• Protests against border deals (media)
• Kosovo Assembly Presidency to discuss extraordinary session (Kosovapress)
• Veseli: Mitrovica will not be part of the bargains (media)
• “Kosovan and Serbian Peace: EU’s next big foreign policy win?” (Euroaktiv)
• Haziri: Border correction, ideal possibility for the Valley (Zeri)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo committed to EU and NATO integration (Epoka)
• Haziri: Border correction, ideal possibility for the Valley (Zeri)
• Deda: UN is also against borders on ethnic bases (Zeri)
• Albanians in Sweden call for Thaci’s resignation (media)
• Vucic: It is clear we are far from any agreement (media)
• Zaev supports a positive solution on Kosovo (media)

Protests against border deals (media)

Koha Ditore reports on its front page that five days prior to the meeting of Kosovo and Serbia Presidents in Brussels, the Vetevendosje Movement has announced protests to prevent talks on borders. Meanwhile, at the request of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), the Kosovo Assembly will convene in an extraordinary session on Tuesday in attempt to prevent “the exchange of territories” or “border correction”. Two partners in the ruling coalition and many civil society organizations have also joined what the paper calls anti-Thaci cause. Zeri reports on its front page that Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti has announced protests in the next two weeks “to prevent Kosovo’s partition”.  “A seized and criminalized leadership, led by Thaci, is putting Kosovo territory on sale so that Thaci himself can be untouchable. We should not, and we will not allow this, because we have historic and moral obligations …  In the coming days and weeks we will lead civic and peaceful protests to stop the crime that is being committed against Kosovo and our people,” Kurti said.

Kosovo Assembly Presidency to discuss extraordinary session (Kosovapress)

The news website reports that the Kosovo Assembly Presidency will meet today to discuss the request for an extraordinary session on Tuesday that would discuss President Hashim Thaci’s engagement in the “exchange of territories” or “border correction”. Opposition parties – LDK, Vetevendosje and PSD – submitted last week the request for an extraordinary session on September 4. The session is expected to adopt a resolution preventing President Thaci from discussing Kosovo’s borders with Serbia.

Veseli: Mitrovica will not be part of the bargains (media)

Kadri Veseli, Kosovo Assembly President and leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) said at a roundtable in Mitrovica that the request of the opposition parties for an extraordinary session in order to endorse a resolution in defense of the territory of Kosovo, is absurd, tragic and manipulative. He promised that there will be no division of Mitrovica city. “It is tragic because these opposition forces put for the first time in question at the highest institution our territorial integrity, so the raised the question of the division of Kosovo at the highest institution. This is a very dangerous precedent for our country,” he said. He called on the opposition political parties not to discuss division but only unification with Presevo Valley. “I call on the colleagues of the opposition parties for rationality. Vetevendosje should stop ruining of our country by denying it, and manipulating with the cause of national unity, because national unity is not reached by wiping of Kosovo state. I would call on LDK to distance from those signatures, let us not speak about division on Tuesday, let it not join Vetevendosje initiative,” he said. Speaking about the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, Veseli said executive competences are unacceptable and more dangerous than division itself.

Collaku: Kosovan and Serbian Peace: EU’s next big foreign policy win? (Euroaktiv)

Bekim Collaku, Kosovo President Hashim Thaci’s Chief of Staff, writes in an op-ed for Euroaktiv that “reaching a deal for the full normalisation of the relations between Belgrade and Pristina is of crucial importance also for the EU, although time is running out”. “After six years, Kosovo and Serbia are entering the final phase in the EU-facilitated dialogue. The two parties have come a long way since the dialogue began, and the end is starting to feel near. Direct channels of communication are open, limiting unnecessary escalation of tensions – something that would have been unimaginable before 2011 – and the prospect of full recognition grows day by day. As well as solving a longstanding conflict between two European nations, it will have significant benefits for the economies of the region. It hasn’t been an easy journey for any of the parties involved. As with many interstate dialogues, it has too often felt like our many steps forward were followed by a few backwards. Recent renewed commitments by the European Union to our region, from Jean-Claude Juncker’s 2017 State of the Union to the Western Balkans Summit in London just last month, have kept a much-needed spotlight on our – both Kosovo’s and Serbia’ – potential success; and, through it, the liberation of our respective peoples’ ambitions and futures. And now that we are reaching the final hurdles of this dialogue, it is vital we all keep our efforts focused, for it is clear that the current limbo serves the interests of no one – not the citizens of Kosovo, or of Serbia, or, indeed, of our wider allies in the European Union,” Collaku writes. https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/opinion/kosovan-and-serbian-peace-the-eus-next-big-foreign-policy-win/

Haradinaj reiterates Kosovo’s commitment for EU and NATO integration (Epoka)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj is participating at the Dubrovnik Forum, where the future of Western Balkans, Europe and Mediterranean is being discussed. “We are working with commitment for a transparent and responsible governing, to strengthen law and order, on the war against corruption and organized crime, and at the same time we are working on the agenda of the European reforms, ERA2,” Haradinaj said. He added that Kosovo is working to transform KSF into an armed force, compatible with NATO standards, aiming cooperation with allies on strengthening stability of the region, Europe and World.

Haziri: Border correction, ideal possibility for the Valley (Zeri)

Deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lutfi Haziri, told the paper that correction of the borders with Serbia would be an ideal possibility to resolve the problem of the Albanians who live in the three southern municipalities of Serbia. He added that correction of border in order to unite with Presevo Valley was his idea which he proposed since 2011, however this idea was not supported by his political party. He said the Assembly of Kosovo should take over the leading role in the process of the dialogue with Serbia. He however objected the idea of protests against President Thaci, saying that the street does not resolve anything.

Deda: UN is also against borders on ethnic bases (Zeri)

Kosovo Assembly MP from Alternativa, said that United Nations are against correction of borders on ethnic basis. “Not only Spain, but also Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, along with Germany, Austria, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom and some other European countries are against “correction of borders” on ethnic bases, which means also EU, OSCE, NATO and UN,” Dedaj wrote on his Facebook profile.

Albanians in Sweden call for Thaci’s resignation (media)

Several media report that dozens of Albanians living in Sweden protested in front of Kosovo’s embassy in Stockholm on Sunday in opposition to President Hashim Thaci’s idea for “border correction” with Serbia. Protesters said they were concerned with the policies of President Thaci and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj. “Their policies are in opposition to the Constitution of Kosovo,” the protesters said.

Vucic: It is clear we are far from any agreement (media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday that an agreement with Kosovo is going to be very difficult. “It is very clear that we are far from any agreement and that it is going to be difficult … We don’t think there are borders between Serbs and Serbia. Let us try and win at least something,” Vucic was quoted as saying.

Zaev supports a positive solution on Kosovo (media)

Zoran Zaev, Prime Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, said on Sunday that his country supports a positive solution on Kosovo that will improve the lives of Serbs and Albanians and will guarantee the peace, security and prosperity of Serbia and Kosovo. Zaev made these remarks during a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. He also said it was important for all leaders in the region to unite around the common objective of regional cooperation and EU membership.