• Kosovo introduces a set of new sanctions against Russia, Belarus (media)
• Kosovo Government adopts new draft security strategy (media)
• Strategy identifies Serbia's territorial claims as main security challenges (Koha)
• Mehaj hails adoption of draft security strategy (media)
• Bilek: Dialogue and visa liberalisation, two separate issues (RTK)
• Osmani awards presidential medal to Slovenian peacekeeping troops (media)
• Deputy minister, Veshall, dismissed from post (media)
• Constitutional Court finds chief prosecutor nomination dispute, inadmissible (media)

Kosovo introduces a set of new sanctions against Russia, Belarus (media)

Kosovo’s government has decided to impose a set of new sanctions against Russia and Belarus for their role in Ukraine war.

Deputy PM Donika Gervalla said during Monday’s meeting that making these types of decisions will contribute to the continuation of the country’s close cooperation with the United States and the European Union. “These sanctions will also include an all-inclusive ban on the export of devices, technology, and other services to the Russian energy industry, excluding the nuclear industry and the low-end sector of energy supply. We will also introduce measures that will halt all transactions with several state-owned companies, which have also faced limitations when it comes to refinancing, and lastly, we will ban all loan evaluation services,” – said Gervalla.

Restrictive measures that prevent new investments in the energy sector as well as limitation of exports to Russian industry are some of the sanctions imposed on Kosovo’s government.

Kosovo Government adopts new draft security strategy (media)

Draft Security Strategy of Kosovo for the years 2022 - 2027 was approved at the meeting of the Government of Kosovo yesterday.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that the document is the second such strategy since the declaration of independence of Kosovo. "This is the umbrella strategy of the security sector which recognizes the risks, threats and challenges for the security of our Republic and presents the opportunities and vision for our future."

According to him, this strategy has been drawn up in close cooperation and consultation with all state institutions, especially those in the field of security. "It has undergone the process of internal and external consultation, including with the representations of the QUINT countries, other friendly countries and also with the Academy", he said.

Kurti noted that the strategy presents objectives related to state interests such as the protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity, the preservation of constitutional order and public security, human security and social development as well as integration into Euro-Atlantic structures and international mechanisms.  "Kosovo's strategic goal is membership in NATO and the European Union as prerequisites for the security and sustainable development of Kosovo and the region. In this direction, Kosovo will apply to the partnership program for peace and membership in the Adriatic charter as well as other regional security mechanisms," he said.

According to Kurti, Kosovo will apply for candidate status and implement the necessary reforms to facilitate the EU integration process. "After the approval of the strategy by the Assembly of Kosovo, the secretariat of the Security Council will be charged with the development of the action plan and the monitoring and evaluation system for its implementation", added Kurti.

Strategy identifies Serbia's territorial claims as main security challenges (Koha)

In light of the Government of Kosovo's adoption of the security strategy, Koha writes on the front page that the document considers Serbia's territorial claims and efforts to undermine statehood of Kosovo as the main security challenges.

"The possibility of a conventional military attack on the Republic of Kosovo's sovereignty and territorial integrity is not high, mainly due to the presence and mandate of NATO-led forces. In any case, the global and regional dynamic security environment imposes such a threat to be constantly assessed and taken into consideration," Koha quotes the document, which also adds: "Serbia has made clear its objective over possible intervention and continuously demonstrates increase of military means and capacities."

The document further notes that incomplete integration of the north of Kosovo enables Serbia to use inter-ethnic relations to promote its 'hostile' goals.

Mehaj hails adoption of draft security strategy (media)

Kosovo's Minister of Defence Armend Mehaj has welcomed the adoption of the draft security strategy by the government covering a five-year period.

He said the document sets out to protect Kosovo's sovereignty and territorial integrity and will serve as the basis for the redesigning of the defence strategy and what will become the first military strategy of Kosovo.

Bilek: Dialogue and visa liberalisation, two separate issues (RTK)

The head of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Kosovo, Pavel Bilek, whose country has taken over EU presidency on 1 July, reaffirmed Kosovo's EU perspective and noted that more progress in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia is required and that this would help both parties in furthering their European perspective. At the same time, he stressed that visa liberalisation is separate from other processes.

"A comprehensive agreement in the view of the Czech Republic would resolve all matters, including that of mutual recognition," Bilek told RTK.

RTK meanwhile reports quoting diplomatic sources in Brussels saying that visa liberalisation for Kosovo is among the priorities of the Czech presidency of the EU and that there has never been a more positive mood on the issue by EU member states.

Osmani awards presidential medal to Slovenian peacekeeping troops (media)

On her first day of official visit to Slovenia, President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani awarded the country's armed forces with the presidential medal for their contribution in Kosovo as part of KFOR.

"The Military Presidential Medal is being awarded to these troops who are not only peacekeepers but faithful nurturers of excellent friendly relations between Kosovo and Slovenia," Osmani said at the ceremony. She noted that the Kosovo issue has been consistently supported by Slovenia and urged it to continue towards Kosovo's NATO membership process. "I am confident our army can benefit a great deal from the experience of your military."

Deputy minister, Veshall, dismissed from post (media)

Kosovo's Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Sejnur Veshall, has been dismissed from his post by Prime Minister Kurti upon request from the party that originally nominated him, the Kosovo Roma Progressive Movement (LPRK).

Veshall said his dismissal was done for personal reasons and was even qualified as "unfair" by Kurti himself. At the same time, LPRK leader Erxhan Galushi said the request for Veshall's removal from post was due to "total negligence to cooperation with the party leadership and the leader."

Constitutional Court finds chief prosecutor nomination dispute, inadmissible (media)

The Constitutional Court has ruled inadmissible appeals from prosecutors Shqipdon Fazliu and Armend Hamiti over the decision of the Prosecutorial Council in nominating Blerim Isufaj to the post of Kosovo's chief prosecutor.

The two prosecutors, who also applied for the post of chief prosecutor, claimed that the nomination of Isufaj was unconstitutional but the Constitutional Court ruled that the applicants have not exhausted all legal tools available to them. RTK interprets the court's decision as paving way for Isufaj's decree by President Vjosa Osmani.