Headlines - 24.08.2016

• Mustafa: Opponents of demarcation lack basic knowledge (media)
• “Government responsible for potential escalation of situation” (Zëri)
• Selimi: Anti-demarcation protests inside and outside Assembly (Indeksonline)
• O’Connell: Kosovo has bigger problems than demarcation (Koha)
• Serbian List pressures government to establish association (Epoka e Re)
• Merkel calls on Vučić to normalise relations with Kosovo (Epoka)
• Three people gunned down in Gjakova (media)

Mustafa: Opponents of demarcation lack basic knowledge (media)

Several media reports quote Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa as saying that the opponents of the border demarcation deal between Kosovo and Montenegro lack basic knowledge in this field. “The sentence that the opponents of the border delineation with Montenegro use the most is ‘Kosovo risks losing 8,200 hectares’. Then they also say that Kosovo is losing this territory and not the municipalities. This shows that they lack basic knowledge in this field ... It is wrong to misuse science and try to protect a false political cause,” Mustafa wrote on his Facebook account.

“Government responsible for potential escalation of situation” (Zëri)

The Vetëvendosje Movement MP, Donika Kadaj-Bujupi, told the paper that if the government of Kosovo does not withdraw from the current agreements on border demarcation with Montenegro and the establishment of Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities, then the potential escalation of the situation will be their responsibility. “The government should be aware not to continue with its stubbornness which is harmful for Kosovo. For any potential escalation, the full responsibility is on them,” she said.  Kadaj-Bujupi also added that whenever the interest of Kosovo is put into question, there will be tensions because people cannot agree on this. According to her, the citizens cannot expect foreign ambassadors or the U.S. Vice President Biden to protect Kosovo’s territory.

Selimi: Anti-demarcation protests inside and outside Assembly (Indeksonline)

The Vetëvendosje Movement MP, Rexhep Selimi, told the news site that the ratification of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro is a situation which should not happen.  “I cannot talk about a situation after the ratification of demarcation agreement, a situation which should not happen. I can reaffirm once again that this agreement must be annulled at any cost,” he said.  Selimi said there will be protests inside and outside the Kosovo Assembly in order to prevent the ratification of this “harmful agreement.”

O’Connell: Kosovo has bigger problems than demarcation (Koha)

British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell, during an interview for KTV on Tuesday said that Kosovo has bigger problems than the border demarcation with Montenegro. He said this is not a vital issue for Kosovo. According to him, the Kosovo Assembly shall be left to decide on the matter on 1 September, and reiterated that the use of violence is unacceptable. O’Connell also talked about the wiretapping scandal, which, according to him, is just a reminder and evidence of what happened after the war in Kosovo. However, he said that he does not agree that the ambassadors are not constantly criticizing corruption, nepotism and other problems of the Government, compared with the actions of the opposition. He added that employment based on family and political ties will harm Kosovo. According to him, corruption cannot be fought with round-tables but rather with the commitment of the political class in Kosovo.

Serbian List pressures government to establish association (Epoka)

The Serbian List political party which represents the Serb community at the Kosovo institutions has requested from the government to move faster on establishment of the Association/Community of the Serb-majority Municipalities. Branimir Stojanović, from the Serbian List who is also Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo said that the Association derives as an obligation and agreement from the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina in Brussels. Therefore, he expects accelerated steps on establishment of this body. “Whoever wants and thinks that the dialogue should continue, this cannot be done without implementing the reached agreements,” Stojanović said. He added that some political parties are presenting the Association as a threat, however “we see the Association as an instrument to help Kosovo Serbs remain in Kosovo, being that the current framework is not sufficient.”

Merkel calls on Vučić to normalise relations with Kosovo (Epoka)

The Prime Minister of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić has received a congratulating letter from the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, on the occasion of his nomination as Prime Minister of Serbia. Merkel confirmed the German Government’s future support for Serbia and stressed the major duties that await Vučić: continuation of reforms, regional reconciliation and the normalisation of relations with Kosovo.

Three people gunned down in Gjakova (media)

All media report that three people were killed in Gjakova/Djakovica on Tuesday afternoon. The police have yet to confirm the identity of the assailants who gunned down brothers Valon and Ilir Islamaj and Zef Krasniqi. The acting chief prosecutor in Gjakova later told Klan Kosova that the perpetrators have been identified and that they are Qendrim Shala and Gjelbrim Gjoshi. Pristina-based news website Telegrafi carries the picture of Gjelbrim Gjoshi, claiming that he is the main suspect behind the triple murder. The assassination is believed to be an act of revenge over an earlier dispute.