• Berlin doesn’t intend to send special envoy for dialogue (Koha)
• U.S. Senator Murphy describes his trip to Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Petricek: No reason to revoke recognition of Kosovo (RTK)
• Kurti: Rule of law, development state and social state, three main pillars (media)
• Limaj: New government will seal Kosovo’s fate in dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Hoxhaj: Pacolli’s incompetence undermined statehood of Kosovo (Koha/Zeri)
• CEC holds election ballot draw (media)
• Kurti signs D+’s seven pledges for good governance (Kallxo)

Berlin doesn’t intend to send special envoy for dialogue (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that Berlin does not intend to send a special envoy for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. The German Embassy in Pristina told the paper on Tuesday that the process of talks is mediated by the European Union. “Germany supports and closely follows the dialogue for the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia under auspices of the European Union. Germany will continue to do so with the new Commission of the European Union,” the embassy said in a reply. “We have no intentions to appoint a national envoy for the dialogue, because this process is led by the European Union”. The embassy also said that “Germany fully supports the objective of reaching a legally-binding and comprehensive agreement”.

U.S. Senator Murphy describes his trip to Kosovo (Telegrafi)

The U.S. Senator Chris Murphy who recently visited Kosovo along with fellow Senator Ron Johnson published on Medium a description of his trip saying it was part of efforts to “heal the wounds” of the Balkan Wars.

Murphy said he was told in Pristina that the 100% tariff Kosovo imposed on Serbia has caused locals to buy more goods from local producers. “Our embassy tells us that while this may be true, economic data says that the tariff, likely partly inspired by Trump’s fascination with trade wars, has badly hurt the nation’s fragile economy.”

He said in meetings with Kosovo leaders they expressed concern over the “breach” between the U.S. and Europe and that the central issue in both Serbia and Kosovo is the negotiations for Serbia to recognise independence of Kosovo. “To get that recognition deal involves a complex negotiation, and those negotiations are currently on hold because Serbia suspended talks until Kosovo suspends the controversial tariff. The leaders tell us that these days, the United States and Europe come to Pristina and give them different advice on how to break the impasse — they don’t know who to listen to. More fallout from the disastrous Trump foreign policy,” Murphy writes.

Petricek: No reason to revoke recognition of Kosovo (RTK)

Czech Republic’s Foreign Minister, Tomas Petricek, said there is no reason to revoke recognition of Kosovo’s independence, RTK quotes Czech news agency CTK. “Our foreign policy needs to be consistent and clear,” Petricek said adding: “We have recognised Kosovo de jure.”

Petricek’s statement follows those of the Czech President Milos Zeman who said he would initiate the country revoking recognition of Kosovo’s independence. Petricek said he would be ready to discuss the issue with the prime minister and other state officials and “present my arguments.”

Kurti: Rule of law, development state and social state, three main pillars (media)

Vetevendosje leader and candidate for Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, said in a debate in Pristina on Tuesday that the rule of law, the development state and the social state are the three main pillars of his party’s government program. Kurti said his first decision in office if he is elected Prime Minister will be to reduce the government to 12 ministries. He said another priority was the establishment of the Sovereign Fund. “The Privatisation Agency of Kosovo would be closed and replaced by the Sovereign Fund. Changes will also be made in the public administration. We don't need an oversized administration,” he said. Kurti also said that after the October 6 elections, he will become Prime Minister and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) candidate for Prime Minister, Vjosa Osmani, will become Assembly President.

Limaj: New government will seal Kosovo’s fate in dialogue with Serbia (media)

NISMA-AKR-PD candidate for Prime Minister, Fatmir Limaj, said on Tuesday that Kosovo is entering a very important election process that will determine its orientation for many years to come, several news websites report. “It is very likely that the Assembly that will be voted on October 6, will vote on the agreement with Serbia. It is also very likely that the new government will negotiate the final settlement with Serbia. This means you have to be very careful who you vote for,” Limaj told his supporters in Shtime.

Hoxhaj: Pacolli’s incompetence undermined statehood of Kosovo (Koha/Zeri)

Acting Deputy Prime Minister and deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) said acting Foreign Minister and leader of the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) Behgjet Pacolli is the last person who should have dealt with Kosovo’s foreign policy. “By trying to cover his incompetence with low discourse, not only is he showing the little credibility he has but is unfortunately also undermining the credibility of the state of Kosovo,” Hoxhaj wrote on social media.

He accused Pacolli of not having any strategy thus making Russia’s and Serbia’s campaign against Kosovo easy. “I left the Foreign Ministry with 114 recognitions. With Pacolli minister the recognition of a double-digit number of countries is being put into question.”

CEC holds election ballot draw (media)

The Central Election Commission (CEC) organised yesterday election ballot draw determining the order of political parties in the voting sheet with numbers ranging from 111 to 135.

The parties will run under the following numbers:

Egyptian Liberal Party – 111

Democratic Party of Kosovo – 112

Kosovo Ashkali Party – 113

Democratic Action Party – 114

Kosovo Serbia Party – 115

Democratic Kosovo Ashkali Party - 116

Movement for Gora – 117

New Democratic Party – 118

AAK-PSD Coalition – 119

Sloboda – 120

Independent Liberal Party – 121

Nisma-AKR-PD – 122

United Gorani Party – 123

Vakat Coalition – 124

Fjala – 125

Vetevendosje Movement – 126

Kosovo Turkish Democratic Party – 127

United Kosovo Roma Party – 128

Kosovo Euro-Atlantic Party – 129

New Kosovo Romani Party – 130

New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo – 131

Esmir Kasi – 132

Gora Civic Initiative – 133

Democratic League of Kosovo – 134

Serbian List – 135

Kurti signs D+’s seven pledges for good governance (Kallxo)

Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti has vowed to uphold seven pledges for good governance put forth by the Democracy Plus (D+) NGO.

According to the pledges, the new government of Kosovo would be limited to no more than 15 ministries with a maximum of two deputy ministers for each ministry; women would lead at least 30 percent of ministries; there would be live broadcast of Kosovo government’s meetings; the prime minister’s office would publish annual report on implementation of the governing programme; the prime minister’s office and ministries would publish all contracts and complaint-contracts on their websites; there would be depolitisation in selection of members of boards in public enterprises and agencies; there would be reporting and standardization in the government’s expenditures on monthly basis.