Serbia closer to the EU, Kosovo remains isolated (Koha Ditore)
The paper on its front page reports that thanks to the agreements reached with Kosovo, Serbia was promised the launch of negotiations for full membership in the European Union. Meanwhile Kosovo remains the only isolated place in Europe with a visa regime. This was highlighted during the Western Balkans Summit in Vienna, where senior European diplomats, including the EU Enlargement Commissioner, Johannes Hahn, and the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, said that after four agreements signed in Brussels, Belgrade has opened the way of starting the accession negotiations with the EU. Kosovo’s Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said that the EU is being unfair to Kosovo. He called on the EU member states to remove the visa regime for Kosovo as soon as possible.
Stojanovic: Association/Community shall not be a problem for Kosovo (RTK)
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Branimir Stojanovic, said yesterday that the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities will not be a problem for Kosovo. According to him, this Association/Community will also help other communities living in Kosovo, for a better life, in all areas – including economic, health, education and infrastructure. “I must say that this Association/Community is not Kosovo’s main problem. Kosovo needs a fair government, rule of law, health, and education and to develop the best economic environment,” Stojanovic said. Meanwhile, Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, said that the municipalities to be represented in this Association have around 15 per cent members of the Albanian community. According to her, the Association/Community will contribute in the full integration of Serbs in Kosovo’s constitutional and legal system.
Barricade removal to relax relations between Albanians and Serbs (Epoka)
The Mayor of Mitrovica, Agim Bahtiri, told the paper that he is convinced that the agreement reached in Brussels for the removal of the barricade over the Ibar River, will be fully implemented. He said that with the opening of this bridge will benefit all citizens, mostly Serbs, who according to him, have been isolated so far. Bahtiri said that the removal of the barricade will help relax the relations between the Albanian and Serbian residents. Bahtiri also said that the revitalization of the bridge will be financed by the EU and will be open for pedestrians and vehicles in June next year.
Thaci: Life in Kosovo better and safer in the last 100 years (dailies)
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, in an interview for German newspaper Bild, emphasized that the support of Germany and German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is decisive for the future of the Balkans. While talking about the Western Balkans Summit, Thaci said that Germany and especially Chancellor Merkel play positive role in the regional investments in infrastructure, railways and energy. “The best way to deal with migration problem is to invest in the Western Balkans which is surrounded by the EU and has a big development potential,” said Thaci, who also requests that Kosovo be included in the list of safe countries, because, according to him, this would support the efforts of Kosovo authorities to prevent illegal immigration. He stressed that the life in Kosovo is better and safer in the last 100 years.
Limaj: Opposition to mobilize against LDK-PDK coalition (dailies)
The leader of the Initiative for Kosovo, Fatmir Limaj, called on the opposition parties to create a joint opposition union against the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) coalition. He said that this opposition union “doesn’t mean only opposition parties but also the civil society and all who wish to stop the ruining of the state.” He reiterated his criticism towards the government for reaching agreements with Serbia and for the Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro. “We may even have different perspectives, but this should not be an obstacle for common engagement for the benefit of Kosovo,” Limaj said.
EU to allocate 600 million Euros for the Balkans (Zeri)
During the Western Balkans Summit held in Vienna yesterday, it was decided that 600 million Euros be allocated for the Balkans for projects in energy, infrastructure and rail transport. While another 24 projects in value of 7.7 billion Euros were promised for the upcoming years The Summit was attended by prime ministers of the Western Balkans countries, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, Austrian Chancellor Wenner Fayman and other EU diplomats. At the end of the Summit, the prime ministers of the region issued a joint statement pledging to further cooperate to build communication bridges between youth, as an important aspect of the European integration process, to follow the best EU practices and examples in order to resolve past conflicts, to fight racism and to establish an educational platform in the sectors of Information Technology and tourism.
