• In Greece, Kurti has meetings with Lajcak, Escobar (media)
• Escobar: Western Balkans countries belong in the EU (media)
• Kurti urges Greece to recognise Kosovo (media)
• No Solution in Sight as License Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia Set to Expire (Exit)
• Kosovo Government writes to EU, requests visa liberalisation (Koha)
• Vela, Hoxhaj react after reports that China has shipped weapons to Serbia (media)
• Dodik: Kurti to stop destabilisation of Kosovo (Koha)
• Murder threat against Dick Marty, Swiss politician to Vucic: Stop inciting violence and hatred (media)
• Court suspends ERO’s decision on new electricity tariffs (Kosovapress)
• COVID-19: 34 new cases, no deaths (media)

In Greece, Kurti has meetings with Lajcak, Escobar (media)

On the sidelines of the Delphi Economic Forum, Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti had meetings on Friday with the EU Special Envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, and the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary and Special Representative to the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar.

The Kurti-Lajcak meeting focused on the progress the progress of the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia, and next steps. Kurti stressed that the Government of Kosovo is committed to a principled and balanced dialogue which would be of benefit to citizens of both sides. They also discussed license plates issue with Kurti recalling that an agreement needs to be based on European Union standards and best practices.

Lajcak said he an important discussion with Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti. “We spoke about current issues and next steps in the Dialogue on normalisation of relations with Serbia. The time for progress is now,” he wrote on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Kurti and Escobar discussed developments in Europe and Western Balkans and the importance of peace and stability in this region, with particular emphasis on the Russian military invasion and aggression against Ukraine, a press release from the Office of Kosovo Prime Minister stated. To this end, Kurti emphasized the need of directing attention to the region and investments in Kosovo. He also reiterated the necessity of Western Balkans’ full integration in NATO and European Union as a measure of guaranteeing peace and stability in the region and the European continent.

Escobar on his part is said to have confirmed U.S. support for Kosovo, its sovereignty and territorial integrity and Kosovo’s aspirations towards European and Euro-Atlantic integrations.

Escobar: Western Balkans countries belong in the EU (media)

The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said that the six Western Balkan countries belong in the European Union.

“All countries that have joined the EU have become more democratic, more stable and more prosperous. This is precisely what we want for all the countries of the Western Balkans, including Serbia,” Escobar told N1. He added: “I hope that all these countries will have a clear path to Europe, an open door, and that the process is completed within a reasonable time.”

Kurti urges Greece to recognise Kosovo (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti and Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla met Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on the margins of the Delphi Economic Forum.

In acknowledging Greece’s foreign policy role towards Kosovo, Kurti said recognition of Kosovo’s independence would contribute to peace and stability in the Western Balkans and in Europe, a statement issued by the Kosovo Government said. “Prime Minister Kurti underlined the importance of Greece’s support as an important country in the region on visa liberalisation for the citizens of Kosovo.”

No Solution in Sight as License Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia Set to Expire (Exit)

With two weeks to go until the expiration of the temporary agreement signed by Kosovo and Serbia in October 2021 to regulate license plates, a permanent solution has yet to be found.

Since October 2021, representatives from both countries and the EU have met in Brussels to discuss a permanent solution, with the latest meeting taking place on Wednesday, April 7.

On Twitter, Miroslav Lajčák, the European Union’s Special Representative for the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue, urged the parties to collaborate, signalling that an agreement is far from certain.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3Ku6su5

Kosovo Government writes to EU, requests visa liberalisation (Koha)

Koha reported that the Government of Kosovo has written to 27 members of the European Union listing the “homework” is has carried out as part of the visa liberalisation criteria. In the letter, dated 15 March, the Government called on the EU to end the visa regime for the people of Kosovo.

“Kosovo institutions have done their part. It is now up to the EU Council to end the isolation of Kosovars and restore the EU’s credibility. In this regard, the French presidency of the Council of the EU must unblock the delayed process of lifting short-term visas for the citizens of Kosovo,” the letter, which Koha says has a copy of, reads.

Vela, Hoxhaj react after reports that China has shipped weapons to Serbia (media)

The chief of staff of President Vjosa Osmani’s cabinet, Blerim Vela, has expressed concern over the development, saying it is the second day of shipment of Chinese arms, and that Serbia’s membership in Europe should be stopped.

“Second day of shipments of Chinese arms to Serbia: several flights of PLAAF (Chinese Air Force) flew over Bosphorus en route to Batajnica Air Base to deliver Guizhou Aerospace Industry Shaanxi Yellow River Group manufactured HQ22 Red Banner SAM system’s export version FK3,” he wrote.

Enver Hoxhaj, MP and former FM, also reacted on Twitter: “The recent shipment of weapons from China to Serbia, previously also from Russia, poses a serious threat to the Western Balkans, especially to Kosovo. We are in an era when states are divided into democracies versus autocracies. “China and Serbia have chosen the latter to be together.”

Dodik: Kurti to stop destabilisation of Kosovo (Koha)

Milorad Dodik, Serb member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Presidency, has accused Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti for “destabilising Kosovo”.

Asked by Republika Srpska news agency, SRNA, to comment on Kurti’s statement that “Republika Srpska is a threat to the Western Balkans”, Dodik said such words are expected from a “fake prime minister of a fake country”. “Known as a person who does not respect the agreements and who destabilises the southern Serbian province from time to time, he has now given himself the right to give lessons for the region. It would be wiser to say that Republika Srpska should have the same status as Kosovo, since he already commented on Republika Srpska,” Dodik said.

Murder threat against Dick Marty, Swiss politician to Vucic: Stop inciting violence and hatred (media)

Swiss politician Cedric Wermuth, co-president of the Social Democratic Party, has reacted to allegations by former Council of Europe rapporteur Dick Marty that he has been threatened by Serbian intelligence circles and that he is therefore under strong police surveillance. Wermuth echoed Marty’s words to the Swiss Public Broadcaster, RTS, that “certain circles of the Serbian intelligence services who asked the underworld, professional killers, to liquidate me simply to put the blame on the Kosovars.”

“But this is unacceptable: the Serbian state tried to kill Marty and blame the former KLA fighters,” he wrote on Facebook. According to Wermuth, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is trying aggressively to sow hatred and violence in region and separate Kosovo from Europe.

Court suspends ERO’s decision on new electricity tariffs (Kosovapress)

The Basic Court in Pristina decided on Friday to temporarily suspend the execution of Energy Regulatory Office’s decision to increase the price of electricity after a lawsuit from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK).

PDK claimed that by not including the four northern municipalities in the new electricity tariff payment plan, ERO has not only discriminated based on the residence location but has also violated the law.

COVID-19: 34 new cases, no deaths (media)

34 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Kosovo in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health reported. 31 persons recovered during this time. There are 544 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.