United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 19 February 2020
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Western powers want Serbia's defeat, we must resist that (Tanjug/B92/RTS/RTV)
• Odalovic: This is the way to defend the Dayton agreement (RTS)
• Selakovic: SPC property seized in Montenegro (RTS)
• Grenell denies there's a plan to "quickly solve" Kosovo issue (Tanjug)
• Dveri kick off election boycott campaign in Cacak (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Sarovic: SDS representatives supported proposed conclusions of RS parliament as they did not want to ‘jump out of package’, but this kind of blockade means chaos in B&H (BNTV)
• Viskovic says RS and FB&H governments should form body that would deal with issue of inter-entity boundary line (N1/RTRS)
• EUFOR closely observes situation in B&H; UK Embassy to B&H refers to joint statement of Quint countries and EUD to B&H (Hayat/O Kanal)
Montenegro
• Boskovic: Religion law was used to launch crusade against Montenegro (CdM/Radio Montenegro)
• Sheikh Imran calls Muslims from Balkans to support Orthodox people in defending sanctities (In4S)
• EU Council removes Montenegro from the grey list (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
Albania
• Meta accuses Rama as sole responsible for coup d'etat (ADN)
• Parliament can be dissolved by the people (ADN)
• Rama ready for agreement with Basha (ADN)
• Cakaj: Kosovo-Albania border should be removed and a joint political platform should be created (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• US still open to Kosovo-Serbia land swap (EUobserver)
• Tensions take center stage as Western Balkans gets under the spotlight in Munich (EWB)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: We missed a major chance, we will pay high price for that (Happy TV/Tanjug/B92)
• Vucic: We saw EU’s sincere commitment, investment package announced (RTS/Tanjug)
• Dacic: They violated UN Resolution 1244 a long time ago (TV Prva/Tanjug/RTV)
• Brnabic: Vucic and I prefer new methodology, Joksimovic cautious (Tanjug)
• Bishop Amfilohije: People are resurrected (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• RS parliament holds special session to debate on information on ”anti-Dayton activity” of B&H CC; Cvijanovic calls for adoption of eight harmonized conclusions (BNTV)
• Komsic: It is impossible to discuss end of mandate of foreign judges in B&H CC in current constellation of political relations in B&H (BHT1)
• Dzaferovic: RS parliament conclusions will not have any legal effect (O Kanal/FTV)
• Other comments of B&H politicians on RS parliament’s special session on B&H CC (N1)
• OHR, EUD’s Sattler, NATO, EUFOR comment on latest developments in RS (N1)
• Cubrilovic: Serbian statehood day will be celebrated until Serbs exist (Srna)
Montenegro
• Metropolitanate wants the law to be amended (CdM)
• Djukanovic: Markovic’s meeting with Metropolitan Amfilohije is encouraging (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Parliament dissolves, opens way for elections on 12 April (Republika)
• Scandal in the parliament: Zaev’s law on state prosecutors was rejected, but was later declared adopted (Republika)
• VMRO: Democracy was trampled today, Pendarovski has not right to sign this law into force (Republika)
• Pendarovski ignored the scandalous vote and signed the PPO law (Republika)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Seventy-five Serbian troops to march in Victory Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square (TASS)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 14 February 2020

LOCAL PRESS

• Statements signed on intent on completing highway and renewal of railway between Belgrade and Pristina (RTS/Tanjug)
• Vucic: US firmly insisting on lifting of Pristina's taxes (Tanjug/B92)
• Djuric: Serbian goods will reach faster our southern province (RTS)
• Stefanovic with Pinter: Serbia will not be bottleneck for migrants (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik and Covic hold meeting: Election Law and law that would eliminate foreign judges from B&H CC are two things that will be key to sustainability of B&H (ATV)
• Ambassadors of Quint countries meet with RS officials in B&H institutions in premises of B&H Presidency (Hayat)
• Dodik meets Russian Ambassador Ivantsov to discuss decision of RS officials (RTRS)
• EUD Head Sattler: B&H CC’s decisions need to be respected (N1)
• Dodik: RS has embarked on a path of secession from B&H, US will not stop us (RTRS/Sputnik/RTS)
• RS special parliament session to discuss information regarding anti-Dayton activity of B&H CC is supposed to take place on Monday (Hayat)
• RS officials start to implement decision not to take part in decision-making process in B&H institutions (RTRS)
• Izetbegovic: We will not accept ultimatums; OHR and B&H Prosecutor’s Office must react (Dnevni avaz)
• Federation of B&H politicians: We will not accept weakening of B&H CC (Hayat)
• Brnabic: Belgrade will protect Serbs’ rights in the region (O kanal)
Croatia
• Green MEPs claim Croatia forcibly returning migrants to B&H (Hina)
Montenegro
• Boskovic: Law on Freedom of Religion is a trigger for hybrid war against Montenegro (CDM)
Albania
• Meta: Kosovo and Serbia must resolve problems through agreement - border changes is not the solution (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• A New Approach: The EU and the Western Balkans (Visegrad Insight)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 13 February 2020
LOCAL PRESS

• Dacic: Montenegrin President overplays his hand by attacking Serb identity (TV Happy/FoNet)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Resolution 1244 is the foundation for regulating the Kosovo problem (Sputnik/RTV/NSPM)
• Gojkovic meets with Russian Federation Council Chairperson Matviyenko (Tanjug)
• Djuric and Falconi discuss political-security situation in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV)
• Custin: Grenell made it clear Pristina's taxes send bad message (Tanjug)
• Carpenter: No progress on Kosovo before elections in Serbia; solution can’t be complete unless Serbia recognizes Kosovo as independent (VoA/N1/NSPM)
• Djilas criticizes Fabirzi in circular letter (Beta)
• Jeremic: Vucic trying to take control over Montenegro protests (Beta/Direktno)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• RS’ representatives in B&H institutions suspend decision-making on any issue under competence of B&H until adoption of new law on B&H CC in which there will be no foreign judges (Hayat)
• Dodik: Return to Dayton positions or there will be no B&H come spring of next year (Vecernji list)
• Representatives of parliamentary parties in RS deem that aggression of B&H CC has to be stopped (RTRS)
• Dzaferovic: Current crisis is developing because international community did not do its job; Komsic: Lower levels of authority cannot question B&H institutions (Hayat)
• US Embassy in B&H calls for compliance with B&H CC's decisions; OHR says all moves that would lead to paralysis of institutions would represent step in wrong direction (FTV)
• Inzko: Issue of local elections in Mostar should be solved outside political package (FTV)
Montenegro
• Boskovic: Vulin’s behavior is tragicomic (CDM)
• Montenegrin citizens won’t be allowed to enter Schengen without travel permission (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• New audio leak proves that Zoran Zaev is behind the Racket scandal (Republika/1TV)
• Xhaferi won’t allow a vote to dissolve the parliament just yet (Republika)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• A Plan to Unseat Serbia’s Leader Crumbles as Elections Near (Bloomberg News)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 12 February 2020
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Non-interference in Montenegro’s internal affairs (RTS/Sputnik)
• Stefanovic: I appreciate US pressure on Pristina, but it seems it could be greater (RTS/Tanjug)
• Vulin: Why do the authorities in Montenegro have a problem when somebody from Serbia is coming (RTS)
• Gojkovic at Russia-Serbia Parliamentary Commission session (Tanjug/RTV)
• Cucic: Enough room for migrants in reception centers (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik: B&H CC’s decision on Law on Agricultural Land of RS is attack on territorial organization of B&H (RTRS)
• Ramic on B&H CC’s decision on Law on Agricultural Land of RS: OHR should impose law (N1)
• Talks on formation of FB&H government fail to bring results; OHR, US Embassy, EUD call for formation of authorities at all levels of power (N1)
• Commission for Appointment of SC government rejects all 12 candidates for new convocation of SC government (FTV/Oslobodjenje)
• Colo: HDZ B&H has to stop with obstructions and only international community can make them do that (Oslobodjenje)
• Palmer: We are worried about Russian intentions about Western Balkans (N1)
• Kosarac hosts meeting on Croatia’s intention to build nuclear landfill near border with B&H (Hayat)
Croatia
• Government to provide legal aid for survivors of Serb concentration camps (HRT)
• Tensions within the HDZ continue to rise ahead of intra-party elections (HRT)
Montenegro
• Metropolitanate hasn’t launched initiative for assessment of constitutionality of new law (CDM)
• Erdogan to visit Montenegro soon (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Macedonian parliament ratifies the NATO accession protocol (Republika)
• Zidan: Macedonia has done more than any other EU candidate (Republika)
• Di Meio: Regardless of methodology, EU talks shouldn’t be delayed (Republika)
Albania
• Mini-Schengen provokes first 'dispute' of Albania and Kosovo PMs (ADN)
• Kosovo may be positive example of good governance in region (ADN)
• Ruci: Kurti's government to successfully overcome challenges (ADN)
• Opposition leader guarantees support to Kosovo's PM (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Serbian leader lauds upcoming WWII victory celebrations (TASS)
• Balkan spies 'feed' EU's police database via Czechs (EUobserver)