• Ashton: On January 17, dialogue to include talks on the north (Koha)
• Peace treaty, cause for Jahjaga-Nikolic meeting (Koha)
• Thaçi to run perhaps for president (Express)
• Dodik: We will not allow recognition of Kosovo (Express)
• Constitutional and election reforms to be adopted by year’s end (Koha)
• Tense situation in Bujanovac (Zëri)
• Sejdiu: My project for the LDK (Epoka e Re)


Ashton: On January 17, dialogue to include talks on the north (Koha)

In a front-page interview, European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton, who is facilitating political dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, announced that the January 17 meeting between Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic will discuss the northern part of Kosovo.

Asked what topics will be addressed on January 17, Ashton said, “We will meet to discuss the progress achieved, in particular the implementation of the IBM, and as we agreed on December 4 we will also discuss northern Kosovo”.

“It is up to the parties to agree what is the best way to address issues in the north. For us one thing is clear: the situation there is not stable and local people need a vision for their future in Kosovo,” Ashton said.

The EU High Representative ruled out the possibility of Kosovo’s division saying that “partition is not an option”.

Peace treaty, cause for Jahjaga-Nikolic meeting (Koha)

President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga and Serbia’s Tomislav Nikolic are expected to meet in Brussels where they will be presented with the idea of a peace treaty between Kosovo and Serbia, reports the paper quoting sources.

The treaty is said to be a several-month effort from the EU diplomacy and aims at pushing forward normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia and would express the commitment of the two countries not to obstruct one another on the way to European integrations.

Sources revealed that the Jahjaga-Nikolic meeting will take place days after the meeting of prime ministers Thaçi and Dacic on 17 January.

Thaçi to run perhaps for president (Express)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi is quoted as saying that he will not run anymore for the post of prime minister thus fuelling dilemma over his future political role. “One thing is for sure, that PDK will win elections also in the other mandate but I do not want to be candidate for prime minister,” Thaçi said.

Political analysts consider that under such a scenario, Thaçi would have two options, to either run for the post of Kosovo president or take a break from politics.

“Decision not to run for prime minister has two angles: first, he doesn’t wish to be prime minister anymore and wants to distance himself from the current politics and second, it may be he has ambitions to become president of Kosovo with a five-year mandate and remain present in politics,” said Shkëlzen Maliqi.

However, another analyst, Ardian Arifaj, considers that the post of president would mean an end to Thaçi’s political career. “For someone who has been at the prime minister’s post for so long, no other position will seem attractive,” said Arifaj.

Dodik: We will not allow recognition of Kosovo (Express)

President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik said there are no pressures to which the government in Banja Luka would succumb and allow the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina recognize Kosovo. “We have outlived those pressures and they were very big,” he said. “We will not do anything or give any contribution outside of what the Serbia’s official stance presents,” Dodik added.

Constitutional and election reforms to be adopted by year’s end (Koha)

Kosovo institutions pledged to conclude constitutional and election reforms by the end of the year. The government’s action plan for negotiations on the Stabilization/Association Agreement notes that institutions will conclude the abovementioned reforms in the final quarter of this year, Koha Ditore reports on the front page. “There are still challenges that impede the proper functioning of the Assembly. Constitutional and election reforms are intertwined and delays in this respect cause delays in democratic reforms, the functioning of the constitutional order and reforms in the election system in Kosovo,” notes the document, adding that the Assembly will roundup this process in the last quarter of 2013.

Tense situation in Bujanovac (Zëri)

The visit by Serbian Parliament Speaker and the head of Serbian Gendarmerie in bases of Serbian gendarmerie along the border with Kosovo has resulted in the removal of the Albanian national flag from the cemetery of UCPMB martyrs in the village of Dobrosin, 18 kilometers west of Bujanovac, Zëri reports on page five.

Jonuz Musliu, former chief of the UCPMB, said they would not allow for the blood of martyrs to be disrespected. “We reached a peace agreement, but what happened yesterday was a serious provocation. We will not allow the blood of our martyrs or our legitimate rights to be disrespected. We will raise our concerns with international partners and such things should never happen again,” Musliu said.

Sejdiu: My project for the LDK (Epoka e Re)

In a front-page interview, Fatmir Sejdiu, former leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), said he does not rule out his return at the helm of the party. Sejdiu said he favors normal political processes and that those who use politics for privileges and illegitimate profits should abandon it.

“I am part of the LDK and I never thought about leaving the party. My main goal is for the LDK to get the role it deserves. I don’t favor the LDK engaging in momentary activity. My approach is to bring together all potentials in the LDK. My action is about reaching out, my approach does not come from the streets,” Sejdiu was quoted as saying.

Sejdiu said he did not meet current LDK leader Isa Mustafa in 2012. He also argued that Mustafa was doing political marketing with proposals for national symbols.