United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 05 January 2018

LOCAL PRESS
• Popovic: Grant equal status to Russians clearing NATO bombs (Vecernje Novosti)
• Mihajlovic: The opinion by the PM is being awaited regarding the humanitarian center (Vecernje Novosti)
• Vulin: In case of war, Serbia would be respected for its strength (Tanjug)
• Hoyt Yee: Serbia must enter reforms faster (Blic)
• Action plan for EU chapter 23 to be reviewed by fall (RTS, Tanjug)
• Ugljanin invites Chief of EU delegation for talks on Bosniaks' position (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• RS President Dodik says RS welcomes January 9 in state of institutional stability (RTRS)
• RS President meets member of German Bundestag Neu (RTRS)
• Zvizdic: B&H CoM will remain in its current convocation until end of mandate (TV1, FTV)
• US Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Yee says BiH does not need ‘Dayton 2’ (N1)
• B&H CoM unanimously adopts Rural Development Strategy (BHT1)

Croatia
• MEP Ruza Tomasic wants Croatian Police and Armed Forces to intervene in Savudrija (Novi list)
• PM says border solution is closer than it appears (HRT)

Montenegro
• New coalition: Lekic and Krivokapic making a pre-election deal in Podgorica (CDM)

fYROM
• Hoyt Yee: Both Skopje and Athens express political will for name dispute settlement (MIA)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• USA holds dinner for Jerusalem UN vote, invites Kosovo, not Albania (top-channel.tv)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 8 January 2018
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: We will resolve problem of Serbs and Albanians (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Difficult talks on Kosovo await us (Blic)
• Selakovic: Goal of declaration is preserving of insignia and identity (RTS)
• Vucic to respond to accusations on 14 January (Tanjug)
• Djuric: Amfilohije’s statements – ordered attack (TV Pink/Tanjug)
• Mihajlovic: Kosovo is not a topic where Amfilohije will divide people on patriots and traitors (Tanjug)
• Appeal for Defense of Kosovo and Metohija presented (FoNet)
• SNS: Political show of DSS (Tanjug)
• Egypt could withdraw decision to recognize Kosovo (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik calls on Ivanic to secure participation of B&H AF in marking of RS Day (ATV)
• Ivanic: Request should have been submitted at least 30 days before event (TV1/N1)
• Ivanic: RS created as will of Serb people (Nezavisne)
• NATO HQ: Participation of B&H AF members in solemn activities must be in line with law regulations (Dnevni avaz)
• Covic: To complete changes to Election Law’ (EuroBlic)
Croatia
• Slovenia wants European Commission to pressure Croatia on border arbitration (Index)
• Solving border disputes precondition for EU membership of Croatia’s neighbours (Jutarnji list)
Montenegro
• Montenegro influenced neighboring countries on their EU path (Dnevne novine)
• Metropolitan Amfilohije: Vucic’s policy may lead to betrayal of Serbia and Kosovo (Dan)
fYROM
• Zaev: Readiness exists both in Skopje and Athens to find solution by mid-2018 (MIA)
• Boshnjakovski: We will not be bidding with the name until we will have something concrete (Meta)
• Greece’s ruling SYRIZA advocates mutually acceptable, composite name for settling Skopje-Athens dispute (MIA)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Commission expects ‘concrete’ results on Macedonian name dispute (EurActiv)
• Secret talks over FYROM naming issue (To Vima)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 28 December 2017
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: I expect more serious debate on Kosovo in spring (Tanjug)
• Brnabic: Government always open to dialogue with media (Beta/RTS)
• Brnabic: Republika Srpska will always have family member in Serbia (Tanjug)
• Kuburovic: Special court new chance for justice (RTS/Tanjug)
• Serbian Ambassador to Croatia refuses to receive protest note (Tanjug/B92)
• Stefanovic: Serbia has nothing to with piling up of migrants on border with Croatia (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Ivanic: Changing of DPA is impossible (BNTV)
• Dodik: Neither me nor anyone from RS will beg anyone in Sarajevo to allow them to come and to take part in marking of RS Day (RTRS/TV1)
• Izetbegovic: EC Questionnaire will be handed over in January 2018 (NAP)
• Inzko: Agreement on reform of election legislation is absolute priority (Fena)
• What has Covic prepared for Izetbegovic? (Dnevni list)
• Changes to B&H Law on Excise Duties published in Official Gazette (N1)
Croatia
• Migrants protest on Serbian-Croatian border (N1)
Montenegro
• URA and Demos still without caucuses (Pobjeda)
• Montenegro ready to improve relations with Russia (CDM)
fYROM
• Sela leaves government, AA deputy ministers resign (Telma)
• Zaev: Resignations from officials of the Alliance of Albanians were expected (Meta)
• VMRO-DPMNE to define steps for further actions of MPs (Republika)
• VMRO-DPMNE MPs won’t attend parliament Q&A session (MIA)
Albania
• SMI, Vasili: Vote against US in UN, undoable shameful act (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Arbitration: Erjavec threatens legal proceedings against Croatia (RTL)
• The ‘Macedonian issue’(ekathimerini)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 27 December 2017

LOCAL PRESS

• Dacic: Problems that caused wars have not been removed (TV Happy/Tanjug)
• Turkish Kurd extradited pursuant to decisions by court, commission – ministry (Tanjug/Beta)
• Sutanovac DS candidate for Belgrade mayor (Blic)
• Appeal for defense of Kosovo gathered intellectuals and bishops (Novosti/Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik: Concept of coordination mechanism is biggest achievement in 2017, it stops centralization (RTRS)
• Ivanic asks Dodik to allow participation of Third Regiment during marking of January 9th (Klix.ba)
• Jerinic condemns Dodik’s decision re participation of B&H AF in ceremony marking RS Day (ATV)
• US Embassy to B&H on US Congressman Turner’s initiative for “Dayton 2” (Hayat)
• Former HVO member sentenced to 14 years in prison for war crimes against Serb civilians (Srna)
• Congress to Pentagon: Give us everything about Russians in the Balkans (RTRS)
Croatia
• President’s Office says messages sent out during holiday season must not incite conflicts (Hina)
• Serbian NGO accuses Croatia and Hungary of illegally returning migrants to Serbia (Hina)
Montenegro
• Decision on border demarcation postponed for 15 January (MINA)
• Mocnik: Western Balkans to be more involved in EU projects (Pobjeda)
fYROM
• Ivanov called for “compromise instead of revanchism” (Meta)
• Ivanov’s annual address was a shameful party-political speech, say SDSM and the government (Meta)
• Parties comment President Ivanov’s annual address (MIA)
• Zaev-VMRO-DPMNE leader Mickoski: Opposition should take part in Macedonia's reform processes (MIA)
• Zaev on name issue, coalition partners and parliamentary majority (MIA)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Hahn: 2025 ambitious but realistic goal (European Western Balkans)
• 2018 will be important for Western Balkans (EUobserver)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 26 December 2017
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Serbia will conduct its own policy and protect its interests (TV Pink)
• Dacic: I would like parliamentary elections to also be held (RTS)
• Drecun: Thaci and his band behind attempt to abolish KLA court (RTS/B92/Beta)
• Vulin: My personal opinion that Belgrade should pull out of negotiations if Pristina’s attempt succeeds (RTS)
• Djuric: Solving property relations to lead to normalization (Tanjug/Novosti)
• SNS declares victories in four municipalities (B92)
• Sutanovac satisfied with party’s showing in local polls (B92)
• Opposition parties on elections in five municipalities (Tanjug)
• Five lists cross census in Presevo (Tanjug)
• Tadic: Opposition to unite (Tanjug)
• Left of Serbia supports Djilas (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• US Congressman Turner writes to Tillerson, says Dayton 2 should be signed (TV1)
• Dodik: There is no need for Dayton 2 but for internal agreement without interference of foreigners (TV1)
• Other reactions to Turner’s letter (BHT1/TV1)
• Dodik’s announcement that members of AF B&H will not participate in marking of Day of RS sparks reactions (TV1)
• Covic: Next year will be marked by election campaign and crises (Fena)
• Inzko warns general elections must be held (BNTV)
Croatia
• Croats are constituent people in B&H and no one will reduce them to minority (Vecernji list)
• President stresses demographics as a key problem for Croatia (Vecernji list/HRT)
Montenegro
• DF reveals new facts about attempted election-day coup (CDM)
• DF sent audio recordings to the EU Delegation and embassies (CDM)
• Sekulic: Parliament boycott harmful (Pobjeda)
• Martin calls on parties to bring tensions down (Pobjeda)
fYROM
• Macedonian government gets new health minister (MIA)
• Alliance of the Albanians stays in gov't coalition until language law is adopted, says Sela (MIA)
• Hristijan Mickoski becomes new VMRO-DPMNE leader (MIA)
• Zaev expects constructive and critical opposition (MIA)
• President Ivanov meets with new VMRO-DPMNE leader (MIA)
Albania
• Opposition’s protests, Basha meeting with Democrats (ADN)
• New political crisis within the opposition (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Hoyt Yee: Athens and Skopje have an excellent opportunity for name issue settlement in 2018 (ANA-MPA)
• British Ambassador: Macedonia should mount high hill to start EU accession talks (Radio Free Europe)