LOCAL PRESS

• Despite Brexit, London supports Serbia’s EU path (Beta)
• Rakic: We will be a stone in the shoe that will remind Pristina of their obligations (RTS)
• Kostic: SANU for democratic dialogue (RTV/Tanjug)
• Possible Belgrade-Pristina-Tirana meeting (Danas)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Covic and Grabar-Kitarovic conclude that adoption of amendments to B&H Election Law is priority (TV1)
• Cavic: Dodik does not have anyone’s support for his plans, not even in SNSD (Oslobodjenje)
• Izetbegovic: Covic presented views which are contrary to official positions of Presidency of B&H (Kix.ba)
• McDonald supports reform processes in B&H (N1)
• ICTY reacts to recent statement of Grabar-Kitarovic regarding the credibility of this institution (TV1)
• Pendes, meets Hoyt Yee, Berkley, talk about progress in registration of military property (NAP)
Croatia
• EU wants Croatia and Bosnia to agree on Peljesac Bridge (Vecernji list)
Montenegro
• Brajovic and Brglez: Parliament is the place of dialogue and most important for decisions (MINA)
• DF hinted it might return to parliament (Pobjeda)
fYROM
• Zaev – Zbogar: In Brussels there is great optimism because Macedonia is going forward (Meta)
• Kocijancic: Government and opposition must work on implementing the reforms together (Meta)
• Zaev meets with representatives of the Krste Misirkov Institute over language law argument (MIA)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Will Kosovo Become a UN Observer State? (Sputnik)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Serbia will not change opinion about Haradinaj (Beta)
• Djuric: We will continue to support Serb List (RTS)
• Serb List representatives: We are not fighting for positions but for the future (RTS)
• Ivanovic: Serb List’s decision expected (Danas)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik: Idea of possible referendum on status of RS will be discussed later (RTRS)
• Govedarica: Idea of referendum is not act of RS Assembly but of SNSD (TV1)
• Borenovic: Opposition does not want to take part in further isolation and disappearance of RS (BN TV)
Croatia
• Grabar-Kitarovic says ICTY will lose its credibility if second instance verdict in ‘Prlic et al case confirms joint criminal enterprise; Grabar-Kitarovic to ask Putin about his countr’s ties with Serbia (N1)
• Croatian President responds to criticism from Bosnia and Herzegovina (Jutarnji list)
• Hungary joins Slovenia in blocking Croatia’s OECD Membership (Jutarnji list)
Montenegro
• Boycott not sustainable, dialogue necessary (Dan)
• Vukovic: There is no healthy opposition in Montenegro (Pobjeda)
• Darmanovic: Montenegro contributed to victory over ISIS (CDM)
• Mandic and Knezevic to write Declaration on Preservation of the Serbian Nation (Pobjeda)
fYROM
• Dimitrov in Tallinn: I have a great story at this hopeful moment for Macedonia (Meta)
• At a meeting with Dimitrov, Hahn gave his support for the government’s reforms (Meta)
• Dimitrov: Negotiations with Greece will definitely begin at the end of this year (Meta)
Albania
• President Meta Signs Edi Rama as Prime Minister (ADN)
• Albanian parliament elects Gramoz Ruci as new speaker (ATA)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• As China Moves In, Serbia Reaps Benefits, With Strings Attached (The New York Times)

LOCAL PRESS

• Frank, open dialogue towards resolving all outstanding questions (Beta)
• Drecun: Participation of Serb List in government is not support to Haradinaj (N1)
• PSG: An unreasonable decision on a coalition with war criminals; Serb List: For Jankovic, Pristina is not part of Serbia (Radio Belgrade/Tanjug)
• Jovanovic: Very soon we will enter the finals of defining Belgrade-Pristina relations (Beta)
• Dveri: Vucic enabled formation of Haradinaj’s government (Beta)
REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Vucic pays official visit to B&H: Serbia is true and honest friend of B&H (BHT1/FTV)
• Vucic vists Istocno Sarajevo and promises assistance (TV1/ATV)
• Vucic meets Metropolitan of Dabar-Bosnia Hrizostom in Church in Sarajevo (BNTV)
• Plenkovic: Croatia is open for dialogue (TV1)
• Kristo and Colak inform EP that Dzaferovic and Softic’s letter does not present stances of B&H parliament (Al Jazeera)
fYROM
• Zaev: There is a real chance Macedonia to receive a recommendation, and then a starting date for negotiations with the EU (Meta)
• Law for use of languages passed Commission for European Affairs; Parliament votes in favor to announce an advertisement for appointing a new Attorney General (Meta)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• UN ‘Must Compensate All Kosovo Lead Poison Victims’ (BIRN)
• U.S. Offers Support For Macedonian Efforts To Resolve Disputes, Join EU (RFE/RL)

LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Serbia deeply committed to joining EU (Beta)
• Brnabic: Serbia made it perfectly clear that it is military neutral (RTS)
• Dacic: Serbia committed to resolving all disputes in region (RTS)
• Belgrade will work on strengthening Serbian institutions in Kosovo (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Brnabic says to Inzko that Serbia wants to continue cooperation with B&H (N1/TV1/Srna)
• Cerar, Pahor, Erjavec call for respect for international law (N1)
• Osmanovic: Minister Grubesa does not have right to interfere with issue of Peljesac Bridge (Klix.ba)
• HNS Presidency holds session; Covic expects changes to Law on Elections to be adopted by end of year (Hayat/BHT1)
• Berton officially takes over duty of Head of OSCE Mission to B&H (Oslobodjenje)
Croatia
• Grabar-Kitarovic: I am worried about processes in B&H (RTL)
fYROM
• VMRO-DPMNE will not support the election of a new Attorney General (Meta)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• German-Turkish Feud Threatens EU Role in Balkans (BIRN)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 31 August 2017
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: Discussion on long term relations between Serbs and Albanians (Tanjug)
• National dialogue on Kosovo: Still no concrete moves (Beta)
• New crisis in Serbian-Macedonian relations: A spy & diplomatic thriller (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Osmanovic to Croatian Minister Butkovic: There are legal obstacles to construction of the Peljesac Bridge (klix.ba)
• Pendes, Jelec meet EUFOR Operation Commander Everard (Oslobodjenje)
• SIPA arrests Wahhabi movement member, directly linked to recently deported Jasmin Hadzic; Wahhabi movement member arrested in Gacko too (TV1/ATV)
Croatia
• Tudjman: Islamic terrorism started in B&H (N1/Globus)
Montenegro
• A call no one responds to (CDM)
fYROM
• Kotzias in an official visit in Skopje with meetings with the state leadership and the political parties (Meta)
Albania
• CIA report for Albania: Active point of drug trafficking (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Croatia Fascist Slogan Threatens to Topple Govt (BIRN)