• Thaci: Kosovo’s relations with U.S. and EU will never be harmed (VoA, media)
• Abbott: Border changes would destabilise Kosovo and the region (Koha)
• Pacolli for Sunday Express: Serbia using “dirty means” against Kosovo (Koha)
• Are there going to be more EU envoys for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (DW)
• Pacolli travels to New York for the UN General Assembly (Telegrafi)
• Haradinaj and Molliqaj: 100 percent tariff will not be lifted (Klan)
• LDK, VV criticise relocation of a polling centre in the north of Kosovo (Bota Sot)
• Jablanovic accuses Serbian List of intimidating Serb voters (Zeri)
• Diaspora vote to impact final election result (Epoka)

Thaci: Kosovo’s relations with U.S. and EU will never be harmed (VoA, media)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said in an interview to Voice of America that governments can come and go but that Kosovo’s relations with the United States of America and the European Union would never be harmed. Thaci made these comments in Iowa where he visited the National Guard, General Assembly and met Governor Kim Reynolds as well as Kosovo students there.

Thaci said Kosovo should create the new government immediately after the 6 October elections in order to face the new challenges that await Kosovo. “Initially, there will be internal priorities and then there will be discussions on the possibility to overcome all the obstacles for the resumption of the dialogue,” Thaci said.

He added that an internal debate of political parties, government, parliament and civil society is required with regards to the 100 percent tariff set on the goods coming from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Thaci said he believes the nomination of Matthew Palmer as a Special Envoy for Western Balkans, is a clear message that the U.S. will be active in the region and discussion process between Kosovo and Serbia.

Thaci said only an agreement which leads to mutual recognition makes sense for Kosovo population. “Border changes were never on the table of discussions. The territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo is inviolable. All those who spoke about change of the borders of Kosovo, presented a deceit of electoral character to the public opinion. However, I respect the right of Preseve, Bujanoc and Medvegje to join the Republic of Kosovo, without violating a centimeter of Kosovo’s territory. All other opinions are lies,” he said.

Resumption of the discussions is expected after election in Kosovo and diplomats hope this will happen prior to Serbia’s elections which are to be held in spring of the next year.

Abbott: Border changes would destabilise Kosovo and the region (Koha)

The paper carries as its lead story an interview with the newly appointed UK Ambassador to Kosovo, Nicholas Abbott, highlighting his remarks that border changes between Kosovo and Serbia would destabilise Kosovo and the region. “The United Kingdom believes that the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia requires the recognition of independent and sovereign countries in their current borders. We believe that changes to these borders would destabilise the country, and other parts of the region and could damage security, stability and prosperity of the region,” Abbott told the paper. He said the new government that will be formed after the October parliamentary elections must be stable and capable of taking forward the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

Pacolli for Sunday Express: Serbia using “dirty means” against Kosovo (Koha)

Kosovo’s acting foreign minister Behgjet Pacolli spoke to the UK paper Sunday Express saying Serbia used bribes, arms sales and “other dirty means” to buy the support of some of Africa’s poorest countries, as well as others in South America.

“The worldwide recognition of Kosovo is irreversible and has strengthened stability in the Western Balkans. The Serbian campaign to use bribes, corruption, arms sales and other dirty means with the aim of making individuals issue fake diplomatic notes with so-called derecognition of Kosovo is shameful for a European country that has the status of a candidate member state for the European Union,” Pacolli said.

Are there going to be more EU envoys for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (DW)

With the appointment of Matthew Palmer as U.S. special representative for the Western Balkans, there is increasing talk that the EU may follow suit and appoint an envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Deutsche Welle in Albanian reports.

DW goes on to quote unnamed diplomatic sources in Brussels saying that the issue will be discussed during October amongst new leading structures of the EU. It also reports that the new head of EU foreign policy, Josep Borrell, comes from Spain, a country that refuses to recognise independence of Kosovo and according to political commentators in Pristina this makes the situation more delicate and puts a question mark on whether Borrell can in fact facilitate dialogue for normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

And while the media in Kosovo have recently reported that a new envoy could come from Germany, the German Embassy in Pristina has reiterated support for the EU facilitating the process. “Germany supports and follows closely dialogue for normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, under the facilitation of the European Union,” the Embassy told the media.

Pacolli travels to New York for the UN General Assembly (Telegrafi)

Acting Foreign Minister of Kosovo, Behgjet Pacolli, has travelled for the U.S. for the UN General Assembly. “I just landed in New York to take part at the UN General Assembly. In the coming days, I will have important meetings with heads of states and foreign ministers to strengthen Kosovo’s relations with these countries and Kosovo’s international position. At this time, the interest of Kosovo is above all to make our country stronger and more integrated,” Pacolli wrote on Facebook.

Haradinaj and Molliqaj: 100 percent tariff will not be lifted (Klan)

Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) defended at a gathering in Sekiraqa village his decision for the 100 percent tariff on the goods imported from Serbia. He said the time has come for someone to say stop to favors made to Serbia.

Candidate for the MP from the AAK-PSD coalition Dardan Molliqaj also said during a TV debate that the 100 percent tariff will not be lifted prior to the recognition of Kosovo by Serbia. “Insistence to keep the tariff minimizes compromise that Kosovo would have to make,” Molliqaj said.

LDK, VV criticise relocation of a polling centre in the north of Kosovo (Bota Sot)

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and Vetevendosje Movement have criticised the relocation of a polling centre in the neighbourhood of Bosniak Mahalla in Mitrovica saying that it has been now moved to a property owned by Mitrovica municipal councilor from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Bashkim Cimili. LDK and Vetevendosje said relocation to the new premises represent interference in the voting process and could prevent the citizens from freely casting their votes.

Jablanovic accuses Serbian List of intimidating Serb voters (Zeri)

The Kosovo Serb Party (PKS) led by Aleksandar Jablanovic issued a press statement accusing the Serbian List of threatening and intimidating Kosovo Serb voters. “Dear brothers from the Serbian List, with your grave threats and attempts to blackmail the people you are showing that the fear has dominated your minds. The Kosovo Serb Party will inform the CEC, Kosovo Prosecution and the Kosovo Police about the threats you are making these days to election commissioners,” PKS said in a statement.

Diaspora vote to impact final election result (Epoka)

Mazllum Baraliu, expert of election process and former head of the Central Election Commission (CEC), said that over 42 thousand applications from the Diaspora to vote will certainly have impact on the final result in the October 6 parliamentary elections. Baraliu also criticised candidates for the Prime Minister of Kosovo for starting their campaign prior to the official date, saying it is not in accordance with the Law.