Headlines - 19.01.2019

• Haradinaj reacts to Serbian authorities detaining two KSF members (RTK)
• Veseli, Haradinaj, Kosnett to discuss tax next week (Zeri)
• Vucic: EU to step up pressure on Kosovo to suspend tax (RFE/Koha)
• Kosovo denies reports Palau has revoked recognition (Klan Kosova)
• Serbian authorities reply to Kosovo prosecution’s request (media)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Haradinaj reacts to Serbian authorities detaining two KSF members (RTK)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj has condemned the detention of two members of the Kosovo Security Force from non-majority communities by Serbian authorities at the border crossing point of Jarinje. In a Facebook post, Haradinaj said the detention of KSF members are “completely unacceptable” and called for their immediate release.

Veseli, Haradinaj, Kosnett to discuss tax next week (Zeri)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli has called a meeting on Tuesday with Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and the U.S. Ambassador Philip Kosnett to discuss the tax on import of goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Days ago, deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Uran Ismaili spoke of such a meeting being planned but did not say when it would take place. Sources from the Kosovo Assembly meanwhile told the paper that the meeting is now scheduled to take place Tuesday, 22 January.

Vucic: EU to step up pressure on Kosovo to suspend tax (RFE/Koha)

President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, called on the EU to step up pressure on Kosovo to withdraw decision on import tax on products coming in from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Speaking at a press conference in Belgrade, Vucic said it was important for dialogue for normalisation of relations to continue: “I am asking the EU to be clearer and more specific in its demands to the Albanian side not because it would rejoice me but I think it is very important to continue talks about Serbs in Kosovo and us.”

Kosovo denies reports Palau has revoked recognition (Klan Kosova)

Following the statement by the Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic that another country has revoked recognition of Kosovo’s independence, Klan Kosova reports that the country in question is the Republic of Palau. Quoting sources, Klan Kosova said the decision to revoke recognition of Kosovo comes after immense pressure on the country from Serbian diplomacy, backed by Russia. The reports have however been dismissed by Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry.

Serbian authorities reply to Kosovo prosecution’s request (media)

Special Prosecution of Kosovo has received reply on its request for information from Serbian authorities regarding the murder of the Kosovo Serb political leader Oliver Ivanovic. According to a press statement issued by the Kosovo prosecution, on the request for disclosing telephone records of the victim, Serbian authorities said it should be made to the Serb Telecom in northern Mitrovica which previously advised to refer the request to relevant institutions in Serbia. With regards to locate a person whom one of the suspects contacted minutes before Ivanovic was assassinated, Serbian authorities said the telephone company could not identify the person in question. The prosecutors in Belgrade did however interview a witness in the case and handed over a copy of their testimony to Kosovo prosecution. Serbian authorities were also asked to corroborate on reports that the car thought to have been used in Ivanovic murder was spotted days before the killing near the property of a certain individual saying the person in question has no registered property in Serbia and that the car was not seen in the vicinity of Raska at the said time. Finally, Serbian authorities were asked to perform an examination of the cartridges found at the scene of the crime and concluded that the weapon used in Ivanovic’s murder was not used in any other criminal offense in Serbia. Kosovo Special Prosecution expressed readiness to continue cooperation with relevant institutions in Serbia in an effort to resolve Oliver Ivanovic’s murder.