• Haradinaj: Friendship with western allies, permanent and sacred (media)
• Japan: Normalisation of relations between Serbs and Albanians, key to stability (RTK)
• Serwer: No urgency for dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Dacic: We will not stop campaign against Kosovo’s recognition (Zeri/Koha)
• Limaj confirms NISMA’s position on elections (Koha)
• Ymeri: We are in discussions for coalition with AAK (RTK)
• PSD’s Sejdiu prefers coalition with Vetevendosje and NISMA (Telegrafi)
• Lawsuit against police officers that expelled Turkish nationals from Kosovo (media)
• “Serbian intelligence behind attack on Kosovo consulate” (media)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Haradinaj: Friendship with western allies, permanent and sacred (media)

Outgoing Prime Minister of Kosovo and leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj posted on social media a message to those he calls ‘servile’.

“Friendship with western allies for me and the AAK is permanent and sacred. Our relations with partners are based on sincerity, not servility. Thanks to such relations, Kosovo was entrusted with creation of Army, Kosovo’s partition was prevented, Kosovo’s 100 percent ownership over Trepca was finalised, and so on. To serviles, farewell!”

Along with the post, Haradinaj published a photo of him alongside the former U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis. Gazeta Express asked whether Haradinaj’s post is actually directed at the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Kadri Veseli while RTK said Haradinaj’s statement comes as a reaction to accusations that he has impaired Kosovo’s relations with international allies.

In yet another post of social media, Haradinaj reacted to the joint statement of the Quint countries which requests lifting of the tariff on Serbia’s goods and normalisation of relations with Serbia. “Agree on the necessity of normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia. Government presented QUINT and EU with Draft Comprehensive Agreement including outstanding topics for mutual recognition in existing borders. I reiterate: dialogue with no conditions and no delays. Market for Recognition,” Haradinaj wrote on his Twitter account.

Japan: Normalisation of relations between Serbs and Albanians, key to stability (RTK)

Jun Suito, representative of Japan’s Foreign Ministry, said on Thursday in Belgrade that Japan’s position is that Belgrade-Pristina dialogue should resume. He however, just as Belgrade and a part of the international community, requested lifting of the tariff on the products from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Suito told the journalists that Tokyo’s official position is that Pristina should remove this measure in order for the dialogue to resume and added that normalization of the relations between Serbs and Albanians is key to the stability of the region. “The essential position of Japan is that dialogue should resume,” Saito said.

Serwer: No urgency for dialogue with Serbia (media)

Daniel Serwer, director of the Conflict Management and American Foreign Policy Programs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a Balkans analyst, told the Gazeta Express yesterday that Kosovo should form a new government first and have a clear platform before resuming talks with Serbia.

“I don’t think there is any good reason to rush now. Kosovo is in a weak position now with an outgoing Prime Minister and an outdated President … Kosovo must have a new government and a clear platform on relations with Serbia, before dialogue can resume,” Serwer said.

Dacic: We will not stop campaign against Kosovo’s recognition (Zeri/Koha)

Serbian Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic, said in an interview with TV Prva that for Belgrade the process of revoking independence of Kosovo recognitions is unstoppable and irreversible.

“We did not want to harm the health of those writing Quint statements and those from Pristina,” Dacic said referencing a recent statement issued by Quint calling on both parties to avoid actions that will hinder a final agreement. “They said nothing new,” he said.

Limaj confirms NISMA’s position on elections (Koha)

Leader of the Social Democratic Initiative (NISMA) Fatmir Limaj said after farewell meeting with British Ambassador Ruairi O’Connell that his party’s position is that under the present circumstances, free and democratic elections are the best option.

In a meeting with party officials in several Kosovo municipalities Limaj said NISMA will be the “pleasant” surprise of early elections. The party said in a statement that it expects to be represented at the Assembly of Kosovo with more than ten MPs.

Ymeri: We are in discussions for coalition with AAK (RTK)

Visar Ymeri, deputy leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), said that his political party can pass the election threshold on its own, however he added that they are ready for coalition with other political parties.

“As far as PSD is concerned, there are no discussions about passing the threshold, but for our program to become a reality. I believe that we will have ten to 12 MPs after these elections.”

“We held and will hold discussions. We have so far discussed with the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), but we have not defined nor signed anything. I believe that things will be more clarified next week,” Ymeri said.

PSD’s Sejdiu prefers coalition with Vetevendosje and NISMA (Telegrafi)

Dardan Sejdiu, head of the Social Democratic Party of Kosovo (PSD) parliamentary group, told RTV Dukagjini on Thursday that his party would not form a coalition with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). “We want to run alone in the elections. We don’t rule out [cooperation] anyone except for the PDK. My preference is a coalition with the Vetevendosje Movement and NISMA,” Sejdiu said.

Lawsuit against police officers that expelled Turkish nationals from Kosovo (media)

The Special Prosecution of Kosovo confirmed for Radio Free Europe that its has received from the Kosovo Police Inspectorate criminal lawsuits against 22 police officers involved in the operation that led to the deportation of six Turkish nationals from Kosovo. A spokesperson for the prosecution said they are in the process of interviewing other suspects in connection to the case.

“Serbian intelligence behind attack on Kosovo consulate” (media)

Several media outlets carry a report from RTV Dukagjini quoting sources saying that the attack on the Kosovo’s Consulate in Denmark was carried out by fans of the Belgrade football team “Crvena Zvezda” on the instructions of the Serbian intelligence service head Bojan Dimic who is also one of the leaders of the fans.

A night before the attack when the emblem of the consulate was covered in stickers with Serb nationalist symbols, the football team is said to have played in Copenhagen and the fans took to the streets after the game.

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic meanwhile said he had no information about the incident in Copenhagen. “I researched this news last night, I contacted our people because no one told me about it. They said no one from our people was arrested,” Dacic told Belgrade media. “Whatever happens, they [Kosovo officials] blame the Serbs.”