Headlines - 22.12.2018

• Haradinaj: Kosovo stands firm in fight against IS (media)
• Veseli: Kosovo Army to be equipped with 250 armoured vehicles (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo Assembly approves in principle 2019 budget (Zeri)
• LDK, Vetevendosje not to attend Veseli-called meeting (media)
• Rama to Brnabic: Kosovo is independent as are its decisions (media)

 Kosovo Media Highlights

Haradinaj: Kosovo stands firm in fight against IS (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj said that Kosovo, as part of the global coalition against IS, remains firm in fighting violent extremism. In a Facebook post, Haradinaj said they were carefully following developments regarding the announced withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria and that as partner of the U.S., “Kosovo will remain committed in continuing to implement its responsibilities and its role towards national, regional and international security.”

Veseli: Kosovo Army to be equipped with 250 armoured vehicles (Telegrafi)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli said in an interview that the Kosovo Army is a continuation of the Kosovo Liberation Army and that the transition process will take several years. He said the new Kosovo army is being equipped with armament and that it will have 250 armoured vehicles. “The United States are our biggest supporter. We will receive support in way of armament, this is only the beginning,” Veseli said.

Kosovo Assembly approves in principle 2019 budget (Zeri)

Kosovo Assembly approved in principle yesterday draft law for next year’s budget with votes from the ruling coalition parties and of the Social Democratic Party (PSD). Meanwhile, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and Vetevendosje boycotted the session. PSD raised several concerns regarding the draft law and demanded they be taken into account before the draft law is presented for the second reading.

LDK, Vetevendosje not to attend Veseli-called meeting (media)

Opposition parties - the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and Vetevendosje - have announced they will not be attending the meeting on Wednesday called by Assembly Speaker and leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) to discuss dialogue with Serbia. Instead, the two parties have gathered signatures to call an extraordinary session of the Assembly to debate the draft comprehensive agreement with Serbia that the Government of Kosovo has recently presented, Koha reports.

Rama to Brnabic: Kosovo is independent as are its decisions (media)

Online media are quoting reports from the Tirana-based Top Channel about a letter Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama wrote in response to two previous ones sent to him by the Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic urging him to use his influence in making authorities in Pristina to implement international agreements and rescind import tariffs on goods from Serbia. Brnabic also asked Rama to reconsider Albania’s position in support of independence of Kosovo.  “The position of Albania is that Kosovo is an independent and sovereign country and takes decisions in an independent manner which Serbia should respect as a reflection of the sovereign will of the people of Kosovo,” Rama said. He added that Albania has expressed support for the EU-facilitated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia but cannot fail to notice that under the mask of dialogue Serbia has carried out hostile acts against Kosovo which damage the spirit of regional cooperation.