Final preparations for the next Kosovo Assembly session are underway and, according to sources from the government, the session could take place as early as next Monday. Foreign Minister and candidate for the next president of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, is expected to meet with the US Secretary of State John Kerry in Tirana on Sunday and the most suitable date for the session is Monday as the following days will be busy with events organised to mark the eighth anniversary of Kosovo’s declaration of independence.

Managing Director of the Koha group and Publisher of Koha Ditore, Flaka Surroi, has condemned the car tire slashing of the paper’s Editor-in-Chief Adriatik Kelmendi earlier today. Surroi said despite threats made against Kelmendi and other media professionals, “we will not stop revealing the bad things we have evidence of.”

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Isa Mustafa met with representatives of civil society organizations in Pristina today to discuss the political crisis. Mustafa said the government of Kosovo is greatful for the role that civil society, media and others are playing in emerging from the crisis. “The Republic of Kosovo is a state for all its citizens; a compromise made by the native Albanian majority. The Republic of Kosovo is a joint project belonging to its citizens and allies.

The US Ambassador to Kosovo Greg Delawie welcomed today’s meeting between President Atifete Jahjaga and political party leaders. In a Twitter post, Delawie said he was looking forward to the next meeting.

Kosovo’s Principal Deputy Prime Minister Hashim Thaci talked to reporters after today’s meeting between political and institutional leaders. Thaci said: “We have suggested that the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo [AAK] should be part of joint sessions and take part in the international committee on the border demarcation with Montenegro. However, the AAK leader was silent about our proposals and I don’t know how he will react in the future”. Thaci said the leaders did not discuss the election of the President of Kosovo.

The Foreign Ministers of Kosovo and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Hashim Thaci and Nikola Poposki respectively, signed two bilateral agreements in Pristina today, one that will enable the citizens of the two countries to cross the border with their ID cards only, and the other one on opening another crossing point. Kosovo FM Thaci hailed the agreements as very important for the people and the relations between the two countries.

Kosovo’s Chief Prosecutor Aleksander Lumezi met Ombudsperson Hilmi Jashari today and discussed the challenges they face in the performance of their duties. They also spoke about the respect of human rights, guaranteed by the Constitution of Kosovo. The two officials agreed to intensify cooperation in protection of human rights and freedoms.

The European Parliament today adopted a resolution which assesses Kosovo's progress in the EU integration process. The start of EU accession negotiations with Serbia and the progress made in normalising relations between Serbia and Kosovo was welcomed by MEPs in two resolutions passed today.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare and UNDP Kosovo signed an agreement of cooperation today on the reintegration of repatriated persons in the labor market.  This agreement foresees cooperation in the implementation of activities in support of repatriated persons, providing training and employment opportunities in the framework of UNDP’s “Active Labor Market in Kosovo” project.

The Kosovo National Task Force for Cancer Control has prepared a number of activities to mark World Cancer Day on 4 February. Additionally, a brochure will be published in the different regional languages, including Albanian, aimed at raising awareness on the disease. The brochure will be handed out free-of-charge to passersby at one of Pristina’s main squares. The Task Force, accompanied by a group of prominent Kosovo artists, will also pay a visit to children suffering from cancer and being treated at Pristina hospital.