Headlines - 24.02.2018

• Kosovo Assembly postpones border demarcation vote for next week (media)
• Veseli: Consensus on border demarcation, close (RTK)
• AAK: Do not lose demarcation momentum (RTK)
• Delawie renews calls for ratification of border agreement (Koha Ditore)
• Pacolli urges EU to condemn Kosovo’s exclusion from regional event (media)
• Shala: Constitutional changes for KSF transformation to begin in May (Zeri)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Kosovo Assembly postpones border demarcation vote for next week (media)

Kosovo Assembly decided today to postpone the border demarcation vote for next week. MPs endorsed the proposal to reschedule new session on Wednesday, February 28. Of a total of 90 votes cast, 60 supported the motion to postpone. The reason that led to the delay of the vote has to do with disagreements among the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Social Democratic Initiative (NISMA) over the inclusion of the government commission’s report on border demarcation to the draft law. LDK opposes the move saying the report has no legal power and stands in contradiction to the actual border demarcation agreement whereas the rest of the parties, particularly the AAK, insist on it being included. The next session of the Assembly happens to coincide with the visit of the senior EU officials to Kosovo – European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, and Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn.

Veseli: Consensus on border demarcation, close (RTK)

Kosovo Assembly President, Kadri Veseli, said that he had lengthy meetings with representatives of political parties and that consensus on ratification of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro is close. Veseli said he was convinced agreement would be reached by Wednesday when the Assembly is scheduled to vote on the issue as the differences between the parties are minor and can be overcome.

AAK: Do not lose demarcation momentum (RTK)

The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) said in a statement that the draft law on border demarcation with Montenegro is a result of continuous efforts of Kosovo’s political spectrum and the international community and its momentum should not be lost. “It has not been easy at all to reach this point and the contribution of everyone is necessary at these decisive moments,” AAK said. It added that the draft law proposed by the government is a good legal basis that guarantees correct demarcation.

Delawie renews calls for ratification of border agreement (Koha Ditore)

The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, has repeated calls to MPs to ratify the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. “Now is the time for all political parties to demonstrate leadership. Make a deal that puts the people first. Pass Border Demarcation,” Delawie wrote on Twitter.

Pacolli urges EU to condemn Kosovo’s exclusion from regional event (media)

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Behgjet Pacolli, has called on the EU to condemn Kosovo’s exclusion from a Western Balkans conference in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Pacolli said the decision not to invite Kosovo representatives to the event is “regrettable” and that Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina should realise that there can be no full regional cooperation without the equal and unconditional representation of Kosovo in all relevant initiatives. At the same time, Pacolli hailed the decisions of Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) not to take part in the event as a sign of protest towards Kosovo’s exclusion.

Shala: Constitutional changes for KSF transformation to begin in May (Zeri)

Chairman of the Kosovo Assembly committee on internal affairs and oversight of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), Haxhi Shala, said they expect the process of constitutional changes paving way for transformation of the KSF into a Kosovo army to commence in May and that by that time the Serbian List will be on board. However, the deputy chair of the same committee, Rexhep Selimi, said Kosovo is far from having its own army and that the main obstacle in this respect is the Serbian List which continues to oppose KSF transformation process.