Headlines - 04.08.2018

• Thaci calls on people of Kosovo to refrain from provocations (media)
• Haradinaj: Redrawing of borders leads to war (RTK)
• EU calls on Kosovo and Serbia not to create tensions (media)
• Delawie welcomes EU statement to Pristina and Belgrade (Koha)
• Bahtiri: Nothing will happen in the north of Kosovo (Telegrafi)
• Djuric: Serbs in Kosovo will not declare autonomy (RTK/Lajmi)
• Vetevendosje: Thaci’s failure to mention Mitrovica, treason (media)
• AKI deputy chief dismissed (media)

 Kosovo Media Highlights

Thaci calls on people of Kosovo to refrain from provocations (media)

In a statement issued today to the people of Kosovo, President Hashim Thaci, called on everyone to refrain from provocations and keep calm at this very important time for Kosovo. He said Kosovo is committed to achieving a historic, legally-binding agreement with Serbia. “Institutions of Kosovo are determined to finalise work on the draft statute for the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, based on agreements reached in 2013 and 2015 in Brussels between Kosovo and Serbia and based on the ruling of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kosovo,” Thaci said.

Haradinaj: Redrawing of borders leads to war (RTK)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, told public broadcaster that border with Serbia will remain unchanged.  “No one should dare play with borders, attempt to correct the border or exchange territories,” Haradinaj said. He said there is only one person who would favour redrawing of borders in the region and that is the Russian President, Vladimir Putin. “He [Putin] would gladly move borders in Bosnia in order to gain precedent. It would be a mistake on our part to help Putin,” Haradinaj said noting that any movement of borders would mean a new war in the Balkans. He added that any unilateral action in the north of Kosovo will be met by Kosovo’s institutions’ response. “Whoever thinks of suprising Kosovo with unilateral actions will face Kosovo’s response,” Haradinaj said adding that one-sided actions go against dialogue and Kosovo’s constitutional order.

EU calls on Kosovo and Serbia not to create tensions (media)

European Union has called on Pristina and Belgrade not to create tensions in Kosovo that could hamper joint efforts towards reaching a final agreement. The office of the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement that the EU understands that work on the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities draft statute is ongoing. “At the same time, the EU continues to work with both sides to ensure implementation of this agreement and all other agreements reached in the European Union-facilitated dialogue,” the statement is reported to state.

Delawie welcomes EU statement to Pristina and Belgrade (Koha)

The US Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, welcomed the EU statement confirming that the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities will be discussed in the next meeting in Brussels. “I think that should help us all relax and enjoy a nice weekend,” Delawie wrote on his Twitter account.

Bahtiri: Nothing will happen in the north of Kosovo (Telegrafi)

Mitrovica Mayor, Agim Bahtiri, said he met yesterday with President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, as well as other senior officials and discussed the recent situation in Kosovo, particularly that in the north. A press release issued by Mitrovica municipality states that recent media reports concerning the north have caused insecurity and concern with the residents and quotes Bahtiri as saying that the situation is calm and stable and that “none of the scenarios mentioned in different media will unfold in the north of the Republic of Kosovo.”  Bahtiri also said he met KFOR Commander, Salvatore Cuoci, and that he was assured that KFOR stands ready to implement its mission and that it has enough capacities to maintain peace and security throughout Kosovo.

Djuric: Serbs in Kosovo will not declare autonomy (RTK/Lajmi)

Head of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, told RTS that Serbs in Kosovo will not take any measures that would trigger the reaction of Albanians or a part of the international community. He said the false information campaign is being led by ‘minor’ representatives of Serbs who, Djuric said, work directly for the interests of Pristina.

Vetevendosje: Thaci’s failure to mention Mitrovica, treason (media)

Opposition Vetevendosje has released a statement as a reaction to yesterday’s press conference held by President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, saying that throughout the briefing, Thaci spoke of dialogue with Serbia but never once mentioned Mitrovica even when specifically asked about it. “To speak before reporters for over half an hour about Kosovo’s relations with Serbia without mentioning Mitrovica even once, is nothing short of treason,” Vetevendosje said. “Kosovo definitely needs new parliamentary elections but also a new president of the Republic to prioritise democratic state-building, rule of law and economic development,” said the party adding that as far as Serbia is concerned, it needs to recognise independence of Kosovo and the right to reciprocity and also to apologise for what it has done in Kosovo.   

AKI deputy chief dismissed (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, and President, Hashim Thaci, signed jointly a letter dismissing deputy chief of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, Latif Merovci.