• COVID-19: 49 new cases, three deaths (media)
• Szunyog: A legally-binding agreement, condition for EU accession (Koha)
• Grenell: After economy, Trump will also engage on political solution (media)
• EU Enlargement Commissioner Varhelyi to visit Kosovo (media)
• Limaj: PDK entitled to president’s post if it joins coalition (Telegrafi)
• Economic recovery draft law to be put to vote for the sixth time (media)
• Hoxhaj: PDK will not vote the law for economic recovery (RTK)
• VV: Hoti to report on suspending bids to join international organisations (media)
• Government to reintroduce Ministry of European Integration (media)
• Trump thanks Vucic for 4 September agreement with Kosovo (RTK/Klan)
• Kosovo Missing Persons’ Families Seek to Join Talks with Serbia (Balkan Insight)
• EU official touts extra billions for Western Balkans (AP)

COVID-19: 49 new cases, three deaths (media)

Kosovo’s National Institute for Public Health said yesterday that 49 new cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the last 24 hours.

92 persons have meanwhile recovered from the virus during this time and three deaths were recorded.

The highest number of new cases is from the municipality of Prishtina (22).

There are currently 1,396 active coronavirus cases in Kosovo.

Szunyog: A legally-binding agreement, condition for EU accession (Koha)

Head of the EU Office in Kosovo Tomas Szunyog said that integration of Kosovo and Serbia in the European Union is conditioned by the two parties reaching a comprehensive and legally binding agreement. He said Kosovo has assumed the duty to establish the Association of Serb-majority municipalities and the Kosovo team has to put forward modalities for implementing it.

“No doubt continued commitment to dialogue and achievement of a comprehensive and legally binding agreement for normalisation of relations that would resolve all open issues, is a condition. Naturally, it is important for both sides to continue implementation of existing agreements,” Szunyog said at a video press conference.

On the issue of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, Szunyog said: “It is an obligation taken on in 2013 and 2015. In fact in 2013 it was ratified by the majority of Assembly MPs. So from my perspective, this is also an internal issue and a constitutional duty for Kosovo to proceed with this engagement. Part of this engagement is also the role of the Constitutional Court which has given its word following the agreement and naturally the implementation should be fully in line with the ruling of the Constitutional Court.”

He also noted that Kosovo needs a strong leadership in order to address the findings of the most recent Progress Report. “We have often heard that European Union membership is a strategic goal but it also requires strong political leadership for the European integration agenda.”

Grenell: After economy, Trump will also engage on political solution (media)

The U.S. presidential envoy for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia Richard Grenellsaid the U.S. President Donald Trump will engage on normalization of the political relations between Kosovo and Serbia. He made this statement during a debate he had with an organization of Serbs living in the United States.

“Initially, conditions for economic progress in Western Balkans will be created, and after this he will deal with political issues,” Grenell is quoted as saying.

Earlier he said that the U.S. will only be dealing with economic problems between Kosovo and Serbia, and that the European Union will be dealing with the political aspect.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Varhelyi to visit Kosovo (media)

European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, is expected to visit Kosovo as part of his tour of Western Balkans.

In Kosovo, Varhelyi will meet Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, members of the Kosovo government, and opposition representatives. The EU Commissioner will also meet Assembly Speaker Vjosa Osmani and address the Assembly.

Limaj: PDK entitled to president’s post if it joins coalition (Telegrafi)

Leader of the Social Democratic Initiative (NISMA) and junior partner in the ruling coalition, Fatmir Limaj, said in an interview for RTV Dukagjini that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) should get the post of Kosovo president if it agrees to join the government.

“This coalition needs to also communicate with others to elect a president. Without talks, no political force will be able to elect the president… I think the PDK should be given the post,” Limaj said adding that in entering the government the PDK would be the second major party and thus it would be a legitimate right to have the post of Kosovo president.

Limaj said the current government of Kosovo should be ‘expanded’ and ‘strengthened’. “More than anything, Kosovo needs a stable government.”

Economic recovery draft law to be put to vote for the sixth time (media)

Online media report that the draft law for economic recovery of Kosovo in light of the COVID-19 pandemic will be put up for vote for the sixth time in a row.

The previous attempts to pass the law failed due to lack of quorum in the Assembly.

The MPs will also be asked to vote on the draft law for protection of Kosovo Liberation Army values which, alike that on economic recovery, was not adopted for absence of quorum.

Hoxhaj: PDK will not vote the law for economic recovery (RTK)

Enver Hoxhaj, member of the leadership of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) spoke to the national broadcaster RTK about cooperation with Vetevendosje Movement (LVV).

“We stand too far with LVV and Mr. Kurti, for the fact that LVV and LDK did not create a genuine trust neither in the discussions for coalition or government, and this speaks a lot. We are opposition to the government, but not to the state. If the government says that there is no more technical dialogue and a major meeting for recognition takes part in Brussels, this tempts the PDK. We do not go at the meetings with Marko Djuric,” Hoxhaj said. According to him, LVV does not have the same logic when state is concerned.

Speaking about the law for economic recovery, which is to be voted today at the Assembly, Hoxhaj said they would not vote it in the current shape. “However, if Bedri Hamza sits with Avdullah Hoti and discuss, then things can change. If this happens, we would be able to consider it. However, we do not vote the package for economic recovery tomorrow,” Hoxhaj said.

VV: Hoti to report on suspending bids to join international organisations (media)

The parliamentary group of the Vetevendosje Movement has requested Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti report to Assembly on the decision to put a one-year moratorium on efforts to join international orgnisations as part of the commitments signed in Washington last month.

“The unilateral pledge made by Avdullah Hoti to suspend requests to gain membership in international organisations apart from being a one-year pause of Kosovo’ statehood in the international sphere and system is also constitutes blocking of many different initiatives, projects and  of the state of Kosovo and its institutions at the international multilateral level,” the party said in a statement.

Government to reintroduce Ministry of European Integration (media)

The Government of Kosovo in its meeting yesterday abrogated the concept document it had approved in August stating the intention to establish the Agency for European Integration.

Telegrafi interprets the move as being part of the government’s plan to instead reintroduce the Ministry of European Integration which was compressed during the previous government’s time in office.

Trump thanks Vucic for 4 September agreement with Kosovo (RTK/Klan)

The U.S. President Donald Trump, sent a letter to the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, to express appreciation for participation at the 4 September meeting, where the economic agreement with Kosovo was signed.

“Thank you for the gold coin and for joining me at the White House as we work toward lasting peace and prosperity in the Balkans.

I am heartened by your tremendous courage in beginning to normalize economic relations with Kosovo and look forward to continuing to create safer, stronger, and more prosperous region.

Best wishes to you and the great people of Serbia” reads the letter. 

Kosovo Missing Persons’ Families Seek to Join Talks with Serbia (Balkan Insight)

Nesrete Kumnova, head of the Kosovo NGO Mothers’ Cries, said on Wednesday that families of missing persons are upset that the Kosovo authorities have not prioritised the missing persons issue at the ongoing EU-mediated talks with Serbia, and said that she wants to become part of Pristina’s delegation.

“We insist on being part of the delegation in Brussels,” Kumnova, whose son was among those who disappeared during the Kosovo war, told BIRN.

“We are definitely disappointed because this issue, the clarification of the fate of missing persons, of our people who were kidnapped in their own homes and in the streets, must be a priority,” she said.

Over 1,600 people, mainly ethnic Albanians but also some Serbs, are still listed as missing from the Kosovo war.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3iDYgsz

EU official touts extra billions for Western Balkans (AP)

The European Union’s enlargement commissioner said Wednesday that the bloc is seeking to secure another 20 billion euros ($24 billion) of investment to help the Western Balkans catch up economically with the rest of Europe.

While in Skopje on the first leg of his Balkan tour, Oliver Varhelyi said the funds the EU plans to raise with its international financial partners would help the region recover from the financial fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3jERvbq