• President Thaci pledges to keep same role in negotiations with Serbia (Koha)
• Kosovo Government opens provisional retail stores in the north (media)
• Thaci: Humanitarian crisis, a failed improvisation (RTK)
• Shala: We just sent food contingents in the north (RTK)
• Thaci: Internationals failed to punish Serbian criminals (Zeri/Epoka)
• Thaci’s statement after submitting resolution for unification with Presevo Valley (Bota)
• Kurti: Thaci, Haradinaj must resign after court’s ruling (media)
• Bolton commends Kosovo designation of Hizballah as terror organization (media)
• Assembly adopts resolution preventing monopoly in vehicle homologation (media)
• Haradinaj seeks France’s support on visa liberalisation (media)
• Lawsuit against former Minister Teodosijevic (Epoka)
• Hoxha: Domestic violence to be addressed with priority! (RTK)

President Thaci pledges to keep same role in negotiations with Serbia (Koha)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci does not think that Kosovo’s representation in the final phase of talks with Serbia has been in opposition with the Constitution of Kosovo. Therefore, he insists he will keep the same role even after the ruling of the Constitutional Court which ruled against the law on dialogue and the negotiating team for talks with Serbia, the paper reports on its front page. The Office of the President told the paper on Monday: “The President, based on his Constitutional function, as a representative of the Republic of Kosovo, has the right to perform all actions related to the initiative and the conclusion of an international agreement. Every initiative by the President in reaching international agreements and all his actions related to reaching international agreements will be in line with the Constitution, the Vienna Convention on the Law on Treaties, the Vienna Convention on the Law on Treaties between States and International Organizations or between International Organizations (1986) AND Law Nr. 04/L-052 on International Treaties”.

Kosovo Government opens provisional retail stores in the north (media)

All media report that Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said on Monday that the government has decided to open provisional retail stores in the north. “Serbia’s simulation of a humanitarian catastrophe is another failed attempt to cause instability. After their scenario was unmasked, the Government remains committed to providing security for all its citizens! In close cooperation with the business community in the Republic of Kosovo and after consultations with all line institutions, we have organized the opening of provisional retail stores in the northern part of the country. This coordinated and planned action is aimed at providing basic products to the citizens of that region,” Haradinaj writes in a Facebook post. “Today we gave another institutional response to actions orchestrated by Serbia, a response which confirms the country’s sovereignty, civic solidarity, the responsibility and the care of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo for all citizens of the Republic of Kosovo. No citizen of Kosovo will fall victim to a special war orchestrated by foreign agents. Kosovo is home to us all!”

Thaci: Humanitarian crisis, a failed improvisation (RTK)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said on Monday that Serbia failed in its attempt to stage “a humanitarian crisis” in the northern part of Kosovo. “There is no humanitarian crisis in Kosovo, there is an improvisation and Serbia’s tendencies to be presented as a victim to the Serb citizens in northern Kosovo. Therefore, it is very important for the entire democratic world to know the reality and understand reality. This is another failed attempt by Serbia,” Thaci said.

Shala: We just sent food contingents in the north (RTK)

Kosovo’s Minister of Trade and Industry Endrit Shala said on Monday that no citizen of Kosovo will lack any food product. “We just sent contingents with food in the north of the country,” he said. “Business development, providing food products to every citizen of the country is essential and as such is our civic obligation as representatives of the institutions of Kosovo. Kosovo businesses stay close to our citizens in the north of the country, providing them with essential food products so they do not miss anything. We will continue to extend the country’s sovereignty throughout the territory. No citizen of the Republic of Kosovo will lack any products, our market is open and offers all necessary products for a dignified life,” Shala said.

Thaci: Internationals failed to punish Serbian criminals (Zeri/Epoka)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said on Monday that the international community failed to punish Serbian criminals who committed atrocities in Kosovo, the dailies report. In his address at a conference in Pristina in support of survivors of sexual violence in conflict, Thaci argued that there is a silent amnesty by internationals for criminals that now hold senior positions in Serbia. “Why is there silent amnesty by the international community? UNMIK was here for ten years and none of these crimes were prosecuted. The Hague Tribunal did not even try. EULEX tried but failed. The address to seek justice is clear, it is in Belgrade. Those that led systematic violence are now in the Parliament of Serbia,” Thaci said.

Thaci’s statement after submitting resolution for unification with Presevo Valley (Bota)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said on Monday Kosovo must respect the will of Presevo Valley Albanians proclaimed in the referendum of 1992 and the war of the Presevo Liberation Army. “Requests of Presevo Valley Albanians, in accordance with their free will for self-determination are legitimate and in accordance with international law. Fulfilment of those demands helps long-term stability and contributes to peace-making in our region, by opening a new chapter in the relations between Kosovo and Serbia. As President of the country, I have continuously supported demands of the Presevo Valley Albanians, but today I also sent a Draft Resolution to the Assembly, asking for support and adoption of those demands also by the elected representatives of the people in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, beyond political or any other differences,” Thaci wrote on his Facebook account.

Kurti: Thaci, Haradinaj must resign after court’s ruling (media)

Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti said on Monday that President Hashim Thaci and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj must resign their posts after the Constitutional Court ruled recently that the law on dialogue and the negotiating team for talks with Serbia were in violation to the Constitution of Kosovo. Kurti argued that the law on dialogue was an assault against the order of the republic and the democratic spirit of the state of Kosovo. “This is why both the President and the Prime Minister must resign their posts. The Constitutional Court practically accuses the sponsors of the law for dialogue with Serbia for attempting a coup d’état against the Republic and its internal arrangements,” he said. Kurti argued that Kosovo needs to focus on the strengthening of the state, namely the fight against corruption and crime, economic development, justice and employment. “And for this, including the principled dialogue with Serbia, we need to agree on a date for new elections that will result in a new and better government, and a Prime Minister that assumes his responsibility and does not steal,” he concluded.

Bolton commends Kosovo designation of Hizballah as terror organization (media)

Indeksonline reports that John Bolton, Assistant to U.S. President Donald Trump for National Security Affairs, commended Kosovo’s designation of Hizballah as a terrorist organization. Bolton tweeted: “the U.S. commends Kosovo’s designation of Hizballah as a terrorist organization. This Iranian terror proxy continues to threaten stability in the Middle East and throughout the world. The world is recognizing Iran’s terror sponsorship and naming its chief beneficiary: Hizballah.”

Assembly adopts resolution preventing monopoly in vehicle homologation (media)

Most media report that the Kosovo Assembly adopted on Monday a resolution that will prevent monopoly in vehicle homologation. 62 MPs voted in favour of the resolution which will repeal an administrative directive, which had set conditions and procedures for vehicle homologation and which enabled a particular company to be the single entity to perform vehicle homologation in the next 10 years. The European Union Office in Kosovo noted in a tweet: “today’s Assembly resolution on car homologation can be a breakthrough for enhancing competition in Kosovo. Free competition is key to improve the quality of lives of people, who will get better service for less money. The EU urges the Government to act now.”

Haradinaj seeks France’s support on visa liberalisation (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has requested during his visit to France support in the process of visa liberalization as a very important step for Kosovo. Haradinaj took to Facebook to inform about his meeting with France’s Minister of Interior Christophe Castaner, on which occasion they signed an agreement for specialized police cooperation. “In this spirit, we signed the letter of good intention of combating organized crime, terrorism and illegal migration,” Haradinaj wrote in a Facebook post.

Lawsuit against former Minister Teodosijevic (Epoka)

The Special Prosecution of Kosovo said on Monday that it has filed a lawsuit at the Basic Court in Pristina against defendant I.T. for publicly inducing hatred, disruption and intolerance among ethnic communities while in the position of a Minister of the government of Kosovo. The Prosecution is referring to former minister of local government Ivan Teodosijevic, who said during a gathering on NATO intervention anniversary that “the reason for NATO aggression was the so-called humanitarian crisis in Kosovo and the fabricated Racak massacre”. Prime Minister Haradinaj dismissed Teodosijevic on April 9.

Hoxha: Domestic violence to be addressed with priority! (RTK)

Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Dhurata Hoxha, took to Facebook on Monday to say that the phenomenon of domestic violence must be addressed with priority. “Today Kosovo Police reported on six cases of domestic violence in the last 24 hours. All victims are women, and this shows the gender dimension of this problem. Domestic violence is a criminal act according to the new Criminal Code and the perpetrators of domestic violence must receive the merited punishment by the judiciary and must also be treated with the highest seriousness from the moment of reporting until the reintegration of the victim. Gender-based violence is a violation of human rights and it disproportionately affects women and children. Addressing this negative phenomenon requires a society-wide engagement, including institutions and every individual, to prevent this phenomenon and not show any tolerance. Domestic violence has no justification!” Hoxha wrote.