Thaci: Extremism, a threat to the Balkans (Zeri)
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, told Austrian news agency APA on Monday that the Western Balkans is threatened by the “Islamic State” and Russia’s growing influence. He said that Kosovo is fighting Islamic extremism, and has recently approved a law that prohibits participation in foreign wars, which is based on the Austrian model. “Kosovo is a secular and tolerant state, with a very moderate Islam,” Thaci said. Thaci also criticized Serbia saying that it is very difficult and unrealistic to aim at membership of the European Union and at the same time to organize parades for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mustafa to report to MPs on establishment of special court (Kosova Sot)
The Kosovo Assembly president decided yesterday to call two Assembly sessions this week. The regular plenary session will take place on Thursday, 26 March, while on Friday, 27 March, Prime Minister Isa Mustafa has been requested to address the MPs regarding Kosovo’s constitutional responsibilities towards the establishment of the special court. The motion was initiated by the opposition party, Vetevendosje.
Serbian List, undecided (Kosova Sot)
Branimir Stojanovic, the Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo and senior member of the Serbian List, told Radio Free Europe on Monday that the List has yet to decide whether or not it will return to the Kosovo institutions but that he hopes a position will be announced soon.
Stojanovic expected to replace Jablanovic (Gazeta Tribuna)
Serb Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Kosovo, Branimir Stojanovic and the Minister of Local Government, Lubomir Maric, met on Monday in a restaurant in the outskirts of Pristina, with some European Union ambassadors. Sources told Tribuna that the meeting discussed the return of the Serbian List to the Kosovo institutions. According to the same sources, Serb political representatives will decide in favour of returning. One of the names mentioned to replace Aleksandar Jablanovic, was the current Deputy Prime Minister Branimir Stojanovic. He is expected to hold both positions.
Veseli reacts to Rexhepi’s accusations (dailies)
Kosovo Assembly Speaker and former head of the Kosovo Intelligence Service (SHIK), Kadri Veseli called on former Interior Minister, Bajram Rexhepi to calm down and stop accusing SHIK of taking over the PDK and Kosovo institutions. Veseli said that the PDK needs thorough reforms and new people. He added that everyone’s priority must be the rule of law, increasing the reliability of institutions, and improving the lives of the people of Kosovo.
Rexhepi should reveal who was behind March riots violence (Bota Sot)
Eleven years since the March riots that left 19 people dead, the paper quotes local political analysts criticizing Bajram Rexhepi, then-Kosovo Prime Minister, for failing to address the causes and consequences of the 2004 unrest. Experts argue that the Kosovo institutions should launch an investigation into the events and identify all radical elements that may have been involved.
Jablanovic furious over Rama’s statement for national unification (Express)
Serbian List considers the statement of the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, for the unification of Kosovo and Albania in the European Union, to be a threat for Kosovo Serbs. “Albanians are not the only ones that live in the territory of Kosovo. There is a great number of other ethnicities that do not share the opinion of the Albanian Prime Minister. We request from the European Union to strongly condemn this nationalist statement, first of all because it does not serve to the peace in Balkans and because it comes from two parties which are not part of the EU,” reads a press release from the Serbian List. Jablanovic said that the statement will greatly disturb Kosovo Serbs and that it is an open threat towards them.
Cliff: Kosovo and Serbia, important to each other (Zeri/Epoka e Re)
The Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (KCC) on Monday presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the British Ambassador to Kosovo Ian Cliff, for his contribution in Kosovo. KCC chief Safet Gerxhaliu said Cliff has assisted Kosovo in various fields, particularly in advancing the dialogue with the countries of the region. Cliff said that Kosovo’s economic future lies in supporting the private sector. He added that Kosovo and Serbia are important to each other and that they should work more on economic partnership. Cliff was also awarded the prize for local government by the Pristina-based Local Government Institute.
