United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 21 May 2018

LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Recognition of Kosovo will never be condition for our EU membership (Tanjug/Beta)
• Dacic: Serbia to oppose attempts of Kosovo CoE admission (Tanjug/Beta/RTS)
• Serbia and Azerbaijan always support each other (Tanjug/B92)
• Serbian parliament adopts draft proposal on formation of Commission for investigating consequences of NATO bombing (RTS)
• Albanians have been after Serbian passports since 1999 (Novosti)
• Fabrizi: Kosovo key issue in Serbia’s EU path (Blic/Beta)
• Kukan: Macron not only one deciding on EU enlargement (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Delegation of Turkey led by Turkey’s President Erdogan visits Sarajevo (TV1)
• Erdogan speaks at UETD pre-election rally in Sarajevo attended by 15,000 people; Izetbegovic: Erdogan was sent by God (TV1)
• Erdogan’s pre-election rally sparks reactions in B&H (TV1)
• International media report on Erdogan’s visit to Sarajevo (Dnevni avaz)
• Minister Pendes discusses activation of MAP (Glas Srpske)
• B&H Ambassador to Israel Rajakovic denies having attended opening of US Embassy in Jerusalem but only reception organized by Israeli PM (N1)
Croatia
• Opposition puts forward motion to dissolve parliament (Hina)
• Conflict of interest proceedings launched against former Minister Dalic (Hina)
• Croatia ratifies European Partnership Treaty with B&H (Hina)
• Croatia to prevent migrants entering from B&H (Vecernji list)
Montenegro
• Brajovic to the opposition: Come and do something (MINA)
• Karakacanov: Montenegro is the most serious candidate for the EU membership (CDM)
fYROM
• Greece calls for 'geographical or chronological qualifier' (MIA)
• Greek opposition leaders reject latest name proposal (MIA)
• Gov't: Name proposal contains chronological qualifier acceptable for both sides (MIA)
• Zaev: Republic of Ilinden Macedonia could lead to possible compromise with Greece (MIA)
• Republic of Ilinden Macedonia - an excellent basis for solution (MIA)
• Mickoski: No change of Constitution to change the name (MIA)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• The EU enters the Balkans as a fast player (Hurriyet Daily News)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 18 May 2018
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Serbia will have numerous problems unless Kosovo issue is resolved (Beta/RTS)
• Brnabic: Serbia best presented in Sofia (N1)
• Borisov: Different views on speed of EU expansion (Beta)
• Tusk: Western Balkans has problems and EU prospects (Beta)
• Fabrizi: Accession is merit-based (N1)
• Djuric to Keefe: Serbs in Kosovo need institutional protection (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• EU-Western Balkan Summit in Sofia (BHT1)
• Cvijanovic: Europe is not ready for B&H and vice versa (Dnevni list)
• DF accuses SDP of wanting to form coalition with HDZ B&H and SNSD (TV1)
• Candidates for the post of a Bosniak member of the Presidency of B&H may be known in the mid of June and the race has never been this uncertain (N1)
• B&H CEC: Deadline for submitting application for verification of participation in general elections expires on May 25 (Hayat)
• Unconfirmed information indicate that B&H delegation attended recent opening of US Embassy in Jerusalem (N1/Al Jazeera Balkans)
Croatia
• New emails prove Plenkovic met with Agrokor’s “Borg Group” (Hina)
• Opposition leader demands Prime Minister’s resignation (Hina)
• Prime Minister on Agrokor Affair: "I sleep peacefully" (Hina)
• Croatia and Serbia present joint flood prevention project (Hina)
Montenegro
• Hahn: Western Balkans immature for the EU (CDM)
• Djukanovic: Montenegro is a step away from EU membership (MINA)
• Tajani: Montenegro could join EU by 2025 (CDM)
• General Dakovic at the NATO Military Committee meeting in Brussels (CDM)
fYROM
• Greece says negotiations with Macedonia over name row at crucial stage (MIA)
• Hahn optimistic that Macedonia and Greece will solve name dispute (MIA)
• Zaev: Identified option is complete solution to name issue (MIA)
• Macedonia’s success story needs to continue, Zaev and Merkel agree (MIA)
• A stronger parliament means stronger Macedonia, PM May tells Speaker Xhaferi (MIA)
• Jean Monnet process kicks off in Ohrid (MIA)
Albania
• Prosecution requires imprisonment for Tahiri (ADN)
• Witness speaks against Interior Minister's brother (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• No time soon: EU dashes membership hopes of Balkan states (The Guardian)
• Europe Needs Sway Over Western Balkans to Stem Russian Influence – Macron (Sputnik)
• British premier visits Macedonia (Anadolu Agency)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 17 May 2018
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Serbia, China political relations at highest point (RTS/Tanjug)
• Vucic: I haven’t received a plan for Kosovo (Tanjug/RTS)
• Scott: No Western plan for Kosovo (Blic)
• Dacic and Keefe discuss preparations for Summit on Western Balkans in London (RTS/Tanjug)
• Joksimovic: Important that Serbian arrived at the Sofia Summit (RTS)
• EU expects definitive progress in normalization between Belgrade, Pristina (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Covic’s announcement of HDZ B&H’s plan ‘B’ for post-election coalition sparks harsh reactions (TV1)
• Tusk says EU-Western Balkans Summit will be opportunity to affirm Euro-Atlantic perspective as geostrategic option of Western Balkan (ATV)
• Court of B&H renders first-instance acquittal in case Radoncic et al. (TV1)
Croatia
• Prime Minister defends his position on Agrokor affair (Hina)
• Croatian and Slovenian presidents meet (Hina)
• Croatia supports EU enlargement to Western Balkans (Hina)
• Six arrested for displaying fascist and Nazi symbols at Bleiburg commemoration (Hina)
fYROM
• Macron commends Macedonia, Greece commitment to settling name issue (MIA)
• Zaev: WB countries should take part in building a stronger EU (MIA)
• Baily: We expect Macedonia’s progress towards NATO (MIA)
• Mickoski meets Hahn, Kurz and Tusk in Sofia (MIA)
Albania
• Protest escalates, demonstrators throw eggs against Interior Ministry (ADN)
• Accession talks, Ruci gets support from Greece, Bulgaria and Romania (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• EU urges Balkans reform but cool on accepting new members (AP, by Lorne Cook)
• Sofia Declaration, 17 May 2018 (European Western Balkans)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 16 May 2018

LOCAL PRESS

• Dacic: Criticism at UN SC session on Kosovo (Beta/RTS)
• Dacic: Serbia advocates unchanged mandate of the UN Mission in Kosovo (RTS/Tanjug)
• Vucic: Kosovo Albanians care about territory, not people (Beta/RTS)
• Djuric to Thaci: I don’t need false documents, I have the passport of the Republic of Serbia (RTS/Tanjug)
• Scott: Higher number of cancer cases is not due to NATO (FoNet/RTS)
• Lazanski: Serbia facing serious situation in negotiations on Kosovo (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Covic: B&H will not fall into crisis; election winners will establish authority maybe even quicker than ever before (Nezavisne)
• US Embassy to B&H surprised by Covic’s statement that it is too late to amend B&H Election Law (TV1)
• Izetbegovic on Covic’s statement that it is too late to amend Election Law of B&H (TV1)
• Dodik says Serbia will not interfere in elections in B&H (Top Portal)
• Wigemark and Kljako discuss elections in Mostar (Dnevni avaz)
• Croatian President’s statement sparks reactions (N1)
• B&H CoM adopts draft action plan for solving migrant crisis in B&H (Hayat/N1)
Croatia
• Zivi Zid files criminal charges against Plenkovic and ministers (Hina)
• SDP demands Prime Minister’s resignation and early elections (Hina)
• Coalition partners continue their support for Plenkovic (Hina)
fYROM
• Growing optimism in Brussels about possible Macedonia-Greece name deal in June (MIA)
• Government reshuffle: Gashi's BESA, DPA, Roma Alliance join Zaev's cabinet (MIA)
• VMRO-DPMNE MP Gjorcev testifies in attempted murder trial (MIA)
Albania
• Maritime talks Albania-Greece, second round ends successfully (ADN)
• Rama in France for the opening of Accession Talks (ADN)
• Basha requests Xhafaj's resignation: Prosecution to investigate (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Turkey’s Balkan comeback (politico.eu)
• What can the UK do for the western Balkans post-Brexit? (The Economist)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 15 May 2018
LOCAL PRESS

• Dacic: Necessity of further UNMIK engagement in Kosovo (RTS)
• RF on secret training at US base, US on Kosovo recognitions (B92/Beta)
• Keefe: UK will stay in Western Balkans region after Brexit (Beta)
• US sent plan for Kosovo, unacceptable for Vucic? (Blic)
• Spanish PM decides to snub EU-Balkans summit over Kosovo (Tanjug/B92)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Eight HNS parties will have joint performance in elections (FTV)
• SNSD and HDZ B&H agree to form coalition after general elections (RTRS)
• US Embassy: Covic was clearly never interested in compromise (Dnevni avaz)
• Izetbegovic: B&H is at historic crossroad and it will have to defend itself from those who try to push it from right path (Klix.ba)
• Dodik: Russian Federation has been most principled guardian of international law in B&H since signing of DPA (Srna)
• Meeting of members of Migration Coordination Body held in Sarajevo to discuss increasing number of migrants in B&H (FTV)
• Kovacevic: Meeting of Coordination Body for Issue of Migration in B&H represents another attack on RS (RTRS)
• Ambassadors urge B&H HoR Collegium to urgently adopt Proposal of Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interests in B&H (Dnevni avaz)
• Changes to B&H Election Law in regular parliamentary procedure (Fena)
Croatia
• Croatian President calls for changes to Election Law in B&H (Hina)
• Economy Minister Dalic resigns (Hina)
• Junior coalition partners still support government (Hina)
fYROM
• Zaev available for leaders' meeting when everyone is back in Macedonia (MIA)
• President Ivanov asks for MoFA reports on outcome of last name talks round (MIA)
• Greek gov't sources: One of our two clear conditions is neighbor to change constitutional name (MIA)
• Macedonia and Bulgaria kick off expert debate on historical, educational issues (MIA)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• New EU focus on Kosovo provides Pristina and Belgrade with historic opportunity – UN official (UN News Centre)
• Interview: Serbia’s Vucic insists ‘I’m obsessed with Kosovo’ (Financial Times)
• Kosovo main 'hurdle' on Serbia's path to EU: President Vucic (AFP)