Thaci urges EU’s expansion to avoid Russian and ISIS threat (dailies)
Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, told Reuters that the EU and NATO need to speed up integration of Balkans because, according to him, they risk the spreading of influence of both Russia and Islamist extremists. “It is the moment when Brussels should move from rhetoric and nice words about Kosovo to concrete measures,” said Thaci. “The EU should not delay the accession and enlargement processes and integration of Kosovo and the region into the European Union, but also in NATO,” he said. Thaci blamed a surge in the number of Kosovars trying to leave for EU states on human traffickers, saying they spread rumours that people could get asylum in order to exploit them. “What I can say with full confidence is that the number of people who want to leave Kosovo has drastically decreased.”
Deputy intelligence chief won’t be from Serb community (Epoka e Re)
The chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for the Supervision of Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA), Haxhi Shala, said on Tuesday that in the next session he will seek clarification from Prime Minister Isa Mustafa about the resignation of the former director of KIA, Bashkim Smakaj, and about recent developments within the KIA. Shala said that KIA’s deputy director will not be appointed from the Serb community.
Kosovo government encourages inclusion of Serb representatives (Bota Sot)
The paper writes a month since Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa dismissed Aleksandar Jablanovic from the post of Minister for Communities and Returns, Serb representatives in the government and Assembly of Kosovo continue to boycott participation in the work of Kosovo institutions. Despite their absence, the Serb ministers and MPs continue to receive salaries from the Kosovo budget. Kosovo government spokesperson Arban Abrashi did not comment whether there is a deadline for the return of members of the Serb community but stressed that the government encourages inclusion and not exclusion of Serbs.
Osmani ready to lead LDK (dailies)
The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP, Vjosa Osmani, confirmed on Tuesday that she is willing to lead the party if the delegates entrust her this post. She said the first task she would undertake if elected LDK leader, would be the reviewing of the coalition agreement with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). In regards to the new president of Kosovo, Osmani said that Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Hashi Thaci, should not run for the post in 2016 because, according to her, there is a feeling amongst the LDK MPs not to vote Thaci for president.
