The mass departure from Kosovo shows that nothing has been done over the past two years economy-wise to make people want to stay, Belgrade based portal B92 quotes the Albanian language website indeksonline.net.
According to the website, almost 40,000 people are currently waiting for the German embassy to reply to their applications to be granted working visas, so they can leave Kosovo as soon as possible.
Kosovo’s Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Izmi Zeka, has responded to the statements made by Serbian Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic that Interpol has reintroduced arrests warrants against 20 Kosovo Albanians saying it is a fabrication and a myth. “Interpol is not an institution managed by Serbia which cannot dictate the format of work,” Zeka said. “It [Serbia] cannot add any comma or full stop to Interpol’s decisions,” he added.
Head of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) parliamentary group, Avdullah Hoti, said in a press conference that the party was getting ready for fresh elections in Kosovo. “In a situation where the parliamentary majority is split, the right solution is new elections,” Hoti said. He reconfirmed the position that LDK MPs will all support the ratification of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro but noted that once this is voted, the current government should go and pave way for new elections.
Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, addressed reporters shortly after the Assembly went on break to give time to relevant committee to harmonise the text of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. Haradinaj said that a group of MPs are currently in Podgorica and that this could delay the voting process.
In response to the statement by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama that Kosovo and Albania should have a single president in the near future, Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj said Kosovo does not need lectures from anyone. “I told Edi Rama that we can boast to one another as much as we want [but] Edi Rama will help Kosovo only by developing Albania,” Haradinaj said in Mitrovica today. “I don’t wish to enter into unnecessary debates because we are brothers.
Government of Kosovo held today is routing meeting which started by observing a minute of silence for the Kosovo Serb leader, Oliver Ivanovic, killed last week in Mitrovica North. Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj expressed the commitment of the government and relevant institutions to resolve the case. The government cabinet also observed a minute of silence for the Albanian leader from the Preshevo Valley, Jonuz Musliu, who passed away last week.
European Parliament Rapporteur for Kosovo, Igor Soltes, said in an interview that he hoped Kosovo will benefit from visa-free travel to Europe as soon as possible. He said however that it is up to Kosovo to fulfill the necessary criteria. “I hope the solution is found soon for the sake of the people of Kosovo,” Soltes said.
During a visit to Albania, President of Montenegro, Filip Vujanovic, said border demarcation with Kosovo is a closed topic. “Agreement has been ratified in Montenegro and enjoys the majority support in Kosovo. This is an internal matter for Kosovo. It should be taken into account that Brussels has put this issue as a condition to Kosovo. The sooner this is resolved the better but Kosovo has to solve it the proper way,” Vujanovic is reported to have said at a joint press conference with his Albanian counterpart, Ilir Meta.
Creation of the Association of the Serb-majority Municipalities continues to be the major request of Kosovo Serbs. Furthermore, they consider that the Association should be created within a very short period.
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Dalibor Jevtic, stated on Monday that there are no more justifications for delays. He said that now is the time to create the Association as agreed by the parties in Brussels.