Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi during the debate on border-demarcation with Montenegro today said that this debate will be a contribution to transparency in the process of border-demarcation with Montenegro. According to him, the issue of demarcation is nonexistent. “Since the beginning, the issue of demarcation was nonexistent. Kosovo has not lost even one centimeter of its territory,” Thaçi said. He further recalled the importance of marking the border as evidence of independence and sovereignty of Kosovo.

The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell, said on Tuesday that the process of border demarcation between Kosovo and Montengro is a bilateral issue. “Kosovo is a sovereign country; you decide for yourselves. But I strongly believe that your decision should be taken according to the facts,” O’Connell said. He also praised the idea of the demarcation debate which is being held today in Pristina. “It is a good idea to hold a public discussion today, so that deputies and citizens can be informed about the detail, and reality, of the process.

The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, told the news site that he will participate in the demarcation debate on Wednesday, but doesn’t expect any results from this debate. “The debate on border-demarcation to be held tomorrow is an opportunity to hear the final conclusions by experts. I will be part of the debate but I don’t expect any results from it,” Haradinaj said. He said the AAK will return in the Assembly to oppose the border-demarcation agreement with Montenegro.

The Vetëvendosje Movement MP, Donika Kadaj-Bujupi, said on Monday that the agreement on border-demarcation with Montenegro in the current format is not right and Kosovo would be losing its territory with this agreement.  According to her, Vetëvendosje will never allow this agreement to pass the Kosovo Assembly. While commenting on government’s criticism that the opposition is blocking the visa liberalisation process, Kadaj-Bujupi said that opposition will not give up territory in exchange for visa liberalisation.

Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, while commenting on recent accusations between ruling-coalition and opposition parties regarding border-demarcation agreement with Montenegro, said on Monday that the ruling-coalition is only requesting arguments. According to him, all issues regarding this agreement will be resolved in the interest of Kosovo citizens, and that the ratification of this agreement is related to the free movement of Kosovo citizens. Regarding the debate on demarcation to be held on 3 August, Mustafa said this debate will only bring arguments.

The paper’s Brussels-based correspondent writes today in an opinion piece that it is a major mistake that Kosovars, as a sign of respect to those who helped us become independent, leave their fate in the hands of foreign embassies, even after eight years of independence. “Britain’s exit from the EU, the risk that Donald Trump might become President of America, and Turkey’s pro-Russian approach, are just a few signs that Kosovo cannot expect that others will have the energy, patience and desire to manage Kosovo’s affairs.

Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister, Dusko Marković, in a statement for BIRN has urged Kosovo to fulfill its part of the border-demarcation agreement without further delay. Marković expressed concern that while parliament in Montenegro ratified the agreement at the end of last year, Kosovo has yet to complete its part.