Headlines - 13.02.2017

• Mustafa: Pace of dialogue to be stepped up (Telegrafi)
• Mustafa: Let us vote the demarcation (Zeri)
• Kurti: Border demarcation agreement is dead (Bota Sot/Zeri)
• Serbian List to return to institutions over the Association (Koha)
• Some PDK MPs speak about elections in May or June (Zeri)
• Haradinaj to Dacic: I was freedom fighter not invader like you (Kosova Sot)

Mustafa: Pace of dialogue to be stepped up (Telegrafi)

In an interview to Telegrafi, Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa said Kosovo is the best example in the region of a democratic country that offers the most advanced rights to minority communities. “Our institutions are committed to dialogue with all neighbours to preserve peace and stability.” He said the issue of the Mitrovica North wall was resolved in talks with municipal leadership not Belgrade authorities and stressed that this was an internal issue of Kosovo. Mustafa responded to the question of whether the format of Pristina-Belgrade dialogue would change by saying that this decision would be a result of coordination with EU partners but that in his view, the dialogue would now have to be more dynamic and have a clear timeline and goals. “There is room for our delegation to be more comprehensive, include members of the opposition and civil society, and to be finalized in the near future.” As to the issue of border demarcation with Montenegro, Mustafa said the agreement will be submitted to the Assembly once the commission for measuring the Kosovo territory concludes its task.

Mustafa: Let us vote the demarcation (Zeri)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, took to Facebook to write that visa liberalization for Kosovo people is being held hostage by Kosovo Assembly MPs, who are opposing ratification of the Agreement for demarcation of the border with Montenegro. According to him, the government has fulfilled all the criteria required by the EU, such as fighting corruption and organized crime. “All that remains is for the MPs to vote the Agreement for Demarcation of the border with Montenegro, which was reached by the state commission, confirmed by the U.S. State Department, the international three-member commission and local experts. We have also established a commission of experts who are measuring the territory of Kosovo,” wrote Mustafa. “From now on, any consequence of visa liberalization will be in the conscience of those who are sabotaging and usurping this right from the citizens,” Mustafa wrote.

Kurti: Border demarcation agreement is dead (Bota Sot/Zeri)

Former Vetevendosje leader and MP, Albin Kurti, said that the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro is “dead” and cannot be revived. “We hope they don’t submit such an agreement that cripples our territory,” Kurti said to Tirana-based Top Channel. At the same time, Zeri on its front page writes that opposition representatives are determined to continue opposing the agreement and that Vetevendosje did not rule use of teargas at the Assembly to this end.

Serbian List to return to institutions over the Association (Koha)

Koha Ditore reports on its front page that the Serbian List will use the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities as a pretext to return to the Kosovo government and assembly. Government officials have not ruled out the official return of the Serbian List to the institutions in the next couple of days. Bajram Gecaj, advisor to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and Deputy Minister for Local Government, told the paper: “we have never ceased our communication with representatives of the Serbian List. I believe we have positive indications that they will return. There is an atmosphere of cooperation after the issue of the wall was resolved. Nonetheless, the decision to return is in their hands. We hope this will happen soon because it would serve everyone’s interest, especially the interests of the Serb community in Kosovo”.

Some PDK MPs speak about elections in May or June (Zeri)

Some of the Kosovo Assembly MPs from the Democratic Party of Kosovo, told the paper that they have requested during the meeting of the General Council of the party, to consider the possibility for a breach of coalition with the Democratic League of Kosovo. According to them, they had constructive discussions on the matter, and a final decision is expected to be made during the next meeting. However, other MPs who are part of the PDK leadership said that a breach of the coalition was never discussed. However, asked about early elections, they said that anything is possible.

Haradinaj to Dacic: I was freedom fighter not invader like you (Kosova Sot)

The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, responded to Serbian Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic, calling him a war criminal by saying he was a freedom fighter. “Although I led a defence war and in accordance to international war conventions, I responded to international justice and did not hide like hundreds of Serb officials, including Dacic, who hid evidence of crimes committed in Kosovo,” Haradinaj wrote on his Facebook account.