President Jahjaga meets US Vice President Biden (Zeri/Kosova Sot)
The outgoing President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga met yesterday the US Vice President Joseph Biden at the White House. The two discussed consolidation of Kosovo, the security situation and Kosovo’s efforts to deepen political and economic reforms on its European integration path. Jahjaga thanked Biden for his personal support to Kosovo and said she was proud that during her term in office she managed to strengthen the friendship and partnership between Kosovo and the US, reports Zeri. Kosova Sot quotes a press release issued by the White House saying that Vice President Biden and President Jahjaga agreed on the urgent need for all political parties in Kosovo to embrace peaceful dialogue. “The Vice President emphasized the United States’ strong support for the EU-facilitated Dialogue with Serbia and encouraged Kosovo’s government in its ongoing efforts to advance the normalization process,” the statement reads.
Opposition’s boycott set to continue (Zeri)
Following the decision of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) to boycott the work of the Assembly, Vetevendosje has also announced not to take part in the upcoming plenary session set to take place today. Meanwhile, government representatives called on the opposition parties to return to the Assembly saying that boycott is not a solution nor is teargas.
Ymeri: April and May will determine political course in Kosovo (Koha)
The paper runs a front-page interview with Vetevendosje leader Visar Ymeri highlighting his statement that the months of April and May will determine the political course in Kosovo. Ymeri said the opposition is going to intensify its protests both in terms of frequency and determination and also mentioned the possibility of creating a joint body between the opposition and civil society that would launch a new level of resistance against the government. Ymeri said the people of Kosovo are currently faced with two alternatives: either to continue not acting and maintain the current regime in power or to come together and bring back Kosovo to the interests and the will of the people.
Haradinaj: National unification, an inevitable process (Koha)
Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) seems not to have given up on his oath when he was soldier and commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army, in favor of national unification. During a press conference in Podujevo on Wednesday, Haradinaj said that national unification is an inevitable process “but it requires our determination to carry out our duties”. Haradinaj also called on citizens to join the opposition’s protest in Pristina on 26 March. “In the past too we have had difficult stages but the development and strengthening of Kosovo will also strengthen the position of Albanians in the Balkans, it will help the development but also the unification of Albanians,” he added.
Dialogue with Serbia on trade fails (Koha)
The Kosovo government has introduced reciprocity measures against Serbia by not recognizing the ADR certificate for vehicles and the ADR certificate for drivers issued by Serbian authorities for transporters. This decision comes seven months after the Serbian government blocked trucks from Kosovo refusing to recognize ADR certificates issued by Kosovo authorities. Kosovo’s Minister of Trade, Hykmete Bajrami, told a government meeting in Pristina on Wednesday that the decision obliges the Kosovo Customs not to recognize ADR certificates issued by Serbian authorities. “The Ministry of Trade initially called on Serbian authorities to eliminate this barrier but there was no positive reply. Then we reported the case to the CEFTA Secretariat and the issue was discussed at the latest meeting of the CEFTA sub-committee on non-tax barriers on 3 March, but the Serbian side did not show any readiness to resolve this matter … We decided to introduce reciprocity measures only after having exhausted all other alternatives to resolve this issue through dialogue,” Bajrami added.
Serbia to give dialing prefix to Kosovo after ITU grants one (Telegrafi)
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is expected to grant a dialing prefix to Serbia which Serbia will then give to Kosovo, KTV reported citing sources from ITU. This scenario is being implemented because of the fact that Kosovo is not a member of the ITU. Officials there said ITU is working on the issue and will make an announcement once it is finalized.
German authorities release Kosovars detained on terror suspicions (RTK)
Three Kosovars arrested on 22 March by German police for planning to carry out a terrorist attack have been released as these suspicions could not be corroborated.
LDK calls for “punitive measures” against Insajderi reporter (Insajderi)
The news site reported on Wednesday evening that the collegium of five branches of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) in Pristina, which is led by LDK parliamentary group chief Ismet Beqiri, has called for a “merited punishment” against Insajderi reporter Vehbi Kajtazi for his article that revealed that the brother of Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa had sought asylum in two EU countries. The five LDK branches issued a press release calling for punitive measures against the reporter.
