• Thaçi: Normalization process finalized with Serbia’s recognition (dailies)
• German-German model for UN membership (Koha Ditore)
• Thaçi: LDK, AAK part of dialogue (Epoka e Re)
• Talks with Serbia linked to Assembly’s resolution (Epoka e Re)
• Reform changes Constitution (Express)
• Sydow: Kosovo status at CE not in agenda (Kosova Sot)
• “Civil protection” invades the north (Zëri)
• Serbia against liaison offices (Zëri)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Thaçi: Normalization process to be finalized with Serbia’s recognition (dailies)
Regarding the end of normalizing relations with Serbia, Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi said in Gjilan on Sunday: “This process will be finalized with the integration of Kosovo in EU, NATO, but also with reciprocity recognition of Kosovo from Serbia.”

Alternatively, Koha Ditore carries Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia Rasim Ljajic’s statement on how a sustainable solution should be found for Kosovo, not including Kosovo’s recognition from Serbia. The best findings in the dialogue for Kosovo include former president Boris Tadic’s four point plan, which he said is a good base to find a solution for Kosovo.

Kosovo’s Prime Minister also revealed the bases of the political platform that will serve Kosovo in the dialogue. “My platform of talks will be the Declaration of Independence of Kosovo, constitution and laws of Kosovo, and Resolution of Kosovo Assembly; Therefore we will work for a better life for citizens throughout the country,” said Thaçi.

German-German model for UN membership (Koha Ditore – front page)
The Kosovo Government rejected the ‘two Germanys’ model in relation to Kosovo-Serbia relations by Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj will comply with this model despite opening the liaison offices in Belgrade and Pristina.

Kosovo Foreign Minister Hoxhaj said that political dialogue began with the last meeting of both prime ministers. According to Hoxhaj, the next meeting will include representatives of the opposition.

Hoxhaj discussed the models for the north and stressed that ‘Ahtisaari will not be exceeded’. “The priority of Kosovo, according to this model, stands not only in regulating a normal relationship, but also in that what it has offered for the model of two Germanys. They have been both members of UN. Such model is interesting to think about. The proposal to create liaison offices is in function of this model. Also the concept of good neighborhood is in the concept of this,” said Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj.

Thaçi: LDK, AAK part of dialogue (Epoka e Re – front page)
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi reiterated on Sunday that the opposition, which also supported the Resolution of the Assembly for normalization of the relations with Serbia, will take part in the dialogue. He added that the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and The Alliance for the future of Kosovo (AAK) are already part of this dialogue.

“Together with the political leaders of LDK and AAK, we are working in the process of normalization of bilateral relations with Serbia. Each time that we were united, we were successful, and I have a full confidence that we will succeed, because this is beyond the interests of daily politics, it overpasses the interests of political parties, because it concerns a major issue and we will act and work together,” said Thaçi.

Talks with Serbia linked to Assembly’s resolution (Epoka e Re – front page)
LDK leader Isa Mustafa said his party supports a dialogue with Serbia but if it does not undermine the Republic of Kosovo’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. In a visit to Gjilan, Mustafa stated that the dialogue is the best way to resolve problems and the only way to improve relations with Serbia.

However, Mustafa underlined that the process should not affect Kosovo’s territorial integrity and its internal arrangement. “We stand in support of the dialogue only if it is conducted in accordance to the resolution passed by Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo,” said Mustafa.

Reform changes Constitution (Express – front page)
PDK and LDK have agreed to alter the constitution in areas of elections reform, however it is still unknown how many election zones Kosovo will have. Will it be open or closed election lists that will be a composition of Central Elections Commission? Deputy Head of LDK Haki Shatri said his party’s position is that the reform should move forwards, while still changing the Constitution.

“Election reforms should be done, but changes should be made before in the Constitution as well. Topics, lists, and zones are established in the Constitution and it forces to change the Constitutional,” Rugova told Express on Sunday.

PDK also requests that the Constitution be changed to move forward with elections reform. “One thing is known , a new election system cannot be set without changing the Constitution, because election units and lists are a Constitutional category,” said Arsim Bajrami from PDK. “The Constitution must firstly be amended.”

Meanwhile, PDK leader Hashim Thaçi and LDK leader Isa Mustafa agreed in a meeting they had two weeks ago that election reforms should move forward, but not have constitutional changes as far as the President is concerned.

Sydow: Kosovo status at CE not in agenda (Kosova Sot – page 3)
The rapporteur for Kosovo at the Council of Europe, Bjorn von Sydow, stated that the status of Kosovo is not in the agenda of his report. “I think that it is of major importance to report on how do citizens of Kosovo live,” he said.

The Council of Europe is concluding the preparation for the draft of the report on the situation in Kosovo. This is the reason that former Minister of Defense of Sweden, Sydow visited Kosovo last week. Sydow will present his impressions at the meeting of the political council in Paris, on 14 November, and will then visit Belgrade.

“Civil protection” invades the north (Zëri – front page)
When Pristina and Belgrade intensified talks to find a solution to open issues, criminal structures that administer northern Kosovo in a parallel way have also increased recently. Over the weekend, north Mitrovica was patrolled by persons in blue uniforms bearing the “Civil Protection” insignia.

Sources told the paper that members of this group stopped passing vehicles and ran checks on them. It is suspected that this group is part of the Serbian Interior Ministry (MUP).

They are allegedly tasked to provide security for the director of the Serbian’s Office for Kosovo, Aleksandar Vulin, who was supposed to attend a ceremony in northern Mitrovica.

Serbia against liaison offices (Zëri – page 2)
Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic dismissed the possibility of Kosovo opening a liaison office in Serbia, and vice-versa. RFE reported that Dacic denied opening of the offices is being considered. Instead, he said the possibility of appointed liaison officers would deal with ensuring implementation of agreements.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• Hoxhaj: German-German model, interesting for the UN
• Thaçi: The process of normalization will conclude with recognition of Serbia
• Salihaj goes, new LDK leader in Ferizaj brought by Diaspora

Other headlines
• KEK announces vacancies after privatization of distribution (page 5)
• “Çohu”: In 2007, Kosovo in energy collapse (page 2)
• Palokaj: Did Albanians use the U.S. support properly? (page 10)
• Krasniqi: Debates about and for PDK today (page 11)

Zëri

Front page
• “Civilian defense” occupies the north
• Kosovo, at the Forum of Balkan Ministers
• Budget on Naim’s hands
• Valley wants its part on discussions

Other headlines
• Serbia against liaison offices (page 2)
• Gjergj with a strategy for the Army of Kosovo (page 2)
• Four point plan, solution for Kosovo (page 2)
• Tadic does not candidate for the leader of the party (page 2)
• Thaçi: Constitution is our platform (page 4)
• Blame each other for constitutional reform (page 4)
• PSHDK: (Discussions with Serbia, a drawback (page 5)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• Veseli ready to take on responsibilities
• Parliamentary commissions, part of talks
• No tender this year for “Kosova e Re” power plant
• Editorial: Anti-corruption bubble

Other headlines
• Administration’s depolitization demanded (page 2)
• Dacic: Opening of liaison offices not on the agenda (page 2)
• Sydow: Status of Kosovo at CoE not on the agenda (page 3)
• Lajic: Four-point plan, solution for Kosovo (page 3)
• 2017, year of energy collapse (page 6)
• Merdare, Serb police block border with frequent checks (page 13)

Epoka e Re

Front page
• Thaçi: LDK and AAK, part of dialogue
• Mustafa: Dialogue with Serbia in accordance to Assembly’s resolution
• Preteni: Big [fish] also being investigated
• Reforms “burn” Adem Salihaj

Other headlines
• Vllasi: Status of Kosovo resolved once and for all (page 3)
• Dacic: Liaison offices will not be opened (page 3)
• Lajic: Tadic’s four-point plan, solution for Kosovo (page 3)
• Kosovo in the forum of Western Balkans ministers (page 3)
• Vatra: Albanians from the Valley to be part of the dialogue (page 4)
• Tahiri: Local administration reforms, preconditions for EU (page 6)

Express

Front page
• Reform changes Constitution

Other headlines
• Agreement for extradition (page 4)
• Ljajic: Solution in the four points of Tadic (page 5)
• Constitution is the platform (page 5)
• Also the Valley in the talks (page 6)
• Dacic: We are not opening the office (page 6)
• One minister under investigation (page 7)
• Ekrem again in the school (page 9)
• Concerns of a foreign investors (page 10)


Bota Sot
Front page
• “Soft” reforms of Isa Mustafa continue in Ferizaj
• Return the debt, Serbia owns Kosovo over 5 billion Euros
• Beqiri: The left wing should be sent there where is needed, in jail
• Members of MUP of Serbia are walking openly to the Iber River in the north

Other headlines
• Conditioning Serbia – impossible mission (page 2)
• Serbia for a sustainable solution for Kosovo (page 2)
• Kosovo ready to open liaison office in Belgrade (page 4)
• Sanino: Division of Kosovo is not a good solution (page 4)
• Dacic: Belgrade, Kosovo liaison office will not be opened (page 4)
• Kuçi in Forum of Ministers of Western Balkans organized from EU (page 7)