Headlines - 28.09.2018

• EU announces acceleration of dialogue (media)
• Thaci: Kosovo seeks to build agreement in the Balkans (media)
• Shala: No correction of borders without mutual recognition (RTK)
• PM Haradinaj meets US congressmen (Zeri)
• FM: Germany wants agreement in line with European values (Koha)
• Austria supports any agreement between Kosovo and Serbia (Zeri)
• Mustafa: Kosovo facing biggest threat since declaration of independence (media)
• Haziri: Lack of border correction can produce tensions (RTK)
• Gjini: If correction of borders happens, we have lost the war (RTK)
• Opposition: We did not lobby against visa liberalisation (RFE/Bota Sot)
• Two Kosovo MPs in detention for threatening prosecutors (media)
• Multiethnic mobile market opens in Kmetoc village (Klan Kosova)

EU announces acceleration of dialogue (media)

The President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, in the framework of the UN General Assembly Annual Session, held a meeting with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. They discussed about the last phase of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. The office of the President of Kosovo has issued a press release which informs that Thaçi has once again reconfirmed the readiness of the Kosovo party on the dialogue and the reaching of a legally binding final agreement. “After Montenegro’s NATO membership, and the agreement between Greece and Macedonia, a historic momentum has been created for reaching an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia that would resolve disagreements once and for all and create a clear perspective of membership in the EU,” Thaci reportedly said. He also stressed that these days, from the numerous meetings he has held with state representatives in New York, he has received full support on reaching of an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia as a precondition for a lasting peace in the Balkans. On the other hand, Federica Mogherini has announced the acceleration of the dialogue, and has offered her support and the support of the EU in facilitating this difficult but necessary process for opening the perspective for both countries in the EU.

Thaci: Kosovo seeks to build agreement in the Balkans (media)

Several news websites cover an op-ed that Kosovo President Hashim Thaci wrote for The Financial Times titled Kosovo seeks to build agreement in the Balkans. “Kosovo is a stable and prosperous young democracy that aspires to join the EU and Nato, like most of its neighbours and partners. But the road ahead is long and filled with obstacles. We believe Kosovo has shown itself to be a reliable and trustworthy partner to the EU. We share the same goals. We have been actively engaged in dialogue with Serbia, a process that I have been proud to lead for many years. Those who remember the terrible wars of the 1990s will understand the importance of this effort. Kosovo has clear goals and expectations for our efforts to normalise relations with Serbia. The dialogue should lead Kosovo and Serbia to extend formal mutual recognition and full diplomatic relations to each other. Kosovo must have a clear, equal and unhindered membership path to the EU, Nato and the UN,” Thaci wrote. https://www.ft.com/content/45404c40-c0de-11e8-84cd-9e601db069b8

Shala: No correction of borders without mutual recognition (RTK)

Blerim Shala, adviser to the President of Kosovo, said there cannot be correction of borders or demarcation of the border with Serbia prior to the reach of a legally binding agreement with Serbia. “Pandora’s Box has remained opened as far as relations between Kosovo and Serbia are concerned. We are engaging to close it through this agreement,” Shala said.

PM Haradinaj meets US congressmen (Zeri)

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj met a group of US congressmen and informed them of reforms the government of Kosovo is undertaking. In a Facebook post Haradinaj said he thanked the US congressmen of their support to Kosovo and asked them to continue lobbying for Kosovo to join international organisations.

FM: Germany wants agreement in line with European values (Koha)

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas is reported to have said in a meeting with Kosovo Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli in New York that Germany wants the final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia to be in line with European values and to contribute to the stability of the region. “Germany remains, as always, strong supporter of Kosovo and we cannot imagine progress without the support of this friendly state and Chancellor Merkel,” Pacolli said.

Austria supports any agreement between Kosovo and Serbia (Zeri)

Austrian Federal Minister for the EU, Gernot Blumer, said in Pristina yesterday that his country would support any agreement between Kosovo and Serbia even if it includes border changes. “We have a clear position on this issue. If two countries agree to a sustainable solution we will not oppose it. It is important for these two countries to agree to a common solution,” Blumer said after meeting Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Dhurata Hoxha.

Mustafa: Kosovo facing biggest threat since declaration of independence (media)

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Isa Mustafa said Kosovo is facing the biggest threat since declaring independence in 2008. In a Facebook post, Mustafa said ideas of border correction, land swap, and special autonomy for Serbs in Kosovo represent “serious threat” to what Kosovo has built in the last ten years. “There is no reason for Kosovo, after 116 recognitions, to put into question its statehood simply for the fact that it is not recognised by Serbia,” Mustafa said. “Serbs do not live only in the north, they also make majority in six other municipalities in Kosovo, they live in Bujanovc and Medvegje, so the Serb issue does not end with ethnic borders but begins with grabbing a part of the territory and then proceeding with specific demands for the Serb Orthodox Church and municipalities with Serb majority.  It begins and doesn’t end. Such ideas destroy of state being and leave us in an undefined position,” Mustafa wrote.

Haziri: Lack of border correction can produce tensions (RTK)

Deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Lutfi Haziri, has defended the idea of correction of borders with Serbia, saying that it makes Kosovo functional. He said that from now on, he will try to persuade his political party to agree with this idea, however, “initially legitimization of institutions is required”. “It is an unjust to leave one hundred thousand Albanians under Serbia, only by saying that this is not the right way,” he said. If tensions are mentioned when resolution of this matter is concerned, then I assure you that lack of resolving this issue will produce tensions, I assure you that south-east Kosovo will not remain calm,” Haziri said.

Gjini: If correction of borders happens, we have lost the war (RTK)

Ardian Gjini, deputy leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK,) said that opening of the issue of correction of borders is extremely dangerous for Kosovo. “We have swopped places, we used to speak at some time about human rights, and now we speak about territories. Starting to change the borders of our state, transforms Kosovo into the position of a looser. If this happens, we have lost the war and all our engagement. We will be in the position of the looser and this will have impact also on the international community,” Gjini said. “It is terrible what we are doing to those people; We will see situations which will produce violence, if we see people leaving their lands, we have to get ready for violence,” he added.

Opposition: We did not lobby against visa liberalisation (RFE/Bota Sot)

Representatives of Kosovo opposition parties have rejected allegations they lobbied against visa liberalisation during the visit of the EU’s Working Party on the Western Balkans Region (COWEB). Opposition parties said they are not challenging the visa liberalisation process and that they strongly support Kosovo’s European integration. Earlier, Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Dhurata Hoxha accused the opposition of misinforming the EU delegation in an effort to undermine the visa liberalisation process for Kosovo.

Two Kosovo MPs in detention for threatening prosecutors (media)

Yesterday, the Kosovo Police detained MP from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Shkumbin Demaliaj on an order issued by the Basic Prosecution in Pristina for intimidating prosecutor Elez Blakaj in relation to the list of KLA veterans. In a separate case from two days ago, MP from the Social Democratic Initiative (NISMA) Milaim Zeka was also arrested by the police on suspicion of threatening a prosecutor who indicted him on visa fraud charges.

Multiethnic mobile market opens in Kmetoc village (Klan Kosova)

A multiethnic mobile market and agricultural cooperative was inaugurated yesterday in the village of Kmetoc, Gjilan/Gnjilane municipality. At the opening ceremony attended by the UK Ambassador Ruairi O’Connell and Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo Dalibor Jevtic, Gjilan/Gnjilane Mayor Lutfi Haziri said the project was crucial for the Kmetoc village whose residents preserved multiethnic relations and cooperation while Jevtic thanked the UK Embassy, European Commission, United Nations, and Mayor Haziri for their support to the project.