Headlines - 04.11.2017

• Soltes: No visa liberalization without fulfilling conditions (info/Koha)
• Thaci: Issue of missing persons to be of priority in Brussels dialogue (RTK)
• Haradinaj: No decision yet whether to leave CEFTA (EO/Koha)
• ECAP orders revote in three polling stations in Partesh/Partes (Zeri/Lajmi)
• Turkish national, Ugur Toksoy, released on bail (Koha)
• O’Connell hails allocation of budget for victims of sexual violence (RTK) 

Kosovo Media Highlights

Soltes: No visa liberalization without fulfilling conditions (Arbresh.info/Koha)

New European Parliament rapporteur for Kosovo, Igor Soltes, said in an interview to Arbresh.info news website that the non-recognition of Kosovo by five EU member states will be a challenge for his work as rapporteur. Soltes said in his recent trip to Kosovo with his predecessor, Ulrike Lunacek, they discussed the situation in Kosovo including visa liberalization and border demarcation with Montenegro. “We stressed that there are some expectations that need to be met,” Soltes said referring to the ratification of the border demarcation agreement before the decision to lift visas for the people of Kosovo. However, Soltes noted, they also spoke about progress in other issues like fight against crime, opening of new jobs, environment, energy, healthcare, and judiciary.

Thaci: Issue of missing persons to be of priority in Brussels dialogue (RTK)

President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, said in a meeting with representatives of missing persons from the Albanian and Serb community, Bajram Cerkini and Milorad Trifunovic, that dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia is expected to take on an increased dynamic and also include the issue of missing persons. Cerkini and Trifunovic on their part informed Thaci of the work of the Missing Persons Resource Centre and the success of associations in promoting dialogue and cooperation between families of missing persons from all ethnicities, a press release issued by Thaci’s office after the meeting states.

Haradinaj: No decision yet whether to leave CEFTA (EO/Koha)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, said the government has not yet decided whether to pull off from the CEFTA agreement as it still continues to be represented there through UNMIK. In 2007, UNMIK singed on behalf of Kosovo membership agreement and still continues to represent Kosovo in CEFTA meetings.

ECAP orders revote in three polling stations in Partesh/Partes (Zeri/Lajmi)

The Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) has ordered the Central Election Commission (CEC) to organize a revote in three polling stations in the municipality of Partesh/Partes following the complaint by mayoral candidate Nenad Cvetkovic from GI Narodna Sloga. Serbian List reacted to ECAP decision calling in politically motivated. Lajmi reports that the Serbian List said the decision represented the “most radical intrusion in the election will of the citizens of the Serb nationality.”

Turkish national, Ugur Toksoy, released on bail (Koha)

Ogur Toksoy, Turkish national wanted by authorities there for his alleged connection to the Gulen movement, has been released on bail by a Kosovo court after being arrested last week in Prizren. Koha quotes sources saying that a €5,000 bail was settled for Toksoy and that his passport has been confiscated by the court.

O’Connell hails allocation of budget for victims of sexual violence (RTK)

British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell has hailed the decision of the Kosovo government to allocate budget for victims of sexual violence during conflict. “This is an important step in recognising the effect of sexual violence in conflicts. I urge the government to continue reviewing the level of support, now that the government commission is beginning its work,” O’Connell said.