Thaçi: Kosovo MPs hold visa liberalization key

(All monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

There will be no visa liberalization without ratification of demarcation with Montenegro; it was stated in Prishtinë/Pristina during the Summit of Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Committees.

Kosovo President, Hashim Thaçi said that MPs hold the visa liberalization key for Kosovo citizens.  According to him, this can be done as soon as Kosovo Assembly ratifies the Agreement on Demarcation with Montenegro.

“The demarcation issue with Montenegro is not anymore an open issue between Kosovo and Montenegro. We have excellent relations with Podgorica and this issue is an internal political matter of Kosovo,” said President Thaçi.

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli requested from the MPs of EU member countries to continue their support to Kosovo in its European integration path.

“The state of Kosovo made the region more stable and assured its European perspective.  We function upon a democratic and liberal Constitution, which includes highest freedom and human rights standards,” said Speaker Veseli.

Former Czech Minister of Internal Affairs, Karel Schwarzenberg, said that Kosovo achieved a lot, but, according to him, it could have achieved much more if it was not isolated.

Meanwhile, Head of the EU Office in Kosovo/EUSR Natalyia Apostolova  said that EU will continue to support Kosovo, but stressed that visa liberalisation is pending the ratification of demarcation.

“We insist on Kosovo to fulfil the two remaining visa liberalisation criteria. Politicians hold the visa liberalisation key. They have to ratify the demarcation and to undertake more serious measures against corruption,” said Apostolova.

Addressing this event, Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa discussed about migration crisis. He said that Kosovo in cooperation with other countries achieved to prevent the flux of refugees, noting that currently the number of migrants is symbolic.

The initiator of this summit, MP Elmi Reçica said that the aim of this Summit is to ensure approximation of stances towards Kosovo.

Fajon: No visa liberalisation without ratification of demarcation

(RTK1)

Tanja Fajon, the European Parliament Rapporteur for visa liberalisation for Kosovo said in an interview for RTK1 that Kosovo must fulfil the last visa liberalisation condition – ratification of Agreement on Border Demarcation with Montenegro.

Fajon spoke also about the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Stabilisation Association Agreement and about the fight against corruption.

“I am fully committed to turn visa liberalisation into reality for Kosovo. I think that it’s a good moment to accomplish this goal. We know that there is a good track record in the fight against corruption, but demarcation with Montenegro remains a condition. We have made a long journey and now we have to finalize this process. Therefore, I encourage Kosovo MPs ratify the Agreement on Border Demarcation as soon as possible. I am ready to put visa liberalisation at vote in the European Parliament as soon as conditions have been met,” said Fajon.

On the other hand, AAK stated that heads of Kosovo are experimenting with the issue of demarcation. According to them, the current agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro has serious flaws and harms Kosovo. AAK considers that Government failed to ratify this Agreement not only because of the pressure by the opposition but also due to the fact that a considerable number of MPs from the ruling coalition are not fully convinced about this agreement.

AAK said that the Commission for Measuring of the Territory is a failure and called for a renegotiation of the current Agreement on Demarcation.

In the meantime, AAK presidency member, Anton Berisha reacted against the statements of MEP Tanja Fajon. He said that it is not up to Fajon to lecture Kosovo what is in the interest of the state and what is the interest of the political party.

Humolli resigns from Government commission on demarcation

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Professional disagreements within the experts’ Commission for measuring the territory of Kosovo resulted with the resignation of the geographer Fitim Humolli from this Commission. Humolli told KTV that this Commission is unprofessional and that he does not agree at all with the work of this Commission.

In his resignation letters, Humolli said that state borders should not be based on the cadaster, as, according to him, based on this criterion Kosovo might lose territory. He said that the findings of this commission are identical with the previous findings.

The announcement of Kosovo Government that in March will resubmit demarcation to Assembly for ratification triggered the reaction of opposition.

Vetëvendosje MP Donika Kadaj-Bujupi said that in case Government submits agreement on demarcation to Assembly; this political entity might reuse teargas.

Different from Vetëvendosje, the two other opposition parties, AAK and Nisma për Kosovën, said that they will oppose at any cost the demarcation agreement with Montenegro but without using the teargas.

In the meantime, all broadcasters reported that the experts’ Commission for measuring the territory of Kosovo will publicly presents the results of their work and their findings on Tuesday.

Gashi: Non-ratification of demarcation might produce early election

(RTK1)

Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa recently said that agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro shall be submitted to the Assembly for ratification in beginning of March. But, political analysts consider that this scenario might increase tensions in Kosovo.

Nevertheless, Ramush Tahiri, a political analyst, believes that demarcation issue must be submitted.

“It might produce political tensions. An issue that is clearly technical and professional has turned into a political issue. Borders of Kosovo with Montenegro are inherited, as such this process needs only to be set and concluded,” said Tahiri, adding that non-ratification of the agreement might results with institutional consequences for the ruling coalition.

However, Astrit Gashi, another political analyst, is confident that resubmission of demarcation in the Assembly will not produce violence because, according to him, the ruling coalition lacks the required votes of MPs to ratify the demarcation.

“This issue is in the hands of the ruling coalition and their MPs. If they continue to have a problem in ensuring the votes for ratification of demarcation, then the failure to ratify the demarcation will not produce any violence but potentially will produce early elections,” said Gashi.

Gashi added that if Kosovo Government fails to ratify this agreement, it will lose the legitimacy in front of the international partners.

Government will not put pressure on Srpska List to return in institutions

(KTV)

According to the expectation of Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, Srpska List representatives should have by now returned in the Assembly and Government, but in the fact the boycott of Srpska List continues.

Moreover, Srpska List caucus leader, Slavko Simic said that currently they are not even planning to return in the institutions.  But, Kosovo Government will wait f or as long as needed to convince Srpska List to return in the institutions.

Deputy-Minister of Local Government Administration Bajram Gecaj said that ruling coalition does not function based on conditions and blackmails. Hence, they will wait for the time needed by Srpska List.

“We will wait as long as they need.  Representation of Serb community in Kosovo Government is a Constitutional obligation. Although, there are different way for their representation, the best way is through elected representatives, namely through those who were voted in elections to represent this community. They are part of the Government; they have not stated that they will leave the Government. If they say so, then based in the Constitution, we are obliged to find ways for their representation in Kosovo institutions,” said Gecaj.

Opposition parties consider this as a subdual to Serbia. AAK deputy chairperson, Ahmet Isufi, requested from PM Mustafa to undertake measures against these boycotters and even replace them.

Kosovo Government officials made it clear to Srpska List that there will be no progress in establishing the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities, without their return in the institutions, KTV concluded.

Simic and Fajon emphasize the importance of Brussels dialogue

(RTK2)

On Monday, Srpska List caucus leader, Slavko Simic discussed with the European Parliament member Tanja Fajon about normalization of relations, continuation of Brussels dialogue and the establishment of the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities.

Simic and Fajon agreed that that dialogue must continue and that the security and stability of citizens must be kept in place. According to them, politicization of issues leads to further tensions rather than solutions and jeopardizes all the efforts invested by Prishtinë/Pristina and Belgrade in the dialogue.

Simic noted that the technical dialogue, through which both delegations have found solutions to essential issues of Serb community in Kosovo, should resume as soon as possible.

Discussions about Association of Serb Majority Municipalities, Simic said that the power and competencies of this Association have been defined in Brussels. According to him implementation of the agreement on the establishment of the Association is the only option for preservation and prosperity of the Serb community in Kosovo.

MEP Tanja Fajon expressed her confidence that representatives of Srpska List and members of the Management Team will soon be able to draft statute of the Association without any hindrances.  She also called upon Serb representatives to get actively involved in the work of the Kosovo Government and Assembly, the online version of RTK2 reported.

Ministry of Finance responds to President Thaçi

(RTK1&KTV)

Kosovo Ministry of Finance responded to President Hashim Thaçi, saying that the process for selection of the new Director of Customs was entirely in compliance with the law and with the Memorandum signed with British Embassy to Kosovo. President Thaçi, few weeks ago, addressed a letter to, Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli, through which he challenged the lawfulness of the Memorandum with the British Embassy and the selection of the new Director of Customs.

Kosovo Minister of Finance, Avdullah Hoti, through an open letter, clarified all the doubts raised by President Thaçi, emphasizing that Ministry of Finance and the implementing partner agreed to implement Kosovo’s legislation in all the recruitment phases.

The funder of this Memorandum, the UK Embassy to Kosovo, supported the Ministry of Finance, emphasizing that it has requested to harmonize the memorandum with the legislation in power.