Headlines - 20.02.2017

• Thaci: Kosovo fulfills conditions for Interpol membership (Epoka e Re)
• Thaci urges Spain to recognise independence of Kosovo (Kosova Sot)
• Mustafa: Border is defined by argument, not teargas (Epoka e Re)
• U.S. requests unity on the matters of national interest (Epoka e Re)
• Albania calls for a “reevaluation” of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Koha Ditore)
• Serbia keeps hostage €2 billion of Kosovo pensioners (dailies)
• Hoxhaj informed Zannier about the achievements in Kosovo (dailies) 

Kosovo Media Highlights 

Thaci: Kosovo fulfills conditions for Interpol membership (Epoka e Re)

The President of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi, met during the Munich Security Conference with the General Secretary of INTERPOL, Jurgen Stock. Thaçi has requested Kosovo’s membership at INTERPOL and annulment of Serbia’s arrest warrants. He said that Kosovo fulfills conditions to become part of this mechanism.  “We need INTERPOL but INTERPOL needs us as well, for as speedy information as possible,” Thaçi said. 

Thaci urges Spain to recognise independence of Kosovo (Kosova Sot)

In an interview to Spanish news agency Efe, President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci said recognition of Kosovo by authorities in Madrid would not have repercussions for internal developments there. “No parallels can be drawn between the issue of Kosovo and Catalonia’s case,” Thaci said. “I wish to believe that Spain will make life easier for us not harder. We are friendly countries, we share the same values and Spain has nothing against Kosovo as such,” he added. 

Mustafa: Border is defined by argument, not teargas (Epoka e Re)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, said on Sunday that the demarcation of the border with Montenegro is decided by argument and not political positioning or teargas. “It would be good to think deeply and in a reasonable manner, to use state logic prior to making announcements. They can throw teargas and block themselves, but the border will not be changed with neither of them,” Mustafa said. The Commission for the measurement of the territory of Kosovo will be presenting its draft on 21 February. Opposition political parties called return of the demarcation in the agenda a dangerous adventure.

U.S. requests unity on the matters of national interest (Epoka e Re)

The President of the Assembly of Kosovo, Kadri Veseli, hosted on Sunday a meeting with a delegation of U.S. Congressmen Peter Roskam and David Price, who are in an official visit to Kosovo. During the meeting with Veseli, the U.S. Congressmen stated that Kosovo is as always in the U.S. agenda, as it used to be in the agendas of the previous administrations, and stressed that nothing has changed when support is concerned. The Congressmen also met with heads of parliamentary groups, where they requested unity of the entire political specter of Kosovo on the matters of national interest. 

Albania calls for a “reevaluation” of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Koha Ditore)

The paper runs an interview with Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati on the front page quoting him as saying that dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia should continue as it serves as platform for normalization of relations but “it needs to be reevaluated” so that it produces more results in the future. He said that so far Kosovo has been asked to establish special court, is facing “sui generis” criteria for visa liberalisation whereas Serbia has taken a seat at the table for EU accession. Asked about the idea of territorial swap between Kosovo and Serbia, Bushati said: “These ideas are neither new nor original and appear occasionally, especially in times of crises. Albania respects the principle of territorial inviolability in accordance to international norms and laws.” 

Serbia keeps hostage €2 billion of Kosovo pensioners (dailies)

The matter of Kosovo’s Pension Fund is being kept “hostage” by Serbia since the end of the conflict. This issue as many others has not been resolved or included in the discussions between Pristina and Belgrade in Brussels. Representatives of the pensioners of Kosovo request from the international community and local factors to make pressure on Serbia to resolve the matter of pension compensations for 50,000 pensioners.

Hoxhaj informed Zannier about the achievements in Kosovo (dailies)

Kosovo’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Enver Hoxhaj, met during the third day of the Munich Security Conference with OSCE Secretary General, Lamberto Zannier. The discussed European and global challenges and Kosovo achievements on the European agenda. Hoxhaj also met with adviser for Security and Foreign Policy to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Christoph Heusgenin, as well as MP from the German Bundestag, Roderich Kiesewetterin. Hoxhaj also met General Secretary of the Arab League, Ahmet Aboulgheit. They discussed support for diplomatic recognition of Kosovo as well as support on Kosovo’s membership at international organisations.