• Two police officers reported wounded in operation in the north (media)
• Haradinaj speaks about the Special Unit’s action in the North (Express)
• Kosovo Police issues statement on operation in the north (media)
• Serbian President Vucic ordered full combat readiness of Serbian Army (RTS)
• Thaci: To live together in a single state and without borders (Telegrafi)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo wants good relations with all its neighbours (Zeri)
• Assembly Speaker Veseli meets UN ASG Jenca in Pristina (media)
• Vetevendosje won’t cooperate with Serbian List on no-confidence motion (Koha)
• Mustafa discusses with LDK parliamentary ousting of government (Epoka)
• Wilson: Now is the time for agreement with Serbia (Klan)
• Heads of investigations involved in amnesty of usury suspects (Koha)

Two police officers reported wounded in operation in the north (media)

Kosovo online media outlets are reporting that a Kosovo Police operation has begun early this morning in the north of Kosovo to arrest persons suspected of being involved in smuggling. Kosovapress and Express are saying that the police are on the lookout for suspects believed to have been involved in the killing of Kosovo Serb political leader, Oliver Ivanovic and that of the Kosovo Police officer Enver Zymberi.

Media are also reporting that the police encountered resistance in carrying out its operation which resulted in one police officer being wounded. Klan Kosova just reported, quoting sources, that the second police officer has also been wounded in the operation.

It is not clear how many persons have been arrested altogether with Klan Kosova putting the number at five while Kosovapress and RTK saying dozens have been so far detained by the police. Kallxo says so far ten persons have been arrested.

The prosecutor working on the case, Syle Hoxha, told Kallxo that among the persons arrested is also Kosovo Police commander in Zubin Potok. He declined to give any more information saying the operation is ongoing. The same outlet is also reporting that there have also been arrests of police officers in the police station in Mitrovica North.

Local Serbs in Zubin Potok are reported to have put up a roadblock while alarms have been sounded off this morning in the north calling on the residents to gather up. Media report that the police has managed to break the roadblock and continue towards Mitrovica.

Haradinaj speaks about the Special Unit’s action in the North (Express)

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj took to Facebook to inform that the ongoing police action is currently going on throughout Kosovo. “With the order of the Prosecutor, a police operation against individuals involved in smuggling, organized crime and other criminal actions in currently go8ing on in the entire Kosovo. Some of the individuals involved in these actions are customs officials, police officers but also ordinary citizens. Operation commenced successfully also in the northern municipalities of Kosovo. As Prime Minister of the country, I confirm that this has to do with law enforcement and nothing else. I invite Serbs from the north to keep calmness and respect the law!” Hardinaj wrote.

Kosovo Police issues statement on operation in the north (media)

Kosovo Police has issued a statement explaining its operation in the north which resulted in the arrest of several police officers and private citizens.

“This police operation was preceded by a several-months-long investigation of KPI [Kosovo Police Inspectorate], Kosovo Police, and led by the Special Prosecution of Kosovo which resulted in the grounded suspicion of several police officers and citizens being involved in ‘participation or organisation of criminal enterprise’ in connection to other criminal acts such as ‘smuggling of goods’, ‘misuse of official position’, ‘bribe’, ‘prohibited trade’ etc.”, the statement reads.

It adds that despite armed resistance in the north of Mitrovica, the police operation is ongoing.

“Kosovo Police, in cooperation with judicial authorities, the Police Inspectorate, remain committed in fulfilling their legal tasks and responsibilities in order to maintain public order and calm, prevent unlawful activities,” the police said adding that more information will be provided at a joint press conference with the KPI and prosecution set to take place later on today.

Serbian President Vucic ordered full combat readiness of Serbian Army (RTS)

Air sirens went off early this morning in the north of Kosovo. Kosovo police ROSU unites intruded the four northern municipalities, arresting at least five persons under suspicion of being involved in an organized crime, RTS reports.

Meanwhile, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic ordered Serbian army and police unites to be in the state of a full combat readiness. RTS also learnt that Serbian special police units are in the state of readiness as well.

Marko Djuric, head of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, told RTS Serbian President Vucic informed all international representatives if Pristina’s acts are not ceased immediately, there is no doubt what reaction of Serbia would be in the course of day today. He also said ROSU attacks unarmed Serbian population in the municipality of Zubin Potok. At the same time, RTK quotes Djuric as saying that the Kosovo Police operation in the north is being carried out in cooperation with Quint countries.

RTS reported that Serbia has launched intensive diplomatic activities and sent a plea to the western powers to restrain their Albanian marionettes, clearly noting that Serbia shall not allow ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. It was also added Serbia expects all sort of support from its allies Russia and China.

Thaci: To live together in a single state and without borders (Telegrafi)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said on Monday that “Kosovo has a certain future in NATO and the European Union, but new circumstances are also being created in which the best solution would be for both parliaments, in Kosovo and Albania, to issue the necessary declarations for the will of the peoples of Kosovo and Albania to live in a joint state without borders”. President Thaci made these remarks during a ceremony celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Arrow operation by the former Kosovo Liberation Army in the Pashtrik region.

Haradinaj: Kosovo wants good relations with all its neighbours (Zeri)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, commented on the idea presented by President Hashim Thaci of Kosovo joining Albania by saying that Kosovo wants to have good neighbourly relations with all countries. “We want to respect the neighbours. As you know relations with North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania are good but the difficulties are with Serbia”, Haradinaj said in a visit to Novoberde/Novobrdo, a place he commended for its multiethnic character.

Haradinaj also spoke about Serbian Assembly’s session on Kosovo saying that the interest of the Serbian government for Kosovo Serbs is welcomed but that this “does not prevent us from fulfilling our duties to our Serb citizens of Kosovo”.

Assembly Speaker Veseli meets UN ASG Jenca in Pristina (media)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli met on Monday the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, Miroslav Jenca and discussed political developments in Kosovo, Kosovo’s progress and aspirations for the future, a press release issued by the Assembly of Kosovo states.

Veseli said that with its policy of good neighbourhood, Kosovo contributes to stability, peace, dialogue and regional cooperation. He said that through the dialogue for normalisation of relations with Serbia, Kosovo aims to reach a legally binding agreement which would result in Kosovo being recognised as an independent and sovereign country by Serbia and to become a full-fledged member of the UN in the near future.

He also informed ASG Jenca about his initiative for establishing a tribunal that would try Serbia’s crimes committed in Kosovo and asked for his support to ensure the UN takes into consideration the petition signed by over 100,000 people in 2014 seeking justice for survivors of sexual violence during conflict in Kosovo. Veseli also noted it is unfair not to include sexual violence during conflict in Kosovo in UN annual reports underlining that without truth and justice, it is difficult to have peace and reconciliation.

ASG Jenca on his part spoke about the purpose of his visit which was to present the work of the United Nations in Kosovo.

The two officials also discussed strengthening of cooperation between the Western Balkans region.

UNMIK at the same time said that ASG Jenca and Speaker Veseli discussed the current political situation as well as the continuing work of UNMIK. ASG Jenca encouraged Kosovo leaders to help create conditions conducive to a productive dialogue and the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. He also underscored the importance of ensuring women’s participation and integrating a gender perspective in political dialogue processes.

Vetevendosje won’t cooperate with Serbian List on no-confidence motion (Koha)

The Vetevendosje Movement has ruled out any cooperation with the Serbian List for a motion of no-confidence against the Haradinaj-led government, the paper reports on page three. “We will certainly not cooperate with the Serbian List. They are members of the Kosovo Assembly and all 120 MPs have their own rights,” Vetevendosje’s Albulena Haxhiu told the paper on Monday. “The tariff on Serbian products will not be the reason for bringing down the government, the tariff must remain in force. We have numerous reasons for trying to bring down the government”.

Mustafa discusses with LDK parliamentary ousting of government (Epoka)

Isa Mustafa, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) discussed on Monday with this subject’s parliamentary group required actions to proceed with motion of no confidence on the government. The concluded that it is in Kosovo’s interest “to be led by a normal government as soon as possible.” They assessed that high level of corruption, unemployment, nepotism and people leaving Kosovo are the best indicators that Kosovo needs a new responsible government. “During the following days, LDK and the parliamentary group will hold required meetings with other parliamentary groups in order to accord further steps,” was noted in a press communique issued by the LDK. Prior to this meeting, LDK Vjosa Osmani said their political party has already collected 57 signatures for the motion.

Wilson: Now is the time for agreement with Serbia (Klan)

Damon Wilson, executive vice president of the Atlantic Council, met during his visit to Pristina with President Hashim Thaci, Assembly President Kadri Veseli and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj. Wilson said in an exclusive interview for Klan Kosova that dialogue with Serbia is a difficult process. “Kosovo is still not a member of the United Nations and there are obstacles between the countries which are understandable if we recall what happened in 1998-1999,” he said.

The work of the Atlantic Council and my work is to help societies overcome these processes for the former opponents to become partners. It will not be an easy dialogue, we will have good and bad things in this process,” he added, mentioning further progress reached in the region.

“The most important thing now is to work for something that will be truly historic between Pristina and Belgrade.”

“Now is the time. This is the momentum for the region – it is unusual to have all this coordination and interest in Washington because there is a lot of competition for attention there and the EU countries as well,” Wilson said. He added that the same attention might not be always available.

Heads of investigations involved in amnesty of usury suspects (Koha)

The paper reports in its leading front-page story that senior Kosovo Police officers and the prosecution were involved in delaying investigations against a group suspected of several criminal activities. The paper claims to possess documents which show that Fadil Gashi, head of the Kosovo Police Serious Crimes Department, and Nazim Sahiti, former head of the sector of regional units for investigating economic crimes, had decided to “deviate” investigations in the case. Following their decision, the case, which was being handled by the Serious Crimes Department and the Special Prosecution of Kosovo, was then transferred to investigation authorities in Ferizaj.