• Media: No results reached at Berlin Summit
• Kosovo and Serbia agree to resume EU-brokered dialogue (Express)
• Thaci: We agreed to disagree (media)
• Haradinaj: Serbia should recognize Kosovo in its current borders (media)
• Thaci meets Mogherini: Kosovo ready to resume dialogue (media)
• Vucic: Not a single progress, new discussions in Paris (RTK)
• Pacolli: Mutual recognition, key topic of meeting in Paris (media)
• Thaci and Haradinaj meet U.S. Ambassador in Germany (Epoka)
• After Veseli’s initiative, U.S. reacts first on Serbia’s crimes in Kosovo (media)
• Ragmi Mustafa: Do not forget Presevo Valley (RTK)

Media: No results reached at Berlin Summit

The leading story in the media on Monday and today is the Berlin Summit, with most media highlighting that “no results were reached at the meeting” and that “the parties have maintained their positions”. Under the front-page headline Differences reemphasized in Berlin, Koha Ditore reports that “despite efforts by German Chancellor Merkel and French President Macron to impose unity among leaders of the region, differences were apparent before, during and after the summit. There were differences between Kosovo and Serbia, differences within the European Union and even differences among Kosovo’s leaders”. Epoka e Re reports on its front page that Merkel and Macron confirmed their commitment to a solution between Kosovo and Serbia and to the stability of the Western Balkans. They said that the resolution of the problem between Kosovo and Serbia must benefit the whole region and that there cannot be a solution that could have consequences for other countries in the region. Zeri reports on the front page that “neither the tariff nor visas were removed in Berlin”. The paper further notes that there was no support for Kosovo President Thaci’s idea on the borders, there was no agreement to lift the import tariff on Serbian goods, and there were no signs from the European Union for visa liberalization for Kosovo. Kosova Sot highlights on the front page that “President Thaci has blamed the European Union and that he has asked for the inclusion of the United States of America in the process of dialogue”. “The meeting in Berlin was exceptionally difficult. I cannot say that there were any concrete results from the meeting,” Thaci is quoted as saying. In its coverage of the summit, Bota Sot reports that “Thaci has backed down from the border correction idea” and quotes him as saying that “the United States of America must have a crucial role in an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia”.

Kosovo and Serbia agree to resume EU-brokered dialogue (Express)

The Pristina-based news website reports that the conclusions published on the website of the German Chancellery, following the Berlin Summit, note that Kosovo and Serbia have agreed to implement the agreements reached so far and to resume the EU-brokered dialogue in Brussels. “Participants highlighted the importance of a comprehensive and transparent negotiating process which should be followed with trust-building measures,” the statement notes. It also says that the parties have agreed to intensify their efforts to create a regional economic zone in line with the 2018 Sofia Summit Declaration and the conclusions of the Western Balkans Summit in London in 2018.

Thaci: We agreed to disagree (media)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci told reporters after the Berlin Summit that “the meeting was exceptionally difficult” and that it is disappointing that there is no decision yet on visa liberalization for Kosovo. “Kosovo has made it very clear that we need visa liberalization and that we have met the requirements. There was lack of clarity [at the meeting] on visa liberalization, this is injustice and a punishment for Kosovo,” Thaci said. The Kosovo President reconfirmed the commitment for good neighborly relations and the normalization of relations with Serbia. “The frozen conflict between Kosovo and Serbia must be overcome and dialogue is the only way forward. There won’t be a conditioned process of dialogue … Dialogue must happen in a normal process and lead to the recognition of Kosovo,” he said. Thaci confirmed that the next meeting will be held in Paris on June 1. He added that at the core of the future agreement between Kosovo and Serbia must be the letter of U.S. President Donald Trump. Thaci argued that there will be no exchange of territories and that he will continue to push for Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac to join the territory of Kosovo. “I will not allow autonomy for Serbs in Kosovo. These ideas are dead. There will also be no Association with executive competencies,” he added. Thaci said the common denominator of the summit was “we agreed to disagree”.

Haradinaj: Serbia should recognize Kosovo in its current borders (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said after the Berlin Summit that Serbia should recognize Kosovo’s independence and sovereignty in its current borders, all media report. “It is apparent that we cannot move forward without accepting the truth and reality. The truth is that Kosovo has suffered greatly in the past and we had to start from scratch, and the reality is that Kosovo is now an independent country. Everyone should accept this reality before we can move forward,” he said. Haradinaj added that Serbia’s recognition of Kosovo would be the starting point towards progress.

Thaci meets Mogherini: Kosovo ready to resume dialogue (media)

Prior to the start of the Berlin Summit, Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci together with the Deputy Prime Minister Behgjet Pacolli, met with the EU High Representative Frederica Mogherini. “To us, our neighbors and the EU itself, an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia is vital in order to move forward together. After the reach opf the agreement between Northern Macedonia and Greece, this meeting would bring peace and stability to the region. We have the support of the European Union, U.S. and the entire world to reach a peaceful, final and comprehensive agreement with Serbia. We are ready to resume with the dialogue in Brussels,” Thaci said.

Vucic: Not a single progress, new discussions in Paris (RTK)

The President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic said after the conclusion of the Berlin Summit that no progress was made. “The conclusion of the Summit to is to resume discussions in a close format, with EU’s, Germany’s and France’s mediation,” he said. He added that the Summit had a formal conclusion and there was no voting on any matter, except for the agreement to resume with discussions in July. The next meeting about Kosovo and Serbia, invited by the French President Emanuel Macron, will be held in Paris on 1 July.

Pacolli: Mutual recognition, key topic of meeting in Paris (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Behgjet Pacolli, said on Monday that mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia and the normalization of relations between the two countries will be the key topic of the upcoming meeting in Paris. Pacolli also said that under the leadership of German Chancellor Merkel and French President Macron, the European perspective of the Western Balkans is guaranteed.

Thaci and Haradinaj meet U.S. Ambassador in Germany (Epoka)

The President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci met on Monday in Berlin with the U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell. “To the Republic of Kosovo, close coordination with the United States of America is very important. Before the start of the Berlin Summit, we had an important meeting also with the U.S. Ambassador in Germany Richard Grenell. The U.S. role has been and will remain always determinant to us. We are blessed with U.S. support,” Thaci said. Kosovo’s Prime Minister on the other hand said that he stressed during this meeting that the government of Kosovo strongly objects the idea of exchange of territories, assessing it a dangerous option that would destabilise not only Kosovo but the entire region. “The U.S. role in further political processes of the country is necessary,” Haradinaj said.

After Veseli’s initiative, U.S. reacts first on Serbia’s crimes in Kosovo (media)

The United States of America are once again the first ones to react in defense of Kosovo by condemning Serbia’s war crimes twenty years later. The U.S. Congress will hold today (Tuesday) a hearing session with regards to the twentieth anniversary of the end of the conflict, where Ilir Bytyci, Atifete Jahjaga and Vasfije Krasniqi – Goodman will testify for Serbia’s crimes in Kosovo. “This year marks the 20th anniversary of the NATO humanitarian intervention in Kosovo to stop ethnic cleansing carried out by Serbia. Approximately a million people were displaced, thousands murdered, 20.000 women and men raped, and over 1500 people are still missing. Serbia has failed to convict the perpetrators of war crimes committed in Kosovo,” is written in the agenda for the hearing session of the U.S. Congress.

Ragmi Mustafa: Do not forget Presevo Valley (RTK)

Ragmi Mustafa, significant Albanian politician in Presevo Valley, had a message for Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci and PM Ramush Haradinaj on the verge of the Berlin Summit. He took to Facebook to write that Presevo Valley should be the key issue during the dialogue with Serbia.  “The status of Presevo Valley Albanians should be the main topic in order to strengthen further the will of Albanians in these three municipalities also at higher international instances, towards their reunification with the Republic of Kosovo, based on the will of the Albanians in Presevo, Bujanovc, and Medvegje, expressed in the referendum of 1 and 2 March 1992,” Mustafa wrote.