Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, today expressed regret over the opposition boycotting the vote on the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) in the Assembly. According to him, this action cannot diminish at all the importance of this agreement. "Congratulations to all for the ratification of the SAA, the first contractual agreement between the Kosovo and the EU. This happy event marks a long-awaited success for Kosovo in meeting the aspirations of our people for European integration.

Publicist Enver Robelli argues in his opinion piece that “calls for rejecting the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities by organizing a referendum can only complicate the current situation in Kosovo. People will not vote in favor or against the Association, but will instinctively vote against Serbia – and why should they be judged for this bearing in mind the crimes that Serbia has committed in Kosovo since 1912.

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci said that the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement is the most important step Kosovo is making towards EU membership. “Signing of the SAA is proof of the success the state of Kosovo has made and of our commitment to European values. This contractual agreement contains mutual obligations: commitment of Kosovo for reforms and commitment of the EU to assist us much more in this process, until the fulfillment of European perspective,” Thaci wrote on his Facebook profile.

Klan Kosova has published parts of the interview with Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hashim Thaci, which will be aired tonight at 21:00 hours. Speaking about the former leader of Vetevendosje movement, Albin Kurti, Thaci said that it is well known that he has always had an anti-Kosovar and anti-international agenda. According to Thaci, Ramush Haradinaj and Fatmir Limaj are acting as “Albin Kurit’s close protection.”

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, told the news site that he is convinced that the work in the Assembly will soon continue to function."I expect reflection in terms of normal work in the Assembly. Any other approach would be wrong and unacceptable,” Thaci said, adding that ideas and projects should be brought in the Assembly, and not weapons and violence. "The problem lies in the physical blocking actions by the opposition.  Assembly Speaker Kadri  Veseli has been tolerant and understanding.

Vetevendosje MP Albin Kurti said in an interview for News24 on Tuesday that he will not stop until “the agreement on the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro are annulled”. Kurti explained how he was detained by police and said that he was later released only due to protests by Vetevendosje supporters. “I was returning from Skopje to Pristina, and in the outskirts of the city a Kosovo Police task force with 15 officers stopped us and asked me to step out of the car.

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister and Principal Deputy Prime Minister Hashim Thaci writes on his Facebook account about last night’s incidents in downtown Pristina. “Unfortunately, the opposition continues to use violence in an attempt to achieve its political objectives. The leadership of the opposition must understand that power is won only through votes and in no way through violence. The lack of people’s trust cannot be compensated with political extremism.

Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hashim Thaci, hailed through a posting on Facebook, inclusion of Kosovo’s membership in the agenda of the UNESCO Executive Council.

“ A few minutes ago, the Executive Board of the UNESCO approved in Paris the final agenda, where the point of Kosovo’s membership, sponsored by 47 states, was included. It is a small procedural victory but it is important because now we can focus on voting next week,” Thaci wrote.

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci said today at the high-level EU conference “Eastern Mediterranean – Western Balkans Route” in Luxembourg that Kosovo was a place of origin of migrants but is no longer so as a result of a series of measures undertaken by Kosovo institutions. Thac noted that although the current Middle East influx of refugees is not going through Kosovo, Kosovo has nevertheless expressed readiness to receive up to 500 refugees.

It is quite certain that the President of the Government of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic will attend a football match for the European Championship 2016 in Elbasan between the teams of Albania and Serbia, after the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama "cancelled invitation" for Hashim Thaci, Danas learned in political sources close to the authorities in Pristina.