Headlines - 22.11.2017

• Haradinaj: Parliament will bring down demarcation deal (Klan Kosova)
• Special Court chief will not meet Thaci, Veseli or Haradinaj (Koha)
• “War” over Pristina (Zeri)
• Haziri: LDK will govern Pristina again (Epoka)
• Haradinaj requests support of Japan on UNESCO membershjip (Epoka)
• Pacolli meets Engel, requests support on new recognitions (Epoka)
• Police are searching for Albin Kurti (Kallxo)
• Serbian media report another withdrawal of Kosovo recognition (Kosova Sot)

Haradinaj: Parliament will bring down demarcation deal (Klan Kosova)

Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, told Klan Kosova on Tuesday that Kosovo’s Parliament will bring down the current version of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. He said that the agreement and the new report will be presented at the Assembly. “The agreement will be brought down in Parliament. This then paves way to international arbitrage or negotiation of a new agreement with Montenegro. My wish is to agree with Montenegro on international arbitrage. In this way we show that a process, which would conclude this issue, has been opened, and this would enable visa liberalisation for Kosovo,” Haradinaj was quoted as saying.

Special Court chief will not meet Thaci, Veseli or Haradinaj (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that Ekaterina Trendafilova, President of the Specialist Chambers, who will visit Kosovo this week, will not meet with President Hashim Thaci, Assembly President Kadri Veseli or Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj. According to the paper, there are two reasons why Trendafilova will not meet “the commanders”: some of these institutional representatives could be among the accused and some of them have referred to the specialist chambers as “a legal monster”. Trendafilova, who will be accompanied by the Registrar of the Specialist Chambers, Fidelma Donlon, will meet with representatives of civil society and state representatives. Citing unnamed sources, the paper reports that Trendafilova is expected to meet Justice Minister, Abelard Tahiri.

“War” over Pristina (Zeri)

The narrow result between Vetevendosje’s Shpend Ahmeti and LDK’s Arban Abrashi in Pristina has resulted in a tense rhetoric from both camps, the paper reports on its front page. Vetevendosje representatives are confident that the conditional ballots, which have yet to be counted, will not result in a victory for the LDK, whereas the latter claim that the confirmation of their victory in Pristina is a matter of days. Ahmeti posted on his Facebook account on Tuesday that the conditional ballots will confirm their victory and added that political opponents are focused on fabrication and attacks against him. “We are determined to protect every vote. Thank you all for supporting me in not allowing crime to return to Pristina,” he wrote. Abrashi on the other hand said Pristina already has a new mayor and he accused the Vetevendosje Movement of organizing transport for voters. Meanwhile, all media report that LDK representatives called for a recount of votes in Pristina.

Haziri: LDK will govern Pristina again (Epoka)

Lutfi Haziri, deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), said on Tuesday that in Sunday’s mayoral runoff elections, his party confirmed that it is a major political power in Kosovo. Haziri also said he was confident that LDK will govern Pristina again. He said the recount of votes in Pristina is necessary “and after this, Arban Abrashi will be the new mayor”.

Haradinaj requests support of Japan on UNESCO membershjip (Epoka)

Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, hosted on Tuesday a meeting with the Japanese Ambassador in Vienna, Kiyoshi Koinuma. Haradinaj expressed his and Kosovo government’s gratitude for excellent relations with Japan and requested from Koinuma continuance of his country’s support, especially with regards to Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO and INTERPOL.

Pacolli meets Engel, requests support on new recognitions (Epoka)

The Principal Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Behgjet Pacolli, met on Tuesday the U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel. Pacolli requested continuance of cooperation and increase of efforts with Congressman Engel for new recognitions of Kosovo. He also requested increase of U.S. presence in Kosovo and called on giant U.S. companies to invest in Kosovo.

Police are searching for Albin Kurti (Kallxo)

Kosovo Police are searching for Vetevendosje MP Albin Kurti based on an arrest warrant issued by the Basic Court in Pristina. The news website reports that police were seen early this morning in front of Kurti’s apartment in Pristina and reportedly they did not find him there. Police also searched for Kurti in Vetevendosje’s offices in the Kosovo Parliament. Four Vetevendosje MPs are expected to appear before the Basic Court in Pristina today for throwing teargas in Parliament.

Serbian media report another withdrawal of Kosovo recognition (Kosova Sot)

Serbia’s Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic said that after a communication he had with the Prime Minister of Guinea Bissau, this country has decided to withdraw the 2011 recognition of independence of Kosovo. He said that Guinea Bissau has already sent the document of withdrawal of recognition to Kosovo. Recently it was reported that after Serbia’s pressure, Suriname had withdrawn its recognition of Kosovo. Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Enver Hoxhaj, said on Tuesday that there can be no dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia if the latter continues to lobby in this manner. Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Anton Berisha, said Serbian media are exceeding every limit. “It is not right for me to deal with each of their comments. We have not received so far any note from this state,” Berisha said. Later in the evening, Kosovo’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs issued a press release which “reconfirms the spirit of good relations between the Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Guinea.”