Tahiri: Failures in dialogue because of EU, Serbia

• Tahiri: Failures in dialogue because of EU, Serbia (dailies)
• Serbia doesn’t want state symbols in dialogue (Koha Ditore, Epoka e Re)
• Thaçi: No pressure for political talks (dailies)
• Don’t be scared (Epoka e Re)
• Pristina doesn’t want Tirana in talks with Belgrade (Koha Ditore)
• Requested “accomplice” of Hashim Thaçi (Koha Ditore)
• UNMIK destroyed evidence of political crimes (Kosova Sot)
• 40,000 residents in the north (Zëri)
• Rexhepi: Macedonia to blame for no new border point (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Tahiri: Failures in dialogue because of EU, Serbia (dailies)
Edita Tahiri, regarding the non-implementation of the agreements of technical dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, pointed towards Brussels and Belgrade. According to Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the dialogue with Serbia, the European Union is to blame as much as Serbia for the delays in the dialogue.

“I think that also EU is responsible, because it is the guarantor of implementation of agreements, therefore I think that as facilitator it should use its influence and I would say that EU has significant influence, for the fact that European integration are objective of both states, of Kosovo and Serbia,” said Tahiri on Sunday in a press conference while presenting a summary of the dialogue with Serbia.

Hashim Thaçi’s representative for the dialogue with Belgrade emphasized that, without implementing the achieved agreements with Serbia in Brussels, there cannot be any new talks with this state. However, Tahiri was not clear when she was asked if northern Kosovo will be mentioned in talks between Kosovo and Serbia and if she would lead such a format of the dialogue.

Serbia doesn’t want state symbols in dialogue (Koha Ditore, Epoka e Re)
The paper reports that Serb officials insist not to have any state symbols present in the upcoming political talks with Kosovo to avoid the interpretation that this could imply Serbia’s recognition of Kosovo. Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson of the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, said consultations are still underway on modalities for the continuation of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

Thaçi: No pressure for political talks (dailies)
Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi said in a statement to public broadcaster RTK that a high-level political meeting between representatives of Kosovo and Serbia would serve the interests of both countries. “There is no political pressure for political dialogue. It is in the interest of the two countries to have high-level political meetings, of good neighbourhood. Normalization of relations implies safety for the future and an integration perspective for the entire region,” Thaçi said.

Don’t be scared (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re reported that Kosovo Assembly Speaker, Jakup Krasniqi, said that the dialogue with Serbia should not be feared, because Kosovo is independent and sovereign state. Krasniqi requested that representatives from Kosovo institutions be prepared in case they want to enter in political dialogue with Serbia.

According to Krasniqi, with such a political dialogue, Kosovo institutions don’t have any reason to be rejected by USA and European Union. He also spoke about Ban Ki-moon’s report for Kosovo and said that it is a balanced according to the interest of the “strongest ones.”

“UN Secretary General cannot go off the UN framework. But I believe that UN should consider that it was itself who led the talks in Vienna and that talks have resulted in a report of the envoy of Secretary General, and especially the letter which President Ahtisaari has directed to Security Council and UN Secretary General. In that letter Ahtisaari has announced that international administration was an obstacle for the development of democracy, security, rights of communities, for economic development, and for political stability of the region.”

Pristina doesn’t want Tirana in talks with Belgrade (Koha Ditore)
Authorities in Pristina said there is no need to include Tirana in the talks with Belgrade. Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri said Kosovo is an independent and sovereign country and does not need anyone to speak on its behalf. She noted however that any positive effort that would help peace and stability is welcomed.

Tahiri’s reaction came after a report in Tirana-based Top Channel quoting Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti saying that Tirana is responsible for all Albanians outside its borders and that it should be included in the Kosovo-Serbia talks.

Vetëvendosje issued a response refuting reports that Kurti called for Tirana’s involvement in the dialogue. The Movement said Kurti’s words were taken out of context and that he never spoke about Albania’s need to have a role in talks.

Requested “accomplice” of Hashim Thaçi (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that even though opposition parties are against the creation of a unity team for new political negotiations between Pristina and Belgrade, the editor in chief of Koha Ditore, Agron Bajrami, says that these developments are “testing balloons” and that the situation will be clearer in the beginning of September.

In a statement for Danas newspaper, Bajrami said that the decisions will depend also on the European Union and the USA, while it is expected that the new American Ambassador, Tracey Jacobson, will begin consultations with Kosovar politicians. Pressure exists for a new dialogue.

Prime Minister Thaçi, during his visit to Brussels, was informed about the ideas of the EU and American Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, wanting for everything to be finalized before the end of 2012. Meanwhile, Thaçi insists that he cannot enter in the dialogue alone and that there is a need for someone from the opposition to also be a part of the negotiation team; otherwise he threatens to call early elections.

“It now falls on the international community to engage and find a solution,” said Bajrami. “Political dialogue with Belgrade can endanger Government of Thaçi, but he further remains main factor which decides about its fall. It should be taken in consideration that early parliamentary elections are not suited for AAK, until its head is in The Hague, nor LDK in which its internal conflicts have not ended yet.”

UNMIK destroyed evidence of political crimes (Kosova Sot)
The paper quotes an anonymous source saying that, between 2006 and 2007, evidence of politically-motivated killings in Kosovo after the war was destroyed by UNMIK. The evidence was put through a paper shredder on the ground floor of the Kosovo Supreme Court. Former Kosovo chief prosecutor Hilmi Zhitia told the paper that he had no competencies over UNMIK and that the mission chose the cases it wanted to handle and “I had no power to intervene.”

40,000 residents in the north (Zëri)
According to the paper, the Kosovo Statistical Office agreed to add the figure of 40,000 residents in the north to the overall census data expected to be made public in September. The population and household census was conducted in Kosovo in April of last year but the process was not carried out in the north. The population in the north was, as a result, enumerated by an independent company and recognized by UNOPS.

Rexhepi: Macedonia to blame for no new border point (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi said Macedonia is preventing the opening of a new border crossing point with Kosovo. “Despite feasibility and funds secured from European Commission, Macedonian state is slowing down the construction of a joint border point planned to be set between Stancic and Bellanofc,” said Rexhepi.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• Tahiri: Failures in dialogue because of EU, Serbia
• Miletic: northern Kosovo, main political topic
• Protests against increase of bread price expected

Other headlines
• Thaçi in favour of political talks (2)
• Before political dialogue, agreements to be implemented (3)
• Serbia doesn’t want state symbols in dialogue (3)
• Hashim Thaçi’s “accomplice” sought (3)
• Pristina doesn’t want Tirana in talks with Belgrade (4)
• Serb Gendarmerie arrests one Kosovar at border point (5)
• Arrested in Bulgaria upon Serbia’s request (5)
• Palokaj: We were so comfortable without dialogue (10)
• UNESCO ignores Government of Kosovo (26)

Zëri

Front page
• Big “No” to a broad-based coalition
• Tahiri accuses Serbia and EU
• 40,000 residents in the north

Other headlines
• Pristina without consensus, Belgrade without strategy (2)
• Lobbying in Mecca (2)
• Talks have ended (2)
• DSS vs. SNS for Kosovo (5)
• The north, Kosovo’s black hole (6)
• No water shortage in the hospital in the north (13)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• UNMIK destroyed evidence of political crimes
• Tenders through bribery, corrupt officials and businessmen gain
• Tahiri blames Brussels for non-implementation of agreements
• Editorial: Towards new negotiations

Other headlines
• Constitutional Court removes dilemma over immunity (2)
• Pristina asks for promised recognition from Egypt (2)
• Lobbying in Mecca (2)
• Thaçi: No pressure for political dialogue (3)
• Rexhepi: KFOR to do more in the north (3)
• Kosovo producers, unequal with those in the region (7)

Epoka e Re

Front page
• Don’t be scared
• Tahiri: No dialogue without implementing of agreements
• Vetëvendosje waiting for LDK and AAK

Other headlines
• Serbs don’t want state symbols in dialogue with Pristina (2)
• Yagcilar and Agani are lobbying in Mecca (3)
• Rexhepi blames Macedonia (6)
• Çeku and Kastrati in a visit to USA (6)
• Long waiting lines continue in Merdare (7)

Express

Front page
• Deep in crises
• Criticism of Edita

Other headlines
• Ramadani accuses LDK (4)
• Recognize Kosovo (5)
• Yagcilar and Agani lobbying in Mecca (5)
• Çeku and Kastrati in USA (6)
• Thaçi: We don’t have pressures for political dialogue (6)

Bota Sot

Front page
• Behxhet Shala: In the absence of files, today UDB spies became patriots
• She counts her successes, blames Serbia and Brussels for delays
• Serbs accuse each other for treason towards Kosovo

Other headlines
• Marku, first Albanian candidate for the Assembly of New York (2)
• North of Kosovo, place of smuggling (4)
• Minister Çeku and General Kastrati officially visit USA (3)
• Long waiting lines in Merdare (3)
• Prokuple: Serb police arrested Fitim Ademi from Pudujeva (6)
• Yagcilar and Agani are lobbying for recognitions in Mecca (7)