Serbs in the north have not read Ahtisaari’s Plan

Serbs in the north have not read Ahtisaari’s Plan (Koha)
According to a survey, which is part of the International Civilian Office in Mitrovica report, named “Guests In Our Own House,” Serbs in the north of Kosovo have not read Ahtisaari’s Plan. The report is based on discussions with 100 respondents aged 18-70. The ICO says this is the first time that such a survey took place in this part of Kosovo.

Koha Ditore reports that the Ambassador of Switzerland in Kosovo, Christina Marty, spoke about the importance of this initiative. “For the first time, Serbs in the north are given a chance to speak about the comprehensive Plan on the solution of the status of Kosovo,” said Marty. While the chief of the ICO in Mitrovica, Kate Fearon, stated that Serbs in the north did not read Ahtisaari’s Plan. “They had no information about what that plan contains,” said Fearon, adding that the initial response on the question was “no I do not want to discuss about it.”

Macedonia supports solution for north within Ahtisaari Plan (Koha)
Macedonia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Musa Xhaferi stated that finding a solution for the north of Kosovo outside the framework of the Ahtisaari Plan is dangerous for the region. Xhaferi made these statements during his visit to Pristina on Thursday, where he met with Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, Deputy Prime Ministers Behxhet Pacolli and Hajredin Kuçi and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Enver Hoxhaj. “I will stress that if we accept such precedents, we will have different provinces everywhere... I believe that Ahtisaari’s Plan and Kosovo’s Constitution are very clear,” said Xhaferi after the meeting.

Internationals request unity on foreign policy (Koha)
Koha Ditore reports that Ambassadors of Great Britain, Italy and Norway were not pleased Thursday during a debate between the opposition and civil society with the deputy Prime Minister Petrit Selimi. At a conference organized by the Foreign Policy Club, the participants discussed the objectives of Kosovo’s foreign policy during 2012 – 2013. Opposition parties accused the Ministry of not having a clear vision on how to gain more recognitions and join international organizations. The Ambassador of Great Britain, Ian Cliff, that of Italy, Michael Giffoni and Norway, Jan Braathu, expressed concern regarding the lack of unity between the Government and opposition on foreign policy. According to them no foreign policy can succeed without the support of the entire political spectrum.

Serbia, normal elections in Kosovo (Zëri)
Zëri reports in one of the front-page stories that polling stations for Serbian parliamentary and presidential elections will be opened in every corner in Kosovo and will enable Serbian citizens to cast their votes for the future president and parliament of Serbia.

Leaders of the Kosovo Government have revealed no details about the course of the process but see it as an action in line with the country’s constitution. Officials of the Serbian Government say that elections on May 6th will not be different from regular elections.

Oliver Ivanovic, State Secretary in the Serbian Ministry for Kosovo, told the paper that the Serbian Central Election Committee will cooperate with the OSCE mission in Kosovo during the election process.

The paper recalls a week earlier, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi told the media that Serbia’s plan to hold elections in Kosovo would not come to life. “When I say that Serbia cannot hold elections in Kosovo, this goes for local, parliamentary and presidential elections,” Thaçi was quoted as saying.

Rexhepi: We will confiscate election material (Epoka e Re)
“We have information that parallel structures are preparing for Serbian local elections on May 6th. They are organizing these elections on their own, and if they are held they will have no validity just like the outcome of the referendum. We will confiscate every Serbian election material that we find on the territory of the Republic of Kosovo,” Kosovo’s Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi is quoted as saying on the front page of Epoka e Re.

Europeans: Failure of election reform (Koha)
Koha Ditore reports that political parties have failed in the election reform process which was launched a year ago. For 12 months, representatives of political parties participated in the committee for election reforms but failed to do anything. They exchanged emails and opinions, but made no decision.

The paper quotes unnamed sources as saying that except SLS and Vetëvendosje, the other parties, especially the bigger ones, were not able to maintain their own position even on the most basic issues. They still don’t know whether they want open or closed lists, or how many election zones they prefer to have. The situation led to Americans withdrawing from the committee and has caused great concern among the Europeans.

A European diplomat working in Kosovo, who preferred to remain anonymous, told the paper that political parties left the impression that they intentionally don’t want to have election reforms.

Change the borders (Express)
Express reports that U.S. Congressman, Dana Rohrabacher has started to lobby for Serbs in the north to gain the right of self-determination and added that the best solution for this situation would be an exchange of territories. “People have the right to decide their personal fate, and this is the reason why I initially supported Kosovo. They did not want to be part of Serbia. Now Kosovo authorities should accept that the Serbs that are close to the border with Serbia do not want to be part of Kosovo,” said Rohrabacher. According to him, the best solution is an exchange of territories.

Syrian opposition promises to recognize Kosovo (Zëri)
Zëri reports that representatives of the Syrian opposition promised that after the democratic revolution in this country, recognition of Kosovo will be a priority for the new government. Opposition representatives made these remarks during a meeting they held in Pristina on Friday with Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj.

“I think that everyone who sees the conflict in Syria can see similarities with what Kosovo went through, therefore, we in fact are here to learn from your experience, how you managed within a short period of time to stabilize the state, to gain international support and to build internal cohesion,” said one of the representatives of the Syrian opposition.

Adili: No Albanian paramilitaries in the north (Zëri)
Gafurr Adili, chairman of the Democratic Front for National Unification, is quoted as saying in Zëri that there is no Albanian paramilitary organization in the northern part of Kosovo. “Albanians in northern Kosovo who are armed are natives who protect their homes and families from Serb criminal gangs. They have been forced to take up arms and to voluntarily defend themselves. The moment when criminal gangs leave northern Kosovo there will be no need for armed men,” Adili added.

Block UNMIK/Kosovo products! (Zëri/Express)
Zëri and Express report that businesses in Kosovo have agreed with the decision to stop the import of Serbian products to Kosovo that bear the UNMIK/Kosovo inscription. The Kosovo Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with representatives of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Kosovo Customs on Thursday held another meeting with importing companies about the issue.

Amnesty International: Deal with war crimes (Express)
Express reports that this June, the European Union Council will endorse the extension of the mandate for the European mission of the rule of law in Kosovo, EULEX. In a recent Amnesty International (AI) report it appeals for this mandate to include specific measures. This organization considers that the restructuring of the mission is an ideal time to strengthen international and local components on justice. According to the report, non-punishment of war crimes in the region remains one of their major human rights concerns. “In Kosovo, non-punishment for war crimes committed by both sides during the armed conflict of 1999 continues,” says the report which considers that little was achieved by EULEX on this.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• Northern Serbs haven’t read the Ahtisaari Plan
• Macedonia supports solution for the north within the Ahtisaari Plan
• Europeans: Failure of the election reform
• Smuggling money in Kosovar banks

• Other headlines
• Corruption has become the norm in Kosovo (3)
• Internationals call for unity in foreign policy (3)
• Representatives of missing persons disappointed with institutions (4)
• Bllaca said he was offered €1 million not to reveal crimes (7)

Zëri

• Front page
• The footnote even in the Government
• Serbia, normal elections in Kosovo
• “Hostages” of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs
• Cenaj: They deploy in the north, not with parachutes?

Other headlines
• Syrian opposition promises to recognize Kosovo (2)
• Northern Serbs have contacted “the wrong address” (2)
• Jeremic is an illusionist (2)
• Adili: No Albanian paramilitaries in the north (2)
• Luxembourg lobbies for Kosovo (4)
• If Ahtisaari is violated, neighbors too will feel the consequences (5)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• IBM remains on paper
• Editorial: Unpunished crimes
• Anti-constitutional articles against the media
• ICO: The government has to reach out to northern Serbs

Other headlines
• Syrian opposition promises to recognize Kosovo (2)
• Parliament monitors implementation of security laws (2)
• KFOR does not interfere on May 6th elections (3)
• Macedonia against a special status for the north (4)

Epoka e Re

Front page
• Rexhepi: We will confiscate election material
• PDK candidate leads significantly
• Serbs request more guarantees by Kosovo institutions

Other headlines
• Krasniqi requests Turkey’s support for new recognitions (2)
• Topi: Serbia should recognize Kosovo (2)
• Clinton to visit Tirana on the 100th jubilee of Independence (2)
• NATO will offer optimal security for Kosovo (2)
• Return well trained (3)
• If Syrian opposition comes to power, it will recognize Kosovo (3)
• Novicki: KFOR does not deal with elections (3)
• Kuçi claims that criminality will be fought (4)
• Partial reform (5)
• Election results to be announced at 20:00 (7)
• KSF will be an army soon (7)
• Block to UNMIK/Kosovo products (8)
• Against economic crime (9)

Express

Front page
• Ransom for Grand
• Does not take credit
• Bllaca, ironical
• Fees forgotten

Other headlines
• Mushkolaj: Hit the enemies (2)
• No special status (4)
• Ankara supports Kosovo (4)
• Request guarantees (5)
• Syrian opposition promises recognition (5)
• Change the borders (6)
• Promises on movement
• Amnesty International: Deal with war crimes (8)
• Block UNMIK/Kosovo products (10)

Bota Sot

Front page
• Amnesty International request from EULEX to give priority to war crimes
• Candidates for mayors return to the city
• Fraud with “fund for professionals” at Kosovo Government

Other headlines
• UNMIK’s entrance in Kosovo forbidden (2)
• Kosovo calls: return our property today (2)
• Sweden supports Kosovo’s aspiration for EU integrations (2)
• Clinton: Albania and Berisha are strong partners of the U.S. (3)
• Azem Syla and Jakup Krasniqi said that LDK derives from UDB (6)
• Kosovo and Macedonia increase cooperation on justice (6)
• Kosovo factor of peace and stability in the region (7)
• Syrina opposition promises recognition of Kosovo (7)
• Republic of Kosovo, “a cold home” for Serbs (9)