Headlines - 24.03.2017

• “Thaci tones down Kosovo army rhetoric” (Koha Ditore)
• Engel: U.S. should support creation of Kosovo’s army  (Epoka e Re)
• “Association, compromise for army and border demarcation” (Zeri)
• Vucic: Pristina and Bosnia are playing with stability of the region (Lajmi)
• Haradinaj: Process against me is a political game (RTK)
• Forensic teams recover human remains from Prizren cemetery (RTK/RFE)
• Hoca e Madhe/Velika Hoca residents prevent Serb election rally (Klan Kosova)

Kosovo Media Highlights

“Thaci tones down Kosovo army rhetoric” (Koha Ditore)

The paper reports on the front page that President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci has “toned down” rhetoric regarding the creation of Kosovo armed forces following his meeting with the U.S. Ambassador Greg Delawie on Wednesday. Sources told the paper that Thaci has agreed to “temporarily” backtrack from his initiative for the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) and wait for the Serbian List’s inclusion to the process. This ‘wait’, according to sources, could last as much as six months. 

Engel: U.S. should support creation of Kosovo’s army  (Epoka e Re)

U.S. Congressman, Eliot Engel, stated at a session of the U.S. Congress that support for Kosovo is more important than ever. Engel criticized the position of the U.S. administration towards the creation of Kosovo’s army. “Washington is conveying criticism and diplomatic threats. We are stating that we do not support building of Kosovo’s army. This is absurd and this position of the state should change very soon. Arms and material are being sent to Serbia thanks to Vladimir Putin. As far as I could see, the United States remained silent,” Engel said. 

“Association, compromise for army and border demarcation” (Zeri)

The paper quotes Kosovo political analysts as saying that they don’t expect the government of Kosovo to submit to the Assembly a draft law on Kosovo Security Force (KSF) transformation before Serbian presidential elections on 2 April and that after this time, the issue could be voted as part of a “package agreement” that would also include the ratification of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro, the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the return of the Serbian List to Kosovo institutions. Opposition representatives warned against such an idea saying it was dangerous.

Vucic: Pristina and Bosnia are playing with stability of the region (Lajmi)

Aleksandar Vucic, Prime Minister of Serbia, told a Belgrade news agency that he is ready to politically sacrifice everything in order to keep peace and stability in the region. However, he warned that these very important elements could be damaged by irresponsible position and actions of Pristina and Bosnia towards Serbia. “Serbia is ready to overcome any kind of attack, but we are not naïve to keep quiet,” Vucic said.

Haradinaj: Process against me is a political game (RTK)

The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, told RTK that the judicial process against him is a political game. Asked about how he feels about the 6 April trial, Haradinaj said: “I am Albanian and I do not know what trembling is.” He added that the verdict on the issue raised about him will not be made that day. He said that what is happening with him is not fair, being that “I am a citizens of Kosovo, and Serbia does not have jurisdiction over Kosovo, while as far as the war is concerned, everything was scrutinized by the Hague Tribunal,” Haradinaj said. Speaking about the political situation in Kosovo, Haradinaj criticized the current government by calling it “bad luck.” He also said that there was always readiness in Kosovo to give rights to Serbs. “However, it has been exaggerated with the idea of a “Republika Srpska” which cannot be implemented in Kosovo,” he said. 

Forensic teams recover human remains from Prizren cemetery (RTK/RFE)

Forensic teams recovered yesterday remains of five persons from the Orthodox cemetery in Prizren. The remains have been sent for further examination but experts suspect they could be of missing persons. Representatives of Pristina and Belgrade missing persons commissions were present at the exhumation as were EULEX officials. 

Hoca e Madhe/Velika Hoca residents prevent Serb election rally (Klan Kosova)

A group of residents from Hoca e Madhe/Velika Hoca blocked yesterday the road leading to the village after the Serb Radical Party had announced a rally for upcoming Serbian presidential elections.