UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, May 9, 2022

Hovenier: Kosovo to be constructively engaged in dialogue (Klan)
Opposition calls on Kurti to report to Assembly on Berlin dinner (Koha)
Joseph: Berlin meeting will not change dialogue dynamics a great deal (KP)
In U.S., Kurti meets head of MCC (media)
Osmani: Kosovo has stood on the side of allies defending democratic values (media)
President Osmani meets President of Costa Rica as he assumes office (media)
Kosovo moving toward CoE membership (RTK)
Vucic Threatens ‘Strong’ Response if Kosovo Applies for CoE Membership (Exit News)
Kurti condemns bombing of school in Ukraine (media)
Kosovo and Israel to sign first ever MoU (media)
Kosovo stands to secure sufficient wheat for this year’s needs (KP/media)
COVID-19: Six new cases (media)

Hovenier: Kosovo to be constructively engaged in dialogue (Klan)

The Ambassador of the United States, Jeffrey Hovenier, said that the dialogue is a very important element of what is happening in the region right now. We expect Kosovo to constructively, creatively, and actively engage in dialogue just as we expect Belgrade to do the same.

Hovenier told Klan Kosova that the recent visit of senior U.S. officials is an indicator of the United States commitment to dialogue and bilateral relations. "Kosovo is an ally and partner of the United States," he said.

Asked about the situation in the north of Kosovo, Hovenier said they were following it closely. "At the moment, we see no destabilisation indications but this is something that we are prepared for and we are looking to Kosovo authorities to do all in their power to keep things calm and no doubt we are also speaking with others.

Opposition calls on Kurti to report to Assembly on Berlin dinner (Koha)

Opposition MPs have requested Prime Minister Albin Kurti report to the Assembly of Kosovo about his recent working dinner in Berlin with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, facilitated by the EU's dialogue envoy Miroslav Lajcak.

Ariana Musliu from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) said if Kurti does not report to Assembly by self-initiative, the opposition will employ parliamentary means to have him tell the MPs about what was discussed in the meeting. She said the Assembly has already passed a resolution, sponsored by the Vetevendosje Movement whilst in opposition, calling on negotiators to report about any meeting in the framework of the EU-facilitated dialogue.

Former prime minister and MP from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Avdullah Hoti recalled that when in office, he regularly reported to the Assembly about dialogue meetings. "Today, the Assembly of Kosovo does not know what is happening in dialogue, with the exception of technical and general information, made by deputy prime minister months ago," Hoti remarked.

PM Kurti's advisor Jeton Zulfaj was asked to comment during a KTV show. He said: "It was a working dinner and it's not like something was achieved and as the facilitator himself said it was more of a discussion but nevertheless the prime minister has no problem in reporting about meetings he has."

Joseph: Berlin meeting will not change dialogue dynamics a great deal (KP)

Edward P. Joseph, professor at the Johns Hopkins University, told the news website that he doesn't expect a great deal of change in the dynamics of the dialogue following recent meetings in Berlin.

"People forget that the dynamics of the dialogue was difficult even before Kurti becoming prime minister for the second time. The talks had failed when Hoti was prime minister, immediately after the signing of the Washington commitments, when Belgrade got engaged in a very provocative rhetoric which seemed to have been intended to stall progress," Joseph said. He added that the way to advance dialogue would be for four NATO member states that have not recognised Kosovo to move toward recognition by including Kosovo in the Partnership for Peace programme. Joseph said this is crucial to resolving the disagreements over Kosovo and enabling the region to move forward.

In U.S., Kurti meets head of MCC (media)

In his first day of the official visit to the United States, Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti met Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Alice Albright, the office of the Prime Minister announced.

The meeting kicked off Compact Negotiations with the MCC, Kurti said on Twitter, adding: “I thanked her for MCC's tireless work in enabling the Compact, which is set to become the largest investment in the Kosovo’s energy sector & reaffirms the close bond our countries share.”

Osmani: Kosovo has stood on the side of allies defending democratic values (media)

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani met Uzra Zeya, the U.S. Undersecretary of State for Civil Security, Democracy, and Human Rights during her visit to Costa Rica. They discussed Kosovo's progress in fulfilling the commitments stemming from the Summit for Democracy and the intensification of Kosovo-U.S. cooperation, the Office of Kosovo President said.

Osmani is quoted as saying that Kosovo stands on the side of its allies in defense of democratic values: “At a time when democracies around the world have become a direct target of increasingly authoritarian tendencies, the Summit for Democracy is a platform that has united countries from all over the globe in their efforts to consolidate democratic values and to promote and further empower them.”

President Osmani meets President of Costa Rica as he assumes office (media)

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani met the new President of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves, and congratulated him on taking the post.

According to a statement issued by Kosovo presidency, the two presidents agreed to strengthen bilateral relations, including cooperation of the foreign policy field and increasing economic and trade exchanges.

Kosovo moving toward CoE membership (RTK)

RTK reported, quoting sources, that a "powerful" country is expected to invite Kosovo to apply for membership to the Council of Europe.

The country in question, RTK added, is an EU member state and that a development in this respect could come during the meeting of foreign affairs ministers from the Council of Europe member states in Turin, Italy, on 20 May.

Vucic Threatens ‘Strong’ Response if Kosovo Applies for CoE Membership (Exit News)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has threatened to deploy a ‘strong and serious’ response should Kosovo move forward with its application to the Council of Europe.

“The day we find out that they have officially applied for membership in an organization, our response will be much stronger than they think and will not be just a statement to the media. Believe me, we will show you our teeth,” Vucic told local media.

The statement comes two days after Vucic met with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Berlin to revive the EU-facilitated dialogue for the normalization of relations between the two countries.

Following the meeting, Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced his government will apply for membership in the Council of Europe and NATO’s Partnership for Peace program.