Albanian Language Media:

• Delays in announcing election results hurt decision-making processes (Telegrafi)
• Kurti: Astrit Dehari, symbol of battle for justice (Kallxo/Telegrafi)
• LDK leader Mustafa meets representatives of non-majority communities (media)
• Ramadani: ‘Imperial’ Russia returns as threat to Balkans (RTK)
• Haradinaj with a message for Kurti on reciprocity with Serbia (Gazeta Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Palmer: If Belgrade and Pristina want our political support, the agreement must be acceptable to the US as well (RTV, KoSSev)
• Elections in Serbia between 22 March and 5 April, says Serbian president Vucic (RTS) 
• Dacic with Palmer: Support to the continuation of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Serbian media)
• Serbian FM Dacic: By year end, four to five states to withdraw Kosovo’s recognition (NMagazin, TV Happy)
• Delo: Trump urgently needs his “Dayton” (Delo, B92)

International:

• US to push France on Western Balkans enlargement (EUobserver)
• New Format for Discussing Kosovo at the UN Needed, Russia Could Act as Mediator – Analysts (Sputnik)

Albanian Language Media

Delays in announcing election results hurt decision-making processes (Telegrafi)

The news website quotes political and election analysts in Pristina as saying that delays in announcing the final results of the October 6 parliamentary elections could hurt decision-making processes and that Kosovo cannot afford this. 

Mazllum Baraliu, constitutional law professor, told Telegrafi today that these delays are a major loss for Kosovo. “The new government cannot be created because of delays concerning several thousand votes, whereas the overwhelming majority of votes – 98 percent – were counted in the first phase in a matter of hours,” he said. Baraliu said delays in announcing the final results have left pending many decision-making processes. “Consequences are multidimensional because the country is in a limbo, decision-making is impossible, the budget cannot be adopted … The people need a different government, they have said their word and it is not being done”.

Eugen Cakolli from the Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) said problems during the counting of votes have wavered the people’s trust in the process. “Kosovo has gone through an election process that was positively evaluated by local and international observation missions. The people’s trust has been wavered by problems during the counting process but also by developments related to voting from abroad. These two factors, coupled with complaints by political parties, have led to delays in the announcement of final results,” he said. These problems, Cakolli suggested, should be addressed in discussions about election reform. “Kosovo needs to avoid situations in which it lacks functioning institutions for several months in a row,” he said.

Kurti: Astrit Dehari, symbol of battle for justice (Kallxo/Telegrafi)

Leader of Vetevendosje Albin Kurti said today at a march in Pristina organised to commemorate the third anniversary of the death of party activist Astrit Dehari that they were shocked by his death while in detention in Prizren.

“We were shocked that day when they arrested Astrit on 29 August 2016. We were all shocked when he was kept in jail and shocked when told we would not see him again,” Kurti said. 

“The autopsy report of forensics in Pristina said the cause of death was blockage of the airways. The report from Switzerland ruled out suicide. Astrit was killed by the regime because they could not interrogate him,” Kurti said. 

Kurti also called for a new, independent investigation into Astrit Dehari’s death.  “He is a symbol of our unrelenting battle for justice and we are sure to win this battle.” 

LDK leader Mustafa meets representatives of non-majority communities (media)

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Isa Mustafa met today representatives of Bosniak, Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities.

In the meeting with Emilija Rexhepi, Veton Berisha, and Hetem Arifi, Mustafa discussed the current political situation, the electoral process and the continued cooperation. 

Ramadani: ‘Imperial’ Russia returns as threat to Balkans (RTK)

Kosovo’s Acting Deputy Minister of Defense Burim Ramadani wrote on his Facebook account that “Imperial Russia is returning as threat to Balkans.”

 “Russian Federation’s lately revived imperial ambitions to enlarge its domination, represent a direct threat to regional security and stability for Balkans, and consequently for Europe.

Its imperial approach has been proved in three occasions/different regions, so far: Georgia, Ukraine, the Middle East.

It appears that now is the turn of Balkans on its attempts to spread its impact. Eventual establishment of ‘rocket base’ in Presevo Valley is a proof to this.

Russia’s imperial ambitions, terrorism and organised trans-national crime and corruption, are the three most powerful threats for Balkans regional security.

Add to this the fact that Balkan states are unconsolidated and with fragile democracy, there is no recognition among states, permanent high tension between states, high socio-economic threats, high level of unemployment and poverty, as well as dissatisfaction of populations with government which is incomparably higher than in European countries.”

Be that as it may, these threats can be confronted by strengthening the West’s active role in the Balkans (U.S., NATO, EU), accelerating Balkan countries’ NATO membership, and punishing transnational organized crime and corruption.”

A “Marshall Economic Plan” for the Western Balkans is extremely needed, as well,” Ramadani wrote. 

Haradinaj with a message for Kurti on reciprocity with Serbia (Gazeta Express)

Acting Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj spoke after the meeting of the government about the 100 percent tariff imposed for Serbian goods as well as Specialist Chambers’ eventual arrests admonished for this month.

Haradinaj initially spoke about the visit of the U.S. Special Envoy Matthew Palmer’s visit to Kosovo and nomination of Richard Grenell as Presidential Envoy.

“I thank to Mr. Palmer for his visit and continuous communication, I met him also earlier in America. It is a continuance of the American agenda, as he also carries responsibility to the Department of State, while as you know Ambassador Grenell has direct responsibility towards the U.S. President Donald Trump, so it is a continuance, it is a mutual agenda, therefore I did not post anything. It is a continuance of the communication, if you followed all developments, it is a Kosovo-America dynamic,’ Haradinaj said.

 He further spoke about the decision for 100 percent tariffs response to Vetevendosje Movement leader Albin Kurti.

“Analysis is continuously present, a vacuum of Serbian products gets replaced by local production, which has developed and there is a direct impact on the economy of the country. Politically, it is not only tariff, but the positions that we kept in Kosovo which kept the country independent from Ms. Mogherini’s table, then decisions for the army, for Trepca. I like the idea of replacing it with reciprocity but let the tariff remain. If Vetevendosje wants reciprocity, I do not understand why the tariff should be lifted. And I would be surprised with the decision of anyone who would return Serbian goods without receiving recognition. It is a major political mistake,” Haradinaj added.

Asked about eventual arrests by the Specialist Chambers, he said the question should be addressed to those who voted for this court. “They know the procedures better,” Haradinaj said.

Serbian Language Media

Palmer: If Belgrade and Pristina want our political support, the agreement must be acceptable to the US as well (RTV, KoSSev)

The attitude of some of Pristina’s leaders that taxes should be abolished only after Serbia recognizes Kosovo is not realistic – the U.S. special envoy to the Western Balkans, Matthew Palmer said on the Pravi Ugao (Right Angle) talk-show on Radio Television of Vojvodina (RTV). 

On the contrary, according to Palmer, the US sees room for the continuation of the dialogue in the abolition of taxes by Kosovo and the suspension of the ”Kosovo delegitimization campaign” by Serbia. The goal of that dialogue, which should cover a wide range of topics from security, protection of cultural heritage, minority rights, to economic cooperation, is mutual recognition, he also said.

When asked why so much optimism surrounds the continuation of the dialogue, when there are still leaders in Pristina insisting that taxes should be abolished only after Serbia recognizes Kosovo, Palmer replied:

”It’s not realistic. The problem of recognition is not something that comes quickly and easily for Kosovo. Mutual recognition will be a difficult issue to talk about. The only place where this can be achieved is not the media, the newspapers or the television, but the negotiating table.” 

Asked what kind of message is being sent when he, on the one hand, is assuring the citizens of Pristina that the US regards Kosovo as independent, while on the other hand, he is also encouraging them to reach a compromise, the U.S. special envoy stated that the US has a firm position on Kosovo, adding that this position is not enough to guarantee a European future to Kosovo.

Kosovo’s future is not to become the 51st US state

”Kosovo and the US have a strong relationship. It is solid, we are committed to its (Kosovo’s) independence, but it is not enough for Kosovo, they have good relations with the US and we appreciate that. However, Kosovo’s future is not to become the 51st US state, but to be a member of the European family of states. And they need a path to the EU that they can only get through a deal with Belgrade,” Palmer said.

He also added that he understands Serbia’s decision not to recognize Kosovo as independent. Palmer, however, stressed that, for the US, ”mutual recognition is the ideal solution to normalization”. Furthermore, he did not exclude the possibility of the two sides agreeing on something else, a solution that ”would not be a full mutual recognition, but one which would be better than what we have now”.

”As for the US, reconsidering Kosovo’s status is not the goal of the negotiations. The goal of the negotiations is to define the elements of a normal relationship between Belgrade and Pristina. As far as the US is concerned, our position is that mutual recognition is the ideal solution. However, there are certain things the parties could more easily agree on at the moment and this will improve the current situation. But it’s not up to me to decide. It is up to them to decide,” he emphasized.

Palmer rejected the possibility of deeper involvement of the US in the Belgrade-Pristina talks and the idea of the partition of Kosovo or the exchange of territories. Instead, he insisted that the parties themselves set the agenda.

When asked what his opinion of the partition idea is, Palmer once again reiterated that the US is interested in normalization and that they would not impose any parameters to achieve that goal.

However, US political support for the implementation of a possible agreement will depend on whether the US considers the deal to be a good one – he added.

”We will not approve the solution in advance. We want to see what they will come up with as a solution and then present it to us, so if we have specific problems with that, we will approach both sides to fix them. If the two sides want our support, if they want our support for the implementation, our political support, then yes, we will want to get an OK deal,” Palmer concluded.

The show available at: https://bit.ly/2oPD8Kb

Elections in Serbia between 22 March and 5 April, says Serbian president Vucic (RTS) 

Yesterday after the session of the SNS Presidency, President of Serbia and SNS leader Aleksandar Vucic announced that regular parliamentary elections are likely to take place at the end of March, and that the party will involve at least 20 percent of new young people, reported Radio Television of Serbia (RTS). 

“We will probably go to the polls at the end of March, technically it turns like it. These are regular elections,” Vucic said.

He specified that elections should take place between March 22 and April 5.

In the past, we have made the toughest possible decisions, but correct ones, as shown by the World Bank report on Serbia’s progress on the Doing Business List, said Vucic.

Regarding Kosovo, Vucic said “it seems that we fought well, from an impossible position. They left us nothing, less than nothing, and we, from that position, it seems to me, in many respects succeeded in improving the image of the country.” 

Vucic expressed confidence that the SNS will have more women than last time on the electoral rolls and that he will be able to be proud of what he has to offer.

He also touched on a meeting with State Department official Matthew Palmer.

“Today you could see, and who wants to be honest, at least in one little thing you could be proud of your leadership … I said things that none of our representatives ever said in person to U.S. officials,” said Vucic and added that he ”confronted” Palmer publicly with a part of the Kosovo constitution that precludes the possibility of forming an army, which Pristina without problems had violated.

“I don’t think I was too brave. We talked openly. I asked him everything. He asked me. Those conversations aren’t always easy.” Thus, Vucic answered the question of whether he asked Palmer if and what obligations Pristina had in order to continue the dialogue and to move towards a solution that would also satisfy Serbia.

Asked about the hysteria in the region over the acquisition of “Pantsir” and accusations that he was preparing aggression against Croatia and Kosovo, Vucic said that those who destroyed the army were attacking him, such as Zdravko Ponos, for buying old “bins”, and at the same time they accuse him of possible sanctions for buying sophisticated modern weapons.

They, Vucic said, have to agree with themselves whether they are ”bins’ or sophisticated weapons, and what exactly bothers them.

“I am proud of the fact that Serbia has an army, far more powerful than it was five or seven years ago. Today, we have many more weapons and tools. It took money and planning. We do not only buy smart, we work smart,” he explained.

Vucic pointed out that has been done in order to protect the country, and to be safe.

Beta news agency reported that Vucic said he would be replaced soon as leader of the SNS, adding that the people who take over from him the lead of the party would continue to win elections.

“Let me tell you, I know what N1 wants to hear – when will I be ousted within the SNS, as the SNS leader. Soon, but don’t worry. Even the people who take over from me will have no problem beating the people who robbed Serbia,” Vucic told a news conference after a session of the SNS Presidency.  

Dacic with Palmer: Support to the continuation of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Serbian media)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic met with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Special Representative for the Western Balkans Matthew Palmer today, and during the meeting was “expressed support for the continuation of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina soonest possible”.

This was stated in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the meeting, which noted that Palmer reiterated Washington’s strong support for the strategic goal of European integration of Serbia and the entire region.

During the meeting, the interlocutors exchanged views on current regional and bilateral issues. The discussion also covered topics related to regional peace, stability and security, economic prosperity and reforms in the Western Balkan countries.

Serbian FM Dacic: By year end, four to five states to withdraw Kosovo’s recognition (NMagazin, TV Happy)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic announced today that “four to five” countries in the world will withdraw recognition of Kosovo’s independence by the end of the year, reports portal NMagazin. 

Reacting to US envoy Matthew Palmer’s statement about the risk of sanctions being imposed on Serbia over the purchase of Russian military equipment, the minister told Belgrade based Television Happy that there were no grounds for imposing sanctions because, as he stated, “we are not stupid not to know what is allowed.”

Delo: Trump urgently needs his “Dayton” (Delo, B92)

Washington attempts to force the EU out of the game and take over resolving the Kosovo issue, Ljubljana-based newspaper “Delo” reports. The daily argues that for Washington the agreement on normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina is not important in its essence, but as an opportunity that President Donal Trump in his quest to be re-elected gets his “Dayton,” Serbian media report.

At first glance, it seems unreasonable that Washington tries to influence London to leave the EU, while it tells Belgrade that the recognition of Kosovo independence is necessary if it ever wants to join the EU, the commentary in the Slovenian daily has said.

“This sounds cynical, because the story about the European alliance, although fading away, is two decades old. It brings to the conclusion that the US wants to force the EU out of the game and take over resolving the Kosovo issue”.

The daily further claims President Donald Trump saw the opportunity that his country comes forward following the “clash” of Berlin and Paris regarding the EU enlargement, adding that both Belgrade and Pristina invited Washington to take over the leading role in this process.

The US President, according to the daily, is not interested at all in the essence of the dispute between Belgrade and Pristina or if “the agreement between Serbia and Kosovo would strengthen stability or instability in the region.”

All what Trump is interested about is a spectacle that White House could prepare if the future agreement is to be signed in Washington.

“In his quest to be re-elected, he needs something spectacular that would have a similar weight as the Dayton Peace Accord had for Bill Clinton. Therefore, all options remain open, including the drawing of new borders in the Balkans,” Delo concluded.  

International

US to push France on Western Balkans enlargement (EUobserver)

The US aims to push France to lift its veto on Western Balkans enlargement to correct a “historic mistake”, a senior diplomat has said.

“America wants the Western Balkans to have a European perspective and will do everything in its power to persuade the European Union to change its position before the next EU leaders’ meeting in Zagreb in May,” the US special envoy to the region, Matthew Palmer, said in Belgrade on Monday (4 November).

“For us, the EU made a historic mistake, sending a bad message to the entire region”, he also said, referring to the French decision.

See at: https://bit.ly/32gExXG

New Format for Discussing Kosovo at the UN Needed, Russia Could Act as Mediator – Analysts (Sputnik)

“If bilateral talks fail [to settle the problem], we need to engage a third party who will manage to skirt contentious issues. Russia could become a potential third party to the negotiations [between Serbia and Kosovo],” Mr Chepa stressed.

The negotiations between Serbia-Kosovo have been led by Brussels for eight years, but according to Dragana Trifkovic, head of the Belgrade-based Centre for Geostrategic Studies, are unconstitutional, as the West is trying to impose a solution in violation of international law.

See at: https://bit.ly/2oRTAJU