Headlines - 16.11.2018

• Haradinaj: Only the President can represent Kosovo in dialogue (media)
• Clashes between Thaci and Haradinaj could lead to early elections (Zeri)
• President Thaci meets Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó (media)
• Tahiri: Haradinaj made a hasty political statement about Thaci (T7/Express)
• Zaharova: Agreement must be in the interest of Serbian people (media)
• Cuoci: Kosovo does not have agreement with NATO or KFOR on KSF competencies (Bota Sot, EWB)
• Ramadani: No one can stop KSF transformation (Epoka)
• Warnings for destabilization prior to INTERPOL membership (Gazeta Metro)
• Meta: We support Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, opposition should be part of it (Bota)
• Serbia, Bosnia won’t attend CEFTA meetings in Pristina (Koha)
• Hajdari: They’re sending me messages about the Pronto case (media)

Haradinaj: Only the President can represent Kosovo in dialogue (media)

All media cover a debate that Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj had yesterday in Pristina with students of the Faculty of Philosophy. Koha Ditore highlights on its front page that Haradinaj has again attacked President Hashim Thaci’s readiness to negotiate Kosovo’s borders with Serbia, however, he also said that the President is the only authority that can represent Kosovo in the negotiations. Haradinaj also said he was leading a challenged government as it is a coalition of many political parties. “The government in our country is challenged, I lead a coalition consisting of several parties and as such, a government is challenged even from within. The most challenging have been some of the issues that I have found on my table,” he added. He further said he has requested from the governing cabinet not complain about what they found left from the previous government, but to tell him about what they are doing from the time they took duties over. “There are acute issues but problematic ones as well. I told them not to hide any of the issues. The Law on Pristina was a long-discussed matter. We have started dealing with all issues of Kosovo of all possible natures. This is how we took over some cardinal matters such as Law on the army. You saw the U.S. representative who said yesterday at the UN that he supports creation of Kosovo’s army,” Haradinaj said. According to him, the government he leads is not perfect as there are remarks and mistakes. “But we are not doing something bad, it is a government that did not fear issues. We have now INTERPOL, it is being experienced with emotions, but this is a possibility for Kosovo to fight the crime. We have visa liberalization that we are working on. We have not reach as much on education, the reason is that I found on my desk matters older than a decade”. He further said that it is in Kosovo’s interest to be recognized by Serbia. “We are interested to be recognized by Serbia and we should negotiate about recognition, but with untouchability of what we have created so far. If the opposite happens, then it is dangerous for the country. If we do not know to protect what we have achieved, we cannot protect something new,” Haradinaj said.

 

Clashes between Thaci and Haradinaj could lead to early elections (Zeri)

The paper quotes political commentators in Pristina as saying that the latest clashes between President Hashim Thaci and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj over the idea for “border correction” with Serbia could take Kosovo to early parliamentary elections. They also argue that elections could be held next year. Avdullah Hoti, head of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) parliamentary group, said on Thursday that the sooner general elections are held the better it will be for Kosovo. “Kosovo must be relieved from this damaging governance as it is killing the future of our state … The government and all institutions are serving the interests of the ruling parties … Early elections are the only solution,” Hoti said.

 

President Thaci meets Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó (media)

The President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, received Thursday the Foreign Minister of Hungary, Péter Szijjártó, with whom he discussed about the cooperation between the two states and the developments in the region. Thaci thanked Minister Szijjártó for the continued support of Hungary to Kosovo in every forum and expressed gratitude for the expansion of the cooperation between the two states in all sectors. “We are grateful for your support and for your contribution to building sustainable peace in Kosovo and the region”, said President Thaci. Speaking about the developments in Kosovo, President Thaci stressed that important decisions are expected in the coming days, such as the decision on INTERPOL, on visa liberalization for Kosovo and on the establishment of the Kosovo army. Whereas, speaking about the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, President Thaçi stated that a new momentum and a global compliance have been created for Kosovo and Serbia to reach a comprehensive peace agreement. The Foreign Minister of Hungary expressed support for the expansion of cooperation between the two states and the efforts to build lasting peace in Kosovo and the region. “We are among the largest contingents in KFOR and we will further increase our contribution, proving our commitment to peace in Kosovo and the region”, said the chief diplomat Szijjártó. Speaking about the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Minister Szijjártó said that Hungary supports the agreement reached as a result of talks between the two countries. Kosovo’s Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and Minister for Foreign Affairs Behgjet Pacolli, also met with the Hungarian Foreign Minister.

 

Tahiri: Haradinaj made a hasty political statement about Thaci (T7/Express)

Abelard Tahiri, member of the chairmanship of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Minister of Justice, commented on Thursday on a recent statement by Prime Minister Haradinaj who said that Kosovo President Hashim Thaci could be dismissed “if he touches Kosovo’s borders”. Tahiri said Haradinaj made a hasty political statement. “As partners in the ruling coalition, we should follow the same line … We need to have a joint agenda vis-à-vis Serbia in the final phase of dialogue,” he said. Tahiri also said he was confident that the PDK would win the general elections whenever they are held.

 

Zaharova: Agreement must be in the interest of Serbian people (media)

Maria Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that an eventual agreement between Belgrade and Pristina must be in the interest of the Serbian people and that Moscow will continue to uphold “the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council on Kosovo”. “We understand that negotiations between the two parties on this matter are ongoing. We have made it clear that we are forming our position based on international law and we are searching for a solution on the matter that will be in line with the interests of the Serbian people,” Zakharova said.

 

Cuoci: Kosovo does not have agreement with NATO or KFOR on KSF competencies (Bota Sot, EWB)

KFOR Commander Salvatore Cuoci told European Western Balkans that NATO’s position is clear: NATO supports the development of the Kosovo Security Force under its current mandate. “The Kosovo Security Force is a professional force and a source of regional stability. Should this mandate evolve, the North Atlantic Council would have to re-examine the level of NATO’s engagement in Kosovo. It is important that any initiatives regarding the mandate of the Kosovo Security Force should be fully consulted with all communities in Kosovo and with NATO Allies. NATO remains committed to the security and stability of Kosovo,” Cuoci said. “Kosovo Police is already operating all over Kosovo, including in the northern municipalities, therefore they have no need to be authorised. Regarding the Kosovo Security Forces (KSF) there is an agreement according to which to be deployed in the northern part of Kosovo they have to be authorised by KFOR,” he added.

 

Ramadani: No one can stop KSF transformation (Epoka)

Deputy Minister of the Kosovo Security Force, Burim Ramadani, told the paper that the three draft-laws which make Kosovo with the army, will be endorsed by the end of this year. He added that no one can stop transformation of the KSF into an army and added that those who consider that they can impede the process through pressure and threats, are wrong. According to Ramadani, the name will remain the same, however the mandate, mission, duties and responsibilities of the Kosovo Security Force will be military and defensive. Ramadani said KSF’s operation will be based on security needs and requirements in the entire Kosovo territory.

 

Warnings for destabilization prior to INTERPOL membership (Gazeta Metro)

Based on its sources the portal reports that Kosovo Police officers are ordered to work additional four hours, and to guard cultural heritage facilities especially those of Serb community. According to this portal, the decision was made because Kosovo is close to becoming an INTERPOL member and based on Kosovo Police sources, there are warnings that there will be destabilization of security in Kosovo in order to impede Kosovo’s membership at INTERPOL. The decision will remain in power until 21 November, when INTERPOL General Assembly will complete its works.

 

Meta: We support Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, opposition should be part of it (Bota)

The President of Albania Ilir Meta, said on Thursday that Albania supports the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, and hopes that an agreement will be reached soon. Speaking at “South East Europe Media Forum,” Meta called on opposition political parties in Kosovo to unite and participate in the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue.

 

Serbia, Bosnia won’t attend CEFTA meetings in Pristina (Koha)

The paper reports on page two that Serbia and Bosnia will not attend the meetings of CEFTA working groups in Pristina on November 21-22. Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister Rasim Lajic said on Thursday the decision was made after a conversation with Bosnian Trade Minister Mirko Sarovic. “We cannot put on our heads in the sand and pretend as if nothing has happened. After Kosovo decided to introduce a 10 percent increase of the tax on products from Serbia and Bosnia, this is the biggest crisis since the functioning of the CEFTA agreement,” he said.

 

Hajdari: They’re sending me messages about the Pronto case (media)

Most media cover an interview that Drita Hajdari, prosecutor for the Special Prosecution of Kosovo, gave to Jeta ne Kosove on Thursday. Gazeta Express highlights Hajdari’s statement that even before the start of the so-called Pronto trial, different people have sent her messages saying that the case is already lost. “It is not important who is sending me these messages, the problem is the atmosphere that is being created,” she said. Kallxo reports on Hajdari’s remarks that the prosecution has decided to reinitiate investigations into the raping of Vasfije Krasniqi by Serbian forces during the Kosovo conflict. “We have reopened the case of Vasfije Krasniqi. I have decided to reopen her case but not against the perpetrators because the procedure against them is over and I have no legal means to do that. I have decided to reopen the case on the basis of command responsibilities, the same way that I’m doing for other cases of sexual violence in conflict,” Hajdari was quoted as saying.