- Kosovo enters electoral silence, readies to vote tomorrow (Koha)
- Kosnett calls on people of Kosovo to turn out and vote (media)
- UK does not support any political party or candidate (media)
- Thaci meets EUEOM, voices concern over voter intimidation reports (media)
- Palmer and Grenell to work closely to reach Kosovo-Serbia settlement (RFE)
- EU expects cooperation with U.S. on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RFE/Koha)
- Rama: Washington and Berlin against Kosovo-Serbia land swap (Koha/Zeri)
- Kosovo Police slams reports about arrests in the north (media)
Kosovo Media Highlights
Kosovo enters electoral silence, readies to vote tomorrow (Koha)
As of 7 this morning , Kosovo has entered electoral silence period which will end on Sunday, 6 October, after all polls close, Koha reports.
25 political entities and candidates competing for 120 seats at the Assembly of Kosovo had ten days of campaigning time to present their offers to the citizens, a period in which no incident was reported. Parties are reported to have spent more than €2 million in the ten-day campaign.
The final voter list, certified by the Central Election Commission (CEC), consists of 1,937,868 voters of which number 111,733 are first-time voters.
Kosnett calls on people of Kosovo to turn out and vote (media)
The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Philip Kosnett, has called on the citizens of Kosovo to go out and vote tomorrow saying that “free and fair elections end with you.”
“In Kosovo as in America, every vote counts, every voice matters. Whatever your views, whomever you support, on October 6 turn out and vote. For yourself, for your country, for your future,” Kosnett said in a video message.
UK does not support any political party or candidate (media)
The British Embassy in Kosovo said it does not support any political party or candidate running in 6 October parliamentary elections in Kosovo. “But we do support the right to free and democratic elections, without pressure or intimidation,” the Embassy said on its social media and recalled the statement issued by Quint countries on 30 August reconfirming that any suggestion that the governments of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States “support a particular party or candidate in the election is incorrect.”
Thaci meets EUEOM, voices concern over voter intimidation reports (media)
President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci met yesterday a delegation from the EU Election Observation Mission to Kosovo headed by Chief Observer Viola von Cramon-Taubadel.
Thaci expressed appreciation for the EU support in strengthening of democratic institutions in Kosovo, highlighting the contribution to monitoring elections and the recommendations to further improve the electoral system.
Thaci also expressed concern over reports of intimidation of Serb voters in the northern part of Kosovo and called on the observers to be vigilant and report any irregularities they may come across.
Palmer and Grenell to work closely to reach Kosovo-Serbia settlement (RFE)
A spokesperson at the U.S. State Department told Radio Free Europe that the United States see a historic opportunity for Serbia and Kosovo to achieve a comprehensive agreement for normalisation of relations and “the decision of the President to appoint special presidential envoy for Kosovo and Serbia peace negotiations underlines the commitment of the United States for peace, stability and prosperity for the people of Serbia and Kosovo.”
State Department also said that the Special Representative for the Western Balkans Matthew Palmer will be working closely with Grenell to achieve a settlement between Kosovo and Serbia.
EU expects cooperation with U.S. on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RFE/Koha)
Although the EU has not come out with an official reaction to the appointment of the U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell as special envoy for Kosovo-Serbia peace negotiations, EU foreign policy spokesperson Maja Kocijancic spoke in general terms about the importance of cooperation between Washington and Brussels.
“EU works closely with the United States in the Western Balkans. United States have given a valuable contribution in our work in the Western Balkans, in particularly with regards to the success of the dialogue. U.S. and EU share a common interest for a stable and prosperous Western Balkans and we therefore expect continuing our close cooperation with the U.S.,” Kocijancic told Radio Free Europe.
Rama: Washington and Berlin against Kosovo-Serbia land swap (Koha/Zeri)
Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, said that the U.S. and Germany have come together to oppose any land swap scenario between Kosovo and Serbia. He also rejected claims he has been a proponent of the idea.
“All stories that I will allegedly split Kosovo are fairytales devised to spread hatred… Kosovo and Serbia need to close this issue and of course Serbia needs to recognise Kosovo. I am against territorial exchange and not only against that on ethnic lines,” Rama said.
Koha notes that Rama’s remarks come following the U.S. President Donald Trump appointing Richard Grenell as envoy for Kosovo-Serbia peace negotiations.
Kosovo Police slams reports about arrests in the north (media)
Kosovo Police has issued a clarification to the media rejecting reports in certain Serbian media speaking of alleged intervention of special police units in the north and the arrest of two youths in connection to the murder of the Kosovo Serb political leader Oliver Ivanovic.
The police said such reports are “tendentious” and “inaccurate” and are aimed at misinforming the public, sowing fear and ultimately destabilising the north. “Kosovo Police is a law enforcement institution and all its operational activities are based on legal procedures,” the statement reads.
