In its latest report the US-based international human rights group Freedom House, has ranked Kosovo among partly free countries along with regional countries like Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbia however was moved to the category of free countries. With regards to political rights, Kosovo scored 3 points in contrast with 4 last year on a scale from 1 (most free) to 7 (least free). The state of civil liberties remains unchanged at 4.

The Office of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, announced today that the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue at the level of Prime Ministers will continue on Wednesday, 27 January in Brussels. The statement said the parties will discuss the implementation of agreements reached so far and the next steps in the dialogue.

Citing unnamed sources within the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Gazeta Tribuna reports that PDK parliamentary group during its meeting today proposed that PDK MP Rafet Rama should be Hashim Thaci’s rival for Kosovo president.  The parliamentary group also discussed about the quorum needed for the election of the president, and issued a decision that all PDK MPs are required to be in the session the voting day, regardless of the situation created there.

Vetevendosje Movement has criticized the decision of the Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa to travel to Brussels for a meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic as part of the EU-facilitated dialogue. Vetevendosje’s Glauk Konjufca said in a press conference that that Mustafa and Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci have taken decisions that seriously undermine the state of Kosovo.  Konjufca said Mustafa’s decision to go to Brussels despite originally saying he would not is a sign he is not a serious leader and that he has deceived the people of Kosovo.

Sources inside the government of Kosovo reportedly told RTV Dukagjini that Prime Minister Isa Mustafa has decided to accept the invitation to take part in the meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic on 27 January in Brussels.

Leaders of opposition parties – Visar Ymeri from Vetevendosje, Ramush Haradinaj from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Fatmir Limaj from the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) – said today in a press conference in front of the National Theatre that they expect massive turnout in tomorrow’s protest. Haradinaj said the protest will begin at 14.00hrs in front of the National Library and move to the front of the Government building. Opposition leaders said the protest will be peaceful and that they will insist on the government stepping down.

The European Union today confirmed a statement issued by Kosovo’s Minister for Dialogue Edita Tahiri, who said that Austria has applied with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for Kosovo to receive a country code in line with the Brussels agreement. Angelina Eichhorst, the Director for Western Europe, Western Balkans & Turkey at European External Action Service, wrote on her Twitter account today confirming the information.

The government of Kosovo issued today a press release to refute recent reporting of some media based on the announcements of NGO “Kosovo Center for Security Studies”, that the military radar in Kopaonik mountain, bombed by NATO forces in 1999 has been reactivated.  “The government of Kosovo has communicated officially with KFOR and received official confirmation on the issue. KFOR within its competencies commences regular inspections of the location of the demolished radar, to verify its condition.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, praised his party at the ceremony organized for the 26 anniversary of the establishment of the Democratic League of Kosovo. He said that he is conducting LDK’s authentic spirit and faith in the democratic processes of Kosovo also at the government that he is currently leading.

The United States Embassy in Pristina announced that the U.S. State Department has reviewed the Kosovo-Montenegro border demarcation document prepared by the Kosovo State Commission for Marking and Maintenance of the State Border.