Kuçi: The north, no excuse for extension of missions’ mandates

• Kuçi: The north, no excuse for extension of missions’ mandates (Koha Ditore)
• Reichel: No division, north of Kosovo affects other Balkans regions (dailies)
• UNMIK agrees to the closing down of UAM (Koha Ditore)
• Hoxhaj: Serbia is not changing (dailies)
• Parliamentary elections in 2014? (Epoka e Re)
• Pacolli: Atifete, go away (Express)
• Fuele reminds Serbia on Kosovo condition (dailies)
• Kuçi and Rexhepi promise (dailies)
• Kosovo, thirteen years on: disappointed citizens (Zëri)
• NATO Military Committee to visit Kosovo today (Koha Ditore)
• Thaçi to face counter candidates in his party (Zëri)
• Lauka: There is no Kosovar nation (Express)
• “Llap Gruop” to be put on retrial in July (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo Media Highlights


Kuçi: The north, no excuse for extension of missions’ mandates (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore quotes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Hajredin Kuçi, as saying that the north of Mitrovica should not be taken as an excuse for the extension of the mandates of international missions in Kosovo because Kosovo institutions, together with EU, have enough capacities to solve this problem. Kuçi made the comments during his reporting at the Assembly’s commission for European Integration.

Speaking about his visit to Brussels, Deputy Prime Minster Kuçi said that two years would be enough for solving the problem of the north. “The north is an issue which should be solved with international factor. I believe that two years are enough to extent the rule of law, but that will be a part of our political preoccupations and all of this is going through dialogue also with EU representatives”, said Kuçi.

Reichel: No division, north of Kosovo affects other Balkans regions (dailies)
The Federal Republic of Germany is against the border changes in the Balkans. German Ambassador in Kosovo, Ernst Reichel, said that the fate of the north cannot be isolated from other regions in the Balkans. According to him, every change of Kosovo borders would have an impact on Presevo Valley, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. “In the case of the north of Kosovo, it is clear that it cannot be an isolated issue from other problems. The north cannot be isolated from the impact on Presevo Valley, the issue of Albanians in Macedonia and Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina. If we change the Kosovo borders based on ethnic criteria it will create a domino effect in the Western Balkans. Where there is a domino effect, this chain process would not end without violence and suffering. Therefore, international community is united in the rejecting of ideas for the change of borders in the Balkans on ethnic basis,” said Ambassador Reichel.

UNMIK agrees to the closing down of UAM (Koha Ditore)
The paper reports that the UN mission in Kosovo has agreed to close down its administration in north Mitrovica. However, the process is not expected to be concluded within few weeks time which the Kosovo Government was insisting on but it will take about three months, the paper adds.

Sources said UNMIK has begun cooperating with Kosovo institutions and the ICO in the closing of UAM and transfer of documents from this office to the one established by the Kosovo Government. “UNMIK will transfer all responsibilities with the Office of the Kosovo Government immediately after it is set up. UAM may remain as a structure for another three months at the most,” a source told the paper.

Hoxhaj: Serbia is not changing (dailies)
Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Enver Hoxhaj, said in an interview for the Bulgarian news agency Focus that the recent statements of the President of Serbia, Tomislav Nikolic, are very negative signs for Kosovo and Balkans. “I consider that Serbia’s non-recognition policy towards Kosovo, and non-treatment of Kosovo as a neighboring country and an equal partner returns Serbia to the same ideology that produced wars and ethnic cleansing in Kosovo during 1999, when over a million people were expelled and over 12,000 killed,” said Hoxhaj.

Parliamentary elections in 2014? (Epoka e Re)
A senior PDK official told the paper that if the three-party agreement is not respected neither will the provision that foresees holding of parliamentary elections and as a result next elections will take place in 2014. “We are waiting for the decision of the Constitutional Court on President Atifete Jahjaga’s mandate. If the PDK-LDK-AKR agreement for presidential elections is not implemented neither will the one on parliamentary elections,” said the unnamed source.

At the same time, LDK general secretary Ismet Beqiri said upholding of the agreement is obligatory for all. “Any other behaviour would be unserious,” said Beqiri.

Pacolli: Atifete, go away (Express)
AKR leader and Principal Deputy Prime Minister Behgjet Pacolli considers that the further stay of Atifete Jahjaga in the post of Kosovo President is immoral and ridiculous. Pacolli says that the agreement is very clear and the actual president should free the path for another candidate. In an interview for Express, he invites PDK leader Hashim Thaçi, LDK leader Isa Mustafa, and US Ambassador Christopher Dell to comply with the agreement they reached. “This agreement which has been legitimized by the Assembly contains also another party, which is the US Ambassador, Dell, who since then has taken the responsibility that the agreement will be fully implemented. Every delay or attempt of delay in this direction, is immoral”, said Pacolli.

However, the paper reports that it looks like the current President Atifete Jahjaga does not intend to step down as was agreed by party leaders in April last year. Jahjaga is now using her Constitutional rights as a basis for extension of her mandate until 2016. In this respect, she has sent a request to the Constitutional Court which is expected to give its opinion next week. Jahjaga has mentioned three arguments and three articles which prevent her from releasing her post before the end of the five-year mandate.

Fuele reminds Serbia on Kosovo condition (dailies)
Based on Radio Free Europe, dailies report that the European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fuele stated in Belgrade that the EU encourages Serbia to continue with the reforms on its way towards Europe and that the essential priority is “significant and sustainable progress in the relations with Kosovo.” Fuele, who is the first EU senior official to discuss with Serbia’s President Tomislav Nikolic since his election on this post said that there is clarity, transparency and predictions about what is expected from Serbia in order to start the discussions.

He stated that the already known conditions include those that concern the parallel institutions in the north of Kosovo. Nikolic stated that up to this date, he has never heard from any EU official that recognition of Kosovo is a condition for Serbia to join EU.

Kuçi and Rexhepi promise (dailies)
Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi and the Minister of Internal Affairs Bajram Rexhepi pledged on Monday at the meeting of the Assembly Commission for European Integration, that the Republic of Kosovo will fulfill all the criteria foreseen by the European Union for liberalization of visas. Kuçi stated that among the priorities of the Ministry of Justice will be not only the rule of law, but reforms in justice as well. “The Government of Kosovo remains determined to fulfill its duties and I am convinced that unilateral actions that we have undertaken in this process, will help on the positive assessment in the future,” said Kuçi.

Rexhepi on the other hand stated that mistakes made by other states will not be repeated. “We will probably manage this process better than other countries,” said Rexhepi and added that the situation in the north and security situation remain a problem.

Kosovo, thirteen years on: disappointed citizens (Zëri)
On the thirteenth anniversary of Kosovo’s liberation from Serb forces, expectations of citizens have not been even closely met and despite certain progress, the country continues to face serious challenges in different fields, writes the paper.

One of the survivors of Adem Jashari’s family, Murat Jashari, told the paper that citizens’ expectations have not been met. “There was space and possibility for Kosovo to be in a much better condition be it economic or political and in relation to international community,” said Jashari adding that many people that could have contributed for the country have been overlooked by the local leadership.

NATO Military Committee to visit Kosovo today (Koha Ditore)
The paper quotes reports from Radio Free Europe that on Tuesday NATO Military Committee will be visiting KFOR headquarters in Pristina. KFOR is being challenged with implementation of its mandate in the north, because of the barricades placed by Serbs which prevent one of the main tasks for KFOR, enabling freedom of movement for everybody.

Thaçi to face counter candidates in his party (Zëri)
The paper reports that PDK leader Hashim Thaçi will have counter candidates running for the party’s leadership in internal elections set to take place by November. In addition, the party convention is anticipated to bring about major changes that will result in a more youthful structure with a four-year mandate.

Lauka: There is no Kosovar nation (Express)
Express reports that Albania’s ambassador to Pristina, Islam Lauka, criticized on Monday those who believe and are spreading the idea about the existence of a Kosovar nation. Lauka’s message to all those who think this way and who don’t consider themselves part of the Albanian nation is to freely represent another nationality. According to Lauka, the only goal of those who promote the idea of a Kosovar nation is to leave the Albanian nation without a history and consequently without a future.

On the other hand, publicist Nexhmedin Spahiu argues that the Kosovar nation does exist. “It certainly exists, given the fact that every state has its owner and the owner of the state of Kosovo is certainly the Kosovar nation, or Kosovo Albanians who make up the nation of Kosovars,” Spahiu was quoted as saying.

“Llap Gruop” to be put on retrial in July (Koha Ditore)
Former KLA commanders, Rrustem Mustafa, Latif Gashi and Nazim Mehmeti are expected to be tried for the third time in connection to war crimes allegations. The District Court in Pristina has scheduled three sessions on one count of the indictment relating to inhumane treatment of Albanian civilians in a KLA prison camp.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• Majority elects Nishani as president, opposition announces a crisis
• Kuçi: The north is not a pretext to extend mandate of missions
• No division, northern Kosovo has impact on other regions in the Balkans
• UNMIK agrees with shutdown of UAM
• Appointment of constitutional judges, politicized and failed

Other headlines
• NATO’s military committee to visit Kosovo today (2)
• President Jahjaga attends USAID conference (3)
• Fuele reminds Serbia about the Kosovo condition (3)
• Retrial of Llapi Group in July (7)
• Kosovo seeks membership in ILO (8)

Zëri

Front page
• Police ruined the case
• Thaçi with a counter-candidate
• Kosovo, 13 years later, the people are disappointed
• Bujar Nishani, new President of Albania
• Growing cooperation between Kosovo and Albania

Other headlines
• Fuele: Kosovo remains a condition for Serbia (2)
• The time for asylum is gone (2)
• Serbia is not changing (2)
• Experts: Jahjaga until 2016 (4)
• Border changes would have consequences for the region (4)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• Supreme Court calls on KJC to suspend Saliuka
• Proposal to remove articles 37, 38 and 39
• IMF paves way to stand-by agreement

Other headlines
• Murphy: US to strengthen connections with Kosovo (2)
• Rexhepi criticizes judges (2)
• Jahjaga wants a report from the assembly (3)
• Fuele reminds Nikolic about the conditions (4)
• Lauka’s message for Serbian-Russian politics (4)

Epoka e Re

Front page
• Chain effect if parliamentary elections are held in 2014?
• Reichel: Border changes bring violence
• Hoxhaj: Serbia is not changing
• Thank you KLA! Thank you NATO!

Other headlines
• NATO’s military committee to visit Kosovo (2)
• Fuele: Belgrade to dissolve parallel structures (2)
• Bajrami: Don’t politicize the Constitutional Court! (4)

Express

Front page
• Pacolli: Atifete, leave
• Praise from the Fund
• Do not seek asylum!
• There is no Kosovar nation

Other headlines
• No border changes in the Balkans (4)
• Fuele reminds Serbia about the Kosovo condition (5)
• Five-year mandate (5)
• Hoxhaj: Serbia is not changing (6)

Bota Sot

Front page
• Two paths of Albanians with different directions!
• Lauka: Kosovo Albanians were and still are the flower of the Albanian nation
• Kuçi, Rexhepi: We are expecting the invitation from Brussels
• They threatened my family
• Kosovo Government good with IMF, but bad with pensioners!

Other headlines
• Jahjaga attends “Frontiers in Development” (2)
• Pristina celebrates Liberation Day (2)
• Presidential candidate in Egypt promises to recognize Kosovo’s independence (7)
• Rexhepi: Time for political and economic asylum is gone (7)