Headlines - 04.10.2018

• Thaci doesn’t back down from idea for “border correction” (Koha)
• Cooper: If Kosovo and Serbia agree on borders, what’s the problem? (Koha)
• Krasniqi: There is no problematic situation within PDK (RTK)
• Beqiri: Elections to be held as soon as possible (RTK)
• Politics united over formation of army after one decade (Koha)
• Shala: Kosovo Serbs want KSF’s transformation into an army (RTK)
• Bildt calls on NATO to send more troops to Kosovo (media)
• Harxhi: Thaci’s initiative on border correction for personal reasons (media)

Thaci doesn’t back down from idea for “border correction” (Koha)

The paper reports on page two that despite opposition in Kosovo and abroad, the Office of Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said on Wednesday that they cannot give up on “Kosovo’s recognition by Serbia and the unification of Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac with Kosovo” and that this can be achieved only through border correction. Bekim Collaku, Chief of Staff for President Thaci, told the paper that the issue of border correction was discussed in the latest meetings in the United States. “The U.S. and all other international partners support a final peace agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. At this early stage, they are reserved from publicly supporting or opposing certain options. After all, when it comes to options and scenarios, this is a responsibility of the parties involved in the process. One thing is certain, if a final agreement is reached, it will have strong support from all international partners,” Collaku said.

Cooper: If Kosovo and Serbia agree on borders, what’s the problem? (Koha)

Robert Cooper, former mediator in talks between Kosovo and Serbia, said in an interview to Radio Free Europe that “the epilogue of the referendum in Macedonia can be a positive signal for Kosovo and Serbia”. “If the two sides agree [on border correction] where is the problem? If they agree this means they cooperate and that they solve problems together. If this agreement includes the recognition of Kosovo, which I think is of vital importance, then the two sides can back to serious leadership in their countries,” Cooper said. “However, there are many details that have to be resolved, about which territories is being discussed precisely, how would the border be established, how will the citizens be involved, what measures will be undertaken to defend minorities, etc. Therefore, I think that it is quite a complicated problem, that this agreement will not be reached soon and that it requires time,” he added.

Krasniqi: There is no problematic situation within PDK (RTK)

Memli Krasniqi, caucus of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK,) said on Wednesday that there is no problematic situation in PDK. Commenting the recently submitted resignation of the Minister of Justice Abelard Tahiri, Krasniqi said “Tahiri has considered resignation due to the assessments on the dynamics of reforms, and for the next phase which is related to other developments, that can be the process for liberalization of visas.”

Beqiri: Elections to be held as soon as possible (RTK)

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) is continuing with the meetings with the branches of this political party. On Wednesday LDK officials met with members of their party in Obiliq. “We informed the structures of the branch about all current political and institutional issues in the country. Our general assessment is that we are ready to hold the elections which should happen as soon as possible, in order to stop these harms that are being done to our state by this coalition of minority,” Ismet Beqiri secretary of the party wrote on his Facebook account.

Politics united over formation of army after one decade (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that political parties in Kosovo, except for the Serbian List, are united in supporting the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into the Kosovo Armed Forces. Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP, Ismet Beqiri, said on Wednesday that his party will support the three draft laws at the Assembly session. “We also hope that consultations have been held with the partners that have helped us all this time, NATO and the United States of America. We hope that the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force will finally begin,” he said. LDK leader Isa Mustafa welcomed on Wednesday the adoption of the draft laws for transforming the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into the Armed Forces of Kosovo. “The formation of the army, which began today with the parliamentary procedures, will be an important victory for Kosovo, but also for the United States of America, as they supported the process alongside supporting the development of the KSF into a modern force,” Mustafa wrote in a Facebook post. He said the future Army of Kosovo deserves the support of all its citizens in order to become a part of NATO and an important stakeholder in preserving peace and stability.

Shala: Kosovo Serbs want KSF’s transformation into an army (RTK)

Haxhi Shala, head of the Committee for Security and Internal Affairs, said that prior to the proceeding of the draft law for transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into an army, KSF and KFOR conducted a survey with Serb citizens of Kosovo. According to Shala, they supported creation of the army of Kosovo. He added that Kosovo Serbs experienced help offered by KSF at certain cases. Shala said that the position of the Serbian List against the army, does not represent the will of the Serb minority. According to Shala, Kosovo will create its army during November.

Bildt calls on NATO to send more troops to Kosovo (media)

Former Swedish Prime Minister, Carl Bildt, who was exclusively engaged in the political matters and conflicts in Balkans during the nineties, considers that NATO should increase its military presence in Kosovo and Bosnia. He commented to a tweet by Center for European Reform (CER) which reads “For the first time since Kosovo declared its independence in 2008, some of the Western Balkans’ frozen conflicts seem to be thawing. Can the EU ensure that they end in peace?” “My recommendation to NATO and EU is to start increasing troop strength in Kosovo and Bosnia in view of the instability this discussion will cause,” Bildt wrote. Bildt served as the Special Envoy of the European Union in the former Yugoslavia since June 1995, participated in the Dayton Peace Conference in November 1995 and was High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina from December 1995 to June 1997, shortly after the Bosnian War. From 1999 to 2001, he served as the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Balkans.

Harxhi: Thaci’s initiative on border correction for personal reasons (media)

Several media report that Edith Harxhi, former Foreign Minister of Albania and head of the Albanian Policy Center, said on Wednesday that Kosovo President Hashim Thaci’s initiative for border correction is based on his personal reasons. “This also concerns the current situation in Kosovo. For a year now, the special court is preparing to summon witnesses. I don’t know if Thaci is involved, because there hasn’t been any statement of this nature, but someone must think that the chain of command will lead to the commander of forces. I wouldn’t want this to happen to any Albanian and let alone Thaci,” Harxhi said.