Ban’s report – criticism for Kosovo

• Ban’s report – criticism for Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
• Problems in Kosovo to be solved in accordance to resolution 1244 (dailies)
• Thaçi: Meetings of high level contribute to neighbourly relations (Zëri)
• Kuçi to Kurti: I know a bit on treaties (Koha Ditore)
• Thaçi’s pledges to ISG keep Assembly under pressure (Koha Ditore)
• Vetëvendosje: EC funding Serbia’s illegal structures (Epoka e Re, Bota Sot)
• LDK changes (Express)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Ban’s report – criticism for Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore writes that in his regular quarterly report on Kosovo, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, addressed a lot of criticism towards Kosovo institutions while he justified Serbia for non-implementation of agreements achieved in the technical dialogue with Kosovo.

In the report, Ban Ki-moon criticizes actions of Kosovo police during the celebration on St. Vitus Day while he expresses his concern also about the decision of the Kosovo Government to stop financing of UAM. Ban called on international community to demonstrate more unity for putting pressure on parties and urged for a greater engagement of parties in the dialogue.

The report which will be discussed by UN Security Council member states on 21 August along with the summary about developments in Kosovo over the last three months also contains a description of the achieved agreements in technical dialogue between Edita Tahiri and Borislav Stefanovic.

The head of the UN finds Serbia guilty only on non-implementation of one agreement, that on integrated border management. “Belgrade still did not sign technical protocol for the implementation of this agreement”, writes Ban in his report, a copy of which has been secured by Koha Ditore. However, according to the UN Secretary-General, it should be taken into consideration that the nature of this agreement “is such that requires more time than other agreements to be implemented”. With regards to other six agreements, Ban blames Pristina for non-implementation of two agreements and misunderstandings in the other four agreements as a cause for non-implementation.

Problems in Kosovo to be solved in accordance to resolution 1244 (dailies)
Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and UNMIK chief Farid Zarif, according to Serb media, have agreed that all problems in Kosovo should be resolved in accordance to UNSC Resolution 1244. Serb media cite a statement from Government in Belgrade saying that Dacic and Zarif have agreed that it “is necessary to be ensure peace and stability in Kosovo and that the dialogue is irreplaceable in solving all issues”.

Dacic is quoted to have said that the Government of Serbia recognizes achieved agreements in technical dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and “considers that it is necessary to overcome different interpretations” about these documents.

Express under headline Agreements to be verified at the UN, reiterates that Dacic and Zarif have agreed that all solutions of the problems in Kosovo should be in accordance with Resolution 1244 and adds that these need to also be verified by the UN Security Council.

Thaçi: Meetings of high level contribute to neighbourly relations (Zëri)
In an interview for RTV 21, Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi said high-level political meetings between representatives of Kosovo and Serbia are necessary for contributing to good neighborly relations and EU integration. “I assure all citizens of Kosovo that Constitution and Kosovo legislation will be respected about everything,” said Thaçi. He noted that no one has mentioned September as the time when political talks with Serbia could start but added that Kosovo will at all times uphold its Constitution.

Kuçi to Kurti: I know a bit on treaties (Koha Ditore)
Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi told Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti that “he knows a thing or two about treaties” as the latter criticized Kuçi’s proposal for a peace treaty with Serbia saying such an arrangement would be impossible as Kosovo has no army.

“Kosovo has gone through two stages: the survival stage that came with Kosovo’s freedom and independence stage that came on 17 February 2008. But, Kosovo should win permanent peace: harmony with citizens of the country and permanent peace with its neighbours,” said Kuçi.

Thaçi’s pledges to ISG keep Assembly under pressure (Koha Ditore)
The paper reports that the Government of Kosovo will have only one month at its disposal to implement commitments Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi pledged at the meeting with International Steering Group on 2 July in Vienna. At the time, Thaçi said the Government will step up its efforts to conclude some of obligations it has left halfway. Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi said these obligations can be met within the given timeframe as one of the tasks has already been completed. “Language coordinator has already been appointed and work is being done on fulfillment of other promises. We will do our outmost to implement all in the given time,” said Kuçi.

Opposition representatives however claim there could be pressure on the Assembly by the Government to pass necessary legislation with accelerated procedure.

Vetëvendosje: EC funding Serbia’s illegal structures (Epoka e Re, Bota Sot)
Vetëvendosje Movement has reacted strongly against the decision of European Commission to allocate funds to the Mitrovica North University. Vetëvendosje said the EC is this way funding illegal institutions as the university functions in accordance to Serbia’s education system while it is located in the territory of Kosovo. “European Commission is either funding illegal institutions or it considers the north of Kosovo to be part of Serbia,” said a statement issued by Vetëvendosje.

LDK changes (Express)
Express reports that it looks like LDK leader Isa Mustafa has changed his mind as now his closest associates say that the party will not block electoral and constitutional reform. Paper’s sources say that this party is expected to reject only amendments which have to do with the competencies of the president. These amendments will not receive the vote of LDK MPs while Mustafa does not want the actual president, Atifete Jahjaga, to enjoy new competencies.


Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• Ban’s report – criticism to Kosovo
• Thaçi’s pledges to ISG keep Assembly under pressure
• Disagreements in the Government over victims compensation fund
• Judah: Nikolic sees Kosovo through ancient lenses

Other headlines
• Kuçi to Kurti: I know a bit about treaties (2)
• Mustafa: LDK will win Pristina with hands in pockets (2)
• Kuçi says anti-mafia law will not spare “big fish” (4)
• Vetëvendosje asks Slovakia to recognize Kosovo (4)
• Dacic and Zarif agree problems in Kosovo to be resolved in accordance to 1244 (4)
• AKI of Maksim Ferra with over 50 agents in Kosovo (5)
• A miner lost his life in Trepça mine (5)
• Kosovo has only 213,000 officially employed persons (6)

Zëri

Front page
• Thaçi’s presidential game
• Kuçi’s treaty, difficult to be achieved
• Talks, opposition fires up
• High-level meetings contribute to neighbourly relations
• Bukoshi at court today

Other headlines
• Kurti asks Slovakia to recognize Kosovo (2)
• Kosovo ready for end of supervision (2)
• Ban criticizes internationals about Kosovo (2)
• Hodzic optimistic about north’s integration (5)
• Import from Serbia experiences decline (6)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• Will Jahjaga’s council also fail?
• Thaçi spares opponents
• Editorial: With hands in pockets

Other headlines
• More seats for Serb MPs, unacceptable solution (2)
• Supervised independence successfully coming to an end (2)
• Vetëvendosje asks Slovakia to recognize Kosovo (2)
• Ban criticizes lack of unity on Kosovo (3)
• Serb Government recognizes agreements of technical dialogue (3)
• Mustafa: LDK wins Pristina with hands in its pockets (3)
• Without reliable and efficient judiciary, confiscation of illegal assets fails (3)

Epoka e Re

Front page
• Hoxhaj: Recognitions won’t stop
• Thaçi: We need to meet with leaders of Serbia
• The idea of Kuçi about a treaty with Serbia is to early
• Ban criticizes international community
• LDK and Vetëvendosje against political dialogue

Other headlines
• Judah: Nikolic is cut off from reality (2)
• Dacic and Zarif: Problems to be solved under 1244 (2)
• Ahmeti is planning an “inter-Albanian alliance” (2)
• Belgrade and Banja Luka with the same stance towards Kosovo (2)
• Vetëvendosje: EC funding Serbia’s illegal structures (6)
• Mustafa: We would win in Pristina with our hands in the pockets (7)
• Financial agreements between Kosovo and Austria finalised (9)

Express

Front page
• LDK changes
• Nikolic disturbs them

Other headlines
• Agreements to be verified at the UN (4)
• Vetëvendosje requests recognition from Slovakia (5)
• They don’t agree about treaty (5)
• Dialogue will not lead anywhere (6)
• Ban requests unity (6)
• Kosovo in fire (8)

Bota Sot

Front page
• Amnestied with law those who stole state property
• Judah: Nikolic sees Kosovo with ancient lenses

Other headlines
• Dacic and Zarif: Problems to be solved according to 1244 (2)
• Vetëvendosje says EC finances illegal structures of Serbia (4)
• Construction continues in the northern neighborhood of Mitrovica (6)
• Vetëvendosje requests recognition of Kosovo from Slovakia (7)
• Ban Ki-moon criticizes international community (7)