A different Thaçi

• A different Thaçi (Express)
• Change of Penal Code, EU condition (Zëri)
• Right of veto given to the President (Koha Ditore)
• Bosnia’s dilemmas (Express)

Kosovo Media Highlights

A different Thaçi (Express)
Express reports that in his latest statement, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi criticized the European Union like never before saying that Brussels is keeping alive the conflict industry in the Balkans by failing to push forward integration processes. The paper notes that this is the first time that Thaçi changed his speech vis-à-vis the European Union since being elected Prime Minister. Thaçi called on the EU to accelerate Kosovo’s integration otherwise there could be a risk of border changes.

Meanwhile, French Ambassador to Pristina, Jean Francois-Fitou, said Thaçi is entitled to ask for concrete steps from the EU but also reminded Thaçi that the problem does not rest only with the EU. Fitou said Kosovo institutions too must do their homework. “Results do not come as fast as we want them. The main duty of us diplomats in Kosovo is to understand this request and translate it to our countries and to the EU so that the latter can engage for Kosovo,” Fitou added.

Change of Penal Code, EU condition (Zëri)
The paper reports on the front page that there is an increasing international support for the removal of libel from the Penal Code and that this has even become a condition that European Union has put to Kosovo. The questionnaire on feasibility study given to Pristina authorities includes also a point which makes it clear that libel should not be in the Penal Code. The exact wording of the question is, “Is libel a penal offence in Kosovo? If yes, when does Kosovo intend to remove libel from the Penal Code?”

According to the paper, this means that by first half of June, at the latest, Kosovo will have to change its Penal Code giving way to demands by the journalist associations.

Right of veto given to the President (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that to the president is being made the path that trough applying the veto to rule down every law that comes from the Government and is approved from the Assembly. The veto of the head of the state is foreseen to over vote with 73 votes of the deputies, while the Government is formed only with 61 votes. Experts of the constitutional right consider that with such power of the role of the president, Kosovo moves to the semi-presidential system.

Bosnia’s dilemmas (Express)
Based on an article published in South European Times, Express reports that Bosnia and Herzegovina is hovering regarding the decision on the recognition of Kosovo’s independence. “It is time for Bosnia and Herzegovina to recognize Kosovo as an independent state, to leave the past behind and make a courageous step forward,” said the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, some time ago. However, Serbs from Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to object the recognition, despite the assessments that this could bring peace to the region. “Kosovo is a source of a long unsustainably in the region and as such, it will not receive the recognition of Republika Srpska,” said Milorad Dodik, the leader of Republika Srpska.

However, Nikola Gajic, political activist from Novi Sad, stated that if Serb politicians are prepared to support Serbia’s integration in the European Union, they should consider seriously the issue of the independence of Kosovo, especially after elections.