Belgrade Media Report 21 December 2015
STORIES FROM LOCAL PRESS
• McAllister: Long way to EU, important that Serbia continues on this path (RTS/Tanjug)
• Mogherini to soon send invitation for new round of dialogue (Novosti)
• Brussels hiding the Kosovo card (Novosti)
• Seizure of premises on Mt. Brezovica (Novosti)
• Ker-Lindsay: Cyprus model not applicable for Kosovo (Danas)
STORIES FROM REGIONAL PRESS
• Radoncic refused to enter B&H Council of Ministers (Dnevni avaz)
• Mayor of Srebrenica to ask Vucic to support the idea of Srebrenica being a district (Vijesti)
• Izetbegovic: Kosovo won’t be recognized due to RS resistance (Nezavisne)
• Former FB&H minister Lijanovic indicted (Dnevni avaz)
RELEVANT ARTICLES FROM INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES
• IS uses weapons exported to Britain from Serbia and Bosnia (thevillagessuntimes.com)
• IMF says Serbia on track but risks remain (Reuters)
• Bosnia census results threaten power-sharing system (voiceobserver.com)
• Montenegro Opposition Protest Demand Free Elections (BIRN)
• Dialogue reopens on Macedonia dispute (neoskosmos.com)
• Postponing Elections is Macedonia’s Only Hope (Balkan Insight)
Veteverndosje: Visas are not removed due to corruption (Koha)
Deputy leader of the Vetevendosje movement, Driton Caushi, said during a press conference today, that Kosovo will not manage to complete the European Union’s set criteria for liberalization of visas, being that one of the basic criteria is fighting of corruption. “The government cannot fulfill these criteria, because this means that it would have to […]
Read More →U.S.: Kosovo-Montenegro border demarcation agreement in accordance to 1974 maps (Telegrafi)
The United States Embassy in Pristina announced that the U.S. State Department has reviewed the Kosovo-Montenegro border demarcation document prepared by the Kosovo State Commission for Marking and Maintenance of the State Border. “We understand the basis for the Commission’s demarcation effort was the 1974 Yugoslav Constitution, which defined Kosovo’s border from the administrative borders […]
Read More →Well-Connected “Squatters” Thwart Kosovo Privatisations (Balkan Insight)
You can buy a business off Europe’s youngest state – but that doesn’t always mean you can have it. -See more at: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/well-connected-squatters-thwart-kosovo-privatisations-12-19-2015
Read More →Mustafa: Kosovo fulfilled all criteria for visa liberalization (Kosovapress)
Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said today that Kosovo fulfilled all the criteria for visa liberalization, and that the government now is meeting with all responsible institutions to see once again if any part of the recommendations of the EU has remained unfulfilled. “All the requirements are fulfilled but there are some parts of the […]
Read More →Jahjaga: Without women, there would be no peace in Kosovo (Koha)
Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga participated in the annual Assembly of the Kosovo Women’s Network on Sunday. Jahjaga said that Kosovo women have held onto their shoulders the heavy burden of survival, peaceful resistance, war and that certainly the peace building would not be achieved without them. “We as a society are still facing gender prejudice and […]
Read More →Kosovo Business Alliance: CEFTA not recognizing Kosovo symbols (Kosovapress)
Officials from the Kosovo Business Alliance complained today that Kosovo is not being treated equally by the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) when it comes to the export of Kosovo produce. They said Kosovo faces numerous barriers at the border crossings and in addition, Kosovo is still represented at CEFTA through UNMIK symbols and […]
Read More →Kosovo FM ‘Shouldn’t Blame EU for Visa Fail’ (Balkan Insight)
European Parliament vice-president Ulrike Lunacek said Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci was wrong to blame the EU for Kosovo’s failure to secure a visa-free regime because Pristina still has more work to do. – See more at: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/lunacek-fires-back-at-thaci-on-his-visa-liberalisation-anger-12-21-2015#sthash.GRzaTl2w.dpuf
Read More →Final report, without visas in 2016 (Koha Ditore)
Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Bekim Collaku, writes in an opinion piece that the European Commission’s visa liberalization report on Kosovo, which was published last Friday, is the last of its kind and that the citizens of Kosovo will be able to travel visa free in 2016. Collaku argues that while senior European officials, such […]
Read More →Srđan Mitrović new head of Provisional Body of Gnjilane (KIM Radio, TV Puls)
On 11 December Serbian Government appointed Srđan Mitrović as a new head of the Provisional Body of Gnjilane/Gjilan District, with the seat in village Gornje Kusce. Mitrović said to TV Puls, that complete municipal administration (Serbia sponsored) is now fully functional. Mitrović further stated that a team of experts will be created in the near […]
Read More →Only strong Serbia can save us (Vesti)
Opening of the Chapter 35 in the EU membership negotiations with Brussels means a lot to Kosovo Serbs. EU membership is a controversial topic for many Serbs, however being a member of that club means that you are well managed state with strong institutions that can offer legal and physical protection and economic development. “Serbs […]
Read More →Belgrade-Pristina dialogue will resume after the holidays (Vecernje Novosti, B92)
EU foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini will invite Aleksandar Vucic and Isa Mustafa to meet in Brussels after New Year’s and Christmas holidays. Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti writes, quoting “EU diplomatic circles”. A new round of the Kosovo dialogue, in Brussels, should be scheduled after the Constitutional Court in Pristina take a decision on the […]
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