AKR requests dismissal of Trade Minister Mimoza Kusari-Lila

• AKR requests dismissal of Trade Minister Mimoza Kusari-Lila (Zëri)
• France is with you (Express)
• Articles to be removed in January? (Express)
• The “apolitical” head of northern Mitrovica (Koha Ditore)
• Administrative Office in the north completed with 7 directors (Zëri)
• Vidovdan holiday assembles Serb hardliners (Zëri)
• Haradinaj’s attorneys present their arguments (dailies)
• Help at Atifete’s (Express)
• No more Metohia (Express)

Kosovo Media Highlights

AKR requests dismissal of Trade Minister Mimoza Kusari-Lila (Zëri)
Zëri on the front page quotes sources inside the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) as saying that members of the party chairmanship have called for the dismissal of Minister of Trade and Industry, Mimoza Kusari-Lila. The request follows Lila’s decision to place a 35 percent tax on the import of cement from Albania.

“We have asked Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi to dismiss the Minister for Trade and Industry, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, because of the controversial decision concerning the 35 percent tax on the import of cement from Albania,” a source inside Pacolli’s party told the paper. The same official said the AKR is concerned with Lila’s decision which according to him creates a monopoly and damages businesses and citizens.

On the other hand, AKR parliamentary group chief Myzejene Selmani denied such a request was ever made. “I don’t know that we have requested her dismissal. If this were true, I would have known about it, being the head of the parliamentary group. If this were true I would have also been informed by the Office of the Prime Minister,” Selmani said.

France is with you (Express)
The Foreign Minister of France, Laurent Fabius has sent a letter to Kosovo Minister of Foreign Affairs Enver Hoxhaj offering his country’s support for Kosovars. “You may rest assured that France will be on your side to help you consolidate the sovereignty and international legitimacy of Kosovo. The closing of the International Civilian Office and future configuration of the European mission EULEX, will be important phases, that will return to Kosovo authorities, to transform into success and by promoting the replacement of this international presence with their own capacities,” says the letter distributed to the media by Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Articles to be removed in January? (Express)
Express reports that endorsement of the Penal Code with the articles that harm the freedom of media, might remain as they are for a long time. According to PDK deputy, and expert of the constitutional right, Arsim Bajrami, there is no certainty that the articles will be removed before January 2013, when the Penal Code approved on Friday, comes into power. “There are some laws that do not come into power at the standard period, so 15 days after the approval, but they may be delayed even for a year. The Penal Code is a typical case, since it was foreseen to come into power from January, and now it is a matter of judicial interpretation, especially of the conclusions that the Legislative Commission will make, if the law which is still not in power, can be fulfilled or changed,” said Bajrami.

The “apolitical” head of northern Mitrovica (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that Adriana Hodzic, head of the Administrative Office in northern Mitrovica or the person who is well known to the international community as a leader of projects by humanitarian organizations in the north does not intend to challenge Serb authorities north of the Ibër River. According to Hodzic, all that the office will focus on is to improve the lives of citizens. “Our mandate is not to challenge barricades, institutions or politics coming Serbia, but only to protect the interest of the citizens,” Hodzic said.

The paper further notes that the appointment of other officials is not expected to be more complicated as the appointment of the head of Administrative Office, which was a result of discussions between local and international officials. “She worked with preparatory team and had the support of internationals, especially of the Americans. Some locals had their doubts,” an official close to the appointments process told the paper.

Administrative Office in the north completed with 7 directors (Zëri)
Zëri reports that seven directors have been selected for the Administrative Office in the northern part of Mitrovica. Officials at the Kosovo Ministry for Administration of Local Government confirmed the selection of directors.

Lumnije Demi, head of the information office at the MALG, said the seven directors – five of them Serb, one Bosniak and one Albanian – were selected based on criteria determined in the vacancy announced in December. Unnamed sources meanwhile told the paper that some of the selected directors do not meet the criteria to hold those positions.

Besnik Tahiri, expert on local government issues, said everyone must support Adriana Hodzic, head of the administrative office in the north, because she is trying to do something that Pristina hasn’t done for four years now.

Vidovdan holiday assembles Serb hardliners (Zëri)
The paper reports that Serb parallel structures in northern Kosovo are making the final preparations to welcome Serbian hardline groups and organizations, some of which are even banned in Serbia, and around 1,000 motorcycle drivers, 55 of which will be coming from the Russian Federation to northern Mitrovica on June 28th.

Behxhet Bala, director of the municipal department for defense and rescue in Mitrovica, held meetings with non-Serb representatives of neighborhoods in northern Mitrovica, and called on them to remain calm and manage any situation in proper fashion. Bala also said the goal of illegal structures in the north is to provoke interethnic conflict.

Haradinaj’s attorneys present their arguments (dailies)
All dailies report on the front pages on the closing arguments delivered by the defense at the ICTY trial against Ramush Haradinaj and his associates. Express reports that Ben Emerson, attorney for former Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj who is standing trial at The Hague, told the court on Tuesday that charges against the former KLA commander were prepared based mainly on information coming from the Serbian secret service.

In his closing statement, Emerson recalled that former ICTY chief prosecutor was told by her advisors not to initiate the case due to the lack of arguments. “She had to find another team of prosecutors in order to initiate the case,” Emerson said. He also added that Haradinaj as a politician was very engaged in providing security for Serb minority members living in Kosovo.

Epoka e Re reports on the front page that the defense slammed the prosecution. The paper quotes defense attorney Smith as saying that evidence against the defendants were secured through bribes, blackmail and other illegal ways.

In a different article related to the same issue, Epoka e Re quotes several lawyers as saying that the Haradinaj case was sent back to trial due to political reasons.

Help at Atifete’s (Express)
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, met on Tuesday with e delegation of the dwellers from village Karaçevë, lead by Selver Lenjani, who expressed their concern regarding the difficulties that the population of this part is facing, due to the non-delineation of the border between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. Even though there are KFOR points and frequent Kosovo Police patrols, the citizens are concerned by the close presence of Serbian gendarmerie, stressing that they feel endangered since it happens that animals and people are stopped with the pretensions that they have crossed the border line. They expressed their concern that they cannot use completely their properties, due to the lack of the border line.

No more Metohia (Express)
Express reports that according to the new law on elections, a political party holding an unconstitutional name, such as the expression Metohija, will no longer be able to certify for elections. Haki Demolli, head of the election reforms committee, said this decision derives from the Constitution of Kosovo. He also said there is no date yet for the meeting of party leaders that is expected to discuss the finalization of the election reforms process.


Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• Coalition of war returns to Serbia
• NATO excludes any possibility of division of Kosovo
• Sadri Ferati and Zymer Halimi accused to have harmed Preteni
• During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Thaçi has also visited Mecca

Other headlines
• “Apolitical” president of the north Mitrovica (3)
• Draft law for health insurances “violates the human rights” (4)
• Election reform, hostage of the agendas of party leaders (4)
• Lushtaku: KLA was named at Adem Jashari’s house, not in Switzerland (5)
• Haradinaj’s defense: Prosecution based accusations on blackmails (8)
• Halili: Kuçi and the tricks of the game (10)


Zëri

Front page
• They request Mimoza’s resignation
• Administrative office with new directors
• Evidence have been assured by blackmails and bribes
• Ramush’s eight years of sacrifice

Other headlines
• Karaçevë citizens complain to Jahjaga (2)
• Nikolic with an undeniable offer for Dacic (2)
• Hoxhaj condemns crashing of Turkish airplane (2)
• Rasic and Zbogar discussed pension schemes (2)
• Assembly, a shelter of “tourists” (3)
• Pacolli requests recognition from South America (4)
• France supports strengthening of Kosovo (4)
• 600 million Euros from 900 privatizations (7)


Kosova Sot

Front page
• Judges and prosecutors in panic
• Politics’ irresponsibility on elections reform
• Kusari-Lila softens

Other headlines
• 10 million euros saved, municipalities to be financed (2)
• Thaçi: Kosovo of great opportunities (2)
• Many duties derive from Progress Report (2)
• No registration of parties in contradiction with Constitution (3)
• France helps Kosovo on consolidation of sovereignty (3)
• Zbogar informed about the draft law on pensions (4)
• A range of violations at the Ministry of Diaspora (4)
• Defense: Fabricated evidence by Serbian intelligence files (8)

Epoka e Re

Front page
• KSF reformats
• Assembly leadership to decide about the code
• Defense embarrasses prosecution

Other headlines
• France supports Kosovo’s European integration (2)
• Senior leaders, hostage of election reform (3)
• Latin-Americans promise Pacolli recognition of Kosovo (5)
• They expect Ramush’s release (7)
• Zbogar informed about the draft law on pensions (8)


Express

Front page
• AKR requests another ministry
• Interferes for cement
• No more Metohia

Other headlines
• France is with you (5)
• Pacolli continues with Lobbying (6)
• The Articles to be removed in January? (6)
• Defence arguments (7)
• Pension system ready (11)

Bota Sot

Front page
• Behgjet Pacolli in search for recognitions from South America
• Capital projects are not dependable from the privatization of PTK
• Defence arguments innocence of Haradinaj

Other headlines
• Halbauver: It is time to work for a better future for the north (2)
• Zbogar: It is the duty of EU to help Kosovo (3)
• Haki Demolli LDK candidate for Pristina (6)
• Clark is investing in Kosovo 5.6 billion euro’s (7)
• France supports the commitment of the Government for integration (7)
• OSCE supports strategies against crime, drugs and terrorism (10)
• Hoxhaj condemns the attack against the Turkish airplane (11)