Headlines - 22.09.2016

• PM Mustafa meets U.S. President Obama (dailies)
• Assembly to meet today, demarcation not on agenda (Kosova Sot)
• Opposition not in the mood to meet PM Mustafa (Epoka e Re)
• Thaçi: Kosovo people not to be affected by Kurti’s statement (Gazeta Express)
• Jablanović: We will self-organize after Kurti’s statement (Indeksonline)
• North officials not yet convinced about opening of Mitrovica bridge (Koha)
• Đurić: Apology for victims, through dialogue (RTK)
• Dinosha, first Montenegrin ambassador to Kosovo (Koha Ditore)

PM Mustafa meets U.S. President Obama (dailies)

During his visit to New York, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Isa Mustafa attended a reception hosted by the President of the United States, Barak Obama, for world leaders who are attending the United Nations General Assembly meetings. Mustafa was welcomed by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and thanked them for the support the U.S. is constantly providing for Kosovo.  Mustafa, accompanied by Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj, met also the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, President of Poland, Hungary, NATO secretary and many other international leaders. 

Assembly to meet today, demarcation not on agenda (Kosova Sot)

The Kosovo Assembly is scheduled to hold a plenary session today but the ratification of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro is not on its agenda. Instead, the Assembly is set to discuss a number of other draft laws including  on a pension fund and the annual report of the Regulatory Authority of Electronic and Postal Communications. 

Opposition not in the mood to meet PM Mustafa (Epoka e Re)

The paper reports in a front-page story that the meeting called by Prime Minister Isa Mustafa with the leaders of the opposition parties is very unlikely to happen because the latter are not in the mood to positively respond to Mustafa’s invitation to discuss the demarcation issue. Representatives of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) said Mustafa’s invitation was not serious and was insincere. Meanwhile, political analysts say that a serious obstacle for this meeting are Mustafa’s statements that the government’s commission findings are uncontested. 

Thaçi: Kosovo people not to be affected by Kurti’s statement (Gazeta Express)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi on Wednesday commented on Vetëvendosje Movement MP Albin Kurti’s statement in which he said that the current demarcation agreement might bring war to Kosovo. Thaçi said that Kosovo’s declaration of independence strengthened peace and cooperation in the Western Balkans. However, Thaçi said there are people who cannot accept this fact. “I consider that calls for war and conflict are ridiculous, absurd, dangerous and unacceptable,” Thaçi said. He called on Kosovo citizens not to be affected by Kurti’s statements. “I call on the citizens of Kosovo not to be affected by such provocative statements,” he said. 

Jablanović: We will self-organize after Kurti’s statement (Indeksonline)

Aleksandar Jablanović, former Communities and Returns Minister in the government of Kosovo, has qualified the statements made by the Vetëvendosje Movement MP Albin Kurti as unacceptable regarding that current the demarcation agreement might bring war to Kosovo. Jablanović said that KFOR and the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) should be maximally engaged after Kurti’s statements. “The war Albin Kurti is talking about, will not find Serbs unprepared. Instead of arresting Kurti, authorities in Pristina argue whether there will be war or not,” he said. “The threats for war in Kosovo will lead to self-organization of Serbs and a higher level of vigilance in the future.” 

North officials not yet convinced for opening of Mitrovica bridge (Koha Ditore)

Officials in the north of Kosovo have not yet been convinced to open the Mitrovica Ibër/Ibar bridge although preparatory works are well underway by an EU-contracted company. Mitrovica North Mayor, Goran Rakić, said the decisions of the municipal assembly have not been respected by the Brussels agreement and that he has asked for clarifications from the EU office in Pristina. Meanwhile, the EU said revitalization of the bridge is an undertaking on which all parties have agreed to. “The necessary construction permit was obtained from both municipalities,” said the EU Office in a written reply to the paper.

Đurić: Apology for victims, through dialogue (RTK)

Head of the Serbian Government’s office for Kosovo, Marko Đurić, said in an interview for RTK that the past between Kosovo and Serbia should be left behind as this is in the interest of both sides. He also said that the apology for the victims of the 1998-99 conflict should happen through the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue. Đurić said that the disputed issue over the Orthodox Church building in Pristina should be decided by religious not political leaders. 

Dinosha, first Montenegrin ambassador to Kosovo (Koha Ditore)

Former Montenegrin Ambassador to Albania, Ferhat Dinosha, has been appointed ambassador to Kosovo. President of Montenegro, Filip Vujanović, said in a meeting with Dinosha, before taking on the new post, that conditions for Kosovo and Montenegro to exchange ambassadors are right and that there are strong guarantees that the interests and the rights of the Montenegrin community in Kosovo will be protected.