• COVID-19 report: 196 new cases, 16 deaths (media)
• Osmani: 300 victims, result of 20-year negligence of health sector (media)
• Hyseni: Agreement with Serbia to be reached in a year’s time (Klan Kosova)
• Hoti: Opposition cannot bring down government (T7/Telegrafi)
• PDK says LVV's no-confidence motion 'political show' (media)
• AAK, NISMA will not support no-confidence motion (media)
• Kosnett: In effort to honour KLA, do not undermine its freedom legacy (Koha)
• Germany, Switzerland against law on KLA values (media)

Kosovo Media Highlights

COVID-19 report: 196 new cases, 16 deaths (media)

196 new cases of coronavirus and 16 deaths have been reported in Kosovo over the last 24-hour period. 134 persons have recovered from the virus.

There are currently 4,448 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo. 

Osmani: 300 victims, result of 20-year negligence of health sector (media)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Vjosa Osmani paid tribute to the people who died from the coronavirus pandemic in Kosovo saying that their deaths are a result of the 20-year-old negligence of Kosovo's healthcare sector.

"We need to mobilise today in one voice to reduce the pain, the sufferings and raise hope," Osmani said ahead of Kosovo Assembly's discussion of the draft law on COVID-19. 

Hyseni: Agreement with Serbia to be reached in a year’s time (Klan Kosova)

Kosovo's coordinator for dialogue with Serbia, Skender Hyseni, spoke about his recent visit to the U.S. where he said he underlined the need for the process not to be delayed any longer. He said the U.S. if fully committed to the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

Speaking to Klan Kosova, Hyseni said an agreement with Serbia will be reached in a year's time. "We expect to have an agreement on mutual recognition within twelve months or else the process will fail completely. Everything in the international stage indicates a momentum which Kosovo and Serbia should seize to push things forward. Any delay is a failure."

Hyseni said that he will insist on meeting all parliamentary groups and inform them about the dialogue progress. 

Hoti: Opposition cannot bring down government (T7/Telegrafi)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti commented on the no-confidence motion initiated by the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) saying they do not have enough votes to pass the motion.

"An opposition has never brought down a government. It falls from within. The opposition does not have the votes," he said.

AAK, NISMA will not support no-confidence motion (media)

The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Social Democratic Initiative (NISMA), partners in the coalition government, have said they would not be supporting the no-confidence motion initiated by the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV).

Officials from the two parties said the ruling coalition is functioning well and there is no need to undertake a motion of no confidence.

PDK says LVV's no-confidence motion 'political show' (media)

Uran Ismaili, general secretary of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), commented on the Vetevendosje Movement's motion of no confidence against the government led by Avdullah Hoti by calling it a 'political show'.

He said before asking for support from PDK, LVV should clarify what happened to make it erase the red lines it had towards the PDK. "Second, LVV should say how serious it is in the initiative it launched at the Assembly of Kosovo," Ismaili said.

"From past experience, this seems more like a political show than a sincere effort because LVV and PDK votes will not be enough to bring down the government. On the contrary, it prolongs the government for six more months because the law stipulates that a motion of no confidence can be initiated only once in six months," he wrote.

Kosnett: In effort to honour KLA, do not undermine its freedom legacy (Koha)

The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Philip Kosnett said in an opinion piece published in Koha that the United States are not against the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) but noted that the proposed legislation on its values undermines the freedom of speech and also efforts to secure justice.

Kosnett said that many Kosovo citizens have privately told the U.S. Embassy that they would not feel safe in speaking publicly about the KLA law because of the "emotionally charged atmosphere" that the public discussion on KLA carries. "Imagine how more suppressed the citizens would feel if the law were to be endorsed."

"I believe this law, regardless of its goals, is not in line with the commitment on fundamental freedoms which are at the core of the Constitution of Kosovo. Adoption of the law, in present form, would weaken Kosovo's democracy," Kosnett wrote. 

Germany, Switzerland against law on KLA values (media)

The embassies of Germany and Switzerland have reacted against the draft law on Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) values which is set to be discussed at the Assembly today.

German Ambassador Jorn Rohde wrote on Twitter: "In a democratic society it was and it is seldom a good idea to try to stifle discussions by limiting them through criminal law."

The Swiss Embassy meanwhile issued a statement saying that it is concerned the law could undermine the freedom of expression and called on Kosovo leaders to find other ways to show respect for the KLA. "The proposed law may cause intimidation among some citizens of Kosovo and hinder other processes aimed at dealing with the past," it said.