North and dialogue, topics of discussions in UN

• North and dialogue, topics of discussions in UN (Koha Ditore)
• Parliament for Serbs of north (Zëri)
• Preshevo Valley demands unification with Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
• Kuçi: Dialogue with guarantees from US, EU (dailies)
• Stefanovic: New Government decides footnote (Epoka e Re)
• UNMIK “OUT” (Kosova Sot)
• AAK spectacle (Express)
• Kurti: We need national monologue (Epoka e Re)
• Selimi doesn’t want AAK to become ally of PDK (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo Media Highlights

North and dialogue, topics of discussions in UN (Koha Ditore)
The north will remain the topic of high level political discussions in the United Nations on Tuesday when the UN Security Council will discuss UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s report on Kosovo. The session will be the first occasion that Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and his Serbian counterpart, Ivica Dacic, will be present since the head of Serb socialists became the head of Government in Belgrade. The report, which will be discussed by 15 members of UN Security Council, covers the three-month period from 16 April to 15 July, 2012.

In this report, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticized Kosovo institutions and pardoned Serbia for not implementing the agreements regarding the technical dialogue with Kosovo. Ban criticized the actions of Kosovo police during the celebration of Vidovdan, on 28 June, and also expressed concern regarding the decision of the Kosovo Government to stop financing the UNMIK Administration in north Mitrovica. Ban requested unity from international factions towards political parties and that parties become more engaged in dialogue.

Parliament for Serbs of north (Zëri)
Serbia has “temporarily” given up the idea of partitioning Kosovo as international sources confirmed that Belgrade authorities are lobbying to push forward the idea to create a parliament, which would result from elections in the north. An international source who wished to remain anonymous told the paper that this argument was used to convince Kosovo authorities that a consensus was needed to oppose Serbia’s proposal.

“The idea is for municipalities, except for local elections, to also elect deputies for an assembly in the north with the same executive rights as those offered to the Serbs in Kosovo by the Ahtisaari Package. However, electing deputies for a special assembly in the north is what should cause concern in Kosovo as this means Serbia has not entirely given up on the idea of border changes,” said the source.

Preshevo Valley demands unification with Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
Albanian representatives from the Preshevo Valley demanded a solution for them and asked in this respect unification of the three predominantly-Albanian municipalities in Serbia join Kosovo. This, according to Albanian Preshevo Valley leaders, can be achieved if they become part of the Kosovo delegation in talks with Serbia.

Mayor of Bujanovc Municipality Jonuz Musliu told the paper that the demand is even more powerful bearing in mind the referendum of 1992 when Albanians from the Valley had overwhelmingly voted in favour of joining Kosovo. “This people and the referendum of 1992 made it clear that the Valley was integral part of Kosovo and should return to it,” said Musliu.

Kuçi: Dialogue with guarantees from US, EU (dailies)
Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi said his idea of a peace treaty between Kosovo and Serbia may seem inaccessible but added that those waged war must make peace in the country and live in harmony with their neighbours.

Kuçi told Voice of America that the proposal for a peace treaty is the objective to improve relations between Kosovo and Serbia, adding that this would be a permanent solution regardless of how long it may take. A crucial element for the peace treaty, according to Kuçi, would be positive pressure from the United States of America and the European Union.

Stefanovic: New Government decides footnote (Epoka e Re)
According to Borislav Stefanovic, whether the new Government decides Kosovo being represented by a footnote or not, he will not oppose the decision. “It remains with the new Government if it wants that footnote to be valid in the accompanying documents in every meeting and our delegation only to read the statement which recalls the stance of Serbia for the status of Kosovo, here is nothing new, except from withdrawal from insisting that Kosovo to be in the inscription,” Stefanovic told Serb media.

UNMIK “OUT” (Kosova Sot)
September will mark the end of Kosovo’s supervised independence but not the end of UNMIK’s presence. Though Kosovo Government officials say their aim was to transform the UN mission into a UN office, UNMIK representatives say nothing is certain.

“Since 2008 there has been no mandate for UNMIK and our goal was to end that mandate and transform the UN mission into an office,” said Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi.

UNMIK Spokesperson Olivier Salgado said that despite many changes on the ground, UNMIK continues to play an important role in Kosovo. He said UN Security Council Resolution 1244 provides the basis for UNMIK’s role and that other international missions like EULEX, KFOR and OSCE also function within the Resolution’s framework.

AAK spectacle (Express)
On Monday, representatives of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) tried to sustain the debate over their possible involvement in the Kosovo Government. AAK Secretary General Burim Ramadani posted a message on social networks trying to devaluate all previous statements by senior AAK officials.

“I think the current government should be replaced ASAP. The AAK stands firm in its position that this government should leave. Unlike the rest, the AAK has the best offer for Kosovo’s citizens: a Haradinaj government that guarantees the fight against corruption and organized crime, economic development and rule of law throughout Kosovo’s territory,” Ramadani wrote.

The paper meanwhile recalls that so far at least two AAK officials – Blerim Shala and Ardian Gjini – have entertained the possibility of their party joining a ruling coalition with Thaçi’s PDK. The paper’s sources in the PDK said AAK officials are keeping this debate alive and that there is allegedly no motivation for the PDK to include Haradinaj’s party in the government.

Kurti: We need national monologue (Epoka e Re)
In an interview for New York-based Illyria newspaper, Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti said Presevo Valley should not be included in talks between Pristina and Belgrade. Kurti said Albania and Kosovo should join forces and support Albanians in the Presevo Valley.

“Serbia is intentionally keeping under strong control Presevo Valley and northern Kosovo. In doing so, Serbia is winning concessions against Albanian politicians who not only fail to control anything but are moreover controlled by international stakeholders,” Kurti said. “The position of Albanians in Presevo Valley cannot be improved through talks with Serbia. We need national monologue, not dialogue with enemies.”

Selimi doesn’t want AAK to become ally of PDK (Koha Ditore)
Vetëvendosje MP Rexhep Selimi, in an interview for Klan Kosova, said he doesn’t want the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) to enter into a coalition with the Kosovo Democratic Party (PDK). He said the two political parties are not the sole inheritors of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

Selimi said he doesn’t want his friends in the AAK to make the mistake by joining a coalition with Hashim Thaçi’s political party. “This would be a double mistake for the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo,” Selimi said.

“The AAK should seek to win the government by getting the votes of citizens and not through government officials. I am inclined to believe that the AAK won’t make a terrible mistake for them and for the country.”

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• North and dialogue, topics of discussion at the UN
• Presevo Valley calls for national unification with Kosovo
• Kuçi: Dialogue, with guarantees from US and EU
• AKEA wants all of Kosovo
• Long lines in Merdare again

Other headlines
• Rexhep Selimi doesn’t want AAK to become an ally of PDK (2)
• Growing number of human trafficking cases (4)
• Palokaj: Albanian leaders not honest about EU integration (10)

Zëri

Front page
• Parliament for northern Serbs
• UN: Security in northern Kosovo, sensitive
• Integration used for political propaganda
• Growing rates of criminality
• Rotting parts of politics

Other headlines
• Kurti: Tirana, Pristina must help Presevo Valley (2)
• Dialogue will not be held between equals (2)
• Pajevic: Serbia to attend forums where Kosovo is represented (2)
• Vulin: Problems solved only through dialogue (4)
• Kuçi: Dialogue with guarantees from US, EU (4)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• Tolaj, Bukoshi filed lawsuits against Jona Med, Yess Pharm
• Editorial: Party blockades
• Two companies on OSHP black list
• UNMIK “OUT”

Other headlines
• Security situation in north, sensitive (2)
• Thaçi today at UN Security Council (3)
• Der Standard: Serbs recognizing Kosovo (3)
• Kuçi: Dialogue with guarantees from US, EU (3)
• Election reforms from scratch (3)

Epoka e Re

Front page
• Jashari: We cannot escape dialogue
• Kurti: We need national monologue
• Kuçi: Dialogue with guarantees from US, EU (4)
• Beqaj: Kosovo attractive place for investments
• LDK supporters in AAK against coalition with PDK

Other headlines
• Klosi: I saw KLA’s fight differently from Berisha (2)
• Vulin: Problems solved only through dialogue (2)
• Stefanovic: New government decide about footnote (2)
• First confrontation between Thaçi and Dacic today (3)
• Serbian Government changing position on Kosovo (3)

Express

Front page
• No meeting expected between Thaçi and Dacic
• Prosecutions turn

Other headlines
• Solution through the dialogue (4)
• Yes to regional forums (5)
• Peace treaty in the future (5)
• Discussions about the war (6)
• AAK spectacle (6)
• Kurti: Albanians from Presevo Valley should be helped (6)
• Problems with Serb border police (7)



Bota Sot

Front page
• Say a word about the north, madam president
• The north ignores full independence of Kosovo

Other headlines
• Assembly will vote laws which give an end to the supervised independence (3)
• Long waiting lines at the border point in Merdare (3)
• For the first time facing each other Thaçi and Dacic (5)
• Kurti: Tirana and Pristina to help Eastern Kosovo (7)
• Kosovo very close to the full independence (9)