United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 19 November 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Joksimovic: French proposal doesn’t refer to Serbia (RTS)
• Ruzic: Census for referendum abolished; decision passed by majority of turned out voters (Tanjug/RTV)
• Miroslav Aleksic: We oppose amendments to the Law on Referendum that are aimed at alleviating recognition of Kosovo by the regime (Tanjug/NSPM)
• “Metla”: Abolishment of census for referendum is preparation for amending the Constitution and recognition of Kosovo’s secession (Tanjug/RTV)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H HoR scheduled to hold urgent session on Wednesday to discuss SDS-PDP Caucus’ initiative for amending HoR Rules of Procedure (FTV)
• Radmanovic and Kristo request convening of B&H HoR Collegium’s session to adopt proposal of decision on appointment of HoR’s permanent commissions (RTRS)
• HNS marks 28th anniversary of establishment of so-called Herzeg-Bosnia (N1)
Montenegro
• Markovic: Montenegro puts quality before speed (CDM)
• Omeragic: Bosniak Party will cooperate solely with progressive parties (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Thimonier: We expect reactions to non-paper from EU member states, rule of law a priority (Republika)
• Dimitrov hopes the French proposal will lead to “EU accession Olympics” (Republika)
• German MEP McAllister calls on EU member states to correct their mistake and approve EU accession talks with Macedonia and Albania (Republika)
Albania
• Ruci: NATO’s perspective on security more advanced than that of EU (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• The French have got it wrong: An eccentric counterproposal (European Western Balkans)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: There is no conflict between Stefanovic and me (Beta)
• Djuric: Kurti danger for stability of region (Tanjug/RTV)
• France suggests new principles for WB EU accession (Beta)
• European Parliament delegation meets with Vucic (FoNet)
• Joint press statement after European Parliament facilitated inter-party dialogue (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• SNSD, HDZ B&H delegations met, but fail to bring progress in formation of CoM (TV1)
• SNSD delivers proposal for commissions to Collegium of B&H HoR (FTV)
• SNSD calls on SDS and PDP to give up on amendments to B&H HoR Rules of Procedure, SDS and PDP refuse to do that (N1)
• Migrant shot by Croatian police while attempting to cross border (FTV)
Croatia
• Parliament speaker says Serbia will have to open its archives (Hina)
Montenegro
• Non paper: Macron’s award and punishment for Montenegro and WB (CDM)
• Kurti: Vucic is like Milosevic, just uses other means (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Government salutes the French ‘non-paper’ (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Pendarovski: Macron guaranteed the new negotiating methodology would be adopted by March (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Zaev: Time to take a step further, so North Macedonia can join the EU family (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Pompeo and Le Drian support North Macedonia’s accession to the EU (Nezavisen vesnik)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Political dialogue in Serbia: No meaningful progress between the two rounds (European Western Balkans)
• France outlines proposal to overhaul EU accession process (Politico.eu)

LOCAL PRESS

• New era of alliance between Serbia, Greece (RTS/RTV/Tanjug/Beta)
• Drecun: Vucic’s decision forced by behavior of Croatian public (RTS)
• Heated debate at PACE over Pristina representative’s presence (RTS)
• Czech Republic ready to support Serbia by preventing Kosovo from joining international institutions (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Leaders of SDA and HDZ B&H met, fail to reach concrete agreement (BHT1)
• Dodik: HDZ is not problem for formation of authorities, we will not accept ANP (RTRS)
• Collegiums of B&H parliament unable to agree on unblocking of B&H Parliament (N1)
• Dodik comments interference of international community in internal issues of B&H, problems with authority formation (Dnevni avaz)
• Dodik and Ivantsov discuss RS parliament conclusions (RTRS)
• OSCE’s Kavalec: RS parliament conclusions are cause for concern (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia
• EPP meeting not to be held in Croatian parliament (HRT)
Montenegro
• EU: Montenegro isn’t blocked, but still many challenges lie ahead (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Pendarovski: We may get a positive decision to start EU talks before May (Republika/TV Telma)
• Zaev: Greece will help us get date for start of EU accession negotiations (Republika)
• Varhely: Skopje and Tirana should start EU talks by May 2020 (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Kurti opposes the Balkan Mini-Schengen (Nezavisen vesnik)
Albania
• Cakaj seeks Kosovo's UNESCO membership (ADN)
• New head of European Parliament Delegation: Negotiations will be discussed in May 2020 (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Statement on Western Balkans Mini-Schengen (US Embassy in Germany)
• Carpenter: Kosovo won’t be Trump’s foreign policy success in 2020 (European Western Balkans)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 14 November 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: I am convinced Kosovo cannot become UNESCO member (RTS/Beta)
• Vucic not to travel to Zagreb for EPP Congress (Tanjug/Blic)
• Dacic: Anti-Serb hysteria in Croatia because of Vucic’s possible visit (Beta)
• Serbian government: Strengthening accountability of political entities in the electoral process (Tanjug)
• Godfrey: EU membership for all in Western Balkans, NATO for those who want it (Beta)
• SSP claims internal struggle underway in ruling party (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• PIC SB rejects RS parliament’s conclusions, warns RS of wrongly interpreting Constitution of B&H (TV1)
• Dodik: RS parliament did not adopt conclusions to be approved or rejected by PIC (Srna)
• Other RS officials comment on PIC SB stance on RS parliament’s conclusions (RTRS)
• SDA commends PIC SB’s reaction, criticizes lack of action (N1)
• Bratic: Bosniak Caucus in RS CoP has obligation to block conclusions adopted at special RS parliament session (Fena)
Croatia
• First round of presidential elections set for 22 December (Hina)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Maas says French demand to change enlargement process should not block Macedonia’s EU accession talks (Republika)
• Mickoski raised issue of corruption and stalled EU integrations during meeting with Maas (Republika)
• Bregu: ‘Mini-Schengen’ is a developing story that should be considered (Nezavisen vesnik)
Albania
• Meta-Austrian Chancellor Bierlein: Grateful to Austria’s contribution to Albania’s independence and firm support along the EU integration process (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Germany's Maas says Western Balkan states belong in EU (DW)
• Hopes for the future dashed: Balkans security after the French veto (European Council on Foreign Relations)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 13 November 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Dialogue can be continued if Pristina lifts taxes (Tanjug/TV Prva)
• Vucic: UNESCO charter must be respected (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Only compromise solution ensures lasting peace (RTS/Tanjug/Beta)
• Ghana confirms it withdraws recognition of Kosovo (RTS/Tanjug/Beta)
• Serbia signs cooperation agreement with Eurojust in fight against cross-border crime (Tanjug)
• Rama: Pristina threatens Albania's foreign policy (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• RS parliament adopts 20 conclusions calling for consistent implementation of DPA, rejecting of Bonn Powers and requesting abolition of OHR (Hayat)
• Opposition fails to support conclusions adopted by RSNA, say they are not result of joint acting (BN TV)
• RS parliament session and adopted conclusions spark reactions of Federation of B&H (N1)
• Izetbegovic: RS parliament’s conclusions represent unconstitutional and non-implementable attempt to impose entity on state of B&H (FTV)
• PIC SB to discuss RS parliament conclusions next Tuesday (Nezavisne novine)
• Komsic meets Macron in Paris, tells him B&H is not a time bomb (BN TV)
• Dodik: Komsic stated personal opinion in Paris, not official stance of B&H Presidency (N1)
Croatia
• Croatia's Presidency can advance relations between EU and Russia (Hina)
Montenegro
• Rakocevic: Technical government is not acceptable (Dan)
• Brajovic: Idea of technical government should be rejected once and for all (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Pendarovski and Macron meet in Paris (Nezavisen vesnik)
Albania
• Paris Peace Forum- President Meta met with French President Macron (Radio Tirana)
• Rama: Chinese tourists will not need visas for the “Balkan Schengen” (Radio Tirana)
• Merkel: EU should do more to open negotiations on Albania and North Macedonia (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• EU’s gatekeeper laments bloc’s message to would-be Balkan members (Financial Times)