• Reactions to Palmer’s appointment as U.S. envoy for Western Balkans (Zeri/Bota)
• Osmani: Trust during election process, condition for coalition with VV (Koha)
• A Serb youth stabbed following fight with Albanian youths in Mitrovica (Klan)
• Haradinaj condemns stabbing of Serb youth (media)
• Vucic reacts to stabbing of Serb youth on Mitrovica Bridge (media)
• Veseli reacts to Vucic: Do not provoke for personal interests (Indeksonline)
• Haradinaj: The Quint brought down the government (Klan Kosova)
• Vucic could visit Kosovo in September (Klan Kosova/Bota Sot)

Reactions to Palmer’s appointment as U.S. envoy for Western Balkans (Zeri/Bota)

The paper carries reactions of international Balkans experts on the recent appointment of Matthew Palmer as U.S. special representative for the Western Balkans.

Daniel Serwer said Palmer’s appointment is part of U.S. efforts to achieve a swift agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. “Following the appointment, I would hope for a clear U.S. policy on the exchange of territories and a better coordination with Europe. However, I fear that this is an attempt to rush to an agreement before U.S. presidential elections in November 2020,” Serwer told VOA in Serbian.

Edward Joseph said that appointment of the U.S. envoy is significant for several reasons. “First, it signals a greater interest and commitment of the U.S. towards the Balkans. The appointment of a special representative is not a decision taken lightly. The goal is for the representative to have greater respect because he speaks directly on behalf of the U.S. secretary of state. It is clear it demonstrates the U.S. intention to have greater influence in the region and most likely in the resolution of the Kosovo problem,” Joseph said adding that if Palmer’s new post is an attempt to reach a ‘risky’ solution concerning partition of Kosovo, “how will the negative aspects of this be solved?”

Tim Judah at the same time is quoted as telling the Belgrade media that Palmer knows the region very well and all the key figures. “The mere appointment of Palmer could be a really good sign for coming out of a dead-end,” he said adding that it would be good if European Commission followed suit and appoint its own envoy for the Western Balkans.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Philip Kosnett has welcomed Palmer’s appointment. “Glad to see my friend and colleague Matthew Palmer’s appointment as Special Representative for the Western Balkans. This is a welcome sign of our commitment to help in the diplomatic search for lasting peace and stability for the region,” Kosnett wrote on Twitter.

Osmani: Trust during election process, condition for coalition with VV (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that Vjosa Osmani, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) candidate for Prime Minister of Kosovo, does not see a different partner for a future co-government than the Vetevendosje Movement. “The pre-election coalition failed, but the post-election coalition will happen,” Osmani said in an interview for the paper on Sunday. “We decided to run with two separate lists and then to unite on October 6. I am confident that with a correct behavior, with respect for the basic rules of cooperation during the election campaign … I believe we will leave a door open for a coalition between the Democratic League of Kosovo and the Vetevendosje Movement”.

Osmani also said that the LDK General Council unanimously “set definite red lines” to the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK).

Asked about future relations with Kosovo President Hashim Thaci on dialogue with Serbia, Osmani said: “President Thaci will have no role in the dialogue with Serbia, after the formation of our government. First, because he has no constitutional role, and this was confirmed by the latest ruling of the Constitutional Court which provides that the Government must lead the dialogue and not the President or artificial teams that are created for political deals. Second, he has seriously damaged the country’s interest by contesting Kosovo’s statehood in Brussels”.

A Serb youth stabbed following fight with Albanian youths in Mitrovica (Klan)

A 17-year-old Serb youth has been stabbed at the Iber/Ibar bridge in Mitrovica following a fight with a group of Albanian youths, Kosovo Police spokesperson Besim Hoti told Klan Kosova.

“The fight occurred at the entrance of Iber Bridge. According to witnesses, the Serb youth was involved in a fight with several Albanian youths. They used sharp objects to strike the youngster and then fled in the direction of the south,” Hoti said.

Police are looking to retrieve security camera footage of the attack. The 17-year-old has not sustained life-threatening injuries and is being treated at the Mitrovica North hospital.

Haradinaj condemns stabbing of Serb youth (media)

Outgoing Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj has also condemned the stabbing of a Serb youth in Mitrovica. “I call on justice authorities to resolve the case as soon as possible and the authors receive deserved punishment. Kosovo is a country of all its citizens and has continuously been an example of tolerance and diversity. Such acts are isolated cases and will never underlined peace and security in the country,” Haradinaj wrote on social media.

Vucic reacts to stabbing of Serb youth on Mitrovica Bridge (media)

Most news websites report that President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic has reacted to the stabbing of the Serb youth. He said he had warned about the danger of the reopening of the main Mitrovica bridge. “This is bad news. We have fought against this all the time. This is the reason why I was saying how dangerous it was to open the Ibar Bridge,” Vucic told Belgrade-based Pink TV.

Veseli reacts to Vucic: Do not provoke for personal interests (Indeksonline)

Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) leader and candidate for Prime Minister, Kadri Veseli, reacted on Sunday to remarks by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic after an incident on Ibar Bridge in Mitrovica on Sunday where a Serb youth was stabbed. Veseli said Vucic’s remarks are aimed at threatening security in Kosovo and damaging regional stability and he called on Belgrade to stop its provocations. “I strongly condemn the crime that happened today, and I call on law enforcement authorities to quickly resolve the case and bring the perpetrators to justice. Albanians and Serbs do not have problems in Shterpce, Gracanica, Novobrdo and many other areas in Kosovo where Serbs make up the majority. Problems exists only where Serbia is interested to cause conflicts. Kosovo is a European democratic and multiethnic country that provides the highest guarantees for human rights and non-majority communities and we will never allow artificial walls of division or interethnic hatred. I assure our Serb citizens that Kosovo is home to all those that live here and that it will equally care for all its citizens wherever they live,” Veseli said.

Haradinaj: The Quint brought down the government (Klan Kosova)

Kosovo’s outgoing Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, said in an interview to the news agency on Saturday that the Quint countries are Kosovo’s allies, but that they are also interested in good relations with Serbia. “However, they need to understand that there is no more room to put pressure on Kosovo, because through some weird measures they even forced the government to resign,” he said.

Vucic could visit Kosovo in September (Klan Kosova/Bota Sot)

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic is reported to have announced he plans to visit Kosovo in September, media report.

Jetlir Zyberaj from the Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Vucic’s visit ahead of elections would be an act of provocation and intimidation for Kosovo Serbs and that Kosovo authorities would not be allowing it to take place.  “Belgrade’s agenda is well known. We will not allow the unfolding of Belgrade’s scenario for influencing Kosovo’s election process and preventing our citizens from voting freely,” Zyberaj wrote on Facebook.