Mustafa: No date yet for visa liberalization (Koha)

During a recent visit to Brussels, Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa received positive assessments for the progress achieved in Kosovo, in particular for the fulfilment of visa liberalization criteria. Mustafa said: “we discussed many topics in Brussels with President Juncker and High Representative Mogherini. They welcomed the progress achieved in Kosovo in all areas, in particular the fulfilment of criteria and recommendations for visa liberalization … As far as Kosovo is concerned, we have met the requirements. Now it is up to the European Commission and the EU to move forward with the assessment on visa liberalization”. Mustafa did not want to speculate on a specific date for visa liberalization. “What I can say is that I expect a positive reply from the EU institutions on visa liberalization. The date of the recommendation and the date when our people will be able to move freely, is really in the competencies of EU institutions. We respect all of their procedures. We are confident that they will come out with a righteous assessment … there is no specific date yet,” Mustafa said.

Kosovo to receive visa liberalization recommendation next week? (Indeksonline/Zeri)

Representatives of the Kosovo government are confident that the European Commission will very soon announce the recommendation for visa liberalization for Kosovo citizens. Certain local experts in Pristina even argue that the recommendation could be announced next week. They also claim that the arrests of a group suspected of organized crime and led by former PDK MP Azem Syla will send a positive signal to the European Union that Kosovo’s institutions are seriously combating organized crime. Experts argue that further arrests can be expected in the future as Kosovo has a lot more to do in the fight against corruption and organized crime. Fisnik Rexhepi, senior advisor to Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration Bekim Collaku, told Zeri daily newspaper that Collaku and Prime Minister Isa Mustafa were told in their recent visit to Brussels that Kosovo has achieved progress in meeting the visa liberalization criteria. Rexhepi also said that the European Commission will very soon announce the recommendation for visa liberalization.

Krasniqi: We are discussing the option of early parliamentary elections (RTK)

Jakup Krasniqi, chairman of the National Council of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), told RTK on Friday that the ruling coalition partners and opposition parties will continue to meet with the mediation of civil society organizations and foreign embassies in Pristina. According to Krasniqi, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and NISMA are discussing with the ruling coalition the option of early parliamentary elections. Krasniqi also said that the leading bodies of the two opposition parties will have to decide whether or not they want to send their representatives to an eventual meeting summoned by Kosovo President Hashim Thaci.