Headlines - 18.01.2018

• Another failed attempt to revoke special court (media)
• Delawie warns of grave consequences if law on special court is repealed (dailies)
• President Thaci welcomes Belgrade’s aid in resolving Ivanovic murder (media)
• Vucic allowed to visit Kosovo (Zeri/Kosova Sot)
• Bosch: Vucic, don’t shed crocodile tears for Ivanovic (Koha)
• Another Kosovo Serb politician receives death threats (Indeksonline)
• KFOR: Vulin cannot threaten Kosovo, we are here (media)
• Analysts: Suspension of dialogue harms Kosovo (Zeri)
• Pacolli rallying support for Kosovo’s CoE membership (Koha)
• Juncker: All border disputes in the Balkans must be resolved (Epoka)

Another failed attempt to revoke special court (media)

Koha Ditore reports on its front page that the Kosovo Assembly Presidency made another attempt to push forward the initiative for revoking the law on the specialist chambers but it failed due to lack of quorum. Unnamed sources told the paper that there will be other attempts to revoke the court despite warnings by international officials that Kosovo will suffer dire consequences from such an act. The United States have also warned about consequences for politicians and MPs that vote in favor or support the initiative. Under the front-page headline Third failed attempt to revoke special court, Zeri reports that the Assembly Presidency failed to meet on Wednesday and discuss the initiative. The paper notes that Vetevendosje, AAK, NISMA and the non-majority communities boycotted the meeting. LDK parliamentary group chief, Abdullah Hoti, who was present in the Assembly, said LDK representatives would have walked out of the meeting when the initiative for revoking the special court would be discussed. Kosova Sot notes in a front-page editorial that Kosovo leaders are proving stubborn and not are backing down even after direct warnings from the U.S. Ambassador in Pristina.

Delawie warns of grave consequences if law on special court is repealed (dailies)

The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, has called on Kosovo’s political representatives to give up the initiative to abrogate law on specialist chambers or face serious consequences. “This effort is a terrible example of self-interest prevailing over the common good and over Kosovo’s interests as a state. And let me be clear: MPs who support this initiative – and the politicians who lead it, despite their denials – will be subject to specific and harsh consequences,” Delawie said in a press briefing yesterday.

More: https://xk.usembassy.gov/ambassador-delawies-remarks-special-court/

President Thaci welcomes Belgrade’s aid in resolving Ivanovic murder (media)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said on Wednesday that Serbia’s request to investigate the murder of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic is an aid that this state can provide in resolving the case. Thaci said he had a telephone conversation with his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic, and that they agreed on several issues. Thaci assured Vucic that the prosecution and police are conducting thorough investigations to bring the pepretrators to justice. In a Facebook post, Thaci wrote that in line with the legislation, Kosovo’s authorities are willing to cooperate and accept any aid that can help resolve Ivanovic’s murder.

Vucic allowed to visit Kosovo (Zeri/Kosova Sot)

Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has granted permission to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to visit Kosovo. Jetlir Zyberaj from the MFA confirmed the news and said Kosovo authorities expect Vucic to respect the terms of the permission. Vucic plans to visit Kosovo on 20-21 January.

Bosch: Vucic, don’t shed crocodile tears for Ivanovic (Koha)

Robert Bosch, the former Dutch Ambassador to Kosovo, said on Wednesday he was outraged by the murder of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic. Bosch said Ivanovic was among a small number of politicians that dared challenge the one-party system installed by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. “Please, Mr. Vucic, don’t shed crocodile tears, you must accept the fact that Kosovo Police is now capable of establishing rules and laws in the northern part of Kosovo,” Bosch wrote on Facebook.

Another Kosovo Serb politician receives death threats (Indeksonline)

Citing unnamed sources, the Pristina-based news website reports that Kosovo Serb politician and Strpce Mayor, Bratislav Nikolic, has received death threats. According to Indeksonline, the Kosovo Intelligence Agency is aware of the death threats against Nikolic.

KFOR: Vulin cannot threaten Kosovo, we are here (media)

Following the murder of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic, the Serbian Defense Minister, Aleksandar Vulin, said on Wednesday that Serbia’s Army is ready to protect every part of its territory and “we assure all Serbian citizens that peace and stability in our country cannot be threatened”. KFOR spokesman, Vincenzo Grasso, told news website Arbresh.info that KFOR continues to guarantee a safe and secure environment for all Kosovo citizens. “KFOR continues to guarantee a safe and secure environment and provides freedom of movement throughout Kosovo, in line with UN Resolution 1244, for members of all communities. KFOR remains vigilant and cooperates closely with local and international security mechanisms,” Grasso said.

Analysts: Suspension of dialogue harms Kosovo (Zeri)

Political analysts the paper spoke to said that the suspension of the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue following the killing of Kosovo Serb politician, Oliver Ivanovic, will harm Kosovo, particularly its European integration process. At the same time, Avni Arifi, head of Kosovo delegation in talks with Serbia, said they are waiting for the EU facilitators to set the date for the next meeting. “We expect nothing from Serbia. We have entered this arrangement with the EU and we expect it to set the upcoming meeting,” Arifi said. However, he said delays in the process of dialogue will not damage processes in which Kosovo is going through.

Pacolli rallying support for Kosovo’s CoE membership (Koha)

During his official visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Behgjet Pacolli, met a number of ambassadors of countries Kosovo has good relations with. In the meeting, Pacolli said to have secured the support for Kosovo’s international integration.

Juncker: All border disputes in the Balkans must be resolved (Epoka)

Jean Claude-Juncker, President of the European Commission, said on Wednesday that he wants to tell Western Balkans countries what are the expectations of the European Union. “Joining the European Union is not easy. This does not fall from the sky. You must work on this. I also want to say in the friendliest way: all border disputes between countries of the Western Balkans must be resolved before membership,” Juncker told the plenary session of the European Parliament on Wednesday.