Headlines - 07.10.2016

• Mustafa: If opposition doesn’t answer, I’ll proceed with demarcation (Epoka)
• Gecaj: No elections if demarcation fails (Zëri)
• “Coalition must undertake thorough reformatting of government” (Epoka)
• Tahiri: Serbia has to release Thaci (Zëri)
• EU: Pristina-Belgrade dialogue is not about ultimatums (Kosova Sot)
• Hoxhaj congratulates Guterres on his selection as UN chief (RTK)
• Court of Appeals sides with Grabovci, overrules decision against him (Koha)
• Demolli: Preparations for transformation of KSF are completed (Epoka)
• Final decision on Kosova e Re power plant to be made today (Koha)

Mustafa: If opposition doesn’t answer, I’ll proceed with demarcation (Epoka)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, said on Thursday that he is waiting for representatives of opposition parties to join the dialogue on the border demarcation with Montenegro. He said that if the opposition does not agree to dialogue, then the demarcation agreement will be proceeded to the Assembly. Mustafa made these comments during the inauguration of a factory in Podujevë. On the other hand, Fatmir Limaj, leader of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), said that the experts who are for or against the demarcation, should sit and discuss the contesting points of this process. He said that prior to a request to reconsider the matter with Montenegro, an internal consent should be sought.

Gecaj: No elections if demarcation fails (Zëri)

Kosovo’s Deputy Minister of Local Government Administration, Bajram Gecaj, told the paper that Kosovo will not go to early elections even if Kosovo Assembly fails to ratify the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. According to him, if this agreement fails, then the citizens will bear the consequences.  “If border demarcation agreement does not pass, the whole society will bear the consequences. This agreement will be resubmitted to the Assembly at a time when it is more appropriate for it to pass,” Gecaj said. The paper recalls that there are several ruling-coalition party MPs who openly declared that they are against the current demarcation agreement.

“Coalition must undertake thorough reformatting of government” (Epoka)

In a front-page interview for the paper, Rrustem Mustafa, member of the presidency of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), suggested that the ruling coalition must undertake a thorough reformatting of the government, whereby the PDK would assume a much stronger role. Mustafa did not even rule out the possibility of changing the Prime Minister and expanding the ruling coalition.

Tahiri: Serbia has to release Thaci (Zëri)

Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, said in an interview with the paper that Serbia has to release Kosovo Police director for Mitrovica region, Nehat Thaci. She said Serbia is violating international conventions by trying to extend its jurisdiction to Kosovo. “Serbia’s jurisdiction is valid only within its boundaries, so they have to release Nehat Thaci,” Tahiri said. However, according to her, if Serbia will continue to carry out similar arrests, then Kosovo will respond reciprocally. “I have received promises from the European Union for engagement on the issue, while the Serbian side was not ready to promise solutions,” Tahiri said.

EU: Pristina-Belgrade dialogue is not about ultimatums (Kosova Sot)

EU foreign policy spokesperson, Maja Kocijancic, said for Radio Free Europe that the EU believes the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade should focus on implementing agreements reached so far and not on giving ultimatums to the parties. She said the parties already agreed for Kosovo to gain its dialling code and for the Serb company to get an operating license and provisional jurisdiction to establish a mobile telephone network in Kosovo.

Hoxhaj congratulates Guterres on his selection as UN chief (RTK)

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, has congratulated former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres for his appointment to the post of UN Secretary-General. Hoxhaj tweeted that election of Guterres is good news for the world.

Court of Appeals sides with Grabovci, overrules decision against him (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that the Court of Appeals has partly accepted a request by Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP, Adem Grabovci, against a decision by the first instance court which had overruled Grabovci’s earlier request to stop the publication of leaked wiretapped conversations among senior PDK officials. The Court of Appeals called on the Basic Court of Pristina to decide on this case again, citing procedural violations. The Kosovo Journalists’ Association reacted on Thursday expressing their suspicion that there will not be a merited sentence in the affair. The paper also quotes several legal experts as saying that this is an attempt to violate freedom of expression.

Demolli: Preparations for transformation of KSF are completed (Epoka)

The Minister of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), Haki Demolli, said that the required preparations for transformation of the KSF into the Armed Forces of Kosovo are completed. He guaranteed that Kosovo is determined to build a force that would serve all Kosovo citizens, and which would serve to peace and stability of the region and further. Demolli made these comments during a meeting with NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Operations Dr. John Manza. Demolli added that the process of transformation will be transparent to local and international institutions.

Final decision on Kosova e Re power plant to be made today (Koha)

Kosovo’s Minister for Economic Development, Blerand Stavileci, said on Thursday that the final decision on the construction of the new power plant, Kosova e Re [New Kosova], will be made on Friday. Stavileci said he will travel to the U.S. and that he hopes he will return with good news from there. KTV reported on Thursday evening that at a recent video-conference between Kosovo representatives and leaders of the World Bank, the latter were in favour of supporting the project. The power plant is expected to be funded by Contour Global and the construction will be done by a company that will be selected through an open competition. The investment is expected to be over €1 billion and the power plant will produce 500 megawatts of electricity.