Headlines - 20.10.2018

• US support Kosovo army with limited self-defence territorial mandate (Zeri)
• Haradinaj: KSF will be just like any other army (media)
• Palmer: US have not seen any plan of Kosovo-Serbia agreement (Zeri)
• Serbian List prepares to send KSF bills to Constitutional Court (Zeri)
• Turkish FM calls for closing down of Gulen-funded schools (Koha) 

Kosovo Media Highlights

US support Kosovo army with limited self-defence territorial mandate (Zeri)

In a written response to the paper, officials from the US Embassy in Pristina said that the US support transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) but that it needs to happen in a “transparent and disciplined” manner and result in a professional, multiethnic armed force with a limited mandate of territorial self-defence. The US Embassy said it encourages Kosovo political leaders to ensure the process continues in an inclusive and very cautious fashion and in close coordination with NATO.

Haradinaj: KSF will be just like any other army (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, said yesterday after the meeting of the government that the draft laws for the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into the Kosovo Army will pass the second reading too, and added that anyone creating or inciting instability will get the “bill”. “NATO is a serious decision-making factor. We are in constant communication with them. We are also cooperating with other important NATO member states. The process of mandating the army is very important. The only difference is changing the name,” Haradinaj said. He added that the KSF will be just like any other army and mentioned the example of Germany where he said the army is called a security force.

Palmer: US have not seen any plan of Kosovo-Serbia agreement (Zeri)

In a visit to Belgrade, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Matthew Palmer, called on Kosovo and Serbia to use the historic opportunity for achieving an agreement that would be acceptable to both sides. He said however that it is important the US take no position on what the final agreement would encompass. “We are not part of talks and do not push forward ideas,” Palmer said at the Belgrade Security Forum. He noted that he could not say more on the issue as they have not yet seen any concrete proposal.

Serbian List prepares to send KSF bills to Constitutional Court (Zeri)

Serbian List is preparing to submit a complaint to the Constitutional Court of Kosovo regarding Assembly’s approval of draft laws relating to the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into an army. Serbian List MP Igor Simic told Serbian news agency Tanjug that they will appeal the Assembly’s decision but that they are not optimistic of the Constitutional Court’s ruling based on previous experience.

Turkish FM calls for closing down of Gulen-funded schools (Koha)

In a visit to Kosovo, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called on Kosovo institutions to hand over members of the Gulen movement which Turkey alleges are part of a terrorist organisation and also close down schools sponsored by the movement.  In his first day of visit to Kosovo, Cavusolglu met Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli and President Hashim Thaci. Cavusoglu said Turkey has historic ties with the people of Kosovo and are implementing a lobbying campaign for increasing the number of independence recognitions.