United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 27 April 2018
LOCAL PRESS

• Dacic: I would introduce reciprocity to everyone (RTS)
• Brnabic ready to sign what is necessary (RTS)
• Stefanovic: Maltreatment of Djuric will not remain unpunished (RTS)
• EU calls for urgent implementation of agreement on ZSO (Tanjug)
• Serbian government adopts reciprocity measures to Croatia (RTS/Beta/Tanjug)
• Vulin: Krsticevic is right, we are two worlds, I am an anti-fascist (RTS/Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Tusk meets B&H Presidency members (Hayat)
• Dodik: Bosniak politicians are asking foreigners for solutions, such mentality will bury B&H (Glas Srpske)
• B&H HoP session on changes to Election Law not held due to lack of quorum (TV1)
• Representatives of nine parliamentary parties fail to agree election rules for Mostar (BHT1)
• B&H is on right path to MAP activation (Oslobodjenje)
• US General Clark: Russia wants to increase its influence in Western Balkans (Dnevni avaz)
• Erdogan uses B&H to demonstrate strength to Europe (EuroBlic)
• Wartime Bosniak commander arrested for crimes against Serbs (Nezavisne)
• Will Croatia continue diplomatic war with Serbia? (Vecernji list)
Croatia
• Serbia declares Croatian Defense Minister “persona non- grata” (Hina)
• Prime Minister calls for joint commemorations at Jasenovac (Hina)
• Austria to conduct immediate trials for use of banned Ustasha symbols at Bleiburg (Jutarnji list)
Montenegro
• Progress Report instructs Montenegro (MINA)
fYROM
• Ivanov, Grabar-Kitarovic: Bilateral issues to be solved in parallel with Euro-integration process (MIA)
• Xhaferi meets President Grabar-Kitarovic (MIA)
• Dimitrov and Kotzias end Vienna talks at a working dinner (MIA)
• Name issue needs urgent solution, Juncker tells Greek parliament (MIA)
• Bartol: NATO wishes to welcome Macedonia as its 30th member state (MIA)
• Stoltenberg: It's not up to Russia to decide about Macedonia's NATO accession (MIA)
• Sekerinska to meet US Defense Secretary Mattis in Washington (MIA)
Albania
• CDU/CSU MP's reject Rama's invitation to dinner (ADN)
• Rama returns from Germany, what was discussed with Merkel? (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Now is chance for Kosovo deal, says Serbian president – but at what cost? (The Guardian)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 26 April 2018
LOCAL PRESS

• Dacic: Countries can’t be Serbia’s partners and work against us (Tanjug)
• Djuric: If this is EU’s position - then it’s all meaningless (B92)
• Stefanovic: Around 800 terrorists from Western Balkans have joined IS (Tanjug/FoNet)
• Ljajic: CEFTA in crisis (Beta/RTS)
• Kosovo in the clutches of daily politics (Betaweek)
• European integration and Kosovo (Betaweek)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• New meeting on changes to B&H Election Law ends without concrete results (FTV)
• Visit of Russian delegation to B&H continues to spark reactions (ATV)
• Erdogan’s rally on May 20 in Sarajevo; Dodik: I am aware of Turkey’s aspirations in B&H but I do not accept meddling with RS’ relations with Serbia and Russia (N1)
• Dodik: RS has right to have its army; I do not discuss sanctions with Vucic and have no need to agree with him; I do not accept EU which acts in interventionist manner here (Dani)
Croatia
• Serbian tanks aim their guns at Catholic cathedral in Novi Sad (Index.hr)
• President to visit Macedonia and attend Brdo-Brijuni Summit (Hina)
• Slovenia ready to block Croatia's entry into Schengen (Hina)
Montenegro
• Brussels denied those who wish to stop the integration (RTCG)
fYROM
• Zaev: Government reshuffle after Labor Day (MIA)
• Nimetz: Both sides committed to solution, talks to continue (MIA)
• Athens made concessions, now Skopje should follow suit – Greece’s gov’t spokesman (MIA)
Albania
• Don't turn your back on us, Albania PM tells EU (ADN)
• Rama-Merkel, preconditions for the opening of accession talks (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Serb President Delays Kosovo Deal to Give It a Better Shot (Bloomberg)
• The Brief – Macron pulls the Balkan rug (EurActiv)
• McAllister: Rule of law and fundamental rights priority for Serbia (European Western Balkans)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 25 April 2018
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Our EU path depends from Kosovo and Metohija (RTS/Beta)
• Vucic: Serbia needs to be present at the Sofia summit (Politika)
• Dacic: EU has serious disease; Croatia to face countermeasures (TV Pink/Tanjug/B92)
• Dacic: Implementation of Brussels deal in Serbia's interest (Tanjug)
• Joksimovic: Serbia open for continuation of cooperation in region (Beta/Tanjug)
• What does the Sofia declaration state? (RTS)
• Jeremic: Vucic and Thaci discussed in Paris exchange of territories (Vreme)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Matviyenko meets RS officials led by Dodik; Dodik: Co-op with EU cannot go to detriment of co-op with Russia (RTRS)
• Ivanic and Covic disagree with Izetbegovic’s stances on Matviyenko’s statements (ATV)
• Speech delivered by Matviyenko to B&H parliament sparks strong reactions of B&H politicians (TV1)
• OHR reacts to statement of Matviyenko (TV1)
• US Embassy comments Matviyenko’s statements (TV1)
• Kocijancic comments Matviyenko’s statements (Dnevni avaz)
• Covic: We will offer Bosniaks solution today, we do not accept improvisations (Dnevni list)
• UN prosecutor seeks life term for Karadzic at appeal hearing (Hayat)
• B&H takes over rotating presidency of SEECP (TV1)
• EC: Border is not condition for Peljesac Bridge (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• President believes positive changes have already occurred in relations with Serbia (Hina)
• President talks with leader of Croats in Serbia (Hina)
• Plenkovic: Relations with Slovenia are not dramatic (Hina)
• Foreign Minister meets with UN General Assembly President (Hina)
Montenegro
• Czech Republic, Greece, Georgia and Uzbekistan: Congrats to Djukanovic (CDM)
• Tusk: Montenegro is in good negotiating form (CDM)
• Markovic: Entire region must focus on EU & NATO integration (CDM)
fYROM
• Hahn expects name solution in next two weeks (MIA)
• Greek MoFA urges Hahn to refrain from giving wrong image of name talks (MIA)
• Zaev says difficult to solve name issue in two weeks (MIA)
• Zaev: Let’s work together for Macedonia to start EU accession talks (MIA)
• Ohrid Group to support Macedonia on road to EU and NATO (MIA)
• Shcherbak: Macedonia to seriously consider NATO accession (MIA)
Albania
• Albania's next challenge, convincing EU members on accession talks (ADN)
• EP President, Tajani supports the opening of Negotiations (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Bender: EU needs to clearly define accession criteria on rule of law (European Western Balkans)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 24 April 2018
LOCAL PRESS

• Djuric: Formation of Kosovo army contrary to UNSCR 1244 (TV Prva)
• Drecun: Management team for ZSO Statute is contrary to the Brussels agreement (TV N1)
• Spain approves draft declaration for the Sofia Summit (Tanjug)
• Pristina platform makes the dialogue pointless? (Politika)
• Hahn: No new members with neighborhood problems; Vucic doing a brave job (FoNet)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Matviyenko underlines that Russia advocates closing of OHR (ATV)
• OHR: Russia respects Dayton Agreement, including mandate of OHR (Fena)
• Bosic: B&H must be neutral in clash between West and East (N1)
• EC sends message to B&H officials that Election Law must be amended (Hayat)
• Karadzic defense asks for annulment of judgment and new trial (RTRS/Srna)
• Lawsuit against Missing Persons Institute of B&H for concealing truth about fate of missing Serbs (RTRS)
• Contract on construction of Peljesac Bridge signed (Hayat)
Croatia
• Croatian Ministers explain decision to ban Serbian Minister Vulin (Hina)
Montenegro
• Radunovic stands as a candidate for Mayor (CDM)
• Luksic nominated for Secretary General of Regional Cooperation Council (MINA)
fYROM
• UN confirms new round of name talks in Vienna (MIA)
Albania
• Meta receives Prime Minister of Belgium (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• A review of the bidding in the Balkans (TransConflict)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 23 April 2018

LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Serbia should not look for shortcuts (RTS/Tanjug)
• Vucic: Reciprocal response to Croatia (Beta/RTS)
• Dacic: Incident with the flag in Jasenovac without precedent (Tanjug)
• Mihajlovic: No economy or development without stability of the region (RTS)
• Belgrade expects EU to present stand on Pristina’s platform (RTS/Novosti)
• Security strategy drafts: Kosovo, neutrality, dialogue (Tanjug/Blic)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Urgent session of B&H HoR initiated at request of SNSD due to ‘warmongering rhetoric’ of SDA leader cancelled due to lack of quorum (TV1)
• US Embassy to B&H and OHR concerned over growing number of statements of political leader calling for divisions in B&H lately (TV1)
• US Congress marks Dodik and Covic as main culprits for situation in B&H (Hayat)
• Zvizdic welcomes statements in US Congress, US is true friend of B&H (FTV)
• B&H politicians: B&H needs US help (FTV)
• US State Department’s report on human rights practices in B&H warns of problems of corruption, freedom of press and Election Law (BHT1)
• Dodik: I do not mind MAP activation, but RS is military neutral and we do not want alliance with either NATO or Russians (Oslobodjenje)
• Public opinion’s research: Citizens support Zvizdic, Komsic, Dodik in race for members of B&H Presidency (Hayat)
Croatia
• Why are there separate Jasenovac memorial events? (T portal)
• Croatia officially says Serbia’s Defence Minister not welcomed (Hina)
• Croatia trying to calm tensions with Serbia (Hina)
Montenegro
• Erdogan ready to visit Montenegro (CDM)
fYROM
• Zaev: Macedonia, Greece focused on name solution (MIA)
• European Council President Tusk to visit Macedonia on 27 April (MIA)
Albania
• One ton of drugs seized in Italy, Albanian from Fier arrested (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Serbia’s National Dialogue on Kosovo: Scant Consensus, Much Skepticism (BIRN)
• EU Seeks to Turn Balkans Into 'Parking Lot for Migrants' – Serbian MP (Sputnik)
• Djukanovic: Montenegro to improve relations with Russia (RIA Novosti)