• COVID – 19: 99 new cases, 13 deaths (media)
• Kosovo President urges MPs to extend mandate of the War Crimes Court (Express)
• Opposition parties have not changed stance regarding dialogue with Serbia (RFE)
• Haradinaj: Mutual recognition should be part of the final deal (TV Dukagjini)
• Limaj: Coalition is stabile as long as there is fair partnership (RTK)
• Zemaj: Anti-COVID-19 vaccines to be distributed free of charge (media)
• Haziri: President’s name goes through LDK offices (media)
• MP Haxhi Shala and former KLA Member Ziadin Hoxha summoned by SPO (media)

COVID – 19: 99 new cases, 13 deaths (media)

Kosovo’s National Institute for Public Health informed today that 99 new cases of coronavirus and 13 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours. 152 persons have recovered from the virus during this period. The highest number of new cases is from the municipality of Prishtina (24). Kallxo news website reports that 480 people in Kosovo have succumbed to the virus while the total number of infected has reached 12,547.

Kosovo President urges MPs to extend mandate of the War Crimes Court (Express)

Kosovo president, Hashim Thaci, in a video message posted on his Facebook, called on Members of Kosovo Parliament to extend the mandate of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office.

Thaci in his message said the mandate of the Hague-based Specialist Chambers, established by  the Parliament of Kosovo in 2015, should continue until a decision of the European Union Council in consultations with the Government of Kosovo for closing this Court mandated to investigate and  try alleged crimes of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).

“The politics should not interfere justice and justice should not interfere politics either. This was my conviction every time special panels and international courts were established over the last twenty years. And I still believe this now urging the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo to extend the mandate of the Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office until a final announcement of the EU Council in consultation with the Government of the Republic of Kosovo on concluding the mandate of this court,” Thaci said.

“We need clarification the way the Specialist Chambers will close, therefore I believe MPs will support my initiative,” Thaci said. Further the President said that Kosovo for twenty years now is facing with courts trying the KLA war, reminding that the Hague Specialist Chambers are the fifth court dealing with alleged crimes of the KLA.

Opposition parties have not changed stance regarding dialogue with Serbia (RFE)

On the verge of the meeting of Kosovo and Serbian leaders in Washington, Vetëvendosje Movement (LVV) considers that the current government will lead Kosovo to another degradation or even to some harmful agreement, while PDK officials claim that signing of any agreement that is in conflict with the Constitution of Kosovo and against Kosovo’s interests, would not be ratified at the Kosovo Assembly.

The two opposition political parties in Kosovo have not changed their positions for being an active part of the political dialogue with Serbia.

Albulena Haxhiu, member of LVV’s leadership, said her party would not accept to be part of the Kosovo government delegation in the ongoing negotiation process in Brussels, or even in Washington.

PDK officials told Radio Free Europe that so far, they have not received any official invitation for involvement in the dialogue process. PDK leadership member Xhavit Haliti stated that signing of any agreement which is in conflict with the Kosovo Constitution and against Kosovo’s interests, would not be ratified in the Kosovo Assembly.

However, PDK officials earlier notified Prime Minister Hoti that he does not enjoy support of the PDK on the dialogue, unless the dialogue is led by the U.S. They criticized the government for not having a platform or strategy for the process.

Meanwhile, the Hoti Government partners, AAK and Nisma, have called for PDK to join the Hoti Government.

Haradinaj: Mutual recognition should be part of the final deal (TV Dukagjini)

Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) said on Monday that the Prime Minister if Kosovo Avdullah Hoti should present to the official Washington and Brussels Kosovo’s position that the final agreement with Serbia should include mutual recognition.

He added that the 4 September meeting in Washington is the prime time for PM Hoti to request the agreement for recognition.

“My request  for PM Hoti is to address the request for recognition from Serbia to Washington and Brussels. This agreement would then include up to date reached agreements in Brussels, but also matters that would be resolved after the recognition,” Haradinaj said.

He does not believe that only economy issues will be discussed at the white House, ‘as mutual recognition will also be discussed there.’

Limaj: Coalition is stabile as long as there is fair partnership (RTK)

Fatmir Limaj, leader of the Social-Democratic Initiative (NISMA) told media on Monday after the meeting of the government coalition partners that there was a joint agreement that Kosovo should have clear positions in the dialogue with Serbia.

One of the main issues was that of the dialogue. There was a concern and agreement that Kosovo is ready to continue to participate with a clear agenda, and some kind of reconfirmation that with the compromises of Kosovo, such as lifting of the tariff, reciprocity, to return to the dialogue, for recognition. We should eliminate the concern that dialogue might slip into a technical one,” he said.

Asked about Monday’s reporting that Limaj claims the position of the president, he said ‘Kosovo has its President. This is not a matter of discussion. It is shameful to discuss this issue now.’

He added that governing coalition is stable as long as there is correct partnership.

Asked whether he would accept coalition with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Limaj said he is for a wide, stable and powerful government, which would take over responsibility to treat important matters of Kosovo.

Zemaj: Anti-COVID-19 vaccines to be distributed free of charge (media)

Kosovo’s Health Minister Armend Zemaj told media on Monday that the government of Kosovo is on the right path to ensure vaccines against COVID-19, if they are put into use. He added that they will be distributed for free for the citizens of Kosovo.

"All health personnel who are on the official payroll in the Republic of Kosovo will have an additional payment until the end of the pandemic,” Zemaj said.

He appealed once again on the people of Kosovo to continue implementing measures of the government, and prepare for the next months.

Haziri: President’s name goes through LDK offices (media)

Deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lutfi Haziri, said election of the President of Kosovo goes through the offices of the LDK, just as election of the Prime Minister and Assembly Speaker did.

And in such situation, ‘it is clear who will become the President, The one that represents unity of the population. Let us move on…’ Haziri wrote.

MP Haxhi Shala and former KLA Member Ziadin Hoxha summoned by SPO (media)

Kosovo Assembly MP from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Haxhi Shala announced through a Facebook post that he has been summoned by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office. He said he was summoned as a suspect and he will be questioned in The Hague on 8 September. Shala said that “the tendencies to tarnish the war and the values of the KLA are unacceptable.”

Media reported that former member of KLA, Ziadin Hoxha, has also been summoned by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office. “We have just been informed that former member of KLA, Ziadin Hoxha, has been summoned by the Specialist Chambers. He was a brave KLA soldier,” Hysni Gucati, head of Association of KLA War Veterans said.