Headlines - 27.02.2018

• Serbian List vote for demarcation depends on Brussels dialogue (Koha Ditore)
• Border demarcation in Serbian List’s hands (Zeri)
• Delawie reissues calls for ratification of border agreement (Telegrafi)
• Haliti: I still do not believe demarcation will pass (RFE, Epoka e Re)
• Haziri: Three votes short for demarcation to pass (Klan Kosova)
• Analyst: Serbian List votes for demarcation with consequences (Epoka)
• Kocijancic: Dialogue, in a constructive spirit (media)
• Serbs in the north not informed of Brussels dialogue (media)
• Juncker: Character of final agreement to be determined by Kosovo and Serbia (Lajmi)
• Hahn to Serbia: In EU only after normalization of relations (RTK)
• Vucic seeks German support on compromises with Kosovo (RTK)
• Pacolli: Dacic offered weapons to Burundi to revoke recognition of Kosovo (Koha)
• Appeals court grants conditional release to Vetevendosje activists (dailies)

 Kosovo Media Highlights

Serbian List vote for demarcation depends on Brussels dialogue (Koha Ditore)

The outcome of the Brussels meeting between Kosovo and Serbia delegations will be decisive on the decision of the Serbian List whether to support the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro or not, the paper reports on the front page. Sources told the paper that the coalition parties in Kosovo expect the meeting to be “productive” so that Belgrade would give green light to the Serbian List to support the border deal at the Kosovo Assembly. Serbia continues to insist on the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and when asked whether this is one of the conditions the Serbian side has put forth in exchange for its vote at the Assembly, head of the Kosovo delegation for Brussels dialogue, Avni Arifi, refused to comment but did say the question was “paranoid”.

Border demarcation in Serbian List’s hands (Zeri)

The paper writes on the front page that Kosovo Assembly will not be able to ratify the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro without the votes of the Serbian List MPs. The paper says the ruling parties, along with the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), have a total of 75 votes to support the deal out of the 80 necessary to pass. Meanwhile, MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Nait Hasani, has also announced his vote will be a ‘no’ while few MPs from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Social Democratic Initiative (NISMA) said they have not yet decided which way their vote will go. Political analyst Imer Mushkolaj told the paper that the ratification of the agreement now rests with Belgrade as the Kosovo parties will need the Serbian List votes if they want to ensure ratification. He said however that the Serbian List could be won over but “at a price”.

Delawie reissues calls for ratification of border agreement (Telegrafi)

The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, posted a video message on Twitter calling Kosovo MPs to ratify border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. He said it was time to pass the agreement as being essential to ensure the ability of all citizens of Kosovo to travel freely in Europe. “Let me be clear: this Assembly’s vote is about Kosovo’s future in Europe ,” Delawie said.

Haliti: I still do not believe demarcation will pass (RFE, Epoka e Re)

Deputy President of the Assembly of Kosovo, Xhavit Haliti, told Radio Free Europe that he still does not believe that the Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro would be ratified at the Assembly, if there are no votes from Vetevendosje Movement and if Serbian List votes against ratification. “If this happens, then I believe the session will be postponed again. Debate can be opened until the conditions to vote are prepared,” Haliti said.

Haziri: Three votes short for demarcation to pass (Klan Kosova)

Deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Lutfi Haziri, said in an interview to Klan Kosova that his party demonstrated rationality in its position regarding the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro and even became “bridge of compromise” in an effort to end Kosovo’s isolation. However he said that the ruling parties are short of three votes for ratifying the deal. “Coalition partners have guaranteed us they have the votes but what is happening is that there are three votes missing,” Haziri said. He added that if the border agreement fails to be endorsed on Wednesday, there would be no sense in the current government remaining in power.

Analyst: Serbian List votes for demarcation with consequences (Epoka)

Political analyst, Behlul Beqaj, told the paper that the fate of ratification of the demarcation agreement with Montenegro remains in the hands of the merciless politics. He said the Serbian List could change position on demarcation however, according to him, consequences of the change of their position would be major for Kosovo. He said that if Serbian List votes for ratification of the Agreement for demarcation of the border with Montenegro, they would condition this with votes on establishment of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities according to Brussels Agreement and not according to the decision of Kosovo’s Constitutional Court. “They will request new municipalities and condition transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into an army,” Beqaj said.

Kocijancic: Dialogue, in a constructive spirit (media)

Maja Kocijancic, EU Foreign Policy Spokesperson, said that Pristina and Belgrade continued on Monday with technical dialogue in Brussels. They discussed implementation of the agreement on free movement, justice and Integrated Border Management. The meetings will continue today (Tuesday) and they will be discussing the agreement for Association of Serb-majority Municipalities, energy and Mitrovica bridge. “The meeting took place in a warm and constructive atmosphere. Both parties confirmed their readiness to restart discussions on different matters that were discussed today,” Kocijancic said.

Serbs in the north not informed of Brussels dialogue (media)

A report into the implementation of the telecommunication and energy agreement between Pristina and Belgrade presented at the EU Information and Cultural Centre in Pristina found that the residents of the north of Kosovo are not informed of what the so-called Brussels agreements actually contain. “Citizens know very little about his process. The energy agreement has begun in 2011 and more than six years on there is no significant progress,” Snezana Djapic, the report’s co-author, said. Several papers highlight the report’s findings that only 10 percent of residents in the northern part of Kosovo pay their electricity bills.

Juncker: Character of final agreement to be determined by Kosovo and Serbia (Lajmi)

The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, held on Monday a press conference in Belgrade, after his meeting with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic. Juncker said countries which have problems with each other cannot become part of EU. Speaking about the final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, Juncker said “We cannot say what will the character of this agreement be, it remains to Pristina and Belgrade to determine it. We want stability in Balkans countries and not unsustainability.”

Hahn to Serbia: In EU only after normalization of relations (RTK)

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic met on Monday with the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn. “2018 can be the year of decisive progress on Serbia’s EU path. New Western Balkans Strategy with indicative 2025 horizon should be a strong incentive for Serbian Government. Normalisation of relations with Kosovo and Rule of Law reforms are crucial,” Johannes Hahn wrote on his Twitter account. 

Vucic seeks German support on compromises with Kosovo (RTK)

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday that the intention of his visit to Berlin is to request the opinion of the German Chancellor on the relations between Belgrade and Pristina, relations in the region, as well as support on compromise between Belgrade and Pristina. “I want to see how will Merkel consider this. I will listen more, but of course I will express Serbia’s interests,” Vucic said at the press conference after the meeting with the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker.

Pacolli: Dacic offered weapons to Burundi to revoke recognition of Kosovo (Koha)

In an interview to KTV, Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli alleged that the Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic offered Burundi weapons and students’ scholarship in exchange for the country revoking decision to recognise independence of Kosovo. “We have taken all measures to prevent this from happening. I hope this country will soon invite us to establish diplomatic ties,” Pacolli said. He said Dacic tries to win over to Serbia’s cause countries that are poor and in need of support and that “we should not be surprised if there are new countries that will revoke recognition” but that this will not be on the part of “serious countries with an old tradition of democracy.” Pacolli mentioned Mali as one of the countries that has asked for weapons in exchange for revoking recognition decision.

Appeals court grants conditional release to Vetevendosje activists (dailies)

Kosovo’s Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of discontinuing detention to Atdhe Arifi, Frasher Krasniqi, and Egzon Haliti, Vetevendosje activists convicted on terrorism charges relating to the attack on the Assembly building in 2016. Vetevendosje’s activists are appealing their conviction at a higher instance court.  Koha Ditore meanwhile reports that the appeals court has decided to send the case to retrial but that the decision will be made public in two weeks’ time.