• Two days of “humanitarian disaster” against the tariff (Koha)
• Kosovo’s position in dialogue becomes more difficult (Zeri)
• What can Borrell’s nomination mean for Kosovo – Serbia dialogue? (RFE)
• Ahmeti: We will not bring down government with Serbian List votes (media)
• Vetevendosje: Leaders are blocking transformation of the army (media)
• Tahiri: Vucic is sheltering Oliver Ivanovic’s murder suspects (RTK)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo has fulfilled criteria for visa liberalization (RTK)
• After Belgrade, Engel to visit Pristina to inaugurate new Embassy building (Klan)
• COMKFOR visits Serbia, discusses Kosovo (Express)
• Tahiri: Kosovo, a trusted ally of the EU in the fight against terror (media)
• Haradinaj and O’Connell discuss political developments in Kosovo (RTK)
• Palestinians oppose Kosovo’s membership at INTERPOL (RTK)

Two days of “humanitarian disaster” against the tariff (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that although the scenario for staging a “humanitarian disaster” in the northern municipalities lasted only two days, Serbs there have warned with other measures if Pristina does not lift the import tariff on Serbian goods. In efforts to prevent the situation from deteriorating, the Kosovo Police have mobilised its regional directories. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, on the other hand, has openly challenged Kosovo’s security mechanisms by saying that the north is getting supplies through mountain routes. Meanwhile, the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia has marked its lowest point ever and political commentators in Pristina do not rule out renewed tensions.

Kosovo’s position in dialogue becomes more difficult (Zeri)

The paper reports on its front page that Kosovo’s position in the process of dialogue with Serbia has become more difficult after the nomination of Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell as EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security. The paper notes that the Spanish diplomat has maintained a firm position against the declaration of Kosovo’s independence. In a separate box within the same article, the paper quotes Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic as saying that Borrell’s nomination is good news for Serbia.

What can Borrell’s nomination mean for Kosovo – Serbia dialogue? (RFE)

The new European Union foreign policy chief nominee, Josep Borrell, is from Spain, one of the most powerful countries of the European Union that doesn’t recognize Kosovo’s independence. The 72-year-old Borrell, who is currently Foreign Minister of Spain, is expected to return at the helm of EU’s foreign policy, after having served as President of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2007, the news website reported on Wednesday. He is known as a supporter of the European Union. In March this year Borrell visited Belgrade where he said that Spain was against “the unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence” and that it “will change its policy vis-à-vis Serbia when it comes to Kosovo”. “We have told the President (Vucic) and the Minister (Dacic) about Spain’s position toward the unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence. At the same time, we believe that only through dialogue can there be a permanent compromise solution to the issue,” Borrell said. In August 2018, Borrell said he was against a land swap along ethnic lines between Kosovo and Serbia. Spanish news agency EFE quoted Borrell as saying that “Europe was not built to create monolithic and homogenous units on the basis of culture and ethnicity, but rather to help different people live together”. If the nomination is confirmed, Borrell will replace current EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. He will also lead the dialogue for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. The talks, which started in 2011 with EU mediation, are currently at a halt because of Kosovo’s import tariff on Serbian goods. Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said it was encouraging that the new President of the European Commission “is a close of associate German Chancellor Angela Merkel”, referring to Ursula van der Leyen. “In terms of the dialogue and the nomination of a Spanish diplomat, it is too early to say where dialogue will end up, will it return to where it was or if it will be transferred to the European Commission,” Haradinaj said. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic too commented on Borrell’s eventual role in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. “Josep Borrell’s nomination as EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security is good news for us, but the situation remains difficult. It cannot be resolve by having one or two people on your side,” Vucic said. James Ker-Lindsay, professor at the London School of Economics, said Borell’s nomination will raise questions in the Balkans as he comes from a country that doesn’t recognize Kosovo. According to him, Borrell could be the right person for a historic settlement between Kosovo and Serbia. In a Twitter post, he also said Borrell knows that the resolution of the issue requires a compromise that will be accepted even by EU member states that haven’t recognized Kosovo. “Borrell has credibility in Serbia. Spain’s position as a non-recogniser means that he’ll be seen as a more sympathetic figure in Belgrade than many other European figures. Used well, this will give him a degree of leverage,” he tweeted.

Ahmeti: We will not bring down government with Serbian List votes (media)

Shpend Ahmeti, leader of the Social Democratic Party of Kosovo (PSD), said on Wednesday that his party will not try to bring down the current government with the votes of the Serbian List. After meeting Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, Ahmeti said the opposition does not yet have the required number of votes for a no-confidence motion against the government. “We want to discuss this issue … If we had the votes, we would have called the [Assembly] session. We don’t want to bring down the government with the votes of the Serbian List,” Ahmeti told reporters.

Vetevendosje: Leaders are blocking transformation of the army (media)

All media report that Vetevendosje representatives accused President Hashim Thaci and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj on Wednesday for “blocking the functionalisation of the Kosovo Army”. Vetevendosje MP Rexhep Selimi told a press conference that seven months after the adoption of a package of laws for the Kosovo Security Force, “not another single step has been taken in the process”. “The President doesn’t want to mandate the generals and heads of departments. There are different motives, but they are mainly personal. The Prime Minister sufficed with the package of laws for the KSF and hasn’t done anything for their implementation, while the Minister and the Ministry of Defence are in a state chaos,” Selimi was quoted as saying.

Tahiri: Vucic is sheltering Oliver Ivanovic’s murder suspects (RTK)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday that Serbian authorities possesses the name of the murderer of former Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic. He said his state is seriously investigating the case and that Kosovo has no idea who killed Oliver Ivanovic. Kosovo’s Minister of Justice Abelard Tahiri on the other hand said Kosovo institutions are continuously working to shed light on the case. He added that people, who were sought by Kosovo justice, such as Milan Radojcic, are currently being sheltered by Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic. Tahiri said Serbia is not cooperating with Kosovo institutions. “It is worth stressing that they were cooperative until we reached to these names, after that everything was blocked. Therefore, I think that Serbia is responsible, and it should cooperate with Kosovo,” Tahiri said.

Haradinaj: Kosovo has fulfilled criteria for visa liberalization (RTK)

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj hosted on Wednesday a meeting with the Ambassador of Holland to Kosovo Gerrie Willems, to discuss the current political situation in Kosovo. “Kosovo has fulfilled all the EU criteria for removal of visa regime and expects from the friendly country of Holland to align among the EU member states which are already determined to give the right of the free movement to our state,” Haradinaj said. He conveyed his request for an official meeting with Holland’s Interior Minister, Kajsa Ollongren.

After Belgrade, Engel to visit Pristina to inaugurate new Embassy building (Klan)

Elliot Engel, U.S. lawmaker and head of the Committee for Foreign Relations at the House of Representatives visited on Wednesday Belgrade where he met with Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic. According to a press release issued by the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, they discussed dialogue with Kosovo, reach of long-term peace and sustainability in Balkans and putting justice for all war victims in Kosovo. After the visit to Belgrade, Engel was expected to visit Presevo Valley and then arrive in Kosovo to participate at the celebration of the U.S. Independence Day and inaugurate the building of the U.S. Embassy in Pristina.

COMKFOR visits Serbia, discusses Kosovo (Express)

KFOR Commander Major General Lorenzo D’Adarijom visited Serbia on Wednesday. He met with the chief of Serbian Army Milan Mojsilovic with whom he reportedly discussed about the current security situation in Kosovo and undertaken activities for monitoring the situation in the field, as well as promoting of peace and security. Mojsilovic stated that KFOR is the only legitimate armed force in Kosovo with responsibility for Serb population.

Tahiri: Kosovo, a trusted ally of the EU in the fight against terror (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Abelard Tahiri, met on Wednesday with a delegation of EU experts who are visiting Pristina to discuss Kosovo’s actions in the implementation of the Joint Action Plan on Counter-Terrorism for the Western Balkans. Tahiri briefed the delegation on the legal amendments, starting with the amendment of the new Criminal Code and the new Criminal Procedure Code that foresees the trial in absentia and extended investigations on such acts that will help Kosovo better fight these phenomena. Tahiri said Kosovo’s institutions are committed to an uncompromised fight against organized crime and terror. In terms of the Joint Action Plan, Tahiri mentioned the operation in April this year for the repatriation of 110 Kosovars from Syria. He assured the EU delegation that all suspects will face justice and that the victims will be rehabilitated and reintegrated in society. “As members of the Global Alliance against ISIS, Kosovo’s institutions will be determined in meeting their obligations,” he added. Tahiri also said that for the efficient implementation of the Joint Action Plan, Kosovo will cooperate closely with all countries in the region and EU member states and share its experiences in the returns process and rehabilitation and reintegration programs. The EU delegation commended Tahiri for the courage shown in the repatriation operation, on results in the fight against terror and violent extremism and for the cooperation with the EU and its member states.

Haradinaj and O’Connell discuss political developments in Kosovo (RTK)

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj met on Wednesday with the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell. They discussed current political developments and engagement of the government for the rule of law in Kosovo.

Palestinians oppose Kosovo’s membership at INTERPOL (RTK)

Mohamed Nabhan, Palestinian Envoy to Belgrade, said Palestinians will not support Kosovo’s membership at INTERPOL. Nabhan met on Wednesday with Serbia’s secretary of state at Interior Ministry Biljana Popovic, and the latter informed him about Serbia’s arguments against Kosovo’s request for INTERPOL membership. Nabhan said Palestinians’ position of not recognizing Kosovo has not changed.