United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 28 January 2020
LOCAL PRESS

• Stefanovic: We want to talk with the authorities in Montenegro to lower tensions (RTS)
• Djuric: We expect concrete solutions soon (Tanjug/Politika)
• Grenell: Letter of intent on rail transport possible next week (Tanjug)
• Borrell to help move Belgrade-Pristina dialogue forward (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Complications regarding formation of authorities continue (BHT1)
• Izetbegovic: We will not become NATO Member State until we all agree about it; it will be difficult to reach agreement on changes to Election Law (Glas Srpske)
• SDA’s Duvnjak: I do not expect SNSD to participate in Federation of B&H authorities, especially not at post of Federation of B&H Vice President (Oslobodjenje)
• Bosniak leaders condition Darko Culum’s appointment in SIPA with Osman Mehmedagic’s new mandate in OSA B&H (ATV)
• Miletic submits initiative to OHR for adoption of amendments to B&H Criminal Code (Hayat)
• Dodik: It is not fine that EU refused to start EU negotiations with North Macedonia (RTRS)
• Merkel to launch initiative for start of talks with Albania and North Macedonia at EU summit in March (O kanal)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic: We won’t allow another attempt to destroy Montenegro (CDM)
• Amfilohije is the only negotiating address (Pobjeda)
Albania
• Rama press conference with Merkel: Donors’ Conference would be of great help to our country (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Hungary border patrol fires warning shots to stop crossings (AFP)

LOCAL PRESS

• Berlin meeting on Belgrade-Pristina rail line concludes (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Grenell’s view nothing new, Quint ambassadors have similar stances (RTS/Beta)
• Djuric: Important that we do not reject dialogue (Radio Belgrade)
• Djilas writes to Godfrey: Godfrey’s TV Pink interview reveals his allegiances (Beta)
• Godfrey: Djilas might not understand a diplomat’s role (Beta)
• Participation of Albanians in elections is confirmation that they are part of Serbia (Politika/Tanjug)
• University students to collect signatures for resolution on threat to Montenegro’s Serbs (Beta)
• Thousands of citizens of Zemun and New Belgrade support SPC in liturgy (Beta/B92/Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Agreement by the end of March is not possible (Dnevni avaz)
• Cvijanovic: If there is no place for SNSD in Federation of B&H authorities, then SDA should not expect posts at the level of the RS (ATV)
• Inzko: 2020 can be opportunity for fresh start, it is very clear what needs to be done to make B&H stable democracy attractive to investors (Nezavisne novine)
• Salkic calls on HR Inzko to change Petritsch decision from 2002 (Dnevni avaz)
Croatia
• MEP Fajon: Many in Brussels expect Croatia to assist B&H’s EU path (Dnevni list)
• Grabar-Kitarovic to ask for official office as former president? (Hina/Vecernji list)
Montenegro
• Pazin: Agreement and understanding with the Metropolitanate are reachable (MINA)
• Markovic’s message loud and clear: Montenegro will never be Serbian (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Paid and intimidated voters: Jansa shares the truth about the Zaev brothers (Republika)
• SDSM reacts to La Verita publications (Republika)
• Zaev about La Verita publication: If they had evidence, they would have convicted me (Republika)
• Spasovski looks forward to the new enlargement methodology (Republika)
• Michel: EU member countries stand united in belief that future of Western Balkans is in Europe (Republika)
Albania
• President of CoE in Tirana meeting Rama (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Montenegrin Police Violently Repress Religious-Law Protesters (teleSUR)
• Serbia in talks to join construction of TurkStream gas pipeline section in Bulgaria (Neftegaz.RU)
• Remarks by President Charles Michel after his meeting with Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama (European Council)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic to Grenell: I do not accept a sign of equality between withdrawal of recognitions and Pristina’s taxes (RTS)
• Dacic: Preventing further recognitions of independence and withdrawal of existing – foreign policy priority number one (Tanjug/RTV/RTS/Beta/Politika)
• Djuric: Flying on Belgrade-Pristina route with IDs (Politika)
• Drecun: White House wants some progress made between Belgrade and Pristina (RTS)
• Godfrey: Grenell’s visit proves Trumps’ great interest for the region (FoNet)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• SC Assembly adopts decision on temporary financing, vote of no-confidence in SC government to take place on 29 January (FTV)
• B&H HoP fails to adopt changes to B&H Criminal Code regarding the denial of war crimes (ATV)
• Radoncic: It is necessary to find way to impose sanctions for denial of genocide and hatred speech (FTV)
• Sattler says power of his office derives from desire of B&H to become EU member (Nezavisne)
• Cvijanovic meets Sattler to discuss political and economic situation in B&H (RTRS)
• Borenovic with Sattler: PDP dedicated to European path (Dnevni list)
Montenegro
• Trade liberalization between Montenegro and Turkey will bring foreign investors to Montenegro (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Dispute between government and main TV stations (Republika)
• EU postpones the publication of its enlargement methodology (Republika)
Albania
• President Meta met with Bulgarian counterpart, Radev (Radio Tirana)
• “Anti-Defamation” package to be reviewed by Venice Commission in March (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• After EU Snub, North Macedonia and Albania Stumped by ECB Challenge (Bloomberg)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 23 January 2020
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic and Djukanovic in Israel: positions and standpoints very remote and it is not possible to reach a common position (Tanjug/B92)
• Vucic: Taxes must be lifted in order to have economic development (Tanjug)
• Djuric: Agreement on renewing Belgrade-Pristina flights is only a commercial arrangement with a political message (RTV)
• Cadez: Reintroduction of Belgrade-Pristina flights major step (Tanjug)
• Leitl: Belgrade-Pristina flights very good signal (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• SBB B&H, SDP oppose SNSD’s request to have Federation of B&H Vice President, HDZ B&H and SNSD claim request is justified (Nezavisne)
• Avaz carries stances of OSCE, EUD and OHR concerning the renewal of talks on changes of Election Law (Dnevni avaz)
• Kristo: Changes of Election Law have to solve issue of legal representation of peoples (Oslobodjenje)
• Covic meets Pope Francis (Vecernji list)
• Dzaferovic: With submission of Program of Reforms of B&H to Brussels, B&H made commitment to implement reforms and there is no going back (N1)
• Podzic says B&H’s membership to NATO is “done deal” (BNTV)
• Podzic: Ministry of Defense will establish mechanisms for implementation of Program of Reforms of B&H (Glas Srpske)
Croatia
• EU believes all EU citizens should be exempt from US visa regime (Hina)
• Plenkovic: Talks in Davos very useful (Hina)
• Grabar Kitarovic emphasizes the importance of The Three Seas Initiative (HRT)
Montenegro
• Markovic: Resistance to the Law has become conflict with Montenegro (CDM)
• Metropolitanate’s procession cancelled after the protest walk (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• National TV stations boycott government and ministers (Republika)
• The Economist Democracy Index harsh towards Zaev, Spasovski’s government: Macedonia has a “hybrid regime” (Republika)
Albania
• Borchardt: If lawbreakers do not change their behavior, reforms become futile (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• U.S. Envoy Urges Kosovo, Serbia To Focus On Jobs, Economic Development (RFE/RL)
• Serbia expects little from enlargement reform but hopes for more quality, speed (EurActiv)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: No direct answers regarding Serbia's EU accession (Tanjug/Politika)
• Vucic: We fought for Air Serbia not to fly to Pristina (RTS)
• Dacic: Agreement on flight with Pristina strengthens trust with the US administration (RTV/Tanjug)
• Vukadinovic: How come the Belgrade-Pristina airline is a result of long negotiations if negotiations are not even conducted?! (NSPM)
• Ambassador of Montenegro to Serbia: Politicians should restrain from harsh rhetoric (Mondo)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dunovic: Dodik’s desires are one thing, reality is something else; DF’s priority at state level is submitting of NAP to NATO, which we completed (Oslobodjenje)
• HDZ B&H City Board of Mostar: Local elections in Mostar must be held, simple as that (Vecernji list)
• Mandate of five members of CEC expired as B&H approaches local elections 2020 (O kanal)
Croatia
• Croatian Prime Minister attends 50th World Economic Forum in Davos (HRT)
Montenegro
• Amend the law in parliamentary procedure (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• The Prespa Agreement hysteria is a “Tirana” flirting with the Albanians (Republika)
• Dimitrov in Davos: It is high time to start accession negotiations (Republika)
• Osmani: Elections to be held according to European standards, show that the state deserves to be part of the EU (Republika)
Albania
• PM to visit conflict-affected area in Ukraine (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Serbia president Vučić 'fed up of being lectured' over ties with Russia and China (Euronews)
• Don’t believe the hype. There will be no Belgrade – Prishtina flights just yet (Emerging Europe)