Thaci: Kosovo has made major reforms for EU integration (RTK)

The President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, said that with endorsement of the Agreement on demarcation with Montenegro, Kosovo will gain freedom of movement within EU.

“Kosovo should be included in the new strategy of the European Commission for enlargement, just as the other countries of Balkans,” Thaci said in Davos, while discussing acceleration of the long term development of this region.

During an interview given to RTK from Davos, Thaci said the new strategy for Western Balkans which will be presented by the President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker in February creates possibility for Kosovo to take over its obligations toward the requests and international agreements.

“Kosovo remains committed to the dialogue process for normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia. In this regard, it is imperative to reach a legally binding agreement on peace and normalization,” Thaci wrote on his Facebook page.

EU draft Strategy for Enlargement does not satisfy Kosovo’s expectations (RTK)

Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration said the European Union should clarify its position toward Kosovo. The Strategy for Enlargement is expected to become public in the beginning of February by the European Commission. “We have had access on an earlier draft, which is not final, and it is true that it did not contain a clear, accurate language on Kosovo’s perspective, it is very generalized. Kosovo has a clear EU perspective, but this is the entire prognosis on where is Kosovo going to be,” Hoxha said.

She added that Kosovo institutions are committed to fulfill all obligations.

Hoxhaj visits Montenegro (RTK)

Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Enver Hoxhaj, suddenly appeared in Montenegro tonight, reported RTK on Friday. Hoxhaj published a picture on his Twitter account with the Foreign Minister of Montenegro, Srdjan Darmanovic.

Perhaps some positive movement on demarcation could be expected from this meeting, although this was not mentioned on Hoxhaj’s Twitter account., RTK notes. “An excellent meeting in Podgorica today with Minister for Foreign Affairs Darmanovic, where we discussed regional developments and EU agenda for the Western Balkans. Kosovo and Montenegro to further strengthen cooperation during 2018,” Hoxhaj wrote on his Twitter account.

Britain does not issue visa to PM Haradinaj (Koha Ditore)

Participation of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj at the Summit for Investments in Western Balkans which will be organized in London, is not certain, due to Haradinaj’s ‘isolation’ by the West, reports Koha Ditore.

Sources of the paper report informed that the British Embassy to Kosovo has not so far issued visa for Haradinaj. Two weeks ago, the U.S. Embassy to Kosovo also refused to issue visa for him.

The paper notes that these measures have been undertaken after Kosovo’s Prime Minister and President, induced initiative of Kosovo Assembly MPs to abrogate the Special Court. The paper further notes that the Office of the Prime Minister refused to give any information on Haradinaj’s application for visa.

Rakic: I am not aware of criminal structures in the north (Zeri, RTK)

Mayor of Mitrovica North municipality, Goran Rakic claims “he has no knowledge on the presence of criminal structures in the city,” reported by over the last days by Belgrade media and pointed out by Oliver Ivanovic for several months before his murder.

Rakic requested on Thursday from Kosovo’s police to issue a press release on the course of the investigation as he “does not want speculations aiming to score political points on Ivanovic’s murder.”

Lumezi requests engagement on shedding light to murders after the war (RTK)

Kosovo’s Chief Prosecutor, Aleksander Lumezi, requested at the Annual Conference of the Prosecutors to consider priority shedding light on the murders of the public figures during and after the war in Kosovo.

Speaking about corruption, Lumezi said “corruption is not fought by promises, but by actions of the prosecutors. This is the only way to remove the impression that we lack combating of corruption.”

He spoke about success on the war against terrorism saying that actions of the prosecutors drastically reduced the number of Kosovo people fighting at foreign wars.

LDK disappointed with Assembly’s decision on Gashi’s happy shooting (media)

The Assembly of Kosovo debated on Friday on the interpellation called by the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) regarding the use of weapons by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Diaspora and Strategic Investment, Dardan Gashi. The motion did not gain support of the majority to suspend Deputy Minister Gashi, as 39 MPs voted against, 36 for and three MPs abstained. LDK MP Aemend Zemaj expressed regret for this decision saying that examples of violation of the law by government are reflecting also at the Assembly. “I hope that at least justice bodies will treat the case independently from the legal aspect,” he said.

Germany advises its citizens to avoid northern Kosovo (RTK)

After the murder of Serb politician, Oliver Ivanovic, German Ministry for Foreign Affairs has warned its citizens who travel or are in Kosovo, to be careful and possibly avoid traveling to the four northern municipalities of Kosovo. This warning was made on 24 January, on Ministry’s official webpage. “In northern Kosovo, municipalities of Zubin Potok, Leposavic, Zvecan and Mitrovica North, security situation continues to be tensioned. Even though the violence is not directed towards the foreigners, the possibility of violent incidents is not excluded,” is noted in the warning.