- Scott: New government to lift the tax (RTK/Zeri)
- Germany wants the post of envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Klan Kosova)
- British Ambassador: Vote freely and transparently (dailies)
- EU: It is time for Kosovo to get visa liberalisation (Zeri)
- Belgrade blamed for inciting tensions among Kosovo Serbs (RFE/Koha)
- Brnabic: No solution on Kosovo without compromise (Klan Kosova)
- New embassy building, sign of U.S. commitment to Kosovo (Koha)
Scott: New government to lift the tax (RTK/Zeri)
The U.S. Ambassador to Serbia, Kyle Scott, said that the new government of Kosovo should lift the tax on Serbian imports.
“We will do everything we can to make the new Government of Kosovo return to the table of talks and this means primarily to lift the 100-percent tax on Serbian products. This tax does not help in moving forward and reach Kosovo-Serbia reconciliation.”
Scott also addressed concerns regarding the documents necessary for voting on 6 October elections in Kosovo saying they were following the situation. “From what I gather, the rules as to what documents can be used to vote in these elections are the same as those used for mayoral elections that took place recently in the north of Kosovo. We hope every citizen will use the right to vote,” Scott said.
Scott made the remarks following a meeting with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic on the 75th anniversary of the WWII rescue operation “Halyard”.
Germany wants the post of envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Klan Kosova)
Klan Kosova quotes sources from Berlin saying that Germany and France have begun talks on resuming the new chapter in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and are expected to follow the example of the U.S. by appointing a special representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.
While there is still no specific candidate proposed, Klan Kosova says that Berlin wants a German official taking the post and that the official announcement could be made following elections in Kosovo.
German MP, Peter Beyer, supports the idea of the EU appointing a special envoy for Kosovo-Serbia talks. “This person with a special team would facilitate the constructive and sincere aspect for continuing the process of talks,” Beyer said.
British Ambassador: Vote freely and transparently (dailies)
On the United Nations Day of Democracy, the British Ambassador to Kosovo Nicholas Abbott said elections play an important role in any modern democracy and this will be the case next month in Kosovo.
“Elections are an opportunity for all communities to participate in choosing those who will lead the country. I encourage all eligible voters to take part and to invest in your future. You should be able to do so freely and transparently without harassment or intimidation,” Abbott said in a message to the people of Kosovo.
EU: It is time for Kosovo to get visa liberalisation (Zeri)
The European Union Office in Kosovo said Kosovo has met all necessary requirements for visa liberalisation and that although it is up to member states to have a final say on the issue, “the EU High Representative Mogherini said during the EU foreign ministers meeting in Helsinki that the European Commission has recommended the Council that time has come to decide on visa liberalisation for Kosovo.”
In a reply to the paper, the EU Office also said that Mogherini expressed belief that it is time for the people of Kosovo to get visa liberalisation. At the same time, the EU noted, is it important for Kosovo to demonstrate continuous efforts in upholding the rule of law, as well as control migration and security.
Belgrade blamed for inciting tensions among Kosovo Serbs (RFE/Koha)
Belgrade has stepped up pressure on Kosovo Serbs to vote for the Serbian List in the October 6 parliamentary elections, according to representatives of three rival political parties, the “Sloboda” coalition, the Kosovo Serbs’ Party and the Independent Liberal Party, Radio Free Europe reports. Rada Trajkovic from the Sloboda coalition, told RFE on Sunday that Kosovo Serbs are threatened they will lose their jobs if they don’t vote for Serbian List candidates. “For the time being, the biggest pressure on Kosovo Serbs is coming from Belgrade, from some informal centres. We have information that a group of people close to the mafia or the mafia themselves have managed to reach the Ecological Centre at the Gazivoda Lake. According to Serbs in the north, those people went there to intimidate the Serbs,” she said. Aleksandar Jablanovic, leader of the Kosovo Serbs’ Party, told the news agency: “we are under tremendous pressure here in the north, both from institutions of the Serbian Government and from certain criminal structures that are well known to Kosovo Police and to international diplomatic offices in Kosovo … This is orchestrated by Belgrade with the aim of threatening all Serbs that have different opinions from Belgrade,” he said.
Brnabic: No solution on Kosovo without compromise (Klan Kosova)
Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said on Sunday that the Kosovo issue can be resolved only through a compromise solution, the news website reports. Brnabic said a solution is needed that will give both parties a sustainable and happier and long-term peace and prosperity.
New embassy building, sign of U.S. commitment to Kosovo (Koha)
In its leading front-page story, the paper reports on the new building of the United States Embassy in Pristina, quoting U.S. officials as saying that the new embassy shows the U.S. commitment to Kosovo and is proof that they will stay here for a long time. The building, which is designed by architect Davis Brodi Bond, not only embodies the diplomatic ideals of the United States, but also aims to improve its mission by offering a safe, sustainable and technologically advanced model of U.S. architecture, engineering and urban design. With the new building, the U.S. State Department aims to go beyond the security standards by offering a hospitable, transparent and safe environment.
