Kosovo coalition partners agree on principles of dialogue with Serbia
Coalition partners gathered on Thursday to discuss a draft document on how Kosovo should be represented in the dialogue with Serbia. The coalition leaders reportedly disagree on who should lead the dialogue, after one of the coalition partners Nisma headed by Fatmir Limaj is against President Hashim Thaci to take …
Serbian MPs sit along ruling coalition in Kosovo Parliament
The meeting of Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj on Thursday with the heads of Srpska List, Goran Rakic and Milan Radojicic, resulted with the return of Srpska MPs in the ruling coalition’s seats implying that they are returning in the Haradinaj-led coalition after months of boycott. Original post Here
Hoxhaj to meet US Secretary of Defence, James Mattis
US Defence Secretary, James N. Mattis, will visit Zagreb on Friday in his first visit to the Balkan region. Mattis will meet with defence ministers of the US-Adriatic Charter to reinforce U.S. support to southeast Europe. Original post Here
Kosovo PM Haradinaj welcomes in his office controversial Serb politician, Milan Radojicic
Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, received on Thursday in his office Srpska List head Goran Rakic and his deputy Milan Radoicic. This is the first time that Radojicic, a controversial figure and considered as “the boss of the underground in the northern Kosovo,” came officially to Kosovo Prime Minister’s office. …
Haradinaj’s party conditions dialogue with the visa liberalisation
Members of Parliament of the ruling Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) have submitted Thursday a draft-resolution asking the Government of Kosovo not to resume dialogue with Serbia, until the EU takes a final decision on removing visas for citizens of Kosovo. Original post Here
Thaci and Vucic to meet on 18 July in Brussels
Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, will meet next week, on 18 July, President Hashim Thaci of Kosovo and President Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia in the context of the continuation of her facilitation of the EU-facilitated Dialogue. Original post Here
Kosovo President Thaci draws red lines in talks with Serbia after all
Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said on Thursday that Kosovo has “red Lines” when it comes to the final phase of the dialogue with Serbia. Thaci drew the “red lines” in talks with Serbia after criticism from opposition parties. Earlier this month Thaci, who leads the political dialogue with Serbia, said …
Fajon expects EC report on visas for Kosovo be published before summer break
Tanja Fajon, the European Parliament rapporteur on visa liberalisation for Kosovo, said that she expects the European Commission report on whether Kosovo has fulfilled all the criteria on visa liberalisation, be published before summer break. Media have reported that the EC is delaying publication of the report due to be …
Kosovo PM wants ‘political truce’ with Serbia
Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, said at the end of the Western Balkans Summit in London that he expressed his concerns during his meetings in London over Serbia’s continuous pressure on Kosovo Serbs to leave the Kosovo Security Force. Original post Here
Journalist who is investigating Ivanovic’s murder assaulted in Serbia
Serbian Journalist, Stefan Cvetkovic, who has investigated killing of the Kosovo Serb politican Oliver Ivanovic killed in January in Mitrovica North, was physically assaulted in front of a cafe in his home town of Bela Crkva on Monday evening. The Serbian police have arrested a man suspected of assaulting Cvetkovic, …
Student-led protests in Albania have escalated into violent clashes with police, drawing international attention and raising fresh questions about government accountability, corruption and the future of young people. The demonstrations began with demands for better university conditions, lower education costs and greater financial support for students. However, they soon expanded …
Parliament Speaker Niko Peleshi condemned attacks on Parliament and public institutions during a violent protest in Tirana. He described the acts of vandalism and destruction as unacceptable. In a social media statement, Peleshi stressed that violence serves no cause and harms the public interest and society. He also rejected attempts …
Education Minister Mirela Kumbaro urged students to reject violence as protests entered their second day. She expressed deep concern over attacks on the Education Ministry and other public institutions. “Physical clashes and property destruction must never replace words, arguments and dialogue,” Kumbaro said. The minister defended students’ right to protest …
The US Embassy in Tirana issued a security alert on Tuesday, warning American citizens that violent protests could spread near government buildings. The embassy said a demonstration on Durrës Street, near Skanderbeg Square, turned violent after protesters threw stones. It warned that unrest could spread to nearby areas and government …
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Albania (KISH) condemned the removal of the Vatican flag during a protest in Tirana on Tuesday, calling the act unacceptable. In a public statement, the conference said protesters had targeted the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican’s diplomatic mission in Tirana. Several demonstrators removed the Vatican flag …
The German Embassy has shared the position of the European Union Delegation to Albania regarding the ongoing student protests in Tirana. The German Embassy has expressed the same position as the EU Delegation, which voiced concern over escalating tensions between law enforcement officers and young protesters and called on all …
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced during a government meeting that a proposal to establish a working group tasked with drafting, coordinating and harmonising a state strategy regarding appeal proceedings at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague had been approved. Kurti stated that the first-instance verdict against the four …
The British Embassy in Tirana has reacted following clashes on the second day of protests outside the Ministry of Education. In a statement published on the Ministry’s official Facebook page, the embassy stressed that the right to protest does not justify the use of violence or damage to public and …
Former Defence Minister Piro Vengu has reacted following acts of violence reported for the second consecutive day during protests outside the Ministry of Education. In a social media post, Vengu stated that students have the right to protest and express their concerns, but stressed that violence and vandalism serve no …
Albanian President Bajram Begaj has reacted to the incidents that occurred today during protests that have escalated significantly. In an official statement, Begaj called on all parties to exercise restraint to prevent the situation from escalating further. Begaj stressed that peaceful protest is a fundamental right, but violence must not …