Thaçi: Dynamics of Brussels
incites divisions in Balkans

• Thaçi: Dynamics of Brussels incites divisions in Balkans (dailies)
• EU to Thaçi: Integration depends on Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
• Lunacek: Thaçi right to criticize Brussels (Epoka e Re)
• EU requests continuance of the dialogue (Koha Ditore)
• Balkans threatened by open conflicts (dailies)
• Hoxhaj requests Ban to put pressure on Serbia for illegal structures (Koha)
• Kosovo to apply visa regime starting on January 1 (dailies)
• Blockers of election reforms seeking consensus (dailies)
• Jahjaga consults political parties on elections in Kaçanik (Koha Ditore)
• Ivanovic: Serbs will not accept the plan for the north (Epoka e Re)
• Serbs want multi-storey buildings (Express)
• Klina Serbs not afraid after threatening leaflets (Koha)
• Assad criticizes Kosovo, believes Serbo-Russian slander (Kosova Sot)
• Customs tariffs bluff (Zëri)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Thaçi: Dynamics of Brussels incites divisions in Balkans (dailies)
Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi on Wednesday warned that the policy of European Union towards the Balkans could lead to conflict in the region and a change of borders. He said, he has conveyed his concern to the highest representatives in Brussels. “Every unjustified justified delay by Brussels presents a danger to peace and stability and incites the revival of interethnic conflicts and the idea of border changes in the region”, said Thaçi in a press conference. “Everything presented to the public was also shared in closed meetings to Baroness Ashton, Mr. Fuele, and President Rompuy and all EU ambassadors.

EU to Thaçi: Integration depends on Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that European Union is not impressed with the criticism of Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi. The Union of 27 countries, five of which did not recognize the independence of Kosovo, feels that it has made many investments in Kosovo and supported the newest state. Officials of the European Union Office in Kosovo said to Koha Ditore that the two processes Thaçi is criticizing, depends on the results of the institutions of Kosovo. The results of the Feasibility Studies will show the realistic situation on the ground for the visa liberalization process. The results will depend mainly on the work of Kosovo institutions.

According to the Head of EU in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, the two processes require painful reforms with political costs. Kosovo the youngest state in the Europe, has the largest EU mission EULEX, which helps Kosovo authorities improve the rule of law. The entire Kosovo political scene sees integration in the EU as a joint aim, but the slow procedures of membership and of visa liberalization have caused criticism of the EU grow, in the country which is the most isolated in Europe.

Lunacek: Thaçi right to criticize Brussels (Epoka e Re)
The European Parliament Rapporteur for Kosovo, Urlike Lunacek, said in an interview for Radio Kosova, that Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi is right to criticize Brussels regarding the delays in the process of integration into the EU. “I agree with the Prime Minister and all those who know me in Kosovo know that I have criticized the EU, especially the member states, because not the Union, but some countries are not showing the will to accelerate as promised the liberalization of visas. In this respect, Prime Minister Thaçi is right when he criticizes,” said Lunacek.

EU requests continuance of the dialogue (Koha Ditore)
The European Union insists on the continuance of the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade without conditions. The EU Special Representative in Kosovo Samuel Zbogar, stated for Koha Ditore that Kosovo and Serbia have many more issues to resolve together. “We have stated that Kosovo’s and Serbia’s progress towards the EU will be measured through the dialogue. Therefore, it is in the interest of both parties to engage in a constructive manner in this dialogue,” said Zbogar.

Balkans threatened by open conflicts (dailies)
Head of the Foreign Policy Club, Veton Surroi said at a conference on the recent regional developments in the Balkans, that the north of Kosovo, Macedonia and Preshevo Valley are areas which have not yet rounded up their statehood, be it in the aspect of sovereignty and identity or in the aspect of mutual relations between countries. “The incomplete processes of conflict between Kosovo and Serbia keeps open the issue of Preshevo Valley and the north. Kosovo and Serbia have not ended the conflict, they did not reach a mutual agreement,” said Surroi adding that in the ongoing talks, the two sides did not even recognize one another as negotiating parties.
Surroi further noted that there is always a question mark behind Kosovo borders. “We have three packages of territorialism – there is Republika Srpska in Bosnia, the north of Kosovo and possibly the Albanian part in Macedonia. These are threats to regional security,” warned Surroi.

Hoxhaj requests Ban to put pressure on Serbia for illegal structures (Koha)
Koha Ditore reports that in his closing visit to New York, Kosovo Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, had a meeting with UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, according to the Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Initially Hoxhaj thanked the UN Secretary General for the support given to the positive reforms in the Republic of Kosovo.

Hoxhaj informed him about the latest political, economic and social developments in Kosovo, of the efforts of the Kosovo Government to enforce internal statehood and international subjectivity. While talking about the security situation in three municipalities in the north of Kosovo, Hoxhaj requested Ban Ki-moon to use his influence on Serbia to push it to give up supporting illegal police and paramilitary structures in the north of Kosovo.

“The situation in this part of Kosovo is still tense, barricades remain on the roads. The internal stability and the security architecture of the Balkans depend on the situation in the north”, emphasized Hoxhaj. From the other side, Ban Ki-moon, thanked Hoxhaj for the visit, he expressed gratitude for the progress in Kosovo, as a factor of peace, stability and security in the region, says a press communiqué of the Kosovo Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Kosovo to apply visa regime starting on January 1 (dailies)
The Kosovo Government has decided to apply a visa regime for the citizens of some states. The list of the countries has not been published yet, but it is said that the criteria for visas has been decided. Ibrahim Gashi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that the selection of the countries that will require visas has been made based on the criteria of how much they present a threat to the security of the state of Kosovo, and how much they present a threat to international peace and stability. The countries of the Schengen black list have also been included.

Blockers of election reforms seeking consensus (dailies)
All dailies report that the ad-hoc committee tasked with election reform, even after one year of work, has not managed to reach a consensus on the election system in Kosovo. This was the reason why the committee met with leaders of political parties, both in government and the coalition, and with EU Special Representative Samuel Zbogar, ICO chief Pieter Feith and British Ambassador Ian Cliff on Wednesday. The meeting, which lasted for two hours, again failed to reach a consensus on the matter.

“I can say that no consensus was reached because no one really insisted that much on reaching a consensus. Some political representatives said they would need to hold consultations on the matter within their own political parties,” said Haki Demolli, chairman of the committee.

Kosova Sot quotes Demolli as saying that the next meeting will be held on May 30th and until then all political parties are obliged to make a decision on the matter.

Koha Ditore notes that the election system is still viewed as the most problematic issue concerning election reforms. The European Union has called for its simplification. The committee, the paper adds, remains hostage to different positions of political leaders.
Jahjaga consults political parties on elections in Kaçanik (Koha Ditore)
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, met with the representatives of political parties, prior to the announcement of the election in Kaçanik municipality. Jahjaga held these consultative meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, in order to set the date of the elections for the Kaçanik mayor, after the resignation of the former mayor of this municipality. She met with LDK leader Isa Mustafa, Vetëvendosje leader, Albin Kurti, AAK deputy leader Blerim Shala as well as with AKR deputy leader, Mimoza Kusari. She is expected to hold more.

Ivanovic: Serbs will not accept the plan for the north (Epoka e Re)
Serbia’s state secretary at the Ministry for Kosovo, Oliver Ivanovic, has stressed the need for a concrete agreement “on the status of Kosovo and the north.” “Pristina is aware that it cannot have an impact in the north and have sovereignty there, even with the pressure of the international community for it to issue a new plan. However, it should be aware that any plan that it offers, be it the best one, be it an ideal one, Serbs and Serbia will not accept it,” said Ivanovic, for Serbian media. “I am certain that they will not find Serb representative for such a thing,” he said.

Serbs want multi-storey buildings (Express)
The paper reports that Serb parallel structures in the north have made a request to UNMIK for a permit for construction of multi-storey buildings for collective housing on property bought from Albanian citizens though there was never such construction in the area.

Mitrovica Mayor Avni Kastrati said that in order for the construction documents to be in order, they would have to be issued by the Kosovo institutions. He said that the principles in the north should apply the same way to all citizens, regardless of their ethnicity.

Klina Serbs not afraid after threatening leaflets (Koha)
The paper reports that unknown persons distributed threatening leaflets near Serb houses in the villages of Videjë, Dollc, Dresnikë, Gremnikë, Drenoc, Berkovë, Klinavc and in the town of Klina. Serbs are not too concerned about the leaflets and say that they don’t plan to leave their houses. Meanwhile, Klina Police are not giving any information about the case.

The paper claims to have seen the leaflets that are signed by the Albanian National Army and which note, “we don’t want to see you but we don’t want to kill you either, because you are criminals. You have murdered, massacred, burned and chased us from our homes. Therefore, you are criminals, either directly or indirectly. You belong in Serbia. History will judge those Albanians who are making it possible for you to return here”.

Assad criticizes Kosovo, believes Serbo-Russian slander (Kosova Sot)
Based on Russian and Serbian media, Kosova Sot reports that the President of Syria, Bashar Al Assad, stated on Wednesday that military troops of the Syrian opposition are being trained in Kosovo, with the intention to gain experience on preparing a military occupation. During an interview for the Russian channel Vesti 24, the Syrian President reportedly criticized the West for the violence and massacres towards civilians. Assad did not present any evidence or concrete facts, stressing that he has received this information from Russian and Serbian media.

Customs tariffs bluff (Zëri)
Continuous demands by Albanians from Preshevo Valley to Kosovo institutions to lower customs tariffs are very unlikely to be met despite the promises of the Kosovo leadership, writes the paper. Sixty Euros is the minimal amount of insurance tax that needs to be paid for cars coming in from Serbia to Kosovo and this, according to Albanian representatives from the Preshevo Valley, is not freedom of movement but isolation.

Two weeks ago, Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi wrote to insurance companies in Kosovo asking them to lower the tax. “They replied to me and stressed that they will make efforts in this direction,” Kuçi told the paper.

However, Albanian representatives from the Preshevo Valley claim that the promise of the Kosovo Government is yet another bluff. “We have been promised for several months now and nothing has been done. This shows that the Kosovo Government is not serious towards the Preshevo Valley,” said Belgzim Kamberi from the Council of Human Rights and Freedoms in Preshevo.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• EU to Thaçi: Integration depends on Kosovo
• Thaçi: Dynamics in Brussels incites divisions in the Balkans
• Religion and justice, priority in concluding supervised independence
• Hoxhaj calls on Ban Ki-moon to pressure Serbia over the north
• Two members of Puka family killed in Junik

Other headlines
• Jahjaga consults parties on elections in Kacanik (4)
• Blockers of election reform seek consensus (5)
• Klina Serbs not afraid after threatening leaflets, police investigating the case (5)
• EU calls for continuation of dialogue (5)

Zëri

Front page
• Careful with the motion!
• No consensus on election reform
• Hoxhaj calls for dissolution of illegal structures
• The bluff over customs taxes

Other headlines
• Lunacek criticizes EU over its approach vis-à-vis Kosovo (2)
• Kosovo interested in stability in Macedonia (2)
• Delays represent a danger for borders (4)
• Balkans at risk from open conflicts (4)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• No consensus on election reforms
• Editorial: The diploma business
• Kosovo to introduce its own visa regime in 2013
• Two people killed in Decan over dispute

Other headlines
• Thaçi accepts condition with missing persons (2)
• Questions for the roadmap in spring (2)
• Delays in laws of supervised independence (3)
• Assad criticizes Kosovo, believes Serbian-Russian machinations (4)
• KFOR has no information about training of Syrians in Kosovo (4)
• Ivanovic proposes an agreement on status (4)
• Hoxhaj calls on Ban Ki-moon to pressure Serbia on removing illegal structures from the north (4)

Epoka e Re

Front page
• Ministry of Internal Affairs, responds to the 16 questions of the EU Commission
• Lunacek: Thaçi is right when he criticizes Brussels
• Thaçi: Brussels is risking stability in the region
• Pledge for the simplification of the election system

Other headlines
• Portugal supports Kosovo’s objectives (2)
• Kosovo sends Austria to NATO Summit (2)
• Popovski: Ethnic conflict in Macedonia, endangers Balkans (2)
• Kosovo Ambassador hands credential letters to the President of Iceland (3)
• Ivanovic: Serbs will not accept the plan for the north (3)
• Kosovo establishes visa regime for some states (4)
• Removal of VAT for media, in Jahjaga’s hands (5)
• Jahjaga consults political parties regarding the elections in Kaçanik (7)

Express

Front page
• Gangsters of the state
• The list is nowhere
• They don’t agree on zones

Other headlines
• Janusz Bugajski: Muscles and favours (3)
• Today to be announced the elections of Kacanik (4)
• Thaçi: we implement the decisions of the Assembly (5)
• These are the blockers (5)
• Ivanovic: We have to talk for the status of Kosovo (6)
• UNDP lunches a project to support the justice system (8)
• Corruption, from the parties in the Government (9)
• Ministries of vehicles (10)
• No date for EBRD (11)

Bota Sot

Front page
• They have meet, had lunch, but they did not agree about nothing!
• Every delay from Brussels revives ideas for the change of borders

Other headlines
• Kosovo interested in stability in Macedonia (2)
• Lunacek: Thaçi is right when he criticizes Brussels (3)
• From 1 January 2012 visa to enter in Kosovo for 86 countries (3)
• After Russia, also Assad says that Kosovo is training Syrian opposition! (4)
• Hoxhaj says that Serbia is financing parallel structures in the north (4)
• Anders Fogh Rasmussen: Need for NATO (5)
• Ethnic conflict in Macedonia endangers Balkans (6)
• Greece to change the policy towards Macedonia and Kosovo! (7)
• The next challenge – sale of PTK