Headlines - 14.07.2018

• Kosovo leaders to meet EU High Representative Mogherini (media)
• Thaci: Russian position in line with Kosovo-Serbia agreement (Koha)
• Delawie calls for consensus team for dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Hoxhaj: KSF ready to transform into army (RTK) 

Kosovo Media Highlights

Kosovo leaders to meet EU High Representative Mogherini (media)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo’s Office issued a statement announcing that Kosovo institutional leaders – President Hashim Thaci, Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli, Deputy Prime Minister Fatmir Limaj, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Diaspora and Strategic Investment Dardan Gashi – will meet the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini on July 18 in Brussels.

Thaci: Russian position in line with Kosovo-Serbia agreement (Koha)

President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, commented on the recent statement by Russian foreign ministry that it will not change position on Kosovo saying that he was told by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Ankara that if Kosovo and Serbia reach agreement, the Russian position will be in line with it.  “I don’t think Russia will take an even more Serb view than Belgrade,” Thaci said. With regards to the establishment of the Kosovo army, Thaci said Serbia cannot block the process. He also said that Kosovo institutions have taken on a clear position on the resignations of Serb members from the Kosovo Security Force (KSF): “This is no joking matter. You cannot leave and then return.”  Thaci said Kosovo wants to establish a professional, multiethnic army in line with NATO standards and nothing can come in its way. “It is good that over 10% of KSF are members of communities and around 5% are Serb. 30-40 have left but 30-40 others will take their place and many more will be integrated,” Thaci said in a visit to a local fruit processing company.

Delawie calls for consensus team for dialogue with Serbia (media)

The US Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, called on the Kosovo side to set up an inclusive and consensus team for the dialogue with Serbia. “There’s no alternative to Dialogue, and Kosovo needs to be prepared. Work together now for inclusive, expert, consensus team. Stay focused on Kosovo’s long-term goals with clarity and purpose,” Delawie wrote on Twitter.

Hoxhaj: KSF ready to transform into army (RTK)

In his remarks at the Special US-Adriatic Charter meeting in Zagreb, Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, said Kosovo meets all necessary preconditions to get an army. “It is important to underline that the Kosovo Security Force is ready to transform into a traditional military force with territorial protection mandate. It is our sovereign right to undertake such an action,” Hoxhaj said at the event which is also attended by the US Secretary of Defense James Mattis. Hoxhaj accused Serbia of trying to prevent KSF transition through Kosovo Serb MPs. “Recently, Serbia has launched a campaign of intimidation and detention of Serb members of the KSF by raising the number of resignations to 50. This is unacceptable and we will not allow the multiethnic character of the KSF to be ruined,” Hoxhaj remarked.