Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: A new government for a new beginning, let’s work together (media)
• Kurti: Our governance is a mirror for our citizens (media)
• Kurti to pay homage at Adem Jashari memorial complex today (media)
• Borrell welcomes formation of new Kosovo Government (media)
• New Assembly Speaker Osmani meets U.S. Ambassador Kosnett (media)
• Kosovo Women’s Network hails election of women in government (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Jevtic: We are in government, but we are not in coalition (RTS)
• Serbian officials, lawyer react to Kurti’s statements on genocide lawsuit and army (Tanjug, B92, RTS)
• Stano: Special Envoy for Kosovo an idea only, too soon to talk about name (FoNet, N1)
• Godfrey: Forming of government in Pristina opportunity for progress in dialogue (TV Most)
• Grenell's message to Pristina: Revoke tariffs immediately (B92)
• Serbian analysts on new Pristina government (KoSSev)
• Bajrami: Kosovo will no longer be same with Kurti and Osmani at helm (KoSSev)
• Emini: New generation of politicians, expectations high, no ideas on consensus for dialogue (KoSSev)

International:

• Kosovo approves new government, PM vows to be tough negotiator with Serbia (Reuters)
• Kosovo Parliament Backs New Govt Under Kurti (Balkan Insight)
• Trump’s envoy urges Kosovo to drop taxes on Serbian goods (AP)

 

 

Albanian Language Media

 

Kurti: A new government for a new beginning, let’s work together (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said today that he is humbled to serve the people as their Prime Minister, several news outlets report. “Today we held true to the promise of Oct. 6 elections and delivered the government that citizens voted for. I am humbled to serve the people as their Prime Minister. A new government for a new beginning, let us work together,” Kurti wrote in a Twitter post.

Kurti: Our governance is a mirror for our citizens (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti held the first meeting of his government today, most news websites report. “This is a government of the people and we will work for them. The energy and enthusiasm of the people should serve as a driving force for our work and we must not stop until we reward the people … Our program is as ambitious as the expectations of the people. The people have their eyes on this government now, and on each and every one of you. It would be good if all of us learn the program by heart because we will go to bed with it in the evening and we will wake up with it in the morning. The Minister of Agriculture will spend more time with the farmers and the Minister of Healthcare will spend more time with doctors and patients, and we should not be giving orders from our seats. We have great chances for success but we need to work hard. The parties are in Parliament, whereas here we will work as a team. In this government, we will be the Government of the Republic of Kosovo. In this respect, my door will always be open. We have good intentions and great wishes for success. You will have my support and you should also support one another. I am certain that this is the right chance for you to show your skills. Our governance is a mirror for our citizens,” Kurti told his ministers. 

Kurti to pay homage at Adem Jashari memorial complex today (media)

Several news websites quote a press release issued by the Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo as saying that PM Albin Kurti will pay homage at the Adem Jashari memorial complex in Prekaz today. Kurti will then attend a memorial academy for the 3 - 4 February 2000 massacre in Mitrovica when 10 Albanians were killed.

Borrell welcomes formation of new Kosovo Government (media)

The EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, welcomed the formation of the new Government of Kosovo. 

“I welcome the vote of the Kosovo Assembly confirming the new government led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti. With the government now in place, I look forward to intensifying our discussions and cooperation on European Union-Kosovo relations, on reforms and on the EU-facilitated Dialogue. The EU remains committed to working with Kosovo's institutions and people to move forward on the European path,” Borrell said in a statement. 

He said that the new government has a great deal of work ahead, namely in implementing provisions of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the European Reform Agenda, and to also promote rule of law and socio-economic development.  

"Regional development must be enhanced, as well as good neighbourly relations. In this context, we look forward to a swift resumption of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue facilitated by the EU to help achieve a comprehensive normalisation of relations," Borrell stated. 

“The current status quo is not tenable. There is no alternative to a rapid resumption of the normalisation talks between Belgrade and Pristina.”

Borrell also called for renewed engagement of Kosovo in regional initiatives and cooperation structures.

“The challenges facing Kosovo are significant but so is Kosovo’s potential. We stand ready to assist Kosovo on its European Reform Agenda and to continue our support in strengthening the rule of law for all, improving public administration to deliver services that the population deserve, and creating jobs and growth,” he concluded.

New Assembly Speaker Osmani meets U.S. Ambassador Kosnett (media)

Vjosa Osmani, held the first meeting since taking on the post of Assembly Speaker by receiving the U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Philip Kosnett.

"Friendship and partnership with the U.S. are vital for Kosovo," Osmani wrote on social media after the meeting. 

Certain media outlets report that Osmani’s office wall displayed a framed picture of the late Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova. Her predecessor, Kadri Veseli, had kept that of the current President Hashim Thaci while Glauk Konjufca, during his brief tenure, had no picture whatsoever. 

Osmani’s move drew criticism from opposition MPs. Ganimete Musliu and Blerta Deliu, both from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), said the removal of Thaci’s picture is a violation of the law on protocol. 

"This is a new standard for Kosovo institutions and an entirely childish game that brings to surface the political immaturity and personal whims of Vjosa Osmani," Deliu wrote on social media.

Kosovo Women’s Network hails election of women in government (media)

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) congratulated today the Vetevendosje Movement and the Democratic League of Kosovo on forming the new government led by Albin Kurti, adding that it hopes their co-governance will bring added well-being for the citizens of Kosovo. 

The KWN through a public letter congratulated Vjosa Osmani on her election as Speaker of the Kosovo Assembly and also expressed several concerns. 

“While closely following the representation and participation of women in the October 6 early parliamentary elections, and consequently in the new government, the KWN through this letter expresses its concern that the two parties of the coalition did not respect the Law on Gender Equality during the appointment of the government. This law guarantees gender equality (50/50) as a condition for the development of a democratic society where men and women have equal opportunities in political and public life … We are witnessing the political empowerment of women in Kosovar society, therefore, the newly-formed government needs to promote an improved position of Kosovar women and all of society … Although this government has more women ministers compared to previous governments, we expect that it will implement the Law on Gender Equality during the appointment of deputy ministers,” the letter notes. 

 

 

Serbian Language Media

 

Jevtic: We are in government, but we are not in coalition (RTS)

Minister for Communities and Returns in a new composition of the Kosovo Government, Dalibor Jevtic explained that the mandate was entrusted to him thanks to the votes that Serbian List has won, RTS reports. He added, the Serbian List is not in the ruling coalition.

Jevtic also said citizens who voted at latest elections gave the mandate to the representatives of the Serbian List, that in line with applicable laws in Kosovo and Metohija, get guaranteed seats in the assembly and the government.

He clarified that the Serbian List is not in the ruling coalition, and they showed that with voting in the assembly.

“What belongs to us based on the laws was given to us by the citizens and no one else,” Jevtic said.

He noted that as political representatives of the Serbs, they will continue to work in the interests of those who voted for Serbian List but will also try to do their utmost in order to improve the lives of the Serbs and other citizens.

“We are ready to talk with majority representatives who make the government and with the prime minister, because we believe that talks and the dialogue are the best way to resolve the problems,” Jevtic underlined.

Jevtic said, if he had the opportunity to speak at the session of the government, which was protocol one, he would say, that newly established government should make the first step towards what enables continuation of the dialogue and to do their utmost to fully implement the agreements of Belgrade-Pristina airline and railway line.

“Precondition for this is to remove 100 percent tariffs on goods from central Serbia,” he said, RTS reports.

Serbian officials, lawyer react to Kurti’s statements on genocide lawsuit and army (Tanjug, B92, RTS)

Serbian Foreign Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic reacted to the statement of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti that he would file a lawsuit against Serbia for committing a genocide in Kosovo by saying that “those who will draft Kurti’s lawsuit against Serbia for genocide, should mandatory consult families of the harvesters from Staro Gacko village, families of those killed in “Nis-express” bus (explosion), children executed in Gorazdevac, those killed at Radonjic lake and Klecka, as well as each and every of 200.000 Serbs that KLA expelled from Kosovo,” Radio KIM reports.

Dacic added it would be a unique case in a legal practice that an executioner tries the victims, and if this is one of the first topics of Kurti’s programme, then a smallest hope to revive the dialogue would get extinguished.

Dacic further noted that the announcements to introduce a mandatory military service in Kosovo “are particularly dangerous, because by it, the Serbs would practically be forced to serve in the so-called Kosovo army that was created by violating all the valid agreements, and in which tomorrow, God forbid, they would be forced to shot at their brothers.”

Serbian Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin also reacted to Kurti’s genocide lawsuit by saying it would be the same “as if Ustashas would file a lawsuit against prisoners from Jasenovic (WWII death concentration camp in Croatia)”.

Vulin recalled that since the arrival of the international community in Kosovo more than 1000 Serbs have been killed and no one was held responsible for it, as well as more than 200.000 were expelled.

Serbian National Assembly Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Chairman Milovan Drecun told RTS “that Kurti is an immature political personality that sticks to the extreme political stances and it would be very difficult to talk to the so-called government in Pristina.”

A lawyer, Toma Fila said in order to file a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice, the state must be a member of the United Nations, while Kosovo according to the UN SC Resolution is not a state, but rather the territory.

Speaking for RTS news edition, Fila said that a naïve person may think “the child overplayed, got a toy, and it means the power and now plays with it.” However, according to him, “the power is a dangerous commodity, many got burned over it, the least those who played with it.”

He added there is no court where Kurti could submit his lawsuit, because if it would be the Court for the War Crimes, according to the Kosovo laws, this court should try individuals and not the states.  

He assessed that Kurti sends this sort of message to those who overstepped the borders of nationalism.

Stano: Special Envoy for Kosovo an idea only, too soon to talk about name (FoNet, N1)

EU High Representative Josep Borrell’s Spokesperson Peter Stano refuted media reports on the appointment of a German diplomat as a special envoy for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. He said that this was discussed during Borrell’s visits to Serbia and Kosovo, adding it is an idea in the sea of other ideas, FoNet news agency reports.

Pristina-based Klan Kosova referring to reliable sources said earlier that German diplomat Christoph Heusgen will be appointed as EU Special Envoy for Kosovo, adding that Heusgen will have a role similar to the one that US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Richard Grenell has.

Godfrey: Forming of government in Pristina opportunity for progress in dialogue (TV Most)

US Ambassador to Serbia Anthony Godfrey said he is happy that the government in Pristina has been formed and sees this as an opportunity for the progress in dialogue, TV Most reports.

Asked how he sees the latest messages of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Godfrey told Tanjug news agency it is, foremost, the question for his colleague in Pristina, but he is happy to see that the government has been formed.

“I think this is an opportunity to come to the progress in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue,” US Ambassador said, TV Most reported.

Grenell's message to Pristina: Revoke tariffs immediately (B92)

US Presidential Special Envoy in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Richard Grenell has called on the new government in Pristina to immediately suspend tariffs on Serbian products, B92 reports.

"We expect the fees to be abolished immediately," Grenell said in a statement passed to the AP.

Grenell, who is also the US Ambassador to Germany, said the US "made clear to party leaders in Kosovo that the abolition of tariffs was in the best interests of Kosovo and its economy, as well as its desire to attract new job opportunities".

The AP recalls that Grenell last month mediated an agreement on the renewal of railway and air traffic between Belgrade and Pristina.

"We are making historic progress. There will be additional breaking news soon as both sides want to move forward. These steps will contribute to a better life for the people of the region", Grenell said.

With a majority of votes, Kosovo Parliament yesterday voted on the joint government of the Self-determination Movement (Vetëvendosje), and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), to be led by Albin Kurti as its Prime Minister.

See at: https://bit.ly/397t2pg

Serbian analysts on new Pristina government (KoSSev)

The forming of a new government in Pristina with Prime Minister Albin Kurti at its helm is good news primarily because of political stability and possibility to revive the dialogue with Belgrade, Serbian political analysts based in Kosovo told KoSSev. However, it remains to be seen how the new government would resolve the problems of the Serbian community here.

Gracanica-based political analyst Stefan Filipovic sees the formation of the new government as respecting the electoral will of the citizens and a proof of a functional democratic process in Kosovo. Asked how the new government would reflect on the Serbian community, Filipovic responded it does not depend only upon the government or MPs. He said that representatives of the Serbs, civil society, Serbian Orthodox Church and ordinary citizens should remind Kurti about promises he has made to the Serbian community.

“He often sent messages to the Serbs, and these messages were honest, whether we liked it or not. I would recall his messages that he would look us in the eyes, come to us, sit down with us and ask us what the problems are that we face and that he will resolve them,” Filipovic said.

NGO Aktiv Executive Director Miodrag Milicevic also termed formation of new Pristina government as good news, because it would mean stability in the political life in Kosovo, but also in the context of continuation of a dialogue with Belgrade.

“It is good that the number of ministries increased from 12 to 15, and that Serbian List got two ministries, despite initial stance of Albin Kurti that he does not want any negotiations with the Serbian List, but with some other representatives of the Serbs. It is also a good thing and step ahead in the context of possible continuation of dialogue that is expected for a long time,” Milicevic told KoSSev. He also recalled that precondition to continue the dialogue is removal of the tariffs.

Bajrami: Kosovo will no longer be same with Kurti and Osmani at helm (KoSSev)

The formation of a new Kosovo government, although overdue, is great news – the Editor-in-Chief of Koha Ditore newspaper, Agron Bajrami told KoSSev.

“It was high time. The LVV-LDK coalition itself was, of course, expected – in essence,“ Bajrami said, recalling that the people elected this coalition at the elections held on October 6th.

Speaking about the composition of the government, the Koha Ditore Editor-in-Chief estimated that there is “good news” here as well:

“We have a more diverse government – five women ministers, as well as the first woman Speaker of the Parliament. Prime Minister Kurti’s speech contained very ambitious plans, I think time will tell if this government can achieve the goals it has set for itself. It will be good for everyone if they manage to accomplish half of what they have envisioned.“

According to Bajrami, the Kosovo government formed on Monday is new in a true meaning of this word.

“Not only new people but new politics and things being done differently. Not only because Kurti and his party are in power for the first time, but also because they have clear ideas on what they want in many sectors, especially rule of law, fight against corruption, economy, health, and education,“ he added.

See at: https://bit.ly/39aLAVT

Emini: New generation of politicians, expectations high, no ideas on consensus for dialogue (KoSSev)

The new Kosovo government represents a new generation of politicians and expectations have skyrocketed, but the opposition will also be strong and vocal. At the same time, little attention was paid to foreign policy and dialogue with Belgrade. The government is expected to face difficulties in launching the much-needed reform, and the idea of ​​a broad consensus for dialogue with Serbia is nowhere to be seen, executive director of Civikos, Donika Emini told KoSSev.

Emini recalled that the new government was formed following a lengthy negotiation process between the Self-determination Movement and the LDK, adding that this process “almost compromised the credibility of both parties.“

According to Emini, however, Albin Kurti’s election as Kosovo prime minister provided another incentive – similar to that of October 6th, in the wake of the practically seething situation created during the three months of difficult negotiations between the two coalition parties.

“The composition of this government is unique and differs from its predecessors mainly because of the high involvement of women and the fact that it represents a new generation of politicians in Kosovo. Last but not the least, it represents all communities living in Kosovo, despite the noise during the election campaign and statements related to their involvement in the government,“ she emphasized.

See at: https://bit.ly/38ZLW1k

 

 

International

 

Kosovo approves new government, PM vows to be tough negotiator with Serbia (Reuters)

Kosovo’s parliament approved a new government on Monday after weeks of coalition talks, and Prime Minister Albin Kurti promised to take a tough stance in negotiations with Balkan rival Serbia.

Kurti, 44, also told parliament before the vote of approval - won with 66 votes in the 120-seat assembly - that he would fight corruption and nepotism, which foreign businesses cite as the main obstacles to investment in Kosovo.

See at: https://reut.rs/2GWvHWI

Kosovo Parliament Backs New Govt Under Kurti (Balkan Insight)

After four months of tough talks, Kosovo on Monday finally got a new government led by Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti.

Four months after Kosovo held snap elections, parliament voted to support a new government under Albin Kurti on Monday.

Sixty-six MPs in the 120-seat parliament voted to support the new government and ten MPs abstained. Opposition MPs left the session prior to the vote.

"We will deliver on our promises of October 6 [2019], the date that brought political change to the country," Kurti told parliament ahead of the vote, adding that his cabinet will strive to cut unneeded expenses and save public funds.

Kosovo finally got a new government after Vetevendosje, the party that did best in the October 2019 snap elections, and the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, the second biggest party, on Sunday announced they had signed a coalition agreement.

It came after Kurti and Isa Mustafa, leader of the LDK, set their differences aside and announced the breakthrough at an extraordinary press conference on Sunday, saying that they have agreed on the division of responsibilities.

See at: https://bit.ly/36TiTLl

Trump’s envoy urges Kosovo to drop taxes on Serbian goods (AP)

U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Kosovo and Serbia on Tuesday urged the new Kosovo government to abolish punitive tariffs on Serbian goods that have blocked negotiations between the two Balkan rivals.

Richard Grenell, who is the U.S. ambassador to Germany, said that “we expect the tariffs to be dropped immediately.”

See at: https://bit.ly/2ulsEoz