United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 27 February 2020
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: They will ask us to recognize Kosovo de facto or de jure (Tanjug/TV O2)
• Vucic: Western allies to coordinate positions on Kosovo (Tanjug)
• High-quality strategic partnership of Serbia, China (RTS/RTV)
• A Serbian Army unit, self-sustainable, on peacekeeping mission for the first time (Beta/Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik’s statements on Djukanovic’s visit and Frontex supported (Srna)
• Komsic, Izetbegovic and Radoncic hold meeting on political crisis in B&H: Dodik crosses red line, nobody will undermine institutions of B&H (Hayat)
• Inzko: Red line was crossed when someone refused to implement decisions of judiciary (Oslobodjenje)
• Dodik sends letter to President of ECHR warning that he was not informed about nomination of German judges as B&H CC member (RTRS)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Zaev and Kasami sign coalition agreement (Republika)
Albania
• Rama to Lavrov: Serbia should recognize Kosovo as soon as possible! (Radio Tirana)
• In Moscow, Albanian PM Rama urges Russian FM Lavrov to recognize Kosovo’s independence (Top Channel)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Bosnia and Herzegovina, institutions blocked at the Dayton market (Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso)

LOCAL PRESS

• Botsan-Kharchenko: Military cooperation between two countries contributes to preservation of Serbia’s independence (Beta/Politika/RTS/RTV)
• Dacic: Solidarity, full support of Serbia to China (Tanjug/RTS)
• Arifi: Unification with Kosovo under three conditions (Danas/Tanjug/VoA)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Quint issues statement: B&H CC decisions are final (BNTV/Oslobodjenje)
• OHR: State-level officials are not representatives of entities, but state of B&H (Oslobodjenje/Avaz)
• SNSD and HDZ B&H submit proposal of law on appointment of judges to B&H CC into parliamentary procedure (BHT1)
Montenegro
• Markovic to EP delegation: Church places itself above state and it’s unacceptable (CdM)
• European Parliament strongly backs Montenegro’s European path (CdM)
• Opposition belongs to the parliament, Montenegro belongs to the EU (Dnevne novine)
• Montenegro strongly supports Albania’s negotiations with EU (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Derkoski: It will not be possible to vote without valid personal documents (Republika)
Albania
• German Bundestag warning: Without a C. Court with integrity negotiations are at risk (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Zaev Faces Judgment Day in North Macedonia Election (BIRN)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 25 February 2020
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Palmer and I jointly agree stability of region is most important topic (RTS/Tanjug)
• Serbian parliament approves EAEU free trade deal and agreement with North Macedonia (Tanjug)
• ZzS breaks with SzS over Sabac vote (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Postponing Djukanovic’s visit to B&H is to benefit of peoples in RS, B&H and Montenegro (Srna)
• Sattler: Changes to work of Constitutional Court possible (Oslobodjenje)
• Komsic meets Sattler: Presence of foreign judges in B&H CC represents protection from unconstitutional acting (FTV)
• Dzaferovic and Russian Ambassador Ivantsov discuss current political situation (Oslobodjenje)
Montenegro
• Markovic: The law applies to everyone (CdM)
• Palmer praises Montenegro’s efforts to hold dialogue with the Metropolitanate (CdM)
Albania
• Cakaj - Konjufca to support Presevo Valley project (ADN)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: The ultimatum "we cannot accept, but we must not refuse": Kosovo in exchange for EU (Prva TV/Tanjug/B92)
• Brnabic: Pristina needs to lift taxes, we need to facilitate trade (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Relations with Spain at a high level (Beta/RTS/RTV)
• Dacic: Antigua and Barbuda to accept results of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Tanjug/RTS)
• Jamaican Foreign Minister denies Kosovo recognition allegations (Beta)
• Vucevic: SNS and SPS running separately in the election (Tanjug)
• Zelenovic running for reelection in Sabac (N1)
• Dodik: We have constitutional right to get rid of foreign judges (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• SDA Presidency convenes in Sarajevo; Izetbegovic says there will be no talks with Dodik until he stops with blockade of state institutions; Izetbegovic calls on High Representative to use Bonn Powers (BHT1)
• SNSD Executive Committee holds session; Dodik announces meetings will all parties from RS, FB&H (N1)
• Djukanovic claims that protests against law on religious freedoms in Montenegro are strictly political issue (Face TV)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic in Geneva: Montenegro is faced with multiple attacks (CdM)
• Mugosa: MCP has a multi-million tax bill (CdM)
• Simovic: Serbia didn’t build churches in Montenegro so there’s no need to jump in now (CdM)
Albania
• Ruci receives Santos, EP rapporter for Albania: We expect positive developments in coming weeks and months (Radio Tirana)
• No 'anti-Albanian vector' in Russian diplomacy (ADN, by Genc Milloja, 24 February 2020)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Why Miroslav Lajčák is the wrong choice for EU envoy (EUobserver)

LOCAL PRESS

• Dacic: Hypocritical lack of reaction to Tirana’s and Pristina’s announcement on joint lobbying (Tanjug)
• Falconi: Paris supports Serbia in EU integration (Beta)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Balkans should take cue from Sandzak (Beta)
• Defense, Internal and Foreign Affairs Committee members meet with German Bundestag member (Tanjug)
• Jeremic: Real opposition is boycotting (Beta)
• Serbia’s opposition: No alternative to election boycott (N1)
• Gojkovic, Pasztor: Local, provincial elections to be called the same day (Tanjug/RTV)
• EU envoy for Kosovo, Belgrade-Pristina dialogue to cover Bosnia, too (Beta)
• German MP: Serbia could join EU before 2025, but not without media freedom (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Session of B&H Presidency: Dodik votes against conclusion on visit of Montenegro’s Djukanovic to B&H and decision on agreement on status between B&H and EU on activities of FRONTEX in B&H (BNTV)
• Dodik demands resignation of Komsic saying he remains silent about letter that he received earlier from ECHR on appointment of judge from Germany in B&H CC (BNTV)
• Komsic: President of ECHR decides about appointment of foreign judges and not B&H Presidency (BNTV)
• Dzaferovic: Komsic has not deceived anyone, ECHR President decides on appointment of foreign judges in B&H CC (BHT1)
• US Ambassador Nelson meets Dodik: US expects full respect for DPA and territorial integrity and sovereignty of B&H (RTRS)
• Politicians from FB&H violate DPA by refusing to participate in establishing of IEBL (RTRS)
• FB&H HoR Collegium proposes six conclusions for vote in response to conclusions passed at RS parliament’s recent special session on B&H CC (Hayat)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic: We will not withdraw the law (CdM)
• Dakic: Soldiers shall not take part in protests (CdM)
• Montenegro is our holy place (CdM)
• Vucinic: Montenegro is not on the brink of civil war (Pobjeda)
Albania
• Cakaj - Konjufca, regional cooperation discussed (ADN)
• Political crisis escalation, US Ambassador meets Albanian leaders (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Trump Names Ambassador To Germany To Key Intelligence Post (RFE/RL)
• Defense ministers of Belarus, Serbia discuss prospects for cooperation (BelTA)