Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati reacted to the recent statements of Serbian officials regarding the Belgrade-Mitrovica train calling them “destabilizing provocations.” In a Facebook post, Bushati said the statements coming from Belgrade do not contribute to the climate of regional cooperation. “The beginning of 2017 was not a good one for South-East Europe. Destabilising provocations and theatrical fantasies of Serbia’s leadership are irritating and far from expectations from an EU candidate country,” Bushati wrote.

The session of the Mitrovica North Assembly scheduled for today to approve the construction of the wall in the “King Peter I” in the northern part of the city was cancelled on the request of the Serbian List representatives. Bashkim Cimili, member of the Mitrovica North Assembly from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) said no explanation was given behind the decision to cancel the session.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said today that the United States of America will continue their unwavering support to Kosovo. In an interview for RTV Dukagjini, Thaci said Kosovo will be in the focus of the new U.S. President, Donald Trump. “I don’t think there is any reason for concern. The United States of America will support Kosovo. The Trump administration will support peace and stability in the region; they will support the values we represent and our Euro-Atlantic vision.

The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) deputy leader, Ardian Gjini, asked the government of Kosovo to halt talks with Serbia and ban Serbian officials entering Kosovo following the detention of the party leader Ramush Haradinaj by French police on an arrest warrant issued by Serbia. In a press conference today, Gjini said Haradinaj is expected to appear before a court today in France and that they hope the French authorities will realize that Serbia’s arrest warrants against Kosovo leaders are not aimed at serving justice but instead at denigrating Kosovo.

In an interview for Bota Sot daily newspaper, LDK deputy leader and Gjilan Mayor, Lutfi Haziri, said delays in ratifying the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro, as a result of the actions of the opposition and certain MPs, are obstructing the political life in Kosovo. “They [the MPs] are obliged to coordinate within their party structures and as representatives of the people to play their role and conclude the process. It is unforgivable for Kosovo not to get visa liberalisation as a result of the actions of certain MPs, including some from the LDK.

Kosovo’s Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, had a telephone conversation last night with European External Action Service Director for Western Europe, Western Balkans and Turkey, Angelina Eichhorst, whom she informed about the attempted attack on Kosovo government premises in Mitrovica North. Tahiri expressed the position of the Kosovo government that such acts are aimed at obstructing the implementation of Brussels agreement and undermining the dialogue for normalization of relations with Serbia.

Bajram Gecaj, Kosovo’s Deputy Minister for Local Government and advisor to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, reacted to a statement by Marko Djuric, head of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, who said that the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities will be an integral part of Serbia. Gecaj wrote on his Facebook account today: “Djuric seems to be having major problems within their political structures. He is talking nonsense, as if he were in his youth when his state exerted violence and genocide against Kosovo Albanians.

The Museum of Kosovo has received confirmation of its membership in the largest organization of world museums, the Paris-based International Council of Museums (ICOM). The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, hailed the news saying it enables the Museum of Kosovo inclusion into the international network of museums.

Vetevendosje MP, Driton Caushi, in today’s plenary session of the Assembly accused the government of trying to “fog out” the case regarding Astrit Dehari’s death at the Prizren detention facility. “Today marks 45 days from Astrit’s death and many citizens continue to seek justice for him while the regime is employing all possible means to fog out the case and close the investigation,” Caushi said adding that the official account into Dehari’s death resembles science fiction movies.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci met today the President of the Association of Persons with Special Needs in Kosovo, Agim Vatovci, with whom he discussed about the work done by this organization and the challenges it is facing. On the verge of the International Day of Persons with Dissabilities, Thaci said it is the obligation of all people to respect the Constitution and laws in force, which prohibit the discrimination of these groups in education, health, employment and other services.