Serbian List adds conditions to return to Kosovo institutions (Koha Ditore)
Besides the requirements for executive powers for the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities, the Serbian List has also added, as a condition for returning to the Kosovo institutions, allowing Serbs to visit Gjakova/Djakovica for Easter celebrations. Meanwhile, the Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli, said on Monday that in Parliament there was no activity on the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. The leader of the Serbian List, Aleksandar Jablanovic, told Radio Free Europe that their position is nearly aligned with the Kosovo government, but, according to him, there are many factors involved in the decision on whether to return to Kosovo institutions or not. “One of the most important laws for us is the law on the establishment of the special court. But the Serbian List has not yet made a definitive decision on whether we will return to the institutions,” Jablanovic said.
Opposition against acceptance of Serbian List conditions (Epoka e Re)
Deputies of the opposition parties in the Kosovo Assembly stated that the Serbian List should accept the new reality in Kosovo and stop putting conditions on returning to the Kosovo institutions. According to the opposition, the Serbian List should return without conditions because they harm interethnic relations. Kosovo Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli, said that he has not received any requests from the List, therefore the issue does not exist. Daut Haradinaj, deputy from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), and the head of the NISMA parliamentary group, Valdete Bajrami, stated that the Serbian List should not put conditions on its return.
Veseli: There is no reason to worry about special court (Zeri)
Kosovo’s Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli, said on Monday that there is no reason for concern about the establishment of the special court, which will deal with war crimes allegations. Veseli said that he would be the first to vote in favour of the establishment of this court.
Selimi: Recognition from Romania is not far off (Epoka e Re)
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Petrit Selimi, told a visiting Romanian delegation that Kosovo’s priority remains integration in the European Union and NATO. He expressed appreciation to the Romanian state for being constructive and supporting Kosovo’s membership of different international institutions, despite the fact that this state has not recognized the independence of Kosovo. This, according to Selimi, leaves hope that recognition by Romania is not far off.
Serbia recognizes Kosovo as a “neighbour” (Koha Ditore)
The statement adopted at the recent Western Balkan 6 summit in Pristina reaffirms the commitment of the regional countries to cooperate and foster neighbourly relations. However, the term “neighbour” in Albanian can also mean a bordering country. The statement further notes that strengthening regional cooperation and economic stability are crucial to the development of the Western Balkans.
Former Serb agent to evaluate discussions (Zeri)
The paper on its front page writes that the former head of the Serbian Army Intelligence Agency, Dragan Vladisavlevic, who according to the paper has consistently threatened Kosovo with new conflicts, was appointed head of the Serbian Government Office for negotiations with Pristina. According to the Serbian government, this Office aims at strengthening national capacity and bringing together into one body all those who are involved in the Pristina – Belgrade dialogue. The director of the Office for Kosovo in the Serbian government, Marko Djuric, said that this Office will examine all policy, legal and technical issues related to the process of dialogue.
IMF: Insufficient growth in Kosovo (Kosova Sot)
Representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said at the end of a two-week visit to Kosovo that economic growth has been reasonable in Kosovo and in some cases even more sustainable than in neighbouring countries but that this is not enough to create new jobs. The Head of IMF mission in Kosovo, Jacques Miniane, said the authorities need to make gradual efforts to maintain fiscal stability and cut unproductive expenses so as to pave way for priority projects.
Musliu: Serbia is quietly cleansing Presevo Valley (Epoka e Re)
The leader of the Albanian National Council, Jonuz Musliu, said that Serbia is committing a quiet ethnic cleansing in the Presevo Valley. He added that Belgrade is using all available means to change the national structure in the Valley. Musliu said that the situation in the Valley is the same as in Kosovo in the nineties.
Meeting on religious extremism (Zeri)
The first meeting of the working group for drafting the Strategy for Preventing Violent Extremism and Radicalism, led by Edon Myftari, political advisor to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, was held on Monday. The purpose and objectives of the Strategy, as well as the coordination between local and international actors who will work on its development, was discussed.
