United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 1 February 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Scott: We need to know where Serbia is and where Kosovo (TV Prva/B92)
• Dacic: Serbia ready to give active contribution to fight against terrorism (Tanjug)
• Lukashevich: Kosovo is a point of instability (Tanjug/Sputnik)
• Elias: UN tribunal contributes facts to reconciliation discussion (N1)
• Stanisic, Simatovic released until trial by 2 May (Beta)
• Opposition discussed document it calls Agreement with the people (Tanjug/RTV/RTS)
• Tadic: Boycott is legitimate action (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik: Not to allow any review of SDA initiative (Srna)
• Izetbegovic: We wanted to stop the discrimination in RS (N1)
• B&H’s accession to NATO would mean further disintegration of RS (Srna)
• Zaev hopes B&H will become a member state of both EU and NATO (N1)
fYROM
• Germany signs the Protocol for Macedonia’s accession into NATO (Meta)
• Stoltenberg expects all 29-member states to sign Macedonia’s NATO Accession Protocol (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Zakharova: Name solution should be acceptable for both sides (Nezavisen vesnik)
• SDSM and DUI fight for the same pool of Albanian voters shakes their coalition (Republika)
Albania
• White House called Rama regarding the Kosovo – Serbia issue (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Melescanu: Romania supports opening new chapters in negotiations between Montenegro, Serbia with EU (Stiripesurse)
• Bulgaria will build pipeline to transport Russian gas (Reuters)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 31 January 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic writes to Trump, seeks support for solving Kosovo issue (Tanjug)
• Kuburovic: Serbia ready to enable access to Hague Tribunal archives (Beta)
• Djilas: It matters who walks not who speaks during protests (N1)
• DS to boycott parliament, city and local assemblies (Beta)
• SDS to boycott parliament (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H Presidency members end their two-day official visit to Brussels (N1)
• Dzaferovic: I am convinced that we will find way to approve B&H CoM Chairman-designate and at same time activate Annual National Program for membership in NATO (BHT1)
• Komsic: B&H Presidency members agreed to hold meeting as soon as they return to Sarajevo in order to find way out of this situation (FTV)
• Dodik: Most important thing is to form government and get EU candidate status (Srna)
• US might now focus on resolving two remaining issues - status of Kosovo and situation in B&H (Nezavisne novine)
Montenegro
• Montenegro and Albania: Albania as the essential part in state policies (CDM)
fYROM
• “North Macedonia” will probably be in use from 15 February (Meta)
• DUI to go with its own candidate in the presidential election (Republika)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• EU must bring Serbia and Kosovo back to the table (EurActiv)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 30 January 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Behavior of Albanians will come back at them (RTS)
• Dacic: If that is so, why aren’t they in the UN? (Novosti)
• Vucic joins by phone Djuric’s meeting with Kosovo Serbs in Zvecan (Beta)
• Vucic welcomes new Chinese Ambassador (Beta)
• Vulin thanks Chepurin for support for Kosovo (Beta)
• Joksimovic: Croatia should not include bilateral issues in accession negotiations (Tanjug)
• Patriarch Irinej counts on Russia’s help in defending Kosovo (Beta)
• They destroyed evidence so they would accuse Serbs for ‘Markale’’ (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Brussels: Delegation of B&H Presidency meets Mogherini (N1)
• PIC SB criticizes SDA’s initiative to file motion with B&H CC for constitutional review of RS name, violation of B&H’s integrity and denial of ICTY’s verdicts (BHT1)
• Bosniak ministers in RS government slam Izetbegovic for saying that SNSD never appoints ‘authentic Bosniaks’ in RS government (EuroBlic)
fYROM
• Rama: Prespa Agreement solves a big gridlock in the region (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Government expecting to receive news from Brussels (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Ahmeti said, then changed his mind (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Mickoski warns about a repeat of the referendum day ballot stuffing if Macedonia holds presidential elections only (Republika)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Kosovo President ready for compromise deal with Serbia (Reuters)
• In the Balkans, diplomacy wins a round (The Boston Globe)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 29 January 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Balanced US position on Kosovo important (RTS)
• Pahor addresses Serbian parliament; part of opposition MPs boycotts (Beta)
• Dacic: Gratitude to Myanmar for supporting Serbia’s territorial integrity (RTS/Tanjug/Beta)
• Djuric: Those setting conditions do not want compromise (RTS)
• Kosovo Serbs to join anti-government protests held across Serbia (N1/FoNet)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H Presidency members to travel to official visit to Brussels on Tuesday; Komsic and Dzaferovic expect that talks in Brussels include EU candidate status of B&H as well (ATV)
• Dodik ahead of visit to Brussels: EU path is part of consensus of all political actors in B&H, it would not be good if someone undermines it (RTRS)
• Cvijanovic: Dodik will present in Brussels realistic picture of current situation in B&H (TV1)
• Dodik meets Ambassadors of Serbia and Russia in B&H (RTRS)
• Dodik on HNS’ Declaration: Nobody should be deprived of right to express legitimate political views (N1)
fYROM
• Kocijancic: The country has a clear path toward the EU (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Paris welcomes the Prespa Agreement ratification (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Stoltenberg replies to Dimitrov’s letter, preparation for NATO Accession Protocol underway (Meta)
• Mickoski: Zaev plans to rig the presidential elections but we will defeat him (Republika)
Albania
• Balla: Border correction - government will not intervene, Kosovo is a sovereign state (ADN)
• Albania supports Kosovo agreement supported by US and EU (ADN/Deutsche Welle)
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• China In The Balkans: Good Or Bad? (Forbes)
• US ambassador says Prespes accord will bring stability in Balkans (ekathimerini.com)
• NATO footprint in Albania to grow with construction projects at former Soviet air base (Stars and Stripes)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 28 January 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: It will be much worse if we do not find a solution for Kosovo (B92/Tanjug/RTS)
• Irinej: Unity, not quarrels, necessary for Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Hahn: EU must stabilize the Balkans, Belgrade and Pristina must talk (N1)
• Dick Marty: The Hague hid all the evidence of the yellow house! (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Vucic: Initiative for name change of RS irresponsible (BN TV)
• HNS adopts Declaration on Position of Croat people in B&H, Covic reelected HNS President (N1)
• Reactions of Federation of B&H based parties, politicians to HNS’ Declaration on Status of Croats (BHT1)
• RS politicians, political parties react to HNS’ Declaration on Status of Croats (BN TV)
• SDA rejects claims of OHR and OSCE that announcement of its motion re name of RS is irresponsible and counterproductive (Hayat)
Croatia
• Grabar-Kitarovic: Constituent status of three peoples is foundation of DPA (N1)
• Prime minister attended panel discussion on Western Balkans (HRT)
fYROM
• Greek parliament ratifies Prespa Agreement (Meta)
• Law on Prespa Agreement published in the Greek Official Gazette (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Zaev: Congratulations my friend Alexis Tsipras, together with our peoples we reached a historic victory (Meta)
• VMRO-DPMNE will submit proposal to dissolve parliament and hold early elections (Republika)
• Zaev and Tsipras nominated for Nobel Peace Prize by Socialists and Democrats, Greens and United Left (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Juncker, Mogherini and Hahn welcome the ratification of Prespa Agreement (Meta)
• Five more steps to the chair at the NATO table (Meta)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Putin’s Next Playground or the E.U.’s Last Moral Stand? (The New York Times)
• The Balkans: Did The Prespa Agreement Open Up Pandora’s Box? (Sputnik)