Dialogue of papers also created concessions

• Dialogue of papers also created concessions (Koha Ditore)
• Thaçi: Kosovo to get positive mark for ending independence (Koha Ditore)
• It is not time for Jahjaga – Nikolic meeting (dailies)
• Ivanovic: Dialogue without heads of state and government (dailies)
• Kuçi, neither chief negotiator nor rector (Epoka e Re)
• Kuçi’s return depends on the outcome of the articles 37 and 38 (Koha Ditore)
• Grabovci & Co regret their decision (Zëri)
• The President in bad terms with LDK (Express)
• Haradinaj returns to The Hague (dailies)


Kosovo Media Highlights


Dialogue of papers also created concessions (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that according to Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri the results from the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue process until now are few papers but the former Foreign Minister, Skënder Hyseni does not think that the technical dialogue has produced only papers. According to him, the technical dialogue has also created painful concessions for Kosovo. “Dialogue has created few painful concessions for Kosovo”, said for Koha Ditore, former Minister Hyseni.

Neither Edita Tahiri nor Borislav Stefanovic who led technical dialogue will be representatives in the continuation of the process. In addition, the EU facilitator is also not expected to be Robert Cooper. Deputy Prime Minister, Edita Tahiri has received first signs of her removal from the dialogue. She planned on Wednesday last week to meet facilitator Robert Cooper who visited Pristina and Belgrade to call for implementation of the agreements, but Prime Minister Thaçi did not invite her to the meeting with Cooper.

Thaçi: Kosovo to get positive mark for ending independence (Koha Ditore)
Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi on Sunday conducted a brief visit to Tirana where he had a working lunch with Albanian Prime Minister, Sali Berisha. Thaçi and Berisha talked very briefly about the taxes on cement and the inter-connection line, the finalization of monitored independence of Kosovo and the changes in both governments. Thaçi expressed his hope that “on 2 July that we will have a positive evaluation from the entire international community, supporters of Kosovo independence, for the successful finalization of the monitoring of Kosovo independence”.

It is not time for Jahjaga – Nikolic meeting (dailies)
Dailies report that political analysts in Pristina consider that an eventual meeting between Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga and Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic would be a hastened step. According to them, this could have a negative impact since the international democratic community has many question marks regarding Nikolic’s personality, based on his past. “I consider that until the Government in Serbia is not created and until there is no internal consensus in Serbia and Kosovo regarding the dialogue and meeting, this meeting could only have propagandistic effects and as far as the content is concerned, it could even have counterproductive assessments and consequences,” said political analyst, Behlul Beqaj.

Alban Bokshi, Director of the Foreign Policy Club stated that Jahjaga’s statement in favor of a meeting with Nikolic, is a hastened political move.

Reporting on the same issue, Bota Sot, under the headline Jahjaga cannot wait to travel to Belgrade, reports that opposition parties in the country claim that the institutional leadership of Kosovo should be careful regarding the eventual Jahjaga – Nikolic meeting and add that Serbia should fulfill a range of conditions prior to this meeting.

Ivanovic: Dialogue without heads of state and government (dailies)
State Secretary in the Serbian Ministry for Kosovo Oliver Ivanovic said the new Serb prime minister and president will not be part of the negotiating team in the upcoming continuation of dialogue with Pristina. “I think the president and also the future prime minister should be careful not to fall into this trap and have bilateral meetings with someone they don’t recognize,” Ivanovic told Serbian news agency Tanjug.

At the same time, Ivanovic told Express that elections in north Mitrovica can be held only with Belgrade’s approval and even this way, the Serb population in the north would not accept them. “First, quite a while will pass until we agree on what the North really is,” said Ivanovic and added that the Government of Kosovo has no chance to organise elections in the north.

Kuçi, neither chief negotiator nor rector (Epoka e Re)
Hajredin Kuçi who recently resigned from the posts of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice rejected reports that he will either assume the duties of a new chief negotiator in talks with Serbia or become a new rector of University of Prishtina. “I have no plans on becoming rector or chief negotiator,” said Kuçi. He said that he will continue to serve Kosovo and will also stay beside Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi. “I will be close to him as a friend and as a politician,” he added.

Kuçi’s return depends on the outcome of the articles 37 and 38 (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that Hajredin Kuçi said his return to the governing cabinet is less important compared to the removal of the articles 37 and 38 from the Penal Code. Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi spoke about Kuçi’s resignation whilst in Tirana and said that Kuçi has set a missing standard in the political scene of Kosovo by resigning for moral reasons. Sources of KTV ruled out the possibility of Kuçi’s resignation being linked to the restructuring of the Government. “This does not have to do with reformatting, the issue of Kuçi is an issue on its own”, said one of the ministers who added that the outcome of the disputed articles will clarify everything.

Grabovci & Co regret their decision (Zëri)
Zëri reports on the front page that Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi will be in a state of fever until the end of this week if his boss, Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, will accept his resignation. This is because the Penal Code – together with the disputed articles 37 and 38 – is likely to be returned to the Assembly for a revote this week. The code will be sent to a revote if the Assembly Presidency adopts the initiative of the PDK parliamentary group to reformulate the two articles due to irregularities.

A senior official close to the process told the paper, “If the Assembly presidency holds its regular meeting, it is expected to review a request submitted by PDK parliamentary group chief Adem Grabovci to reformulate the two articles. The PDK proposal will most likely be voted and will not pass because most MPs agree to completely remove the articles and not reformulate them.”

In a different article related to the same issue, the paper reports that major differences between PDK MPs over articles 37 and 38 have shown huge divisions inside Prime Minister Thaçi’s political party. It is believed that there are two powerful factions within the PDK: the conservative one consisting of SHIK and a more moderate one.

The President in bad terms with LDK (Express)
Express reports on the front page that the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) continues to call on President Atifete Jahjaga to hand in her resignation. LDK, which is the biggest opposition party in Kosovo, was upset with Jahjaga when she sent a letter to the Constitutional Court of Kosovo rejecting the shortening of her mandate.

LDK senior official Lutfi Haziri told the paper that Jahjaga should not forget how she became the head of state. LDK MP Vjosa Osmani said Jahjaga’s failure to respect her mandate would have a domino effect because it would result in the failure to respect the timeframe for parliamentary and other elections.

Haradinaj returns to The Hague (dailies)
Former Kosovo Prime Minister and leader of AAK, Ramush Haradinaj, has returned to The Hague on Friday. Haradinaj arrived in The Hague Tribunal two days ago as the two closing sessions are to be held on 25 and 26 June where the prosecution and defense will have their final words and leave the judges about two months time to take the final decision about this case. The final verdict on the case is expected to be announced by the end of August or in September.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• Dialogue of papers led to concessions
• Thaçi: On July 2nd Kosovo will have a positive evaluation for independence
• Kuçi’s return depends on epilogue of articles 37 and 38
• Issue of cement expected to end this week

Other headlines
• Haradinaj returns to The Hague (4)
• Minister Hoxhaj visits Macedonia (4)
• Ivanovic: Dialogue without heads of state and government (5)
• Ivanov comments on possibility of renewed 2001 conflict (5)

Zëri

Front page
• Grabovci&Co regret their decision
• World Bank frustrated with delays in Kosova e Re project
• Egypt with a new president
• Growing divisions within PDK
• Closing session for Ramush Haradinaj

Other headlines
• Croatia won’t impede Serbia’s path toward EU (2)
• Jahjaga condoles Klaus (2)
• Hoxhaj visits Macedonia (2)
• Ivanovic takes out president and prime minister from dialogue (4)
• No climate for Jahjaga-Nikolic meeting (5)
• Coordination for 100th anniversary of independence (5)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• State budget loses €100 million from oil market
• Editorial: Responsibility for articles 37, 38 and 39
• Thaçi: Kuçi’s resignation, a new standard
• Membership in Organization for Islamic Cooperation is difficult

Other headlines
• Too early for a meeting between Jahjaga and Nikolic (2)
• Haradinaj returns to The Hague (4)
• Kosovo expects recognition from Egypt (4)
• Government with a strategy for cooperation with civil society (4)
• Ivanovic: Dialogue without heads of state and government (5)

Epoka e Re

Front page
• Kuçi: Keeps the word
• The end of a marathon process
• All against the decision for the cement
• They want RKS plates

Other headlines
• Conclusion of the independence, a proof of the legal state (2)
• Kosovo expects recognition by Egypt (2)
• Ivanovic: Dialogue without president and prime minister (2)
• It is not time for Jahjaga – Nikolic meeting (3)
• Lecture for Kosovo, France and Europe (3)
• Only six recognitions in six months (5)
• Hoxhaj starts today his visit to Macedonia (5)
• Ohrid agreement protects Macedonia as a state (7)

Express

Front page
• President in bad terms with LDK
• We continue with pollution
• Lunch for the cement

Other headlines
• Buzhala: Media spectacle (2)
• Shala: History of the shame (3)
• Hoxhaj goes to Skopje (4)
• Haradinaj returns to Hague (5)
• No to elections in the north (6)
• Will he keep his word? (6)
• It is not time for Jahjaga – Nikolic meeting (6)
• A bad image (10)

Bota Sot

Front page
• Jahjaga is anxious to travel to Belgrade
• Mimoza answers: We are not silent about the case of Sharrcem
• Haradinaj returns to The Hague
• Members of criminal organization Guard of Tsar Lazar coming in Kosovo

Other headlines
• Berisha: Kosovo is fulfilling successfully the process of independence (2)
• Kosovo is expecting recognition from Egypt (3)
• Serb extremists are preparing for serious provocations (3)
• Thaçi: the resignation of Kuqi a missing standard (3)
• Burim Ramadani: We are not the same (5)