United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 11 March 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Unity of state, church about Kosovo and Metohija important (Tanjug/RTS)
• Brnabic: Platform indicates that Pristina is obstructing agreement (Tanjug)
• Joksimovic: Chapter 35 to leave out monitoring of talks with Pristina (Tanjug)
• Stefanovic: Platform aimed at expelling Serbs (TV Pink/Beta)
• Djilas urges Vucic to resign (Beta)
• Fabrizi: EU won’t comment on stances of others, including of US (Tanjug/B92)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik: Pristina platform - list of wishes and maximalist requirements (Srna)
• Spiric: B&H choose between the European path and conflict until self-destruction (Srna)
• Foreign officials in Bosnia call the Visegrad event “disturbing” and “appalling” (N1)
Croatia
• Conservative MPs angered by Austrian Catholic Church’s decision (HRT)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Mickoski – Zaev meeting: VMRO will not accept sham elections (Republika)
• Special Prosecutor Janeva: Some may save themselves (Nezavisen vesnik)
Albania
• Basha to discuss plans for the 16 March protest (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Meleșcanu: EU also benefits from the enlargement process in the Western Balkans (European Western Balkans)

LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic to Hale: Serbia’s stand will be resolute, measures within short period (RTS)
• Drecun: Vucic heard firsthand what steps will Washington undertake towards Pristina (RTS)
• Brnabic announces measured and responsible reaction (RTS)
• Selakovic: Only goal of Pristina’s platform is for Serbia to recognize Kosovo (RTS)
• Djuric: Pristina screwed the last nail on the coffin of the dialogue; this is the end of dialogue (RTS)
• Serbia, Russia relations at high level (Tanjug)
• Zakharova: Russia, US, France have secret Kosovo deal? Not serious (B92/Sputnik)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• US Ambassador Nelson: Creating goals for NATO and EU membership is priority (Srna)
• HNS: CEC to withdraw its decision, Serbian caucus to be filled with legitimate representatives (Srna)
• Viskovic: Formation of institutions at all levels in B&H is priority (Srna)
• It will take lot of effort for B&H to explain to the EU it is not source of jihadism (Srna)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic greeted the Greek President (RTCG)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Analysis: The presidential race begins – the outcome, uncertain (Meta)
• Instead of a consensual candidate, Pendarovski is nominated to save Zaev’s career (Republika)
Albania
• EU Ambassador Soreca: Establishment of a constructive political environment is important (ADN)
• Danielsson: Opposition's decision threatens Albania's integration to EU (ADN)
• UK to support Albania for consolidating democracy and Rule of Law (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Juneau: NATO enlargement a success, but we respect Serbia’s neutrality (European Western Balkans)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 7 March 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Vucic: I did not talk about recognition, it’s not my topic (Tanjug/B92)
• Brnabic thanks Italy for unequivocal support (Beta)
• Dacic: Who is playing a double game in the Kosovo case (FoNet/Tanjug/RTS)
• Support of the Czech Republic on Serbia’s EU path (RTS)
• Committee for Kosovo and Metohija reviews report of Office for Kosovo and Metohija (RTS)
• Drecun orders Dveri MPs to leave session of Committee for Kosovo and Metohija (Beta/Tanjug)
• Djuric: Religious extremism in Kosovo and Metohija (RTV)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Covic: Many technical details need to be implemented (Srna)
• Cvijanovic: Formation of Council of Ministers delayed inexcusably (Srna)
• Ivantsov: Balkans should not have to choose between Russia or EU (Srna)
• Izetbegovic: Coalition partners will be the ones who do not refuse to join the government (Fena)
• Several B&H nationals allegedly among captured ISIS fighters in Syria (N1)
Croatia
• Will Pupovac leave ruling coalition? (Hina)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic: We defend our sovereign right to choose our own future path (CDM)
• Tusk with Djukanovic: Protests in Montenegro are not a problem (CDM)
• Opposition parties and “Odupri Se” organizers conversations in progress (Vijesti)
Albania
• Rama: Protests, not organized by people, but by former leaders who were ousted from the power (ADN)
• Basha: No dialogue with Rama (ADN)
• Xhacka: Albania voice for the Euro-Atlantic values and aspirations of the countries of the region, including Kosovo, in order to ensure protection from threats coming from Russia (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Preparation for Trials on Kosovo War Crimes Enters Final Stage – Lawmaker (Sputnik)
• The Art of the Deal: Washington’s push for a final agreement between Serbia and Kosovo (European Western Balkans)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 6 March 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Vasiljevic: ANSA incorrectly translated Vucic’s statement (Beta/Raskrinkavanje)
• Scott: Mutual recognition needs to be in the heart of the agreement on normalization (Kurir)
• Danielsson: Re-establishing Belgrade-Pristina dialogue critical for Serbia (Beta)
• SzS: Vucic confirms he is a step away from delineation (Beta)
• Opposition MP groups write to Kocijancic (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik after talks with Izetbegovic and Covic (N1)
• Dodik: Not interested in surrogate B&H which cannot work (Srna)
• Dodik: SNSD will not sacrifice military neutrality for power; SNSD will not enter any coalition with the SDA (Srna)
Montenegro
• Djukanovic to receive European King David Award (CDM)
• Parliamentary session without opposition (MINA)
• Worker’s Party left the DF (RTCG)
Croatia
Republic of North Macedonia
• Iseni: Although I’ve been member of SDSM for long time, I will support the Albanian candidate in these elections (INA)
• Biden to Zaev: Prespa Agreement is major positive development for EU integration (Republika)
Albania
• Opposition warns biggest rally on 16 March (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Serbia, North Macedonia eye stake in Bulgaria’s Belene NPP (bne IntelliNews)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Tuesday 5 March 2019
LOCAL PRESS

• Brnabic: By introducing taxes, Pristina violates CEFTA agreement (RTS)
• Dacic: Greater-Albanian policy threatens region (Tanjug)
• Dacic: Of utmost importance that KFOR’s mandate is implemented to the full extent (Tanjug)
• Cadez: CEFTA obsolete, transition to new phase needed (Tanjug)
• Opposition MPs continue boycott of Serbian parliament (N1)
• Ponos: Our party has nothing to do with Democrats (Danas/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Dodik: EU not setting any conditions for formation of authorities in B&H (Srna)
• EP Rapporteur: Bosnia answering additional EC questions is "just the first step" (N1)
• Center for Russian studies opens in Pale (Srna)
Montenegro
• Serwer: It’s not time for Djukanovic to resign (Pobjeda)
• Montenegro sends soldiers to NATO mission in Iraq (CDM)
Republic of North Macedonia
• Reeker: Western Balkans and North Macedonia belong in EU and NATO (Republika)
• Mickoski discussed the persecution of opposition officials with Reeker (Republika)
• Members of the European Parliament recommend opening of accession talks with Macedonia and Albania (Republika)
• Ethnic issues and foreign policy on the focus of the presidential campaign (Nezavisen vesnik)
Albania
• Rama: Ready to dialogue, but not for governance (ADN)
• Slovenia confirms support for Albania's EU path (ADN)

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

• Serbian President Hints At Possible Progress Toward Recognizing Kosovo (RFE/RL)
• Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale Travel to the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Serbia, and Kosovo (US Department of State)