• EU High Representative Borrell speaks to Presidents Thaci, Vucic (media)
• Thaci speaks to Borrell, calls for visa liberalisation (media)
• Mustafa: Our structures will not consider LVV’s offer (media)
• Vetevendosje’s Bislimi: We are closer to a solution than elections (Express/T7)
• Vetevendosje turns down LDK offer, calls it “a joke” (media)
• Abdixhiku: LDK will not agree to increased number of ministries (RTK)
• Kurti: We need the government to implement resolution on genocide (Express)
• EU: Miseries in Recak are well documented (RTK)
• Albania’s PM files lawsuit against Ramush Haradinaj (media)

EU High Representative Borrell speaks to Presidents Thaci, Vucic (media)

The European Union issued a press release on Wednesday informing that “High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell spoke today on the phone with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic and President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci about the latest developments in Kosovo and Serbia and the importance of working towards a resumption of the Belgrade-Pristina talks. The High Representative confirmed his resolve and personal engagement as facilitator with the support of EU Member States.

Joseph Borrell inquired in particular with his Kosovo interlocutor about the prospects for the formation of a new government in Pristina. In this context the High Representative invited Kosovo party leaders to rapidly proceed, in the interest of Kosovo and its people.

In his bilateral discussions, he also discussed with his interlocutors the progress and future perspectives on their respective paths towards the EU and the importance of advancing ahead of the EU - Western Balkans Summit in Zagreb in May 2020.

Finally, he reiterated his intention to travel to both Pristina and Belgrade in the coming weeks.

Thaci speaks to Borrell, calls for visa liberalisation (media)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci had on Wednesday a telephone conversation with the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Josep Borerell with whom he discussed European perspective and developments in Kosovo and the region.

President Thaci and the EU High Representative agreed on the need of formation of Kosovo’s new governing institutions as soon as possible.

“We are aware that important tasks await us and it is necessary to have a new government as soon as possible, which would face challenges and fulfil international obligations that Kosovo took over,” Thaci also said that Kosovo is committed to reforms which are decisive on Kosovo’s membership into the EU.

Thaci also requested from the EU to fulfill its obligation of lifting the visa regime for Kosovo people, as “Kosovo has fulfilled all the required criteria.”

According to the press release issued by the Office of the President, Thaci and Borrell agreed on the need to resume unconditioned dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, as well as necessity to reach a final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, which would mean mutual recognition between the two countries.

Thaci also said that he would welcome a visit of the EU High Representative Joseph Borrell to Kosovo.

Mustafa: Our structures will not consider LVV’s offer (media)

Isa Mustafa, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK said on Wednesday that they will not consider the latest offer of the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) as they would only discuss principals set earlier for the division of power. He also stressed that the next meeting will be the last one that would make clear the epilogue on whether there will be a governing coalition among the two parties or not.

He told the media that they remain determined on the issue of the Assembly President post, five ministries and the pledge for the post of Kosovo President.

Mustafa said they would not meet with LVV any more just for the sake of meeting, but only to reach the final agreement. He did not deny the possibility of this meeting to happen this week.

“I do not see any reason to sit and discuss for three hours and appear speechless in front of you, not having what to say to you and citizens. I see reason for a future meeting only to reach the agreement,” Mustafa told reporters.  He added that LDK would not reach any agreement if that is not an agreement of partnership where both parties would feel powerful.

Vetevendosje’s Bislimi: We are closer to a solution than elections (Express/T7)

Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) deputy leader Besnik Bislimi said in an interview to T7 on Wednesday evening that LVV and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) are closer to a solution for a coalition government than to early elections.

“I think that we are closer to a solution with the LDK than to elections … We don’t want to go to elections. What worries me more is the public pressure about timelines,” he said.

Bislimi said Vetevendosje would not agree “to play games” with the post of Assembly President which Vetevendosje’s Glauk Konjufca now holds. “The only position whose legitimacy derives directly from the people is the post of MP,” he said. “When we elected Konjufca to the post, there were 75 votes in favour. They know what they voted for … We will not play ‘table-tennis’ with the post of Assembly President”.

Vetevendosje turns down LDK offer, calls it “a joke” (media)

Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) MPs Albulena Haxhiu and Liburn Aliu said an offer by the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) for this party to take the Assembly President post until the new Kosovo President is elected, is “a joke”.

During a debate on Wednesday evening, both MPs said Vetevendosje’s Glauk Konjufca cannot be dismissed from the Assembly President post, “because he was voted by parliament members”. Aliu said: “Neither Mr. Kurti nor Mr. Mustafa or anyone else for that matter should have the courage to ask the current Assembly President, who was elected with the votes of MPs, to resign the post. This would be an arbitrary decision … We have pledged to bring changes to this country, and we should not be involved in such games”.

Abdixhiku: LDK will not agree to increased number of ministries (RTK)

Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP Lumir Abdixhiku said on Wednesday that Vetevendosje Movement’s offer for a coalition government is problematic on three points: LDK has not requested, has not accepted and would not agree to an increased number of government ministries. He said they wanted to give an example by decreasing the number of ministries and that if they wanted, they could keep the 21 ministries and have enough power.

He also said that LDK also offered to LVV that if their demands seem too many, they are ready to vote LVV’s governing without any compensation, adding that voting Glauk Konjufca for Assembly Speaker was in this line. “We never asked for more than what belongs to us,” Abdixhiku said.

Kurti: We need the government to implement resolution on genocide (Express)

Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) leader Albin Kurti said on Wednesday, on the anniversary of the Recak massacre, that new institutions need to be in place to implement the resolution against Serbia’s genocide in Kosovo in 1999.

Kurti wrote in a Facebook post: “Eight months ago the Assembly of the Republic adopted the resolution on Serbia’s genocide in Kosovo. It was decided that January 15, the day of the Recak massacre, should be declared a Memorial Day for the genocide against Albanians in Kosovo. The resolution refers to different international conventions, declarations, courts, resolutions and reports. Citing official data, it includes facts about the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Kosovo. The resolution also includes demands for Serbia as well as our pledge to secure justice, reparation and rehabilitation for the victims … Now we need the government and institutions that will be willing to respect and implement them.”

EU: Miseries in Recak are well documented (RTK)

Commemorations were held on Wednesday to mark the 21st anniversary of the massacre by Serbian forces in the Kosovo village of Recak, when 44 people were killed.

The United States, Britain, France, Germany and Italy issued a joint statement on Tuesday commemorating the massacre.

“We honour the memory of those who were lost in Recak and all the other massacres in Kosovo two decades ago by working together to build a future of peace, justice, and prosperity for the next generations,” the statement said.

The statement urged the governments of Kosovo and Serbia to ensure war victims and their families have full access to justice and to information about the fate of their loved ones.

The head of the European Union’s office in Kosovo, Nataliya Apostolova, also used the anniversary to call for justice.

“The commemoration of these well documented events remind us of the importance of peace, justice and reconciliation. My thoughts and prayers are with families of the victims. May the victims rest in peace,” Apostolova wrote on Twitter.

Albania’s PM files lawsuit against Ramush Haradinaj (media)

Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama has filed a defamation lawsuit at the Basic Court in Pristina against the outgoing Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj, for his statements that Rama joined presidents of Kosovo and Serbia in their plan on swapping territories between the two countries.

The lawsuit alleges that Haradinaj made defamatory statements in the context of preparations for the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia, which, in principle, would have to result in a mutually binding agreement for both. parties and mutual recognition between these two states, therefore in a 30-page lawsuit, Rama demands a compensation.

Haradinaj said that accusations are ungrounded, but nevertheless he would prepare his response in accordance with the law. “Prime Minister Rama's lawsuit is completely unfounded, and a political diversion made by him to hide behind media dramas and to evade responsibility,” Haradinaj wrote.