Headlines - 19.07.2016

AAK determined to oppose border-demarcation deal (Zëri)

The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, in an interview with the paper said that the AAK is determined to oppose the current version of the border-demarcation agreement with Montenegro and “it is ready to pay any price for that.” Haradinaj said he supports the debate on border-demarcation agreement scheduled to take place on 3 August, expressing optimism that concrete recommendations will result from this debate. Haradinaj further said he was confident that this year there will be early parliamentary elections in Kosovo. He also categorically denied that he met with the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Kadri Veseli to talk about post-election cooperation.

University professors and state committee to debate demarcation (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that preparations are underway for the session of the Kosovo Assembly that will discuss the border-demarcation agreement with Montenegro. The paper notes that on August 3, five professors of Pristina University will face the members of the state committee on demarcation, who are also the authors of the demarcation deal with Montenegro. The university professors, who are supported by the opposition, argue that Kosovo will lose territory from the demarcation. Members of the state committee meanwhile reject this and they are strongly supported by the ruling parties. Attending the conference will be representatives of ruling and opposition parties and also officials that have information about the border with Montenegro.

“Vetëvendosje’s return to Assembly, not a smart decision” (Epoka)

In an interview for Klan Kosova,the leader of theAlliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj, accused the Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, of not being serious in the duty and obligations entrusted to him by the people. Haradinaj said his party does not have any relations with the Vetëvendosje Movement. “They returned to Parliament, which according to us was not a smart decision,” Haradinaj said. He added that AAK would not return to the Assembly prior to understanding what is going to happen with the demarcation with Montenegro. “I do not relate demarcation to early elections. This is an issue of the territory. I have called and I continue to call for early elections. I would welcome assistance from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), and I also request from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), to reject the wrong version of demarcation,” Haradinaj said.

Hasani: Kosovo to enter deep crisis if there are no early elections (RTK)

Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP, Nait Hasani, said on Monday that if Kosovo does not go to early elections, “there will be a deep crisis and the government should be held accountable”. Hasani further predicted that political actions and the failure to ratify the demarcation deal with Montenegro will result in early elections. “The debate scheduled for 3 August to discuss the border-demarcation agreement with Montenegro will only bring arguments and counterarguments, and after a few days, the agreement with be voted in the Assembly… This will happen prior to 18 August when a US senior official is expected to visit Kosovo,” Hasani said.

Hoxhaj: Demarcation with Serbia, within two years (Epoka)

Kosovo’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Enver Hoxhaj, said on Monday that Kosovo should delineate the border with Serbia within two years. According to him this demarcation should happen being that “this is the longest and the most strategic border for Kosovo, and since Serbia continues to pursue a hostile policy toward Kosovo state. If in the past it pursued a hostile policy toward citizens, now it pursues a hostile policy towards our state, therefore one of the next issues, should be demarcation of the border,” Hoxhaj said. According to him the 2011 agreement for integrated border management was nothing less than a legal recognition of the bilateral border.

Zbogar goes to Skopje, Apostolova replaces him (Epoka)

The Head of the European Union delegation in Libya, the Bulgarian Natalia Apostolova, will replace the current EU special envoy in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar. Former Greek Ambassador to Skopje, Aleksandra Papadopoulou, on the other hand, is nominated for head of the European Mission for the Rule of Law in Kosovo. From September 1, Zbogar will replace the Estonian diplomat Aivo Orav, who was head of the EU mission in Skopje. Orav will be transferred at the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica. Based on the FYROM news agency, MIA, the paper reports that the European Commission and the European Service for Foreign Affairs did not want to confirm the news, being that they are preparing a press release which will inform about the nomination of 15 Ambassadors.

49 years imprisonment for five defendants in Badovc case (dailies)

The Basic Court in Pristina has issued a verdict on Monday on five defendants in the so-called Badovc case.  According to the verdict, Besnik Latifi was sentenced to 13 years in prison, Gazmend Haliti to 12 years, Milazim Haxhiaj to 10 years and three months, Enis latifi to 10 years and Fehmi Musa to four years in prison.  The five defendants were accused of going to Badovc Lake near Pristina in July last year aiming to record a propaganda video pledging allegiance to the terrorist group ISIS. The prosecution said the group intended to prove that ISIS is expanding in Kosovo.

Kosovo’s state leaders pay homage to Nice massacre victims (media)

Several news websites report that Kosovo’s leaders, President Hashim Thaçi, Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj, and the French Ambassador to Pristina, Maryse Daviet, attended on Monday evening a ceremony in Pristina paying homage to the victims of the terror attack in Nice, France, on July 14. The ceremony was organised by the Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs.