Headlines - 23.10.2018

• Hahn: We support any agreement that does not set precedent (Zeri)
• KSF function and constitutional mandate have not changed (Koha, Zeri)
• Serbs leave KSF, Haradinaj calls on them to stay (RTK)
• KSF denies reports of resignations by Serb members (Lajmi)
• Hoti: Border correction idea is impeding Kosovo’s relations with EU (media)
• Pacolli: Germany supports visa liberalization for Kosovo (Lajmi)
• Pacolli confident on Kosovo’s INTERPOL membership (Zeri)
• U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Palmer visits Kosovo today (Lajmi)
• Bahtiri: Meeting Rakic not pleasant, I’m more careful than Haradinaj (Klan)
• PM Haradinaj dismisses deputy minister over bribe charges (media)
• Parliamentary committee condemns recent attacks (Koha)

Hahn: We support any agreement that does not set precedent (Zeri)

The European Commission Enlargement Commissioner, Johannes Hahn, told Serbian media that the European Union fully supports dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and that it considers as a final agreement a sustainable and realistic solution that it is line with international law. Hahn said the EU does not speculate on the possible elements of a final legally-binding agreement and that it will support an agreement that does not set a precedent.

KSF function and constitutional mandate have not changed (Koha, Zeri)

The paper reports on its front page that the three draft laws adopted recently by the Kosovo Assembly do not define the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) as a military force. Political commentators told the paper that as a result, the function and constitutional mandate of the KSF has not changed. Zeri carries a statement by the EU Office in Pristina calling an inclusive process in adopting the legislation on the KSF transformation, in line with Kosovo’s constitution and considering the interests and concerns of all communities in Kosovo and also all relevant stakeholders. In another front-page story, the paper quotes Prime Minister Haradinaj as saying that it will take ten years for the KSF to build full capacities. Haradinaj also said that the transformation of the KSF into the armed forces would be done in full cooperation with NATO.

Serbs leave KSF, Haradinaj calls on them to stay (RTK)

RTK reports that pressure from outside on the Serb members of Kosovo Security Force (KSF) to resign is going on. According to the sources of the national broadcaster, several requests for resignation were submitted this Monday. This was also confirmed by the KSF Minister Rrustem Berisha, who said submission of resignation is increasing due to the major pressure coming from abroad. He added that 52 resignations have been submitted so far and that they are being considered based on the laws in power. Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj called on Monday on the members of Serb community not to resign “from this credible institution.”

KSF denies reports of resignations by Serb members (Lajmi)

The news website reports that according to the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) it has not received any request for demobilisation by members of the Serb community. Media reported on Monday that some Serb members have submitted their resignations from the force. A spokesman for the KSF however told Lajmi they have received no official request and that no demobilisation is requested.

Hoti: Border correction idea is impeding Kosovo’s relations with EU (media)

Avdullah Hoti, head of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) parliamentary group, said on Monday that the proposal for border correction between Kosovo and Serbia is becoming the biggest obstacle to Kosovo’s contractual relations with the European Union and for a pragmatic dialogue with Serbia. “As long as this idea is not renounced – and it is against Kosovo’s statehood and territorial integrity – it is going to damage many political processes. Some of these processes are already being delayed as a result of the mindset ‘first border change then other issues’. The longer this goes on, the more political energy we will lose to repair the damages and delays of this confusing and detrimental approach. This status quo must change. There is no sense in waiting to correct the ‘border correction’ idea. We are confident that new elections are the only democratic solution. We are working on this,” Hoti wrote in a Facebook post.

Pacolli: Germany supports visa liberalization for Kosovo (Lajmi)

Kosovo’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Behgjet Pacolli hosted on Monday a meeting with the German MP from CDU Peter Beyer. Pacolli took to Facebook to write that Germany is among the countries that supported Kosovo the most and it is committed to continue with this support on visa liberalization and membership at INTERPOL. “Coordination with German state through all the processes is very important for our safe journey ahead,” Pacolli wrote.

Pacolli confident on Kosovo’s INTERPOL membership (Zeri)

The paper reports that the Interpol General Assembly that will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on November 20 is expected to vote on Kosovo’s request to become a member of this organization. Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Behgjet Pacolli, told the paper on Monday he hopes Kosovo will get its membership this year.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Palmer visits Kosovo today (Lajmi)

The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Palmer will be visiting Kosovo today, the news website reports. Palmer will first meet Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj at 10:45 hours, and then proceed with meeting other senior Kosovo officials.

Bahtiri: Meeting with Rakic not pleasant, I’m more careful than Haradinaj (Klan)

Agim Bahtiri, mayor of Mitrovica South, said on Monday that despite an unpleasant meeting with Mitrovica North mayor, Goran Rakic, he does not suspect Rakic to have been involved in the death threat he has received. Bahtiri told Klan Kosova that he is disappointed with the European Union for delaying the opening of the River Iber Bridge. “We are in the process of opening the bridge since 2014. My request to the EU is to give clarifications why the opening is not happening,” he said. “Ramush Haradinaj claims we should be careful, I am aware because I am here much longer that Mr. Ramush Haradinaj. I am more careful than he is, because I know how to behave with local people there,” Bahtiri said.

PM Haradinaj dismisses deputy minister over bribe charges (media)

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj took to Facebook on Monday to inform that he has dismissed the Deputy Minister for Regional Development, Musa Cena. “I have dismissed today from duties the deputy minister of the Ministry for Regional Development, Musa Cena. The decision was made based on the suspicion that the act was committed during his active mandate. I call on the law and order bodies to commence their duty with responsibility at any situation. The dismissal took place in order to leave space to the law and order bodies to prosecute and try in an unbiased manner,” Haradinaj wrote. Media report that Cena was arrested on Saturday under suspicion of receiving bribe. Zeri reports on its front page that it has managed to secure a copy of the indictment filed against Cena, according to which he asked for a €30,000 bribe from a business owner in exchange for €200,000 grant.

Parliamentary committee condemns recent attacks (Koha)

Members of the Kosovo Assembly parliamentary committee on human rights, gender equality, missing persons and petitions condemned on Monday the assault on two Albanian youths in Novi Sad, Serbia, and the attack on a bus with Serb pilgrims in Istog, Kosovo, the paper reports on page four. MPs said violence must be condemned regardless of the perpetrators or the objectives.