• Thaci: I will soon call all leaders to consult on new govt formation (media)
• S. State Department: No secret agreement, dialogue leads to mutual recognition (media)
• Thaci thanks US officials for their statement (media)
• Von Cramon: Hope no secret land swap plan (Koha)
• Mustafa: The U.S. refuted you, apologise (RTK)
• Hoti: LVV accused LDK for becoming servile to the U.S. (RTK)
• Thaci: Kosovo confirms first recovered case (media)
• Eight new cases of coronavirus confirmed (media)

Thaci: I will soon call all leaders to consult on new govt formation (media)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said on Thursday evening that he will soon call leaders of political parties to consult on the formation of the new government, most news websites report.

“After the fall of the government, as President of Kosovo without wasting any time I will start consultations with leaders of all parliamentary parties to look into the possibility of creating a new stability, unity and broad-based government. In every step that I make as President, I will fully respect the Constitution and the laws,” Thaci said.

U.S. State Department: No secret agreement, dialogue leads to mutual recognition (media)

The United States State Department issued on Thursday a joint statement signed by the U.S. special presidential envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Richard Grenell, US Ambassador to Kosovo Philip Kosnett, and Special Representative for the Western Balkans, Matthew Palmer, who stress that there is no secret plan for the exchange of territories between Kosovo and Serbia.

“The United States stands with the people of Kosovo.  We commend the continued efforts of the health professionals and others who are working hard, at great risk, to reduce the progress of COVID-19 in Kosovo.  In this time of uncertainty, we urge Kosovo’s leaders to follow Kosovo’s Constitution and the rule of law.  We are committed to working with any government formed through the constitutional process.

In addition, we continue to urge Kosovo’s leaders to lift the tariffs completely.  We believe the tariffs are harming the people of Kosovo by hindering regional cooperation against COVID-19 – including by delaying the entry into Kosovo of needed supplies – and hindering economic growth.

We want to make clear there is no secret plan for land swaps between Kosovo and Serbia, as some have speculated. Special Presidential Envoy Richard Grenell has never seen nor discussed such a plan.  The U.S. Government’s focus on supporting the recent agreements to re-establish air, rail, and highway connections between Kosovo and Serbia aims to improve the economy and create economic momentum.  We believe this momentum will give new energy to a dialogue process that would lead to mutual recognition,” the statement reads.

Thaci thanks US officials for their statement (media)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci took to Twitter to thank senior US officials for their statement on Thursday.

“Thank you @RichardGrenell, Matt Palmer & @USAmbKosovo for another reassuring statement. We must use the momentum & support of the US to relaunch dialogue & reach a final agreement on mutual recognition & UN membership. Fake news & speculations are a permanent threat to this aim for another reassuring statement. We must use the momentum & support of the US to relaunch dialogue & reach a final agreement on mutual recognition & UN membership. Fake news & speculations are a permanent threat to this aim,” Thaci tweeted.

Von Cramon: Hope no secret land swap plan (Koha)

The European Parliament’s Rapporteur on Kosovo, Viola Von Cramon, said in a Twitter post she hopes there is no secret plan for a land swap between Kosovo and Serbia.

“We can only hope that the US after creating this state’s mess in #Kosovo does stick to its word #nosecretplan no #landswap,” she tweeted.

Mustafa: The U.S. refuted you, apologise (RTK)

Isa Mustafa, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) reacted after the U.S. State Department’s communique which notes that there is no plan for exchange of territories between Kosovo and Serbia.

“The losers who blamed the U.S. for their own incapability, should apologise today to all the citizens of Kosovo and to our friends for the continuous constructions served, unscrupulous insults addressed to LDK and its figures.

This is the best evidence which proves that they left the government as consequence of their incapability and not due to the fear that Kosovo is going to be partitioned. The U.S rebutted the speculation that there is a secret plan for exchange of territories,” Mustafa wrote.

Hoti: LVV accused LDK for becoming servile to the U.S. (RTK)

Avdullah Hoti said that the Vetevendosje Movement accused his political party, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) for becoming servile towards the United States, while keeping the EU orientation.

“We are facing a social threat in Kosovo, we are committed more than ever to stop it,” Hoti said.

He added that Kosovo should not slide towards bolshevism, alluding in the governing system that Kurti used to apply as Prime Minister of Kosovo.

“There is no room for Bolshevik ideas, totalitarian ideas in Kosovo, where if someone does not agree with you, you threaten him,” Hoti said.

In a separate article RTK reports that Hoti also said that he initially received the news about his dismissal from the position of Principal Deputy to the Prime Minister from the media, and later on, he received an email.

“I met Kurti several times and we never had any disagreements, except for the tariff,” Hoti said.

Thaci: Kosovo confirms first recovered case (media)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci tweeted on Thursday that Kosovo has confirmed the first case to recover from COVID19. “If we all do our part & follow the guidelines by the National Institute of Health and @WHO the chances for more to recover increase. Deeply grateful to the medical staff for the work! We’re in this together #StayAtHome,” Thaci tweeted.

Eight new cases of coronavirus confirmed (media)

All media report that Kosovo’s National Institute for Public Health said in a statement on Thursday that eight new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed. It also confirmed the first recovered from the virus.