United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 1 December 2017
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic at conference “World in 2018” in Hong Kong (RTS/Beta)
• Dacic: Minimum joint interests of US and Serbia over stability (RTS)
• US administration denied Thaci’s and Haradinaj’s claims (Tanjug/B92)
• Opening of new chapters on 11 December (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• RS President: ICTY’s verdict in ‘Prlic et al’ case is result of various combinations of Croatian reps in political calculations (TV1)
• SDS: First war crime in B&H was committed by regular Croatian army and paramilitary units of SDA and HDZ B&H (BNTV)
• Serb and Bosniak victims’ associations to file lawsuits against Croatia following verdict to ‘Prlic et al’ (EuroBlic)
• EUD, EUSR comment verdict in case ‘Prlic et al.’: We fully support ICTY and its verdicts (BHT1)
• UK Embassy: ICTY verdict sends message that all perpetrators will be held responsible for their crimes (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia
• Questions remain after Slobodan Praljak’s courtroom suicide (HRT)
• Parliamentary speaker reads out joint statement on ICTY verdict in the Sabor (HRT/TV1)
• Croatia initiated establishment of the Hague Tribunal (HRT)
Montenegro
• Fajon: A lot of work before joining the EU, opposition to return to Parliament (CDM)
fYROM
• Baily: There must be responsibility for 27 April, but also the presumption of innocence (Meta)
• British Embassy: The violent attacks that occurred on 27 April must be investigated and there has to be a legal outcome (Meta)
• EU Ambassador: All parties to set state interests and its future as priority (MIA)
• VMRO-DPMNE will be blocking intersections the whole month ahead (Meta)
• Dimitrov – Tillerson: Our commitment to becoming part of NATO is great (Meta)
• Macedonia, Serbia to introduce joint duty clearance in 2018 (MIA)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Kosovo Businesses Doubtful About Planned Free Trade Zone (BIRN)
• Western Balkan region ‘high priority for the US,’ Trump aide McMaster says (ekathimerini)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 30 November 2017

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: I wouldn’t mock Praljak’s act, the problem are EU double standards (Tanjug)
• Other reactions in Serbia over ICTY verdict (RTS)
• Joksimovic on new Belgrade-Pristina mediators (Tanjug)
• Government adopts 2018 budget bill (Tanjug)
• Carpenter: US to ‘peak’ into the center in Nis, and the Russians into Bondsteel (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H officials comment on verdict in case 'Prlic et al.' (FTV/TV1)
• ICTY Prosecution content with final-instance verdict in case ‘Prlic et al’ (FTV)
• Attorneys of defendants in case of 'Prlic et al.' dissatisfied with second-instance verdict (BHT)
• Attorney Fila: It has been determined that Croatia was aggressor in B&H, not Serbia (Srna)
• Inzko calls on all parties in B&H to accept ICTY’s final verdict in case ‘Prlic et al.’ (Oslobodjenje)
• US Embassy in B&H issues statement regarding verdict rendered in case ‘Prlic et al.’ (Oslobodjenje)
• OSCE’s Berton calls for reconciliation (Oslobodjenje)
• Holy mass organized in Mostar in Praljak’s honor (N1)
Croatia
• Plenkovic: Praljak's actions speak of deep moral injustice (Nacional)
• Grabar Kitarovic: Croatia is not an aggressor, it did the most for the survival of B&H (HRT/Index)
• MPs react to the horrific event at the ICTY courtroom and the final verdict in the Bosnian Six case (HRT)
Montenegro
• DF wrote to Lavrov: Kadyrov involved in “coup attempt” (CDM)
• Russia suggests presidential candidate through DF? (Pobjeda)
fYROM
• Zaev and Gruevski called to an urgent meeting with Ivanov (Meta)
• VMRO-DPMNE's Gruevski falls short of revealing any detail about Ivanov meeting (MIA)
• Zaev calls Gruevski-Ivanov meeting “constructive” (MIA)
• Kocijancic: It is important to establish accountability for the events on 27 April and everyone to act accordingly (Meta)
Albania
• More US engagement needed (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Spotlight: Flagship rail project demonstrates cooperation with China good news for CEEC, EU (Xinhua)
• Bosnian Croat war criminal Slobodan Praljak dies after drinking poison in UN court (Deutsche Welle)
• Bechev: Russia is playing the “spoiler” in Western Balkans (European Western Balkans)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 29 November 2017

LOCAL PRESS

• Pristina’s plan B: Unification with Albania (Politika)
• US Embassy: We have no information on Rice's potential engagement (Tanjug)
• EU: No change of format without consent of both sides (Tanjug)
• Internal dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija: Resolution 1244 is the only legally binding document (Politika)
• Dodik: I can have different stances than Vucic, but this does not bother our good relation (RTRS/Srna/Alo)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• ICTY Appeals Chamber renders second-instance verdict to Herzeg-Bosnia leadership; session adjourned (Klix.ba)
• Ljubic: Hague Tribunal judgment is slap in the face of Croatia (Nezavisne)
• Pandurevic: I feel bitter because Croatia is not condemned for aggression (Nezavisne)
• Brammertz: I am satisfied with sentence given to Mladic (BHRT)
Croatia
• Praljak died in a hospital in The Hague (Hina)
• Reiner: ICTY verdict is historically untrue, unjust and inconceivable (Hina)
• SDP leader calling for the PM to declare a state of emergency if Croatia is at war (HRT)
Montenegro
• Local election analysis: Who was right and whose campaign boomeranged? (CDM)
fYROM
• Ivanov: There must be responsibility for 27 April, but human rights must be respected (Meta)
• Gruevski: They are spreading bad blood and we will fight for justice (Meta)
• Mickoski’s statement about the protests at the Criminal Court (Meta)
• US High Representative Hoyt Brian Yee the new US ambassador to Macedonia (MIA)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Li pledges to expand cooperation with Serbia, Slovenia, BiH (Xinhua)
• Address by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson: "The U.S. And Europe: Strengthening Western Alliances" (Wilson Center)
• Germany: Keeping an Eye on the Balkans (Geopolitical Futures)

LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic, Li: Comprehensive, strategic partnership with China (RTS)
• Serbia devoted to cooperation within mechanism “16+1” (Beta/B92/RTS)
• Dacic: Pristina is manipulating with numbers (RTS)
• Fabrizi: Serbian chair’s place is at the Brussels’ table (Blic)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• ICTY Prosecutor’s Office demands 225 years in prison for six former officials of Herzeg-Bosnia accused in ‘Prlic et al’ case (TV1)
• No verdict can influence status of Croats as constituent people in B&H (BHT1)
• YIHR Croatia calls for responsibility of Croatian President due to pressures she puts on ICTY ahead of verdict in ‘Prlic et al’ case (TV1)
• EUD: Responsibility for holding of elections and formation of authorities lies with institutions and officials of B&H (Glas Srpske)
• New Law on Elections or blockade of Federation and state (Dnevni list)
• SDA, SNSD, HDZ B&H confirm they will support modified proposal of changes to Law on Excise Duties of B&H; SzP and SBB B&H deny their support (Nezavisne)
• Dodik confirms that he met with SDP leader Niksic few days ago (Oslobodjenje)
• SNSD and Ujedinjena Srpska close to signing of coalition agreements (EuroBlic)
Croatia
• The victims of crimes cannot seek reparations from Zagreb (HRT)
• Diplomatic push to resolve impasse over border arbitration ruling expected in coming month (HRT)
Montenegro
• Power in Cetinje soon with SD (RTCG)
fYROM
• The Appellate Court postponed indefinitely the session for the covert investigation measures used in the “Ransom” case (Meta)
• VMRO-DPMNE: By postponing the hearing for the “Ransom” case the judiciary has reached the bottom (Meta)
• Bulgarian Orthodox Church to be the mother church of the Macedonian Orthodox Church (Meta)
Albania
• Albania-Kosovo meetings not provocations to Serbia (ADN)
• No Albanian citizenship for Kosovo citizens (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• China, CEEC cooperation a model to advance Belt and Road Initiative (Xinhua)
• China, Serbia agree to cement parliamentary exchanges (Xinhua)
• Minister Denies Croatia’s Role in Bosnian War (Anadolu)
• Hahn: EU becomes more and more ready to discuss accession of the Western Balkans countries (Wiener Zeitung)
• US Atlantic Council conference to take place, Council proposes establishment of permanent US’ military presence in southeast Europe (Voice of America)

LOCAL PRESS

• Dacic: At least eight recognitions of Kosovo made up (Novosti)
• Drecun: Serbia before challenges; strategic cooperation with Russia (Tanjug)
• Djuric, Li: China’s consistent support to Serbia’s territorial integrity (Tanjug)
• Kozarev: IDPs need to be enabled return (RTS/Tanjug)
• Meta wishes Belgrade to recognize Kosovo in due time (Preseva jon/Tanjug)
• Serbian parliament ratifies agreements on Transport Community (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H Statehood Day marked in Federation of B&H, not in RS (TV1)
• Saljic: Russia raises hope in justice for Mladic (Glas Srpske)
• Condoleezza Rice to exert pressure on Serbia regarding Kosovo and remove Dodik from political scene (EuroBlic)
• Is Izetbegovic forming an illegal army? (ATV)
Croatia
• ICTY’s second instance verdict in ‘Prlic et al’ case to be pronounced on Wednesday (HRT1)
• Croatian Army departs for NATO Mission in Lithuania (Vecernji list)
fYROM
• Dimitrov to meet US administration officials in Washington (MIA)
Albania
• Majko in Kosovo: Let's open the borders (ADN)
• Meta: Germany's support, vital for Albania's integration (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Serbia and Kosovo: UN expert commends improvements but urges progress on arbitrary detention and police impunity (OHCHR)