• EU Commissioner says tariff issue must be resolved ASAP (media)
• U.S. Congressman Engel opposes border changes ideas (Radio Free Europe)
• Prime Minister Haradinaj doesn’t accept to lead dialogue with Serbia (Koha)
• Prime Minister Haradinaj doesn’t accept to lead dialogue with Serbia (Koha)
• Fabrizi: EU’s position on dialogue does not change (Zeri)
• EU reacts to decision of Kosovo to ban Serbian officials (Indeksonline)
• Russia considers Kosovo’s entry ban on Serbian officials, legally void (TASS, Klan)
• U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel to visit Gjakova today (media)
• “Kosovo should allocate budget to help Presevo Valley” (Kosova Sot)

EU Commissioner says tariff issue must be resolved ASAP (media)

EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn said on Thursday that the issue of Kosovo’s import tariff on Serbian goods needs to be resolved as soon as possible, several news websites report. “We hope we will sign here in Poznan several agreements on trade liberalization and to facilitate services. We strongly oppose the introduction of trade barriers as means of political pressure,” Hahn said today at the Western Balkans Summit in Poznan, Poland. He added that leaders of the Western Balkans must work toward good neighbourly relations, regional cooperation and reconciliation as requirements to get closer to the European Union. Hahn also said that the whole region should follow the example of North Macedonia and step up the pace of reforms, especially in the areas of rule of law, fundamental rights and good governance.

U.S. Congressman Engel opposes border changes ideas (Radio Free Europe)

U.S. Congressman Elliot Engel said in an interview to the news agency on Thursday that he is highly skeptical about border changes in the Balkans. “I think the problem here is that once border changes start, where do they end? I don’t think you can change borders only with Serbia and think that Republika Srpska will not want to change its borders too. I fear that if this issue is raised it could also open the Pandora Box. And we are all aware about the wars that have happened in the Balkans region,” Engel was quoted as saying. He also argued that the current administration in Washington needs to shift back its attention to Kosovo and Serbia same as previous administrations had done. Engel said that Serbia must understand that Kosovo is and will remain an independent country. He called on both sides to resume the process of talks.

Prime Minister Haradinaj doesn’t accept to lead dialogue with Serbia (Koha)

The paper reports on page two that despite a recent ruling by the Constitutional Court on the law on dialogue and the negotiating team for talks with Serbia, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has not changed his approach towards the process of dialogue. Both opposition parties and civil society in Pristina have called on him to follow the Court’s ruling and take over the leadership of dialogue with Serbia, Haradinaj has shown no such signs. The paper notes that the Prime Minister continues to use the import tariff on Serbian goods as means to control the process of dialogue.

Prime Minister requested to lead dialogue with Serbia (Epoka)

The Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) held on Thursday a press conference following the ruling by the Constitutional Court regarding the Law on the Tasks, Responsibilities and Competencies of the State Delegation in the Process of Dialogue, whereby providing recommendations on the future of this process. On this occasion Jeta Krasniqi of KDI considers that the Constitutional Court’s judgment regarding the constitutionality of the Law on State Delegation marks a turning point in the dialogue process, removing all dilemmas on the role and responsibilities of constitutional institutions in the area of foreign policy. “The KDI calls on all institutions to respect the Constitutional Court’s judgment and to comply therewith. The dialogue process should be restored to the leadership of the country’s Prime Minister and the regular oversight of the Kosovo Assembly. The Prime Minister and the President should consult and work in a coordinated manner under their constitutional responsibilities, leaving behind political clashes about representation in the process,” was said at the press conference. http://bit.ly/2Xso6ds

Fabrizi: EU’s position on dialogue does not change (Zeri)

Sam Fabrizi, head of the European Union’s delegation to Serbia, said on Thursday that Brussels will not change its position on dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade despite the election of a new leadership in the EU. He said negotiations between the two sides must continue with the aim of resolving the Kosovo issue. “The European Union is a mediator in the talks. Federica Mogherini has said on several occasions that she remains committed until the end of her mandate which concludes in October,” Fabrizi said.

EU reacts to decision of Kosovo to ban Serbian officials (Indeksonline)

EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic reacted on Thursday to a recent decision by authorities in Pristina to ban Serbian officials from entering Kosovo’s territory. She told Serbian news agency Tanjug that she expects the sides to respect the agreement on official visits reached in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. “We look forward to meeting all agreements reached within the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue under the auspices of the EU, including the agreement on official visits," the EU's spokeswoman said. She confirmed that EU is in contact with both parties with regards to the recently created situation.

Russia considers Kosovo’s entry ban on Serbian officials, legally void (TASS, Klan)

Russia considers that Kosovo’s entry ban on Serbian officials is legally void, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday. “We stick to the unchanged position concerning Serbia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and peace settlement based on the United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 1244 and consider all attempts to impose such bans, theoretically or practically, as absolutely senseless and void in legal terms and in no way promoting peaceful solution to existing problems,” Zakharova said.

U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel to visit Gjakova today (media)

All media report that U.S. Congressman Elliot Engel has arrived for an official visit to Kosovo on Thursday. He participated yesterday at the inauguration of the new U.S. Embassy to Kosovo, where he said that friendship between the U.S. and Kosovo is eternal. Today Engel will be visiting Gjakova, where he will attend the inauguration of a street which be carrying his name, and he will also meet Gjakova mayor Ardian Gjini.

“Kosovo should allocate budget to help Presevo Valley” (Kosova Sot)

Shaip Kamberi, leader of the Democratic Action Party and mayor of Bujanoc, told the paper he is optimistic that the Assembly of Kosovo will bring in the following days a decision to help Albanians in Serbia. He said the decision should be feasible and have direct impact in the three municipalities and added that Kosovo should establish a budget line to help Presevo Valley. He said political leader in the Valley would not want believe that this matter is being discussed only for an internal political war. According to Kamberi, the issue of the Valley should be treated at the dialogue with Serbia in order to find a solution for the rights of Albanians there.