• COVID - 19: 57 new cases, four deaths (media)
• Thaci honors Trump highest state order, invites him to visit Kosovo (media)
• Quint calls on Kosovo authorities not to discredit Specialist Chambers (media)
• Stano: EU has no interest in delays (Lajmi)
• Police crack-down on organised crime activities near Kamenica (media)
• Kusari - Lila: Hoti will soon lose PM post (media)

COVID - 19: 57 new cases, four deaths (media)

Kosovo’s National Institute for Public Health announced on Friday that 678 samples were tested for coronavirus during a 24-hour period, of which 57 resulted positive. Meanwhile, 137 recoveries and four deaths were recorded over the same timeframe. The highest number of new infections (16) is in the municipality of Pristina. According to the Public Health Institute, there are currently 2,003 active cases of coronavirus in Kosovo.

Thaci honors Trump highest state order, invites him to visit Kosovo (media)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci awarded the highest state order – the Order of Freedom – to the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, on Friday, as a sign of gratitude for his contribution to the freedom of Kosovo, the strengthening of peace and stability in the region. Thaci also invited President Trump to visit Kosovo in the near future.

The Head of State, in a letter to President Trump, stated that the agreement on economic normalization between Kosovo and Serbia would not have been possible without his strong leadership and that of the United States of America.

Below is Thaci’s full letter to President Trump:

Dear Mr. President,

I would like to express my deep gratitude for your personal contribution on the reaching of the agreement on economic normalization between Kosovo and Serbia. This agreement is a breakthrough of extraordinary importance for ending the centuries-old conflict between our peoples. After decades of blockades and stagnation in the negotiations, thanks to your courageous leadership we reached this historic agreement.

The people of Kosovo remain eternally grateful to the United States of America - our savior who stood by us in our darkest days and continues to this day.

Let me assure you that Kosovo remains committed to lasting peace and long-term prosperity in the Western Balkans. We have worked hard over the years and are prepared to contribute to world peace and security. We are also unwavering in our commitment to reaching an agreement that resolves all open issues and brings mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia.

It is clearer than ever that this can only be achieved under the strong leadership of the United States of America. Your role in this process is vital. Kosovo is truly blessed to enjoy your unwavering support in fulfilling its aspirations.

Mr. President, I have the privilege that as the President of the Republic of Kosovo, as a sign of gratitude for your personal contribution to the freedom of Kosovo, in reaching peace, reconciliation and economic prosperity, to award you the Order of Freedom.

The agreement signed in the White House would not have been possible without the energy, clear goal, and the direct, unwavering and loyal commitment of your national security adviser, Mr. Robert O’Brien and your special envoy, Ambassador Mr. Richard Grenell. As a sign of gratitude for their efforts, I also awarded the Presidential Medal of Merits to Mr. O’Brien and Mr. Grenell, for their special merits in reaching the historic agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, signed in Washington.

On behalf of the people of Kosovo, I have the pleasure to invite you to visit Kosovo and be convinced of the progress you have made possible. It would be a great honor to welcome you and introduce you to the most pro-American people in the world.

Quint calls on Kosovo authorities not to discredit Specialist Chambers (media)

All media cover the joint statement issued by the embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States, on Friday calling on the Government and Assembly of Kosovo to oppose any attempts to undermine or discredit the mission of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) and the Specialist Chambers Prosecution Office (SPO), and to ensure that they can carry out their mission in line with the Constitution.

“In this context, we commend both the Speaker of the Assembly for forwarding the constitutional amendment proposal of the President to the Constitutional Court of the Specialist Chambers in The Hague, and the Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo for respecting the authority of the SPO to investigate the potential illegal disclosure of confidential documents and information, while offering to assist if requested,” the statement notes.

Stano: EU has no interest in delays (Lajmi)

The news website reports that European Commission representatives have not agreed to comment on statements by Kosovo and Serbia officials about their preferred topics in the dialogue, or about Marko Djuric’s threat that the process could be stopped if Prishtina does not agree to talk about the agreement on the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities.

EU spokesman Peter Stano said Brussels maintains the role of facilitator and that it plans to continue talks at the level of experts and high-level talks, without wanting to comment on statements by the two parties after their meetings.

“We are committed to continue with meetings at the level of experts and chief negotiators, as happened yesterday [Thursday], and also with high-level talks as happened last Monday. We are also planning a meeting with the President and the Prime Minister at the end of this month. Our role is not to comment on statements, but rather to offer our best services and perform our role as facilitator in the dialogue to the best of our abilities and to the benefit of the parties. Ultimately it is up to them to reach a final agreement on the normalisation of relations,” Stano said.

Police crack-down on organised crime activities near Kamenica (media)

All news websites reported on Friday that Kosovo Police special units cracked down on an organised crime network in Karaceva, in the municipality of Kamenica. 33 persons were arrested for illegal gambling, human, arms and drug trafficking. 10 police officers were also arrested during the operation. Search operations were conducted in other regions of Kosovo.

Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP Ganimete Musliu said in a Facebook post that the names of police officers involved in the illegal gambling operations must be made public. “Criminal gangs must not be protected or amnestied. Their identities must be revealed as soon as possible and they must be immediately dismissed from the police force,” she argued.

Several news websites have published today images from Karaceva and the demolished premises of illegal gambling.

Kusari - Lila: Hoti will soon lose PM post (media)

Mimoza Kusari – Lila, member of the Kosovo Assembly and leader of Alternativa, said today that Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti violated all his previous commitments by signing the Washington agreement. She argued that the agreement contains what she called “constitutional deviations” and that Hoti will soon lose his post. “The constitutional name of the Republic of Kosovo is not included on the document signed by the person that claims to lead the state. Most of us cannot believe the concessions made in the document,” she said.

Kusari – Lila argued that the inclusion of the Gazivoda [Ujman] Lake in the Washington agreement constitutes a violation of the Constitution of Kosovo. She said that economic development and new job opportunities do not come from pledges made in Washington. “The Ujman Lake is Kosovo’s wealth. It is an artificial lake built with the contributions of Kosovars and a loan from the International Development Bank. Including Ujman in an agreement that foresees a feasibility study to share energy resources is a violation of the Constitution,” she added.