The German Ambassador to Kosovo, Angelika Viets said on Tuesday that European Union (EU) integration should be the goal of Kosovo and Serbia. Viets said it is especially important to discuss Chapter 35 as it is considered as a framework between political dialogue and acceptance for negotiations, but also is a way of checking that progress.  Vjosa Osmani, MP from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) said that the role of Germany has been instrumental in the integration of international organizations.

BELGRADE - The political chapters- 23, 24 and 35, should be the first to be opened this year in the EU integration process, Serbian Minister without Portfolio responsible for EU integration Jadranka Joksimovic said on Tuesday.

In a live broadcast on Radio-Television of Serbia, Joksimovic said that the year behind us was marked by the reforms and major efforts aimed at creating a successful and modern state.

“We are not putting reforms in place so that we break records in chapter opening, but rather to set a new record in reforms, if possible,” Joksimovic said.

The Foreign Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, hosted a meeting with his Austrian counterpart, Sebastian Kurz.

Thaci informed on his Facebook profile that they discussed boosting of Austria’s further investments in Kosovo as well as Vienna’s support on the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

“Kurz is a big supporter of Kosovo’s integration in the European Union, while he will soon take a concrete role for Kosovo’s membership at the Council of Europe.” wrote Thaci.

The Minister without Portfolio, Edita Tahiri, met with the Ambassador of France in Kosovo, Maryse Daviet as well as with the leading officials of the international airport “Adem Jashari.”

They valued friendly relations between Kosovo and France and expressed joint determination to deepen cooperation in the fields of mutual interest.

Minister of European Integration, Bekim Collaku said on Tuesday that the total number of asylum seekers from Kosovo to the European countries has increased in 2014 when compared to the previous year.  Collaku said that asylum is not justified for Kosovars anymore. "We need to clarify the negative consequences of this phenomenon," said Collaku.

Austrian Ambassador to Kosovo, Johann Brieger said on Tuesday that Austria will not grant asylum to anyone from Kosovo.  Brieger said that Austria grants asylum only to those who are persecuted, who are at risk for life, while economic reasons are not reasons to get asylum in Austria. According to him, the  applications for asylum in Austria are dramatic. "Just from  01 January, we’ve had 287 requests for asylum which is a dramatic increase. In 2014 we had nearly 2000 requests, and, only in December nearly 1000 people have applied for asylum in Austria," said Brieger.

Samuel Zbogar, head of the European Union Office in Kosovo, stated that no EU state would grant asylum for Kosovars.  Zbogar made this statement during the meeting of the Council for European Integration which is being held in Pristina, presided by Kosovo President, Atifete Jahjaga.

“The requests for asylum will not be accepted by any of the EU states. Majority will be refused and repatriated to Kosovo, and when they return, they will become even poorer, because they will be fined,” said Zbogar.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, hosted on Monday a meeting with head of the European Union Office and Special Representative of the EU in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar.

During the meeting, Mustafa received congratulations for his election as Prime Minister of Kosovo, and was assured on the unreserved support of the EU on complete implementation of governing priorities and goals.

Leader of Civic Initiative SDP Oliver Ivanovic evaluated as a positive news initiative of the Serbian president Tomislav Nikolic to present a proposal for the Kosovo issue. The discussion on the proposal will keep public attention on the issue of Kosovo and will draw the attention of the international community, who believe that Kosovo is not an important issue to the Serbs. 

Kosovo Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Petrit Selimi said for Radio Kosova that the government of Kosovo is not involved in the repatriation process of Kosovo migrants from the EU countries where they recently entered illegally. “The issue of asylum is an internal matter of the concerned country, and therefore Kosovo's institutions have no commitment in this regard,” said Selimi.