Kosovo Assembly to review demarcation during this week (Zëri)
The paper reports in a front-page story that Kosovo Assembly is expected to review the draft law on border-demarcation agreement with Montenegro during this week. While the ruling coalition parties have urged their MPs to ratify the agreement, opposition parties said if the agreement would be ratified by two-thirds majority, the security situation in Kosovo might get tense. Kosovo Assembly Deputy Speaker, Xhavit Haliti, told the paper the Assembly is obliged to include in the agenda whatever the government sends. However, Haliti did not specify any date on when this might happen.
SG Ban urges Pristina and Belgrade to continue dialogue (Bota Sot)
The paper quotes UN officials as telling the news agency Presheva Jonë that the UN Security Council is expected to discuss the latest Kosovo report on 25 August. The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s quarterly report to the Security Council covers the period from 16 April to 15 July 2016 and expresses concern over the stagnation of integration processes in Kosovo, the institutional crisis, and particularly the paralyzing of the Kosovo Assembly’s work due to disagreements between the ruling and opposition parties on the border demarcation with Montenegro. In the report, SG Ban urges Pristina and Belgrade to continue the EU-facilitated dialogue towards a compromise. “Belgrade and Pristina continue to blame one another for the lack of progress,” Ban said.
Mustafa: Dialogue with Serbia should start in new format (RFE/Epoka e Re)
Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, during an interview with Radio Free Europe said that the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia from now on must be done in a completely different format and concept. He said the current format of the dialogue is not giving any results because the Serbian side lacks willingness and seriousness to address certain issues. “I believe the dialogue should start with a completely new format and concept, because with the current format and where we stand now, the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue is not bringing any results,” Mustafa said. He also indicated that Kosovo will complain to the European Union regarding Serbia’s behaviour in the dialogue. “We must have a clear agenda and also there must be a time limit on when this dialogue will end. We cannot waste time indefinitely in dialogue with Serbia,” Mustafa said.
PDK and LDK begin government reshuffling talks (Koha Ditore)
Coalition partners – the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) – are in talks over substantial changes to the government. The talks, taking place at the level of party leaders, are aimed at downsizing the current cabinet. One of the anticipated changes includes the merging of the Ministry of European Integration, Ministry of Diaspora and Ministry for Dialogue into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sources said the talks are expected to be finalized by the end of the year and added that there is international pressure for these changes.
Government of Kosovo ready to come to FYROM’s aid (Bota Sot)
The government of Kosovo has issued a press release expressing readiness to deploy rescue and recovery units of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) hit in recent days by deadly floods. Kosovo government said it stands ready to provide unreserved assistance to FYROM authorities in overcoming the current situation.
