Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, said in an interview for the news website that, the best-case scenario for the end of this year would be if the Kosovo Assembly manages to ratify the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. “The best possible solution would be to ratify the agreement by the end of the year. I appeal to the people and members of parliament, to meet and conclude this issue before the end of the year, because the matter would then be initiated at the European Parliament early next year and we would conclude our part before the start of several processes in the European Union. At least three member states of the European Union will have elections next year, the Netherlands, and then France and Germany. This means that it will be difficult for them to justify the matter in terms of their migration policies,” Mustafa said. He argued that border demarcation with Montenegro is the final requirement that Kosovo needs to meet before its citizens can travel visa-free in the Schengen area. Mustafa said Kosovo has achieved considerable progress in combating organised crime and corruption. “Based on information we have and conclusions from EU representatives, the ratification of the border agreement is the final criteria. As far as the fight against organised crime and corruption is concerned, it was concluded that we have achieved success in several areas and that we need to work more,” he said. Adding to the demarcation issue, Mustafa said: “I think we need to make joint efforts, to have understanding among the ruling parties and the opposition to overcome this issue, but no one should think that we want to give away land to Montenegro for the sake of visa liberalisation. This is why I have suggested that we set up a joint commission of experts that would measure the territory of Kosovo and then conclude whether we are losing any territory because the people must know ... We need to sit down and for the sake of our people resolve this issue. Montenegro is ready to sit together and discuss any additional document that we may have”. Mustafa also talked about the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into the Kosovo Armed Forces and said the government has continuously tried to convince Kosovo Serb political representatives to vote in favor of the law on the armed forces. “We need to have 2/3 of votes in the Assembly which means we need at least 80 votes. I am confident that all Albanian MPs will vote in favour, but we need to have 2/3 of votes from minority or non-majority MPs. We have tried to talk to the Serbian List, and with its representatives in the government to try and convince them to vote in favor. We had several meetings and we provided them with all the material and the constitutional amendments that must be made. If it weren’t for the constitutional amendments, we would have adopted the law in the Assembly because we have enough votes. We have also presented them with the law, but the issue is not about their readiness or lack thereof, but rather the fact that their position is still influenced by Serbia, Belgrade. We will try to convince them. But without their votes, we cannot transform the KSF into the Armed Forces in accordance with the Constitution,” Mustafa added.