Germany insists on new agreement between Pristina and Belgrade (Tribuna)
The upcoming Belgrade-Brussels conference that would mark the opening of Serbia’s EU accession talks is not likely to take place before spring and Kosovo analysts view the time in between as a perfect opportunity for Pristina to try and impose its conditions for securing recognition from Belgrade. At the same time, Serbian media have reported that Germany is insisting that Serbia must meet certain preconditions before it can participate in the EU conference, including full implementation of the Brussels Agreement and approval of an additional framework between Pristina and Belgrade, which is being referred to as Brussels 2.
Opposition assures internationals it won’t join with Vetevendosje (Kosova Sot)
Kosova Sot reports on the front page that continuous negotiations by the opposition bloc to include the Vetevendosje Movement in the Kosovo government appear to have stalled because internationals have made it clear to the opposition that they do not want Vetevendosje in the government. International sources say that after the Kosovo Assembly’s inauguration session on 17 July, the opposition bloc assured internationals that they will not accept Vetevendosje’s conditions and that Vetevendosje will not be part of the new government.
Mustafa: Sleep soundly, coalition will be sustainable (Tribuna)
The leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Isa Mustafa, said that a government involving the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) will be sustainable. “We will govern without conditions. We know the way. We managed to reach an agreement with AAK and NISMA, communicate with Vetevendosje and non-majority parties, and behave normally and democratically with PDK and its partners”, said Mustafa on Facebook.
Vetevendosje: Dialogue with Kosovo Serbs, not with Serbia (Koha)
The paper reports on the front page that the Vetevendosje Movement wants to transform what it calls a “closed” diplomatic dialogue in Brussels into an open and democratic dialogue with Kosovo Serbs. Vetevendosje representatives told the paper that it was Ramush Haradinaj, nominated for the post of Prime Minister by the opposition coalition, who suggested that Vetevendosje should lead the dialogue with Belgrade. Vetevendosje organizational secretary Dardan Molliqaj told the paper that Kosovo does not need dialogue for reconciliation, “but rather dialogue for development because economic and social development results in integration”. “We don’t need this kind of dialogue with Serbia; we need dialogue with Kosovo Serbs. Dialogue with Belgrade did not result in the integration of Kosovo Serbs and failed to unite Mitrovica,” he added. Molliqaj also suggested that Kosovo should start a new dialogue with Brussels for contractual relations between Kosovo and the European Union. This process would then be followed by dialogue with Belgrade, which Brussels could request in order to foster good neighborly relations between all Balkan states that wish to join the EU. “We want to have good neighborly relations with Serbia, but Serbia needs to change its position and actions vis-à-vis Kosovo and not the other way around,” Molliqaj added.
Agim Ceku has Plan B for Kosovo Security Force (Zeri)
In an interview for the paper, Kosovo Security Force Minister Agim Ceku said he was optimistic that the new Assembly will adopt constitutional amendments that would enable the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into the Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF). “But if it becomes clear that we cannot overcome the obstacles that they [Serbs] may present, we will move on with our Plan B, which means that we will not change the constitution, but only laws … KSF has met all requirements to transform into the Armed Forces,” Ceku added.
Family of youth killed in Syria blames imam in Gjilan/Gnjilane (Koha)
In a front-page story, the paper reports that the family of Patriot Matoshi, an 18-year-old from Kosovo who was recently killed in Syria while fighting for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), is accusing an imam in the city of Gjilan/Gnjilane, Zekrija Qazimi, for encouraging their son to join the jihad. “If he had given his life fighting for Albanian territories I wouldn’t have shed a single tear,” Ramadan Matoshi, Patriot’s father, told the paper. He also called on state institutions to find out how his son managed to travel to Turkey and who funded his travels. The paper contacted the imam who said that the youth’s father should address a court.
