• Thaci: We have U.S. support for peaceful agreement with Serbia (Epoka)
• Chabert: Kosovo cannot afford to remain in ‘status quo’ (Koha Ditore)
• Haradinaj condemns detention of Serb officials, EU silent (Zeri)
• Study into effects of import tax presented in Pristina (media)
• Mustafa: Veseli’s idea for international tribunal, only a political initiative (Klan)
• Election campaign in northern municipalities begins today (media)
• Serbia alarmed: KSF part of NATO drill in Croatia (Bota Sot)
• UN approves budget for UNMIK (Klan Kosova)
• Uran Ismaili elected PDK leader in Pristina (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Thaci: We have U.S. support for peaceful agreement with Serbia (Epoka)

The President of Kosovo met on Saturday the U.S. Congressman Ed Case. During the meeting, Thaci said Kosovo enjoys full support for reaching a final, peaceful agreement with Serbia. “The Republic of Kosovo remains committed to peace and sustainable stability in the region, by building good relations with the neighbors and by working for the final peaceful agreement with Serbia. We enjoy the full support of the U.S. on this aim,” Thaci said.

The U.S. Congressman Ed Case met also with the Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj. The latter said the U.S. Congressman has confirmed that the United States of America remain an unshakable partner of Kosovo. “Kosovo is extremely lucky to have real friends all around the world,” Haradinaj said.

Chabert: Kosovo cannot afford to remain in ‘status quo’ (Koha Ditore)

In a front-page interview with the paper, French Ambassador to Kosovo Didier Chabert said he considers the tax on Serbian products to be an obstacle to the dialogue as well as violation of the free trade agreement, CEFTA.

Chabert said an agreement with Serbia would have to enable Kosovo’s full international integration, including UN membership while with regards to the border change option, Chabert said that if Kosovo does not want such a scenario, it can simply refuse to negotiate it or make sure the Assembly rejects such a deal.

Speaking about the recent Berlin summit co-hosted by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the French President Emmanuel Macron, Chabert said that France and Germany have demonstrated their readiness to facilitate in resumption of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia but that to work, this requires serious commitment from the two sides.

“It is up to Kosovo and Serbia as two sovereign countries to decide. Kosovo could gain a great deal from an agreement for normalisation of relations with Serbia which could lead to its full international integration. 11 years from the declaration of independence, the country is not yet member of the United Nations and cannot hope to gain a candidate status for European Union because of five non-recognising countries. in today’s fast-moving world, a country that does not progress, lags behind and Kosovo cannot afford to remain in the current status quo,” Chabert said.

Haradinaj condemns detention of Serb officials, EU silent (Zeri)

The paper writes that the EU has not come out with any statement condemning the detention of two Serb officials in the government of Kosovo by Serbian border authorities while Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj strongly condemned the act calling it ‘unacceptable’. “Ongoing mistreatment by Serbian authorities are a provocation and aggression against Kosovo,” Haradinaj wrote on Facebook.

Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj meanwhile said that the ‘continuous mistreatment and blackmailing’ of Kosovo Serbs is part of Belgrade’s systematic campaign to intimidate those who want to live peacefully in Kosovo. “Such actions are meant to destabilise the region,” Hoxhaj wrote on Twitter.

Srdjan Jovanovic, advisor to Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj, and Srecko Spasic, advisor in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, were detained by the Serbian authorities on Saturday as they were trying to enter Serbia from Kosovo.

Study into effects of import tax presented in Pristina (media)

Kosovo-based Institute for Advanced Studies (GAP) presented a study into the effects of the import tariff on products from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on Kosovo’s economy.

The study found that in five months, imports from Serbia dropped by 88% while those from Bosnia by 83 percent but despite the decrease of import from Serbia and Bosnia, Kosovo’s trade deficit has increased which is an indicator that local producers did not capitalize on the tax. At the same time, according to GAP, the tax has led to the increase of food prices and if it remains in force for the foreseeable future, it can lead to increase of poverty in Kosovo.

GAP also concluded that Kosovo has not violated the Central Europe Free Trade Agrement (CEFTA) when it decided to introduce the tax but that Kosovo needs to insist on renegotiating the terms of the agreement.

Mustafa: Veseli’s idea for international tribunal, only a political initiative (Klan)

Isa Mustafa, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) said at a press conference held on Saturday that Kosovo cannot establish an international tribunal for crimes against Albanians and added that this can be done by the UN Security Council.

“These initiatives had to be undertaken earlier be it by PDK or Kadri Veseli. To me, this more seems to be a political initiative in order to cover the cover this period when nothing is functioning in Kosovo,” Mustafa said.  He however stressed that if this happens LDK will support the initiative.

Election campaign in northern municipalities begins today (media)

Campaign for extraordinary elections in four northern municipalities of Kosovo starts today. Three parties are in the running for elections: Serbian List, the Democratic Party of Kosovo and Vetevendosje.

Election observers said there are no indications of irregularities in the process. Democracy in Action, tasked with monitoring elections through its partner in Mitrovica North, the Advocacy Centre for Democratic Culture, has employed over 100 observers.

Serbia alarmed: KSF part of NATO drill in Croatia (Bota Sot)

Serbian media alarmed about the participation of Kosovo Security Force members at the NATO drill “Immediate response 19” which will take place in Croatia. Vecernje Novosti reported that KSF members received the invitation from NATO Headquarters in Europe, while the drill is coordinated by the command of the U.S. forces in Europe. The paper further notes that no information was given based on what criteria were KSF members invited, and adds further that they learned unofficially that this was the will of the U.S.

UN approves budget for UNMIK (Klan Kosova)

Klan Kosova quotes reports from Serbian language radio Kontakt Plus saying that the UN has approved budget for its mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, for 2020 at the amount of USD 28 million, around 200,000 more than in 2019. The increase is said to be necessary for covering the salaries of the local staff. The UN is also said to have announced that the number of its staff and mission in Kosovo will not change in the coming year.

Uran Ismaili elected PDK leader in Pristina (Epoka e Re)

Uran Ismaili, currently Minister of Health, was elected leader of the Pristina branch of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). Ismaili was elected with majority of votes and no counter-candidate. He said conclusion of this election process marks the start of his duty toward the citizens by giving the deserved attention and governing.