In an interview to the Tirana-based Top Channel, Kosovo Assembly Speaker and leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Kadri Veseli, said Kosovo is an independent and sovereign country and any agreement with Serbia will have to respect these principles. “Kosovo’s goal is to join international organisations, [gain] a seat at the United Nations,” Veseli said adding that this does not mean it will settle for anything that undermines its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Most online media in Kosovo and Serbia reported on an interview of Tirana based Top Chanel with Ramush Haradinaj, candidate for Prime Minister, saying that when it comes to Kosovo-Serbia talks there is one condition and that is Belgrade’s recognition of Kosovo’s independence. He further argued that the framework of talks was wrong because it focused on Kosovo’s internal arrangements.

The EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, during a meeting of the Foreign Commission of the European Parliament today said that Pristina has taken some important steps towards visa liberalisation. However, Hahn noted that there are two criteria which require more effort. According to him, the first one is to overcome the strong political tension and second, strengthening the rule of law and democracy.

Sokol Havolli, advisor to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, told Tirana-based Top Channel that the reasons for withdrawing the border demarcation deal from the Assembly were not related to number of votes. “The government withdrew the agreement after considerable pressure and threats made towards the MPs,” Havolli said. He stressed that the ratification of demarcation deal is a prerequisite for visa liberalization and that must happen quickly, while accusing the opposition of using this deal for political purposes.

The Tirana-based TV station Top Channel reports that the Italian Police, in cooperation with the Kosovo Police, launched an anti-terror operation in the city of Brescia. Italian authorities said the operation code-named “Van Damme” resulted in the breakup of a terror group that was using social networks to spread the Jihadi ideology. The mastermind of the group, a Kosovo national, was arrested in Kosovo by local police near Hani i Elezit, while the three other suspects were arrested in Italy.

Arban Abrashi, spokesperson of the Kosovo Government and Minister of Labour and Social Welfare said in an interview for Tirana’s Top Channel television that the opposition wants to send Kosovo to early elections but that this is unacceptable. He said that the actions of the opposition at the Assembly are uncivilized, undemocratic and vandalistic and that the government has made it clear that all opposition concerns can be addressed at the Assembly. “In the first session after the summer break, we asked to discuss all agreements but this was not allowed.

Romania’s Defense Minister, Mircea Dusa, during a visit in Tirana today said that Romania currently does not intend to change position on the recognition of Kosovo, but fully supports its dialogue with Serbia. "Romania's position on Kosovo is already known and we don’t want to interfere in the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue," Dusa said.

Serbia has increased its demands regarding telecom and energy in Kosovo which are still being discussed in Brussels between the Pristina and Belgrade delegations.

Isa Mustafa, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), is determined to meet his party’s request for him to be the coalition’s candidate for the post of Prime Minister. Mustafa told Tirana-based Top Channel on Sunday that he expects partners of the coalition to understand the leading role of the LDK. “We will continue to explore all avenues for the coalition bloc to continue its work because we have the majority.