United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 22 July 2019

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: No reason to rejoice, Haradinaj’s resignation politically motivated move (B92)
• No comments from EU regarding Haradinaj (Tanjug)
• Djuric: Chase after Serbs started after Vucic’s address (RTS)
• Spain will not change position regarding Kosovo and Metohija (RTS)
• Botsan-Harchenko delivered credentials to Vucic addressing him in Serbian (Tanjug/B92)
• How close our we to an agreement between Serbia and B&H on borders (Tanjug)
• Raskovic Ivic: Decision on boycott of elections should be made carefully (Blic/FoNet)
• Bosniaks expect Inzko to impose law on ban of genocide denial (Politika)
• Gojkovic slates elections for Medvedja Municipal Assembly for 8 September (RTV)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Supreme Court of Netherlands: The Netherlands partly responsible for death of 350 citizens of Srebrenica (BHT1)
• Dodik: If B&H is normal country, Croat, who is against Peljesac Bridge, would not be member of Presidency (Vecernji list)
• Komsic and Dzaferovic reacted to the decision of the RS parliament on the RS' vital interest in regard to the construction of the Peljesac Bridge (BHT1)
• SDA Presidency holds session (TV1)
• Zeljko Komsic takes over post of B&H Presidency Chairman (BH TV)
• Dodik comments on Haradinaj’s resignation (TV1)
Croatia
• Plenkovic welcomes decision of RS parliament regarding Peljesac Bridge (HRT)
Montenegro
• These countries still haven’t recognized Montenegro (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Pendarovski: I don’t intend to pardon Zaev if he committed crimes (Nezavisen vesnik)
Albania
• Haradinaj meets Meta after resignation (AND)
• Von der Leyen: EU should give Albania its hand, as Europe itself can be damaged if doors are closed (Radio Tirana)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Why Are the US and EU Allowing a Bully Dictator Like Rama in the Balkans? (Citizen Truth)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 19 July 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Argentina to continue to support Serbia on Kosovo and Metohija issue (RTS/Tanjug)
• Joint statement of Vucic and Macron: Serbia’s membership in reformed EU a strategic goal (Beta/Politika)
• Dacic: Abolishment of taxes necessary for continuation of dialogue with Pristina (Tanjug)
• Dacic: US knows Belgrade is not a problem but Pristina (RTS)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• RS parliament adopts Dodik’s request to invoke mechanism for protection of vital interest of RS re Peljesac Bridge (ATV)
• Issue of Peljesac Bridge sparks series of reactions in B&H (N1)
• Mektic: EU funds for migrant crisis to be allocated directly to B&H institutions if two conditions are met (BNTV/RTRS)
• Grabar-Kitarovic criticizes Swiss TV for interpreting her statement on Croatian police’s treatment of migrants (Hayat)
Croatia
• Plenkovic nominates new ministers for government reshuffle (Hina)
Montenegro
• Albanian parties and Democrats form unnatural coalition (Pobjeda)
• Relations between the US and Montenegro are friendly and stable (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Meeting of top party leaders canceled after Zaev refuses to discuss holding early elections (Republika/DW)
Albania
• Meta invites Rama to dialogue, criticizes international community (ADN)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 17 July 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic, Wolters: Serbian Army-KFOR communication key to stability (Tanjug/RTS/RTV/B92)
• Vucic congratulates Ursula von der Leyen on election (Beta)
• MPs with Spanish Ambassador: Excellent relations between two countries (Tanjug)
• Nathalie Loiseau: Balkans not ready to join EU (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Regular session of B&H Presidency held; Dzaferovic, Komsic voted to file lawsuit against Croatia to stop construction &f Peljesac bridge; Dodik invoked Serb vital ethnic interest (BHT1/N1)
• Croatia, B&H sign contract on construction of bridge across Sava River (ATV)
• FB&H HoR adopts law on rights of demobilized veterans and budget rebalance (N1)
• Grabar-Kitarovic: No illicit activity is being carried out at borders (BHT1)
• Walters and Pendes discuss security situation in B&H and region (Hayat)
Republic of North Macedonia
• VMRO-DPMNE accuses Zoran Zaev of being at the top of the criminal enterprise (Republika)
• Katica Janeva called a former diplomat and threatened to release wiretaps to avoid arrest (MKD)
• EU Ambassador to Macedonia comes out in support of the criminal investigation which led to the resignation of Katica Janeva (Republika)
• Von der Leyen makes no mention of Macedonia, or EU enlargement, in her speech before the European Parliament (Republika)
Albania
• Why Albania does not have a functional Constitutional Court? (ADN)
• Rama’s order for newly elected mayors (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES
• Ambassador Lähdevirta: Finland is committed to a credible enlargement perspective (European Western Balkans)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 16 July 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: I asked Macron to help in solving Kosovo crisis; Macron: Serbia and Kosovo are European states (Beta/FoNet/RTS/Tanjug/Novosti/Politika/NSPM)
• Macron: France loves you as you loved her (Tanjug/RTS)
• Vucic: Next Paris meeting in September (Tanjug/B92/Beta)
• Dacic: Macron’s pointing to the necessity of reaching compromise – change in France’s policy (RTS)
• Djilas: We sent request for meeting with Macron on 9 July (Beta)
• Kuburovic with Brammertz on eve of UNSC session (RTS/Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Covic announces change in relations with coalition partners (Hayat/RTRS/FTV)
• Alkalaj meets UNGA President (Oslobodjenje)
• Williamson: Croatian President admitted her country’s police used force against migrants (TV1/FTV)
• SDA: TC government will be formed within next ten days (FTV)
Montenegro
Republic of North Macedonia
• SPO’s Katica Janeva resigns (Republika)
• Sambevski urges caution as Zaev’s prosecutors turn on one another (Republika)
• Zaev calls on Mickoski, Ahmeti and Sela for leaders’ meeting on Friday (Republika)
• Mickoski will attend leaders’ meeting only if early elections are discussed (Republika)
• Committed to starting Macedonia, Albania accession negotiations (Republika)
Albania
• President's dismissal, Inquiry Committee's procedures unveiled (ADN)
• Local elections, court grants mandates to new mayors (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES
• France’s Macron vows to help restart Serbia-Kosovo talks (AP)
• Macron Sticks to Demand for Deep EU Reform Before New Expansion (Bloomberg)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 15 July 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Ministry of Defense: General Bandic walked out of meeting over misuse by Pristina (Tanjug)
• Faster flow of people, goods between Serbia, North Macedonia (Tanjug)
• Kolakovic: France, Macron seeking to boost presence in Serbia (Tanjug)
• Doutry: Macron visit to renew French presence in Serbia, region (Tanjug)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik: OHR and international community supporting Bosniak side (Srna)
• Dodik visits HDZ B&H HQ in Mostar (TV1)
• Tuzla Canton Assembly gets new leadership (BHT1/Hayat)
• Grabar-Kitarovic admits that Croatia is pushing migrants back into B&H (Avaz)
• B&H delegation to attend meeting on migrant crisis in Brussels (Avaz)
Croatia
• Slovenia and B&H register growing number of illegal migrants (HRT1)
Montenegro
• SPC is trying to turn believers into supporters of the national interests of Serbia (TVCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• New US Ambassador Kate Byrnes presents her credentials to Pendarovski (Republika)
Albania
• CEC member refutes Bardhi's accusations of forged ballot papers (ADN)
• Vasili accuses ruling majority of destroying free elections (ADN)
• DP states Albania is most corrupt country in Balkans (ADN)
• RP leader meets US officials (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Serbia Reiterates Principled Position about Venezuela (Prensa Latina)