• Kosovo leaders display no unity on Independence Day (media)
• Kurti: Time for us as government to make decisions, not avoid difficulties (RTK)
• Nagavci: Handshakes are act of courtesy, do not imply agreement (media)
• Lajcak could be proposed as special representative for dialogue (Koha)
• Plenkovic: Kosovo has fulfilled visa liberalisation criteria (Koha)
• Meta against Mini-Schengen, values Kurti’s presentation in Munich (Express)
• Vucic: We lost the chance for compromise with Pristina, we will pay the price (TV Happy/Klan)
• Three candidates running for mayoral elections in Podujeve (media)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Kosovo leaders display no unity on Independence Day (media)

Koha Ditore reports on the front page that Kosovo leaders failed to put up a united front yesterday during ceremonies marking the 12^th anniversary of Kosovo’s declaration of independence.

The lack of unity was evident in the fact that there were two different ceremonies organised with the Kosovo Security Force. The first was attended by Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Assembly Speaker Vjosa Osmani while another one in the afternoon was organised by President Hashim Thaci.

However, in the evening Thaci also hosted a reception for the occasion of Independence Day and both Kurti and Osmani were present. In his remarks there, Thaci spoke of the need for Kosovo to be united in strengthening its statehood and integrating into Euro-Atlantic structures.

Kallxo meanwhile reports that yesterday Albin Kurti made a turning point in his actions first by visiting for the first time the grave of the late Kosovo president Ibrahim Rugova and later in the day by shaking hands with President Hashim Thaci. The news website reports that this was the first time that Thaci and Kurti were ever seen shaking hands although they also met on 6 January when Kurti was nominated candidate for prime minister.

Kurti: Time for us as government to make decisions, not avoid difficulties (RTK)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti congratulated the 12th anniversary of the declaration of independence of Kosovo through a video-message on Facebook.

Kurti said Kosovo is behind its population. “The hope of the people is our duty. We all have our disagreements and differences, however, as government, it is time to make decisions,” Kurti said adding that they will fulfil demands of the population.

“Potential used to be way forward from capacity of the previous governments. Now, we will have a government that will fulfil demands of our citizens. Our youth reaches more success abroad than here. This is certainly painful, but it also gives hope,” Kurti said while congratulating Kosovo people on the Independence Day.

He said that together all should work for economic development, rule of law, education and healthcare, social policies, foreign policy, European integration, infrastructure and energy, culture and sports.

Nagavci: Handshakes are act of courtesy, do not imply agreement (media)

In a congratulatory message for the 12^th anniversary of Kosovo’s declaration of independence, Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) MP, Arberie Nagavci, said that not all activities that took place on the day may be to the liking of everyone “but we have received the responsibility from the people, we are in the line of duty today, in the service of all.”

“Handshakes in public ceremonies do not imply agreement on everything and with everyone, they are more an act of courtesy but also an indicator that we are here to work until the fulfillment of our promises,” she wrote.

Lajcak could be proposed as special representative for dialogue (Koha)

Unnamed diplomatic sources said that the EU High Representative Josep Borrell has announced he will begin consultations with EU member states on appointing a representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

The paper writes that despite efforts on the part of EU officials to give the impression that the post will be open for all interested candidates, majority of EU member states’ officials consider the post to be almost definitely reserved for the Slovak Foreign Minister, Miroslav Lajcak.

However, some countries have expressed reservations on the possibility of Lajcak being appointed to the post and this is not because they have concerns about his experience in the region but because of the fact that he comes from a country that has not recognised independence of Kosovo.

Plenkovic: Kosovo has fulfilled visa liberalisation criteria (Koha)

Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenkovic, was asked in Brussels to comment on the request of President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci for the visa liberalisation issue to be put to vote during Croatia’s presidency of the EU to which he replied:

“We will make efforts for this issue to be resolved. I have spoken to President Thaci about this on several occasions. Earlier, I also spoke to former Prime Minister Haradinaj and also the new Prime Minister Albin Kurti. Croatia considers Kosovo has fulfilled all visa liberalisation criteria. However, there are countries that still don’t share this view. I believe that through work and intensive consultations within the Council, and using the general atmosphere that is improving, we will be able to find a solution on this very important issue for Kosovo.”

Meta against Mini-Schengen, values Kurti’s presentation in Munich (Express)

Albania’s President Ilir Meta valued presentation of the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti in Munich Security Conference. He expressed skepticism on functioning of the Mini-Schengen, opposed by Kurti and expressed conviction on the success of the Kosovo government led by Vetevendosje Movement leader.

“Albin Kurti’s performance was dignitary for as much as we could follow him. The Berlin Process as a process that includes the entire Balkans, can fulfil also Mr. Rama’s pretensions. Mini-Schengen is not well-considered and sufficiently fragmented to be successful. I consider that it is a completely senseless action because each of them do not represent themselves at personal level. This does not leave any positive impact,” Meta said.

Meta supports Kosovo’s lifting of the 100 percent tariff on Serbian goods; however, he adds that Serbia should also stop with discriminating policies. According to Meta, so far, only Serbia has gained from the dialogue.

Vucic: We lost the chance for compromise with Pristina, we will pay the price (TV Happy/Klan)

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic told on Monday TV Happy that Serbia has lost the chance to reach a compromise with Pristina and therefore will pay a price in the future. Speaking about demarcation, Vucic said that he understood that “Serbs would never accept something that was our chance,” and added that this will be later regretted.

“I understood the message of the people, it was a wonderful chance for us, but we lost it,” he said, adding that no one will be able to blame him in the future. “I will defend Serbian nation but remember my words 20 years from now: we had a chance, but we were not cautious and lacked sufficient wisdom,” he reportedly said.

Three candidates running for mayoral elections in Podujeve (media)

Central Election Commission (CEC) announced that the deadline for candidates to apply for extraordinary mayoral elections in Podujeve closed yesterday and three parties have presented candidacies.

According to CEC spokesperson Valmir Elezi, the candidates include: Nexhmi Rudari from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Shpejtim Bulliqi from the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) and Naim Fetahu from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK).

Election campaign will be open from 3-13 March while the voting will take place on the 15th.