Headlines - 08.03.2018

• Pristina Mayor Shpend Ahmeti resigns from Vetevendosje Movement (media)
• Haxhiu to Ahmeti: Pristina citizens did not deserve your resignation (Koha)
• Hoxhaj: Last train for border demarcation leaves 23 March (Zeri/Lajmi)
• A group of students protest over border demarcation (Zeri)
• Stavileci: Demarcation to be voted very soon (RTK)
• Selakovic: Serbian list will vote demarcation (RTK)
• Pristina silent in face of Serbia’s internal dialogue moving to Kosovo (Koha)
• Pacolli: There will be new recognitions despite Serbia’s obstacles (Koha/RFE)
• On 8 March, Kosovo women to march not celebrate (Telegrafi/KP)
• Kosovo Assembly to debate domestic violence today (Indeksonline)
• Assembly sends to government proposal for accreditation agency board (Koha)

 Kosovo Media Highlights

Pristina Mayor Shpend Ahmeti resigns from Vetevendosje Movement (media)

Shpend Ahmeti, one of the most significant figures of Vetevendosje movement during the last years, has resigned from the party. In his letter addressed to the people of Kosovo, colleagues and friends, he wrote that Kosovo continues to be in a difficult political and social condition. “On the tenth anniversary of independence, we do not have how to not reflect about what this state could be if we managed to change political generations, not by age but mindset,” he wrote. “During the last seven years I was willingly engaged in Vetevendosje Movement. Together, we achieved extraordinary successes and fought harmful processes with citizens of Kosovo. Staying together we managed to convince 200,000 citizens that change is needed and possible…” “This is not a letter of blame, nor a letter to explain how all this happened. The others are talking, even more than they should,” Ahmeti wrote adding that he cannot speak against any of the Vetevendosje members because he cannot change his opinion that quickly. “I have not joined Vetevendosje to fight each other within the organisation,” he added.  “During the last weeks I have understood many things about the organisation that I was not aware before. These things were not discussed with me. However, this is not the reason of my decision. The motive of my decision today is that the cause for which I joined Vetevendosje is not there anymore. Disagreements have damaged the spirit, trust and consequently, the cause. I do not believe anymore that the organisation, in the current situation, is the fastest way toward change,” Shpend Ahmeti wrote.

Haxhiu to Ahmeti: Pristina citizens did not deserve your resignation (Koha)

Vetevendosje MP, Albulena Haxhiu, reacted to Pristina Mayor Shpend Ahmeti’s resignation from Vetevendosje saying citizens of Pristina did not deserve to be treated like this. “I remember as it was yesterday, the activists and volunteers that worked relentlessly for Shpend to win the second term as Mayor of Pristina from Vetevendosje Movement. They, and above all, the citizens of Pristina, did not deserve your resignation, Shpend,” Haxhiu wrote on Facebook.

Hoxhaj: Last train for border demarcation leaves 23 March (Zeri/Lajmi)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, said that the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro needs to be ratified as soon as possible so that Kosovo can catch up on lost time regarding EU integration. “The meeting of European Council is on 22 and 23 March and to have Kosovo included in its agenda we need to vote [demarcation] and catch up,” Hoxhaj said.

A group of students protest over border demarcation (Zeri)

A group of Kosovo students protested in front of the Assembly building demanding the ratification of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. The protesters were dressed in prison uniforms symbolizing the inability of Kosovo people to travel freely to Europe.

Stavileci: Demarcation to be voted very soon (RTK)

Member of the leadership of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Blerand Stavileci, said the session on demarcation of the border with Montenegro will be held very soon. He mentioned Friday or beginning of next week as possible days for the session. He said that the three lost years with demarcation have to be compensated somehow. “I would want all political parties to agree and to be on the same side on this matter,” he said.

Selakovic: Serbian list will vote demarcation (RTK)

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, has sent to Kosovo on Wednesday his most trusted person, Nikola Selakovic, RTK reports. The Secretary of the Serbian Presidency discussed with local leaders in the Kosovo village of Laplje Selo about the internal dialogue in Belgrade towards Pristina. Former Kosovo Assembly MP, Nenad Rasic, said to Selakovic that the Serbian List will vote for the Kosovo-Montenegro border demarcation which, according to him, confirms state borders of Kosovo. Selakovic’s response was not the one frequently heard by Belgrade government, reports RTK. “When demarcation with Montenegro was mentioned, I remembered the fact that this happened with Macedonia years ago. Even at that time, some supported it, and now there are talks that this should not be supported. This is strange,” he said. Speaking about selling of Kosovo Serb properties, Selakovic said this happened even when Serbia had sovereignty over Kosovo, let alone now when it doesn’t.

Pristina silent in face of Serbia’s internal dialogue moving to Kosovo (Koha)

The paper reports that Serbian authorities have moved the internal dialogue on the issue of Kosovo to Kosovo itself by organising a number of conferences in areas with Serb majority. Apart from Serbian government officials taking part in these events, the paper claims that Serb ministers part of the Kosovo government have also been seen in attendance. Meanwhile, the government of Kosovo did not say whether these activities are taking place with their knowledge and approval. The Ministry of Internal Affairs said the issue needs to be addressed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while the latter, including the government of Kosovo, provided no comment. Analyst Imer Mushkolaj said such visits from Belgrade officials present a provocation and should not be allowed by the Kosovo institutions. “Internal dialogue can take place in Serbia but not in Kosovo too. Kosovo Serbs are citizens of this country and there is no need to be any internal dialogue involving them,” Mushkolaj said.

Pacolli: There will be new recognitions despite Serbia’s obstacles (Koha/RFE)

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Behgjet Pacolli, said there will be new recognitions of Kosovo’s independence with the newest one expected by the end of this month. He said he was aware of Serbia’s efforts to hinder the process and even try to convince countries that have already recognised Kosovo to revoke their recognitions but that he has faith in Kosovo’s capacity to successfully face “the diplomatic offensive of the Serbian state”. “Serbia has in a way woken from its sleep this year and is working very hard with countries that have recognised Kosovo, particularly targeting economically weak countries,” Pacolli said.

On 8 March, Kosovo women to march not celebrate (Telegrafi/KP)

On 8 March, the International Women’s Day, the Kosovo Women’s Network and other associations have called a march to protest demanding gender and social justice for women. The march will take place at the Zahir Pajaziti square in Pristina starting at 12.

Kosovo Assembly to debate domestic violence today (Indeksonline)

On 8 March, the International Women’s Day, the Assembly of Kosovo will hold a session to discuss domestic violence and institutional response to it. The session is set to begin at 10.

Assembly sends to government proposal for accreditation agency board (Koha)

Kosovo Assembly has sent back to the government the list with candidates for the Kosovo Accreditation Agency board proposed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. Furthermore, in a resolution the Assembly calls on Minister Shyqyri Bytyqi to report to MPs on the reasons he dismissed the previous board. The Assembly convened yesterday an extraordinary session on the request of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) following the Kosovo Accreditation Agency’s exclusion from the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR).