Headlines - 25.10.2018

• Thaci and Vucic to meet in Paris on 11 November (Klan Kosova)
• Palmer: Neither red lines nor agreement without Assembly’s consent (Koha)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo army with support of international partners (Koha)
• Beyer: No EU for Serbia without recognising Kosovo (Koha)
• Jevtic: This is not the time to create an army (Klan Kosova)
• Hoxhaj: We will review relations with EU if no visa liberalisation decision (Zeri)
• Pacolli condemns attack on Albanian taxi driver in Mitrovica North (media)
• Thaci’s brother accused of assault against insurance companies’ officials (dailies)

 Kosovo Media Highlights

Thaci and Vucic to meet in Paris on 11 November (Klan Kosova)

The President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci and the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic are expected to meet the French President Emanuel Macron in Paris on 11 November. Klan Kosova has learned that they are expected to discuss the future of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, and part of the discussions will also be direct recognition of Kosovo by Serbia.

Palmer: Neither red lines nor agreement without Assembly’s consent (Koha)

In a front-page interview with Koha Ditore, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Palmer said with regards to the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, the US administration has no red lines but noted that it will not blindly accept any agreement reached by the two parties. The US, said Palmer, wants to see Kosovo and Serbia reach a ‘multidimensional’ deal that apart from the political aspect would also include that of security, economy, trade, cultural issues, property. He said it would be misguiding to believe the final agreement would only contain possible border correction or exchange of territories. “We have told leaders of both sides that we have no red lines and we don’t rule out any topic of discussion by the parties in the dialogue but this does not imply we would blindly accept what the agreement could contain. We want the parties to negotiate the best possible agreement, put it on the table abs we will look at it,” Palmer said. He also added that just because two presidents reach an agreement it does not mean it will be implemented. He said the presidents would have to make sure the agreement goes through respective approving mechanisms “and I am sure there will be involvement of parliaments in both countries.” Asked about transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into an army, Palmer said the process should go about in a slow, transparent and careful manner and that the US will support it. “It will be a several-year-long process as the governments of Kosovo and the US have agreed,” he stated.

Haradinaj: Kosovo army with support of international partners (Koha)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj said in a visit to the Albanian city of Shkodra yesterday that the army of Kosovo is being established through the support of international partners. Haradinaj’s remarks came in response to Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic saying Kosovo cannot have an army for as long as the UN Security Council resolution 1244 is in place. “We are continuing our path towards consolidating Kosovo as a country,” Haradinaj said.

Beyer: No EU for Serbia without recognising Kosovo (Koha)

Peter Beyer, German MP from the ruling party of CDU, said in Belgrade that Serbia will not be able to join the EU without recognising Kosovo. “It is important for everyone to realise something that was clear from the outset of the process of dialogue that normalisation of relations or dialogue in general will not happen without de facto recognition of Republic of Kosovo’s territorial integrity. This needs to be clear,” Beyer said. In an interview with Belgrade news agency Tanjug, Beyer clarified that the statement that November will be a month of big decisions that was attributed to him was in fact something that President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci said in their meeting in Pristina.

Jevtic: This is not the time to create an army (Klan Kosova)

Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo Dalibor Jevtic, who is currently keeping his position at the government frozen, told Klan Kosova that the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Matthew Palmer requested from Serbs to return to the Kosovo Executive. “Our status is still the same. We are with a technical mandate and commence duties that enable functioning of ministries. We have made this decision as political representatives of Kosovo Serbs, not to participate in the meetings of the government. With this respect, we commence our duty in technical capacity,” he said. He assessed that this is not the time for transformation of Kosovo Security Force into an army. “We are considering the possibility of addressing the Constitutional Court. If we decide to do so, I do not expect to receive some positive decision with regards to our appeal,” Jevtic said. Speaking about the resigning KSF Serb members, he said that their decisions are individual and added that he has not discussed with any of them. Speaking about the arrest of the Director for Kosovo at Serbian government, Marko Djuric, Jevtic said PM Haradinaj had asked him to tell Djuric not to enter Kosovo. “I told him that I was not in touch with Djuric and that I did not know where he was, however I told him that it is not good to apply violence.”

Hoxhaj: We will review relations with EU if no visa liberalisation decision (Zeri)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj said Kosovo would need to review its relations with the EU if a positive decision on visa liberalisation is not taken this year. In an interview with the paper Hoxhaj said Kosovo has implemented all 95 criteria set out by the European Commission and the EU has no reason not to conclude this process. If the EU failed to decide on visa liberalisation by the end of the year, according to Hoxhaj it would become a untrustworthy institution. “If this were to happen, the only explanation I would have would be of a type of Albanophobia among certain European capitals and we would really need to look into how we behave in relation to the EU,” Hoxhaj said.

Pacolli condemns attack on Albanian taxi driver in Mitrovica North (media)

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli took to Facebook to condemn the attack on the Albanian taxi driver in Mitrovica North. “Violence and such acts should be condemned by the force of law. Kosovo Police should undertake urgent measures to prevent such attacks which aim destabilization of that part of Kosovo,” Pacolli wrote on his Facebook account. Pacolli’s comments come after unidentified individuals stoned and broke the windows of the vehicle, property of the taxi driver, who was driving some passengers in Ivo Lola Ribar Street in Mitrovica North.

Thaci’s brother accused of assault against insurance companies’ officials (dailies)

Koha Ditore and Zeri report that Gani Thaci, brother of President Hashim Thaci, has been detained on assault charges against two directors of insurance companies. The attack is reported to have come as a result of Thaci’s post within the insurance sector being phased out. President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci in a Facebook post said he was informed of his brother’s involvement in a fight and added that he would never justify any illegal action and that responsibility is individual. He called on law enforcement institutions to treat the case in accordance to the law. “Only this way can we build a legal state where everyone will be equal before the law and justice,” Thaci said.