Headlines - 06.11.2018

• Thaci’s cabinet: Dialogue has not yet entered final stage (RFE/Zeri)
• Austria supports any solution of compromise (Koha)
• Germany donates Bundeswehr equipment to Kosovo (media)
• FM Pacolli seeks MPs advice on Interpol membership bid (Zeri)
• Cuoci: Kosovo to focus on KSF transition, dialogue with Serbia (Lajmi/Bota)
• “Normalisation of Kosovo-Serbia relations through Presevo Valley” (Koha)
• Former Lipjan mayor convicted on corruption charges (dailies)
• Kosovo opts for coal plant despite criticism (Reuters/Indeksonline)

Thaci’s cabinet: Dialogue has not yet entered final stage (RFE/Zeri)

Ardian Arifaj, advisor to President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci, told Radio Free Europe that there is full consensus in Kosovo over the need to have a dialogue with Serbia and that this should result in Kosovo’s recognition by Serbia and UN seat. What needs to be done though, according to Arifaj, is to find the way to achieve these objectives. “This dialogue, this final stage, in the context of meetings between two delegations, has not started yet. It remains to be determined,” Arifaj said.

Austria supports any solution of compromise (Koha)

The paper reports on its leading front-page story that the position of Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who has started an official visit to Belgrade and Pristina, is that Austria will support any peace agreement between the two countries, even if it involves border changes. Asked to comment on the idea of border changes, Kurz told reporters in Belgrade that “if there is an agreement that can bring peace, we will not impede that agreement, we will support it”. He added that this is the position of the majority of EU member states and that the road toward a final solution between Kosovo and Serbia will be long and difficult. After his stay in Belgrade, Kurz arrived in Pristina late on Monday and today he is expected to meet President Hashim Thaci and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj.

Germany donates Bundeswehr equipment to Kosovo (media)

In a visit to the Kosovo-German innovation and training park in Prizren, formerly German KFOR camp, Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj said that Germany is Kosovo’s strategic support point and that his government will continue efforts to step up cooperation. He also said that Germany’s donation of Bundeswehr equipment and technology worth €2 million is a testament of the country’s continuous interest. “I believe today we are laying the foundation for s strong Kosovo-Germany friendship,” Haradinaj said.

FM Pacolli seeks MPs advice on Interpol membership bid (Zeri)

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli has asked the Assembly committee on foreign affairs to give recommendations regarding Kosovo’s Interpol membership bid, two weeks before the General Assembly is set to vote. Chair of the committee, Vjosa Osmani said the committee has continuously asked Pacolli to report on Interpol lobbying efforts but he never did. “Now, just days before the Interpol vote, he sent out an e-mail asking for our recommendations,” Osmani said adding that Pacolli’s request comes too late.

Cuoci: Kosovo to focus on KSF transition, dialogue with Serbia (Lajmi/Bota)

KFOR Commander, Major General Salvatore Cuoci, said in an interview with an Italian media outlet that the security situation in Kosovo remains stable but fragile and that there are no more interethnic incidents happening. “The only thing that could be problematic is the Decan Monastery but it is being protected by KFOR troops,” Cuoci is quoted. He further added that important issues on which Kosovo needs to focus its efforts include Kosovo Security Force transitioning process and dialogue with Serbia.

Mustafa: Normalisation of Kosovo-Serbia relations through Presevo Valley (Koha)

Ragmi Mustafa, new chairman of the Albanian National Council in Serbia, said in an interview with KTV that there cannot be normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia without inclusion of the Presevo Valley issue. He said Albanian political parties in Kosovo need to reach consensus on the final agreement. Mustafa said he didn’t think that the idea of Presevo Valley joining Kosovo is of the President Hashim Thaci but rather “a legitimate ambition of the citizens of the Valley.” “We have always felt as citizens of Kosovo,” Mustafa said.

Former Lipjan mayor convicted on corruption charges (dailies)

Shukri Buja, former Mayor of Lipjan, has been sentenced to three years in prison for abuse of official duty. Buja was accused of signing in 2008 a ten-year contract with “NEW Co Feronikel Complex” company renting out municipal property for a monthly payment of €1. The Basic Court in Pristina ruled the contract caused damage to the municipality of Lipjan. Unrelated to Buja’s case, the dailies are also reporting that the Basic Prosecution in Prizren has raised an indictment against former Suhareka Mayor, Sali Asllanaj, for abuse of official duty.

Kosovo opts for coal plant despite criticism (Reuters/Indeksonline)

After decades of relying on lignite, Kosovo has been told it needs to phase the energy source out, despite having 14 billion tons of reserves, the fifth largest in the world. Last month, the World Bank told Kosovo it would no longer support a planned 500-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant. It was supposed to provide a partial risk guarantee to help unlock cheaper loans for its biggest energy project, Reuters reports. “The World Bank has recommended to us to have a 400 MW solar park, a 170 MW wind park and a 350 MW battery storage park,” Valdrin Lluka, Kosovo’s Minister for Economic Development, said. “We don’t have that luxury to do such experiments in a poor country such as Kosovo. It is a major risk. It is in our national security interest to secure base energy inside our territory,” he told Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kosovo-energy/kosovo-opts-for-coal-plant-despite-criticism-idUSKCN1N71LM