Requests to include EULEX in the Constitution

• Requests to include EULEX in the Constitution (Koha)
• State leaders pledge for progress of European agenda (dailies)
• There is no secret agenda for the north (Epoka e Re)
• Pantic: ISG decision, good news (Zëri)
• Northern Serbs protest against ISG decision (dailies)
• US doesn’t want Dacic, wants coalition between Nikolic and Tadic (dailies)
• UNMIK claims that it is not against rebuilding in the north (dailies)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Requests to include EULEX in the Constitution (Koha)
Koha Ditore reports on the front page that countries which supervise Kosovo’s independence have set a condition for the government in Pristina over the conclusion of the supervisory phase of independence: EULEX must remain untouchable. Sources told the paper that internationals have requested for the mandate of EULEX to be incorporated in the Constitution of Kosovo.

A senior European official, who preferred to remain anonymous, told the paper that the reference to EULEX in the invitation by Kosovo institutions and in the EU’s Joint Action Plan is not a sufficient legal basis for EULEX to continue its work after the end of the supervisory phase of independence.

“The Constitution of Kosovo so far referred to the Ahtisaari Plan. This plan laid out the actions and decision-making of the European mission. Based on this plan, Kosovo institutions made the invitation to EULEX. When there is no more Ahtisaari Package, there must be a constitutional category that explains the functioning of EULEX,” he added.

State leaders pledge for progress of European agenda (dailies)
Pleased with the decision of the International Steering Group for Kosovo, which concluded that all the conditions for the end of the supervised independence are fulfilled, representatives of central institutions and those of the opposition pledged on Tuesday that they will jointly engage to fulfill the conditions for removal of visa regime and European integration of the country. This oath was made at the second meeting of the National Council for European Integration, held under the organization of the Office of the President, Atifete Jahjaga. Speaking about the ISG as a joint process,, Jahjaga stressed that this decision increases Kosovo’s possibilities for new recognitions in the following months, and enables the country to be represented by its own forces.

There is no secret agenda for the north (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo Minister for European Integration, Vlora Çitaku, stated for Epoka e Re that there is no secret agenda for the solution of the problem of the north of Kosovo. “The Government of Kosovo is transparent and very responsible towards its citizens no matter ethnicity. There will be no new inventions as far as the solution of the issue of the north of Kosovo is concerned and there will be no dialogue with Belgrade on this issue. That part of Kosovo will integrate in the political and institutional life, according to Ahtisaari’s package,” said Çitaku.

Pantic: ISG decision, good news (Zëri)
Zëri reports that unlike Oliver Ivanovic, Mitrovica parallel mayor Krstimir Pantic, said the decision of the International Steering Group to end the supervisory phase of Kosovo’s independence is good news. Pantic told Serbian media in northern Mitrovica that the decision favours Serbs, “because the International Civilian Office supported Kosovo’s independence”.

Northern Serbs protest against ISG decision (dailies)
Serbs from the northern Kosovo municipalities, Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, Zvecan and Lesapovic, including Serbs in Gracanica, protested yesterday against the decision of the International Steering Group to end the supervisory phase of Kosovo’s independence. Around 100 Serbs blocked the main roads for two hours, shouting anti-Albanian chants, holding Serbian flags and other symbols of the Serbian state. They also called on the government in Belgrade to undertake immediate measures in order to prevent attempts by Albanians to take control over Serbs and the territory in northern Mitrovica.

US doesn’t want Dacic, wants coalition between Nikolic and Tadic (dailies)
Dailies report that envoys of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Philip Reeker and Phil Gordon, will visit Belgrade this week where they will hold separate meetings with the key Serbian political figures over the formation of the new government. Citing a Tanjug report, local dailies report that the message of US officials in Belgrade will be that Washington prefers a broad-based coalition government instead of the one that is being formed. According to the paper, the US administration prefers a coalition between Tomislav Nikolic and Boris Tadic. Among the reasons why Americans are not satisfied with Dacic are his statements for the return of Serbian forces to Kosovo and the scandalous oath of the Serbian Gendarmerie.

UNMIK claims that it is not against rebuilding in the north (dailies)
The decisions with the stamp of UNMIK distributed recently in the north, to the owners of some Albanian houses, with the request to stop the works, appear not to be the position of this international institution. UNMIK Deputy chief in Kosovo, Robert E. Sorensen, during a meeting with Mitrovica mayor, Avni Kastrati, said that something like this should not have happened, since it has caused confusion among the citizens. According to him, all those who have burned or destroyed houses in the north can build without permission, while those who want to build new houses, should firs request the permission. “This is a principal that is valid for everyone,” said Sorensen. Kastrati on the other hand requested from UNMIK leadership to undertake measures against those that issued such provocative decisions.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• Requests to include EULEX in the Constitution
• Kusari-Lila changed the commission which enlightened fuel affair
• The US do not want Dacic, request coalition between Nikolic and Tadic

Other headlines
• State leaders pledge on progress of the European agenda (2)
• UNMIK says that it is not against rebuilding in the north (2)
• Prosecution does not investigate Grabovci’s interference (4)
• The US history is the example of democracy (4)
• Kusari-Lila’s decision risks incomes of 2000 workers (5)
• Democratization of political parties, essential for strengthening of the country (5)
• Minister Beqaj busy, misses the meetings of parliamentary commission (6)
• The dismissed from “Ferronikel” request return to work (7)
• Adem Salihaj’s resignation requested (8)

Zëri

Front page
• For visas, after holidays
• “Discuss” integration of the country
• 217 thousand euros for traveling of the Presidency

Other headlines
• United States independence celebrated (2)
• Integration cannot be done with political marketing (2)
• Gordon and Rieker to visit Belgrade (2)
• Pantic: ISG decision, a good news (2)
• Armenia restarts peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (2)
• The situation in the north, concerning (4)
• UNMIK regrets regarding the houses of Albanians (4)
• Thaçi congratulates Obama on the Independence Day (4)
• Mustafa: Negotiations for the north are over (4)
• Cyprus does not impede Kosovo (5)
• Serbs protested against ISG decision (6)
• Hoxhaj: 2 Jyly, a historic day (6)


Kosova Sot

Front page
• Dell: Kosovo has entered my heart
• Plenty violations at the Ministry of Trade and Industry
• Beyond the facade

Other headlines
• Rasmussen: The situation in the north (2)
• Mobilize for the EU (2)
• Parties forbidden to have anonymous donations (3)
• Riker measures the pulse in Serbia (4)
• De Marnhac: Institutions for the rule of law should fulfill standards (4)
• Stefanovic: Kosovo is an artificial state (4)

Epoka e Re

Front page
• No secrets
• Americans don’t want Dacic as prime minister
• All the best to the US!
• Gashi, Ramosaj and Murtezaj in the race for Pristina University rector

Other headlines
• United in the path toward European integration (2)
• Rasmussen: Situation in the north is worrisome (3)
• Armenia resumes peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (3)
• Mustafa: Negotiations on Kosovo are over (4)
• Hoxhaj: A new chapter for Kosovo (5)

Express

Front page
• The soft Isa
• A painful decision
• Rexhepi: Go to court

Other headlines
• In touch with Bangladesh (4)
• Ibrahim Gashi leaves AKR (5)
• The north is worrisome (5)
• Trajkovic: Serbs are scared (6)
• Washington concerned over Dacic (6)
• Parties are not democratic (6)
• UNMIK is not against reconstruction (8)

Bota Sot

Front page
• Everyone applauds for European integration, except Vetëvendosje!
• America, a symbol of freedom, democracy and independence
• Five lessons from Kosovo
• Parties with internal “dictatorship” and suspicious funding
• UNMIK is not against reconstruction of Albanian houses
• Public procurement offices, nests of corruption in Kosovo

Other headlines
• ISG decision, a historic benchmark (2)
• Editorial: The late victory of dictatorships? (2)
• Ibrahim Gashi resigns from AKR (6)
• Rasmussen prefers political solution, rules out partition (7)
• CDHRF: UNMIK standardizes discrimination against Albanians! (7)