• Thaci calls on leading think tanks to join momentum for Kosovo and Western Balkans (media)
• U.S. coordinating for a solution in Balkans (media)
• UK Minister to Kurti: We are closer and closer in defence and security (RTK)
• Kurti: Our focus is to eliminate inequality in salaries (media)
• AAK collects signatures to call extraordinary session of Assembly (Zeri)
• Vatican urged to recognise independence of Kosovo (media)
• Presevo Mayor: We want to join Kosovo (media)
• First Specialist Chambers indictments could be confirmed within six months (Koha)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Thaci calls on leading think tanks to join momentum for Kosovo and Western Balkans (media)

Several news websites report that during his visit to Washington, Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has called on two leading think tanks to join the momentum for Kosovo and the Western Balkans.

Thaci said Kosovo aspires to join NATO and the European Union. "Kosovo's membership in NATO and EU would mean less anti-Western ideologies in the Western Balkans," he said.

Thaci also said Kosovo was working on a peace agreement with Serbia.

Thaci said Kosovo is very lucky to enjoy bipartisan support in Washington. "In the support for Kosovo, in Washington, there is no difference between political parties ... It is very important for the U.S. to push forward consolidation processes in the Western Balkans."

Thaci said the direct involvement of U.S. President Donald Trump has brought a new momentum and said that this momentum should be used to bring peace, stability and economic development to the Western Balkans.

U.S. coordinating for a solution in Balkans (media)

The U.S. Ambassador to Albania, Yuri Kim, published on Twitter a picture of herself alongside the Assistant Secretary of State, Philip Reeker, and the Special Envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Richard Grenell.

"In Washington coordinating ways to strengthen Friends & Allies, use US power to achieve solutions in Balkans," the ambassador wrote.

UK Minister to Kurti: We are closer and closer in defence and security (RTK)

While in London, Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti met the UK's Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey.

"Delighted to meet with new Prime Minister of Kosovo @albinkurti today. UK was 1st country to recognise Kosovo as an independent state in 2008. Since then our co-operation on defence & security as well as our friendship has got closer & closer," Heappey wrote on Twitter yesterday.

Kurti: Our focus is to eliminate inequality in salaries (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met on Tuesday with a delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Kurti told the delegation that his government program is focused on eliminating inequality in salaries and a more equal redistribution of wealth in society. He also said the Constitutional Court has yet to decide on the issue.

AAK collects signatures to call extraordinary session of Assembly (Zeri)

The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) MPs have managed to collect the necessary signatures to call an extraordinary session of the Assembly. AAK wants the Assembly to stand in support of not lifting the import tariff on Serbia.

AAK MP Teuta Haxhiu said the signatures were collected from three opposition parties and they now await the setting of the session’s date. “What is important is that we have come together for the interest of the country and not the interest of a specific political entity,” Haxhiu said.

Vatican urged to recognise independence of Kosovo (media)

Jean-Marie Speich, Apostolic Nuncio to Slovenia and Delegate to Kosovo, met in Pristina yesterday with Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Assembly Speaker Vjosa Osmani.

According to a press release issued by Kurti's office, the meeting took place in a warm atmosphere and covered local and world issues. "Prime Minister Kurti made a brief presentation of the situation in Kosovo and the government goals. Good life of people is determined by justice and employment, education and production, these are the factors of new generation of hope," the statement reads.

At the same time, Osmani called on Vatican to recognise independence of Kosovo saying the move "would not only elevate our already excellent relations to a higher level but would also be an acknowledgment of the sacrifice of the people of Kosovo for freedom."

Presevo Mayor: We want to join Kosovo (media)

Presevo Mayor, Shqiprim Arifi, said that the Presevo Valley wants to join Kosovo but that this can happen under three conditions.

“First, we don’t want us to be split. The Presevo Valley consists of the municipalities of Presevo, Medvegja and Bujanovc. We don’t want one municipality to remain in Serbia and the others to join,” Arifi told VOA in Serbian.

The second condition according to him is that the division should not happen close to the cities and the third is coordination with the U.S. and the EU. Arifi said no decision would be taken without the support from Brussels and Washington.

First Specialist Chambers indictments could be confirmed within six months (Koha)

The paper reports that the judge assigned by the President of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers to review indictments by the Specialist Prosecutor has six months time to confirm or reject them.

According to the rules of procedure, “the Pre-Trial Judge shall set a target date for his or her decision which, subject to the specificities of the case, shall be no later than six months from the filing of the indictment and all supporting material.”

The rules of procedure further specify that the indictment and all supporting material will be filed in confidentiality and once the judge confirms the indictment entirely or partially, will the suspect become an accused.