Headlines - 17.03.2017

• EU advises Balkans countries not to play with fire (Koha)
• Mustafa: Kosovo’s internal affairs will not be discussed with Serbia (Epoka)
• Rama speaks about Vucic-Mustafa arguments (Gazeta Metro)
• Fajon urges Kosovo institutions not to take unilateral actions (Kosova Sot)
• US supports KSF transformation through constitutional changes (Kosova Sot)
• Russia claims creation of Kosovo army is a dangerous step (Zeri)
• Haradinaj does not exclude coalition with PDK (TV Dukagjini)
• Serbia continues to fund its structures in Kosovo (Koha)

EU advises Balkans countries not to play with fire (Koha)

EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn has called on the Balkans countries to stop playing with fire and to set aside their political disputes. Hahn made these remarks at the Summit of Prime Ministers of the Western Balkans which is being in held in Sarajevo. “As we are meeting here in Sarajevo, some of your countries are faced with internal political crisis and some others with ethnic tensions. At the same time, we are faced with interferences from the East and the U.S. policy for the region is still unclear,” Hahn said. “The region now has the opportunity when we get positive messages or it can shut its doors because of bad messages, but we should not play with fire and we must all be aware of this”. At the end of the summit, prime ministers issued a joint press release: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/commissioners/2014-2019/hahn/announcements/joint-statement-western-balkans-six-prime-ministers-meeting_en

Mustafa: Kosovo’s internal affairs will not be discussed with Serbia (Epoka)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, said at the summit of Western Balkans prime ministers in Sarajevo that Kosovo remains committed to regional cooperation. He said Kosovo is interested in becoming part of a unified regional or European market but stressed that this concept would not function without free movement which people of Kosovo still not enjoy. Mustafa said Kosovo has good relations with most of the countries in the region but insisted that internal affairs will not be discussed with Serbia. “Some issues that were raised here today by [Serbian Prime Minister] Vucic are Kosovo’s internal affairs on which Kosovo has full legitimacy to decide and therefore I see no reason to discuss them here with you,” Mustafa said responding to Vucic.

Rama speaks about Vucic-Mustafa arguments (Gazeta Metro)

The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, spoke to the media in Sarajevo about the developments at the Summit of the countries of the region. Rama also spoke about the reported arguments between the Prime Minister of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo’s PM Isa Mustafa. “I think that these tensions are artificial. They are raised for electoral reasons, starting from the train, the wall, then the spread news in Pristina and Belgrade, according to which there was some hassle during last night’s dinner. I was at the dinner and I didn’t see any hassle. In the contrary. Therefore, until the elections in Belgrade are over, do not be surprised with these kind of ‘tensions’,” Rama said.

Fajon urges Kosovo institutions not to take unilateral actions (Kosova Sot)

European Parliament rapporteur on visa liberalisation for Kosovo, Tanja Fajon, told Deutsche Welle that Pristina and Belgrade delegations should resume dialogue for normalisation of relations and urged Kosovo institutions not to take unilateral actions with regards to transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF). “We all know the position of NATO, the US and the EU. This was made clear last week. All institutions are appealing for no unilateral moves for creation of the army. I also join this appeal,” Fajon said.

US supports KSF transformation through constitutional changes (Kosova Sot)

The US Embassy spokesperson, Michelle Schohn, said in a written response to Radio Free Europe that the US continues to support transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into armed forces but that this process should be undertaken through constitutional changes and in a transparent and comprehensive manner. Schohn said the only way to achieve this is through clear efforts to reach out to communities in order to secure their support.

Russia claims creation of Kosovo army is a dangerous step (Zeri)

Creation of a Kosovo army is an irresponsible and dangerous move for the Balkans and Europe, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zaharova. In a regular press briefing, Zaharova stressed that the creation of a Kosovo army would also be in violation to the UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

Haradinaj does not exclude coalition with PDK (TV Dukagjini)

The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, who is being kept under house arrest in Strasbourg, France, told TV Dukagjini that the new elections in Kosovo will be held very soon. Asked about the red lines of his party when it comes to the coalitions, Haradinaj said that “the red lines are set by the people. Whoever wins, will not be able to do anything on its own, therefore it would have been harmful not to accept elections, contest them, because the country would only enter to a new crisis,” he said.

Serbia continues to fund its structures in Kosovo (Koha)

In its front-page story, the paper covers EU High Representative Federica Mogherini’s report on the implementation of conditions from Chapter 35 of negotiations between the European Union and Serbia. The report notes that Serbia has yet to implement obligations from the Brussels dialogue and that it continues to fund its structures operating in Kosovo. “Serbia continues to fund and support Serb structures. So far, the municipal administrations are not finalized or consolidated in accordance with Kosovo’s laws … In general, Serbia does not discourage the respect for Kosovo’s legislation by the municipal authorities in northern Kosovo. The compliance of the four northern municipalities with the law in Kosovo has improved since 2014, and there is increased cooperation/contact with central authorities. The Ministry of Local Government in Kosovo is regularly monitoring the work of municipal assemblies. The municipalities need to improve their performance when it comes to using municipal stamps and signs in accordance with Kosovo’s legislation,” the report notes. The report also notes delays in the implementation of the agreement on the judiciary, police and civil protection. Whereas for the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities, the report says that delays are coming from Pristina.