Baroness Ashton decorated for her efforts in Kosovo-Serbia talks

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV) 

While Kosovo and Serbia are going through a difficult period in relations between them, a person that tried to facilitate them was decorated in Prishtinë/Pristina for her efforts.

Baroness Catherine Ashton, former EU High Representative, is visiting Kosovo with the invitation of President Hashim Thaçi, who awarded her the Presidential Medal of Merits, for her contribution in normalisation of Kosovo-Serbia relations.

But, asked about dialogue and agreements that are stalling in their implementation, Ashton said she welcomes the role of dialogue, but did not prefer to speak much about it.

However, President Hashim Thaçi said that agreements are being implemented and, according to him, dialogue has no alternative.

Speaking about recent developments, President Thaçi said they respond to Serbia’s calls for war with calls for peace. He also called for political unity in Kosovo.

Baroness Ashton was also received by Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, who expressed his commitment to dialogue for peace and stability.

On the other hand, Ashton was quoted as saying that “dialogue is the best way for normalisation of relations between countries in the region and wider.”

US: Kosovo is a sovereign, independent country

(RTK1, TV21)

The United States Embassy in Kosovo gave its support to Kosovo authorities in their decision to stop the Serbian train from entering the territory of Kosovo.

Through a press statement issued, the US Embassy says: “Kosovo is a sovereign, independent country and we respect the right of Kosovo to manage who and what crosses its borders. We are pleased that there were no confrontations at the border, but the increase of nationalism benefits no one.”

At the same time, the U.S. strongly supports the EU-moderated Dialogue as the best way forward for Kosovo-Serbia relations and “we urge all sides to avoid dangerous rhetoric and continue to work for the normalization of relations and the improvement of the lives of the citizens of both countries.” 

Kosovo representatives willing to continue talks with Serbia

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovo institutional representatives expressed their willingness to continue talks between Prishtinë/Pristina and Belgrade. Furthermore, according to Kosovo Minister of Interior, Skender Hyseni, either dialogue or war should happen in relation with Serbia.

“There should not be any status quo in Kosovo-Serbia relations. Dialogue must continue and I am saying it out loud that it must be fundamentally reformatted,” Hyseni said while reporting to members of the Assembly Committee for Security, Internal Affairs and KSF Oversight. 

Çeku not afraid of Special Court

(RTK1) 

Speaking about recent developments in the country, former Kosovo Liberation Army Commander, Agim Çeku, said he was afraid that military confrontation was about to happen on Saturday due to the provocation with the train.

In RTK Image Show he also spoke about the Special Court, saying that he does not know if he is in the list of persons to be indicted. Çeku said that no one knows this, except the prosecutors.

But, he said that he will be ready to respond to any call to demonstrate the spotlessness of KLA.

Kosovo imported 400 million euros of goods from Serbia last year

(KTV)

Around 400 million euros is the value of Serbian products imported in Kosovo during 2016, KTV reported. In 2016 the import of these products has marked increase for 17 million euros more than in 2015.

Not even the recent developments between the two countries have impacted on decrease of trade exchange. The trend of import from Serbia is the same in January this year, too. Within 24 hours, the value of imported products reaches over 1 million euros.

Economy expert, Naim Gashi, called for trade reciprocity with Serbia. During 2016, Kosovo exported about 40 million euros of goods to Serbia, while 36 million to Albania.

GAP: Government violated procedures with draft law on salaries

(KTV) 

Civil society is considering adoption of the draft law on salaries by the Government of Kosovo as a violation of legal procedures.

Based on the European Reform agenda of the European Commission, adopted by the Government, except this draft law, the other two draft laws, the one on Organisation of Public Administration and on Civil Service, would need to be drafted in full coordination with each other.

Visar Rushiti of GAP Institute says that hastiness of the Ministry to proceed this draft law to the Assembly without public discussion and without involvement of relevant stakeholders will cause great difficulties.

According to Rushiti, even after the approval of this Law at the Assembly, it cannot enter into force, because, as he says, the other two laws would also need to be ready.

On the other hand, in the Ministry of Administration say they are working on drafting of other two laws, while they expect the support of World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Ministry of Finance about this.

However, according to civil society, this law together with the other two laws cannot enter into force until November 2017. There were many reactions after the approval of draft law on salaries at the Government, due to increase of salary coefficient.

Hyseni refutes Thaçi: President cannot give orders to Police

(Summary of KTV Rubicon show)

The decision for stopping the train from Serbia to Kosovo was taken by Kosovo Police. Statement of Kosovo President, Hashim Thaçi, does not stand, Minister of Interior Skender Hyseni stated in KTV Rubicon show. He said that even if a permit for allowing that train to pass would have existed, it would not be allowed to pass with the kind of slogans it contained.

“The decision was that no train of that type with such slogans should be allowed,” he said.

The decision was taken the moment that the train departed, he underlined.

“Neither the President, Prime Minister, nor the Minister of Interior gives orders to Kosovo Police. Police solely takes decisions for the operative actions,” Hyseni stressed.

First deputy chairman of AAK, Ardian Gjini, said that train had to be stopped and it could not have been imagined the opposite to happen. The action was necessary, Gjini said.

Whereas, regarding the statement of President Hashim Thaçi that he has ordered Kosovo Police to take this action, Gjini said in case he did so, then he acted wrong. Gjini further said that Serbia’s provocation is not something new and unexpected. He said that President Thaçi or Edita Tahiri can no longer deceive the people that dialogue is successful. Gjini also said that Kosovo Government and the President must demonstrate themselves courageous and leave triumphalism aside.

Minister Hyseni told him that only the Constitution of Kosovo was implemented, and that there is no room for triumphalism. “Any time that we will have a legal coverage, we will act,” Hyseni said.

Further Hyseni said that ahead of Serbia there are only two options, dialogue and conflict. 

Minister of Interior, Skender Hyseni, underlined that Kosovo Police was ready to go to the end of the operation for stopping the train from Serbia.

“President and the Prime Minister explicitly requested from security experts what needs to be done to stop the train. One does not send 200 police officers not to go to the end of it – the elite state force. We also had one other plan,” he stated.

Hyseni said that Kosovo Police was ready to stop the train even with violent means.

“To arrest all those that entered Kosovo illegally, and confiscate that train,” Minister Hyseni concluded.