• Haradinaj: It has become difficult to trust the EU (media)
• New members of Election Commission to swear oath on Thursday (media)
• U.S. Ambassador to Belgrade: Parties must return to dialogue (Zeri)
• Hoxha: Import tariff has harmed our relations with partners (media)
• Hoxha: EU remains our only address for sustainable peace (media)
• LDK’s Haziri: We need to prepare for new flag and anthem (Bota Sot)
• Thaci, Braathu to address conference on corruption in institutions (Klan Kosova)
• “There is a lower participation of women in central decision-making” (media)

Haradinaj: It has become difficult to trust the EU (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said on Tuesday that it has become very difficult for Kosovo to trust the European Union. Haradinaj said at the government meeting: “I come here today from three different massacre sites, among the most tragic that the people of Kosovo has experienced. Hundreds of our people were killed and despite this we came to the table of talks. Now we have a situation where they are telling Kosovo you need to meet certain conditions in order to come to the table. This is very surprising. I appeal to return to the table of talks and to resolve open issues through mutual recognition with the current borders and with free trade … How can we trust the Europeans who told us first dialogue, then the tariff, who knows what they will tell us next. It has become difficult to trust them. Mogherini and the others have told us finish this and you will get [visa] liberalization”.

New members of Election Commission to swear oath on Thursday (media)

Citing a press release issued by the Office of the President of Kosovo, all media report that after the conclusion of all procedures and after the completion of case files with the necessary additional information, the new Central Election Commission (CEC) members will be appointed this week. “New CEC members will swear the oath in front of President Thaçi on Thursday, March 28th, 2019,” the press release noted. Koha Ditore covers the news under the leading front-page headline Thaci backs down from non-constitutional formula of representation at CEC. The paper notes that following pressure from the U.S., Thaci has agreed to give the main opposition parties their share of representation as guaranteed by the Constitution and the legislation in force. In a similar tone, Zeri reports that “President Thaci received ‘orders’ from the U.S. Embassy to appoint the new members of the CEC”.

Hoxha: Import tariff has harmed our relations with partners (media)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj told RTK on Tuesday that the 100 percent import tariff on Serbian and Bosnian goods has harmed Kosovo’s relations with its partners. “One thing is certain: the import tariff has harmed our relations with our partners. The tariff could also kill the possibility of reaching a final settlement with Serbia this year,” Hoxhaj was quoted as saying.

U.S. Ambassador to Belgrade: Parties must return to dialogue (Zeri)

The United States Ambassador in Serbia, Kyle Scott, said on Tuesday that the situation surrounding the Belgrade – Pristina dialogue is complicated but that there is no benefit from the two parties blaming each other. Scott told reporters in Belgrade that parties should return to the table of talks and normalize dialogue. “This is what the U.S. and the European Union are engaged, and we are steering both sides in that direction,” he added.

Hoxha: EU remains our only address for sustainable peace (media)

Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration Dhurata Hoxha, said today at a round table organized by the three European Council Presiding countries and Group for Legal and Political Studies, that “EU remains our only address for sustainable peace, Prosperity and equal opportunities for our citizens”. “We seek from the Presidency of the EU Council an objective approach and the same assessment and conditions on our path to the EU. We expect for our country and the region in general to get the deserved attention, building on the great investment that has been made for us to enjoy freedom,” she wrote on her Twitter account.

LDK’s Haziri: We need to prepare for new flag and anthem (Bota Sot)

Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) deputy leader and Gjilan Mayor, Lutfi Haziri, said in a front-page interview to the paper that, Kosovo will very soon have a new anthem and flag and that his party will try to resolve this issue before reaching a coalition agreement with any political party. Haziri said he would run for the post of LDK leader only if the party fails to reach a consensus on the matter. Haziri also said he supports the idea of Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac joining Kosovo.

Thaci, Braathu to address conference on corruption in institutions (Klan Kosova)

The news website reports that the OSCE Mission in Kosovo will organize today in Pristina a conference on preventing and combating high-level corruption. Renowned experts from Transparency International will elaborate on issues of high-level corruption. Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and OSCE Head of Mission Jan Braathu will also address the conference.

“There is a lower participation of women in central decision-making” (media)

Koha Ditore reports on page four that “Women’s Week” began on Tuesday with a report by civil society organizations on the employment and participation of women in decision-making processes in Kosovo. NGO representatives argued that there has been a decrease of women representation in central decision-making, while there has been a slight increase in their participation in local decision-making processes. The Pristina-based Kosovo Democratic Institute organized a roundtable on Tuesday on the low level of employment of women in Kosovo. Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said at the meeting that he was concerned by the lack of respect for women’s right to property even though this right is guaranteed by law. Zeri quotes U.S. Ambassador Phillip Kosnett as saying that everyone in Kosovo is responsible for the empowerment of women and that women should make up 50 percent of Prime Minister Haradinaj’s cabinet. Kosnett is quoted as saying in Kosova Sot that when women are part of decision-making processes this will translate into positive results for the whole country. Epoka e Re too notes that Kosnett called for a greater representation of women in government.