• COVID-19: 43 new cases, two deaths (media)
• Mutual recognition end goal of dialogue, Hoti tells Lajcak (media)
• Lajcak: Time To Bring The Process To An End (CorD)
• Agenda of Kosovo-Albania governments meeting revealed (media)
• Trump writes to Rama, thanks him for supporting Washington Agreement (RTK)
• Boehler: Kosovo, Serbia showed commitment towards economic normalisation (Koha)
• Maas: We are working on visa liberalisation for Kosovo (DW/Kallxo)
• Kosovo’s foreign minister invited to visit Israel (media)
• Kraja: Washington Agreement cannot be described as ‘historic’ (Klan)
• Gucati makes first appearance before Specialist Chambers (media)
• Klinaku: Specialist Chambers’ mandate has run out, we will address court (Telegrafi)
• Ombudsperson calls for suspension of decision to expel Kurti’s former advisor (Kallxo)

COVID-19: 43 new cases, two deaths (media)

Kosovo’s National Institute for Public Health said yesterday that 43 new cases of coronavirus and two deaths have been recorded in the last 24 hours.

123 persons have recovered from the virus during this time.

The highest number of new cases is from the municipality of Prishtina (15).

The current number of active COVID-19 cases in Kosovo is 1,590.

Mutual recognition end goal of dialogue, Hoti tells Lajcak (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti had a teleconference meeting with the EU Special Representative for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue Miroslav Lajcak.

“I just had a substantial and fruitfull [sic.] discussion w @MiroslavLajcak, whom I thanked for his commitment in the dialogue. Kosovo remains committed to the dialogue process which should result in a legally binding agreement leading to mutual recognition,” Hoti wrote on Twitter.

Lajcak on his part tweeted: “Good to speak to Prime Minister @Avdullah today to exchange views on the current state of play of the Flag of European Union-facilitated Dialogue and future activities.”

Lajcak: Time To Bring The Process To An End (CorD)

There is absolutely no rivalry between the U.S. and the EU regarding the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, says Miroslav Lajcak, European envoy for that process, speaking for CorD Magazine.

However, he explains that the EU wasn’t familiarised with the contents of the documents signed by Aleksandar Vucic and Avdullah Hoti in Washington, although Europeans consider the Americans as being their main partner in the Western Balkans. The dialogue on the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina is by no means easy, because if it was then it would already have been completed, says Miroslav Lajcak, who nonetheless still believes that “a comprehensive agreement can be reached in months rather than years”. For that to happen, he says, it is necessary for both sides to “show generosity and seek compromises, so that ultimately everyone wins a little bit for the benefit of their people”.

“The Washington meeting covers previous dialogue agreements and topics currently under discussion in Brussels, already existing EU-financed infrastructure projects and the positions of the U.S. government…We welcome it if the commitments made at the White House mean that the U.S. will contribute financially to existing projects,” he said.

Read more: https://bit.ly/34iHYQB

Agenda of Kosovo-Albania governments meeting revealed (media)

The agenda of the joint meeting between the governments of Kosovo and Serbia has been sent to the media and will start off with a separate meeting of prime ministers Avdullah Hoti and Edi Rama and will also include the signing of inter-government agreements. The meeting will conclude with a joint press conference of the two prime ministers.

Telegrafi reports that some of the agreements expected to be signed at the meeting in Tirana include a railway line between Pristina and Durres, a customs point for Kosovo in Durres and a water plant for Kosovo’s use in Albania.

Trump writes to Rama, thanks him for supporting Washington Agreement (RTK)

The U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama thanking him for “Albania’s leadership in the Balkans region and throughout Europe in exposing China’s malign influence, human rights abuses and predatory lending practices.”

Trump also thanked Rama for his support to the normalisation of economic relations between Serbia and Kosovo. “I encourage you to join the United States and other European nations in moving your embassy to Jerusalem,” Trump added in the letter with PM Rama published on social media.

Boehler: Kosovo, Serbia showed commitment towards economic normalisation (Koha)

Head of the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Adam Boehler, said the results from his recent visit to the region, including to Kosovo and Serbia, are impressive and that parties have demonstrated commitment and seriousness in implementing agreement signed in Washington on 4 September.

“Our policy is focused at economic normalisation. I want to congratulate the leaders of the two countries because it was difficult to move forward and focus on economy issues,” Boehler said in a teleconference with media representatives.

He underlined that the Washington agreement will speed up investments but did not say what amount these investments will reach adding that this will depend on the proposals they receive. “Cooperation and benefits are for the people of the two countries, to open new jobs and leave conflicts aside.”

Maas: We are working on visa liberalisation for Kosovo (DW/Kallxo)

Germany, which is presiding over the EU, is working intensively to secure a consensus for visa liberalisation for Kosovo, DW reported.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas spoke in a virtual news conference about the region and with regards to Kosovo he noted: “There are still some countries that have doubts. I cannot give ant predictions as to when visa liberalisation for Kosovo will happen but I can say it is a topic we are intensively working on.”

Kosovo’s foreign minister invited to visit Israel (media)

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla had a telephone conversation with Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabriel Ashkenazi which she described as ‘historic’ and important step forward in establishment of diplomatic relations between Kosovo and Israel.

“I assured my Israeli counterpart that Kosovo is fully committed to build close cooperation in all fields of common interest, while also honouring our great and joint friend and ally, the United States of America. I confirmed to Mr. Ashkenazi our goal to open Embassy in Jerusalem,” Haradinaj-Stublla wrote on Facebook adding that she received invitation to visit Israel.

Kraja: Washington Agreement cannot be described as ‘historic’ (Klan)

Head of Kosovo’s Academy of Arts and Science, Mehmet Kraja, said in an interview with Klan Kosova that the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia signed in Washington in September cannot be considered historic. “To make history is more complicated than that. This is more of a political agreement which served the political momentum of the United States and of Serbia as well, and less so of Kosovo.”

“It serves Kosovo not so much as there there is no emergency with regards to relations with Serbia. It would be good to have a comprehensive and final agreement but this is not close and is not likely to happen,” Kraja added.

Gucati makes first appearance before Specialist Chambers (media)

Chairman of the Kosovo Liberation Army War Veterans’ Organisations, Hysni Gucati, made his first appearance before the Specialist Chambers after being arrested on 25 September for offences against the administration of justice, namely intimidation of witnesses, retaliation and violation of secrecy of proceedings.

Gucati said it was he would have voluntarily surrendered if presented with an arrest warrant. “I was not informed about my arrest until the EULEX police came to my office. They could have notified me or someone from my family and there would be no problems. EULEX police did not have to go in the way it did to KLA organisations’ offices. They could have invited me, I would hand myself over.”

Gucati’s defence attorney asked the court to release his client on bail due to his health condition which the prosecution opposed arguing there is a risk of the accused repeating the actions that led to his arrest.

The prosecutor said indictment against Gucati will be prepared within a 30-day period.

Klinaku: Specialist Chambers’ mandate has run out, we will address court (Telegrafi)

Acting chairman of the Kosovo Liberation Army War Veterans’ Organisations, Faton Klinaku, said that the mandate of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers has expired on 2 August and that they will challenge its legitimacy at court.

“Only the Constitutional Court interprets the Constitution of Kosovo. We will find ways to send this case to the Constitutional Court because the Specialist Chambers have no mandate,” Klinaku told RTV Dukagjini.

Ombudsperson calls for suspension of decision to expel Kurti’s former advisor (Kallxo)

The new Kosovo Ombudsperson Naim Qelaj has commented on the decision of Kosovo authorities to expel the former advisor to Albin Kurti and human rights lawyer, Tienmu Ma, saying he has asked Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and Interior Minister Agim Veliu to suspend the decision.

He said the made the request on the grounds that the Ministry of Interior Affairs had made a decision to suspend all procedures relating to permits and licenses until the anti-pandemic measures are in place.

In a letter to the U.S. Ambassador in Kosovo Philip Kosnett, Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, and the U.S. Assistant Deputy Secretary of State Matthew Palmer, a Yale University professor James Silk said he was deeply concerned with the effort to expel Tienmu Ma, who is a U.S. national, from Kosovo, especially amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Silk also said that the issue might be investigated by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.

Kallxo reports that based on documents it has managed to secure from the Ministry of Interior, the reason behind the decision to expel Ma is said to be that the applicant had failed to provide a translated copy of his diploma. However, Kallxo says that a translated diploma is part of the documents Ma submitted to Kosovo authorities.