Headlines - 18.10.2016

• Serbian List postpones demarcation (Zeri)
• Demarcation removed from government’s list of priorities (Koha)
• Ferati: Coalition is stable, but it’s not easy to secure 80 votes (Epoka)
• Government to ask for temporary measure on Trepca (RTK)
• Tahiri: Serbia is aware of recognition of Kosovo criteria (Bota Sot)
• Pajaziti: EU, the only option for Nehat Thaçi’s release (Indeksonline)
• Dikovic: Law on Trepca threatens fragile situation in Kosovo (Koha)
• KIA has information on Serbs arrested in Montenegro (Zeri)
• Rama: Unification of Albania and Kosovo belongs to the past (Kosovapress)

Serbian List postpones demarcation (Zeri)

Kosovo government does not intend to re-submit the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro to the Kosovo Assembly because of the boycott by the Serbian List and opposition’s rejection. Sources within the government told the paper that the process of demarcation cannot be completed without Serbian List MPs returning to the Assembly. “There is nothing without the Serbian List. We need their votes,” the source was quoted as saying. On the other hand, Kosovo’s Deputy Minister of Local Government Administration, Bajram Gecaj, told the paper that demarcation will happen when MPs are willing to vote for it. “Demarcation will be sent to the Assembly once the conditions are met,” Gecaj said. The opposition parties still insist that they will not meet with Prime Minister Isa Mustafa to discuss the current version of demarcation.

Demarcation removed from government’s list of priorities (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that it has been a month now since the issue of the border demarcation with Montenegro is not dominating the political discourse in Kosovo. “The issue has been ignored despite the fact that it is one of the two remaining criteria for visa liberalisation. Government officials say that there is a public invitation by Prime Minister Isa Mustafa for a meeting with political leaders on the matter. Opposition representatives meanwhile claim that the invitation is a hypocrisy, arguing that for serious meetings they need to know the agenda and objectives. The opposition also claims that the government’s silence on the topic implies that it is unable to pass the demarcation agreement in the Assembly,” the paper adds.

Ferati: Coalition is stable, but it’s not easy to secure 80 votes (Epoka)

Kosovo Assembly MP from the Democratic League of Kosovo, Sadri Ferati, told the paper on Monday that the ruling coalition is stable on most issues; however, he admitted that it is not easy to secure the 2/3 of votes required for ratifying border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. Ferati also said it would have been good to achieve a national consensus on ratification of this agreement. He expressed his fear that Kosovo will be in the losing side no matter the decision of the Assembly. He added that the main challenge of the government remains implementation of the law and the fight against corruption.

Government to ask for temporary measure on Trepca (RTK)

The Kosovo Government will request today from the Constitutional Court to set a temporary measure on the decision of the Special Chamber of this Court, which foresees the liquidation of the Trepca mining complex in the event the Law which defines its status does not enter into force by 2 November. The news website further notes that the Government has to be precautious and undertake these measures because the President of Kosovo cannot currently sign the Law on Trepca due to the complaint of the Serbian List at the Constitutional Court.

Tahiri: Serbia is aware of recognition of Kosovo criteria (Bota Sot)

In an interview for Klan Kosova, Kosovo’s Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, said that Serbia is well aware that it cannot fulfill the EU neighbourhood criteria without recognising the independence of Kosovo and added that Chapter 35 of EU accession process ends with mutual recognition of Kosovo and Serbia. Despite recent tensions following the arrest of the Kosovo Police director, Nehat Thaci, by Serbian authorities, Tahiri said the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue will continue. “We have meetings this week and we have confirmed our participation”, she said. Tahiri also commented on the recent visit of the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to Belgrade where he was criticized by certain Kosovo officials for “speaking on behalf of Kosovo”. “We trust the Government of Albania, they have recognised our independence and have lobbied for recognitions. From what I saw, Edi Rama did not speak on behalf of Kosovo but asked Serbia to recognise the independence of Kosovo”, Tahiri noted.

Pajaziti: EU, the only option for Nehat Thaçi’s release (Indeksonline)

Zenun Pajaziti, head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group, told Indeksonline that the European Union should pressure Serbia into releasing Kosovo Police Regional Commander for Mitrovica, Nehat Thaçi. Pajaziti said that the Assembly of Kosovo with its resolution has obliged the EU to mediate with Belgrade on Thaçi’s release. Pajaziti called this arrest a political action with which Serbia aims to resolve some other political matters with Kosovo.

Dikovic: Law on Trepca threatens fragile situation in Kosovo (Koha)

General Lubisa Dikovic, the head of Serbia’s Armed Forces, said on Monday that the adoption of the Trepca law by Kosovo’s institutions threatens the fragile situation. Dikovic made these comments during a meeting with COMKFOR Giovanni Fungo in Nis, Serbia. According to Serbian media, Dikovic also called on Fungo to provide security for all citizens of Kosovo. The paper also notes that Dikovic is accused by the Human Rights Fund for war crimes committed in Kosovo in 1999. The Fund claims to have evidence that troops under Dikovic’s control were responsible for massacres in Rezalle, Cikatove e Vjeter, Zabel i Ulet and Gllamnaselle.

KIA has information on Serbs arrested in Montenegro (Zeri)

The paper reports in a front page story that the planned terrorist attack to happen in Montenegro two days ago, in which were involved six Kosovo Serbs, has alarmed not only Montenegro but Kosovo as well.  Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA) has information on Serbs involved in planning terrorist attacks in Montenegro. According to KIA representatives, although Kosovo is threatened by these actions, the Kosovo Police and the KIA have appropriate information to stop any form of provocation. Haxhi Shala, head of the parliamentary committee on KIA supervision, told the paper that Russia is trying to make Kosovo unstable through Serbs living in Kosovo. “Therefore, this is very concerning not only for Kosovo but for the whole region,” Shala said. Meanwhile, representatives of opposition parties said the security situation in Kosovo is very concerning.

Rama: Unification of Albania and Kosovo belongs to the past (Kosovapress)

In an interview for Al Jazeera on Monday, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama was asked to comment on the possible unification of Kosovo and Albania. “This was never our objective, because I strongly believe that a ‘Greater Albania, a ‘Greater Serbia’ or any other ‘Greater’ belongs to the past. This has never been an option, it simply belongs to the past,” Rama said. Asked why it is important for Albania’s Prime Minister that Serbia recognises Kosovo’s independence, Rama said: “This is very important for the people, both Albanians and Serbs, and for Kosovo Albanians”. Rama’s interview comes after his recent visit to Belgrade where he again called for the recognition of Kosovo’s independence by Serbia and a new bridge of cooperation between the two countries and nations.