EULEX arrests fuel dealers of the north

• EULEX arrests fuel dealers of the north (Koha)
• Drews: No need for concern (Zëri)
• Thaçi conditions the discussions (Zëri)
• Krasniqi supports the Government (Epoka e Re)
• Brussels welcomes early visit by Nikolic (Koha)
• Talks in Brussels (Express)
• Heading towards political dialogue (Express)
• Ivanovic: Municipal councils to be established in northern Kosovo (Express)
• KFOR doesn’t want to talk to Serbian Government’s appointee (Koha)
• President Jahjaga refuses Commission’s request (Kosova Sot)
• UNICEF: Kosovo is not implementing children’s rights (Koha)

Kosovo Media Highlights

EULEX arrests fuel dealers of the north (Koha)
Koha Ditore reports on the front page that EULEX has arrested Mentor Beqiri and several other Albanian and Serb businesspersons from Mitrovica suspected for smuggling fuel into Kosovo over a period of ten years. According to this daily, they mixed the fuel with regular oil in Uglar village and sold it at many gas stations throughout Kosovo. Their activities have been investigated by EULEX for several years. On Tuesday, at the request of EULEX prosecutor Jonathan Rratel, the EU mission undertook action against the suspects. Koha Ditore claims to have seen a copy of the file, of the arrested, Mentor Beqiri with his brother Albert, the other two brothers from Vushtrri, Jahë and Alban Osmani, Halil Hasani from village Banjskë and another person whose identity this daily could not reveal. In addition to smuggling, they are also suspected of fiscal evasion, fraud and money laundry.

Drews: No need for concern (Zëri)
KFOR Commander Erhard Drews said that there is no need for concern in the north of Kosovo, despite the reinforcements there. “It is a fact that we have stepped up the presence of KFOR troops in the north of Kosovo and citizens there are probably concerned about this presence, but know that KFOR is also concerned because there are still roadblocks which prevent the free movement of citizens,” said Drews during a visit to Klina municipality.

Thaçi conditions the discussions (Zëri)
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, reiterated on Tuesday, after the inauguration meeting of the board for language policies, that he is ready to discuss tête à tête with Serbs in the north. As far as discussing with Belgrade he said that there will be no discussions until the Government there implements the agreements reached during the technical dialogue in Brussels. “We remain with our position that first the implementation of the reached agreements should take place, and then the continuance of the dialogue on technical issues between the state of Kosovo and Serbia. And of course it is our responsibility to deepen the dialogue with our citizens, with Serb citizens in the north, in order for them to integrate into institutional life, at both the central and local level,” said Thaçi.

Krasniqi supports the Government (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re reports that Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi supports the government decision to open an Administrative Office in the north of Kosovo. Krasniqi stated that with this office, integration of Serbs of the north into the political and institutional life of Kosovo will start. “The opening of the office is a significant effort to integrate this part of the Republic of Kosovo. Of course it is a good initiative of the Government of Kosovo and the international community; however we have to wait to see how this office will function in practice. He added that institutions of justice should also play their role to normalize the situation there.

Brussels welcomes early visit by Nikolic (Koha)
The paper’s Brussels-based correspondent reports that new Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic is seen by the European Union as a moderate politician and in favour of continuing Serbia’s path towards European integration. EU Commission spokeswoman Pia Hansen is quoted as saying, “We welcome reports that Nikolic will visit Brussels. The president of the European Commission, Barroso, will welcome the opportunity to meet President Nikolic. We are now working to prepare this visit. After the elections, we highlighted the need for Serbia’s commitment toward European integration. Therefore, we will welcome an early visit by President Nikolic in Brussels and we are now working on finalizing the dates for this.” The spokeswoman reportedly avoided the question on if the Commission has any problems with Nikolic’s earlier statements especially his recent one when he said that Vukovar is a Serbian city and that Croats should not return there. The paper further reports that Nikolic’s visit to Brussels will be June 14th.

Talks in Brussels (Express)
The paper reports that officials from the European Commission and the Government of Kosovo are set to begin today a so-called structured dialogue that will focus on the rule of law. Kosovo will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi, Integration Minister Vlora Çitaku and Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi. According to a statement issued by the EC, the dialogue is designed to help Kosovo address challenges in the rule of law field. The main focus of the dialogue at this stage will be in the fight against corruption and organized crime. The meeting is also expected to be attended by EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele and Commissioner for Internal Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom.

Heading towards political dialogue (Express)
Spokeswoman for the European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton, Maja Kocijancic, told Radio Free Europe that the EU has already made it clear to the Kosovo and Serbian delegations that the dialogue will resume. “We are now waiting for the constitution of the new Serbian Government and we will then consult the two sides on when and how to proceed,” said Kocijancic.

The paper writes however that the EU is considering raising the level of the dialogue from technical to political where Pristina and Belgrade would discuss the future of the north.

Ivanovic: Municipal councils to be established in northern Kosovo (Express)
Oliver Ivanovic, state secretary in the Serbian Ministry for Kosovo, said on Tuesday that the new Serbian Government will establish provisional councils in Kosovo and that they will have the same composition as coalitions in Serbia. “According to rules, the composition of municipal administrations is a reflection of the coalition at the republican level, because good communication between the central government and local government is required for the proper functioning of municipalities,” he added.

KFOR doesn’t want to talk to the Serbian Government’s appointee (Koha)
KFOR does not accept Radenko Nedeljkovic, the so-called mayor of the Mitrovica district, at talks. Nedeljkovic told reporters in Mitrovica yesterday that regular meetings between representatives of northern Serbs and international officials would not go on infinitely because KFOR wants to select the Serb team in the talks. “It is clear that I am the main reason why KFOR refused to meet representatives of northern Serbs,” Nedeljkovic said. “I received no explanation from KFOR why I shouldn’t be present at those meetings.” EULEX recently informed Nedeljkovic that KFOR wants to talk only to local representatives, whereas he is appointed by the Serbian Government.

President Jahjaga refuses Commission’s request (Kosova Sot)
Advisor to President Atifete Jahjaga, Ramush Tahiri, said that the President’s Office has completed everything regarding the justification for sending back the Penal Code to the Assembly and added that it is now up to the latter to do the work through its relevant mechanisms. Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri also said that recent statements that Jahjaga’s justification is unclear are unfounded.

UNICEF: Kosovo is not implementing children’s rights (Koha)
“Kosovo is not implementing children’s rights and the main reason for this seems to be poverty,” it was said during the publication of a UNICEF report on children development and education in Kosovo. European Union special representative Samuel Zbogar said everyone talks about how Kosovo is known as the Young Europeans for two reasons because it is a young state and it has the youngest population in Europe. He also added that surveys show an extreme poverty among youths which inevitably leads to the failure to respect their rights. The Government meanwhile has pledged to work on improving the future of children of Kosovo.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• EULEX arrests oil dealers in the north
• Minister Buja declares students victory over Rector’s Office
• Anti-Corruption Agency hides Pacolli’s conflict of interest
• Brussels welcomes Nikolic’s early visit
• US diplomats show interest in freedom of the press in Kosovo

Other headlines
• KFOR patrol alarms Serbs in the north (4)
• UNICEF: Kosovo doesn’t implement children’s rights (4)
• Croatia war veterans value contribution of Kosovo fellow fighters (5)
• Adem Grabovcis’ wife wounds herself (5)
• Bllaca demands more security (6)
• Idajet Beqiri, accused of terrorism, may be extradited to Belgium (7)
• Turkey lobbies for Kosovo in countries that went through “Arab Spring” (7)
• Government “advertises” PTK in Turkey (9)

Zëri

Front page
• Investigation of SHIK under dilemma
• CEC “steps over” four villages of Kaçanik
• Rights of children, challenge for Kosovo
• IOC, political decision
• Bllaca: SHIK reported to Thaçi

Other headlines
• Drews: No need for concern (2)
• Jahjaga received Jessen-Petersen (2)
• Oil smugglers arrested (4)
• Judiciary, the most closed to public (4)
• Thaçi conditions talks? (5)
• Adem Grabovci’s wife wounds herself (6)
• KFOR fails again (6)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• Ismet Beqiri, offer with which LDK loses Pristina
• The President refuses the Commission
• Technical dialogue, from Brussels to the north
• Editorial: Non-transparency

Other headlines
• Judiciary hides data for access to official documents (4)
• Demaçi: We are being imposed upon with the church (4)
• Roadmap not to arrive in May (5)
• Conference on PTK held in Istanbul 97)
• GDP grew by 3-4% (7)
• Bllaca: I was no ordinary man in SHIK (8)
• EULEX arrests six persons for smuggling (13)
• Wife of MP Adem Grabovci wounded (13)

Epoka e Re

Front page
• The image improved
• Hyseni: Tuneless diplomacy
• Supports the Government
• KFOR did not try to remove barricade in Rudare

Other headlines
• New Serbian Government does not leave the parallel structures (2)
• AKK: Pacolli without conflict of interest in Nigeria (3)
• The report on the right for public approach, published (3)
• Reçica: Ferizaj, an example for other communities (5)
• EU calls on Pristina and Belgrade to prepare for discussions (7)

Express

Front page
• Seeks the truth
• Discussions in Brussels
• Buzhala: Why is PDK the first?
• Ibrahim Rexhepi: Alarming signals from UNDP

Other headlines
• Jessen-Petersen: Kosovo is factor of peace (4)
• Pacolli is not involved in conflict of interest (5)
• Create councils (5)
• Towards political dialogue (6)
• Skopje ready to help KSF (6)
• Re-guarantee on languages (6)
• Insults at the session (7)
• KFOR in trouble with barricades (7)
• Zvonko’s buddies (8)

Bota Sot

Front page
• After the war, criminals strong
• Koha Ditore and Kosova Sot slander refuted
• Besnik Osmani, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration
• Even PDK wives keep arms without permission

Other headlines
• Hoxhaj sends condolences to his Italian counterpart regarding the earthquake (3)
• KFOR refuses meetings with Nedeljkovic (3)
• Serb extremists sound alarm “Hurray against American KFOR” (5)
• Five from eight Albanians arrested in Bujanovc, released (6)
• Oil Kosova raided, fuel smugglers arrested (6)