of migrants (N1)
Montenegro
• Markovic: Dialogue to lead to stronger institutions and rule of law (CDM)
• Djukanovic in Lithuania: The right moment for the Western Balkans to be brought back to Europe (CDM)
• Skvernelis: Montenegro and Lithuania face similar challenges and share common values (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Mickoski meets Orban, calls for an EU accession talks date for Macedonia (Republika)
• Zaev’s SDSM party drops the hated adjective “North” ahead of the elections (Republika)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES
• EU leaders meet Erdoğan to resolve fight over refugees (Politico)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 9 March 2020
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Kurti is right (Tanjug/Beta/B92)
• Dacic: Kosovo issue poses greatest political and security challenge (Tanjug/RTS/RTV/Beta)
• Jeremic: Vucic agreed to Kosovo getting a seat in UN (VoA/N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Constitutional Court’s decision on Law on Agricultural Land of RS published in Official Gazette of B&H (FTV)
• Dodik: OHR and Constitutional Court of B&H are part of package against RS which aims to undermine constitutional and Dayton position of RS (RTRS)
• PDP not to endorse Proposal of Law on Constitutional Court of B&H prepared by SNSD and HDZ B&H (BN TV)
• Only one Serb minister appointed in new government of Sarajevo Canton; Jelicic goes from Croat to Serb during intermission (RTRS)
• SDA will propose law on Mostar together with SBB and DF (Dnevni avaz)
• Ambassador Sabolic: It is necessary to change Election Law to prevent possibility for one people to elect representatives of other people (Dnevni avaz)
• Dodik: Deployment of members of Armed Forces of B&H to border with Serbia and Montenegro is unacceptable (N1)
Croatia
• Croatia willing to help refugee children on Greek islands (Hina)
Montenegro
• Markovic to Irinej: Scenario of a religious and national state is not acceptable in Montenegro (CDM)
• Government ensures environment for successful negotiation of expert teams (CDM)
• Pazin: Argumentative dialogue can lead to solution (RTCG/VoA)
• Nuhodzic to Patriarch Irinej: There are no signs that conflict might erupt in Montenegro (MINA)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Zaev and Sekerinska to head MP lists (Republika)
• DUI completes candidate lists for MPs in upcoming elections (Alsat-M)
• DPA to run alone at elections (Alsat-M)
• Culev: Macedonia will close the southern border (Republika)
Albania
• Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, CAA open letter to US President Trump (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Erdogan holds Brussels talks as situation on Greek border gets nasty (EurActiv/AFP)

LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: No increased migrant pressure on Serbian borders; zero tolerance for persons trying to cross the border illegally (RTS)
• Dacic: Foreign exchange between Serbia, Russia should be increased (Tanjug/Beta)
• Vulin: Serbia is not a colony (RTS/Tanjug/Beta)
• US asks Serbia to stop buying arms from Russia (RFE/N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik: B&H Presidency already decided that B&H AF will not be deployed at eastern borders; Komsic: By refusing to engage B&H AF in protection of borders, Dodik takes responsibility for all possible consequences of migrant crisis (RTRS)
• Dodik meets with Ivantsov and Koc respectively, says RS representatives in B&H will not participate in decision-making until disputable decision of B&H CC is withdrawn (RTRS)
Croatia
• Stoltenberg: North Macedonia soon to become member of NATO (Hina)
Montenegro
Markovic forms expert team for the negotiations with the Metropolitanate (CDM)
Amfilohije accepts Markovic’s call for dialogue (CDM)
Pazin: Law on Freedom of Religion obliges everyone to respect legal order of Montenegro (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Sekerinska and Dimitrov will not be holders of candidate lists due to bad ratings (Republika/Vecer)
• Pendarovski-Sobotka: Austria gives unequivocal support to Macedonia’s EU perspective (Republika)
Albania
• Meta publishes letter addressed to Brussel: 'Demounts' lie mounded in Commission's Report (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Dendias: Evidence that border migratory movement is spurred by Turkey (ekathimerini.com)
• Migrants dodge tear gas as Greek-Turkish border crisis deepens (Reuters, by Lefteris Papadimas, Joseph Nasr)