Headlines - 26.08.2015

One accord on Association/Community, two interpretations (Koha Ditore)

The paper on its front page reports that on Tuesday night, delegations of Pristina and Belgrade signed a package agreement on four topics: Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities, telecoms, energy and freedom of movement. Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, told the media that he considers the agreement reached as a big success for Kosovo. “This is a success in extending the sovereignty of Kosovo even in northern Kosovo. All agreements are reached within the laws and Constitution of Kosovo,” Mustafa said. He added that the Association/Community will not have executive competencies. Meanwhile, Serbia’s Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic, said the agreements reached last night are in the interest of Serbia and Kosovo Serbs, adding that this result will help Serbia in the process of negotiations for EU membership. Vucic said that the Association/Community will have broad competencies and its president, vice president, assembly, coat of arms and flag, and it will make decisions in the areas of education, health, urban and economic development. He announced that in September he will visit the four municipalities that are part of this Association/Community. The paper also writes that many European diplomats see the agreements reached as very important just before the Western Balkans Summit, where the parties can now say they have concrete results and can benefit from the summit. 

Mogherini confirms agreements between Pristina and Belgrade (dailies)

The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, through a press release confirmed the agreements reached last night between Pristina and Belgrade. “I hosted a meeting of the high level dialogue for normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina with Prime Ministers Aleksandar Vucic and Isa Mustafa and their delegations in Brussels to finalise implementation arrangements of four key agreements: on energy, telecoms, establishment of the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities as well as the Freedom of Movement/Mitrovica Bridge. The Prime Ministers of Serbia and Kosovo marked a turning point in taking forward the Dialogue agenda. Today's outcome represents landmark achievements in the normalisation process. Solutions such as those found today bring concrete benefits to the people and at the same time enable the two sides to advance on their European path,” Mogherini said. 

Thaci: Serbia has recognised Kosovo as a country (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci said that the agreement now reached between Pristina and Belgrade was originally opposed by Belgrade. “Serbia signed [the agreement] after the pressure from the international community,” Thaci told Klan Kosova adding that the Kosovo side stood firm by its commitments and added that the agreement marks Serbia’s recognition of Kosovo’s independence. “Serbia has agreed to sign documents where our country is treated as Republic of Kosovo. This is a type of recognition,” he pointed out.

Jahjaga: Agreements strengthen Kosovo’s sovereignty (Telegrafi)

President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, issued a statement hailing the signing of agreements between Pristina and Belgrade representatives as “an important moment in strengthening of our constitutional order and normalization of relations between the two states.” She said the agreements strengthen the sovereignty of Kosovo and its territorial integrity as well as its aspiration to make Kosovo an all-inclusive, stable and prosperous state. Furthermore, they help the integration of the Serb community in social and institutional life of Kosovo.

Vetevendosje warns of worsening situation in Kosovo (dailies)

In a press conference yesterday, Dardan Molliqaj from Vetevendosje said that the Kosovo Police is serving the interests of certain individuals as it intervened in preventing a group of Vetevendosje activists from approaching the house of Prime Minister Isa Mustafa in the village of Prapashtica where they were planning to stage a protest over a vehicle repair tender that Mustafa awarded to his son’s company. Molliqaj said that the continued police intervention in preventing Vetevendosje protests only worsens the already tense situation in Kosovo. Molliqaj also spoke about the latest agreement between Pristina and Belgrade claiming it is yet another undermining of Kosovo’s sovereignty and integrity. “With today’s agreement Serbia maintains the right to have its own telecommunications company operating in Kosovo as well as its own prefix, and the same tariffs. Kosovo is practically viewed as a same area as Serbia with regards to telecommunications through its company while Kosovo gains no right to apply as an independent country for its own prefix,” said Molliqaj.

Thaci for WSJ: I will cooperate with special court (RTK)

Foreign Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, told Wall Street Journal that he would closely cooperate with the special court and that he has nothing to hide. “The man who transformed the KLA militia into an established political party, said in the interview that he backs this court, even if its mandate is to prosecute some of his former acolytes,” wrote the paper. It further quoted Thaci denying any involvement or knowledge of war crimes. “I very much hope that no one will try to rewrite history, to try to draw parallels or equate the genocide perpetrated by Serbia with individual acts of some desperate citizens,” Thaci said.

Kurz: EU doesn’t want to import unresolved issues (Koha Ditore)

Austria’s Foreign Minister, Sebastian Kurz, in an interview with the paper said that despite the numerous challenges, European perspective for the Western Balkans is still alive, and that the open problems that remain between countries in the region can be obstacles in this path and therefore should be addressed as soon as possible. The solution to these issues will be discussed in the Western Balkans Summit to be held in Vienna today. Kurz said, “The EU does not want to import any unresolved conflict and this issue will be among the topics to be discussed in Vienna" and added that the refugee crisis and combating religious extremism will be among other topics to be tackled during this meeting.  Regarding visa liberalization for Kosovo, Kurz said that this process is led by the European Commission and is continuing "in a satisfactory manner" and the outcome will depend on concrete progress and risk assessment.