• 40 new cases of coronavirus in last 24 hours (media)
• Health Minister: Situation with coronavirus is under control (media)
• PM Hoti: Starting Monday, free movement in Albania and region (media)
• Haxhiu reacts to further easing of coronavirus restrictions (media)
• COVID-19: Three kindergartens in Pristina close (media)
• Hoti: Kosovo removed all obstacles (media)
• The U.S. expects speedy resumption of dialogue (Koha)
• Kosovo’s ex-PM Kurti announces public gathering on 12 June (media)
• Vetevendosje: 150,000 signatures for new elections in one week (media)
• MCC resumes programs for Kosovo (media)
• Hoti welcomes unlocking of US funds (media)
• Osmani reacts to allegations made against her father (media)
• Vucic: I am waiting for a proposal for Kosovo (media)
• The EU remains Kosovo’s best route to peace with Serbia (Prishtina Insight)

 Kosovo Media Highlights

40 new cases of coronavirus in last 24 hours (media)

Kosovo’s National Institute for Public Health said in a statement on Sunday that 40 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the last 24 hours.

The new cases are in the municipalities of Prishtina, Vushtrri, Prizren, Fushe Kosove, Obiliq, Skenderaj, Gjilan, Rahovec and Mitrovica.

Media report that there are currently 313 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Health Minister: Situation with coronavirus is under control (media)

Kosovo’s Minister of Health, Armend Zemaj, told a press conference on Sunday that the situation with the COVID – 19 is under control and that there is no room for panic. Zemaj said citizens must respect the recommendations of line institutions. “There is no room for panic, contrary to some reports this afternoon. All we have to do is to have increased caution, keep the distance and respect the recommendations. This is why the independent mechanisms will step up their controls,” he said. “We need to be careful in order to avoid additional measures. The virus is still present”.

Kosovo Police General Director Rashit Qalaj told reporters at the same press conference that police, together with the inspectors, will increase controls, especially in bars and restaurants.

PM Hoti: Starting Monday, free movement in Albania and region (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti took to Facebook on Sunday to say that starting from Monday, Kosovo’s citizens will be able to travel freely to Albania and other countries in the region.

“Starting from tomorrow there will be free movement, but with caution, in the country and in Albania and other countries in the region. As part of measures to prevent the spread of the virus, the Ministry of Health will adopt ‘The Manual for Protection from COVID – 19,” Hoti said.

Haxhiu reacts to further easing of coronavirus restrictions (media)

Vetevendosje's Albulena Haxhiu has criticised the government of Kosovo's decision to further ease coronavirus restrictions saying that the recent surge of cases represents a serious concern and required utmost caution.

"However, the 'strategy' of the illegal government to rush into opening up and removing all restrictions is very dangerous and risks ruining every progress made so far. The easiest thing to to is to 'open everything, remove all restrictions'. We are talking about the health and the lives of citizens therefore caution and wise decisions are required," Haxhiu wrote on Facebook.

COVID-19: Three kindergartens in Pristina close (media)

Pristina Mayor Shpend Ahmeti announced on social media that three kindergartens in Pristina are going to the closed as of Monday after ten new cases of coronavirus cases were confirmed in the capital.

"Unfortunately, the irresponsibility of individuals and the negligent approach towards danger has caused our huge troubles," Ahmeti wrote on Facebook. He added that two important lessons have been learnt from this pandemic: "1. Do not hide the disease from others and 2. Do not treat the virus as negligible."

Hoti: Kosovo removed all obstacles (media)

Kosovo PM Avdullah Hoti tweeted on Friday that Kosovo has removed all obstacles to give a chance to the process of dialogue with Serbia.

“Republic of Kosovo has removed all obstacles towards Serbia to give a chance for dialogue and we expect the same from them! If there is no progress, in full coordination with international partners we retain our right to reinforce these provisions!,” Hoti tweeted.

The U.S. expects speedy resumption of dialogue (Koha)

With the lifting of reciprocity measures last week and Serbia’s active campaign against Kosovo’s statehood, there is an intention for intensity of actions for the resumption of the dialogue and reach of a final agreement. However, it remains unclear whether Brussels or Washington will mediate the return of the parties at the discussing table.

Despite Serbia’s actions and statements against Kosovo, to the United States of America, complete recognition is what should be the aim in the final phase of the dialogue.

The paper has asked Richard Grenell’s office, who is President Trump’s emissary for the Kosovo - Serbia dialogue, if a meeting is being prepared and about the time this could take place, however, they suggested to ask the Embassy in Pristina about it.

The U.S. Embassy in Pristina did not specify a date on its response on Sunday, but stressed they expect the dialogue to resume as soon as possible.

“We welcome the decision of the government to lift all undertaken measures against Serbia and now we expect for the dialogue to resume as soon as possible. Full recognition is in the best interest of Kosovo and the region, in order to ensure stability and economic progress,” is noted in the response of the Embassy.

The U.S. has been actively engaged in the dialogue and it left it in the hands of Kosovo and Serbia to reach the solution that they want. Several agreements on railway and airlines have been reached with mediation of the U.S. Presidential envoy, Richard Grenell.

The U.S. expert on Balkans, Daniel Serwer also foresaw turning on of the engines in function of the efforts to reach a speedy agreement prior to presidential elections in the U.S.

Kosovo’s ex-PM Kurti announces public gathering on 12 June (media)

Vetevendosje leader and former Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, has announced his political party will hold a public gathering in Pristina on 12 June.

“Gathering at Scanderbeg Square, on Friday, 12 June,” Kurti wrote on Facebook. Former prime minister said scheduling a public gathering was done after a meeting of all Vetevendosje branches.

Vetevendosje: 150,000 signatures for new elections in one week (media)

The Vetevendosje Movement said in a Facebook post on Sunday that it has collected 150,000 signatures from citizens for early parliamentary elections.

“In the coming days we will start collecting signatures in every village and neighborhood to facilitate the process of signing the petition for all citizens that want to sign it,” the post notes.

MCC resumes programs for Kosovo (media)

Several media reported on Saturday that the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) issued the following statement regarding the status of MCC’s economic development programs in Kosovo:

“The United States welcomes the resolution of Kosovo’s tariff issue and the lifting of reciprocal measures on Serbian goods. MCC is pleased to resume implementing the threshold program and developing the proposed compact program in Kosovo. MCC looks forward to a continued, strong partnership with the people of Kosovo and their government as we work together to reduce poverty through economic growth.”

Hoti welcomes unlocking of US funds (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti said in a tweet on Saturday that he welcomes the unlocking of U.S. funds. “Republic of Kosovo welcomes the @USAGov Millenium Challenge Corporation decision to unlock its funds and resume implementing the threshold program and developing the proposed compact program in Kosovo,” Hoti tweeted.

Osmani reacts to allegations made against her father (media)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Vjosa Osmani has reacted to reports published by certain news outlets saying that her father worked for the Serbian police in the 90s.

Osmani said that a number of slanderous reports about her and her family are being published and shared in recent days which she said cross every ethical borderline.

"The border traders have found a picture of two Serb police officers and shamelessly lie that one of them is my father Raif Osmani. Of course my father is not in the picture and the lie that he worked for Serbs is another slander by those who today made Kosovo dependable on Belgrade," Osmani wrote on Facebook.

"My family and I will take all legal actions against portals that write these slanders and fabrications as well as against slanderous individuals that distribute them," Osmani concluded.

Vucic: I am waiting for a proposal for Kosovo (media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic gave an interview for Radio Free Europe where he commented on the Kosovo Government's decision to lift reciprocity measures towards Serbia.

Vucic said the move paves way for the dialogue to resume "as long as that measure remains and survives for more than a few days" and that he believed it will have a positive effect on the economies of both sides.

He said that he expects the EU Special Representative for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, to visit Belgrade and Pristina after the conclusion of elections in Serbia. "Then we will see what we do next," Vucic said adding that he is waiting to see what will be proposed in way of the agreement with Kosovo.

The EU remains Kosovo’s best route to peace with Serbia (Prishtina Insight)

Europe’s institutions are the best way to ensure a fairer and greener Kosovo, while an EU ready to show leadership in the dialogue is the surest path to stability, says the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Kosovo Viola von Cramon in an opinion piece.

“On 9 May we celebrate Europe Day, the birthday of the EU and the anniversary of French foreign minister Robert Schuman’s declaration in 1950 that French and West German coal and steel production should be placed under a common authority.

The day is widely observed throughout the continent, but it is a public holiday only in one country, one which is not yet a member of the European Union but is still very much part of Europe: Kosovo.

Kosovo’s promise to create a prosperous, democratic, stable country for its people still has a long way to go. However, one must also acknowledge the long journey the country has undergone over the past decade, especially following its declaration of independence in 2008.

Being an ally to the EU can help the country move further down this road, and the overwhelming majority of people in Kosovo want the state to achieve EU membership. Kosovo’s past is in Europe, its present is in Europe, and its future should be too.”

Read full opinion piece at: https://bit.ly/30gcMBi