LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic and Palmer discuss Kosovo, agree to meet soon (FoNet)
• Brnabic: Serbia has excellent relations with Germany despite disagreement over Kosovo (Blic)
• Kurz: Austria to support any deal between Belgrade and Pristina (Tanjug)
• Babis discussed the withdrawal of Kosovo's recognition with Zeman (Beta)
• Cooperation with NATO respecting Serbia's military neutrality (RTS)
• Obradovic: Alliance for Serbia to boycott next election (Beta)
• Jeremic: Decision to boycott elections is final and irreversible (N1)
• Mihajlovic: Jeremic's statement is proof that opposition fears elections (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• OHR on SDA Program Declaration: Each change of internal organization of B&H must be adopted in line with procedures stipulated in B&H Constitution (BN TV)
• Dodik: OHR reacts to SDA Program Declaration upon media insisting (BN TV)
• Cvijanovic: SDA Declaration further undermines confidence in B&H; RS is used to IC not responding to such behavior of SDA and Bosniak officials (N1)
• Russian Ambassador Ivantsov on SDA Program Declaration (RTRS)
• Serbian PM Brnabic: SDA’s Program Declaration is public call for dishonoring DPA and opening of Pandora’s box (FTV)
• SDA reminding of the SNSD declaration that presented secession of the RS as a goal and a declaration of SNS which presented merging of the RS with Serbia as its goal (Hayat)
• SDS and Sarovic could push out Dodik and form coalition with DNS and SP RS; Dodik definitely has no intention to cooperate with Izetbegovic (EuroBlic)
Montenegro
• Markovic: Hahn should take care of standards in his own country (CDM)
• Crisis in the opposition has reached its peak (Dnevne novine)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Tusk supports opening accession talks with Macedonia as Zaev promises to fight corruption (Republika)
• Tusk meets President Pendarovski to discuss the country’s EU membership aspiration (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Albanian nationalist politician promises help for Albanians in Macedonia (Republika)

Albania
• Balla: No one should hold back the path of a profound reform of the electoral code of the Republic of Albania (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Bolton Sacking Raises Hopes – And Fears – In Balkans (Balkan Insight)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: I hope for understanding with U.S. and Albanians, for achieving lasting peace (Beta)
• Scott: U.S. to urge Kosovo’s new government to lift tariffs, return to dialog (Beta)
• Brnabic: Serb-Albanian agreement only way to peace in the Balkans (Blic)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Serbia’s accession to NATO would justify alliance’s 1999 atrocities (Politika)
• Zakharova:First US apologies and compensation for bombing Yugoslavia, then look to the future (Tanjug)
• Democratic Party united opts for boycott (Beta, Tanjug, Danas)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• SDA adopts Program Declaration on formation of a state called ‘Republic of B&H’ (BHT1)
• Serb officials’ reactions to SDA Program Declaration (RTRS)
• Other reactions to SDA Program Declaration (Hayat, N1)
Croatia
• Pupovac understands messages from President's letter (Hina)
Montenegro
• New convocation of the EC to accelerate WB integration (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Katica Janeva dismissed from her post as head Special Prosecutor (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Hahn: North Macedonia and Albania deserve to open EU negotiations (Vijesti)
Albania
• Rama in Germany to request the German Parliament’s vote on Albania’s negotiations opening (Radio Tirana)
• Council of Europe President Donald Tusk to visit Tirana on September 17 (Radio Tirana)

LOCAL PRESS

• Zeman: Argument for withdrawing recognition of Kosovo investigation of Kosovo officials in The Hague (Beta)
• Visegrad group: Unification of Europe incomplete without Western Balkans (Beta)
• Hahn: Western Balkans cannot progress towards EU without media freedom (Beta)
• Serbia officially invites OSCE to follow election (Tanjug)
• Vucic with director of UNESCO about cooperation and cultural heritage in KiM (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Izetbegovic: Dodik is growing problem of B&H (TV1)
• Western Balkan Summit (FTV)
Croatia
• Plenkovic: Pupovac has distanced himself from his previous statements (Hina)
Montenegro
• Politicians’ representation in media: Djukanovic runs the show (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Czech Republic ratifies North Macedonia’s NATO Accession Protocol (Nezavisen vesnik)
Albania
• Rama receives support from V4 countries in Prague Summit (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Lavrov: Russia welcomes Serbian commitment to neutral status (Sputnik)

LOCAL PRESS

• Zeman: I will ask whether reconsidering position on Kosovo is possible (Beta)
• Djuric: Pristina wants to see Kosovo Serbs wiped out politically (Beta)
• It must be explained to the people of Kosovo and Serbia that they might not like the solution (Tanjug)
• Vucic: Vatican did not recognize Kosovo’s independence, Vatican wants negotiation and a peaceful solution between the Serbs and the Albanians (Beta)
• V4 – WB Summit opens in Prague, without Kosovo delegation (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Zvizdic is turning B&H into an ad-hoc country (Glas Srpske)
• Dodik: RSNA can ratify or alter Dayton Agreement, that is only place where some decision with regards to Dayton can be made on behalf of RS (Glas Srpske)
• Komsic replies to Dodik, says there is nothing disputable with regard to his attendance of commemoration for former High Representative Paddy Ashdown (Nezavisne novine)
• Different reactions have been registered after Trocsanyi was nominated for the position of the EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (ATV)
Croatia
• President says Pupovac criticises Croatia in malicious manner (Hina)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Zaev and Mickoski fail to agree over the SPO following six-hour long talks (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Zaev: I’m disappointed with the outcome of the leaders’ meeting (Nezavisen vesnik)
• Mickoski: Zaev’s plan is not reaching an agreement, we leave room for continuation of the talks (Nezavisen vesnik)
Albania
• German Ambassador Zingraf: Germany’s intention is to say YES to the opening of negotiations with Albania (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Czech president wants to withdraw Kosovo recognition, US takes notice (RT)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 11 September 2019

LOCAL PRESS

• Dacic: USA can make influence to have taxes abolished (Blic)
• US Ambassador Kyle Scott: US is going to support any kind of agreement that is good for Belgrade and Pristina and would contribute to the stability of the region (RTS)
• Czech President Zeman"I love Serbia and the Serbian people, but not Kosovo" (Beta, B92)
• PM: If ustasha salute is acceptable to some, protest note can't change that (Beta)
• Brnabic: Cooperation with OSCE not a concession to either the opposition nor international community (Beta)
• Ambassador Botsan-Kharchenko dismisses US Envoy’s claim (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H HoR Collegium fails to convene session of B&H HoR (BHT1)
• Komsic, Kavazovic, Inzko attend commemoration for late HR Ashdown: He was great friend of B&H (N1)
• Komsic meets number of UK officials in London: UK is great friend of B&H, B&H wants to be part of NATO (N1)
• Dodik: Komsic is not visiting London on behalf of B&H Presidency (ATV)
• US’ Palmer: Komsic and Dzaferovic were clear in statements that they want B&H to move forward by submitting ANP (Dnevni list)
Croatia
• Pupovac: I am neither a Chetnik, nor secret collaborator of Serbian authorities (Hina)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Meeting of party leaders fails as Zaev refuses to allow placing his Government under investigative scrutiny (Republika)
• Palmer: North Macedonia soon to become NATO’s 30th member (Nezavisen vesnik)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Serbs ignore EU warning over plan to join Russian-led trade bloc (The Moscow Times)