Headlines - 09.03.2018

• “Unsuccessful two-week hunt for demarcation votes” (Zeri)
• Document suggests Kosovo styled as community of two equal peoples (Koha)
• Gambia to accept Kosovo’s non-resident ambassador (Zeri)
• FM Pacolli: Kosovo closer to Interpol membership (media)
• Hoxhaj calls on Romania to recognise Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Tahiri explains content of region’s letter to UN (Koha)
• US General warns of rising Russian influence in the Balkans (Epoka e Re)
• Three parties open doors for Pristina Mayor Ahmeti (Insajderi)
• Special prosecution takes over investigation into Ivanovic’s murder (Kallxo)
• Delawie urges for more progress on women’s property rights (Koha)

 Kosovo Media Highlights

“Unsuccessful two-week hunt for demarcation votes” (Zeri)

Two weeks have passed since the coalition parties launched concrete attempts to ratify the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro but to this date the required 80 votes are still uncertain, the paper reports on the front page. The timing of the next Assembly session is not determined although Kosovo officials have said the agreement could be put to vote late this week or early next week. Meanwhile, President of the Kosovo Assembly, Kadri Veseli, said coalition partners are making “intensive” efforts to secure broad consensus among MPs for ratification of the border demarcation agreement. He even hinted that there are Vetevendosje MPs who have expressed will to support the agreement. This however was rejected by Vetevendosje MP Albulena Haxhiu who said that all their MPs, including the resigned ones, have the same position on the issue of border demarcation. 

Document suggests Kosovo styled as community of two equal peoples (Koha)  

The paper reports on the front page of a paper authored by Nenad Vasic on behalf of the Belgrade based Institute for International Politics and Economics, which the paper says is a mechanism funded by the Government of Serbia, which proposes defining Kosovo as a community of two peoples equal on the political and constitutional-legal aspect. The document, titled “Platform for solution of Kosovo issue: Serbs and Albanians from majority partition to possible new unification”, is said to have already been delivered to the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, for consideration. The author of the paper describes his model as a “win-win” situation for all parties involved while sources the paper has spoken to said that this option could very well get the support of Vucic who has said he plans to present the international community with a proposal on how to resolve Kosovo issue by April of this year. The document in question also foresees the possible settlement be approved by parliaments in Serbia and Kosovo and once this is done, the UN Security Council could proceed to adopt a new resolution in line with the agreement.

Gambia to accept Kosovo’s non-resident ambassador (Zeri)

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Behgjet Pacolli, announced that Gambia will accept Kosovo’s non-resident ambassador despite being urged by Serbia to reconsider decision on recognising independence of Kosovo. Pacolli said he received a letter from the Gambian president confirming authorization of Ramadan Gashi being non-resident ambassador to the country. “Another good news for the state of Kosovo and its empowerment in the international arena,” Pacolli wrote on his Facebook account.

FM Pacolli: Kosovo closer to Interpol membership (media)

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Behgjet Pacolli, told news portal Gazeta Express that Kosovo’s bid to join Interpol is already part of this organization’s agenda. Although Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, after receiving his mandate had decided that Kosovo temporarily cancels the request for membership in this organization, Pacolli says that Kosovo has never been closer to being part of Interpol. He claims that Kosovo has moved forward in this regard. “Kosovo’s bid is on Interpol’s agenda. This is the first positive sign,” he said.

Hoxhaj calls on Romania to recognise Kosovo (media)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, has urged Romania to recognise independence of Kosovo. In a Twitter post, Hoxhaj said he welcomed Romani’s and other states’ interest in the process of normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia stressing that “a good starting point is for Romania to join the majority of EU states in recognising Kosovo’s independence”.  Hoxhaj’s comments come as a reaction to the offer made by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis to help on the Kosovo issue. “If the solution is not fair… and is not supported, it won’t be a solution,” Iohannis said in Bucharest after meeting Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Tahiri explains content of region’s letter to UN (Koha)

Edita Tahiri, head of board for signing of the petition for women victims of sexual violence during the war told KTV that Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia have addressed a letter to the UN seeking justice for women victims. The letter will ask the UN to implement Security Council resolution 2106 on sexual violence in conflict and prepare respective reports. Speaking about the 2014 petition signed by 115,000 citizens of Kosovo demanding the UN set up a judicial mechanism to try cases of sexual violence during the conflict, Tahiri said the UN Secretary-General told them to submit the petition to UNMIK. “Considering that UNMIK no longer has any weight as it does not deal with survivors of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo, under the regional women lobby, we proposed going with a broader request,” Tahiri said. “There are around 20,000 women victims of sexual violence in Kosovo, this figure for Bosnia ranges between 20,000-50,000, while in Croatia it is 2,200,” Tahiri said adding: “The tragedy that happened in the Balkans needs to be officially recognised.”

US General warns of rising Russian influence in the Balkans (Epoka e Re)

The US Army General, Curtis Scaparrotti warned that the Balkans region is facing an increasing pressure by Russia and that the Washington and NATO should do more to keep the region safe from possible destabilization. In a hearing before the US Senate, Gen. Scaparrotti said he was more concerned with the support of the Serbian people within the Balkans who are more susceptible to Russian influence. “Russia is at work in the Balkans. I think we’ve kind of taken our eye off the area,” he said.

Three parties open doors for Pristina Mayor Ahmeti (Insajderi)

Three parties have opened their doors for Pristina Mayor Shpend Ahmeti who resigned from Vetevendosje Movement two days ago. The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP, Driton Selmanaj, said that it would be natural for Ahmeti to join the LDK, since prior to joining Vetevendosje, Ahmeti was very close to the LDK. “The LDK is open for all the people that want to join, except for those who are in legal troubles” he said. Also the Social Democratic Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) said they would be honored if Ahmeti would join their party. Meanwhile, Mimoza Kusari Lila from Alternativa told media that she was told that the recently-resigned people from Vetevendosje would soon form their own party and that Ahmeti would be part of it. However, she said that if Ahmeti is not ready to join this new party, Alternativa would open doors to accept him.

Special prosecution takes over investigation into Ivanovic’s murder (Kallxo)

Special Prosecution of Kosovo has taken over the investigation into the murder of the Kosovo Serb political leader Oliver Ivanovic, confirmed chief prosecutor Reshat Millaku. He said the move was made because of the case’s “complexity”. So far the investigation was conducted by the Mitrovica’s Basic Prosecution.

Delawie urges for more progress on women’s property rights (Koha)

The United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, during an interview for Jeta ne Kosove show, said the small percentage of women who own property is a negative factor in Kosovo's economic development. According to him, the current situation in the property rights issue is endangering Kosovo’s economic future. “It is extremely important for the future of Kosovo that women are able to participate in the economy on the same basis as men. And if you cannot inherit or have a problem in your property inheritance from your parents, or you have difficulties in registering the property, you cannot fully participate in the Kosovo economy,” Delawie said. Nevertheless, he said the US will continue to support Kosovo in this issue.