United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 3 September 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic dissatisfied with dynamics in searching for missing (Beta/RTS)
• Djuric: Violence towards Serbs must be sanctioned immediately and most harshly (RTS)
• Palmer: I hope Belgrade will stop its efforts for international de-legitimization of Kosovo (Tanjug)
• Botsan-Kharchenko: Revision of history dangerous (Tanjug/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Russian Ambassador to B&H Ivantsov meets with Dodik and Cubrilovic (ATV)
• SDA: If Dodik says he respects B&H laws, Dzaferovic will vote for Tegeltija; Dzaferovic: Dodik is trying to implement dictatorship in B&H (N1)
• Palmer: I am committed to working in partnership with authorities of all levels in B&H (BHT1)
• Reactions to the appointment of Matthew Palmer to the post of the US Special Representative for the Western Balkans (BN/EuroBlic/ATV)
• Dodik: Grabar-Kitarovic’s statement that Croats mostly contributed to antifascist struggle is worst revision of history (ATV)
Montenegro
• Canak: Russia won’t withdraw from its strongholds in Montenegro (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Government elects new ministers, opposition insists on early elections (Nezavisen vesnik)
Albania
• Albanian Assembly kicks off the new parliamentary session (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Situation in western Balkans still fraught with risks: Bulgaria's deputy PM (Xinhua)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 2 September 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Continued support of Germany in EU integration process (RTS)
• Dacic: Appointment of Palmer shows that US wants to speed up resolution of Kosovo issue (RTS)
• Dacic: Pristina major obstacle to improving regional cooperation (Tanjug)
• Lutovac: Everyone who takes part in false elections will have to account for that (Beta)
• SSP to boycott upcoming elections (FoNet)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik’s announcement for filing initiative to RS parliament for restoring competences from B&H to entity level sparks reactions (N1)
• Reactions to B&H FM Crnadak’s comment on Dodik’s statement (RTRS/TV1/ATV)
• Komsic: SNSD, SDA and HDZ B&H might implement their agreement, but there is also possibility of dissolution of parliament of B&H (Dnevni avaz)
• PIC SB expresses support for political dialogue that would lead to formation of authorities at all levels in B&H (BHT1)
• Russian Embassy to B&H: We are forced to say agreement of three political leaders practically failed (BN TV)
Croatia
• President Grabar-Kitarovic: Croatian people contributed the most to the antifascist struggle in Europe (HRT)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic regrets that Russia and other Yugoslav nations didn’t attend the Warsaw event
• (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Dimovski: The National Security Agency starts working, UBK is history (Nezavisen vesnik)
Albania
• Mogherini: EU must have a sustainable approach on opening negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Hungary accuses EU of blocking Western Balkans accession (Emerging Europe)
• A Gas Pipeline Contract From Turkey Through Bulgaria to Serbia is Expected to be Signed on September 5 (Novinite)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 30 August 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic announces diplomatic offensive for September (TV Pink/Tanjug)
• Vucic to go to UN, Vatican in September (Tanjug/RTV/RTS)
• No new conditions for Serbia - Brussels source (Tanjug)
• Ljajic: EC message nothing new, Serbia no exception (Tanjug)
• Lajcak: Reality is that Kosovo is not recognized by five EU members; Serbia cannot move in several directions at once (Tanjug)
• Djuric, Braathu on upcoming elections in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV)
• Vucic meets former MEPs in what looks like EU shuttle diplomacy in Serbia (Beta)
• Former MEPs meet with authorities, opposition in parliament (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Komsic: Dodik’s claims are unrealistic; My stance is clear, I will not approve appointment of B&H CoM chair-designate without ANP (Oslobodjenje)
• Berton says PIC held session on Thursday to be ready in case of realization of Dodik’s threats (N1)
• Wigemark suggests considering option of snap elections if solution to problem of implementation of election results in B&H is not found; B&H MPs agree (BN TV/Avaz)
• Crnadak attends informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Helsinki (Hayat/BN TV)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Dendias: I made it clear to Dimitrov that Greece would insist on strict implementation of the Prespa Agreement (MIA)
Albania
• Meta reveals the only institution that can oppose him (ADN)
• CoE reacts on closure of two talk shows in Albania that criticized Rama (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• The unfulfilled promise of the revolutions of 1989 (The Washington Post)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 29 August 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: Internal reforms to be implemented parallel with EU enlargement (Tanjug)
• Gojkovic on parliamentary cooperation with Russian Ambassador (RTV/Tanjug)
• Djuric: United participation at elections in Kosovo and Metohija (RTS)
• Former MEPs with Serbian authorities and opposition behind closed doors (Politika)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Ruling parties sided with Dodik, opposition has its doubts (Nezavisne)
• Dodik: I understand Komsic’s statement well (Srna)
• Cvijanovic: Komsic should not threaten anyone (Srna)
• US Embassy, UK Embassy, German Embassy, Italian Embassy and EUD issue joint statement saying postponement of session of Presidency (BNTV)
• Wigemark pays farewell visit to Zvizdic (BHT1)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Council of Public Prosecutors rules unanimously to start procedure for Janeva’s dismissal (Republika)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Serbia pact with Russian bloc to be short-lived, EU says (EUobserver)
• Serbia and North Macedonia still not fully aligned with EU’s foreign policy (European Western Balkans)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 28 August 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic pointed to two things to Borrell (RTS)
• Dacic, Stefanovic discuss activities to prevent Kosovo from joining Interpol (Beta)
• Stefanovic: Allowing Kosovo to join Interpol would lead to abuses (Tanjug)
• Drecun: US will not take Haradinaj’s slaps (RTS)
• SzS to boycott local elections in September (N1)
• New Serbian security, defense strategies call for better ties with Russia, NATO (Blic)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• B&H Presidency cancels session at Dodik’s request without appointment of B&H CoM chairman-designate (BHT1)
• Cvijanovic: Political game continues with clear intention to avoid will of RS voters (Srna)
• HNS: Postponement of appointment of chairman of B&H CoM-Designate jeopardizes implementation of agreement of leaders (Al Jazeera)
• OHR: Threatening to undermine state competences and institutions with unilateral moves is anti-Dayton (BHT1)
• EUD: We regret B&H Presidency fails to reach agreement (TV1)
• Interesting talk (Oslobodjenje)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Prosecution law to be passed under expedited procedure (Republika)
Albania
• President praises CDU/CSU commitment to solve Albanian political crisis (ADN)
• Basha: Early elections to avoid the political crisis (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Kukan: North Macedonia could receive a date in the fall, Albania less likely (European Western Balkans)