Headlines - 23.01.2017

• Thaci and Nikolic to join the EU-facilitated dialogue (Koha Ditore)
• Mustafa: The provocative train was stopped by institutions (Fjala)
• Lavrov: Albanian forces should not be in Serb-inhabited areas (Kosova Sot)
• AAK’s Arifi against upcoming Mustafa-Vucic meeting (RTK)
• Serbian List ignores PM Mustafa (Zëri)
• Special Court President starts work officially (Zëri)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Thaci and Nikolic to join the EU-facilitated dialogue (Koha Ditore)

The paper quotes the European Commission foreign affairs spokesperson, Maja Kocijancic, as saying that they are still working on the details of the upcoming round of dialogue in Brussels but added that it is up to the parties to decide who they wish to send.  Serbia on Sunday decided to add President Tomislav Nikolic to its delegation while Kosovo officials also said both Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and President Hashim Thaci would be part of dialogue.

Mustafa: The provocative train was stopped by institutions (Fjala)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, believes that he will be able to fulfill his promise for employment of 120,000 people within his four-year mandate of governing. In an interview for Fjala newspaper, Mustafa said that the issue of the demarcation of the border with Montenegro will be concluded very soon, and promised that Kosovo will not give a single hectare in exchange for visa liberalization.  Asked about the Serbian train, Mustafa said that it was stopped by Kosovo institutions, with the substantial support of the international partners. “Therefore, the train was not sopped by individuals as such, but by leaders of institutions of Kosovo, in full coordination among themselves and the international community which offered irreplaceable support in this process. As far as Kosovo is concerned, stopping of the train was result of functioning of the entire institutional competent chain,” Mustafa said. 

Lavrov: Albanian forces should not be in Serb-inhabited areas (Kosova Sot)

Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, said at a press conference that European Union should get involved in de-escalating the situation in Kosovo. Commenting on the Belgrade-Mitrovica train which Kosovo police prevented from entering Kosovo, Lavrov said “there should be no Albanian law enforcement agencies in northern Kosovo where ethnic Serbs live.”

AAK’s Arifi against upcoming Mustafa-Vucic meeting (RTK)

The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) senior official, Avni Arifi, said that a meeting between Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa and his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic at a time when Ramush Haradinaj is not yet acquitted means ignoring the voice of citizens and protests in the recent days. He also said such a meeting goes against everything Kosovo government officials said regarding Serbia’s arrest warrants.

Serbian List ignores PM Mustafa (Zëri)

Kosovo Assembly Serb MPs did not respect the request of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, to return to their positions, and respect the law and Constitution of Kosovo. “We are determined to implement the agreements, including the one on Association, but with Serbs. I invite Serb ministers to return to the government,” Mustafa said. Despite this call, the Serbian Lists remained silent. The paper has tried twice to contact representatives of this political party, however it did not receive any response. Not only that the Prime Minister’s call did not receive any reply, but it irritated the other political parties, which insist that Mustafa should stop with such requests and act in a braver manner when this political party is concerned. 

Special Court President starts work officially (Zëri)

The President of the Special Court, Ekaterina Trandafilova, has officially started her work of consolidating the team which will be dealing with investigation of the crimes alleged to have been committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). The next major step of the Court is nomination of the judges that will be dealing with concrete cases. The spokesperson of the Special Court, Avis Benes, confirmed for the paper that the first duty of the President of the Court will be preparation of the plenary session for the judges. The first indictments are expected to start on the first six months of this year.