• Osmani: There should be no additional conditions for visas (media)
• Pressure to accept German-French plan (Koha Ditore)
• Kurti meets Norwegian envoy for Western Balkans (media)
• Osmani and Kurti meet MCC CEO Alice Albright (media)
• Gervalla travels to New York to participate at UN SC (media)
• Bislimi: We will apply for EU membership within the year (RTK)
• Svecla: Serbian extremist ideologies aim to infiltrate the north (Telegrafi)
• “In Serbia, talk of tensions in the north after November 1” (euronews.al)
• Wider Europe briefing: A new EU plan to help Ukraine; visa liberalization for Kosovo (RFE)
• Calls to ban small power plants at first Water Protection Summit (BIRN)
• Concrete construction threatens to ruin pristine Albanian valley (BIRN)

Osmani: There should be no additional conditions for visas (media)

Another meeting with other ambassadors of the EU countries was held by the President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani on Monday.  She met in the presidential office with the ambassadors of Germany, Italy and Slovenia.

As announced, she discussed with the three diplomats interstate relations, in particular the support from these countries regarding the process of visa liberalization and membership in the Council of Europe.

"With the ambassadors of these countries, the President specifically discussed the political developments that took place after the October 13 meeting of the technical working group for visas of the European Council, for the liberalization of visas for the citizens of Kosovo.

President Osmani emphasized that the EU member states should also take into account the recommendation of the European Commission, which has already confirmed that it supports the recommendation made for the removal of visas for Kosovo, since our country has met all the criteria," it is stated in the announcement of the Presidency.

She emphasized the importantance of not allowing in any way establishment of additional criteria for the liberalization of visas for the citizens of Kosovo.

"Because this would affect the denial of a right of our citizens and would hurt the credibility of the EU" she said.

Osmani has expressed the belief that the technical requirements, related to ETIAS, will not influence the political decision-making and the setting of the day of entry into force of the decision on the liberalization of visas for the citizens of Kosovo.

Pressure to accept German-French plan (Koha Ditore)

The daily reports on its front page this morning that there is increased international pressure on Kosovo and Serbia to accept the German-French proposal for a swift solution between the parties. Member of the European Parliament and Rapporteur for Kosovo, Viola von Cramon, said in an interview with Nova that the parties should seriously consider the offer because the next offer might not be as good. She argued that Kosovo and Serbia should find a sustainable compromise and move forward on the path of progress.

Meanwhile, the EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, stayed in Belgrade on Monday where he met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. In a Twitter post after the meeting, Lajcak said he continued his open and serious discussion with Vucic on the way forward on normalisation of relations. “Energy and licence plates were high on our agenda as solutions are urgently needed. I also followed up on current issues with [chief negotiator of Serbia] Petar Petkovic,” he said.

Kurti meets Norwegian envoy for Western Balkans (media)

Prime Minister Albin Kurti received Norway's special representative for the Western Balkans Arne Sannes Bjornstad, accompanied by Norway's ambassador to Kosovo Jens Erik Grondahl.

He informed the emissary of Norway about the work of the executive, as well as the achievements and challenges of governance.

On the eve of the Berlin Summit, Prime Minister Kurti told the Norwegian guests that he hopes for a resumption of the Berlin Process under the leadership of German Chancellor Scholz that would bring the common regional market and the EU as a value and mechanism within the six countries of the Western Balkans.

They also discussed the dialogue with Serbia.

"With Norway's Special Representative for the Western Balkans Bjornstad he also discussed relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Through the readiness for meetings, the will for agreements and concrete proposals, the Republic of Kosovo has shown itself to be a constructive party in the process of dialogue towards a legally binding agreement centered on mutual recognition, said Prime Minister Kurti,” reads the announcement.

Osmani and Kurti meet MCC CEO Alice Albright (media)

President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, met on Monday with the CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Alice Albright. Kosovo media reported that Osmani thanked Albright and MCC for their work and dedication to the successful launch of the Compact Program for the Republic of Kosovo.

“She estimated that the investment in batteries will affect the facilitation of the energy transition and the faster integration of renewable energy sources in the energy system, while the raising of the capacities of the labor force, especially of women, will affect the creation of the necessary human resources for the successful implementation of innovative projects” – it is stated in the announcement issued by the presidency of Kosovo.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti, together with the Minister of Economy Artane Rizvanolli and the Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister Luan Dalipi, also welcomed on Monday the CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Alice Albright, accompanied by the American Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier.

"The agreement with MCC for the Compact Program comes at a critical moment. The Republic of Kosovo aims for an export-oriented economy and an increase in renewable energy capacities. For both of these, the Compact Program and the MCC are very important", said Prime Minister Kurti, among other things.

Gervalla travels to New York to participate at UN SC (media)

Kosovo's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Donika Gervalla has traveled to New York where she will attend the meeting of the UN Security Council on Kosovo.

The Kosovar chief diplomat will represent Kosovo in the session where the periodic report of the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for Kosovo will be discussed.

"During this meeting, Minister Gërvalla will present the achievements of the Republic of Kosovo, the challenges it faces, successes in the field of economy and the rule of law, reforms in various fields as well as the country's perspective," a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes.

The session of the UN Security Council will be held on Tuesday, October 18, starting at 15:00, while according to the local time in Kosovo, at 21:00 hours.

Bislimi: We will apply for EU membership within the year (RTK)

Kosovo's First Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, met on Monday with the French Ambassador, Olivier Guerot. A press release issued by the government quotes Bislimi as saying that this year is very important in terms of Kosovo's European agenda. He told the French diplomat that after applying for membership in the Council of Europe, Kosovo will also apply for membership in the European Union within the year, in order to obtain the status of a candidate country.

"Kosovo is in the 6th year of the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, being the only country in the Western Balkans which has not yet applied, so the time has come to take such a step," says the announcement.

They also discussed the good neighborly relations in the region and the dialogue with Serbia, emphasizing the fact that Kosovo remains committed and constructive in this process, with the aim of reaching a permanent, legally binding agreement with mutual recognition center.

Svecla: Serbian extremist ideologies aim to infiltrate the north (Telegrafi)

Kosovo’s Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, who is also coordinator for preventing extremism and the fight against terrorism, together with the OSCE Head of Mission in Kosovo, Michael Davenport, opened on Monday the workshop for drafting the action plan for the terrorism prevention and combat strategy.

Svecla said the main priorities of Kosovo’s institutions is to provide a safe environment through the rule of law, human rights and freedoms. “Besides extremism with religious motives, other forms of terrorism and violent extremism are also on the rise. In the most concrete case, the statements of the leaders of the extreme right in Serbia are what Serbia is constantly aiming for in relation to Kosovo … These leaders have appeared frequently at meetings and gatherings in the north of Kosovo, influencing and inciting extreme and violent groups. We have all seen the terrorist acts of Serbian criminal groups against our police officers and citizens. We must cooperate in the fight against extremism and terrorism, but we must pay attention to the Serbian extremist ideologies that aim to infiltrate the north of our country,” Svecla is quoted as saying.

“In Serbia, talk of tensions in the north after November 1” (euronews.al)

Journalist Idro Seferi said that the visit of the representative of the European Union, Miroslav Lajcak, to Belgrade is to reach a meeting between Aleksandar Vucic and Albin Kurti.

In an interview he gave to the Kosovo press, Seferi emphasized that Vucic did not reveal what was discussed with Lajcak.

“At least in the part that was made public in Serbia, there were no statements to the media. President Vucic says that he had an important and responsible meeting, but what is written in Serbia is that these decisions are Lajcak’s, to achieve an opportunity, a new meeting between Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Albin Kurti,” said Seferi.

In addition, he also added that in the last few days in Serbia there is talk about the possibility of new tensions, regarding the issue of license plates.

“Especially due to the fact that in Serbia, in the last few days, there is talk of the possibility of new tensions in the north, after November 1, and it is not yet known what will happen to the Serbian license plates. Will the cars with Serbian license plates be confiscated? Serbia has not accepted any compromise or agreement in this regard. Vucic had the meeting with Lajcak publicly on Instagram, much was expected, but not much was said by Vucic about what will happen in the future, except that it was a long and responsible meeting with the representative of the European Union”. he emphasized.

Wider Europe briefing: A new EU plan to help Ukraine; visa liberalization for Kosovo (RFE)

The Big Issue: After years of stalling, there might finally be some movement when it comes to visa liberalization for Kosovo's citizens. With all other Western Balkan countries enjoying visa-free travel to the vast majority of EU member states for over a decade, the fact that Pristina still doesn't have this right has been a source of tension for some time.

Already in 2018, the European Commission confirmed that Kosovo had fulfilled all the required conditions. And then last week, the commission once again issued a paper stating that its recommendation from four years ago "to exempt Kosovo nationals from visa requirements in respect of short stays remains fully valid."

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3VCtNzG

Calls to ban small power plants at first Water Protection Summit (BIRN)

A landmark summit of activists, legal experts, NGOs and government representatives discussed the dangers posed by the construction of energy operators to the country’s water assets.

The construction of hydropower plants to produce electricity from Kosovo’s rivers is preoccupying activists working on the future of the country’s water wealth and biodiversity.

For this reason, in Prishtina on Saturday, they organized the first summit in Kosovo on the theme, “Rivers and their protection.”

On Friday, the movie River was shown.

Dajana Berisha, from the Kosovar Consortium of Civil Society for Sustainable Development, KOSID, warned that Kosovo is in a bad phase – where most rivers are “occupied” to produce energy for economic operators.

“The rapid growth of economic operators has not only caused the degradation of rivers but has also affected the standard of living of Kosovo’s citizens,” Berisha said.

For this reason, she and others propose banning the construction in rivers of small hydropower plants under 10 kilowatts.

Lawyer and member of “River Lawyers”, Rinon Arifi, said that these hydropower plants are more harmful than useful, and added that many environmental laws are not being implemented.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3TrEPpz

Concrete construction threatens to ruin pristine Albanian valley (BIRN)

The pristine Valbona Valley in northern Albania is a haven for adventure tourism, but hotels and resorts are popping up and putting at risk its sustainable development, critics say.

Fifteen years ago, Catherine Bohne left the United States to settle in Albania’s Valbona Valley, an area of soaring peaks and pristine forests bordering Kosovo and Montenegro.

But a long and exhausting battle with developers took its toll and she moved out in 2018, to an as-yet untouched village near the town of Bajram Curri, where Bohne tends to her two horses, a cow and chickens.

“Valbona has been transformed into a playground for oligarchs,” said Bohne, a vocal member of the Organisation to Conserve the Albanian Alps, TOKA.

Valbona has long been a special destination for the more adventurous kind of tourist, Albanians and foreigners alike, drawn to the national park by its stunning nature and a few dozen smallholdings that offered modest lodging and traditional food.

But Albania’s rising tourism profile, from the mountains to sea, has drawn rich businessmen to the valley too, erecting large concrete resorts with construction permits that critics say are secured via their ample political connections.

Dozens of new developments are under construction, from the entrance to the park near Shoshani village, to Rrogam, the last settlement along the river valley.

These developments have received the green light from local and state authorities despite the lack of detailed zoning. Local residents and environmental activists fear such unchecked growth is undermining efforts towards sustainable tourism in the Valbona Valley and could end up keeping visitors away.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3VCuWaq