LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: We are not close to a solution for Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/TV Happy)
• Dacic: Haradinaj and Kurti should the entire world that Pristina is the problem (RTS)
• Brnabic thanks Slovakia for principled position on non-recognition of Kosovo ‘s unilaterally declared independence (Tanjug)
• EU considering appointment of EU Special Representative for Western Balkans (RTS)
• Mustafa: We will demand unification of Presevo valley with Kosovo (FoNet/Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Statehood Day marked in Federation of B&H only (FTV)
• Covic: It is yet to be seen when internal agreement on joint holidays will be reached in B&H (FTV)
• Dodik: November 25 is not a holiday in RS (BHT1)
• Izetbegovic says nothing in B&H is Serb, except name of RS; Dodik responds by saying that RS is property of Serb people and other citizens who live in it (RTRS)
• SDA’s Izetbegovic thanks SNSD’s Dodik for leading B&H towards NATO (BN TV)
• RS opposition demands from RS parliament to discuss Program of Reforms of B&H at session on Tuesday (BN TV)
Croatia
• 20,000 gather in Zagreb to support teachers' strike (HRT)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Kurti: I will not fall into Vučić’s trap (European Western Balkans)
• Berlin and Paris outline plan for EU makeover (Politico)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: We did not export weapons to Ukraine, Russian notified of possible re-exports (Beta/Politika)
• Ukrainian Embassy: Reports of Serbia's arms sale to Ukraine are staged provocations (Beta)
• Dacic: We are forcing Pristina to compromise with campaign of withdrawals of recognitions (TV Happy/Tanjug/RTV)
• Youth key driver of social change in region (Tanjug)
• Godfrey: Both sides must reach solution for Kosovo on their own (RTS/Beta)
• Fabrizi: Mini Schengen not an obstacle but stimulus to EU membership (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• SNSD Executive Board accepts information provided by Serb member of B&H Presidency Dodik on Program of Reforms of B&H (ATV)
• Chairman Komsic says that B&H has been in MAP since December 2018 (Fena)
• NATO is looking forward to cooperation with B&H based on Program of Reforms, still has not received this document (TV1)
• Interview with Chief of Joint Staff of B&H Armed Forces (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia
• Border dispute with Slovenia should be settled bilaterally (Hina)
Montenegro
• Sheikh Mohammed Al Nahyan: I’ll do everything to build bridges that will permanently connect us (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Sassoli: Blocking North Macedonia and Albania’s accession talks as an example why EU rules need to change (Nezavisen vesnik)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• 'I Would Probably Be Hanged in Brussels' (Der Spiegel)
• Dodik: I will continue to prevent adoption of ANP and B&H’s NATO membership in the future (RT)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: I asked the Russian Ambassador - why? (RTS/Tanjug/B92)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Despite provocations, we move on (RTS)
• Vucic: Relations with Skopje very good, we have no demands (Tanjug)
• Nauru withdraws recognition of Kosovo (RTS/Blic)
• Djuric: Ugljanin got everything from Serbia, now he is approaching Kurti (Tanjug)
• Serbia re-elected to UNESCO Executive Board membership (Tanjug/Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Formal reception on occasion of B&H Statehood Day takes place at B&H Presidency building (FTV)
• 24th anniversary of initialing of DPA marked (ATV)
• Tegeltija addresses press conference (RTRS)
• SDS wants to see Program of Reforms of B&H before sending it to Brussels (Hayat)
• Pendes on adoption of Program of Reforms of B&H: Positive step forward (Glas Srpske)
• Radoncic welcomes agreement on authority formation, says SBB B&H is going to reconsider being part of authority (Dnevni avaz)
• Covic: Tusk is B&H’s great friend, Merkel knows a lot about our problems (Vecernji list)
Croatia
• Merkel supports Croatia's efforts in protecting EU external borders (Hina)
• Von der Leyen confident nationalists, populists won't destroy European way of life (Hina)
Montenegro
• Djenero: “Mini-Schengen” is a trap set by Serbia (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Ahmeti: Coalition with SDSM is working, Zekiri is not important (Republika)
• Outgoing PM Zaev to be awarded in Sarajevo (Republika)
Albania
• Amendola: Italy will reopen the issue of Albania’s accession to the European Union and North Macedonia (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• ‘I am breaking inside’: Balkan leader fears conflict after EU snub (The New York Times)
• Russia’s EU ambassador: The fall of the Berlin Wall was ‘a victory of common sense’ (EurActiv)

LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Vucic orders military agency to probe potential spy scandal (Blic/Tanjug)
• Drecun: A series of hybrid operations conducted against Serbia (RTS)
• Ruzic: New regulations on referendum are only harmonization with Constitution (RTS)
• Gojkovic: Progress in dialogue on election conditions' improvement (TV 02/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Representatives in B&H HoR adopt changes to B&H HoR Rules of Procedure (N1)
• Document that the Presidency of B&H will send to Brussels is not ANP; Ambassador Ivantsov claims Program of Reforms of B&H is not ANP and is not related to MAP (ATV)
• Russian Ambassador Ivantsov: Russia welcomes B&H Presidency’s decision to appoint Tegeltija as B&H CoM Chairman (RTRS)
• Dzaferovic informs Merkel that B&H Presidency reached agreement on Tuesday (FTV)
• Kocijancic: New authorities in B&H will have to deal with key priorities identified in European Commission’s Opinion (Dnevni list)
• HNS welcomes agreement on authority formation (Dnevni avaz)
• Bosniak Caucus in RS CoP invokes VNI on conclusions of RS parliament special session (BHT1/Fena)
Croatia
• Tusk announces fight against populism in Europe (Hina)
• Plenkovic meets Chancellor Merkel (HRT1)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Mickoski at the EPP summit: Macedonia belongs in the EU (Republika)
• Oliver Spasovski will replace Zaev as interim Prime Minister in January (Republika)
Albania
• US Embassy: Take into consideration the Venice Commission recommendations (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Kremlin certain incident involving Serbian officer won’t affect ties with Belgrade (TASS)
• Propaganda video of NATO’s smoke and mirrors over Kosovo hides some inconvenient truths (RT)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 20 November 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic to Falconi: We trust Macron, but we need a clear answer (RTS/Tanjug/Beta/RTV/Blic)
• Vukosavljevic concerned over cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija (Novosti)
• Markovic: Law on Referendum not to change Serbia’s borders (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H Presidency members reach agreement on Tegeltija’s appointment as B&H CoM Chairman-designate and Program of Reforms of B&H to be sent to NATO (BHT1)
• Tegeltija’s appointment and Program of Reforms of B&H to be sent to NATO spark numerous reactions (BN TV)
• Other B&H politicians, political parties comment on B&H Presidency agreement (N1)
• Inzko: B&H will have formed authorities soon (N1)
• Foreign Embassies, Head of EUD express support to adoption of Program of reforms of B&H (BN TV)
• Delegation of German Ministry of Interior pays visit to B&H, says burden of inflow of migrants should be distributed evenly among entities (TV1)
• Dodik: Proposal to deploy FRONTEX mission to B&H, but only on border with EU is unacceptable for RS (RTRS)
Croatia
• Tusk and Plenkovic want to restore EU's unity regarding Macedonia and Albania (Hina)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Six member states agree to change EU’s enlargement procedure in exchange for talks with Macedonia and Albania (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Germany thinks France’s “non-paper” will slow down the enlargement process (Republika)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• EU faces rift over enlargement policy after French ‘non’ (EurActiv/AFP)
• De Montchalin: All Western Balkan countries might have to implement the new accession methodology (European Western Balkans)
• Border management: EU signs agreement with Serbia on European Border and Coast Guard cooperation (European Council Press release)