AAK favors dialogue and coalition with PDK

• AAK favors dialogue and coalition with PDK (Koha Ditore)
• Jacobson: Together for rule of law (dailies)
• Exchange ambassadors with Serbia within 10 years (Koha Ditore)
• Belgrade part of talks on north (Zëri)
• Netherlands expects implementation of agreements (Express)
• Election reform questioned, commission’s mandate to expire (Koha Ditore)
• Can Vulin enter Kosovo? (Express)
• Çohu, criticism for PTK privatisation (Zëri)
• KEK collapsing, Kosovo in blackout (Kosova Sot)

Kosovo Media Highlights

AAK favors dialogue and coalition with PDK (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reported that the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) has chosen another path than the other two opposition parties, LDK and Vetëvendosje. Haradinaj’s party will take part in the compliance for the dialogue with Serbia and expects to enter in the coalition with PDK a few weeks after The Hague Tribunal declares their leader innocent. The coalition should ensure that Haradinaj, who left his post to face charges for war crimes in the Tribunal, will return as Prime Minister and continue where he left off.

In an interview for Koha Ditore, Deputy Head of AAK Blerim Shala spoke in detail about the plans of his party, the coalition, the unity team, the north and the dialogue. Blerim Shala revealed the platform, which should be on the Kosovar side in the dialogue with Serbia.

According to Shala, additional guarantees could be accepted for Serbs in the north but not rights beyond the Ahtisaari Package. Kosovo should request membership in United Nations and recognition from Serbia to normalize relations. Shala said that his party will not be indifferent in the issue of the coalition with PDK, but he expects Ramush Haradinaj to become Prime Minister.

Jacobson: Together for rule of law (dailies)
The first day on the job, the new US Ambassador Tracy Jacobson met Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga and presented ‘credential papers.’ “I am looking forward to the engagement with political groups, businesses and civil society. I am convinced that working together in partnership, Kosovo leaders can take forward the rule of law for a more prosperous, stable and democratic future,” said Jacobson after meeting Jahjaga.

In a message to the citizens of Kosovo that Jacobson delivered in Albanian and Serbian, the US ambassador said she felt proud representing President Obama and the US.

Exchange ambassadors with Serbia within 10 years (Koha Ditore)
A strategic paper drafted by the Kosovo Foreign Ministry foresees that Kosovo and Serbia will exchange ambassadors within a ten-year timeframe. The paper said that without normalizing relations between the two countries, there can be no Euro-Atlantic integration.

The document further states that Kosovo possesses a strategy for securing a sufficient number of recognitions to enable it to gain membership of the UN. In this context, the paper refers to the deepening of relations with Russia and China.

Belgrade part of talks on north (Zëri)
British Ambassador Ian Cliff told the paper that including Belgrade in talks on the north is necessary because of its influence on Serb illegal security structures. “We think there should also be a more political dialogue, a large part of which will unavoidably be the north because we think it is Pristina’s absolute right to reach out to the Serbs in the north. However, this process would be successful only if Belgrade would be included,” Cliff is quoted as saying.

Cliff said that it is clear that no government would enter into a political process for the north knowing that the opposition eagerly waits to attack it. He added however that apart from AAK’s moderate stances, LDK has also pledged not to block the work of the Assembly when voting on important constitutional changes or laws regarding the ICO. “I have made it clear to largest political party leaders that there should be a national effort on this issue,” British ambassador said.

Netherlands expects implementation of agreements (Express)
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte congratulated Serb Prime Minister Ivica Dacic for assuming his new post and expressed his belief that the relations between the two countries will continue to advance. Rutte said he hopes Serbia will continue to advance towards the European path and continues the dialogue with Pristina.

Rutte said he values the strong commitment of the Government of Belgrade to implement agreements achieved in the framework of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and Dacic’s readiness for the dialogue to continue as soon as possible.

Election reform questioned, commission’s mandate to expire (Koha Ditore)
The Parliamentarian Commission for election reform is expected to continue the meetings on this process. However, the commission’s results for simplifying the election system are low due to the lack of political consensus.

Political representatives in the respective commission continue to wait for the answers from their leaders regarding zones, lists, and the election threshold. The Liaison Office of European Commission in Pristina called on political parties to find a compromise concerning election reform as soon as possible.

Can Vulin enter Kosovo? (Express)
Director of the Office of Serbia for Kosovo Aleksandar Vulin is expected to visit Kosovo on Friday and Saturday, his office announced. During his first visit in Kosovo since he has assumed his duty, Vulin will visit Prizren, Shtrpce, Rahovec, and Hoca e Madhe.

It remains unclear if Vulin has requested permission from Kosovo authorities to visit the region and if he is going to be allowed entry in Kosovo. Vulin said that the Government of Serbia has already prepared a strategy for Kosovo, while he emphasized that President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic will also be included in the dialogue. According to Vulin, parties should make concessions during dialogue.

Çohu, criticism for PTK privatisation (Zëri)
Kosovo-based anti-corruption NGO, Çohu, expressed concern that including the Albright Capital Management in the competition for privatisation of Kosovo Post and Telecom, PTK, may result in a conflict of interest and seriously challenge the equality in the tendering process. Çohu released a statement saying that by ignoring the fact that the Albright group is part of another mobile telecom provider, IPKO, creates an monopolistic environment in the telecommunication field.

KEK collapsing, Kosovo in blackout (Kosova Sot)
Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) officials announced that the situation on the energy supply would improve yesterday, but it actually worsened instead as power outages occurred throughout Kosovo. While KEK officials claim that the energy shortage resulted from technical difficulties with the network, representatives from the civil society accuse KEK of selling energy during this season. KEK denied accusations, saying they are absurd.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• AAK favours dialogue and coalition with PDK
• Jacobson: Together for rule of law
• Election reform under question, commission’s mandate ends in a month
• Radicalism of Islam, danger or phobia?

Other headlines
• Albanians bid farewell to Arbën (2)
• Cliff: The north, main topic of dialogue (3)
• Dacic on 4 September in Brussels to discuss dialogue (3)
• Exchange of ambassadors with Serbia within 10 years (3)

Zëri

Front page
• Belgrade, part of talks for north
• Kosovo’s friend
• LDK’s plan for north, “utopia”
• Kurti: We are republic but we have two kings

Other headlines
• Agreements cannot be changed unilaterally (2)
• Dialogue uncertain (2)
• Serbia drafting negotiating platform (2)
• Arbën Xhaferi buried with high honours (4)
• Many voices, “one view” (5)
• Çohu, criticism for PTK privatisation (6)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• €50,000 for not filing a lawsuit
• Jacobson calls for rule of law
• Chief inspector Gashi blocks legal businesses and consumers
• KEK in collapse, Kosovo in blackout
• Editorials: All eyes on Jacobson

Other headlines
• Serbia drafts platform for Kosovo (2)
• Kosovo-Serbia relations discussed 4 September (2)
• Cliff: North, main topic of Pristina-Belgrade talks (3)
• Footnote removed only with both parties’ consent (3)
• Serbia committed in keeping parallel structures (3)
• Still no official candidate for Pristina (3)
• Last farewell given to Arbën Xhaferi (3)

Epoka e Re

Front page
• Shala and Isufi “divides” political dialogue
• Cliff: North, topic of political talks
• USA proud of Kosovo
• Kurti: We have independence, but we cannot decide

Other headlines
• Still unknown when dialogue will begin (2)
• Footnote removed with consent of two sides (2)
• Germany ends peacekeeping mission in Bosnia (2)
• Serbia drafting platform about Kosovo (2)

Express

Front page
• Rule of law mission
• North in line

Other headlines
• Norwegian support (4)
• Netherlands expects implementation of agreements (5)
• USA cooperation with KSF (9)
• Electricity cuts continue (10)

Bota Sot

Front page
• Achieved agreements cannot be changed unilaterally
• Jacobson: USA proud to have Kosovo as friend
• Serbs alarmed by massive return of Albanians in north

Other headlines
• Seminar begins for State Cooperation Programme, Iowa-Kosovo (3)
• Kurti: Thaçi and his government – cause of crises (2)
• Arben Xhaferi – Wise and decisive leader (7)
• Difficult conditions with power supply (10)