EULEX’s mandate extended to 14 June 2018 (Koha)
The paper reports on its front page that while the European Union and the Kosovo government are negotiating the details of the mandate of the EU Rule of Law mission in Kosovo (EULEX), EU member states have already reached an agreement that the mandate of this mission should be extended at least for another two years. It is believed that Kosovo still needs the EU’s presence in the rule of law area and to address security challenges. Citing diplomatic sources, the paper reports that during the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives in the European Union on Wednesday, member states agreed in principle that EULEX’s mandate should be extended until 14 June 2018. The committee also decided on a €34.5 million budget for one year (until 14 June 2017) for EULEX, and a budget of €31.5 million for the Special Court that will address war crimes allegations. “We are aware that we don’t have much time. Practically there are 10 working days left before the current mandate of the EU mission expires. Therefore, everything needs to be ready so that we can have a clear mandate after June 14,” an EU diplomatic source in Brussels told the paper.
President Thaçi to visit Brussels next week (Koha)
Kosovo President, Hashim Thaçi, is expected to visit Brussels next week, the paper reports on page three. EU diplomatic sources in Brussels told the paper that preparations are underway to arrange meetings between Thaçi and the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and the President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker. The EU wants Thaçi to cooperate on the extension of the mandate of EULEX, the work of the special court and the implementation of agreements reached in the EU-brokered dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. Thaci will eventually need to exchange letters with the EU High Representative, Federica Mogherini, for the extension of EULEX’s mandate.
Unilateral Association/Community, unacceptable for Kosovo (Zeri)
The paper reports in a front-page story that the warning of Kosovo Serbs to unilaterally establish the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities is unacceptable for Kosovo government and opposition. Such action, according to the government, would be a waste of time and also an obstacle for Serbs’ integration process. Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, said if Serbia does not respect the Brussels agreement, it would block its membership in the European Union. She also added that unilateral establishment of the Association/Community, would be an impossible step. On the other hand, Zgjim Hyseni from Vetevëndosje said that Serbia always takes unilateral actions so according to him, everything is expected. He said the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities is unacceptable for Vetevëndosje, whether created by the government of Kosovo or Serbia.
“Government has not enough votes to ratify demarcation deal” (Kosova Sot)
The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP, Arben Gashi, said that the ruling coalition has not yet secured enough votes to ratify the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. He suggested that the problem could be resolved through an alternative option which would take into account the views of all, including that of his fellow-party member, Shpejtim Bulliqi, who claims that the border demarcation agreement strips Kosovo of land.
Reuters: Visa liberalization for Kosovo postponed? (Epoka e Re)
The paper quotes reports from the Reuters news agency saying that European Union member states failed to agree on lifting visa regime for European Union states held off agreeing to ease travel rules for Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Kosovo. As a result, there could be more delays in visa waiving as the bloc turns more cautious amid immigration fears, Reuters quoted EU delegation sources as saying.
Mustafa: Law on Trepça will be finalized before November (Koha)
Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, said on Wednesday that the law on the Trepça mining complex will be finalized before November in order to avoid the liquidation of this enterprise. During a visit to the Privatization Agency of Kosovo, Mustafa said that a draft law has already been prepared and that it will be discussed with all parties of interest. “The law will have to be adopted in the Assembly before November so that we can avoid eventual problems that may arise,” Mustafa added.
“Women to lead fight against extremism” (Zeri)
Journalist and human rights activist from Yemen, Tawakkoli Karman, in an interview with the paper said that Western countries should know that they will not be able to fight terrorism and extremism without supporting human rights and freedoms. She also said that women should lead the fight against extremism and terrorism. “I encourage all the women in world to fight for equality and their rights,” Karman said. Karman, who is a Nobel Peace Prize winner, is participating in the Interfaith Dialogue conference which is being held in Pristina.
Two EP members want to stop Kosovo’s EU prospects due to Wahhabism (Koha)
Dominique Bilde and Edouard Ferrand, members of the European Parliament from the National Front in France, have prepared a draft resolution on Kosovo. The resolution calls for investigations and explanations into alleged funding from Saudi Arabia and other countries aimed at spreading Wahhabism in Kosovo.
Thaçi: Why Kosovo, Balkans found relief in Austria’s election result (Euractiv)
In an opinion piece for Euractiv, Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaçi writes, “I have sent my congratulations to President-elect Alexander Van Der Bellen and I look forward to working with him on the issues that unite our region with Vienna – the old capital of the Habsburg Empire – that has played a crucial role in our history, culture – even our architecture. The choice of the president was a completely Austrian affair and it would have been inappropriate for any of us in the Balkans to have spoken in favour of either candidate during the campaign. However, the election was vitally important for us in Kosovo and the wider region. Like his far-right counterparts in France and Germany, Norbert Hofer attacked the foreign policy of the Austrian establishment that recognised the sovereignty and independence of Kosovo. He also publicly stated that “it would be wrong to admit Kosovo to international organisations, as it would only cause problems”. This is the sort of argument we are used to hearing from Putin’s Moscow, but not from a country with such a long history of supporting the self-determination of the former Yugoslav republics who won their freedom from Serbian dictator Slobodan Milošević. Austria became a beacon of hope when she opened the doors of her universities for our students after Serbia banned Albanian language teaching in occupied Kosovo in early 1990s. I, personally, will never forget the homages to democracy and human rights uttered by politicians such as Alois Mock and Otto Von Habsburg when I was a student. This is why we in Kosovo were so shocked that a politician could climb to within touching distance of their national presidency on a platform that dismissed decades of established, progressive policies that have helped the Balkans overcome hate and nationalism. Hofer’s platform, like other far-right movements in Europe is based on the Huntingtonian concept of the clash of civilizations and on promoting the theory that Islam is incompatible with Europe. For us in Kosovo, Albania or Bosnia, with large strata of our societies belonging to the Muslim faith, this effectively excludes us from feeling part of the continent where we have lived for centuries, indeed millennia.”
