United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 4 February 2020
LOCAL PRESS

• Angola’s positions on non-recognition of Kosovo remain unchanged (Tanjug/RTS)
• Drecun: Kurti is not hiding greater-Albanian goals (RTS)
• Fila: There is no court before which Kurti can sue Serbia (RTS)
• Jeremic: No halfway boycott, opposition has to follow through (RTV/Beta)
• Incorrect allegations on decision by Strasbourg court (Blic)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Sarovic calls for urgent session of RS parliament, Govedarica says Dodik lied (BN TV)
• Dodik: I do not have support of other two Presidency members to withdraw from MAP (FTV)
• Komsic: B&H is moving towards NATO and no one can stop this path (Hayat)
• Kozljak: B&H has paved its way to NATO long time ago (O kanal)
• B&H Presidency agrees to invite Macron to pay official visit to B&H; Dodik refuses to give consent for Djukanovic’s visit to B&H (N1)
• EUD’s Sattler, heads of EU missions to B&H meet B&H Presidency members (O kanal)
Croatia
• Bosnia won't become parking lot for migrants, says minister in Zagreb (Hina)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Zaev: No elections if anyone tries to block PPO law (Republika)
• Spasovski joins Zaev in his new push to postpone the elections (Republika)
Albania
• Rama receives Sassoli (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Trump’s envoy urges Kosovo to drop taxes on Serbian goods (AP)
• Brussels opens way for member states to halt EU enlargement talks (Financial Times)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 3 February 2020
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Cooperation with new Pristina authorities to depend on them (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
• Brnabic: Serb List will not support formation of government in Pristina (Tanjug/Politika)
• Vucic: Any idea of compromise killed, but we are ready to talk to Pristina (Tanjug/Politika/Novosti/Beta/RTS/RTV)
• Dacic: Belgrade ready for continuation of dialogue with Pristina (RTS/Tanjug)
• Borrell: Kosovo dialogue to continue with EU special representative (N1)
• Borrell meets part of the Serbian opposition (Beta)
• Selakovic: Citizens will give legitimacy to elections (Tanjug/TV Prva)
• Odalovic: Experience of Kosovo Serbs leads to caution (RTS)
• Opposition boycotting next vote passes new declaration (Beta)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: The wish for a quick solution for Kosovo and Metohija is a matter of concern (Blic/RTV)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• NATO updates information on relations between NATO and B&H: B&H aspires to join NATO (N1)
• SDS' Milicevic: Official confirmation by NATO that B&H is in MAP together with North Macedonia is best proof that MAP was activated with Dodik's signature on Program of Reforms of B&H (Hayat)
• PDP says its claims about B&H’s path to NATO turned out to be true, slams SNSD for allowing it (Klix.ba)
• Dodik: B&H’s path towards NATO is out of question (BN TV)
• SDS and PDP deceive B&H public with statements about NATO (ATV/FTV)
• HDZ B&H and SDA intensify talks about amendments to Election Law of B&H with regard to Mostar (BHT1)
• Embassies of US, Germany call for urgent formation of Federation of B&H government (FTV)
Croatia
• Slovenia: Talks with Croatia possible only on implementation of border arbitration ruling (Hina)
Montenegro
• Amfilohije willing to meet with Markovic (Dan)
Albania
• Meta greets agreement on Kosovo's coalition government (ADN)
• Rama congratulates the coalition of Kosovo in achieving a long-waited deal to form government (Radio Tirana)
• Basha hails coalition deal, assures support to Kosovo (ADN)
• Kryemadhi congratulates Vetevendosje - LDK agreement (ADN)
• Kosovo's coalition, Cakaj seeks enhanced cooperation (ADN)
• Sassoli: We want you to become part of the European Family (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Bosnia-Herzegovina and the EU: A Limbo Within a Limbo (Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic thanks Tajikistan for not recognizing Kosovo (Beta/RTS/Tanjug)
• Potential for improvement of cooperation with Tajikistan (Tanjug/Beta)
• Borrell: I will be personally involved in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Tanjug/B92)
• Dialogue with Pristina after taxes are lifted (FoNet)
• Serbian delegation to PACE on Montenegrin Law on Religious Freedom (Tanjug)
• Von Cramon: Vucic leads country in authoritarian way, Serbia leaves EU path (Danas/FoNet)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Covic says B&H can get status of EU candidate in May - Zvizdic: We never discuss deadlines or conditions in Brussels (N1)
• SDA’s Osmanovic: SNSD cannot get post of Federation of B&H Vice President but we are willing to discuss entering of SNSD to Federation of B&H government (Oslobodjenje)
• Zaimovic: Covic’s optimism that election law of B&H will be amended by end of March in the form proposed by HDZ B&H is absolutely unrealistic (FTV)
Croatia
• EU Court rules it has no jurisdiction in Slovenia's border case against Croatia (Hina)
• Brexit not expected to significantly disrupt Croatian economy (Hina)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic: It isn’t about the Law and property, it’s about the state (CDM)
• Amfilohije declines to comment on the proposal for a unique opposition list (Pobjeda)
• Serbian Eliot Ness – the source of false information (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Byrnes expects a smooth transition of power following the elections (Republika)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Will UK’s policy towards Western Balkans change after Brexit? (Al Jazeera)
• US calls on Belgrade, Podgorica to constructive dialogue about religion law (VOA)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 30 January 2020

LOCAL PRESS

• Dacic: We are not interested in Montenegro’s internal issues, but position of Serbs and SPC (Tanjug/RTS)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Moscow concerned in regard to Law on Religion (Tanjug/RTV)
• Amfilohije: We didn't forbid Vucic to come to Montenegro, it was a brotherly plea (Vreme/Beta)
• Djilas, Zelenovic and Albahari in Brussels: We will boycott elections in Serbia (Beta)
• SzS: Protest to launch election boycott campaign starts on 1 February (Beta)
• Spain threatens boycott of Zagreb summit over Kosovo (FoNet/RFE)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Vucic pays visit to Mrkonjic Grad and promises Serbia’s assistance to that municipality (ATV)
• Sarajevo Canton Assembly casts vote of no confidence in Sarajevo Canton government led by Prime Minister Forto (FTV)
• UK Ambassador to B&H Field on Brexit and its influence on UK-B&H relations (O kanal)
• Komsic says Covic’s intention to again impose story on division of Mostar in two municipalities will not pass (Dnevni list)
• Zvizdic and Covic attend meeting of AFET Working Group on Western Balkans in Brussels (FTV/Fena)
• MEP Fajon: This year could be good for Western Balkans (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• Plenkovic: First month of Croatia's EU Presidency intensive, successful (Hina)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic: Nationalistic circles are abusing Serbian Orthodox Church (CDM)
• Nuhodzic: State assumes responsibility for the protection of peace (Dnevne novine)
• Dendias: For the EU, Montenegro is an easy case (CDM)
Albania
• Rama meets EC President Ursula von der Leyen (Radio Tirana)
• Green light for Albania in March (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell travels to Kosovo and Serbia for his first visit to the Western Balkans (EEAS)
• Stoltenberg: NATO is working on reopening lower air space over Kosovo (EWB/RFE/RL)
• Montenegro's Corrupt Party of Socialists Is Killing the Country (The National Interest)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 29 January 2020
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: They will try to divide us as they try to tear down our church (B92/Tanjug)
• Dacic: Continuation of positive dynamics of relations with US (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Anti-Serb policy is pursued in Montenegro (TV Prva/Beta)
• Gojkovic at Summit of Western Balkans parliament speakers (Tanjug/Beta)
• “1 Out Of 5 Million” movement to take part in elections (Tanjug/Danas/Beta)
• Petition submitted to Serbian government requesting a lawsuit to the ECHR (Beta)
• Government working group adopts reaction plan in case of higher inflow of migrants (Beta)
• Some 1,000 migrants in border area with Hungary, Croatia and Romania (RTS/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Softic: It is unlikely situation in Federation of B&H will resolve without international intervention (Dnevni avaz)
• OHR: Invest additional efforts regarding ban of genocide denial (Dnevni list/RFE)
• Summit of EP President and speakers of parliaments of Western Balkan Countries held in Brussels (BHT1)
• Rangel: B&H has its special path to EU (Dnevni list)
• RS President Cvijanovic to meet with reps of Atlantic Council in Washington (BN TV)
• Lajcak will not be appointed EU Special Representative for Western Balkans (Dnevni list/N1)
Montenegro
• Markovic invites Metropolitan Amfilohije to dialogue (CDM)
• Hybrid threats to Montenegro will be intensified (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• La Verita: Zaev bought Albanian votes through UCK commander whom Thaci and Ahmeti are afraid of (Republika)
• Strong criticism of Zaev’s draft law on state prosecutors during the parliament debate (Republika)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• China Buying Balkans Influence, Competing with West (BIRN)