• Haradinaj issued U.S. visa, set to travel there today (media)
• Vetevendosje to begin anti-government rallies (media)
• Hoti urges unity in relation to Serbia (media)
• Shala: Serbia has no grounds to send Kosovo to Arbitral Tribunal (RTK)
• Customs spokesman: Serbia has lost 170 million euros from import tariff (media)
• Kosovo signs regional agreement on roaming prices (media)
• Serbian Lists asks KFOR about presence of Albanian soldiers in the north (RTK)
• KFOR explains presence of Albanian soldiers in the North (Telegrafi)
• Women in decision-making discussed as part of Global Open Day debate (media)
• 7 percent of women have properties registered under their name (Koha)
• Kosnett calls on MPs to vote amendments on NGO law (Zeri)
• State incapable of stopping Serbian project “Sunny Hill” in Zvecan (Koha)
• Turkey confirms support for increase of KSF capacities (Epoka)
• Thousands of euros going for salaries of resigned northern mayors (Zeri)

Haradinaj issued U.S. visa, set to travel there today (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj is set to travel for an official visit to the U.S. today after being issued with a visa. Months back, Haradinaj was unable to attend the National Morning Breakfast in Washington D.C. after the U.S. Embassy did not issue him a visa. Lajmi meanwhile quote sources from the Government of Kosovo saying that Haradinaj is expected to meet with the Albanian Catholic community in the U.S. while Klan Kosova reports that he will also meet senior U.S. officials and discuss dialogue with Serbia, the import tariff, Kosovo army.

Vetevendosje to begin anti-government rallies (media)

Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti announced at a press conference that the party was launching a campaign against the government of Kosovo by holding rallies in different municipalities. Kurti said that following this, Vetevendosje will initiate a motion of no confidence against the government and a protest demanding resignation of Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and President Hashim Thaci.

“The prime minister and president of Kosovo are separated by the tax on Serbia and united by corruption. What unites them is stronger than what separates them. We are therefore calling for their resignations,” Kurti said.

Kurti said the tax on imports from Serbia should remain in force but said it was introduced without plan or strategy instead of imposing full reciprocity measures. “Just as the participation in the liberation war cannot serve as a ticket for post-war usurpations, so the tax on Serbian goods cannot be used as ticket for ripping off Kosovo assets and budget,” Kurti added.

Hoti urges unity in relation to Serbia (media)

Avdullah Hoti, caucus of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), considers that it is difficult to take Serbia’s readiness for dialogue with Kosovo seriously. “It is at the same time leading an aggressive diplomacy to many countries not to recognize Kosovo and to many others to revoke their recognition,” Hoti wrote on Facebook.

He added further that Serbia’s involvement in the north in order to keep a rejecting position towards Kosovo institutions as well as not at all cooperating approach of the Serbian List, speak about lack of minimal will to create an optimal situation for dialogue.

“This mentality of Belgrade seems to be fueled with the hope that this aggression can bring us to the table of discussions with major disadvantages. The best response to all this destructiveness is that we are united in relation with Serbia and with what we aspire - a united Kosovo based on its Constitution, respecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Hoti emphasized.

Shala: Serbia has no grounds to send Kosovo to Arbitral Tribunal (RTK)

Kosovo’s Minister of Trade and Industry Endrit Shala spoke on Thursday about media reporting that Serbia’s Prime Minister warned on sending Kosovo to the Arbitral Tribunal for the imposition of a 100% tariff. Shala said that this action cannot be done by Serbia's side since Article 42 paragraph 2 of the CEFTA Agreement has not been fulfilled.

“At the same time, such a move, would mean that Serbia would in some way recognize the Republic of Kosovo,” Shala said.

The Government of the Republic of Kosovo respectively the Ministry of Trade and Industry does not consider it problematic to have bilateral consultations on an equal level as two CEFTA member states if the request is to be properly conducted by Serbia,” Shala said.

Customs spokesman: Serbia has lost 170 million euros from import tariff (media)

Most news websites quote Kosovo Customs spokesman Adriatik Stavileci as saying that as a result of the 100-percent import tariff, since November, Serbia and Bosnia could not sell products in Kosovo at the amount of €170 million.

Kosovo signs regional agreement on roaming prices (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Economic Development signed in Belgrade today agreement between Western Balkans countries on lowering roaming prices. The signatory parties pledged to gradually begin lowering roaming prices as of July.  Minister Lluka hailed the agreement saying it is a step towards increase of cooperation between Western Balkans countries.

Serbian Lists asks KFOR about presence of Albanian soldiers in the north (RTK)

Serbian List has asked KFOR about presence of soldiers from Albania in Mitrovica North, as according to this political party, they are not part of the KFOR mission.

“Graffiti which praise Greater Albania, moving of Albania’s soldiers in the center of Mitrovica, have caused concern, especially after the statement of the British Embassy,” was written in a reaction of the Serbian List.

RTK reports that Serbian media paid too much attention to a “KLA” graffiti at River Iber bridge, and they also called appearance of soldiers from Albania a provocation.

KFOR explains presence of Albanian soldiers in the North (Telegrafi)

KFOR Information Office issued a statement which informs that situation in the north as in the entire Kosovo is under control. “Again today we read about unproven weird plots and series of strange events, which are only generating panic and confusion in the people that deserves more respect. Notwithstanding the numerous appeals to refrain from spreading irresponsible speculations, unfortunately fabricated rumours continue circulating on the media and causing unfounded concerns among the population. KFOR confirms that the situation in the north, as well as all over Kosovo, is absolutely under control and there is no sign or evidence of possible unrest or violence. In reality, there is no reason to be worried and nothing to be afraid of. In those days a group of NATO Officers, escorted by KFOR, is conducting a reconnaissance activity in Kosovo. Those Officers are from different NATO Nations, including Albania. The activity consists in a visit to different places in Kosovo, including Mitrovica and other locations in the North. This is not a provocation, but it is a joint NATO activity, and the presence of 4 Albanian Officers should not surprise anybody since Albania has been a NATO member for 10 years now. Moreover, it should be well known that Albania is also contributing to KFOR mission. KFOR continues to be impartially committed to its UN mandate in order to protect all people in Kosovo and when KFOR exercises and moves around Kosovo everybody must feel safer,” reads the statement.

Women in decision-making discussed as part of Global Open Day debate (media)

Ardian Arifaj, advisor to President Hashim Thaci, said at a discussion on the anniversary of the UN SC resolution 1325 on women, peace and security organised as part of the UN Global Open Day that statistics about women in decision-making posts are not accurate. He said that President Thaci does have a woman advisor in his team but that she does not get paid through the Kosovo budget and therefore is not part of the statistics. He also said a woman did lead Kosovo negotiations in the past and Kosovo had a female president.

At the same time, Igballe Rogova from the Kosovo Women Network said that it was “disgusting” that the negotiating team for dialogue with Serbia consists only of men. She said she feared the same picture would also be at the Assembly of Kosovo were it not for the gender quotas.

Naim Rashiti from the Balkans Policy Group said the gender quota should be increased and applied in all institutions not only the Assembly while Tatjana Lazarevic from the Serbian-language portal KoSSev spoke of the challenges she faces in her daily life not only as a woman and a journalist but also as a member of the Serb community.

Global Open Day, organised by the UN and EU in Kosovo, offers a platform where the women’s voices can be heard and provides an opportunity to review the implementation of UN SC resolution 1325.

13.7 percent of women have properties registered under their name (Koha)

According to a study conducted by USAID and the Kosovo Ministry of Justice, the number of women that have reported properties registered under their names has increased in the last four years, the paper reports on page four. In the “Final national study on property rights in Kosovo” it is noted that 56.7 percent of respondents believe that one of the main obstacles for women to have equal property rights in Kosovo is the mindset of a patriarchal society. The study also notes that only 39.9 percent of women have stated that they have joint properties with their spouses.

Kosnett calls on MPs to vote amendments on NGO law (Zeri)

The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, has called on Kosovo MPs to vote in favour of amendments proposed by President Hashim Thaci to the law on NGOs. In a Twitter post, Kosnett said that the vote would not be about politics but “about ensuring transparency and preventing misuse of donor funds.”

State incapable of stopping Serbian project “Sunny Hill” in Zvecan (Koha)

KTV reported on Thursday evening that around 1,500 Serbs are expected to be accommodated in 300 houses that are being built as part of “The Sunny Hill” project in Zvecan, in northern Kosovo. Although an inspectorate of the Kosovo Ministry of Environment had ordered the construction of the houses to stop, work is ongoing there. Representatives of Albanians living in the north told the TV station on Thursday that “Serbia’s project is concerning”.

Turkey confirms support for increase of KSF capacities (Epoka)

Kosovo’s Minister of Defense Rrustem Berisha hosted a meeting with Turkey’s Minister of defense Hulusi Akar. They discussed cooperation among the two ministries. The two Ministers signed an agreement for cooperation among the two ministries. Later, Akar met also with the Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj. Turkey’s defense Minister said after this meeting that Turkey will continue to support Kosovo in the field of security, increase of KSF capacities as well as on Euro-Atlantic integration.

Thousands of euros going for salaries of resigned northern mayors (Zeri)

Although the mayors of the four northern municipalities have resigned their posts and cut off all communication with Kosovo institutions, they continue to receive their salaries from the Kosovo budget, the paper reports on the front page. Their salaries have so far cost the budget of Kosovo around €21,000. Experts say that the resigned mayors in the north will continue to receive their salaries until May but not beyond as according to the Law on Local Governance if municipal assemblies don’t meet within a six-month period, the assemblies will need to be disbanded and extraordinary elections be announced.