• Thaci: EU is unjust toward Kosovo, isolation and stagnation must end (media)
• Veseli sacks PDK officials with active indictments from public and party posts
• Thaci dismisses advisor allegedly working for Serbian intelligence (Zeri/Telegrafi)
• Kosovo and Serbia to face off over Interpol membership bid (RFE)
• “Peace cannot be reached without addressing war crimes” (media)
• Kosnett: Kosovo, Serbia to speed up normalization of relations (media)
• Hoxha: We expected an objective assessment on visa liberalization (media)
• Bahtiri calls on Kosovo leaders to halt construction in the north (Zeri/Epoka)
• Apostolova calls for end to monopoly in vehicle homologation (media)

Thaci: EU is unjust toward Kosovo, isolation and stagnation must end (media)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said yesterday that he read with concern what he called disappointing conclusions of the EU Council of Ministers on Kosovo, the news websites reported.

Thaci wrote in a Facebook post: “It is apparent that internal turbulences have dimmed the vision of the EU which is failing to overcome the protective instinct and its negligence toward the whole region, in particular about Kosovo. We are not at fault for the internal problems of the EU and we do not pose any threat to the EU. This is why we cannot be blamed for the lesser role of the EU in the region and Kosovo because of its continuous setbacks. While neighboring countries, such as Albania and North Macedonia, expected substantial news for their path toward EU membership, we were expecting something minimal. We expected positive reflection about ending the unjust isolation of the people of Kosovo. Regrettably, the EU is treating Kosovo differently from other countries, and this injustice is evident. The same goes for the lack of a constructive commitment of our state institutions to coordinate strategic actions in the interests of the country. I call on leaders of institutions and heads of parliamentary parties to reflect on the grave situation in our country vis-à-vis our membership prospects in EU and NATO. The isolation and stagnation must end. The citizens of the Republic of Kosovo deserve Kosovo’s development and integration in Euro-Atlantic structures”.

Veseli sacks PDK officials with active indictments from public and party posts (media)

Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Kadri Veseli, has relieved from duty party officials who have active indictments, papers and online media report.

Zeri reports that Besim Beqaj, Agim Ceku, Zenun Pajaziti, Qemajl Mustafa, Sami Lushtaku, and Nijazi Kryeziu are among those affected after PDK leader Veseli announced that all party officials that have active indictments will be dismissed from all party and institutional posts.

“Early this week I vowed to fight corruption, nepotism, and appalling phenomena of abuse. This is what the citizens expect from us because they are fed up with words and want to see concrete actions,” Veseli said in a press conference yesterday. “This decision does not preempt their guilt and upon conclusion of trials, in cases of acquittals, all these persons will have a deserved place in PDK and institutions,” he added.

Agim Ceku, Deputy Minister of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), told the Zeri he was informed he would no longer exercise the post while Besim Beqaj, Minister of Inovation and Entrepreneurship, was unavailable for comment. However, Telegrafi is reporting that in light of recent developments Beqaj has announced he will hold a press conference today where he is expected to present his resignation.

A source in the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) told Koha Ditore on Wednesday that in the next couple of days Veseli will ask Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj to dismiss other ministers that have active indictments. The paper mentions Kosovo Security Force Minister Rrustem Berisha and Infrastructure Minister Pal Lekaj, both members of Haradinaj’s Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK). The paper also notes that NISMA, a partner in the ruling coalition, too has a minister with an active indictment. Endrit Shala, who is Minister of Trade and Industry, is charged with unauthorized possession of firearms.

Thaci dismisses advisor alleged to be working for Serbian intelligence (Zeri/Telegrafi)

President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci has dismissed his political advisor, Branislav Nikolic, after allegations that he was working for the Serbian intelligence service. Thaci’s office however denied it had such damning information on Nikolic but underlined that it takes seriously media reports speaking about Nikolic’s involvement in criminal activity or in acts that undermine Kosovo’s national security.

“Setting from the principle of respect for the law and to give space to security authorities to carry out independent investigations in this case, the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, based on his constitutional and legal competencies, relieved from duty today political advisor, Mr. Branislav Nikolic,” a statement issued yesterday by the Office of the President of Kosovo stated.

Yesterday, Telegrafi quoted Vetevendosje parliamentary group chief Glauk Konjufca said today that Kosovo’s Security Council should meet urgently after media reports that Branislav Nikolic, alleged to be working for the Serbian intelligcence service, was employed in the Office of President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci.

Konjufca said: “The Kosovo Security Council must meet as soon as possible, because Branislav Nikolic has been employed in the Office of the President of State. According to the media, this person is a member of the Serbian intelligence service. This constitutes a serious threat to national security. The Constitution (Article 94, point 5, Article 127, point 2) provide that the Prime Minister chairs the Security Council. Why is the Prime Minister not calling for a meeting? Is he scared from the President who mentions Radojicic’s basement where the current government was formed? What a terrible couple Thaci – Haradinaj: both of them blackmailed by Vucic’s tools”.

Kosovo and Serbia to face off over Interpol membership bid (RFE)

Radio Free Europe quotes officials and analysts saying that Interpol membership will be a difficult challenge for Kosovo and its institutions.

Kosovo’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Anton Berisha, said Interpol membership is not only political in nature but also highly technical as it is linked to certain set of standards required by the EU with regards to fighting corruption, organised crime, and terrorism. “Of course it will be challenging if Serbia continues the same pace as last time. European Union and relevant structures would have to put necessary pressure on Serbia not to cause obstacles like last time. At the same time, we are continuing with standard technical procedures, because this is a technical issue in essence,” Berisha said.

Afrim Hoti, international law professor with University of Pristina, said that Kosovo is likely to face an even more complicated situation regarding its membership bid this year. “I think we were extremely wrong not to raise the issue of April 2013 Agreement which, among other things, stipulates that parties will remove all obstacles to one another over membership in international organisations,” said Hoti.

“Peace cannot be reached without addressing war crimes” (media)

Most media quote former Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga as saying that peace between Kosovo and Serbia cannot be reached without addressing the crimes that were committed during the war. “Around 20,000 women and men were targets of violence during the war and the perpetrators are unfortunately still at large. The main request of the survivors is justice. It is our moral obligation to provide a more dignifying life to the victims of violence,” Jahjaga said after the screening of a documentary “Prosecutors” on the occasion of the International Day for the elimination of sexual violence in conflict. The event was organized by UN Women in Kosovo and the U.S. Embassy.

Kosnett: Kosovo, Serbia to speed up normalization of relations (media)

The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Philip S. Kosnett, said on Wednesday that Kosovo and Serbia must speed up the process of normalization of relations so that the missing justice for survivors of sexual violence in conflict can finally be served. “The bitter reality is that even 20 years later, some cases cannot be efficiently prosecuted. The survivors are not blind to this and they are right to doubt political initiatives that make unrealistic promises. In the end, some cases will be prosecuted in the country, but other cases will require cooperation with authorities from neighboring countries, which is an additional reason for Kosovo and Serbia to speed up the process of normalization of relations,” he added.

Hoxha: We expected an objective assessment on visa liberalization (media)

Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Dhurata Hoxha, said on Wednesday that the conclusions on Kosovo from the EU Council of Ministers did not meet the expectations of the people of Kosovo, “because they do not give clear timelines and positions, and they include 14 points which are challenges and require constant actions”. “We were expecting and we want an objective assessment on visa liberalization … The importance of visa liberalization is not only a fundamental right for our citizens, but it also a feeling of our belonging and orientation toward European values … Our country has met all the liberalization requirements, therefore, when the Council reviews liberalization we expect that it will neither suspend nor impede our achievements. We want this process to be accelerated, because our citizens are still the only ones isolated in Europe,” Hoxha said.

Bahtiri calls on Kosovo leaders to halt construction in the north (Zeri/Epoka)

Mitrovica Mayor, Agim Bahtiri, called on Kosovo institutional leaders to undertake necessary measures to halt what he said was illegal construction activity in the north. Bahtiri yesterday received around 115 signatures from residents of the “Kroi i Vitakut” neighbourhood in northern part of Mitrovica expressing their dissatisfaction with construction of blocks of flats in the area for members of the Serbian community.

“Such initiatives are discriminatory to the Albanian population in that part of the city, considering the fact that over 15,000 Albanians have been displaced from the northern part of Mitrovica, majority of whom cannot go back to their homes to this day,” Bahtiri said.

Apostolova calls for end to monopoly in vehicle homologation (media)

Koha Ditore reports on its front page that EU Head of Office in Kosovo, Nataliya Apostolova, called on members of the Kosovo Assembly on Wednesday to put pressure on the government to annul an administrative directive that enables monopoly in vehicle homologation. A press release issued by the EU Office notes: “The Head of the EU Office in Kosovo/EU Special Representative, Nataliya Apostolova, addressed the Assembly Economic Committee today raising concern over monopoly in vehicle homologation and imposition of non-tariff barriers for new vehicles, causing unnecessary expense to the people of Kosovo. The EU is concerned that the Government’s Administrative Instruction 02/2018 on vehicle homologation will lead to the extension of the monopoly, as the current set-up implies an automatic extension of an economic operator which has had an exclusive agreement since 2008. This practice runs against the spirit of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) and creates barriers to trade”. Media report that Apostolova told members of the Assembly Committee on economic development that “competition among homologation service providers will reduce price and enable better services for the people of Kosovo. Currently, citizens pay for a service available only in Pristina at a substantially higher price than others in the region”. Several news websites report that the German Ambassador to Kosovo, Christian Heldt, too reacted on Wednesday against the monopoly in vehicle homologation.