Thaci says he’ll resign if Assembly does not vote on Army (Koha)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said on Friday that the Army of Kosovo will be formed in coordination with the United States of America and the European Union and that this is an irreversible process. “No one should be surprised. The Kosovo Army will be formed in coordination with relevant international stakeholders. They have been consulted and informed about the whole process. The coalition partners and the Assembly President have also been informed and consulted,” Thaci told RTK. “Everything is within the legal basis. The President is entitled to raise issues. As supreme commander of the Kosovo Armed Forces, I trust that this issue needs to be closed once and for all”. Thaci also said he would resign if the Kosovo Assembly does not vote on the formation of the army.

Thaci explains his telephone conversation with Vucic about the army (Zeri)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci commented on his recent telephone conversation with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic about the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into the Kosovo Army. “I called Vucic and asked him not to intimidate Kosovo Serb MPs, that he should not prevent them from returning to the Assembly and voting on the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities, the border demarcation with Montenegro and the formation of the army,” Thaci told RTK.

Diplomatic sources warn Thaci about “wrong calculations” (Koha)

Citing a Western diplomat, who preferred to remain anonymous, the paper reports that not only Western embassies in Pristina but also decision-making centers in Washington and Brussels are concerned over President Hashim Thaci’s recent initiative to transform the Kosovo Security Force into the Kosovo Army. The source said that U.S. and NATO officials are upset that Thaci is trying to establish the armed forces without their support. “Thaci’s calculations that he is so important to the West that we will rescue him from his mistakes will prove wrong,” the source said.

Quni: 2017 will be the year of the Kosovo Army (media)

Several media quote Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP, Anton Quni, as saying that 2017 will be the year of the Kosovo Army. “I am confident that even Serb MPs will accept the facts and arguments that the Republic of Kosovo must continue to build its security capacities and that institutions must guarantee the safety of their citizens,” Quni told RTV21.

Special court to adopt this month regulation that paves way to indictments (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that the Special Court, which will address war crimes allegations in Kosovo, will hold its first session this month to adopt a regulation that will pave way to the first indictments. Avis Benes, an information officer for the specialized chambers, is quoted as saying, “the President has scheduled a plenary session for March 2017. As you are aware, during the plenary session, the judges will adopt the Regulation on Procedures and Evidences, an essential legal document that regulates legal proceedings in the Kosovo Specialized Chambers”.