STORIES FROM LOCAL PRESS

• Croatia blocks opening of Chapter 26 in Serbia’s accession talks, Vucic in protest returns to Belgrade (RTS, TV Prva)
• Dacic: Croatia and Bulgaria not behind blocking of Chapter 26 (RTS, Beta)
• Lavrov: Meaningful talks in Belgrade (Beta)
• Lavrov: We oppose unilateral amendments to Resolution 1244 (Tanjug)
• Lavrov: Russia won't interfere in Serbia's affairs (B92)
• Shutting down of Russian-Serbian Center "is EU's condition" (Vecernje Novosti, Danas)
• Dacic: Matter of the status of the Serbian-Russian emergency center is being politicized (B92)

STORIES FROM REGIONAL PRESS

• Candidates for post of President of Court of B&H undergo interviews (TV1)
• Radoncic: Politicians should refrain from influence on HJPC’s decision (Dnevni avaz)
• Croatian President: Serbia can easily meet the required criterion (Hina)
• Slovenia's PM against conditioning Serbia's EU talks (Hina)
• NATO - the path without alternative (RTCG)
• SEC announces preliminary results: 51 seats for VMRO-DPMNE, 49 for SDSM (MIA)
• Foreign officials comment Macedonian elections (MIA, Republika)

RELEVANT ARTICLES FROM INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• The Euro-Atlantic Project is Ending in the Balkans (BIRN)
• Srebrenica massacre trial opening postponed in Serbia (AP)

STORIES FROM LOCAL PRESS

•EU commends Belgrade, Pristina for judiciary agreement implementation (Beta)
•Lavrov begins visit to Belgrade (Tanjug)
•Chapters 5, 25 certain to be opened, decision on Chapter 26 due Tuesday (Tanjug)
•Parliament passes 2017 national budget (Beta)
•Kosovo, Montenegro premiers meet in Albania (B92)

STORIES FROM REGIONAL PRESS

•B&H receives EC Questionnaire (TV1)
•Hahn: Issue of change of Constitution is in B&H’s hands (Dnevni list)
•EU demands reforms in judiciary (Dnevni avaz)
•B&H Croat military police officer gets 10 years in jail for war crimes in Orasje (Hina)
•SEC publishes near-final election results (MIA)
•Gruevski declares VMRO-DPMNE win, says coalition building period begins now (MIA)
•Both VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM declared victory at the early general elections (MIA)
•Ahmeti says DUI won in the elections, but that overall, Albanians lost (Republika)

RELEVANT ARTICLES FROM INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

•McAllister: Progress in the Belgrade – Pristina negotiations are decisive (European Western Balkans)

Lavrov: NATO trying to drag Montenegro into alliance before Obama leaves office (TASS)

STORIES FROM LOCAL PRESS

• ICTY requests UN Security Council aid for extradition of three Serbian citizens (RTS/Beta)
• Brammertz: War criminals still celebrated (Tanjug)
• Nikolic: Croatia doesn’t want good relations with Serbia (Beta/Kurir)
• Ljajic: Statement of Croatian President undemocratic and anti-European (RTS)
• Drecun: Serbia’s long term intention to develop institutions in Kosovo and Metohija (RTS)
• Marques: Serbia can assist regional political dialogue (Tanjug)

STORIES FROM REGIONAL PRESS

• Dodik: No one in RS is interested in PIC conclusions (RTRS)
• SDA Mostar organizes meeting on Mostar (TV1)
• Complete Bosniak leadership is suspected of war crimes on territory of whole of B&H (Dnevni list)
• Representatives of NATO from Brussels promise additional assistance (Oslobodjenje)
• Ambassador Del Vechio says Bosnia’s stability is Croatia’s key interest (Hina)
• Hahn straightforwardly: Parliament boycott is unviable (CDM)
• NATO could be a cause of argument between opposition parties (RTCG)
• Elections: Macedonian Diaspora will cast their votes first (MINA)
• Poll: VMRO-DPMNE to win 23.3% of Votes (Telma TV)
• Polls: VMRO-DPMNE MPs lead in every Electoral District (MINA)

RELEVANT ARTICLES FROM INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Startling Statements From Macedonia's Election Campaign (BIRN)
• Macedonia’s Election Risks Emboldening Other Strongmen (BIRN)

STORIES FROM LOCAL PRESS

• Dacic: We are devoted to EU integration and stability of region (RTS/Tanjug)
• Dodik: RS to support SNS candidate (Tanjug/RTS)
• Joksimovic: EU integration a mechanism of internal development (Tanjug)
• Green light for Chapter 5 (RTS)
• Judiciary in northern Kosovo – Belgrade on the move (Beta)
• Djordjevic meets Graziano (Beta)

STORIES FROM REGIONAL PRESS

• PIC SB ends two-day session, adopts communique re developments in B&H with dissenting opinion of Russia (N1)
• Federation of B&H has numerous problems, yet PIC SB criticized only referendum in RS (Glas Srpske)
• RS CC VNI Council’s decision on violation of Bosniaks’ VNI continues to spark reactions (RTRS)
• Izetbegovic: Grabar-Kitarovic demonstrated disrespect towards B&H (TV1)
• SDA announces it will reject SNSD’s proposal of law on B&H CC (Glas Srpske)
• In 2017 chapters closing begins (RTCG)
• Ivanov calls for national reconciliation in Macedonia (Republika)
• PACE to observe elections in Macedonia (Republika)
• Koenders calls on voters to go to polls to vote for Macedonia’s future (MIA)
• Macedonia to produce ammunition and firearms for NATO (Telegraf.mk)

RELEVANT ARTICLES FROM INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Füle: If the EU disengages from the Balkans, others will engage ‘immediately’ (EurActiv)
• Turkey’s Role in the Western Balkans (SWP)
• Croatian President's Year Sees High and Lows (BIRN)
• Beware of the Russian Bear in the Balkans (Atlantic Council)
• Macedonia Leader Slated for Urging Rival's Assassination (BIRN)
• Right-wing Strongman Set for Political Comeback in Macedonia (Reuters)

STORIES FROM LOCAL PRESS

• Parliament finishes debate in principle on budget bill (RTS/Tanjug)
• Miscevic: I hope chapters 25, 26 to be opened next week, along with Chapter 5 (Beta/RTS)
• Serbia has made progress, but much more left to do (Tanjug)
• Belgrade approves 383 dialing code for Pristina (Novosti)
• US Embassy expects “justice to be served” in the case of torching Embassy building in 2008 (Tanjug)

STORIES FROM REGIONAL PRESS

• PIC SB starts two-day session to discuss current situation in B&H (N1)
• Yee meets B&H Presidency members, calls for reform of election system (TV1)
• RS CC: RSNA’s decisions re referendum violate VNI of Bosniak people (RTRS)
• Croatian President: Thousands of IS fighters returning to B&H (Hina)
• Macedonia Parliamentary Election 2016: VMRO-DPMNE rallies in Delcevo, SDSM in Kumanovo (Telegraf.mk)
• Dimitriev – SEC: All conditions for fair elections in place (Republika)
• Gruevski in Delcevo: On Sunday we will score another great referendum victory, victory for Macedonia (Republika)
• Almodóbar: There is no better option than government led by Gruevski (Republika)
• Macedonian diaspora in Switzerland: We are ready to go out to vote and protect the national interests (Voice of the People)
• Albanian Diaspora President Lamallari to Gruevski: Zaev is our savior and a good visionary (Republika)

RELEVANT ARTICLES FROM INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Balkan War Crime Suspects Maintain Political Influence (BIRN)
• Monitors: Bogus Voters Remain on Macedonia's Electoral Roll (BIRN)
• Opinion Poll: Gap Narrows Between Macedonia's Parties (BIRN)
• Macedonia Prosecution at Risk if Ruling Party Wins Polls (BIRN)
• Why Macedonia’s Discredited Rulers Will Win Again (BIRN)