• U.S.: Kosovo-Serbia agreement to end in mutual recognition (Zeri)
• Kocijancic: Mogherini, the only facilitator in dialogue (media)
• Analysts: No breakthrough in dialogue expected from Tirana meeting (Zeri)
• Ischinger: No EU membership for Serbia without Kosovo recognition (media)
• Veseli initiates setting up of international tribunal on Serbia’s crimes (media)
• Daka on elections in the north, clarifies OSCE role (Bota Sot)
• Hoxha: This is last year that Kosovo citizens will be isolated (media)
• Minister Mustafa warns with reciprocity measures against Serbia (RTK)
• Iowa National Guard Commander to visit Kosovo today (media)
• Vetevendosje to protest in Tirana against Vucic’s visit (media)
• Uran Ismaili announces candidacy for head of PDK Pristina branch (media)

U.S.: Kosovo-Serbia agreement to end in mutual recognition (Zeri)

Officials from the U.S. Embassy in Pristina told the paper that they support the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, facilitated by the EU, and that the process should end in full normalisation of relations through mutual recognition. The statement comes as a response to the question of whether the U.S. plans to get involved in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

“Any agreement reached in the framework of the dialogue needs to be acceptable for both sides,” the U.S. Embassy said adding that the final agreement would also have to be enforceable, sustainable and contribute to regional stability. “The immediate goal is not to determine the outcome of negotiations, but for parties to remove barriers and return to the negotiating table,” the Embassy noted.

Most recently, President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci said that the EU was unable to push things forward with the U.S. involvement. “There can be no dialogue, no negotiations, without the role of the U.S. The EU is too weak and not united to move forward things in the Western Balkans,” Thaci said.

Kocijancic: Mogherini, the only facilitator in dialogue (media)

European Union foreign policy spokesperson, Maja Kocijancic, told Serbian media that the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini remains the only facilitator in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. Kocijancic said however that any effort in support of the EU-facilitated dialogue is welcomed.

“Our contacts are ongoing. To this end, the EU High Representative will take part in the meeting of leaders as part of the Brdo-Brijuni in Tirana on 8 and 9 May. She is ready to reopen dialogue. It is also clear that the government of Kosovo should lift tax to enable swift resumption of dialogue,” Kocijancic said.

Analysts: No breakthrough in dialogue expected from Tirana meeting (Zeri)

Political analysts in Kosovo think that while the dialogue with Serbia is expected to be discussed at the Brdo-Brijuni process of Western Balkans leaders set to take place in Tirana tomorrow, a breakthrough is unlikely to occur during the event.

Arton Demhasaj told the paper that he expects no results from the Tirana meeting although is could well happen that President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci and Serbia’s Aleksandar Vucic have a private meeting at the sidelines of the event. At the same time, analyst Mazllum Baraliu said it would not be ‘adequate’ for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue to be discussed at the Tirana meeting.

Enver Hoxhaj, deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, said it would be a mistake to believe that the dialogue will experience a turning point during the Tirana meeting.

Ischinger: No EU membership for Serbia without Kosovo recognition (media)

Most media report that German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger said on Monday that Serbia should not be accepted in the European Union without recognizing Kosovo’s independence. Ischinger wrote on Twitter: “So now everybody knows a little better what is not desirable. But how can one proceed? what should Serbia get (for recognition of Kosovo)? Fast lane to EU accession? But clear: no recognition – no accession! And Kosovo should stop tax hike and get visa-free travel, right away!”

Veseli initiates setting up of international tribunal on Serbia’s crimes (media)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli has initiated on Monday formally the procedures for initiation of an international tribunal for Serbia’s crimes committed in Kosovo during the conflict. Speaking in front of the representatives of the associations of missing persons, war associations, justice institutions and other independent institutions, Veseli said Serbian criminals have not been tried yet for thousands of crimes and victims in Kosovo. According to him, this tribunal will be separate from the Special Court. “We are speaking about an international court for crimes of the Serbian state, unbiased, necessary. An international court which would try and punish Serbia’s crimes committed in Kosovo. These crimes reach dimensions of genocide. There are hundreds of massacres committed by Serbian army. Dozens of thousands murdered civilians, among them children and women. There are thousands of raped women and one million Albanians expelled from Kosovo, in a persecution, similar to Jewish Holocaust,” Veseli said.

Daka on elections in the north, clarifies OSCE role (Bota Sot)

Valdete Daka, head of the Central Election Commission (CEC) told RTV Dukagjini on Monday that preparations for elections in the four northern municipalities have gone as foreseen so far. She explained that on the day of the election, Kosovo Police, EULEX and UNMIK will be responsible for security. “But we also have cooperation with OSCE. The OSCE Mission does not have an executive role since 2008. Especially during 2013 and 2017 elections, OSCE had an advising role…We have our officials in that part of Kosovo, but they perhaps do not have the experience as in the rest of Kosovo, and this is where the OSCE advises come in use,” Daka said.

Hoxha: This is last year that Kosovo citizens will be isolated (media)

Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Dhurata Hoxha, said on Monday that she expects this will be the last year that Kosovo citizens celebrate Europe Day isolated. Addressing a roundtable in Pristina on the potential of Kosovo’s youth toward the EU, Hoxha said: “if we go back in time, we know that Kosovo’s youth was the most discriminated. Before 1999, young people in Kosovo had zero perspective. Today they have more perspective, but it is still not enough. Kosovo’s membership to international sports mechanisms have opened new lanes for Kosovo’s youth. The fact that only Kosovo celebrates Europe Day shows that this is the most pro-European country and we hope that the EU will make the next step”.

Minister Mustafa warns with reciprocity measures against Serbia (RTK)

Serbia is not recognizing drivers’ licenses issued from Kosovo and Ekrem Mustafa, Kosovo’s Minister for Internal Affairs, has warned with reciprocity measures against Serbia. “I am aware, and this is an initiative of the Serbian state on the trail of the non-recognitions of the documentation of the Kosovo state. I have requested for tomorrow at the meeting of the government to undertake measures of reciprocity, starting with non-recognition of the license plates and all documentation that Serbia does not recognize,” Mustafa said.

Iowa National Guard Commander to visit Kosovo today (media)

Most news websites report that the Iowa National Guard Commander, Timothy Orr, will visit Kosovo today. Orr and his delegation will meet Kosovo Assembly President Kadri Veseli and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj.

Vetevendosje to protest in Tirana against Vucic’s visit (media)

Vetevendosje has announced it will stage a protest on 8 May in Tirana against the visit of the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and of the leader of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik as participants to the Brdo-Brijuni process. Vetevendosje called on all citizens to attend the protest to symbolically and peacefully oppose “Serb supremacist policies”.

Uran Ismaili announces candidacy for head of PDK Pristina branch (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Health, Uran Ismaili, has announced candidacy for head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Pristina branch. He said that he plans to focus his political engagement in his home city.

Kallxo.com points out Ismaili has only once run for office in last local elections in 2017 and at the time won 801 votes. He was the second-most voted PDK official in Pristina and followed Blerand Stavileci who won over 9,000 votes.