• Hahn: Do not blame the EU (Zeri)
• Lunacek, Hahn meet Kosovo political leaders (media)
• EU too favors early elections (Zeri/Telegrafi)
• Buja: LDK is not a fair political partner (Epoka e Re)
• Protest in Geneva and Prizren for deceased Vetevendosje activist (Kosovapress)

Hahn: Do not blame the EU (Zeri)

The European Union’s Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said during his visit to Pristina on Friday that he was surprised to read that Kosovo’s leaders are blaming the European Union for lack of visa liberalisation. Referring to a recent statement by Kosovo President Hashim Thaci who blamed the EU on the matter, Hahn said Kosovo has received the criteria and that it needs to meet them. Hahn said three years ago, Kosovo and the EU negotiated and agreed on the visa liberalisation criteria and that therefore Kosovo’s institutions need to meet the two final criteria, ratify the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro and fight organised crime and corruption. Hahn also said renegotiating the demarcation agreement with Montenegro would take time and that during that period Kosovo would not have visa liberalisation.

Lunacek, Hahn meet Kosovo political leaders (media)

All media cover the meeting that Ulrike Lunacek, the European Parliament’s Rapporteur on Kosovo, Johannes Hahn, the EU Enlargement Commissioner, and the EU Head of Office, Natalya Apostolova, had with Kosovo’s political leaders on Friday. Lunacek told reporters after the meeting: “it was a very good discussion. I think it is important to have a debate with people that don’t always agree on the same matters. What I liked the most is that everyone agreed that it is very important for Kosovo to move forward in the European integration path”. Assembly Speaker and Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) leader, Kadri Veseli, said it was important for the political leaders to meet. Veseli did not disclose any details from the meeting. Visar Ymeri, leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, the biggest opposition party in Kosovo, said after the meeting that he raised the recent death of Vetevendosje Astrit Dehari in jail and that Commissioner Hahn called for an independent and transparent investigation into the incident. Ymeri also said the meeting discussed on Kosovo’s path toward the European Union, with special emphasis on the border demarcation with Montenegro and dialogue with Serbia. He added: “Our position is very clear: in its current form, the demarcation is unacceptable and harmful for Kosovo’s territory and state in general”. Ymeri also argued that the current heads of institutions have lost all popular support. Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), said there were open discussions and disagreements during the meeting. “We want to thank Commissioner Hahn and MP Lunacek for the time they have found to meet and discuss with us the progress in Kosovo. Kosovo is divided; namely the opposition believes that elections are the solution to the current situation and many challenges that await us”. Haradinaj also said the border demarcation with Montenegro was discussed at the meeting, but he did not speak of any agreement. Asked if the opposition has yielded on the matter, he said: “Our positions on the matter are known”.

EU too favors early elections (Zeri/Telegrafi)

Opposition parties have welcomed the statement by EU Head of Office in Pristina, Natalya Apostolova, who said that the EU would support early elections in Kosovo if there is agreement on this among political parties. The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), one of the ruling coalition partners, meanwhile is saying that parliamentary elections should be held in June 2017 and after arrests by the Special Court. In an interview for Zeri daily newspaper, Apostolova said the EU would support every democratic process in Kosovo, including elections.

Buja: LDK is not a fair political partner (Epoka e Re)

Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP, Shukri Buja, said in an interview for the paper that the ruling coalition between the PDK and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) will not last for long, “because the LDK is not a fair political partner”. Buja said the PDK should not pay the bill for the failures of Prime Minister and LDK leader, Isa Mustafa. “I don’t expect the coalition to last for long. The LDK is not a fair political partner, because it is only waiting for the PDK to grow weak,” he added. Buja also criticised the draft law on the budget and said he would note vote in favor.

Protest in Geneva and Prizren for deceased Vetevendosje activist (Kosovapress)

The news website reports that a protest will be held in front of the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva today demanding justice for Vetevendosje activist Astrit Dehari who died in yet-unresolved circumstances in jail. Another protest will be held in Prizren in front of the prison where Dehari died. The Vetevendosje Movement issued a communique saying that a week after Dehari’s death no one has been held responsible.