LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Serbia-Slovenia relations at highest level (Tanjug)
• Sarec: Serbia belongs in EU, no alternative to that (Tanjug)
• Upward trend in development of cooperation with Russian Federation (Tanjug/RTS)
• Godfrey: I want to give my best to improve Washington – Belgrade relations (RTS/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Zvizdic says new B&H CoM will be formed by 30 December (N1)
• New majority in SC assembly submits initiative for dismissal of current SC government (BHT1)
• ZDC: SDA, SBB B&H and DF will follow stance of party bodies re reshuffling (FTV)
• Cvijanovic: TurkStream brings energy independence and lower gas prices to RS (Srna)
Croatia
• Presidential candidates face off in TV debate (Hina/HTV)
Montenegro
• Religious Freedom Law to be reached through the dialogue (RTCG)
• Montenegro and China: Plans afoot for visa liberalization (CDM)
• Hodges: Kremlin doesn’t want stability of the Balkan region (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• EU doesn’t trust Zaev, is waiting for his replacement, the vetting will wait for the new government (Republika)
• Albanian opposition parties preparing a coalition to take on DUI (Republika)
• Parliament meets over the blocked SDSM election request (Republika)
Albania
• PM's Office responds to Haradinaj on next 'mini Schengen' meeting (ADN)
• Regional meeting of Western Balkans to be held on 20-21 December in Tirana (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Serbia will not rush to join the EU until it is truly ready (EurActiv)
• State capture threatens Serbia’s EU integration process (EurActiv)

LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Italy’s support for Serbia’s European path stability of region (Tanjug)
• Cooperation agreements between police of Serbia, North Macedonia (RTS/Tanjug)
• Algeria will continue to respect principles of international law and remain consistent in stance of non-recognition of self-proclaimed state of Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Obradovic: Majority of opposition favors election boycott (RTV)
• Fabrizi: Region needs normalization of Belgrade-Pristina relations (Beta)
• Campaign to start on 5 March, along with parliamentary and local assemblies’ elections (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Embassies of US, UK, France, Germany and Italy in B&H comment decision of SDA, SBB and DF to oust SC government (FTV)
• SDA Presidency presents names of candidates for B&H CoM (ATV)
• SBB B&H Presidency confirms candidacy of Radoncic for post of new B&H Minister of Security; Arnaut resigns to all posts in SBB B&H (ATV)
• Cvijanovic: 9 January will be marked in RS same way it was marked before (BHT1)
Montenegro
• Markovic: The law has never been subject of electoral legislation (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Macedonians in Albania demand that Orthodox Christmas is national holiday (Republika)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Conditions for fair elections in Serbia not established after three rounds of dialogue (European Western Balkans)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 16 December 2019

LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Postponement of elections in line with Constitution, law (Tanjug)
• No new leads on murder of Serb youths in Pec 21 years after the crime (Beta)
• Gojkovic: Agreement made not to hold elections in March (Tanjug)
• SzS welcomes European parliament’s role in vote, warns Vucic offering deceit (Beta)
• Fajon hails postponement of election (Beta)
• Dacic: I want to go the The Hague as a witness against KLA (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• SDA, SBB B&H and DF sign coalition agreement on formation of authorities at B&H, Federation of B&H and cantonal levels (BHT1)
• Coalition agreement of SDA, SBB B&H and DF on formation of new parliamentary majority in SC causes reactions (N1)
• Borenovic blames Izetbegovic and SDA for enabling Dodik and Covic to control majority in B&H HoP (Face TV)
• Komsic: Program of Reforms contains certain obligations towards NATO (BN TV)
• Dodik: We reject possible imposing of law banning denial of genocide (ATV)
• Inzko: B&H parliament to do its job and adopt law banning genocide denial (Dnevni avaz)
Montenegro
• Rakocevic: There won’t be any new Committees or working groups (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Electoral model talks end in deadlock (Republika)
• Mickoski: Who changes the election law three months before the elections (Republika)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Foggo: It is up to Serbia how much it wants to cooperate with NATO (European Western Balkans)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 13 December 2019

LOCAL PRESS

• Dacic: Serbia committed to cooperation in Black Sea region (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Serbia respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity (Politika)
• Serbia, B&H sign agreement on Belgrade-Sarajevo motorway (Tanjug/RTS)
• Jeremic: Illusion ends, election boycott only option (Beta)
• Russian gas to Serbia via Bulgaria in May next year (FoNet)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Izetbegovic and Covic discuss formation of Federation of B&H government, changes to Election Law and issue of Mostar, no agreement reached (N1)
• Bosnia's international administrator: Support for Bonn Powers increasing (BHRT)
• SDA to Serbian Def. Minister: Truth about war crimes in Bosnia cannot be denied (N1)
• Duty handover at NATO HQ Sarajevo, new commander wishes to resume partnership (N1)
Croatia
• Forty four polling stations to be set up in B&H for Croatia's presidential vote (Hina)
Montenegro
• Radulovic: EU keeps the door wide open to Montenegro (Dnevne novine)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Zaev says he will stick with his Albanian language law (Republika)
• Ahmeti: We used Venice Commission to reduce tensions and prejudices among Macedonians (Republika)
• Dimitrov pleads with Bulgaria to show greatness in the language dispute (Republika)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• New tensions between Belgrade and Pristina due to representation of 1999 events in Racak (The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation)
• Ukraine's MFA concerned over Crimean occupation administration envoys' visit to Serbia (UNIAN)
• French connections: How to revitalise the EU enlargement process (European Council on Foreign Relations)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 12 December 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Fabrizi: Opening of chapters recognition of Serbia’ progress (Beta)
• Schieb: Enlargement will be in focus of German EU Presidency; Serbia’s campaign on withdrawals of recognitions doesn’t contribute to a better atmosphere (RTS)
• Fajon: Serbia in political crisis, authorities don’t implement recommendations (RFE/FoNet)
• Djilas: No free election possible in unfree country (Beta)
• Zelenovic:We are committed to a democratic Serbia in EU (Beta)
• Obradovic: Friday to be D-Day for EU role in Serbia (Beta)
• Foggo: It would be great if Serbia wanted to join NATO (Blic/Tanjug/B92)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Tegeltija submits names of Serb and Croat ministers to B&H CEC and SIPA (FTV)
• Dodik expects new convocation of B&H CoM to be formed by end of month (RTRS)
• Formation of Council of Ministers opens opportunity for project implementation (Srna)
• Around 700 migrants from Vucjak relocated (N1/RTRS)
Croatia
• Training centre of NATO's Multinational Special Aviation Program established at Zemunik (Hina)
• Croatia will push for 'constructive EU-Turkey dialogue' (Hina)
Montenegro
• Montenegro to step into 2020 with new Religious Freedom Law (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Mickoski in Paris: The main obstacle to justice in Macedonia is the Prime Minister (Republika)
• Outgoing Prime Minister: Venice Commission’s recommendations must be respected (Republika)
• Albanian parties united in the position that the law on languages will not change (Republika)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• North Macedonia in the "mini Schengen" looking glass (Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso)