Headlines - 30.01.2017

• Kosovo government pledges to refrain from unilateral actions (Koha Ditore)
• Prime ministers of Kosovo and Serbia to meet on 1 February (Kosova Sot)
• NATO Secretary General to visit Kosovo (RTK)
• Mustafa: Without demarcation, no visas in 2017 (Zeri)
• Bahtiri: Wall in Mitrovica to be demolished in February (Zëri) 

Kosovo Media Highlights 

Kosovo government pledges to refrain from unilateral actions (Koha Ditore)

The government of Kosovo is reported to have assured the EU officials in Brussels facilitating the dialogue with Serbia that it will not undertake unilateral tensions that could create further tensions. EU foreign affairs and security policy spokesperson, Maja Kocijancic, said both Pristina and Belgrade have pledged to refrain from actions that could lead to tensions. This, according to the paper, means that the government is unlikely to respect the Assembly of Kosovo resolution which calls for the demolishing of the Mitrovica North wall by 31 January. Kosovo’s Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, told the paper that the government is working “intensively” in removing the wall. However, the EU did not want to comment on the specific cases, including the Mitrovica North wall.

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, has already called the next high-level meeting between Kosovo and Serbia prime ministers. Even though not travelling to Brussels this time, President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci had a telephone conversation during the weekend with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic. “We agreed to work together on resolving through dialogue all issues of mutual interest and related to the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia,” Thaci said afterwards.

Prime ministers of Kosovo and Serbia to meet on 1 February (Kosova Sot)

Ahead of the next meeting between Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, and Prime Minister of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, expected to take place on 1 February, Kosovo’s Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, said that the focus of the meeting will be reconfirmation for implementation of agreements reached between the parties so far. At the same time, Epoka e Re quotes Tahiri as saying that the delegations will discuss the final stage of the dialogue process.

NATO Secretary General to visit Kosovo (RTK)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is expected to visit Kosovo on 3 February and meet President Hashim Thaci and Prime Minister Isa Mustafa as well as visit KFOR troops. RTK reports that Stoltenberg’s visit comes following the recent tensions between Kosovo and Serbia.

Mustafa: Without demarcation, no visas in 2017 (Zeri)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, reconfirmed to the paper that if the agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro is not ratified during February, visa liberalization for Kosovo citizens might not happen in 2017. He said that the responsibility for keeping the citizens hostage belongs to the MPs who are impeding the process. Speaking about the calls to interrupt the dialogue with Serbia, Mustafa said that isolation without an alternative would have not been an achievement and it would interrupt Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic integration processes.

Bahtiri: Wall in Mitrovica to be demolished in February (Zëri)

Agim Bahtiri, mayor of Mitrovica south municipality, told Radio Free Europe that the wall in Mitrovica North is considered by authorities in Pristina as illegal and dividing therefore will be demolished in February. “The wall will be removed because there is no room for walls in Kosovo’s and Europe’s cities. I consider that Kosovo will become Europe and such walls do not lead anywhere. Those who built the wall have to demolish it. I have requested from the mayor of Mitrovica North, Goran Rakić, to do so because it is in their interest as well as in mutual interest to once and for all free the city, free the movement of people, and signalize peace instead of barricades,” Bahtiri said.