Headlines - 04.05.2018

• Haradinaj: Partition has been mentioned to me as option, I am against it (Koha)
• Heldt: Germany stands by Kosovo’s territorial integrity (Koha Ditore)
• Pristina and Belgrade negotiators soon to be called in Brussels (Zeri)
• “Brussels agreements to be used exclusively in drafting ACSMM statute” (Koha)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo ready for visa liberalisation (Zeri)
• Kadri Veseli calls party leaders for a consensus roundtable (RTK)
• LDK gives positive signals on PDK’s invitation for a roundtable (Indeksonline)
• “Government and opposition should unite on major issues of the country” (RTK)
• Hoxhaj in Berlin to discuss dialogue (RTK)

 Kosovo Media Highlights

Haradinaj: Partition has been mentioned to me as option, I am against it (Koha)

At the Assembly of Kosovo session yesterday, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj was asked to comment on reports that Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and Serbia’s Aleksandar Vucic are discussing the option of Kosovo’s partition and that it was Germany that prevented this scenario from unfolding. Haradinaj said he was not aware of such discussions taking place but did admit that the partition was mentioned to him as an option but more as an idea that originated in Serbia. “I believe my views are clear, this would be a return to tragedy, to the times of former Yugoslavia’s wars and I have not changed this position,” Haradinaj said.

Heldt: Germany stands by Kosovo’s territorial integrity (Koha Ditore)

In a front-page interview with the paper, the German Ambassador to Kosovo Christian Heldt said that a legally-binding agreement between Kosovo and Serbia would be the only way to resolve open issues but that everything depends on what this agreement entails. “For Kosovo and Serbia to be able to join the EU, such an agreement would have to directly regulate future Kosovo-Serbia relations and not create uncertainties which would later present difficulties inside the EU,” Heldt said. Asked about the possibility of Kosovo’s partition as part of this final settlement, Heldt said: “Germany stands by Kosovo’s territorial integrity. To me, talks about change of border are dangerous and I reject them.” He also said that the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities ought to rest on the principles of the Constitutional Court ruling.

Pristina and Belgrade negotiators soon to be called in Brussels (Zeri)

EU foreign policy spokesperson, Maja Kocijancic, is reported to have told the paper that negotiators from Pristina and Belgrade will soon be invited to Brussels to discuss the drafting of the statute for the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. Meanwhile, Kosovo’s chief negotiator Avni Arifi said they have asked the EU to schedule the next round of the dialogue early this month but that they have not yet received any indications as to when this would take place.

“Brussels agreements to be used exclusively in drafting ACSMM statute” (Koha)

Kosovo’s Minister of Local Government and Administration from the Serbian List, Ivan Todosijevic, said he has made it clear to EU officials that the statute of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities will be drafted exclusively based on the Brussels Agreements. “Clear guidelines for the managing team are agreements reached in Brussels,” Todosijevic said. The paper highlights that Todosijevic’s position is in stark contrast to that of Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj who insists that the Constitutional Court ruling will be the basis for the drafting of the ACSMM statute.

Haradinaj: Kosovo ready for visa liberalisation (Zeri)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj said in the meeting with an EU delegation that Kosovo is ready for visa liberalisation and that the government is committed in implementing the final criteria regarding fight against corruption. In a statement issued after the meeting, the government of Kosovo said Haradinaj presented the progress Kosovo has made in the rule of law area.

Kadri Veseli calls party leaders for a consensus roundtable (RTK)

The leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Kadri Veseli, has sent on Thursday an invitation to the leaders of political parties, to gather at a roundtable to discuss reaching political consensus on major issues for Kosovo. The meeting is to take place on 8 May at 13:00 hours, at the Assembly of Kosovo. Veseli proposed to discuss priority matters of Kosovo, with a special focus on: the final phase of the dialogue for normalization of the relations between Kosovo and Serbia; Drafting of the statute for Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities; European integration agenda; creation of the army of Kosovo; and election reform.

LDK gives positive signals on PDK’s invitation for a roundtable (Indeksonline)

Deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Agim Veliu, said that the roundtable organized by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) was part of the agreement reached at the initial roundtable. He added that all political parties agreed on this. “We will discuss the current and problematic issues for Kosovo and we will make efforts to find readiness for a consensus. If consensus to overcome some major issues for Kosovo is not eventually reached, political parties have the right to deal with other issues,” Veliu said.

“Government and opposition should unite on major issues of the country” (RTK)

Kosovo Assembly MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Zenun Pajaziti, told RTK that the main test of maturity of the political class in Kosovo is behavior toward the dialogue with Serbia at this phase. Pajaziti noted that both round tables, the one already held, that was called by the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), and the one called by PDK on 8 May, are good ideas to treat the matters of joint interest. “Mr. Veseli has built a platform. The next meeting will be based on the five points of this platform, which are the key challenges of our country in this phase. Among them is the dialogue issue. We have had different divergences. I think that we should all get involved, to draft a platform, a framework with which our country would face these matter which is in the final phase,” Pajaziti said.

Hoxhaj in Berlin to discuss dialogue (RTK)

Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Enver Hoxhaj, has met in Berlin with Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, to discuss developments in the region. “Always a pleasure to meet mine and Kosovo’s friend, Wolfgang Ischinger. We discussed today in Berlin about the developments in the country and region. We talked about the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which has to conclude with a legally-binding agreement, which means mutual recognition and Kosovo’s membership at the UN,” Hoxhaj wrote on his Facebook profile.