Jahjaga: Kosovo has red lines

Kosovo Media Highlights

Jahjaga: Kosovo has red lines (dailies)
During a press conference ahead of the women’s summit that she will host, Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga said that dialogue with Serbia is the best and only way to build a future for the wellbeing of citizens on both sides of the border.

When asked to comment on EU High Representative Catherine Ashton’s statement that Belgrade and Pristina will have to take some difficult decisions, Jahjaga warned however that Kosovo does have its red lines. “I cannot speak on behalf of Baroness Ashton but I can say that there are certain red lines determined by the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo and its institutions that no internal issue of our country will be a topic of discussion with another state, much less with Serbia,” said Jahjaga.

Dialogue doesn’t begin without government reinforcements (Zëri – page 3)
Changes are expected in the Thaçi-led Kosovo Government before Pristina enters talks with Belgrade this year through a partnership with Ramush Haradinaj’s party. Political analysts in Pristina argue that the need for new political consensus, including in northern Kosovo, could bring about changes in the ruling coalition.

Analyst Imer Mushkolaj told the paper that Brussels needs a stronger coalition consisting of parties that emerged from the former Kosovo Liberation Army in order to enter dialogue with Belgrade on northern Kosovo.

“Brussels is therefore interested to have a strong ruling coalition in Kosovo. In fact, a coalition between PDK and AAK is needed not only for the EU but also for Prime Minister Thaçi so that he can achieve certain goals. Brussels wants Thaçi as the protagonist in new talks with Serbia and therefore we can expect a stronger coalition, a so-called KLA coalition,” Mushkolaj said.

Kosovo not state in EU agreements (Koha Ditore – front page)
If five countries that have not recognized the independence of Kosovo manage to agree during this month, the EU Council could approve its decision to authorize the European Commission to begin negotiations with Kosovo for the “Framework agreement.” EU diplomatic sources in Brussels told Koha Ditore that the “Framework agreement” enables Kosovo’s participation in certain programs of European Union and, in legal terms, the possibility for such an authorization will be based on sections 3 and 4 of article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of European Union (TFEU).

At the time when the feasibility study, which evaluates a country’s readiness to begin negotiations for the Stabilization-Association Agreement, is expected to be finalized, the EU Council did not achieve an agreement to authorize the start of negotiation for the participation of Kosovo in EU programs. The EU legal service explains that negotiations for the agreement with Kosovo can begin but without prejudice towards the status and without considering Kosovo as an independent state.

Thaçi supported by Sweden for EU integration (dailies)
Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi met with Swedish Prime Minister Frederik Reinfeldt on Tuesday. Along with the Swedish Foreign Minister, Prime Minister Reinfeldt assured Thaçi that the division of Kosovo is not an option as Kosovo is a sovereign, independent state. Reinfeldt emphasized that Sweden remains committed in supporting the path of European integration of Kosovo and good neighbouring relations. “Kosovo is committed to normalize relations with Serbia through dialogue between two independent and sovereign states,” added Prime Minister Thaçi.

Court allows prosecutor to interview Fatmir Limaj (dailies)
The District Court in Pristina ruled in favour that EULEX prosecutor Johannes Pickert interview former Transport Minister and PDK deputy leader Fatmir Limaj despite missing the timeframe to conduct the investigations. According to the Court, Limaj was supposed to answer the prosecution’s questions in September, not remain silent. Limaj did report to the prosecution on 11 September but refused to answer any questions stating that investigations are illegal.

Limaj: I didn’t attend PDK parliamentary meeting (Epoka e Re – front page)
PDK deputy leader and Kosovo MP Fatmir Limaj said that he did not even attend the meeting of the PDK parliamentary group, following reports on Tuesday by web portals and news agencies that he left the meeting dissatisfied.

Limaj said that when the meeting was taking place, he and several senior PDK officials were at the home of the family of his late bodyguard in Malisheva to pay homage. Limaj said those who spread such misinformation should be held accountable, adding that the media should verify their information before publication.

The chief decides (Express – front page)
Disagreements among senior officials of the Democratic Party of Kosovo are expected to be reflected at the party’s Convention, for which the date remains unknown. According to sources within PDK, Hashim Thaçi would be the only one to know the exact date. “All those who spoke for the media about certain dates, are nothing more than people who want to appear as informed about what is going on within the party, to the public opinion, but in reality, they know nothing,” said the PDK official. “Whenever [Thaçi] feels like it, the convention will take place,” he continued. Express further reports that there are claims that there were disagreements during the political party’s last meeting and that some of the members left the meeting.

Pacolli, conflict of interest again (Koha Ditore – front page)
Another document has leaked from Pacolli’s drawer and poses a conflict of interest. On 18 May last year, during his post as Deputy Prime Minister, Pacolli wrote a letter to Michael Widmann expressing interest in purchasing the Hotel Shangri-la, located in Am Schubertring, Vienna in the name of the Mabatex Group. He made the offer for the hotel 40 days after he was appointed for Deputy Prime Minister, which is against the law. There have been no comments from Pacolli on this matter.

Grubejsic: Neither recognition nor seat at UN (Express – page 5)
Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister Suzana Grubejsic told Vecernje Novosti that Serbia should avoid the Kosovo-Serbia dilemma. “Our main goal is to avoid this solution because we cannot give up the road to the EU nor on the part of state territory.” She admitted that Serbia tried for years to keep EU and Kosovo “in two tracks”, but without success. “The intention is to relax relations with Pristina and not to directly or indirectly recognize the unilateral declaration of independence. There is no recognition of Kosovo and no Kosovo seat at the UN. Below this, we can go,” Grubejsic said.

Serbia appoints U of Pristina in Mitrovica rector (Koha Ditore – page 6)
Serbia continues to empower its parallel institutions in Kosovo and the most recent example is the appointment of a rector at the “University of Pristina in Kosovska Mitrovica” by the Serbian Ministry of Education.

Kosovo Ministry of Education, Science and Technology officials said the university is illegal and holding hostage the rightful name of Pristina’s public university. “The so-called University of Pristina in Mitrovica is not subject to accreditation procedures in accordance with the Law on Higher Education of the Republic of Kosovo and as such is completely illegal and unacceptable,” said Arbër Morina from the Ministry of Education.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• Kosovo, not like a country in agreements with EU
• Thaçi receives Sweden’s support for European integration
• Ministry: PTK workers to be punished if their protests become more radical
• Court allows prosecutor to interview Fatmir Limaj
• Pacolli in another conflict of interest

Other headlines
• Jahjaga: Kosovo has its red lines (page 2)
• Diaspora asked to organize voting (page 2)
• Mujota rules out financial problems on “National Highway” (page 4)
• Serbia appoints rector of “Pristina University” in Mitrovica (page 6)
• SKV: Police is violating the law by intervening in university campus (page 7)

Zëri

Front page
• Apartments that lead to crime
• Dialogue does not begin without reinforcements in government
• Editorial: PDK’s urban complex
• Internal arrangements will not be discussed
• Kurti: Normalization of relations?

Other headlines
• Jacobson informed about engagements of women MPs (page 2)
• Albright in Pristina (page 2)
• Grubjesic: Kosovo will not be our neighbor (page 4)
• Reinfeldt: Kosovo cannot be divided (page 5)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• Serbia threatens PTK bidders
• Editorial: Vulin’s letter
• Jahjaga denies north will be included in dialogue
• Law on using local products
• 15 students arrested during SKV action

Other headlines
• Women MPs inform Jacobson about their objectives (page 2)
• Tough motion ahead (page 3)
• Thaçi asks for Sweden’s support (page 3)
• Kosovo’s independence is an irreversible fact (page 4)

Epoka e Re

Front page
• They lied about Limaj
• Jahjaga has spoken

Other headlines
• Thaçi: Our priority, acceleration of European agenda (page 3)
• International Women’s Summit to begin tomorrow (page 5)
• 140 new police officers to be admitted to the force in 2013 (page 7)
• Fifteen activists from SKV arrested (page 7)
• Selection committee visits Kosovo (page 8)
• Institutions consume local products (page 9)
• PTK privatisation doesn’t threaten jobs (page 9)
• Mujota: Contract for Pristina-Hani i Elezit highway by end of year (page 9)

Express

Front page
• The chief decides
• Finally
• Indictment ready?
• Oppose division

Other headlines
• Rexhepi: Spoiled banks (page 2)
• Nikolic upset with the media (page 4)
• Grubejsic: Neither recognition nor UN seat for Kosovo (page 5)
• Atifete’s lines (page 5)
• British engagement for Kosovo will continue (page 6)
• Complain (page 6)

Bota Sot

Front page

• Sekiraqa could be “cooperating witness” in the case of “Llapi Group”
• Jahjaga no one suggested the agenda of talks with Serbia

Other headlines
• EULEX and PK committed a joint arrest operation (page 3)
• Are there political factions within political parties? (page 4)
• Pristina for three days it will become capital of woman (page 4)
• Thaçi ensures, no compromise in damage of independence (page 7)
• Tahiri: Local governance foundation of democracy (page 10)

/Shqiptarja.com