In an interview to the Tirana-based Top Channel, Kosovo Assembly Speaker and leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Kadri Veseli, said Kosovo is an independent and sovereign country and any agreement with Serbia will have to respect these principles. “Kosovo’s goal is to join international organisations, [gain] a seat at the United Nations,” Veseli said adding that this does not mean it will settle for anything that undermines its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Most online media in Kosovo and Serbia reported on an interview of Tirana based Top Chanel with Ramush Haradinaj, candidate for Prime Minister, saying that when it comes to Kosovo-Serbia talks there is one condition and that is Belgrade’s recognition of Kosovo’s independence. He further argued that the framework of talks was wrong because it focused on Kosovo’s internal arrangements.

The EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, during a meeting of the Foreign Commission of the European Parliament today said that Pristina has taken some important steps towards visa liberalisation. However, Hahn noted that there are two criteria which require more effort. According to him, the first one is to overcome the strong political tension and second, strengthening the rule of law and democracy.

Sokol Havolli, advisor to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, told Tirana-based Top Channel that the reasons for withdrawing the border demarcation deal from the Assembly were not related to number of votes. “The government withdrew the agreement after considerable pressure and threats made towards the MPs,” Havolli said. He stressed that the ratification of demarcation deal is a prerequisite for visa liberalization and that must happen quickly, while accusing the opposition of using this deal for political purposes.