Supervision ends, political process for the north is coming

• Supervision ends, political process for the north is coming (Koha)
• Opposition does not accept to be part of unity team for dialogue (Epoka)
• Cyprus says it will have presidential position on Kosovo (dailies)
• Lunacek to Serbia: Recognize Kosovo (Express)
• UNMIK in the north threatens to demolish Albanian houses (dailies)
• Judah: Solution for the north is not achievable (Koha)
• Rexhepi: Until the end (Express)
• Gashi resigns, aims for post of Pristina University rector (Koha)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Supervision ends, political process for the north is coming (Koha)
Koha Ditore reports on the front page that after legal changes made by Kosovo institutions, on September 10th representatives of 23 European countries which have recognized and supported Kosovo’s independence as well as representatives of Turkey and the United States of America, will take part in a solemn ceremony in Pristina marking the end of the supervisory phase of Kosovo’s independence. On September 10th, Pieter Feith will cease being the supervisor and the International Civilian Office will shut down.

The paper notes that meanwhile the solution for the north will be sought through a different political process. “Allow me to be very clear, since the day when Kosovo declared its independence on 17 February 2008, Belgrade decided not to cooperate on the implementation of the Ahtisaari Plan and not to have any contacts with me or my office. Therefore, if we want to see components of the process for political solution in the north, you can easily imagine that we are not the best element there. The north will be addressed in a different context between Pristina and Serb community in the north. From my point of view I must say that Belgrade can contribute to this and I think that this will be taken under serious consideration. But this is now up to the government to decide. There are also other members of the international community which can help in solving this problem,” Feith was quoted as saying.

Opposition does not accept to be part of unity team for dialogue (Epoka)
Epoka e Re reports on the front page that opposition political parties have made it clear to the Kosovo Government that they don’t want to be part of an eventual unity team, similar to the one in 2007 talks in Vienna, that would continue technical dialogue with Belgrade and which can also include the issue of the north. Representatives of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), the Vetëvendosje and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) said they will give their contribution only at the Kosovo Assembly.

Cyprus says it will have presidential position on Kosovo (dailies)
Koha Ditore reports that Cyprus, a European Union divided country, which has not found the formula for unification of the island, will be presiding the EU for six months. Considering that Cyprus is among the five EU countries that have not recognized Kosovo’s independence, its presiding and the manner it will approach Kosovo, will be observed with curiosity. Cyprus Minister for European Affairs, Andreas Mavroyianis, said on Monday in Brussels that when Kosovo is concerned, Cyprus will not have a national agenda. “We will approach Kosovo in a presidential manner. So, we will pursue the agenda of the Council and not some national agenda,” said Mavroyianis.

Lunacek to Serbia: Recognize Kosovo (Express)
The European Parliament Rapporteur for Kosovo, Ulrike Lunacek hailed the decision of the International Steering Group to conclude the supervision of Kosovo’s independence. She said that conclusion of the supervised independence is a message for the five EU countries that have not recognized Kosovo, to do this as soon as possible. “The fact that the five countries are not recognizing Kosovo is really impeding the European Union approach towards Kosovo,” said Lunacek for Radio Dukagjini, on Tuesday. She also sent messages to the Serbian authorities saying that the new Government of Serbia should see the end of the supervision of Kosovo as a positive step and should request implementation of Ahtisaari’s plan in the north of Kosovo.

UNMIK in the north threatens to demolish Albanian houses (dailies)
Several dailies report that the UNMIK administration in northern Mitrovica has again threatened Albanians who are rebuilding houses in their properties not to do so otherwise they will be demolished. Fevzi Beqiri, deputy chair of the council of Bosnjacka Mahalla, said the Serb inspector in the UNMIK administration, Aleksandar Baraq, handed over to Rexhë Avdiu a decision to stop construction, namely to demolish what he rebuilt so far in his property. The UNMIK representative left Avdiu another decision to demolish the house of Remzi Zeqiri, which was also included in a donation for Mitrovica.

The paper notes that the Serb administration of UNMIK delivered the letters accordingly but made a mistake with the names of owners. In a decision written in poor Albanian, both owners are told to demolish their buildings within 48 hours because they don’t have construction permits from UNMIK. The decision also notes that if they don’t act accordingly, the decision will be executed with force.

Beqiri said this was another serious provocation by Serb extremists and UNMIK and that it is aimed to discourage Albanians from rebuilding their properties and returning to the northern neighbourhoods.

“We are used to such intimidating and blackmailing actions by Serb extremists who enjoy the full support of UNMIK. We are determined to stay in our properties and to protect this part of Kosovo from further cleansing. We need the support and assistance of local and central institutions of the Republic of Kosovo,” Beqiri was quoted as saying.

Epoka e Re reports on the front page that Mitrovica mayor Avni Kastrati has reacted against the decisions issued by the UNMIK administration. Kastrati said this was a damaging act by the UNMIK administration, “which is continuing its discriminatory policy against Albanians”.

Bota Sot covers the story under the headline UNMIK, the demolisher of Albanian houses.

Judah: Solution for the north is not achievable (Koha)
“I don’t think there is a chance to solve it [the north] in the foreseeable future. Therefore, the north will continue to be managed as it has been so far. There is no chance for the Cyprus issue or the Israeli-Palestinian issue to be solved in the foreseeable future, therefore, I think that the north [of Kosovo] has fallen under the same category of problems that are managed but not solved,” analyst Tim Judah told Koha Ditore in an interview.

Asked if it is reasonable to expect dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade to resume, Judah said, “I think that at a certain point dialogue will resume but I am not sure and no one can say for sure what will be achieved. It is too early to say. They achieved something because both Serbia and Kosovo wanted something from them. Serbia wanted the candidacy and Kosovo the start of the visa liberalization process and the Stabilization/Association Agreement... I think Ivica Dacic is a sly politician, whose main interest, which is no different from almost every other politician, is himself (it’s just that he seems wiser than many others). That’s why when it’s in his election interest to arrest some Albanians, he does that. When it is in his interest to make compromises with Kosovo, he will do that.”

Rexhepi: Until the end (Express)
In an interview for Express, Kosovo’s Interior Affairs Minister Bajram Rexhepi said he was confident he won’t be included in the wave of possible changes in the Kosovo Government. Rexhepi admits that there are cases of scandals here and there but does not believe that the Minister should resign over anything. Rexhepi said investigations into the theft of gold at the police station in Peja are nearing the end. Rexhepi also said he would do everything in his power to apprehend the perpetrators of the evidence room at police headquarters in Pristina.

Gashi resigns, aims for post of Pristina University rector (Koha)
Citing an article published by Indeksonline, Koha Ditore reports that Kosovo’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ibrahim Gashi announced today that he has handed over his resignation to Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi. Sources told Indeksonline that after the resignation from this position, Gashi will run for the post of rector of University of Pristina. Indeksonline claims that they it has tried to contact him, but he was not ready to talk about this issue. After the news has been published, Gashi pronounced himself for another portal, ORAinfo, while denying that he has resigned, but he did not rejected to do that in the coming days.





Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• Supervision ends, political process for the north, coming
• Judah: Solution for the north is not reachable
• UNMIK in the north will destroy Albanian houses that are being built
• Kosovo has only 166 thousand registered workers

Other headlines
• Cyprus claims that it will have “presidential position” towards Kosovo (2)
• Anti-media articles, again in front of the deputies on Thursday (2)
• Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim Gashi, resigns, aims the position of the Pristina University rector (4)
• Isa Mustafa: Responsibility over the state belongs to LDK (3)
• Muharrem Xhemajli released from charges (5)
• Administrative Office in the north expected to open on 9 July (9)

Zëri

Front page
• EU’s efficiency being audited
• Krasniqi: First agreements then dialogue
• “The game” with the Code returns to the Assembly

Other headlines
• Xharra: The 2 July relieves Thaçi (2)
• A new chapter on the discussions with Kosovo should open (2)
• Administrative office in the north opens on 9 July (2)
• The phase of the supervised independence ends (4)
• Ivanovic against the decision of the ISG (4)
• Cyprus will not impede Brussels in relation to Kosovo (4)
• Decision on Kosovo, historical for Albania (5)
• Ferronikel dismisses 85 workers (6)
• “INA” owes 176 thousand euros to the Prime Minister’s Office (7)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• Kosovo without supervision, ICO to shut down in September
• Over 150 companies to protest on cement
• Violation at Prime Minister’s Office

Other headlines
• Jahjaga: The future of Kosovo is in EU (3)
• Krasniqi: Kosovo state is building its identity (3)
• Lunacek: The end of the supervision, a good message (4)
• Urgency at the Assembly to change the code (4)
• Deputy Foreign Minister Ibrahim Gashi, resigns (4)
• Ivanovic: ISG decision, a bad news for Serbs (4)
• Berisha: Decision for Kosovo, historical for Albania (8)


Epoka e Re

Front page
• Now we walk on our own
• Opposition does not accept to be part of unity team for dialogue
• UNMIK threatens Albanians in the north
• Articles 37, 38 and 39 to be discussed on Thursday?
• Xhemajli released from charges

Other headlines
• Cyprus does not impede Brussels in relation to Kosovo (2)
• Nikolic to lead the negotiating team? (3)
• Jahjaga and Krasniqi hail ISG decision (5)
• Lunacek: The end of supervision, a good message (5)
• Kosovo, with a difficult road towards EU (6)


Express

Front page
• Second July
• Until the end
• Ibrahim left politics

Other headlines
• Shkëlzen Maliqi: Can Kosovo borders move? (2)
• Hashim Thaçi: Five lectures from Kosovo (3)
• Lunacek to Serbia: Recognize Kosovo! (4)
• Cyprus will not prevent Kosovo (5)
• UNMIK threatens Albanians in the north (7)
• Kosovo police, now in Albania (7)


Bota Sot

Front page
• Kosovo is opening one of its new state chapters
• Gjonaj , first Albanian which aims a higher post in the American state
• Berisha: The decission of ISG historic for Kosovo
• UNMIK, demolisher of Albanian houses


Other headlines
• Ibrahim Gashi resigns (2)
• Lunacek: End of supervision, good massage (3)
• Administrative Office in the north opens on 9 July (3)
• The game of the government with penal code (6)
• Cyprus will not prevent the actions of Brussels towards Kosovo (7)
• Difficult road of Kosovo for the EU (7)
• OSCE helps police in identification and the investigation of crimes (10)