Headlines - 21.03.2017

• Thaci says he has full support of Kosovars to transform KSF (Koha)
• KSF draft law does not fall in opposition with EU legislation (Koha)
• Delawie, O’Connell say Association/Community to be formed this year (Zeri)
• Foreign Ministry sends verbal note to EU over bus attack in Serbia (media)
• Election campaign starts early (Zeri)

Thaci says he has full support of Kosovars to transform KSF (Koha)

In one of its front-page stories, the paper reports that Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and U.S. Ambassador Greg Delawie during the ceremony of the “Women’s Week” held yesterday in Pristina. Thaci said he has the full support of Kosovars, including non-majority communities, to transform the Kosovo Security Force into the Kosovo Army and that the opposition coming from internationals has to do only with the methodology and chronology of steps. “We share the same goal with the United States of America and NATO to form the Armed Forces. Certainly there are opinions on whether we should proceed with a law or with constitutional amendments. We too favor constitutional amendments, but we will not remain hostage to Belgrade’s mood,” Thaci said. Pristina-based news website Kallxo quotes Thaci as saying, “we did not accept President Ahtisaari’s document and we did not draft our Constitution so that it can block our progress or for someone to have the right of veto over our security and future. No one can have the right of veto over Kosovo’s security”.

KSF draft law does not fall in opposition with EU legislation (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that according to officials in the Kosovo Ministry for European Integration, issues regulated by the draft law on the Kosovo Security Force are not regulated specifically with the EU acquis communitaire. “The scope of the draft law is an internal competency of EU member states. Therefore, the draft law on the transformation of the KSF is an internal competency of Kosovo’s institutions,” the Ministry for European Integration told the paper in a written response. “This legal opinion of compliance with the EU acquis communitaire has been to the Office of the Prime Minister immediately after it was addressed”. The Ministry of the Kosovo Security Force was the first to prepare a legal opinion and send it to the government. “The KSF Ministry expresses its full consent and supports the adoption of the draft law on the Kosovo Security Force, which will result in the creation of a legal basis aimed at improving and building a defense and security mechanism with the required state capacities, in defense of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and state interests,” the KSF Ministry said.

Delawie, O’Connell say Association/Community will be formed this year (Zeri)

The United States Ambassador in Kosovo, Greg Delawie, and the UK Ambassador, Ruairi O’Connell, assured northern Kosovo Serbs on Monday that the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities will be formed this year, the paper reports on page two. During a roundtable organized by the Kosovo Foundation for Open Society, Delawie and O’Connell said the Association will be important for integrating healthcare and education in the Kosovar system and to strengthen Kosovo’s sovereignty. “The Association will be formed in line with the Constitution of Kosovo and it will strengthen Kosovo’s sovereignty … Work needs to be done on the statute of the Association therefore it is important for Serb representatives to return to Kosovo institutions,” the foreign diplomats said.

Foreign Ministry sends verbal note to EU over bus attack in Serbia (media)

Several media report that the Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a verbal note to EU member states over the recent attack on a Kosovo bus that was travelling through Serbia. “Attacks against Kosovars are becoming systematic and are threatening the agreement on freedom of movement signed between Kosovo and Serbia as part of the Brussels dialogue … We call on the European Parliament to take into consideration Kosovo’s concern about the incidents in Serbia,” the note said.

Election campaign starts early (Zeri)

The paper reports on its front page that the frequent visits by Kadri Veseli, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), to different cities and towns in Kosovo, and statements by Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) officials calling for the resolution of post-war killings of its senior officials, are seen as preparations for early national elections. Representatives of opposition parties meanwhile are calling for early elections saying that the ruling coalition has failed since the very beginning.