• Kosovo Assembly Speaker disputes legitimacy of the Assembly (dailies)
• Instead of political dialogue, technical talks under consideration (Koha Ditore – front page)
• Differences on status prevent deeper relations with EU (Koha Ditore – p.4)
• The problematic five (Express – p.6)
• NATO supports dialogue for Kosovo (Zëri – front page)
• The offer to resign (Express – front page)
• Pack: Do not waste time requesting Jahjaga’s resignation (Epoka e Re – front page)
• Prosecutor Bamieh starts investigations against Lushtaku (Koha Ditore – front page)


Kosovo Media Highlights


Kosovo Assembly Speaker disputes legitimacy of the Assembly (dailies)
Kosovo Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi, as Koha Ditore puts it, did not count on personal consequences when on Wednesday he disputed legitimacy of the institution he leads. He chose to be a critic of the processes which he considers damaging for PDK, but also for the country in general. Krasniqi’s fellow party members say that he is not the only “opposition” voice inside PDK but, according to them, not everyone has the courage to say that what they think.

In yesterday’s session of the Assembly, Krasniqi alleged that the legislative body is a result of vote theft and therefore, lacks legitimacy.

One of presidency members of PDK who preferred to remain unnamed told Koha Ditore that Krasniqi through his criticism over the way the Government and the party are being lead is trying to raise spirit of discussion inside PDK and also throughout the society. “Krasniqi as general secretary of the party does not have personal interests. His only aim is avoiding the possibility for the country to turn into a dictatorship, where no one can say that what he feels”, said the PDK official. He admitted that during informal talks, many PDK members agree with Krasniqi but with the exception of Fatmir Limaj, all others are silent when Hashim Thaçi is present in the presidency meetings.

Instead of political dialogue, technical talks under consideration (Koha Ditore – front page)
The issue of Kosovo’s energy transmission and that of Serbia’s telecom, topics which were discussed during the technical dialogue last year, may serve as basis for continuing the dialogue after chances of a political dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia starting any time soon are fading out. Officials from the office of the EU High Representative confirmed that the two remaining issues may be addressed in the continuing dialogue. “Technical dialogue has never stopped. There was a break because of elections in Serbia but it never stopped,” said an EU official.

Plans for resuming technical dialogue come after the disappointment of the EU High Representative and other international officials with Serbia’s leadership which, the international diplomats say, has been giving mixed messages with regards to the readiness to start soon a political dialogue process.

Differences on status prevent deeper relations with EU (Koha Ditore – p.4)
The paper reports that European Commission has finalized the annual progress reports for potential EU candidate countries but there will be no such report on Kosovo though in a way, this will be replaced by the feasibility study. The paper claims to have had insight on the EU’s draft strategy for enlargement which focuses on the progress of each country specifically. With regards to Kosovo, EC experts are having consultations on how to formulate recommendation on the possibility of opening negotiations for Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA).

On Serbia, the document states that European Commission will not recommend date for launch of accession negotiations and that this will be conditioned by visible progress on improving relations with Kosovo and implementation of all agreements reached during the technical dialogue.

The problematic five (Express – p.6)
Differences of the EU countries regarding the status of Kosovo continue to impede the development and deepening of the relations between Kosovo and the European Union. The issue of the north of Kosovo represents the main challenge, while progress on this issue requires constructive engagement of all relevant parties. This was said in the draft strategy for enlargement, a document which will be published together with the Progress Report, next week.

In addition, this document confirms once again that Serbia can receive the recommendation for the start of the negotiations for membership in the EU only after normalizing the relations with Kosovo. “Significant and sustainable improvement of the relations between Kosovo and Serbia is necessary, which will assure for both of them the continuance of their path towards the European Union by preventing in this manner for one or the other country to be blocked in this process,” says the draft document.

NATO supports dialogue for Kosovo (Zëri – front page)
Zëri reports that North Atlantic Treaty Organization supports talks between Pristina and Belgrade as the only solution to give an end to the problems between Kosovo and Serbia. At the same time, authorities of Pristina should put more efforts in getting all NATO member countries recognize its independence so that it can receive full membership status in NATO Assembly. This is the massage that has been brought on Wednesday in Pristina by the head of Commission for Civilian Security in NATO Assembly, Lord Thomas Jopling.

The offer to resign (Express – front page)
Express reports that during a TV interview, LDK leader Isa Mustafa said Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga should offer her resignation and then within a six-month period ensure the transition from the current president to a president elected directly by the people. Mustafa said he was willing to meet other party leaders to discuss the implementation of last year’s PDK-LDK-AAK agreement.

On the other hand, PDK officials said any offer by political parties must have a legal and political basis. “Every idea needs to have a legal and political basis,” said PDK deputy leader Hajredin Kuçi, turning down Mustafa’s idea.

PDK parliamentary group chief Adem Grabovci told the paper on Monday that they are trying to find a solution to respect the agreement of leaders and the ruling of the Constitutional Court on Jahjaga’s mandate. “We need to find a solution. The PDK is always ready to go to elections,” Grabovci said.

Pack: Do not waste time requesting Jahjaga’s resignation (Epoka e Re – front page)
German MEP, Doris Pack, has requested from opposition parties in Kosovo to engage maximally together with the Government to find solutions of the problems which preoccupy the citizens and not to request resignation of Atifete Jahjaga. “President Atifete Jahjaga is doing her job very well and she prodigiously represents the country abroad. I think that the opposition together with the Government should deal with the solution of the problems which Kosovo citizens face every day, and not waste time requesting the resignation of the President.”

Prosecutor Bamieh starts investigations against Lushtaku (Koha Ditore – front page)
Koha Ditore reports that Kosovo Special Prosecution has launched investigations against Mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku, on the suspicion that he seriously endangered the life of journalist Adem Meta. Prosecutor Maria Bamieh has begun collecting evidence against Lushtaku and his colleagues which could prove that they have threatened the life of correspondent of Koha Ditore from Skenderaj, who decided not to be silent in face of problems which have been caused by the leaders of municipality.

Sources from Prosecution said that prosecutor Bamieh, who also has another case against Lushtaku, has gathered all media reports after the reaction of Association of Professional Journalists of Kosovo in connection with continuous threats to journalist Meta. The decisive threat is considered to be the statement given to Klan Kosova by Lushtaku where he evaluated the Koha Ditore journalist as dead. “I don’t have to threat or to pamper dead people”, Lushtaku had said. The start of investigation has been confirmed also by EULEX but whose spokeswoman Bardha Azari did not give any details of the investigation process.


Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• Assembly speaker disputes Assembly’s legitimacy
• Debate on privatization deepens splits in PDK
• Papua New Guinea recognizes Kosovo
• Instead of political dialogue, resumption of technical dialogue is considered
• Prosecutor Bamieh launches investigations against Sami Lushtaku
• Gërguri: Kosovo has a stable banking system

Other headlines
• Differences over status impede deeper relations with EU (4)
• Kosovo to engage more in securing recognition from NATO Assembly (6)
• Krasniqi: Privatization was done in a wrong way (12)

Zëri

Front page
• Jakup Krasniqi speaking!
• Jakup erupts
• Jahjaga doesn’t forget her friends
• Papua New Guinea confirms Kosovo recognition
• Students give ultimatum to Gashi
• NATO supports dialogue for Kosovo
• Ramadani: Kosovo’s options
• Mustafa: Consensus is required for privatization

Other headlines
• Pack: Leave President Jahjaga alone (2)
• US calls on Serbia to remove parallel structures (4)
• Supreme Court confirms sentences on Tisa case (5)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• Krasniqi: This legislation came here through stolen votes
• Editorial: Who is the boss
• Motion on privatization postponed
• Lehne: President and Prime Minister to lead dialogue with Pristina
• Progress Report suggests unblocking of Kosovo-Serbia relations

Other headlines
• Papua New Guinea recognizes Kosovo (2)
• Jahjaga: NATO enjoys respect in Kosovo (4)
• A little defense for Jahjaga against political attacks (4)
• Technical and political dialogue with Serbia this year (5)

Epoka e Re

Front page
• Turkey attacks Syria
• Unpleasant message for Atifete’s opponents
• Papua New Guinea recognizes Kosovo
• Split over privatization

Other headlines
• Integration, after normal relations with Kosovo (2)
• Serbia must remove parallel structures in the north (2)
• Lehne: Nikolic and Dacic to lead talks (2)
• Panariti calls on Greece to recognize Kosovo (2)
• Problems are solved through dialogue (3)
• Zeka: No one should hope for PDK’s division (4)

Express

Front page
• The opposition speaker
• Offer to resign
• Examples of demagogy

Other headlines
• US calls for removal of parallel structure sin the north (4)
• He distances himself from the coalition (5)
• They don’t talk about dialogue (5)
• The problematic five (6)
• NATO supports dialogue (6)
• She’s fond of the President (6)

Bota Sot

Front page
• This place is being robbed by institutions of stolen votes
• Pack: Leave President Jahjaga alone!
• US calls on Serbia to remove parallel structures
• NATO Parliamentary Assembly prefers political dialogue with Serbia

Other headlines
• Ambassador Verveer to visit Pristina (2)
• Mitrovica feels discriminated (4)
• How to get 36 new recognitions for UN membership? (6)