PDK continues governing mandate in Kacanik

• PDK continues governing mandate in Kacanik (Koha Ditore)
• KFOR denies Serbian media: We did not injure anyone (Koha Ditore)
• KFOR removes barricade in vicinity of Rudare (Koha Ditore)
• Dacic does not want conditions (Express)
• Integration of the north or federalization of Kosovo (Koha)
• Some ministers expect government reshuffling (Epoka e Re)
• EU warns Belgrade: Do not misinterpret agreements (Kosova Sot)
• Hoxhaj: New recognitions are expected from Latin America (Koha Ditore)
• Albanians tortured in Serb prisons (Express)

Kosovo Media Highlights

PDK continues governing mandate in Kacanik (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports on the leading front-page story that, with a visibly smaller turnout compared to 2010 elections, the Kosovo Democratic Party (PDK) managed to secure another governing mandate in the municipality in Kacanik, where its candidate Besim Ilazi won 5768 votes from 11.246 in Sunday’s elections. The preliminary results come from the CEC-run pilot project called K-vote. According to Valdete Daka, head of the Central Election Committee, PDK won 52.92 percent; Tahir Çaka from AAK won 20.30 percent, Shukri Luta Vetëvendosje movement won 16.38 percent; Sahit Bela from LDK won 5.51 percent and Kijani Berisha AKR won 4.88 percent. Daka also said that no incidents were reported on Election Day in Kacanik.

KFOR denies Serbian media: We did not injure anyone (Koha Ditore)
KFOR peacekeeping forces denied Serbian media reports in relation to the injuries of two Serbs during Saturday’s action to unblock an alternate road near Brnjak. “KFOR confirms that our troops shot three rubber bullets in the air, only as a warning to prevent protesters from jumping on the KFOR vehicle. This incident happened immediately after KFOR successfully finished one operation, the physical closure of the alternate road of gate 16 in the vicinity of Brnjak, where residents protested against this action. No protester was injured in the process,” said a KFOR press release. “Reporting by some Serbian media that two people were injured while protesting against the closure of the alternate road is inaccurate.”

KFOR removes barricade in vicinity of Rudare (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that around 02:00, KFOR soldiers removed a new barricade set up by Serbs on the road leading to the village of Rudare, Zvecan municipality. A few hours after Serbs put wood on the road. German KFOR troops blocked the bridge in Zvecan and removed all obstacles from the road. Serbian media reported that citizens showed no resistance and the operation concluded without any incidents.

Dacic does not want conditions (Express)
Express reports that the Head of the Serb Socialist Party of Serbia, Ivica Dacic said that he will not enter a Government that accepts the opening of an Office of the Kosovo Government in Belgrade and one of the Serbian Government in Pristina. “You think we can enter a Government, which after three days would say that should be fulfilled? I think that it would be much easier to recognize the independence of Kosovo”, said Dacic in a press conference in Belgrade. “If the Democratic Party and the Progressive Party of Serbia have accepted the opening of the offices as a condition for the advancement of Serbia towards the EU, then they should form a governing coalition together”, said Dacic.

Integration of the north or federalization of Kosovo (Koha)
Both Albanian and Serb political analysts argue that it will be extremely difficult for Kosovo’s institutions to integrate the northern part of the country, Koha Ditore reports. They recall that on the one hand the Kosovo Government said it would not use violence to integrate the north, while on the other hand northern Serbs have made it clear that they are against integration.

Dragisa Krstovic, a Serb politician from northern Kosovo, told Radio Free Europe that investments in the economy, infrastructure and other areas that can improve the lives of northern Serbs could allow the Kosovo Government to change the minds of Serbs or at least make communication possible. Krstovic however added that this doesn’t imply that Serbs will certainly accept integration in Kosovo institutions because they are not willing to give up on what they call national interest.

Political analyst Behlul Beqaj said talks between northern Serbs and Pristina would not depend solely on the Kosovo Government but also from the authorities in Belgrade, namely the responsibility that Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has assumed to resolve the problem of the north.

Some ministers expect government reshuffling (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re on the front page quotes one of the PDK ministers, who preferred to remain anonymous, as saying that he would welcome changes in the government. “If a minister serves his mandate either good or bad, it is not realistic for him to ask for another mandate, because that would mean that something is wrong with him, he needs to see a doctor. But if he seeks a third mandate as minister, he should be sent directly to jail. Therefore, the reshuffling of the government is not painful, instead it should be seen as something positive,” said the PDK minister. He also added that based on media reports and things they hear from colleagues in the party, the government reshuffling could take place in September eventually October.

EU warns Belgrade: Do not misinterpret agreements (Kosova Sot)
Officials of the European Union have warned Belgrade not to misinterpret the agreements reached with Kosovo in the process of the dialogue. This reaction came after the statement of the head of Serbian team in the discussions with Kosovo, Borislav Stefanovic that the north of Kosovo is not included in the agreements on free movement and that the footnote should be obligatory on the table in front of the Pristina delegations at regional meetings.

Hoxhaj: New recognitions are expected from Latin America (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that Kosovo expects to be recognized by some Latin America and Central America and as from the countries of the Arab world. Kosovo Foreign minister, Enver Hoxhaj, has undertaken a lobbying campaign for the increase of the number of recognitions, reports Kosova Times. Hoxhaj has conducted a number of meetings with the heads of Latin American states which still have not recognized Kosovo. Artan Behrami advisor of Minister Hoxhaj, has the aim of the visit was to increase the number of recognitions of Kosovo.

Albanians tortured in Serb prisons (Express)
Council of Europe’s Committee for Prevention of Torture and Inhumane Treatment in a report expressed concern over the situation in Serb prisons. The report states that the victims of ill-treatment in these prisons are mostly Albanians from Preshevo Valley who are quite often subject to torture and insult on national or religious basis. The Committee reminded Serbian authorities that all forms of abuse are unacceptable and authors will be criminally prosecuted.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• PDK continues ruling mandate in Kaçanik
• Police tender of about €1 mil suspended
• 16 year-old student dies of hemorrhagic fever

Other headlines
• Integration of the north or federalization of Kosovo (2)
• Hoxhaj: New recognitions expected from Latin America (3)
• KFOR rebuts Serb media: We did not injure anyone (4)
• KFOR dismantles barricade near Rudar (4)
• Thaçi to travel to Bulgaria today (4)
• Prosecution initiates investigation on Prizren municipality tender (5)
• Palokaj: Kosovo to ask clarification from EU or leave dialogue (10)

Zëri

Front page
• Pristina remains at “no”
• Ilazi wins Kaçanik without run-off
• Tony Blair in Kosovo today

Other headlines
• Krasniqi travels to the US (2)
• Thaçi visits Bulgaria (2)
• LDK still not in PPE (2)
• Intensive investigations on gold theft in Peja (4)
• Hoxhaj promises recognitions from Latin America (4)
• Macedonia recognizes Kosovo diplomas (4)
• KFOR in action, Serbs rebel (5)
• Police tender investigated by anti-corruption agency (7)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• KJC hides incapacity of its members
• Victory without run-offs for Besim Ilazi of PDK
• Far from UN membership
• 580 businesses from Albania function in Kosovo
• Editorial: A ridiculous campaign

Other headlines
• Impossible mission in the north (2)
• Blair in Kosovo today (2)
• Dacic: How can there be talk of Pristina’s office in Belgrade? (2)
• EU warns Belgrade: Do not misinterpret agreements (4)
• Hoxhaj: New recognitions expected from Latin America (4)
• KFOR rebuts Serb media over alleged injuries during operation (18)


Bota Sot

Front page
• Sami Lushtaku gave me 300 euro’s for the explosives against Rugova
• KFOR seriously, the roads are “cleaned” from barricades
• Preteni says that few ministers are under investigations, but he does not give any names
• Prosecution starts investigation towards Mayor of Vitia

Other headlines
• Kacanik again in the “hands” of PDK (3)
• Tony Blair on Monday in Kosovo (3)
• EU requests from Belgrade not to misinterpret agreements (3)
• Waiting for new recognitions (4)
• Swedish minister visits Kosovo (6)
• LDK: Still we are not members of PPE (7)