• Haradinaj insists on a recognition contract with Serbia (dailies)
• Haradinaj: Change of borders, Russia’s and Serbia’s idea (RTSH, RTK)
• Veseli: No one can derail Kosovo from pro-western orientation (media)
• Kosovo PM Haradinaj to invite Serbian PM Brnabic to Kosovo (Koha)
• British MP: Thaci spent a lot of money in lobbying for change of borders (media)
• Limaj: Dialogue platform this week, good opportunity for unification (RTK)
• Radoicic confirms meeting Thaci and Haradinaj (Klan Kosova)
• Interpol confirms receiving Kosovo’s membership bid (Presheva Jone/Bota Sot)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Haradinaj insists on a recognition contract with Serbia (dailies)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj continues to insist on a written contract with Serbia recognising independence of Kosovo in exchange for lifting the import tariff on products from Serbia. Koha Ditore says Haradinaj presented this view yesterday in a meeting with the U.S. Ambassador Phillip Kosnett at the office of Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli. Yesterday, Ambassador Kosnett went to the Assembly to meet with Speaker Veseli but Haradinaj was also spotted at the same location.

Haradinaj said after the meeting of the government that the positions with the U.S. have been approximated but insisted on a contract with Serbia which would also stipulate not discussing Kosovo’s borders. “The dialogue can continue and reach a final contract that would not contain contaminated elements such as the territory, borders or Dodik’s Republika Srpska. There is a possibility for the suspension of the tax when a contract on mutual recognition is negotiates,” he said adding: “We are not that far off line with America and we do think the dialogue needs to continue. We would return to the table as early as tomorrow but Belgrade has put conditions.”

Haradinaj said he agreed with the statement by Veseli that no one can endanger relations with the U.S. but underlined that no one person can endanger or fix relations with the U.S. “This is why I have expressed the concern over lack of unity on national issues,” Haradinaj said. Commenting on relations with Serbia, Haradinaj said there is potential for destabilisation of Kosovo.

Haradinaj also commented on his reported ties with deputy leader of the Serbian List Milan Radoicic wanted in connection to the murder of Kosovo Serb leader Oliver Ivanovic whom he said he met at the office of President Hashim Thaci. Haradinaj said he does not keep his meetings secret.

Haradinaj: Change of borders, Russia’s and Serbia’s idea (RTSH, RTK)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj reiterated that the idea to change the borders is an early idea of Serbia, in order to divide Kosovo between Serbia and Albania. He added that Russia’s President Putin is also interested to change borders in Balkans, in order to regain its impact in the region. He said he possesses sufficient information from intelligence services in Kosovo and Albania to know that Russia has poured a lot of money in Kosovo, however he added that its impact is more difficult in Kosovo compare to Northern Macedonia and Montenegro as population here has a different position, and it is a pro-American country.

Speaking about the imposed tax on Serbian products, Haradinaj said that Kosovo’s friends “are testing us to see how committed we are to defend our rights.” He said the tax is not against America but against Serbia and Russia and added that “I am the first soldier of America at the frontline with Russia.”

Veseli: No one can derail Kosovo from pro-western orientation (media)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli said Kosovo has a pro-western orientation and no one can derail its relations with the U.S. In a visit to a furniture factory in Gjilan/Gnjilane, Veseli said: “We have ended all dilemmas on 12 June 1999 when the people of Kosovo with a lot of sacrifice and high price removed Serbia from Kosovo. However, Serbia is our neighbour with whom we want to have peace but Kosovo will forever be an independent and sovereign country.”

Koha Ditore reports that recently Veseli has been avoiding joint public appearances with Prime Minister Haradinaj and did not take part in the ceremony of the KLA Epopee at the KSF barracks in Pristina.

Kosovo PM Haradinaj to invite Serbian PM Brnabic to Kosovo (Koha)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj announced that the Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabic will be among the regional leaders invited to Kosovo in April as part of the Western Balkans meeting of prime ministers. At the meeting of the government, Haradinaj asked the cabinet of ministers to approve initiative for gathering all regional leaders as well as EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn to discuss European integration processes. “We would demonstrate our continuous focus on implementation of the SAA and at the same tine of reforms priorities under ERA,” Haradinaj said adding that the event would also provide an opportunity to discuss visa liberalisation for Kosovo with, as he said, June being a ‘realistic’ timeline.

British MP: Thaci spent a lot of money in lobbying for change of borders (media)

The British House of Commons has considered on Tuesday UK relations with Kosovo. There have been three major debates about Kosovo in the history of this House. British Minister for Europe, Alan Duncan expressed satisfaction that Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci changed his mind about exchange of territories between Kosovo and Serbia. “I was pleased that last week the President of Kosovo said that land swaps would never occur. Last year he talked about border corrections with Serbia, but that was the wrong approach. Quite a lot of money was spent on lobbying in London and elsewhere on the issue, but I am glad the President has changed approach. The Prime Minister and the Parliament were right to be wary of land swaps, border corrections or whatever they are called. They could be very destabilising in the Balkans,” Duncan said.

Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj expressed appreciation to Great Britain, for its position against change of Kosovo’s borders. “Grateful and humbled for the consistent approach of the UK Government to the war-inducing and destabilizing idea of changing the Kosovo border with Serbia as part of a comprehensive agreement with the neighboring state. In today’s debate on Kosovo at the British Parliament, Minister for Europe Sir Alan Duncan described the debate on border changes, which would be used as a precedent by third parties, as extremely dangerous for the Balkans. I repeat that Kosovo is interested in an agreement with Serbia, which would result with mutual recognition within the current borders of 17 February 2008,” Haradinaj wrote on his Facebook account.

Limaj: Dialogue platform this week, good opportunity for unification (RTK)

Fatmir Limaj, Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo and co-head of the negotiating team in dialogue with Serbia, took to Twitter to write that the dialogue platform will reach the Assembly of Kosovo this week. He considers that this is a good opportunity for unification. “I expect the Assembly to vote the platform in order for Kosovo to have an official position on the dialogue with Serbia,” Limaj wrote.

Radoicic confirms meeting Thaci and Haradinaj (Klan Kosova)

Milan Radoicic, deputy leader of the Serbian List and wanted in connection to the murder of Serb leader Oliver Ivanovic said that apart from Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj he has also met other senior officials in Pristina including President Hashim Thaci.  Speaking to Klan Kosova, Radoicic said: “I’ve met both of them. I also met others and each and everyone of them promised Serbs fortresses and cities in order to support them and not the others. But we cannot step on the vital interests of Serbs,” Radoicic said.

Interpol confirms receiving Kosovo’s membership bid (Presheva Jone/Bota Sot)

Interpol’s General Secretariat has confirmed it has received a new application for membership from Kosovo. A senior official from Interpol said the general assembly is scheduled to take place in October in Chile but that the agenda has not yet been finalised.