• LVV, LDK agree to include Quint ambassadors in the talks (media)
• Veliu: LDK will not accept new offers from LVV (Zeri)
• Bahtiri: Konjufca’s resignation will not happen (RTK)
• Veseli: If cowards shy away from responsibility, elections are imminent (Telegrafi)
• “Lack of transparency in Kosovo-Serbia meeting in Berlin raises questions” (Zeri)
• Konjufca to participate at Western Balkans Summit in Brussels (RTK)
• Albanian PM comments on Mini-Schengen initiative (Telegrafi/Top Channel)
• Borell announces plan to visit Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Germany removes Kosovo from security clearance list (media)
• Former newspaper editor reports attack on his home (Bota Sot)

LVV, LDK agree to include Quint ambassadors in the talks (media)

Koha Ditore reports on its front page that the only agreement between the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) on Monday was that the Quint ambassadors and the EU Head of Office in Pristina would be invited to attend today’s meeting between the two parties. The proposal came from LVV leader Albin Kurti. According to unnamed sources, the invitation to the Quint ambassadors was made “due to mutual distrust and reasons that may emerge in the event the agreement fails, which is likely to happen”. Sources from the meeting also told the paper that LDK representatives were initially hesitant to invite the Quint ambassadors to the meeting but that they later agreed.

In its leading front-page story Zeri reports that “the LDK – LVV saga continues and that another attempt to reach an agreement has failed”. The paper notes that after a three-hour meeting, leaders of the two parties once again failed to reach an agreement for “the Coalition of Hope”.

Epoka e Re reports on its front page that the post of Assembly President is blocking an eventual coalition agreement between the Vetevendosje Movement and the LDK.

Bota Sot notes on its front page that “Albin Kurti has yielded” and that “the Quint is asked to intervene in the negotiations” between the two parties.

Veliu: LDK will not accept new offers from LVV (Zeri)

Deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Agim Veliu said the party will not accept any new offers from the Vetevendosje Movement unless it contains the post of Assembly speaker, Kosovo president, and five ministries.

“With regards to ministries, we have already agreed once. We are waiting for response on our offer which consists of the speaker, five ministries and consent on president. This is the offer that still stands,” Veliu said yesterday.

Bahtiri: Konjufca’s resignation will not happen (RTK)

South Mitrovica Mayor and member of Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) Agim Bahtiri said on Monday that the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) should understand that it is not reasonable for the Assembly Speaker to resign and that this will not happen. He also said that despite the rejections of all offers made by LVV, LDK should accept the latest offer for its own sake and for the sake of a progressive and reforming governance.

Bahtiri also said that it is not Agim Veliu but LDK leader Isa Mustafa who is blocking a coalition government agreement.

Veseli: If cowards shy away from responsibility, elections are imminent (Telegrafi)

Kadri Veseli, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), said that if ‘cowards’ as he called Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) officials fail to take responsibility, Kosovo will very soon head to fresh elections.

Speaking at a party event, Veseli said: “With these low actions, these cowards are damaging Kosovo and strengthening Serbia. We will not allow them to destroy the country for their interests.” He said that the way things are going, an electoral campaign will be imminent and “very soon the Democratic Party of Kosovo will lead the country.”

“Lack of transparency in Kosovo-Serbia meeting in Berlin raises questions” (Zeri)

The paper reports that little information was made available about what was discussed in the meeting between representatives of Kosovo and Serbia at the U.S. Embassy premises in Berlin on the possibility of establishing a railway connection between Pristina and Belgrade.

The U.S. Presidential Envoy for Kosovo-Serbia negotiations Richard Grenell said that the meeting went well and thanked experts from the two sides. “We have made good progress this morning by preparing a Letter of Intent for railway cooperation. Discussions went so well that we also discussed other issues,” Grenell is quoted by Radio Free Europe. He added that they will continue work to finalise the Letter of Intent during next week or possibly later.

Meanwhile, political analyst Mazllum Baraliu told the paper that initiatives for agreements between Kosovo and Serbia are welcomed but that so far none of those reached in the past have been implemented. Baraliu also criticised the way Kosovo is being represented at the meetings in Berlin saying it ought to have sent officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“It has started off from the sidelines, so the method of dialogue in this case and the facilitation is something that does not correspond to constitutional obligations state institutions have, in this case the Government,” he said. “At the same time, there is no transparency, and this raises questions and dilemmas as to what is really going on,” Baraliu added.

Konjufca to participate at Western Balkans Summit in Brussels (RTK)

Kosovo’s Assembly Speaker Glauk Konjufca travelled on Monday to Brussels to participate at the Assembly Speakers’ Summit of Western Balkans and the European Parliament.

The Summit will be held today under the patronage of the European Parliament Speaker David Maria Sassoli. They will discuss the European perspective of Western Balkans, respectively strengthening the parliamentary dimension in the enlargement process.

During his visit to Brussels Konjufca will also hold other meetings with European Parliament officials and counterparts from the region.

Albanian PM comments on Mini-Schengen initiative (Telegrafi/Top Channel)

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama gave an interview to Top Channel on Monday after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Rama among other things commented on the Mini-Schengen agreement and Pristina’s opposition to join the regional initiative.

According to Rama, Merkel supports the Balkans Schengen. “She understands very well that an outstanding step has been made in relations with Serbia, by convincing Serbia to give up on the veto or on the refusal to allow people freedom of movement, and this means the free movement of people between Albania and Kosovo too. People in Pristina unfortunately don’t want to understand this, and they have turned it into a debate of who is a traitor and who is a patriot, and they are not doing Kosovo any favors … The truth is they are damaging Kosovo, they are distancing it from its great friends and partners, and they are ruining the reputation it won by becoming a free and sovereign state,” Rama said.

Borell announces plan to visit Kosovo and Serbia (media)

Josep Borell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said after meeting German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas that the EU will do all it can to facilitate dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. Borell is also reported to have announced his plans to visit Kosovo and Serbia this week.

“When it comes to Western Balkans, we have a common vision of how to achieve stability and security,” Borell said as quoted by the Belgrade news agency Tanjug.

Germany removes Kosovo from security clearance list (media)

Acting Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj announced that Germany has removed Kosovo from the list of countries required to go through the Security Clearance Act which he is wonderful news.

“The move opens a new chapter in bilateral relations between our friendly countries and deepens our inter-state relations,” Haradinaj wrote on Facebook.

Former newspaper editor reports attack on his home (Bota Sot)

Former editor-in-chief and currently columnist of the Bota Sot daily newspaper, Gani Mehmetaj, reported that his house came under fire last week.

Mehmetaj said a hand grenade was thrown at the window of his bedroom but luckily it did not go off. He said he reported the case to the police and also notified the U.S. Embassy and the OSCE. “I received a threatening warning, but I will not recall the texts I authored which some people do not like,” Mehmetaj wrote on Facebook.