• G7 urge Belgrade and Pristina to make efforts to reach agreement (media)
• EU blames Pristina and Belgrade for mutual provocations (Koha)
• Thaci in London: There will be no borders along ethnic lines (Telegrafi)
• Haradinaj: I am a U.S. soldier (media)
• EU hails roaming agreement, says actions against dialogue “not helpful” (media)
• Fabrizi requests normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia (RTK)
• KFOR: Joint Kosovo-Albania exercises not a threat to anyone (media)
• Final phase of dialogue will not spare the Ahtisaari Plan (Radio Free Europe)
• Vulin: We should separate from Albanians as soon as possible (RTK)

G7 urge Belgrade and Pristina to make efforts to reach agreement (media)

Foreign ministers of G7 member states called on Belgrade and Pristina to make constructive efforts for normalisation of relations through a comprehensive and legally binding agreement.

In a joint statement, G7 foreign ministers commended Greece and North Macedonia for achieving agreement to the name dispute and said this sets an example for reconciliation in the region.

“Without effective and comprehensive normalization of Belgrade-Pristina relations through the EU-facilitated Dialogue there cannot be lasting stability in the region. We urge Kosovo and Serbia to engage constructively and normalize fully their relations through a comprehensive and legally-binding agreement, so that they can advance on their respective European paths,” the statement reads.

EU blames Pristina and Belgrade for mutual provocations (Koha)

Koha Ditore writes on the front page that it has secured a letter exchange where the EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn blamed both Belgrade and Pristina for acting in a way that threatens regional cooperation. Hahn replied to Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj and Minister for European Integration Dhurata Hoxha after they expressed their outrage at the behaviour of the Serbian side concerning a regional youth event that was supposed to take place last month in Pristina.

“Regional cooperation, peace and reconciliation depend on the commitment demonstrated by all sides, their courage and political leadership. Unfortunately, what we have seen recently is the opposite – especially the spiral of actions in last months from Pristina and Belgrade by reaction to provocations from one another,” Hahn said in the letter dated 4 April.

Hahn expressed regret over the actions of the Serbian side but at the same time also said he feels the same towards those of Kosovo authorities regarding the import tariff on products from Serbia and Bosnia. “We need to break the vicious circle which is hampering not only the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia but also impacts the regional cooperation agenda,” Hahn said.

Thaci in London: There will be no borders along ethnic lines (Telegrafi)

President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci held a presentation at the Chatham House think tank in London where he spoke about the overall situation in Kosovo, as well as the dialogue with Serbia and Kosovo’s European perspective.

Thaci remarked that dialogue and communication are the only way forward. “I remain confident and optimist that the reason will prevail, and that our countries will reach a peace agreement. A compromise agreement that will bring benefits to both countries. A legally binding agreement that will bring mutual recognition of the two sovereign countries, the recognition of Kosovo by the five EU countries which haven’t recognized it yet, a safe journey towards NATO and the EU, and membership in the United Nations, and would provide European perspective to Serbia”, Thaci said.

He said that one thing is certain regarding the outcome of the dialogue process and that is that “there will be no borders based on ethnic lines, and that Kosovo will remain a multiethnic state and society, preserving the spirit of Western values and principles of the liberal democracies that we have built together”.

Concerning visa liberalisation, Thaci said that although Kosovo remains overwhelmingly pro-European and has met all necessary requirements, “unfortunately remains Europe’s most isolated country.” He said the EU lacks courage and unity to make decisions on Kosovo: “This is unfair and a punishment, especially for the younger generation.”

Haradinaj: I am a U.S. soldier (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, currently on a visit to the U.S. said that he considers himself to be a U.S. soldier who carries out orders based on situation on the ground. “I believe that by strengthening Kosovo we strengthen the American interest and dispel the Russian and the other ones,” Haradinaj told VOA with regards to the import tariff on Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Online media report that during his visit to the U.S., Haradinaj also met Kosovo’s Ambassador Vlora Citaku whom he recently accused of not representing Kosovo accurately. Haradinaj posted on Facebook a picture of him, Citaku, and a group of Albanian American businessmen whom he encouraged to invest in Kosovo.

EU hails roaming agreement, says actions against dialogue “not helpful” (media)

European Union office in Kosovo has issued a statement following the Western Balkans countries signing the agreement on roaming prices during the digital summit in Belgrade and also commented on the treatment the Kosovo delegation received during their presentations at the event.

“It is very valuable that the Regional Roaming Agreement, has been signed by all the Western Balkans partners, at the Digital Summit in Belgrade. For Kosovo, as for all, this is a huge step, which will produce major forward-looking benefits for the citizens and businesses of the region. All efforts must now focus on turning this agreement into much-needed reality. In this spirit, statements and actions lowering the value of what has been achieved, are out of place. Any actions that go against the dialogue and regional cooperation are not helpful to the ongoing efforts to foster good neighbourly relations and reaching lasting solutions,” the EU said.

At the same time, the German Ambassador to Kosovo Christian Heldt hailed the EU statement and the way the Kosovo delegation, led by Minister of Economic Development Valdrin Lluka, handled the situation in Belgrade. “Compliments to @Valdrin Luka and @ICKosovo for having stayed cool. Because it’s the content that matters and what we have to focus upon. Spoilers’ actions show we’re on the right way,” Heldt tweeted.

Fabrizi requests normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia (RTK)

Head of the EU delegation in Serbia, Sem Fabrizi called on Pristina and Belgrade to normalize their relations.

“We urge Kosovo and Serbia to engage constructively and normalize fully their relations through a comprehensive and legally-binding agreement, so that they can advance on their respective European paths,” Fabrizi wrote on his Twitter account.

KFOR: Joint Kosovo-Albania exercises not a threat to anyone (media)

KFOR Spokesperson Vincenzo Grasso told Serbian media that the recent joint exercise between the Albanian Army and the Kosovo Security Force should not be viewed as a threat to anyone. He said the search and recovery training between Kosovo and Albania was wrongly interpreted as a threat to the north of Kosovo. “KFOR is fully committed to protecting all people,” Grasso said.

Final phase of dialogue will not spare the Ahtisaari Plan (Radio Free Europe)

The Ahtisaari Plan, which served as basis for the declaration of independence of Kosovo in February 2008 and is embodied in the Constitution of Kosovo, is a document that contains all the concessions that Kosovo made to Serbia in the Kosovo final status talks in Vienna in 2006 – 2007. This is said by representatives of ruling parties and the opposition, who were part of the process, as well as by experts on international law.

However, they have different opinions on whether the Ahtisaari Plan is the red line of compromises and if Kosovo cannot go beyond the document during talks for a comprehensive settlement with Serbia.

Hajredin Kuci, deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and was part of the Vienna process, told the news agency that Kosovo made concessions at the time because it had guarantees from the international community that these would be the final concessions and that the document would be adopted at the United Nations Security Council.

Kuci however added that Kosovo is now faced with the dilemma of new compromises that go beyond the Ahtisaari Plan. “We need to acknowledge that every new dialogue implies a new agreement and every new agreement implies a new compromise. The non-implementation of the Package (the Ahtisaari Plan) especially in the northern part of Kosovo, and the fact that it was not supported by the entire international community, has created room for new dialogue. We need to be honest: this new dialogue implies a new compromise and this compromise will certainly be outside the Ahtisaari Package. It can certainly be a compromise to the detriment of the Ahtisaari Plan,” Kuci said.

Vulin: We should separate from Albanians as soon as possible (RTK)

Serbia’s Minister of Defense Aleksandar Vulin said that he engages for a border between Albanians from Kosovo and Serbs as soon as possible. “After the border is confirmed, then we can also defend it,” he said.

In this interview given to Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti, where he refers to Albanians with pejorative ‘siptari’ Vulin spoke also about the danger from Greater Albania. “Greater Albania is already created. The issue is how many parts of other countries will be included. With entrance of Northern Macedonia in NATO, all Albanians, excluding the two municipalities in Serbia, will be living in a unique security zone and political space of NATO. And lives of all Albanians are led by Tirana,” he said.

In case of division of Kosovo, Vulin said the issue should be decided by referendum. “Asked is many Serbs would remain in the independent Kosovo, Vulin said “I did not visit the border, I only want to divide from Kosovo Albanians.”

“I think that division is the best solution. If we divide from Albanians, after the agreement, we would be more able to help Serbs who live in the territory with Albanian majority, than we have today on helping those in territories with Serb majority in Kosovo,” Vulin said.

“The sooner we leave Albanians, the sooner we will start living. If we do not want this, then good luck independent complete Kosovo,” Vulin said.