Headlines - 07.09.2016

• EU: Association, in accordance with Kosovo’s laws and Court’s ruling (Koha)
• Çollaku: Visas could be lifted by year’s end (Zëri)
• AAK insists on rewriting of border agreement (Kosova Sot)
• Djukanovic: Demarcation, an internal matter of Kosovo (media)
• Lekaj: Government must admit mistake on demarcation (Epoka)
• Tahiri in Brussels to discuss license plates (Epoka)
• Two Kosovo men feared dead in a plane crash near Skopje (RTK)

EU: Association, in accordance with Kosovo’s laws and Court’s ruling (Koha)

The European Union Office in Pristina told the paper on Tuesday that the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities will be established in accordance with Kosovo’s laws and the ruling of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo. Asked about the actions underway for the formation of the Association/Community, the EU Office said in a reply: “with regards to the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities, as noted by the European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini early this year, it will not be a parallel government in Kosovo and it will not supersede laws. It will be built within the legal framework and the existing governance in Kosovo. The latest decision of the Constitutional Court will be implemented and it provides guidance to make sure that when the Statute of the Association/Community is drafted it will reflect Kosovo’s laws … Kosovo and Serbia are engaged to achieve progress on the European path and in this respect both sides have agreed to normalise their relations via the EU-facilitated dialogue. Progress in dialogue means progress for society, the region as a whole and for the European Union”.

Çollaku: Visas could be lifted by year’s end (Zëri)

Kosovo’s European Integration Minister, Bekim Çollaku, said in an interview for the paper that the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro has to be ratified to pave way for visa liberalisation. He said that in the best case scenario, this could happen by the end of the year, if of course Kosovo meets the final criteria from the visa liberalisation roadmap and ratifies the deal as soon as possible. “This is a requirement on which the European Union will make no compromises,” said Çollaku.

AAK insists on rewriting of border agreement (Kosova Sot)

The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) deputy leader, Ahmet Isufi, said that they will not take part in any discussions with the government unless the current version of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro is rewritten. A new version of the agreement, according to Isufi, needs to be drafted through inclusion of experts and all other stakeholders.

Djukanovic: Demarcation, an internal matter of Kosovo (media)

The Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic, stated on Tuesday that demarcation between Montenegro and Kosovo is an internal matter of Kosovo. “It is an internal problem and it belongs to the internal politics of Kosovo,” Djukanovic said in Ulcinj. He said that as far as the agreement on demarcation is concerned, Montenegro undertook all the required actions and it does not have any disagreement with authorities in Kosovo regarding the borderline.

Lekaj: Government must admit mistake on demarcation (Epoka)

Head of the Parliament Group of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Pal Lekaj told the paper on Tuesday that opposition parties do not feel any responsibility if the visa liberalisation is delayed due to the demarcation of the border with Montenegro. He said that only the government is responsible for the delay. “AAK would feel responsible only if it supported some agreement that harms interests of Kosovo,” Lekaj said. He added that it is difficult for the liberalization of visas to happen prior to fighting organized crime and corruption. Lekaj called the government to admit that it made a mistake with demarcation of the border with Montenegro, and requested establishment of a new commission to renegotiate the agreement.

Tahiri in Brussels to discuss license plates (Epoka)

The delegation of Kosovo, led by the Minister without portfolio Edita Tahiri, will be traveling today, Wednesday, to Brussels, to discuss freedom of movement as it pertains to reciprocity on license plates foreseen in the agreement on free movement reached in 2011. “Other meetings of technical dialogue are also foreseen to take place during the following days in Brussels. On 8 September, delegations from Kosovo and Serbia will meet to discuss the issue of diplomas and cadastre, while on 9 September they will meet to assess the process of revitalization of Mitrovica Bridge after the removal of the barricade. On 13 September, the parties will meet to discuss the matter of telephone prefix for Kosovo,” informed a press release issued by the government of Kosovo.

Two Kosovo men feared dead in a plane crash near Skopje (RTK)

Two persons from Kosovo are reported to have died in a plane crash last night near Skopje. A source from  Kosovo’s embassy in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) confirmed the accident and said that the two men are brothers and originally from Malisheva/Mališevo municipality. The brothers were travelling in a small plane was from Italy to Kosovo along with four other people, believed to be Italian nationals. All persons on board the plane are feared dead.