• COVID-19 report: Seven deaths, 337 new cases (media)
• Hoti: Decision on new measures will be evaluated in two weeks (media)
• Ministry of Health announces new measures against COVID-19 (media)
• Education Minister calls for respect of anti-COVID measures (media)
• Hoti: We have pandemic situation under control (media)
• Lack of vision by Kosovo and Serbia to reach final settlement (Koha)
• Nagavci: Elections first, then proposal of a candidate for President (Express)
• Selimi: Haradinaj, only candidate fitting of President post (media)

COVID-19 report: Seven deaths, 337 new cases (media)

Kosovo’s National Institute for Public Health said in a statement on Sunday that seven deaths and 337 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the last 24 hours. 91 patients have recovered during this time.

The highest number of new cases is from the municipality of Prishtina (185).

There are currently 4,195 active cases with coronavirus in Kosovo.

Hoti: Decision on new measures will be evaluated in two weeks (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti took to Facebook on Sunday that the new restrictive measures which will enter into force on Monday are a result of the recent spike in new cases of COVID-19.

“Seeing the increasing trend of cases with COVID-19, especially last week, we held an online meeting today, where we decided to introduce new measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. This decision will be evaluated in two weeks, depending on the epidemiological situation and will be in force until a new decision is made,” Hoti said.

Ministry of Health announces new measures against COVID-19 (media)

The Ministry of Health announced a new set of measures on Saturday aimed at preventing the further spread of the virus. Bars, restaurants and trade centers will be closed from 21:00 until 05:00. Public and private institutions have also been instructed to reduce the number of staffs in their premises. Lectures in universities will be held online.

Education Minister calls for respect of anti-COVID measures (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Education and Science, Rame Likaj called on students, teachers, school staff and parents to strictly respect anti-COVID measures. Likaj said in a Facebook post that nothing can replace learning in schools.

“COVID-19 cases are on the rise every day! We call on students, parents, teachers and school staff, to strictly respect the measures recommended by the Ministry of Health and the National Institute for Public Health. No other scenario can replace learning in school. This is why we all need to work together to maintain the A scenario (learning in school)” he said.

Hoti: We have pandemic situation under control (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti took to Facebook on Saturday to argue that Kosovo institutions have the pandemic situation under control and that the country has less infected persons compared to countries in the region and Europe.

Hoti said the citizens must wear a mask and keep the distance in order to overcome the second wave of COVID-19.

“The number of tests for COVID-19 is increasing as well as the number of cases. We continue to have the situation under control, and we have way less infected cases compared to the region and Europe. Our institutions are doing everything in their power to keep the situation under control, especially the healthcare staff, so let us help them,” he added.

Lack of vision by Kosovo and Serbia to reach final settlement (Koha)

Leaders from Kosovo and Serbia in this year’s edition of the Belgrade Security Form again have shown lack of vision for a compromise that would normalise relations between the two countries, the news website reported on Sunday.

Under the slogan “No Trust – No Peace”, among other topics, special attention was paid to the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, in a panel that included Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and EU Special Representative for the Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak.

“This was the first time that the highest representatives of the two governments met in an event organised in the region, together with the EU Special Representative. Formats like this one contribute to trust building, without which sustainable peace cannot be achieved. Unfortunately, the event confirmed that there is still no clear vision for a compromise,” Belgrade Security Forum Program Director, Marko Savkovic, said.

Leaders from Kosovo and Serbia showed lack of trust and diametrically oppose stances for a final and legally binding agreement. Hoti said a peace agreement must include mutual recognition, while Vucic blamed Kosovo that it is conditioning the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities with something that was not signed in Brussels.

Nagavci: Elections first, then proposal of a candidate for President (Express)

Vetevendosje Movement (VV) deputy leader and Vice President of the Kosovo Assembly, Arberie Nagavci, said on Sunday that this party has not yet discussed a possible candidate for the post of Kosovo President. The possibility of Vetevendosje proposing a candidate was mentioned recently by Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) parliamentary group chief, Arben Gashi.

Nagavci however said that her party believes Kosovo must go to new parliamentary elections before a new president is elected. “We think that before dealing with the issue of the President, there must be new elections. After the new elections, the Parliament too would have greater legitimacy, and the government too, and then we would discuss the President in due time,” she said.

Selimi: Haradinaj, only candidate fitting of President post (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Selim Selimi, who is also a member of the Haradinaj-led Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), said over the weekend that Ramush Haradinaj is the only candidate fitting of the post of Kosovo President. “Our party has decided that negotiations will be led by Ramush Haradinaj and our candidate for President is Ramush Haradinaj,” he said.

Asked if he agrees with a statement by Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) parliamentary group chief Arben Gashi who said recently that Vetevendosje Movement (VV) might propose a candidate for President, Selimi said: “We don’t agree with Arben Gashi’s statement. We have our candidate for President and he is Ramush Haradinaj”.