Headlines - 26.02.2018

• Consensus will not help ratify demarcation deal (Koha Ditore)
• Apostolova hails parties’ consensus on border demarcation (dailies)
• Thaci: Demarcation endorsement assures freedom of movement (Epoka)
• Veseli convinced demarcation will be voted on Wednesday (RTV21/RTK)
• Pacolli: Visa liberalisation in September if demarcation passes now (Zeri/Lajmi)
• PDK’s Hasani vows not to support border demarcation (Koha)
• Kosovo-Serbia dialogue set to resume in Brussels today (Koha Ditore)
• Thaci: The sooner Serbia recognizes Kosovo, the better (Koha Ditore)
• “First specialist court indictments expected by March” (Kosova Sot)
• Tahiri: Vucic is not offering information on missing persons (Epoka)
• Haradinaj to present 30 projects at London Summit (Epoka)
• Canak: There will be unrest in the north of Kosovo (Koha)

 Kosovo Media Highlights

Consensus will not help ratify demarcation deal (Koha Ditore)

The paper reports on the front page that despite Albanian parliamentary parties, with the exception of Vetevendosje, managed to reach consensus on ratification of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro, the ruling parties still do not have enough votes to pass the deal without the vote from the Serbian List or at least some of the Vetevendosje MPs. Meanwhile, both Serbian List and Vetevendosje said they are sticking to their positions and will not support the agreement.

Apostolova hails parties’ consensus on border demarcation (dailies)

The Head of the EU Office in Kosovo and Special Representative, Nataliya Apostolova, hailed the agreement of majority of Albanian parties in the Assembly for ratification of border demarcation with Montenegro as key step towards visa liberalisation. She also called on Vetevendosje and Serbian List to support the agreement which is of benefit to all in Kosovo.

Thaci: Demarcation endorsement assures freedom of movement (Epoka)

The President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci said Saturday’s agreement between the political parties to ratify the Agreement for border demarcation with Montenegro, is extremely important news for Kosovo’s European future. “I congratulate all representatives of these political parties for the reached consensus, which finally assures freedom of movement for the citizens of Kosovo in Schengen zone. This political unity should serve as a long-term framework for the solution of national issues, which require will and readiness to overcome close party and private interests,” Thaci wrote on his Facebook profile.

Veseli convinced demarcation will be voted on Wednesday (RTV21/RTK)

The president of the Assembly of Kosovo, Kadri Veseli, is convinced that after the consensus among Albanian political parties, the Agreement for demarcation of the border with Montenegro will pass on Wednesday. “I expect it to pass, because the citizens of our country are waiting. No one has the right to block citizens in their journey towards the European Union, visa liberalization, strengthening of the sovereignty of Kosovo state. The good news is that we have reached a consensus. It is just more than a month of effort and it was finally very well crowned. And now, a part of the opposition and the government speak the same language on ratification of the demarcation agreement, but we also expect reflection from the colleagues from Vetevendosje Movement and Serbian List, in order for us to conclude the matter on Wednesday,” Veseli said.

Pacolli: Visa liberalisation in September if demarcation passes now (Zeri/Lajmi)

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Behgjet Pacolli, told Lajmi.net that if the border demarcation with Montenegro is ratified by the Kosovo Assembly early March, the people of Kosovo will be able to travel freely to Europe by September. However, Pacolli said he feared the issue would be further prolonged due to possible absences of MPs in the Wednesday session. He also said he hoped Vetevendosje and Serbian List would vote in favour of the agreement “as being crucial for the interest of the citizens of Kosovo.”

PDK’s Hasani not sure wether he will support border demarcation (Koha)

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP, Nait Hasani, has in the past said he would not support the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. In a recent Facebook post, Hasani published photos of the border area with Montenegro under the caption: “Demarcation will not pass.” To Koha, Hasani said however that he has not yet decided which way to vote and that he first needs to analyse the most recent agreement before making up his mind.

Kosovo-Serbia dialogue set to resume in Brussels today (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo and Serbia delegations are set to meet in Brussels today to discuss technical modalities regarding implementation of agreements reached by the parties so far. EU officials in Brussels did not give any detail on the meeting but it is anticipated that the Serbian side will insist on establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities but other issues like energy, freedom of movement, management of borderline, could also be on the discussion table.

Thaci: The sooner Serbia recognizes Kosovo, the better (Koha Ditore)

President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, said in an interview to N1 television that he hoped 2018 will be the year of the historic agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. “Kosovo is ready but one thing is certain: neither Serbia nor Kosovo will have a European perspective without a joint agreement and mutual recognition,” Thaci said adding that the sooner Serbia moves towards this goal, the better. He said independence of Kosovo is an irreversible process while to the question of whether Serbia would eventually join the EU with Kosovo as part of its territory, Thaci replied: “No, never.”

“First specialist court indictments expected by March” (Kosova Sot/Express)

The paper quotes reports from Gazeta Express saying that the first Specialist Chambers indictments are expected to be filed by the end of March, namely before the contract of the chief prosecutor David Schwendiman is set to expire. An unnamed source is quoted as saying that Schwendiman is being requested to sign at least one indictment before his term ends but that the first arrests will not involve key figures in Kosovo.

Tahiri: Vucic is not offering information on missing persons (Epoka)

Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Abelard Tahiri, said the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, is showing indifference with regard to the information on the missing persons. “Shedding light on the fate of the missing persons, as one of the most sensitive issues, which unfortunately keeps hostage even today many families, is my continuous preoccupation,” Tahiri wrote. “It is now clear that the real address of this problem is the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, who is showing indifference and lack of readiness to induce Serbian bodies to cooperate with our institutions, and offer information and evidence on the fate of the missing,” Tahiri wrote. He added that this will not stop Kosovo to be persistent and uncompromised on the matter.

Haradinaj to present 30 projects at London Summit (Epoka)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, traveled on Sunday to Great Britain, to participate at the London Summit organized by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Haradinaj will be presenting 30 projects from different Kosovo municipalities as well as regional projects which reach an amount of € 600 million. Haradinaj will also have bilateral meetings with senior British representatives.

Canak: There will be unrest in the north of Kosovo (Koha)

Nenad Canak, leader of the League of Social Democrats in Vojvodina, said in an interview to Radio Free Europe that he expects unrest in the north of Kosovo and this would benefit Russia. “If the attempted coup in Montenegro was organised and directed by the base in Nis, if the Russian administration is behind it – and although I am speaking with an ‘if’ but there are indication this is precisely the case – what makes you think everything will end with Montenegro,” Canak said.