Headlines - 04.09.2018

• Limaj, head of negotiating team for discussions with Serbia (Epoka)
• Kosovo Assembly to debate negotiating team in extraordinary session (Koha)
• Juncker supports reach of an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia (Epoka)
• Mogherini says there are realistic chances of Thaci-Vucic agreement (Koha/Bota)
• Veseli: Independence borders cannot be touched (Klan Kosova)
• Mustafa: LDK against the territory swap idea (Koha)
• Kurti meets Mustafa, agree to cooperate (Telegrafi)
• Pacolli does not ravel to Banja Luka due to Dodik’s threats (RTK)
• Civil society to hold another protest on Wednesday (Koha)
• Former KLA members request Lumezi’s dismissal (Epoka)

 Kosovo Media Highlights

Limaj, head of negotiating team for discussions with Serbia (Epoka)

The government of Kosovo has nominated the negotiating team for the dialogue for normalization of the relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Deputy Prime Minister Fatmir Limaj will be the chief of the negotiating team in the discussions with Serbia. His deputy will be the other deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj. Members of the negotiating team will be Behgjet Pacolli, Dardan Gashi, Avni Arifi and Mahir Yagcilar. The Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj, who is not part of this team, repeated that no one in this process has the mandate to negotiate the borders of Kosovo. “This is taking over responsibility by the government as well. We do not think that we are taking President’s job with this, however government should take over responsibilities and I chose the highest level possible, deputy prime ministers, to be part of the delegation,” Kosovo’s Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said.

 

Kosovo Assembly to debate negotiating team in extraordinary session (Koha)

Kosovo Assembly has scheduled an extraordinary session today to discuss the government’s proposal to appoint a negotiating team for dialogue with Serbia. The decision came shortly after the Assembly already scheduled a session today on President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci’s idea of “border adjustment” with Serbia.

Juncker supports reach of an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia (Epoka)

The office of the President of Kosovo issued a press release which informs that the President Hashim Thaçi, held on Monday a telephone conversation with the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker. Reportedly, they discussed visa liberalisation process, Kosovo’s European perspective and the final stage of the dialogue on the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. “President Thaçi stressed that visa free movement for Kosovo's citizens must be made possible swiftly and must bring to end Kosovo’s isolation. The two presidents also talked about the final stage of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed his full support to the achievement of an agreement between the two countries as a condition for securing of the long-term peace in the Western Balkans and opening of the prospect for EU membership,” informs the press release.

 

Mogherini says there are realistic chances of Thaci-Vucic agreement (Koha/Bota)

Days ahead of the next meeting between presidents of Kosovo and Serbia, Hashim Thaci and Alekdandar Vucic respectively, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said she believes parties can reach agreement. Mogherini said the coming months will be important. “There are realistic chances for presidents Vucic and Thaci to come to an agreement that would resolve all open issues between Belgrade and Pristina,” Mogherini said adding that a comprehensive and legally-binding agreement would not only have to normalise relations between Belgrade and Pristina but also help stability in the region and be in line with international law. “We need to do everything in our power together with our partners in Europe, region, and the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to support these negotiations through dialogue,” Mogherini is quoted to have said at the annual conference of EU ambassadors.

Veseli: Independence borders cannot be touched (Klan Kosova)

Kadri Veseli, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK,) said the final agreement with Serbia will be acceptable only if Kosovo’s borders are the ones of the declaration of independence on 17 February 2008 and the if country gains a seat at the United Nations. Veseli called on the opposition political parties to join in a consensus for the final phase of the dialogue with Serbia and leave aside political grudges which harm Kosovo.

 

Mustafa: LDK against the territory swap idea (Koha)

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Isa Mustafa, said in an interview for KTV that it would be ridiculous and absurd to think that Serbia would agree to give Presevo Valley to Kosovo without getting anything in return. He said his party would reject any deal that involves exchange of territories but that this does not mean to say LDK will not continue to express interest about the wellbeing of Albanian community in the Valley. He said that under no circumstances can Kosovo follow the Bosnian model whereby its constitutional order would transform into an asymmetric one which does not function.

Kurti meets Mustafa, agree to cooperate (Telegrafi)

In an interview with an Albanian media outlet, Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti said he has met the leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Isa Mustafa and that their cooperation will begin in the coming days. “We will come out with a joint parliamentary resolution tomorrow [Tuesday],” Kurti said. He said that the government’s appointment of a negotiating team is aimed to serve as a shield for President Hashim Thaci who, in Kurti’s view, is a man that is not interested in protecting Kosovo’s integrity.

Pacolli does not ravel to Banja Luka due to Dodik’s threats (RTK)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Behghet Pacolli, annulled his participation at the meeting of the foreign ministers of the member states of the South Eastern Cooperation Process, due to the threats of the President of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik. He reportedly told media on Monday that Pacolli and Kosovo delegation are not welcome in Banja Luka.  “The region cannot move forward with politicians like Dodik. His threatening discourse reminds us of a near past of radical politicians as him and on consequences of such threats. The Republic of Kosocvo remains committed to regional cooperation, while I call on EU officials, especially those of the European Commission, not to remain silent towards these phenomena,” Pacolli wrote on his Facebook account.

 

Civil society to hold another protest on Wednesday (Koha)

Civil society organisations have announced another protest on Wednesday against the situation in the judicial sector. Organisers said the judiciary has been put in the service of politicians thus preventing the citizens from living in a safe environment. Organizers also said their demands remain unchanged and include dismissal of chief prosecutor Aleksander Lumezi, judicial vetting process and cleaning-up of KLA veterans’ lists.

Former KLA members request Lumezi’s dismissal (Epoka)

Former members of Kosovo Liberation Army of the 113 brigade “Muje Krasniqi” which acted in Drenica operative zone, protested on Monday in Pristina, with the request to remove the fake war veterans from the lists of pension beneficiaries. Organiser of this protest, Faik Zogaj submitted their demands to the Assembly of Kosovo. They requested removal of the fake war veterans from the lists, rights for the true ones and dismissal of the chief prosecutor Aleksander Lumezi.