Headlines - 21.09.2015

Mustafa: Citizens are not informed about the agreements (Epoka e Re)
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, said on Sunday that people, who are signing the petition against the agreements reached with Serbia, are not sufficiently informed about the content of these documents. He added that these agreements were reached in order to integrate Serbs from the north. Mustafa also blamed the international community for “allowing Serbia’s complete influence in this part of Kosovo”.

After the petition, opposition to organize mass protests (Koha)
The paper reports on its front page that the united opposition front is determined to force the government into withdrawing its signature from the recent agreement on the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the border demarcation with Montenegro. Opposition representatives said they would organize mass protests after collecting as many signatures through the popular petition against the two agreements. Vetevendosje MP Albulena Haxhiu said: “We are trying to organize the people first through the petition and then through mass protests force the government into withdrawing its signatures, the same way we forced the government to dismiss the fascist minister Jablanovic,” she said. According to Haxhiu, by Monday around 50,000 citizens will have signed the petition.

Haradinaj: Protests are inevitable (Zeri)
The leader of the Alliance for the future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, told the paper on Sunday that protests are inevitable in order to prevent the “abusive power of the coalition between the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK)”. He said that for now, the opposition is continuing with the petition against the government and that mass protests would follow later. Haradinaj added that he considers as criminal the government committee on border demarcation with Montenegro, and called on competent authorities to investigate the chairman of this committee. Haradinaj expressed his support for the Association of Albanian-majority municipalities in Serbia, saying that this association is not the same with the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo.

Over 40 thousand signatures against the government (Zeri)
The Vetevendosje Movement officials stated on Sunday that the petition against the agreement on Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and against the border demarcation with Montenegro is being highly supported by the citizens and that so far over 40,000 people have signed the petition. Vetevendosje MP Rexhep Selimi said he was confident that the opposition will not fail on its goal to break the Mustafa government.  “The petition and symbolic actions will be followed by a mass protest as long as the Prime Minister does not annul the agreement on the Association,” Selimi said. He announced that the opposition will also block the Assembly’s work as long as Mustafa is not able to report on the recent agreements in Brussels. Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Xhavit Haliti, said that the session where Mustafa is expected to report could be held on Tuesday.

Tahiri: Serbia did not implement agreements properly (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo’s Minister for Dialogue Edita Tahiri, told Radio Free Europe on Sunday that the technical teams of Pristina and Belgrade will meet in Brussels on 28 and 29 September. She said discussions would focus on the non-implementation of the agreements reached so far. The teams, she added, will discuss the agreements on freedom of movement and movement of the vehicles with KS plates, as well as non-implementation of the agreement reached on recognition of diplomas, functioning of the Liaison offices in Pristina and Belgrade and the non-implemented agreement on the cadaster.

Internationals warn of tensions (Gazeta Blic)
Tensions may flare up following the latest developments in Kosovo, especially after the agreement on the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the recent verbal clashes between the government and the opposition. Unnamed international sources told the news site that they are concerned over possible tensions. “Local security institutions have been warned that tensions may escalate especially after the opposition announced that it will organize protests,” the source said.

Former MUP members to protest today (Kosova Sot)
Former members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia (MUP) announced that they will protest today in Mitrovica North demanding that their status be resolved. They will also block for one hour the border crossing point in Jarinje.

Presevo Valley problem should be resolved through dialogue (Epoka e Re)
The Albanian Ambassador to Kosovo, Qemal Minxhozi, told the paper on Sunday that cooperation between Kosovo and Albania in political, economic and cultural aspects is increasing each year. He assessed that the joint meetings between the two governments have had a positive impact. “We expect that the trade exchange will exceed €200 million,” Minxhozi said. Speaking about the establishment of the association of the municipalities with Serb majority in Kosovo, Minxhozi said that the association should function according to Kosovo’s Constitution. However, he does not believe that the problem of the Albanians in Serbia would be resolved with the establishment of the association.