• Ban: Maintaining stability important for Kosovo (Koha Ditore – front page)
• Serbia in New York with the plan for dialogue (dailies)
• Stefanovic: Agreements are not international treaties (dailies)
• Tahiri: Agreements are mandatory (Epoka e Re – front page)
• Pavicevic: Agreements should be respected (Epoka e Re – page 5)
• Lehne wishes “balanced solution” for the north (dailies)
• Lajcak: Partition of Kosovo would provoke a war (Kosova Sot – page 4)
• PDK postpones party elections (Zëri – front page)
• Pacolli continues to lobby for recognition of Kosovo (dailies)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Ban: Maintaining stability important for Kosovo (Koha Ditore – front page)
The Kosovo delegation staying in New York for the UN General Assembly, met UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday. Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga said the recent visit of SG Ban to Kosovo was important, adding that Kosovo is a joint success story of both local and international efforts. She also noted that Kosovo institutions have taken on full responsibility of the state after the end of supervised independence and assured that the fundamental principles set forth in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence will be implemented for all communities.

Jahjaga also addressed the upcoming dialogue with Serbia and said it is good but not the only way to normalize relations between the two countries. She insisted that Serbia should implement agreements reached until now in Brussels. With regards to the situation in the north, President Jahjaga said illegal structures are breaching Kosovo’s territorial integrity and are also holding citizens in the north ‘hostage’.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon thanked Jahjaga for her hospitality during his visit and stressed the importance of maintaining stability in Kosovo. He also said that the whole region should aspire to Euro-Atlantic integrations and work more on preserving peace and stability.

Other Kosovo delegates who met with Ban included Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, Deputy Prime Minister Behgjet Pacolli, Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj, European Integration Minister Vlora Çitaku, and Kosovo Consul in New York Bekim Sejdiu.

Serbia in New York with the plan for dialogue (dailies)
Koha Ditore reported that Serb President Tomislav Nikolic will present part of the plan for the dialogue with Kosovo on Tuesday in New York. Although Kosovo leaders are already in New York, they have not yet announced any detailed plan for expected talks with Serbia. The Serb delegation led by Nikolic, who include Foreign Minister of Serbia Ivan Mrkic and President Nikolic’s advisor Marko Djuric, travelled to the USA on Sunday. On Tuesday, the main discussion of the 67 UN General Assembly will begin in New York, which will be led by former Foreign Minister of Serbia Vuk Jeremic. Serb President Nikolic will speak on the first day of UN General Assembly.

The head of the Serb negotiation team, Dejan Pavicevic, told Novosti newspaper on Sunday regarding the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina that he expects that the “situation will be clearer” after the talks between Nikolic –Ashton and many issues will be concrete. “In New York we are going to present a part of our plan and how we think the dialogue should continue. European Union will also present its plan, and for sure also Kosovar side. Before President Nikolic it is going to be hard work,” said Pavicevic.

Stefanovic: Agreements are not international treaties (dailies)
Former head of the Serbian delegation, Borislav Stefanovic, said regarding talks with Kosovo said the Bergrade Government has no reason to implement agreements since he did not sign any international treaties. “Regulations and conclusions with which the previous government confirmed agreements can be annulled,” said Stefanovic for a Serbian paper, adding that the agreements are in accordance with the Constitution of Serbia and “bring more good than bad.”

Tahiri: Agreements are mandatory (Epoka e Re – front page)
Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister, Edita Tahiri responded to Borislav Stefanovic in connection with the mandatory agreements achieved in Brussels during the technical dialogue. In a statement for Epoka e Re, she said that these agreements are mandatory for both states. According to Tahiri, her former counterpart, Stefanovic, also is aware of this. The head of the Kosovo delegation for talks with Serbia said that Brussels is “dangling the carrot” in front of Belgrade.

Pavicevic: Agreements should be respected (Epoka e Re – page 5)
According to the head of Serb negotiation team of Belgrade in the dialogue with Pristina, Dejan Pavicevic, the Government of Serbia is determined to continue implementing agreements achieved in Brussels, including ones which are most disputed for the management of administrative crossing points. In a press conference in Belgrade, he said that it is possible that parts of that agreement are made acceptable, which are not at all in favor for Serbia.

Lehne wishes “balanced solution” for the north (dailies)
Stephan Lehne, former EU special envoy for Balkans, said that the German-German agreement, which Eastern Germany has avoided recognizing but has established cooperation and offices in both capitals, can be a model for the solution of the problems of Belgrade and Pristina but not regarding the issue of recognizing the independence of Kosovo. Lehne in an interview for Politika newspaper said that at present it is impossible to know when Serbia will recognize Kosovo, while Serbia cannot enter in the EU before 2020, says Lehne. Although the EU may not resolve the issue of Cyprus, Lehne emphasized that there is a consensus not to divide Kosovo in the north and wishes for a “balanced solution” between both interests. This solution is possible with an essential autonomy for the north, bigger than the one foreseen from Ahtisaari and with “solution Serbs will administer their lives and judicially the north will be in Kosovo.”

Lajcak: Partition of Kosovo would provoke a war (Kosova Sot – page 4)
Foreign Minister of Slovakia Miroslav Lajcak said Kosovo has made significant progress but a great deal remains to be done if it wants to become member of European Union. Speaking about the possible redrawing of borders, Lajcak ruled out idea. “There region is fed up with turmoil and wars. Balkans today needs peace and stability. International community will not tolerate any setbacks because partition of Kosovo would be a threat, it would provoke war and instability in the region,” said Lajcak.

PDK postpones party elections (Zëri – front page)
The paper reports that the largest political party in Kosovo, PDK, is not likely to begin the process of internal elections this month as was previously announced. According to party officials, the postponement is due to “political developments” but analysts consider the move comes from fear that elections will result in clashes and disagreements within the party.

Pacolli continues to lobby for recognition of Kosovo (dailies)
Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Behgjet Pacolli is reported to have had several important meetings with representatives of countries from Central America and Caribbean Community. In separate meetings, Pacolli met officials from Mexico, Dominican Republic and Suriname and stressed the need for Kosovo to gain new recognitions to ensure the country’s integration into the family of democratic countries.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• Serbia in New York with plan for dialogue
• Ban: Maintaining of stability, important for Kosovo
• Privatisations, valid only after approval from Competition Authority
• Surroi: Act early for creating conditions for a joint future
• Prisons with internal network for distribution of prohibited items

Other headlines
• Lehne wishes “balancing solution” for the north (page 2)
• Lutovac: Serbia will recognize Kosovo (page 2)
• Stefanovic: Agreements not international treaties (page 2)
• Kacin: Vojvodina still an open issue (page 2)
• UAE lobby for recognition of Kosovo (page 2)
• Albanian-Americans host 100th anniversary dinner of independence (page 4)
• Vetëvendosje makes Ministry of Economic Destruction (page 5)
• Kosovo gets financial aid from Jeddah’s Islamic Bank (page 5)
• Kosovo threatened by increased number of cases with brucellosis (page 6)

Zëri

Front page
• Serb officials call for partition!
• Government deceives IMF
• PDK postpones elections
• Little hope for EULEX
• Indictment against Minister Rasic

Other headlines
• UAE help in recognitions process (page 2)
• Lehne supports autonomy for the north (page 2)
• Recognition of Kosovo, condition for Serbia (page 2)
• Stefanovic: Agreements can be annulled (page 2)
• Beginning of diplomatic marathon (page 4)
• Pacolli continues meetings for lobbying (page 4)
• Kosovo Serbs confused (page 5)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• Kelmendi: Judges and prosecutors selected in cafeterias
• Ban: Dialogue crucial for the future
• Lehne in favour of special autonomy for the north
• Editorial: Missing model

Other headlines
• Kosovo Serbs do (not) accept partition (page 2)
• First implementation of agreements (page 3)
• Hoxhaj: Serbia to apologise for crimes in Kosovo (page 3)
• Lajcak: Partition of Kosovo would provoke a war (page 4)
• Lukovac: Serbia will recognize Kosovo (page 4)
• Stefanovic: I did not sign anything! (page 4)
• Rexhepi wants 300 policemen at the border (page 4)
• Donors that bring neighbourhoods in the north back to life (page 8)

Epoka e Re

Front page
• VV wants elections
• Agreements are mandatory
• Hoxhaj: Serbia to ask for forgiveness to Kosovo for crimes
• EU and Serbia present in New York plans for Kosovo
• Statement of Dacic for division, not realistic

Other headlines
• Lukovac: If Serbia wants EU, should accept Kosovo (page 4)
• United Arab Emirates are helping recognition process (page 3)
• Pacolli lobbies in New York for new recognitions (page 3)
• Lehne: For the north Ahtisaari Plan is not enough (page 5)
• Serbs divided about division (page 5)
• Pavicevic: Agreements should be respected (page 5)
• Vetëvendosje: Ministry of Economic Destruction (page 9)

Express

Front page
• I left from dictatorship
• Division dangerous

Other headlines
• More than Ahtisaari (page 4)
• Stefanovic: Agreements can be annulled (page 5)
• Arab states are helping (page 5)
• Lukovac: Serbia should recognize Kosovo (page 6)
• Little Kelmendi arrested (page 8)
• Ministry of economic destruction (page 11)

Bota Sot

Front page

• Waiting for good news from Togo, soon recognitions to be increased
• Why are not investigated two attempted attacks towards president Ibrahim Rugova
• Everybody knows that Kosovo is state, but they don’t accept it
• RTK nest of corruption

Other headlines
• The Albanian-American group supports campaign of Obama (page 2)
• Berisha accuses internationals for unjust division of Albanians (page 3)
• Independence of Kosovo, closed issue (page 3)
• Kosovo leaders start diplomatic marathon (page 4)
• Lukovac: If Serbia wants EU, it should accept Kosovo (page 4)
• Serb wedding in the center of Prizren (page 6)
• United Arab Emirates help the process of recognitions (page 7)