• COVID-19: 20 new cases, one death (media)
• PDK’s Haxhiu: Norway donating vaccines with imminent expiration date (media)
• Kosovo PM Kurti meets French President Macron (media)
• Kurti: We can discuss with Serbia status of our relations, not Kosovo’s (Koha)
• Analysts comment on Kurti-Macron meeting (Telegrafi)
• President Osmani meets Chancellor Kurz during her visit to Austria (media)
• U.S. submits report on water management at Ujmani/Gazivode Lake (media)
• Hoti reacts to the U.S. report on Ujmani/Gazivode Lake (media)
• Sauer: Ahtisaari package provides a balanced solution in dialogue (Koha)
• Haxhiu speaks about Kosovo’s plan to sue Serbia for genocide (ABC News)
• Izetbegovic: Kosovo and Republika Srpska cannot be compared (Koha)

COVID-19: 20 new cases, one death (media)

Kosovo has recorded 20 new cases of COVID-19 and one death in the last 24-hour period. 19 recoveries were confirmed during this time.

There are currently 172 active cases of coronavirus in Kosovo.

PDK’s Haxhiu: Norway donating vaccines with imminent expiration date (media)

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP Bekim Haxhiu reacted to the news that Norway would be donating 180,000 doses of AstraZeneca anti COVID vaccines to Kosovo saying it was ‘yet another deceit’ by the Government of Kosovo.

“The AstraZeneca vaccines that Norway removed from use months ago have been offered to Kosovo as a donation but unfortunately a part of this shipment has only seven more days to expiration date,” Haxhiu said in a Facebook post.

Kosovo PM Kurti meets French President Macron (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti met the French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris yesterday and thanked him for the contribution his country has provided to Kosovo.

At a joint press conference ahead of the meeting, Kurti said Kosovo is closely following developments in Brussels, especially following the visit of the U.S. President Joe Biden. “We believe a new political situation is being created, better thought out situation with a more articulated, more balanced participation and a higher level of trust. In such a situation we will contribute with all we can, in the region with good neighbourly relations and towards European perspective and integration. I feel honoured to have the opportunity to speak to you about our developments. Our small country has a mission to ensure a rule of law state, with the same quality as great democratic countries  that include France. There is no field where Kosovo cannot benefit from France and I invite you to visit Kosovo,” Kurti said.

President Macron called on Kosovo and Serbia to engage in dialogue as Europeans and find a compromise solution. He said Kosovo is of special interest to the European Union and that France will support it in all processes that can move it forward. “Integration of Kosovo into the European Union also includes resolution of issues with Serbia and normalisation of relations between your countries,” he said, adding that this would contribute to the long-term stability of the Western Balkans.

According to a press release issued by the Government of Kosovo, ahead of the meeting between Kurti and Macron, Kosovo’s Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla met his French counterpart Gerald Darmanin whereby Svecla underlined that Kosovo has met all the visa liberalisation criteria.

Kurti: We can discuss with Serbia status of our relations, not Kosovo’s (Koha)

In an interview with the French public broadcaster, Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti said that Kosovo and Serbia would discuss their relations in the dialogue but not the status of Kosovo.

“Serbia wants to know what we can give in return for its recognition but we cannot disregard the elephant in the room, which is mutual recognition. It is up to Belgrade to decide when it will do that. Independence of Kosovo, its territorial integrity, state sovereignty, functioning – are not up for discussion,” Kurti said after the meeting he had with the French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

Kurti also spoke about the visa liberalisation process and that while France did not provide assurances it would support a positive decision, Kosovo has made significant progress in the last months in the fight against corruption and organised crime. “At the end of the day, we need to strengthen our home, our country, I hope our friends in the EU will also help in ending this injustice to our citizens,” he said.

Analysts comment on Kurti-Macron meeting (Telegrafi)

A group of political commentator discussed in a RTV Dukagjini debate last night the meeting between Prime Minister Albin Kurti and President of France Emmanuel Macron.

Imer Mushkolaj said the meeting was between two statesmen but while Kurti spoke about inter-state relations in a joint press conference after the meeting, “it seemed the meeting focused on dialogue”. Xhevdet Pozhari meanwhile said they were witnessing the revival of Kosovo’s diplomacy. “While we had President Thaci, Kosovo was somewhat isolated as Thaci made no international visits and foreign dignitaries were not coming to Kosovo.

Dardan Gashi argued however that despite Kurti’s attempt to showcase the meeting with Macron as bilateral, the reality is that was not the case. “Macron did not invite Kurti there because France has significant trade or cultural ties with Kosovo but only because of the dialogue. France has been ready to also get involved in the dialogue over territories. Let’s not forget France is the biggest blocker of Kosovo in relation to visa liberalisation.”

Visar Ymeri said the meeting between Kurti and Macron was part of the pressure on the dialogue issue. “Macron said before the media that the goal was dialogue. He said he expects Kosovo and Serbia to find a compromise solution like Europeans. Compromise to Europeans is the preferred form for resolving problems.”

President Osmani meets Chancellor Kurz during her visit to Austria (media)

As she continued her official visit to Austria, President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani met Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and thanked him for Austria’s continued support to Kosovo, as well as for the donation of 95,000 doses of the vaccine against coronavirus.

According to a press release issued by Kosovo’s Presidency, Osmani said it was in the interest of Kosovo for the support to continue with the visa liberalisation process and strengthening of Kosovo’s international subjectivity. Speaking about dialogue with Serbia, Osmani said the process should be between two equal parties and conclude in mutual recognition.

She underlined that justice for war crimes, missing persons and respect for Kosovo’s sovereignty and territorial and constitutional integrity are prerequisites for sustainable peace in the region.

Kurz meanwhile tweeted: “Very good exchange with @VjosaOsmaniPRKS. Austria will continue its support for #Kosovo and call for #EUIntegration of the entire Western Balkans region. Dialogue and direct communication must be the cornerstones for stability in the region.”

U.S. submits report on water management at Ujmani/Gazivode Lake (media)

The U.S. Embassy in Pristina announced that together with the Embassy in Belgrade they delivered the U.S. Department of Energy Pacific Northwest National Laboratory report on water management at Ujmani/Gazivode to the Kosovan and Serbian governments, fulfilling one of the September 4 Washington commitments.

The report provides recommendations aimed at promoting regional water and energy security which include: upgrading the water infrastructure by implementing World Bank recommendations on the Ibër-Lepenc/Ibar-Lepenac Canal, including the Mihaliq/Mijalić Reservoir, to enhance the reliability of the water supply system and the region’s water security; implementing Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system at Gazivode/Ujmani hydropower plant to enhance power plant revenues and further support load balancing; implementing a river commission and valuation of river services that would support regional stakeholders and coordinate river operations; and improving the  predictability of the water supply proposing that Serbia and Kosovo explore the value of seasonal and short-term flow forecasts, which are forecast products available from the European Commission in the Balkans region, in order to enhance Gazivode/Ujmani System operations planning.

“Studies of long-term electricity resource adequacy and reliability in the region are challenged by the uncertainty in socioeconomic development, including potential energy and industrial transformations. Stronger water and energy security supported by our recommendations is expected to trigger investor engagement and support less uncertain projections of socioeconomic development in the region,” the summary of the report notes.

Hoti reacts to the U.S. report on Ujmani/Gazivode Lake (media)

Former Prime Minister of Kosovo, Avdullah Hoti, reacted to the report submitted to Kosovo and Serbia by the U.S. Department of Energy Pacific Northwest National Laboratory report on water management at Ujmani/Gazivode Lake, as part of the commitments Kosovo and Serbia agreed to at the White House meeting in September 4.

Hoti said the people that are currently in power in Kosovo and some in the opposition should now apologise for criticising the Washington Agreement as, “time is shedding light to all the truths and electoral and political deceits.”

“Those that are now in the Government SHOULD make sure to implement projects stemming from the Washington Agreement: railway and highway projects, renewable energy, gas supply, and creation of opportunities for funding private businesses of Kosovo in U.S. financial markets. Otherwise they will not last long, just as they didn’t last year,” Hoti wrote on Facebook.

Sauer: Ahtisaari package provides a balanced solution in dialogue (Koha)

Kai Jürgen Mikael Sauer, fomer senior adviser to Martti Ahtisaari, said the Kosovo status package was prepared by leading international experts on the rights of minorities and that it can provide a balanced solution in the final stage of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

Sauer, who also worked as a senior advisor with UNMIK, said ahead of a visit to Kosovo that the main goal of the dialogue is to produce a solution that is sustainable, serves the long-term interest of the parties and contributes to regional stability. “Kosovo will be measured by the treatment of its minorities, as well as the respect for religious and cultural heritage. International and European standards need to be met or else Kosovo risks being exposed to criticism and lose its high moral ground and international political support.”

Haxhiu speaks about Kosovo’s plan to sue Serbia for genocide (ABC News)

Kosovo’s Minister of Justice Albulena Haxhiu in an interview with Tirana-based ABC News said Kosovo intends to see through the issue of suing Serbia for genocide and said such a lawsuit could also be submitted by Albania on the behalf of Kosovo.

“The Office of the Prime Minister is working with increased focus, seriousness, carefully, and has full cooperation with other institutions,” she said, adding that for the first time in many years the leading institutions of Kosovo are on the same page.

Haxhiu said the failure to submit a lawsuit against Serbia was due to the lack of political will. “Unfortunately those that headed the war did not undertake any action to address war crimes.”

Izetbegovic: Kosovo and Republika Srpska cannot be compared (Koha)

Bakir Izetbegovic, leader of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, said no parallels should be drawn between Kosovo and Republika Srpska.

“The state of Serbia has proven it has no right to govern Kosovo. It has done this to itself. Kosovo was an autonomous region while the Republika Srpska is one of the entities in Bosnia thanks to the Constitution, which may change tomorrow. These two cannot be compared,” he said.