• COVID-19: 80 new cases, one death (media)
• Hoti: We will be forced to take stricter steps if COVID cases increase (media)
• Lajcak: EU and U.S. share same interests in the Western Balkans (media)
• Jevtic calls for establishment of Association of Serb-majority municipalities (media)
• Ymeri: There will be no government fall until dialogue ends (Telegrafi)
• Vilan: There is no specific date of our recognition of Kosovo (N1/ Lapsi.al)
• Vucic: Fulfill promises, then we will discuss (RTK)
• Putin cancels Serbia's visit protesting country's 'approximation' with U.S. (Koha)
• International drivers' licenses not valid unless Kosovo joins UN (Koha)
• Kosovo PM: No Serb Municipal Association Before Final Settlement (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia finally recognizes Kosovo border by staffing Common Border Crossing Point at Merdare (Express)

COVID-19: 80 new cases, one death (media)

Kosovo’s National Institute for Public Health announced yesterday that 80 new cases of COVID-19 and one death were recorded in the last 24 hours.

55 persons have recovered from the virus during this time. The highest number of cases is from the municipality of Prishtina (17).

There are currently 1,559 active coronavirus cases in Kosovo.

Hoti: We will be forced to take stricter steps if COVID cases increase (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti spoke to reporters yesterday following the recent spike in the number of new coronavirus infections. He said if the figures continue to increase, the government will be forced to take a more extreme approach.

He said that by tracing the new infections, it resulted that they come from the hospitality sector and Kosovo institutions. "It is unacceptable, irresponsible for institutional representatives not to fully adhere to measures," he said.

"We do not wish to disrupt businesses or fine citizens in the streets, close down businesses and crash people's private gatherings and parties but it is in their interest to respect the measures," Hoti noted.

Lajcak: EU and U.S. share same interests in the Western Balkans (media)

The EU Special Representative for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue Miroslav Lajcak commented on a series of Twitter posts about his ongoing visit to Kosovo.

Lajcak said after meeting U.S. Ambassador Philip Kosnett that the EU and U.S. share common interests in the Western Balkans. "We both want to see the region advance and have a real and tangible European perspective."

Following his meeting with opposition parties, Lajcak said he "urged them to unite on the Dialogue and put it above party lines to strengthen Kosovo’s position and leverage."

Yesterday, Lajcak also met President Hashim Thaci, leaders of ruling political parties, representatives of the Serbian List and the Serb Orthodox Church, as well as heads of international organisations in Kosovo.

Jevtic calls for establishment of Association of Serb-majority municipalities (media)

Dalibor Jevtic, Kosovo's Minister for Communities and Returns from the Serbian List, in a meeting with the EU Special Representative for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue Miroslav Lajcak called for the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities saying this would have an impact on the building of trust.

Jevtic also said that they also discussed the issue of displaced persons and property.

Ymeri: There will be no government fall until dialogue ends (Telegrafi)

Former representative of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) turned political commentator Visar Ymeri said in a debate at RTV Dukagjini that the topics at the dialogue table include two options: the territorial exchange and the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities. "Unfortunately there is no third option. Kosovo would have to come out with a third one."

He said that if the dialogue progresses with high intensity, the current government of Kosovo will not be brought down but if the process stalls, elections will be imminent in either autumn or spring. "Whenever elections do take place, Vetevendosje will win them. However, the candidate that will win the elections does not want dialogue and this is a problem for those who do: the U.S. and the EU... Instructions from above say there can be no government fall until the dialogue ends."

Vilan: There is no specific date of our recognition of Kosovo (N1/ Lapsi.al)

Israeli Ambassador to Serbia Jahel Vilan said that to his knowledge, there is no specific date of recognition of Kosovo by Israel. “I can assure you that we will inform our friends in Serbia about our moves. I will do the utmost to make this as transparent as possible and inform Serbia in advance,” he said.

Asked if after recognition Israel would help Kosovo on UN and other international organisations’ membership, Vilan said that this was not discussed yet.  “It is too early to discuss this. As a country that suffered more than any other at the UN, I assure you that Israel will show the highest sensitivity on this matter,” he said.

He added that Israel welcomed Serbia’s decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem in July of the next year.

Vucic: Fulfill promises, then we will discuss (RTK)

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic told Serbian national broadcaster RTS that the he is ready to discuss a compromised solution with Prishtina, however he stressed that Kosovo has to implement already signed agreements first.

He added that the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities should be established, but not as some NGO. “We will demonstrate patience and do not worry, we will be sufficiently patient,” he said on Wednesday.

Vucic said that he will discuss compromised solution with the EU Special Representative, Miroslav Lajcak. “We are discussions constantly and I try not to respond to Prishtina’s daily stupidities. We want peace and stability, movement of goods, capital, services and people. This is important, while I cannot insult them the way they insult us,” he said.

Putin cancels Serbia's visit protesting country's 'approximation' with U.S. (Koha)

The Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be visiting Serbia in October as announced several times by the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, Koha quotes Belgrade paper Danas.

Sources said that Russia is not happy with Serbia's recent 'approximation' with the United States in terms of foreign policy, particularly following the September 4 meeting at the White House. "The White House Agreement marks a turning point in Russia's loss of influence in the Balkans which angers Kremlin. Serbia is resolving the Kosovo issue without Russia's participation and is getting closer to the U.S. which is growing on Russia's back," an unnamed diplomatic source said.

International drivers' licenses not valid unless Kosovo joins UN (Koha)

Koha reports that international drivers' licenses that Kosovo authorities began to issue yesterday will not be considered valid in European countries as Kosovo is not a signatory party to the International Convention of Driver's License or a member of the United Nations.

Officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs told Koha that they are trying to reach separate agreements with European countries to facilitate the movement of Kosovo citizens but traffic experts say the document will not have any benefits for as long as Kosovo either signs the Convention or joins the UN.

Kosovo PM: No Serb Municipal Association Before Final Settlement (Balkan Insight)

Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti on Tuesday dampened hopes of establishing a long-promised semi-autonomous Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities.

Hoti warned that it will only be formed in the event of a final settlement with Serbia – which refuses to recognise the independence of its former province, proclaimed in 2008.

Hoti issued the warning after a meeting in Pristina with the EU’s special envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak – after Goran Rakic, a Deputy Prime Minister from the Belgrade-backed Lista Srpska party, said he would quit the Kosovo government if the Association is not formed soon.

“This is a government that accepts no threats, from anyone. We don’t work under anyone’s threats,” Hoti said in response to the resignation ultimatum.

Hoti claimed the existence of an “agreed principle with our partners [in the coalition government] and with the [external] mediators of the dialogue that we will not agree to anything until we agree to everything” – meaning a comprehensive solution to the dispute with Serbia.

“Nothing will be implemented until there is a final agreement with mutual recognition, ratified in the Kosovo Assembly,” he added, insisting also that the future Association would “not have executive competencies”.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3k1didx

Serbia finally recognizes Kosovo border by staffing Common Border Crossing Point at Merdare (Express)

It took Serbia nine years to finally implement the Integrated Border Management deal in full by operationalizing the Merdare Common Border Crossing Point. Functionalization of the border crossing was part of the accord between Kosovo and Serbia on economic normalization signed at the White House on September 4.

Back in 2011 Pristina and Belgrade signed the Agreement on Integrated Border Management (IBM) as part of the EU-facilitated dialogue with parties agreeing to build permanent border crossings between the two countries enabling authorities of both countries work under one roof.

When the agreement was signed Kosovo side claimed that with the IBM Agreement Serbia has accepted Kosovo’s Independence, whereas Serbian side insisted that the IBM does not mean recognition of Kosovo and continued referring to the border crossings as administrative lines.

Although the Common Border Point facility at Merdare financed by the EU was finalized last year, Serbian side refused to use the new facility with the Serbian police and customs still working in temporarily facilities. But Serbian side finally agreed to move its staff at the new facilities. The move was welcomed by the US Government and President Donald Trump’s special envoy on Dialogue, Richard Grenell. “Big move. Thanks to President Donald Trump, Serbia makes Merdare border crossing operational,” Grenell wrote on Twitter. Ambassador Grenell was retweeting a statement of the US Ambassador to Belgrade, Anthoney Godfrey who on Tuesday called Serbia’s move as great news. “By staffing Merdare, Serbia will help grow regional trade and commerce, which is at the heart of the September 4 agreements signed at the White House. This is an important step forward for prosperity and stability” Godfrey wrote. Also, a spokesperson of the US State Department Wednesday applauded the move.

The Kosovo Police told Gazeta Express that its police and customs officers have staffed the new facility long time ago. “The Kosovo Police have already moved to the new facility and are carrying out their duties in accordance with the law,” a police spokesperson said. Work on the first permanent crossing point between Kosovo and Serbia, financed by the EU, started in 2017, but Serbian side has continuously refused to staff the common crossing point.