Thaçi: No-one can undermine friendship with US
(KTV)
The Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi believes that no Kosovo leader can undermine friendship with the US. This is what he stated in an interview with Kosovo’s public broadcaster.
“You can be a friend if you follow the advice,” President Thaçi said, when he was reminded on Prime Minister Haradinaj’s position not to rescind the tariff, and at the same time to keep friendship with the US.
“No leader can undermine friendship of the US with the people of Kosovo. Powers are separated, the Government should take strategic decisions related to the Euro-Atlantic future,” he said.
Thaçi called for suspension of the tariff against Serbia.
“As President of the country, I call for considering all the possibilities to suspend the tariff, in order for us to empower strategic partnership with the US. We must take it very seriously. Those who think of ignoring the advice are wrong. No-one may step over Kosovo’s strategic position,” Thaçi stated.
“We cannot undermine our relation with the US for the sake of causing some damage to Serbia,” he added.
President Thaçi said that by confronting with the West, Kosovo will remain isolated. He said that if the tariff against Serbia is not rescinded, measures may be taken against Kosovo.
“Continuation of this situation will not bring benefits to Kosovo and to its institutions. The allies might take measures against Kosovo. The EU will not grant visa liberalisation, and disturbing measures for citizens and for the state might follow,” Thaçi said.
“I am working in overcoming this situation,” he concluded.
Veseli: Friendship with US must be preserved
(RTK1)
The Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli said in an interview with RTK that friendship with the US must be preserved. According to him, one should not allow Serbia to benefit from our mistakes.
He said it should not have happened that US state officials send letter to three Kosovo leaders, asking them to rescind the tariff.
“It was absolutely not necessary for this situation, for this letter to happen. The US should be understood and taken seriously. This is the reason why recently I made a proposal, in order to keep dignity of the state decision-making, because Serbia deserves not only a 100 percent measure, but it also deserves the reciprocity measure and a wide range of other measures, because for two decades it has had an unfair approach to our goods, citizens, and institutions of the Republic of Kosovo. Implementation of my proposal would keep partnership both with the US and with the West, and would keep our state stronger. That is because it is a mere fact that the best way to protect sovereignty, state, and integrity is with partners like the United States. This was proved in the past, and this is also proved at the present. It was absolutely unnecessary for us to receive this letter,” Veseli said.
He thinks that one should not allow for international partners to have the same positions towards Serbia, too. At the same time, Veseli called for avoiding populism, saying that it is only harming Kosovo.
“We may not allow Serbia to benefit. This has been my effort for some time, even by paying a political price, in order for us to wisely overcome this challenge, which might be self-trapping. We must preserve our partnership with the US and with the West. Currently, no Western partner is in our side on this issue. But at the same time, we must also preserve dignity of our state’s decision-making, because we will not kneel down to Serbia. This was the reason why I proposed a temporary suspension, which would immediately move to a reciprocity measure, which has been promised to me even by the international community, including the US… I do not have any doubt or concern that all the institutional leaders and the State Delegation are committed to protecting our state. But we need to know how to protect it! First of all, let us remove a conflict, be it a minor one, with partners like the US and the EU, and let us not allow by any means that they come up with the same position as Serbia. That is a mistake,” Veseli added.
“Some pseudo-smart and pseudo-patriotic persons have come-out-swinging, trying to make the Prime Minister’s life hard through a very archaic mentality, saying that he should not give up. What is Kosovo’s interest? What is the homeland’s interest? What is citizens’ interest? The interest is to protect the state, to protect partnership with the international community, as well as to be pragmatic and wise. Those pseudo-patriots who have begun to find out that Trump is captured by Russians and who think that we should wait until Trump is removed from Office, they should stop this deception. In addition, they spread news on a daily basis that Russia is strong and that it cannot be defeated militarily. Kosovo is an independent and sovereign state, we enter the dialogue with a very clear goal, namely that it is to recognised by Serbia,” he highlighted.
“Dialogue has no alternative, sovereignty will be kept, there will be no Association with executive powers, and Kosovo will be eternally a partner with the US. Eternally not in words only. Both when we like it, and sometimes even when we don’t like it, we will be with the US,” Veseli stated.
Veseli called for rational, cool-headed politics, in order not to give an excuse to the EU to further postpone visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens.
“They are already disposed towards finding an excuse, because they have no reason to keep Kosovo isolated,” he said.
Veseli says he supports Haradinaj in finishing his mandate, and added that the opposition should currently focus on the state, rather than on power.
“We are not scared, Serbia will recognise the state of Kosovo, there is no other alternative. The blacklegs and those whose minds and souls are separated have no reason to rejoice, we will be with the US, we will protect Kosovo, there will be no Serb Association in Kosovo with executive powers, and we will move forward,” Veseli concluded.
Haradinaj certain: Tariff brings recognition
(KTV’s summary of Rubikon show)
Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj strongly believes that resistance for the tax will bring Serbia’s recognition. In an interview with KTV’s Rubikon show, he said that a comprehensive agreement between Kosovo and Serbia would be the only compromise for rescinding the tariff.
“No one gives you the market for free. Kosovo’s market is a valuable market for Serbia and we demand that it leads to a comprehensive agreement. If the tariff is suspended, we have given Serbia time to delay with Dialogue,” Haradinaj said.
“I strongly believe that the tariff brings the recognition, but it takes firmness,” he stressed, saying that if the whole political spectrum in Kosovo were united in their position, then it would make the firmness against the mass much easier.
Prime Minister stressed that he has never said no to America, but the pressure, according to him, should not be put only on one of the parties.
“It is true that America is not happy, but we are going through hardship. We are not the cause, but a destructive approach by Serbia … It is good for the pressure to be two-ways. I am not saying that it should not be put on us, because we also have our own flaws, but I think it should be two-way.
“I have never lied to America. I do not think that America does not have the right policies, but I think there must be other conditions. Because of the respect for America and Europe, we went to dialogue without conditions,” said Haradinaj.
According to him, if the two-way pressure lack, then nothing rushes Serbia to solve the issue with Kosovo.
Unwavering on his stance towards the tariff, PM Haradinaj explained that he also told Commissioner Johannes Hahn to make the free trade agreement ready.
Haradinaj emphasized that implementation of the trade agreement could begin shortly after signing of the comprehensive agreement.
“Tariff can be revoked in exchange of recognition, a comprehensive agreement. I told Mr. Hahn to make the free trade agreement ready.”
He ruled out the possibility of voting an agenda where tariff rescinding would be one of its points.
“There is no way for it to come to the Government, because, according to our legislation, I confirm the agenda. There is no way to do it. We do not need to play such games, we are all grownups. I have also asked Veseli, Limaj, communities to respect me for as long as I am in this position. I took their trust to lead with country’s government; the proposal did not happen illegally. It was a unanimous decision. You cannot change a decision to Government without Prime Minister’s will.”
Prime Minister Haradinaj’s resistance for the tariff has stirred tensions and controversial statements among the ruling coalition partners.
He said that everyone’s positions are already public and he has nothing to comment on them.
He announced that their co-operation continues on any other topic, although they disagree on the tariff.
“I have asked Limaj and Veseli to have understanding for as long as they want me to exercise this function, as long as they think that I should exercise this function. If their position for the Prime Minister or the Government changes, it is understandable and legitimate. I will not step back, but they can organize the motion,” he said.
Haradinaj said that Limaj and Veseli are also in a difficult position as the decision was taken jointly, and that none of them wants to ruin Kosovo’s relationship with US.
“I will not resign, and I have told them this,” Haradinaj stated.
Prime Minister Haradinaj said he was not harsh, but just correct to Mogherini,.
He warned the EU’s High Representative that if she is linking Dialogue with the tariff, she will remain without dialogue.
“Her actions have hurt Kosovo in case the territory has been potentially discussed in that Dialogue. This activity is not friendly from Mogherini, it is hostile,” he said.
Monitor’s note: In an interview with “Tempora” show of Sonila Meço in Albanian TV station Ora News on Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Haradinaj called the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, an enemy of Kosovo since she diverted discussions regarding the Kosovo-Serbia agreement.
“She has diverted the discussion. Instead of talking about an agreement with Serbia regarding recognition, she has diverted the discussion to territories and borders. So she is the enemy of my country. Anyone, in the simple logic, if I represent Kosovo of February 17, 2018, the Constitution, territory, borders, and anyone who opens this discussion … is aggression. Regarding a statement made by the Serbian President, I sent letters to all the decision-making circles, including NATO, and I have told them that I will defend Kosovo’s territory. This discussion about borders of Ms. Mogherini has caused damaged to EU. It has actually destroyed an opportunity that EU had for an agreement. It has moved back the process,” Haradinaj told Ora News.
PM Ramush Haradinaj told KTV Rubicon show that until now he has not seen any document that would confirm the agreement between the two Presidents on the exchange of territories.
However, Haradinaj reminded President Thaçi that so far the Constitutional Court in Kosovo has removed two presidents from their office.
“Two Presidents were sent home when they violated the Constitution. The decision (on the territory exchange) has not happened. I cannot send the rhetoric to Court. The others wouldn’t wait either, they would also send it.”
Prime Minister Haradinaj stressed that he is open to any solution that would be beneficial to the country, be it an inclusive government.
He also invited the opposition parties, LDK and LVV, to meet, in case they have, as he said, the solution formula.
Haradinaj stressed that he does not resign because, according to him, the decisions he is taking are fair.
“I should not be blocking if something good comes to the country. I do not want to resign because I think I’m right with the decisions that I am taking. I also had advice about the army. The Trepça law was also difficult. I do not think that my departure corrects the situation in this country,” Haradinaj concluded.
NATO Summit is expected to postpone decision on KSF to end of spring
(KTV)
NATO’s decision on the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), after the decision to transform it into the Kosovo Army, is expected to be postponed to the end of spring.
KTV learns that a decision will not be taken on Thursday when it has been foreseen to be discussed about Kosovo at the NATO Summit in Brussels.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is expected to say on Thursday that a decision on the KSF will be taken at the end of spring, while discussions will continue to see the level of engagement that NATO will have after the decision of December to transform KSF into an Army.
The European Union High Representative, Federica Mogherini, will also at the Summit on Thursday.
On Thursday it is expected to be stated that NATO is proud of KFOR and it will continue to engage under UNSCR 1244, KTV reported.
Otherwise, most TV broadcasters quoted the NATO SG Jens Stoltenberg as responding to Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj regarding KSF’s engagement in the north of the country.
“There is a Brussels Agreement of 2013 which clearly states that KSF cannot enter the northern part of Kosovo without approval of KFOR commander. I have made this clear to Mr Haradinaj during our conversations and I expect this to be respected,” Soltenberg was quoted as saying.
US Congressman Engel reminds Serbia that no EU membership without recognizing Kosovo
(GazetaExpress)
US Congressman Eliot Engel made it clear to Serbia that there will be no EU membership without recognizing Kosovo.
Eliot Engel, who is chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, advised Serbia to heed the words of German Ambassador to UN Christoph Heusgen during UN Security Council meeting on Kosovo last week.
“Serbia needs to heed the words of German Amb. Christoph Heusgen at the UN Security Council on Thursday because it’s not getting into the EU unless it recognizes Kosovo,” Engel said retweeting Ambassador Heisgen’s speech when he criticized Serbia for its campaign against Kosovo’s statehood.
German Ambassador to UN said last week that the only way that Serbia will enter the European Union will be with a successful normalization dialogue, with the recognition of Kosovo.
Talking on Serbia’s campaign against Kosovo’s statehood, namely convincing countries to withdraw recognitions of Kosovo, the German Ambassador said that he does not understand such logic.
“Talking about Serbian initiatives, Ivica Dacic in his intervention mentioned that there were 13 withdrawals of recognition and I also know from reports that Ivica Dacic himself travelled to some of those countries. Of course those probably were beautiful trips, to the Caribbean, the Pacific islands and so on, but I don’t understand the logic behind those. The declaration of independence was recognized by the International Court of Justice as being in accordance with international law,” the German Ambassador said.
“So there is an independent Kosovo. The only way that Serbia will enter the European Union will be with a successful normalization dialogue, with the recognition of Kosovo. By travelling around the world and trying to get other countries to take back their recognition of Kosovo, you are shooting yourself in the foot. I still don’t understand the logic behind that because I always believed that Serbia actually wanted to enter into the European Union. And as a last point on that: You all mentioned the Brussels dialogue or agreement. Nothing in the Brussels agreement talks about border adjustments, changes to the border lines or territorial swaps. I will state for Germany that we do not think these ideas which have been floating around will contribute to finding a solution. We believe these efforts are actually risky for the region and will destabilize the whole region,” the German Ambassador stated during UN Security Council meeting discussing Kosovo last week.
AKJ concerned about lynching language against Koha Ditore journalist
(KTV)
Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AKJ) expressed its concern about the lynching language used by Prime Minister’s advisor Halil Matoshi against journalist of Koha Ditore Besnik Krasniqi, labelling him as news fabricator, and comparing him with journalists of the Russian Sputnik.
“Besnik Krasniqi is exceling in Sputnik’s special war against our Republic!” Matoshi wrote on Facebook, and attached photos of Koha Ditore and of Sputnik.
Therefore, AKJ considers the lynching language of state officials against journalists unacceptable, especially when this language comes from persons who used to be journalists.
AKJ believes that the language used by Prime Minister’s advisor contributes to hate speech and division, and as such it is condemnable, because it strongly undermines freedom of expression and doing journalism. On the other hand, AKJ calls on journalists to refrain from lynching comments and not to be influenced by those comments. AKJ supports only professional work of journalists based on compliance with the fundamental professional standards, and encourages truthful and fair public information, through fact-based articles and stories.
On his Facebook post, Krasniqi said that the public labelling against him on Wednesday represented an open threat: “He is a Russian! Tear him apart!”
“I consider the advisor’s public labelling as a serious threat to my safety, being aware of the profile of militants who follow the Prime Minister! If the Prime Minister does not distance himself, it is a message that he ordered the public lynching,” Krasniqi wrote.
Koha Group also reacted to this incident, saying that for a long time they do not get surprised by political attacks against their reporting.
“The same applies to what happened on Wednesday, when Halil Matoshi, a former journalist turned to an advisor and spokesperson of the Prime Minister, attacked with slander and insults our journalist Besnik Krasniqi, and the work of our Koha Ditore newspaper,” the reaction says.
“However, the fact that we are not surprised is not litigation for those who use their position to attack and accuse us. This is particularly so, given that the reports that we are accused of are completely accurate and fair,” the reaction adds.
According to the reaction, not only that Matoshi attacked and slandered against the author of the article, but he also accused them of national treason, saying that the report became famous on the racist Serbian media, and labelled the journalist as a special fighter of Russia’s Sputnik.
“This is not only slander, but a threat, too. When a former journalist and columnist speaks like this, what can we expect from the rest of those in power? Nothing good,” the reaction stated.
Opening of Kosovo’s Liaison Office in Bratislava considered
(RTK)
First Deputy Prime Minister and Kosovo Minister of Foreign Affairs, Behgjet Pacolli, received the new Head of the Slovak Office in Prishtinë/Pristina, Rastislav Kostilnik, to a meeting on Wednesday. They discussed issues of mutual interest between the two countries.
The continuation of further Slovak support in the Euro-Atlantic and international integration path of the new state, as well as the need for Slovakia’s support regarding visa liberalization for Kosovo citizens, took a special place during this meeting’s discussions.
Minister Pacolli expressed his belief that the leadership of the OSCE Presidency by Slovakia will contribute to promotion of regional dialogue and stability and called for the support of this country for Kosovo to at least be part of the formal meetings where the region is discussed, and that Kosovo-OSCE relation to gradually advance with concrete steps.
Opening of Kosovo’s Liaison Office in Bratislava has been another request by Foreign Minister Pacolli, regarding which close consultations between the two countries will take place to identify the opportunity.
