Headlines - 23.07.2018

• Veseli calls leaders to discuss dialogue with Serbia (dailies)
• Delawie: No division or exchange of territories (Epoka)
• Serbia aims Kosovo’s division through Association/Community (Koha)
• Bahtiri invites political leaders to discuss developments in Mitrovica (Zeri)
• Kusari-Lila calls on political parties to unite on dialogue (Epoka)
• Germany’s support for visa liberalisation still uncertain (Zeri)
• MFA: Serbia donating armament to hinder recognition of Kosovo (dailies)
• Serbian authorities reject Pacolli’s request to visit Novi Pazar (RTK)
• Bajrami: Bosniaks should be part of Brussels dialogue (Koha)
• Leader of Kosovo Liberal Party not allowed to enter Serbia (Bota Sot)

Veseli calls leaders to discuss dialogue with Serbia (dailies)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli has invited leaders of Kosovo parliamentary parties to a meeting today in an effort to build consensus on dialogue with Serbia. Veseli said in the invitation that the meeting is aimed to secure Kosovo’s inclusive participation in the final stage of dialogue with Serbia. He also said Kosovo Assembly will have the key role in this important process. However, online media are reporting that opposition representatives are not expected to attend the meeting. Vetevendosje MP, Albulena Haxhiu, told KTV that the timing of the meeting coincides with Assembly’s session and that she doesn’t believe they will attend it while Ismet Beqiri from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) said the party has not yet decided whether to go to Veseli’s meeting but he thinks “we should not go.”

Delawie: No division or exchange of territories (Epoka)

The United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, denied on Sunday media reports according to which he said that Kosovo’s division and the exchange of territories with Serbia could be part of talks in Brussels. Delawie wrote on his Twitter account: “Ignore the fake news. Here's what I said, “Kosovo needs to figure out what its goals are, it needs to try to achieve some kind of consensus on those goals, and that is what I am focusing on right now”.

Serbia aims Kosovo’s division through Association/Community (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that there could be grave consequences if Kosovo agrees to talk for division or exchange of territories as part of efforts to reach a legally-binding agreement with Serbia. Pristina-based political commentator Behlul Beqaj told the paper on Sunday that Serbia aims to divide Kosovo by insisting on executive competencies for the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. Beqaj said Kosovo’s division has been Serbia’s objective for the last 18 years and that “circumstances have now changed in its favor”. “Insisting to form the Association/Community with executive competencies is in reality the tool to achieve their final objective, namely the territorial division of Kosovo,” Beqaj said.

Bahtiri invites political leaders to discuss developments in Mitrovica (Zeri)

Mitrovica Mayor, Agim Bahtiri, has invited leaders of all political parties in Kosovo as well as representatives of religious community and the civil society to discuss today the recent developments in Mitrovica and necessary steps to prevent partition of Kosovo. A statement to the media issued by the Mitrovica Municipality quotes Bahtiri as saying that he will call for protests “in case there is no agreement to stop attempts to divide Kosovo.” Bahtiri said statements from Kosovo leaders that there are no red lines in the dialogue with Serbia are “bad omen” for the future of Kosovo.

Kusari-Lila calls on political parties to unite on dialogue (Epoka)

Mimoza Kusari-Lila, member of the Kosovo Assembly from Alternativa, called on all political parties in Kosovo to meet and agree on the criteria of the platform for the finale of talks with Serbia. Kusari wrote on Facebook: “Kosovo’s territorial integrity and sovereignty are the very essence of the state of Kosovo. They are Kosovo’s primary interest and without them there is no Kosovo. I call on all sides, parliamentary parties, to meet and agree on the criteria of the platform for the final talks with Serbia … The President should stop going to meetings without a public agenda and without set lines”.

Germany’s support for visa liberalisation still uncertain (Zeri)

The paper reports on the front page that Germany’s support for visa liberalisation for Kosovo is not yet certain as its government has not yet concluded discussions on the issue. In a written response to the paper, the German Embassy in Pristina said they hail the positive recommendation of the European Commission on visa liberalisation but pointed out that Germany has made it clear it supports lifting of the visa regime for Kosovo only once all conditions are met.

MFA: Serbia donating armament to hinder recognition of Kosovo (dailies)

Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement to the media expressing its deep concern over reports from reputable international organisations claiming that Serbia-made armament continues to be used in certain African countries which have been accused of systematic violation of human rights. According to the Ministry, these reports only reinforce the belief that Serbia is donating or selling weapons to African countries as a diplomatic tool to prevent them from recognising independence of Kosovo. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs further called on the international community to increase control, verification and monitoring of such actions employed by Serbian government.

Serbian authorities reject Pacolli’s request to visit Novi Pazar (RTK)

After the Serbian authorities rejected the request of Kosovo Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli to visit Novi Pazar, Pacolli reacted saying he regretted the decision which he said was in violation to the Brussels agreement. “Unfortunately, at the last minute, 4 hours before my scheduled departure for Novi Pazar, I received rejection of the Government of Republic of Serbia to pass the border. This is in complete violation to the agreement between our governments signed four years ago in Brussels, Pacolli wrote in a letter to the organizer of the event in Novi Pazar, Sulejman Ugljanin, chairman of the Bosniak National Council.

Bajrami: Bosniaks should be part of Brussels dialogue (Koha)

Kosovo’s Deputy Minister of Diaspora, Cerim Bajrami, said on Sunday that the Bosniak community should be part of the final phase of talks between Pristina and Belgrade in Brussels. Bajrami said Bosniaks are the second-biggest minority community in Kosovo and that they were always were present in the northern municipalities. “Otherwise, no one can guarantee that their rights will be properly protected especially in the northern municipalities,” he added.

Leader of Kosovo Liberal Party not allowed to enter Serbia (Bota Sot)

Leader of the Kosovo Liberal Party, Skender Gashi, has not been allowed entrance to Serbia where he was planning to attend a family event in Bujanovc/Bujanovac. Gashi said he was prevented from entering Serbia simply because of his political activity.