Headlines - 22.09.2017

• Kosovo decides to withdraw from its Interpol membership bid (Zeri)
• LDK accuses new government of Interpol membership failure (Koha)
• “Decision to withdraw from Interpol membership bid, reasonable” (Epoka e Re)
• Government waits commission’s findings before deciding on demarcation (Koha)
• Thaci and Pacolli continue meetings in New York (dailies)
• Hoxhaj to Vucic: Recognition of Kosovo, the only solution (Telegrafi)
• Local elections to cost Kosovo around €10 million (Zeri)

 Kosovo Media Highlights

Kosovo decides to withdraw from its Interpol membership bid (Zeri)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, has decided to withdraw Kosovo’s bid for membership to Interpol and leave it for the organisation’s next general assembly. “The Republic of Kosovo is ready to assume its full responsibilities as a member of Interpol. Many countries have already expressed their trust in Kosovo as a member of Interpol, however not in sufficient numbers for Kosovo to become a member of this organization,” Haradinaj said in a statement to the press. He further thanked all those involved in lobbying for Kosovo’s acceptance to Interpol and encouraged them to continue efforts to make sure Kosovo is voted as a member of Interpol in the next meeting. In another statement, the Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it remains committed to secure Kosovo’s Interpol membership but that following a detailed assessment of the process, “we concluded it is in our best interest to postpone the membership process.”

LDK accuses new government of Interpol membership failure (Koha)

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has accused the new government for “failing” in Kosovo’s Interpol membership bid. “Haradinaj’s decision to postpone Kosovo’s membership application to Interpol is a submission and failure of this government,” LDK said. “We need a government that takes big decisions was what these in power today used to say,” LDK said adding that the government officials are now “failing at every step.”

“Decision to withdraw from Interpol membership bid, reasonable” (Epoka e Re)

Director of the Kosovo Centre for Security Studies, Florian Qehaja, said the decision of the Kosovo government to withdraw from applying to Interpol this year is “reasonable.” “It would have been surreal to expect Kosovo’s membership to Interpol would happen this year. It could sound disappointing but it’s better to go with safe steps,” Qehaja said. He added that this year Kosovo’s application would have been accompanied by a number of what he said were unfavourable factors like being on the same list with Palestine and the fact that the host of this year’s General Assembly is China, a country that has not recognised Kosovo.

Government waits commission’s findings before deciding on demarcation (Koha)

The government of Kosovo will not take any action on the issue of border demarcation with Montenegro before its commission of experts presents its findings, the paper reports on the front page. “When the commission brings forth its conclusions, a direction will be given to the issue of demarcation,” said government spokesperson Arber Vllahiu. The paper notes however that although Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj appointed a new chairman to the commission more than a week ago, this mechanism has yet to become fully functional. Sources said that delays are due to the refusal of some of the experts to become part of it.

Thaci and Pacolli continue meetings in New York (dailies)

President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, and Foreign Minister, Behgjet Pacolli, have continued meetings with international officials in the sidelines of the UN General Assembly taking place in New York. The Kosovo delegation yesterday met Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Manasseh Sogavare, and thanked him for recognising Kosovo as an independent country. Thaci and Pacolli also had separate meetings with Slovenian Prime Minister, Miro Cerar, and Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.

Hoxhaj to Vucic: Recognition of Kosovo, the only solution (Telegrafi)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, reacted to the speech Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had before the UN General Assembly by saying that the only sustainable solution for peace and stability in the Western Balkans is for Serbia to recognise independence of Kosovo.

Local elections to cost Kosovo around €10 million (Zeri)

Elections set to take place across Kosovo municipalities on 22 October are estimated to bear the cost of around €10 million, the paper reports on the front page. Officials from the Central Election Commission (CEC) said organising elections will cost at least €6 million but the figure is likely to go much higher in case there are run-offs in certain municipalities. On last local elections, the paper recalls that out of 38 municipalities, 25 had to hold run-off elections after no candidate managed to secure the necessary majority.