NATO reconfirms commitment to Kosovo

• NATO reconfirms commitment to Kosovo (dailies)
• Nikolic, Tadic are the same when policy toward Kosovo is concerned (Koha)
• There is no dialogue (Express)
• Ivanovic: With Kosovo, the same (Express)
• Krasniqi: Recommendations not obligatory for the Government (Zëri)
• Ministries submit answers to EU questionnaire (Express)


Kosovo Media Highlights


NATO reconfirms commitment to Kosovo (dailies)
NATO in its summit in Chicago reconfirmed that it will not take further steps to downsize its troops to Kosovo without making sure such an action would not present a threat to the security situation.

“The Alliance continues to be fully committed to the stability and security of the strategically important Balkans region. We reiterate our full support for KFOR, which continues to act carefully, firmly and impartially in accordance with its United Nations mandate set out in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. KFOR will continue to support the development of a peaceful, stable, and multi-ethnic Kosovo,” reads the declaration issued by the heads of states of NATO member countries.

The Alliance called on both Kosovo and Serbia to fully cooperate with KFOR and EULEX in implementation of their mandates. “We urge Belgrade and Pristina to take full advantage of the opportunities offered to promote peace, security, and stability in the region, in particular by the European Union-facilitated dialogue,” NATO leaders said.

Nikolic and Tadic are the same when policy toward Kosovo is concerned (Koha)
Koha Ditore reports that Tomislav Nikolic’s victory in Serbian presidential elections is not expected to bring any changes in Serbia’s policy vis-à-vis Kosovo. Local and international analysts told the paper that Nikolic’s victory has shocked the political landscape in Serbia and casted even more doubts over Serbia’s relations with the European Union. But Serbia’s policy toward Kosovo is expected to be “more or less the same”.

Meanwhile, Balkans analyst Tim Judah argues that Nikolic’s election as president will not have any major influence as the SPS led by Ivica Dacic wants to form a ruling coalition with the Tadic-led DS, “and if this coalition is formed, the presidency will not be important”.

Ilir Deda, director of the Pristina-based research institute KIPRED, said Tadic and Nikolic share the same positions on Kosovo. “There will be no changes as Mr. Nikolic has the identical position as Mr. Tadic when Kosovo is concerned. We will have to see who forms the government in Belgrade. Serbia’s approximation with Europe or the failure to do so is in the hands of the government,” Deda added.

Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga issued a communiqué saying that the newly-elect president of Serbia should do what his predecessors failed to do and find the courage to establish good and peaceful relations with Kosovo.

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi said Nikolic’s election was the choice of Serbian citizens. “Kosovo’s political fate, independence and development do not depend on political elections in Serbia. Those elections are for the Serbian people and others should assess them. What I can say is that Kosovo will produce stability, peace and good neighborly relations with all,” Kuçi added.

In a different article related to the same issue, the paper reports that the ruling coalition and opposition in Pristina are united in their positions toward Nikolic’s victory in Serbia. Both sides agree that Nikolic’s rise to power will not lead to improved relations between Kosovo and Serbia, as Nikolic was member of the government in Belgrade in 1999 when Serbia expelled over 800,000 Albanians from Kosovo, killed 15,000 others, and around 2,000 Albanians remain missing from the conflict.

There is no dialogue (Express)
The European Union officials have rushed to appeal to the parties to sit at the table of discussions despite the fact that change of the leadership in Serbia has created major uncertainties in this direction. Kosovo Government claims that there will be no dialogue without the full implementation of the Agreement for Integrated Management of the Borders. Furthermore, the Chief of Staff at the Office of the Prime Minister, Bekim Çollaku, says that the motion of the Assembly to condition the discussions with resolution of the fate of the missing persons is an additional reason to suspend the dialogue. “The priority of the Government of Kosovo is implementation of the reached agreements in the technical dialogue with Serbia. Continuance of the technical dialogue on other issues at this phase, prior to starting of the implementation for integrated management of borders, does not make sense,” said Çollaku.

Ivanovic: With Kosovo, the same (Express)
The Secretary of Serbia’s Ministry for Kosovo, Oliver Ivanovic, a day after the conclusion of the presidential elections in Serbia, stated that he does not expect any drastic changes of the state policy towards Kosovo. “There are no indications that the policy towards Kosovo would change, but it is important for all the actors of the political scene to be included on the decision of the formulation of the policy towards Kosovo,” said Ivanovic. He added that Kosovo is a major problem and requires engagement of all participants of the society. Therefore, there is a need for a strong consensus of the leading structures and a minimum consensus with the opposition.

Krasniqi: Recommendations not obligatory for the Government (Zëri)
Kosovo Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi is quoted as saying that the recommendations passed by the MPs conditioning talks with Belgrade with the resolution of the missing persons issue are not obligatory for the Government. “Recommendations are recommendations, they may be acceptable but they are recommendations, they are not mandatory and they are not Assembly’s decisions,” said Krasniqi.

Ministries submit answers to EU questionnaire (Express)
Kosovo ministries and relevant institutions have submitted their answers on the European Commission questionnaire regarding the feasibility study for Kosovo. Sources told the paper that the process went well and there were no major problems in filling out the questionnaire. Minister of Integration Vlora Çitaku is now to report before the Government on the quality of information and the performance of respective ministries.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• NATO will downsize KFOR when the situation allows
• Reactions in Kosovo: Nikolic and Tadic are the same
• Gashi: Risks at airport are permanent
• Candidates with negative assessments in the race for Constitutional judges
• FIFA expected to allow Kosovo to play friendly matches

Other headlines
• Grave accident in Himara, 12 dead and 21 injured (2)
• Government, opposition united in their positions toward Nikolic’s victory (4)
• Associate witness against Nazmi Mustafi (7)
• Beqaj: Kosovo Government will decide on privatization of Distribution! (8)
• Conference with potential investors for PTK to be held in London today (9)

Zëri

Front page
• Politicians are richer than the state
• Albania struck by tragedy
• NATO calls for implementation of agreements
• Voters punished Tadic’s crisis
• Xharra: EULEX show up at the Assembly
• Nikolic does not reflect in Kosovo

Other headlines
• Recommendations are not binding for the government (2)
• Things will be more complicated (2)
• Serbia’s policy toward Kosovo will not change (2)
• Jahjaga calls on Nikolic to establish good relations with Kosovo (4)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• Neck-deep in corruption
• Editorial: Seselj’s friend
• Peci defends Sallauka’s scandal, refuses transparency!
• Turks and Egyptians in the race for KEDS
• Rich MPs

Other headlines
• Jahjaga calls on Nikolic (2)
• NATO calls for implementation of agreements (2)
• EU expects dialogue to resume (2)
• Ashton congratulates new President of Serbia (4)

Express

Front page
• There is no dialogue
• KEK to Turks
• A long history

Other headlines
• Idrizi: Bandits and animals (2)
• Buzhala: A long history (3)
• Norwegian support (4)
• NATO: Implement the agreements (5)
• Our Answers (5)
• Serbian Putin (6)
• Ivanovic: Towards Kosovo, the same (6)
• This is not how it should be governed (6)
• NATO chiefs praise KSF (8)
• Conference on PTK (11)