• COVID-19: 193 new cases, eight deaths (media)
• PM Hoti: We have allocated €365 mil from economic recovery fund (media)
• Prishtina Mayor: €365 mil for economic recovery? Not even close (media)
• MPs to discuss bills on COVID-19 and economic recovery on Friday (media)
• Leaders from Kosovo and Serbia to meet in Washington (media)
• Hoti about Washington meeting: We will discuss economic projects (media)
• EU: High-level meeting between Kosovo and Serbia in early September (Lajmi)
• Kosovo FM: U.S. should broker Kosovo-Serbia final deal (media)
• PDK MP: AAK too small to have the post of Kosovo President (media)
• Numan Balic arrested on suspicion of sexual harassment (media)

 Kosovo Media Highlights

COVID-19: 193 new cases, eight deaths (media)

193 new cases of coronavirus and eight deaths have been recorded in Kosovo during the last 24-hour period, said head of National Institute for Public Health, Naser Ramadani, at a news conference yesterday.

205 recoveries have meanwhile been confirmed over the same time period.

Ramadani expressed cautious optimism saying there is a ‘moderate, slow, gradual, but certain” decline in the number of new cases.

Prishtina with 56 new recorded cases remains Kosovo’s coronavirus hotspot.

At the same time, Prime Minister of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti said that the epidemiological situation in Kosovo is grave and that the number of cases remains high as does that of deaths. “The battle with this pandemic cannot be won only by the doctors, nurses, police, and the inspectorate. This is everyone’s battle, of each and every citizen. High level of awareness is required to protect public health or else we risk facing a disappointing situation,” Hoti said.

There are currently 4,453 active cases of coronavirus in Kosovo of the total of 11,774.

PM Hoti: We have allocated €365 mil from economic recovery fund (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti said on Thursday that following consultations with respective ministers, the government has allocated €365 million from the economic recovery fund for 2020.

Hoti said there would be full transparency in the allocation of the funds, including the chambers of commerce, independent professionals, municipalities and development partners.

Prishtina Mayor: €365 mil for economic recovery? Not even close (media)

Prishtina Mayor ShpendAhmeti took to Facebook on Thursday to comment on the government’s decision to allocate €365 million from the economic recovery fund. “365 million for economic recovery? Not even close!” Ahmeti said.

MPs to discuss bills on COVID-19 and economic recovery on Friday (media)

Members of the Kosovo Assembly will meet today for the second reading of the draft law on the prevention and fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and for the first reading of the draft law on economic recovery after COVID-19.

During the session which will start at 11:00, MPs are also expected to set up an investigative parliamentary committee on the licensing, operation, oversight and application of licenses for hydropower plants in Kosovo. 

Leaders from Kosovo and Serbia to meet in Washington (media)

The U.S. Presidential Envoy for Kosovo-Serbia negotiations, Richard Grenell, announced that representatives of Kosovo and Serbia are expected to meet in Washington in September.

“We are happy to announce that the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia will meet at the White House for a negotiation on September 2,” Grenell tweeted. 

Hoti about Washington meeting: We will discuss economic projects (media)

In connection to the upcoming meeting in Washington announced by U.S. envoy Richard Grenell, Prime Minister of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti said the focus will be on economic projects.

“On 2 September we will meet at the White House to discuss with the Serbian side, as two independent countries, capital projects of economic cooperation that will change the economic perspective of Kosovo and the region,” Hoti wrote on Facebook adding that Kosovo is blessed with friends it has. 

EU: High-level meeting between Kosovo and Serbia in early September (Lajmi)

Nabila Massrali, spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs and Security Policies of the European Union, told the news website on Thursday that the EU-brokered dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia is continuing and that it resumed in July with two-high level meetings.

On the high-level meeting between Kosovo and Serbia in early September, Massrali said the meeting was set with the approval of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti.

Asked about expectations from the upcoming meeting, Massrali said the European Union is working with the parties on the full normalisation of relations and the resolution of all outstanding issues.

Kosovo FM: U.S. should broker Kosovo-Serbia final deal (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla, took to Twitter on Thursday to welcome the joint statement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates on the full normalisation of relations mediated by the United States of America.

Haradinaj-Stublla also said “U.S. leadership is crucial to achieve diplomatic breakthroughs that aim stability and peace around the world. Kosovo – Serbia final agreement should also be brokered by US leadership”.

PDK MP: AAK too small to have the post of Kosovo President (media)

Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP Ferat Shala said on Thursday that this party has not discussed joining the Hoti-led government and that the rumors are “games by the ruling parties for their interests”.

Asked to comment on AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj’s candidacy for Kosovo President, Shala said the AAK never had the majority in parliament and that it is a small party to have the post of President.

Numan Balic arrested on suspicion of sexual harassment (media)

Most news outlets reported on Wednesday that Numan Balic, former Minister of Health, was arrested on Thursday on the suspicion of sexually harassing a female patient at Peja hospital where Balic works as a doctor.

A spokesman for the prosecutor’s office in Peja confirmed the information to Kallxo news website.