United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 25 January 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Initiative for changing name of RS doesn’t contribute to peace (Tanjug/RTV)
• Vucic: Serbia’s regional policy reaffirmed in Davos (TV Pink/Tanjug)
• Vucic meets with Sarec, Soini, Kerry (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Remembering the fallen best answer to history revision (RTS/Tanjug)
• Hahn proposes solution for trade dispute, awaiting reply from Vucic, Thaci (N1/Beta)
• Ljajic: Kosovo importers awaiting Serbian goods (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Russia requested an extraordinary PIC session due to the announcement by the SDA (Nezavisne)
• OHR: The initiative to dispute RS name is counterproductive (N1)
• EUD to B&H calls on political parties to refrain from political maneuvers (TV1)
• Berton: SDA’s initiative is undesirable in the midst of formation of authorities (RTRS)
• Vucic: SDA’s initiative is not good or responsible move (TV1)
• Izetbegovic: What's the problem? It's time to say - it's enough (Nezavisne)
• Parliamentary parties from RS condemn SDA’s announcement of initiative to dispute name of RS before B&H CC (TV1)
• Komsic: Situation caused by SDA’s announcement is beneficial for SDA and SNSD (TV1)
• Cvitanovic: SDA’s initiative for reconsideration of RS’ name makes relations even more complicated (FTV)
• NATO condemns fact B&H CoM failed to discuss ANP (TV1)
• Kosovo seeks visa liberalization from B&H to abolish customs duties (Klix.ba)
fYROM
• Zaev meets Hahn and Stoltenberg in Davos to discuss Prespa Agreement (Meta)
• Prespa or no Prespa, next Greek PM announces he will block Macedonia’s EU accession (Republika)
• Greek parliament vote on Prespa deal delayed (Nezavisen vesnik)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Is the Serbia-Kosovo border change still on the table? (European Western Balkans)
• Angry Greeks take to the streets over deal to rename Macedonia (The Guardian)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 24 January 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Pristina will withdraw taxes, but we paid high price (B92/RTS/Beta/Tanjug)
• Dacic reacts to Cerar’s statement (Novosti)
• Juncker offers assurances to Vucic on steel quotas (Tanjug)
• Seven new members join Serbia's SzS opposition grouping (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• SDA announces it will initiate procedure for changing name of RS (N1)
• Dodik: SDA initiative - initiative for disassociation in B&H (Srna)
• RS President Cvijanovic: SDA dangerously toying with B&H (ATV)
• RS PM Viskovic: RS permanent and constitutional category (Srna)
• Other RS politicians react to SDA’s announcement that they will initiate procedure for changing name of RS (N1/Srna)
• Serb party leaders to meet regarding SDA initiative (Srna)
• Dodik: RS authorities could take control over the border overnight (N1)
fYROM
• Nimetz: The rejection of the Prespa Agreement can have dangerous consequences (Meta)
• Tsipras reveals the Greek truth about the Prespa Agreement (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Vlatko Gjorchev, possible presidential candidate of VMRO-DPMNE (Meta/Nezavisen Vesnik)
Albania
• Rama handed over Foreign Ministry to Cakaj, 'President doesn't intervene' (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Romanian EU Presidency to push Western Balkans case, minister says (EurActiv)
• Contentious Vote on Macedonia Name Change & Stepping Stone for NATO in W Balkans (Sputnik)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 23 January 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Haradinaj’s statement on taxes sends bad message to entire region (Beta/Politika)
• Vucic in Davos: Proud of reforms, but not of criticism of media situation (B92/RSF)
• Djuric: Thaci’s statement threat to Kosovo Serbis (RTS)
• Dacic to Pacoli: The only weapon Serbia is using is the truth (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Delegation of SDA, SNSD discuss formation of state-level authorities (N1)
• Dodik: Path to NATO is path of confrontation which would complicate relations in B&H (Al Jazeera Balkans)
• Covic: Road to NATO has no alternative, political Sarajevo involved in manipulations (Vecernji list)
Croatia
• Government to increase funding for Croats in Serbia (Hina)
fYROM
• Zaev: Polls being conducted for 10 most suitable candidates (Meta)
• Who will run for the presidential race? (Nezavisen vesnik)
• US official who pushed Macedonia to change its name resigns from the State Department (Republika)
Albania
• PM Rama hands over Foreign Ministry to Gent Cakaj (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Russia Must Step in to Mediate Serbia-Kosovo Talks If US Joins - Serbian Envoy (Sputnik)
• Macedonia’s Name Change Deal Is a Triumph for the E.U., But Worrying for Democracy (Time)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 22 January 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Improving bilateral cooperation with Republic of Palau (Politika)
• Djuric: We may be stupid, but not that stupid (TV Prva/B92)
• Germany and France welcome good relations between Serbia and Russia as long as they are not in clash with EU path (Blic/Tanjug)
• Vulin: KFOR is the only legitimate armed formation in Kosovo (RTS/Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Covic says formation of Federation of B&H government impossible without amending Election Law of B&H (FTV/BHT)
• B&H will not be able to obtain status of EU Candidate Country if authorities are not formed at level of B&H (Nezavisne)
• Preda to submit Resolution on B&H into parliamentary procedure; expects it to be adopted in February (Dnevni avaz)
• Bilateral talks between representatives of Kosovo and B&H on possible abolishment of 100 percent tariffs on goods from B&H to be held in Sarajevo on Thursday (FTV)
Montenegro
• Meta: Albanians in Montenegro contributed to keeping peace, strengthening stability and security (CDM)
Croatia
• Zeljko Komsic open to dialogue with Zagreb (Hina)
fYROM
• Nimetz urges Athens to ratify the Prespa Agreement (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Erjavec: Slovenia gives support to Macedonia for NATO membership (Nezavisen vesnik)
• VMRO-DPMNE lodges motion in Constitutional Court on Law on Languages (Meta)
• DUI call for joint presidential candidate with SDSM, open for holding early general elections (Republika)
Albania
• Montenegro's President speaks out against land swap idea between Kosovo and Serbia (ADN)
• Bushati discharged, Rama officially new Foreign Minister (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Escaping the Kremlin’s Embrace: Why Serbia Has Tired of Russian Support (Carnegie Moscow Center)
• Bartering our historical identity (ekathimerini.com)
• Editorial: Dangerous Opportunists (ΤοΒΗΜΑ Team)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 21 January 2019

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: I am prepared for difficult decisions, but they must be a compromise (RTS)
• Dacic: Security Council to discuss Kosovo in February (TV Prva/Beta)
• Republic of Palau suspends recognition of Kosovo (Tanjug/RTS)
• Brnabic: Serbia remains reliable partner to Brussels (Beta)
• Bajatovic: TurkStream stretch to start operating by April 2020 (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Komsic: Previous decisions on NATO integration must be respected; Vucic is undermining his previous calls for reconciliation and cooperation (Oslobodjenje)
• NATO HQ in Brussels say B&H’s next moves on NATO path fall solely onto its officials (N1)
• Radoncic: Information about SDA reaching agreement with SDP and DF is true; SBB B&H will end talks on formation of authorities and leave ruling coalition (Face TV)
• Dodik: At upcoming meeting with EU leaders in Brussels, B&H Presidency will be under burden of question as to why authorities at B&H level have not been formed yet (ATV)
• Cvijanovic: Komsic’s statement on mandate of B&H CoM is unbelievable, CoM in technical mandate has no legitimacy, credibility or authority (TV1)
Croatia
• Pejcinovic Buric rejects MOST's claims that she is working in Serbia's interests (HRT)
fYROM
• Zaev: Citizens won't allow another authoritarianism (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Macedonian remains the only official language throughout the whole territory (Meta)
• There is no “Pact against Serbia” even though Serbian tabloid says there is (Meta)
• Major clashes during Macedonia name rally in Athens (Republika)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Prespes: The rally, the raw numbers, and the day after (ekathimerini.com)