United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 7 February 2018
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Opportunity offered by EU to be used (Beta)
• Joksimovic: Agreement with Pristina to come at end of process (Tanjug/Beta)
• Fabrizi: Serbia no problem, but part of solution (Tanjug)
• Mogherini: Vucic and Thaci launched new stage of dialogue (Beta)
• Vulin: Kosovo issue must not be handed over to EU bureaucrats (Tanjug)
• Djuric: Security Council an opportunity for us to present the truth (RTS)
• Miscevic: Serbia must complete negotiating process in 2023 (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Wigemark: B&H achieves significant progress on path towards EU (TV1)
• B&H politicians react to EC Strategy for Western Balkans (FTV)
• Fierce reactions to Covic’s statement on B&H as ‘Islamic state’ (Faktor.ba/ NAP)
• US Embassy: Unfounded and untrue statements of RS President are counter-productive; Dodik replies (N1)
• RS bothered by English translation of harmonized answers to Questionnaire (NAP)
• Reactions to the initiative for B&H to get its state anthem with lyrics (N1)
Croatia
• Croatian PM addresses MEPs in European Parliament (HRT)
• Croatian-Slovenian border dispute is both bilateral and European problem, says Juncker; Cerar refuses bilateral solution (HRT)
Montenegro
• Postponement of Markovic’s visit to Kosovo (RTCG)
• Mogherini and Hahn: We want the Balkans in the EU (CDM)
• Scekic gets another term of office as Berane mayor (CDM)
fYROM
• Zaev: EC Strategy - good news for Macedonia (MIA)
• Zbogar: 2025 deadline is too ambitious for Western Balkans states (MIA)
• EC commends Macedonia’s significant progress on its road to EU (MIA)
• Zaev: We are ready for a geographical heading, and the airport will be called – International airport “Skopje” (Meta)
• Public fully informed about Zaev’s meeting with Tsipras in Davos, says government (Meta/ Euronews)
Albania
• Mogherini: Albania and Montenegro, more closely with EU policies (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Western Balkans: A new start for Europe (EUobserver)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 6 February 2018

LOCAL PRESS

• Vulin: There is no stability without resolving national issue of Serbs (RTS/Tanjug)
• Spain not giving up from excluding Kosovo from EC Strategy (Politika)
• More efficient implementation of activities related to Chapter 24 (Tanjug)
• Vulin meets with French Ambassador (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Nobody supports Ugljanin’s policy anymore (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Harsh reactions to Izetbegovic’s interview for HRT (RTRS/TV1/ATV)
• Dodik and Covic held informal meeting to discuss political situation (RTRS)
• IC to organize meeting of domestic politicians and experts on changes to Law on Elections to B&H (EuroBlic)
• Wigemark informs Zvizdic about content of new EU Enlargement Strategy for Western Balkans (BHT1)
• Wigemark: European path needs to be one of key (Fena)
Croatia
• Stier doesn't have high expectations for Vucic visit (HRT)
• Croats in Serbia complain about identity issues (Hina)
Montenegro
• Local elections: Layout of mandates in Berane and Ulcinj (RTCG)
• Djukanovic and Becic enter the presidential race? (CDM)
fYROM
• Government calls for dignified settlement of open issues with Greece (MIA)
• Bildt: “Heavy” EU states need to get involved in resolving the name dispute (Meta)
• All amendments for the Law on Languages have now been translated (MIA)
• Macedonia and Russia agree to advance business cooperation (MIA)
Albania
• Opposition to protest every month-dates (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Strategy for the Western Balkans: EU sets out new flagship initiatives and support for the reform-driven region (European Commission )
• Brussels’ new Balkan strategy: Tough love (Politico)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 5 February 2018
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic with Tanin: Slowness of Pristina authorities in investigation (RTS/RTV/Tanjug/Beta)
• Vulin calls Montenegro not to send troops to Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Joksimovic: Normalization of relations, not obligation of recognizing Kosovo (Dnevnik/Tanjug)
• McAllister: Normalization for sustainable improvement (Tanjug)
• Jeremic: Vucic plans to trade Kosovo for audience with Merkel (Beta/Nasha TV/B92)
• Markovic: 85% of people were against recognition of Kosovo (Tanjug/B92/RTK)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Izetbegovic: Third entity cannot be created without war (TV1/HRT1)
• Karamatic: Relations within B&H are changing (Glas Srpske)
• B&H Presidency Chairman Covic and EC President Juncker discuss EC Questionnaire (BHT1)
• SDA rejects possibility of changing Law on Elections of B&H without constitutional changes (FTV)
• Dodik to launch initiative to have RS elect Serb member of B&H Presidency (RTRS)
• Dodik’s announcement of his possible candidacy for member of B&H Presidency causes reactions (ATV)
• SBB B&H’s Djonlagic advocates strong engagement of international community (FTV)
Croatia
• Croatian President discusses her upcoming meeting with Serbian counterpart (Hina)
• Serbian President’s visit splits Croatia in unusual ways (Jutarnji list)
Montenegro
• VCG officers in missions to Kosovo and Macedonia (CDM)
fYROM
• 140.000 people attended the “Macedonia is Greek” protest, part of them clashed with anarchists (MIA)
• Ahmeti: Possible referendum on the name could complicate the process (Meta)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• EU needs commitment to rights in West Balkans (EUobserver)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 2 February 2018
LOCAL PRESS

• Djuric and Tanin on upcoming UNMIK report (RTS/Tanjug)
• Vucic: Serbs and Albanians could make another mistake (Tanjug/B92/Kronen Zeitung)
• Vucic: Agreement on normalization of relations equals to looking to the future (Beta)
• Serbia appreciates Slovenia’s assistance in process of European integration (Beta)
• Healthcare one of the conditions of survival of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug)
• Spain strongly supports Serbia, stance on Kosovo clear – embassy (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Brussels: B&H Presidency members meet EPP’s Daul (BHT1)
• Covic: Bosniak side should stop electing two members of the Presidency from Federation of B&H (Vecernji list)
• Izetbegovic: We did not come to solve something (EuroBlic)
• Zvizdic: I will accept nomination, in case SDA decides to nominate me for post of Bosniak member of B&H Presidency (Hayat)
• Members of HVO acquitted (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• Croatian Defense Minister wants Serbian President to apologize (Hina)
• Serbian national minority leader hopeful about Vucic’s visit (Hina)
Montenegro
• Jokovic: Common opposition presidential candidate unlikely (CDM)
• Becic ready: I have courage to confront Djukanovic (CDM)
fYROM
• President Ivanov: Name solution without encroaching on identity (MIA)
• Zaev and Nimetz have agreed: Naumovski and Vasilakis are out, Dimitrov and Kotzias are in (Meta)
• Dimitrov: Nimetz brought “ideas that are not so bad, but also ideas that are not so good” (Meta)
• UN name mediator meets opposition VMRO-DPMNE leader (MIA)
• UN name mediator Nimetz meets DUI leader Ahmeti (MIA)
• PM Zaev meets MEPs Bostinaru, Fajon and Picula (MIA)
Albania
• Chaos in parliament, opposition MPs noise and insults against majority (ADN)
• Two Democrat officials physically clashed with a citizen (ADN)
• Maritime borders, Kokedhima 'threatens' Prime Minister (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Greece-Macedonia/FYROM Name Talks: Searching for new momentum after Nimetz Balkan visit (New Europe)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 1 February 2018
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic and Cerar no Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Vucic: Spain’s position logical, agreement on Kosovo does not imply recognition (Tanjug)
• Djuric: It is very difficult to say what is the legally-binding document (Tanjug)
• Kosovo in EU only as region of Serbia (Novosti)
• Vulin: We expect KFOR role not to reduce (Politika)
• Admiral Foggo: I am not worried for stability in Kosovo and Metohija (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H HoR rejects both HDZ B&H’s and SDA’s proposals of amendments to Election Law of B&H (FTV)
• Covic not surprised with the outcome of the voting on changes to Law on Elections, Bosniak parties’ tactics is to change nothing (Fena)
• Ivanic, Cormack discuss political situation, Election Law (Oslobodjenje)
• Zvizdic: All answers to EC’s Questionnaire harmonized (BHT1)
• Izetbegovic: Vucic demanded from me to respect the Inter-Entity Boundary Line and borders of RS (RTRS)
• Ivantsov announced a visit of the delegation of the Russian Duma to Banja Luka and Sarajevo (Nezavisne)
• Canton 10 Assembly adopts Declaration denying ICTY’s verdict in case ‘Prlic et al.’ (TV1/N1)
• Possible consequences because of failure to cooperate with EUROPOL (Oslobodjenje)
• Court of B&H confirms indictment against four members of Vlasenica Brigade for Srebrenica genocide (BHT1)
• Eleven Bosnian Croats indicted for war crimes in Mostar area (Hina)
Croatia
• Croatian Prime Minister criticizes Serbia’s behavior (Hina)
• Croatian government wants to deal with open issues with Serbia (Hina)
Montenegro
• Orav: We want to see Montenegro in the EU (CDM)
• Djukanovic invited to Trump’s National Prayer Breakfast (Pobjeda)
fYROM
• Nimetz: After Athens, I expect good discussions in Skopje (MIA)
• Self-proclaimed 'patriotic' associations stage protest, call on UN name mediator to resign (MIA)
Albania
• Donald Lu message to politicians, police and prosecutors (ADN)
• Denmark supports Albania's European integration (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• EU to map out membership path for western Balkan six (Financial Times)