OSCE organizes general elections, parallel structures local elections

• OSCE organizes general elections, parallel structures local elections (dailies)
• OSCE and Kosovo Police in the north, for ‘show’ only (Koha Ditore)
• Giffoni: Serbian elections in Kosovo to contribute to peace (Koha Ditore)
• Pacolli: The north to be declared a free economic area (Epoka e Re)
• Erdogan: Turkey will help Albanians for a greater Albanian state (Bota Sot)
• EU’s assistance requested for the release of Haxhi Kastrati (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo Media Highlights

OSCE organizes general elections, parallel structures local elections (dailies)
Under the facilitation of the OSCE, Kosovo Serb citizens casted their votes in Serbia’s parliamentary and presidential elections in 28 locations in Kosovo. No incidents were reported during the voting and the Kosovo Government said the process was in accordance with international standards for persons with dual citizenship. The Government expressed its appreciation to the OSCE for organizing elections and also thanked the Kosovo Police, KFOR and EULEX for their professional behavior during elections. It said in a statement however that it will not recognize the results of local elections held in two northern municipalities.

Koha Ditore quotes sources from Zveçan and Zubin Potok as saying that Serbia’s local elections were also held in these locations and that people were voting in makeshift polling centres such as in cafeterias and private houses. The paper further adds that voters were under pressure from armed groups affiliated with the political parties. Zëri also reports that Serbian local elections were held in the two northern municipalities despite warnings by the Kosovo Government and the plan of Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi for preventing them.

Head of OSCE Werner Almhofer said the process was peaceful and democratic. He also confirmed that there was no international staff in the polling centres in Zveçan and Zubin Potok where Serbian local elections were taking place, reports Express.


OSCE and Kosovo Police in the north for ‘show’ only (Koha Ditore)
The paper reports that the presence of the OSCE and members of the Kosovo Police in the north was only for show during Serbian elections there as the voting process was completely in the hands of members of the Serbian Police. International sources told the paper said that Serbian Police officers were stationed in four northern municipalities on Sunday and secured polling centres while the Kosovo Police members were forced to abandon the polls.

Giffoni: Serbian elections in Kosovo to contribute to peace (Koha Ditore)
Italian Ambassador Michael Giffoni said calm and peaceful elections will set an important tone for the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue. “I think that if there is good turnout and they occur without tensions, as has been the case until now, this process will be a great contribution for the future, the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade which we believe will resume in an even better and more positive atmosphere after Serbia’s elections,” said Giffoni.

Pacolli: The north to be declared a free economic area (Epoka e Re)
“The solution for the northern part of Kosovo lies in the rule of law and in declaring the north a free economic area. Meanwhile, the conditions needed for substantial economic development include: the rule of law, the fight against corruption and continued reforms,” AKR leader and Deputy Prime Minister Behxhet Pacolli said during a visit to Viti. He also commented on the recent arrests of Albanians in Presevo Valley. “Such arrests are aimed at damaging the image of Albanians, to give a negative impression of our nation. We strongly believe that this is just to damage our image and to shift attention from current problems in Serbia,” Pacolli said.

Erdogan: Turkey will help Albanians for a greater Albanian state (Bota Sot)
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in an interview for Turkish state television, said Turkey would help its Albanian brothers even with military troops if the need arises. Erdogan said the Albanian people are entitled to self-determination for a greater Albanian state and that the Kosovo Liberation Army was not a rebel-terrorist army but the will of Albanians to protect their lands. Erdogan reportedly threatened the dissolution of Macedonia and all of the Balkans if the rights of Albanians are not taken into consideration.

EU’s assistance requested for the release of Haxhi Kastrati (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj has called on EU member states foreign ministers to assist in securing the release of Kosovo citizen, Haxhi Kastrati, after his arrest by Serbian authorities. “This arrest is completely politically motivated and aimed at causing insecurity for Kosovo citizens, who are passing through the neighboring country. This arbitrary arrest by authorities of the Serb state comes in the wake of earlier arrests of citizens of the Republic of Kosovo and only a few months after the agreement on freedom of movement between the Republic of Kosovo and Serbia, in the framework of the technical dialogue, facilitated by the European Union”, says the letter.

Via the letter Minister Hoxhaj called on the international community and EU to put pressure on Serbia to immediately release Haxhi Kastrati and to enable freedom of movement for all citizens.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• Elections in Zvecan and Zubin Potok under the threat of armed groups
• Serbian elections in Kosovo must contribute to a more peaceful future
• Police use AK47s to arrest woodcutters

Other headlines
• Pacolli calls for end to violence in Presevo Valley (2)
• Hoxhaj calls for EU’s aid to release Haki Kastrati (2)
• Tadic and Nikolic going to run-off elections (3)

Zëri

Front page
• Illegals threaten sovereignty
• Presevo Valley responds to Dacic
• Francois Hollande, new President of France
• Cufaj: France, Greece, Serbia, Germany
• Albanians are not united
• Lluka wins another tender at PTK

Other headlines
• Diplomatic relations with Thailand soon (2)
• Anamorava Serbs voted (2)
• Rahovec Serbs vote in Hoça e Madhe (5)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• Mr. Pacolli’s lies and legal violations
• Editorial: You can’t buy truth Mr. Pacolli
• Serbs violate agreement, hold local elections in the north

Other headlines
• Hoxhaj calls on EU to pressure Serbia over Kastrati’s arrest (2)
• Gallup: Americanism, 90 percent in the hearts of Albanians (3)
• Where are billions of donations? (6)

Epoka e Re

Front page
• UÇPMB can remobilize
• Isa in Israel
• Pacolli: The north to be proclaimed a free economic zone
• Tadic and Nikolic in runoff
• Holland, President of France

Other headlines
• In Zveçan and Zubin Potok, they also voted for local elections (3)
• Government reacts: Local elections in two municipalities have no impact (3)
• Constitutional Court should consider violations on “Kiçina” case (8)
• IMF loan should be spent on economic development (9)
• Collective contract to be signed soon (9)

Express

Front page
• Fulfill the scenario
• Without a destination
• Two articles and a truth that nobody wants

Other headlines
• Maliqi: “Catastrophic” St. George (2)
• Mustafa in Israel (4)
• Elections affect the dialogue (5)
• Continue with Tadic? (5)
• Daci: Set up arrests (6)
• Strengthen the President (6)
• Concerned about businesses (10)

Bota Sot

Front page
• Turkey will help Albanians for a big Albanian state
• Serbia with Serbian insignia holds vote in the heart of Kosovo
• Vetëvendosje neutral, AAK not decisive “with or without LDK in run-off”
• Pacolli: Arrests by Serbia do not damage image of Albanians

Other headlines
• Minister Hoxhaj complains to EU over arrest of Haxhi Kastrati (2)
• Shots in north Mitrovica (4)
• Rexhepi: Elections of Serbia in Kosovo without incidents (4)
• Edita Tahiri had a series of meetings in Ankara and Istanbul (7)
• Kosovo and Thailand soon with diplomatic relations (6)
• Where is the IMF loan being spent in Kosovo? (11)