UN wants dialogue and solution for the north

• UN wants dialogue and solution for the north (dailies)
• Jacobson: US supports Kosovo’s European integration (dailies)
• Krasniqi: A new agreement is needed for the president (dailies)
• Vetëvendosje: Outcome of talks, autonomy for the north (dailies)
• AAK doesn’t know what to do (Zëri – front page)
• Serwer: Serbia in the EU, without Kosovo (Zëri – page 2)

Kosovo Media Highlights

UN wants dialogue and solution for the north (dailies)
All papers reported on the debate on Kosovo at the UN Security Council and focused on member states’ calling on Pristina and Belgrade to resume dialogue and implement agreements reached thus far. Newspapers also highlighted that this meeting was the first time Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi spoke before the Security Council where he reiterated that Kosovo's statehood is non-negotiable.

“Resumption of dialogue is very important for both sides, as has also been stated in the Secretary General’s report that all efforts and commitments and whatever kind of disharmony in interpretation of these agreements should not be an obstacle for their implementation,” said Head of UN in Kosovo Farid Zarif. He said that with the creation of the new government in Belgrade, he hoped the EU-led dialogue will resume soon. The UNMIK chief also urged the international community to show more determination in facilitating Kosovo and Serbia in the negotiating process.

Addressing the situation in the north, Zarif said the creation of a favourable environment for the population there should be a priority for all. “Important progress has been made on the ground especially in the presence of the international community like the EU office, KFOR, OSCE which showed there is a coherence of joint benefit and a coordination on issues that have remained hostage to political agreements,” Koha Ditore quoted Zarif.

At the same time, PM Thaçi spoke about the consolidation of Kosovo’s statehood, listing it as one of key priorities for his Government. He also noted that he believed the true progress in the dialogue with Serbia rests in the full implementation of agreements reached so far.

Thaçi said that normalization of relations with Serbia is also one of priorities for Kosovo Government. “We are aware that absence of normal relations and border demarcation between Kosovo and Serbia are a huge obstacle for stability, security and prosperity of the whole Balkans. Therefore, I wish to reiterate and make myself very clear that while we remain very much committed to the dialogue, at no time and under no circumstances will be discuss Kosovo’s statehood and territorial integrity,” Thaçi said.

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic who also took part at the session stressed that his country would never recognize the independence of Kosovo but would continue to take part in the dialogue and make efforts on implementing agreements. He argued however that talks should be raised to a higher level “because the outstanding issues cannot be bypassed and this required political will for compromise from both sides as Belgrade cannot continue to give and Pristina to take.”

US Ambassador to the UN Rosemary DiCarlo pledged continued support for Kosovo and Serbia and noted that the decision of the International Steering Group to conclude supervision of Kosovo’s independence is significant progress for Kosovo. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin supported the request of Serbia for talks to be mediated by the UN Security Council. “We believe UNMIK should carry out its duties in international mechanisms and forums. We are concerned with Kosovo’s decision to establish administrative office in the north of Kosovo where the funding is planned to be made by resources dedicated previously to UNMIK and this could lead to destabilization,” said Churkin.

Zëri’s front-page report reads that the Prime Ministers of Kosovo and Serbia, Thaçi and Dacic, both agreed for the need to resume dialogue. Thaçi said that the statehood of Kosovo will never be discussed while Dacic insisted on an agreement between Serbs and Albanians on the status of Kosovo. Express wrote that Thaçi and Dacic spared each other from personal attacks during the debate and only reaffirmed already-known stances on Kosovo’s status.

Kosova Sot highlights Thaçi’s statements to the media following the Security Council session where he said that Serbia realizes Kosovo is an independent country but requires more time to accept it. The paper also reports that the need for dissolving Serb parallel structures was requested at the session.

Jacobson: US supports Kosovo’s European integration (dailies)
All dailies reported on the meetings that the new US Ambassador to Kosovo, Tracey Jacobson, had with Kosovo’s European Integration Minister Vlora Çitaku and Trade and Industry Minister Mimoza Kusari-Lila. Jacobson said the US would continue to support Kosovo in the process of European integration and in economic development.

“As State Secretary Clinton said earlier, the United States of America will support Kosovo in moving forward toward a European future,” Jacobson said. “We are confident that relations between Kosovo and the European community can promote peace and stability in the region and dialogue with Serbia is an important part of this process.”

Krasniqi: A new agreement is needed for the president (dailies)
Several dailies report that Kosovo Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi said on Tuesday that voting on the constitutional amendments for changes in the competencies of the President and their elections has remained ‘hostage’ to a new agreement between political parties.

“On the constitutional amendments related to the election of the President, there certainly has to be a political agreement between the stakeholders that reached the previous agreement,” Krasniqi said.

Meanwhile, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has again refused dialogue on the matter and conditioned the vote with a set date on new presidential elections.

Vetëvendosje: Outcome of talks, autonomy for the north (dailies)
Vetëvendosje representatives said on Tuesday that the Kosovo Government was “decorating” the entrance for negotiations with Serbia and sideline developments such as the end supervised independence. They strongly rejected new negotiations saying that they will conclude with the autonomy in the northern part of the country.

Vetëvendosje deputy leader Shpend Ahmeti said the supervisory phase of independence is not concluded because many institutions with executive roles will remain in Kosovo and there are efforts being made to incorporate them into the Constitution of Kosovo. “Instead of amending the constitution and gaining more sovereignty, the Government is trying to convince us that Kosovo is concluding the supervisory phase of independence by further reducing sovereignty on paper,” Ahmeti said.

Ahmeti argued that part of the international community and the Kosovo Government are rushing to end the mission of the International Civilian Office to launch a new mission of political dialogue and “new concessions” for Serbia in the north.

Another senior Vetëvendosje official, Glauk Konjufca, was quoted as saying in yesterday’s press conference that the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) is the most interested party to join the “shameful dance” of the government.

Vetëvendosje officials also accused Prime Minister Thaçi of planning a meeting with his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic.

AAK doesn’t know what to do (Zëri) – front page
Zëri reports in one of the front-page stories that the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) has yet to decide if it wants to join a broad-based coalition with the ruling Kosovo Democratic Party (PDK).

Regardless of AAK deputy leader Blerim Shala’s inclination for a possible coalition with PDK, whereby AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj would become Prime Minister, other AAK officials say that the party has yet to make an official decision on the matter.

Ahmet Isufi, another deputy leader of the AAK seen as the closest associate of Haradinaj, said the AAK does not have an official position yet on a coalition with Thaçi’s PDK. “The possibility of a coalition with the PDK is more of a speculation, because of the weakening and the unstable position of this government,” Isufi added.

Serwer: Serbia in the EU, without Kosovo (Zëri) – page 2
“There is no doubt that 28 member states of the European Union, including Croatia’s membership, will ask from Serbia for full clarity on its sovereign borders,” said US expert on the Balkans, Daniel Serwer. “It seems that Germany is now insisting that this should be done before the EU opens membership talks with Serbia. The EU includes only sovereign states; Serbia too can be included but without Kosovo.”

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• UN wants dialogue and solution for the north
• Krasniqi: A new agreement is needed for the president
• Jacobson: US supports Kosovo’s European integration
• Vetëvendosje: Shala can go to negotiations by himself, he shouldn’t take AAK
• Katuçi: EULEX should end the nightmare of organs trafficking

Other headlines
• They helped Thaçi and built businesses in Kosovo (4)
• Pension in Kosovo does not suffice even for a month of food (6)
• Matoshi: Kosovar cultural identity is European and cosmopolitan (10)

Zëri

Front page
• Thaçi and Dacic agree on dialogue
• AAK doesn’t know what to do
• Çollaku: Has the AAK made correct calculations?
• Vetëvendosje: Outcome of talks, autonomy for the north
• A new agreement for the president
• The wave of lands

Other headlines
• US help Kosovo toward EU integration (page 2)
• Serwer: Serbia in the EU, without Kosovo (page 2)
• Halbauer, new KFOR commander (page 2)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• District prosecutor denounced for usurping 7 hectares of land
• Editorial: Pathways of notorious policy are getting narrower
• Thaçi: Dialogue at risk
• Scandalous: Government still pays advisors of former DPM Bukoshi
• Brezovica will not be privatized this year

Other headlines
• Jacobson: US committed to helping Kosovo (page 2)
• Serbia cannot join EU without giving up on Kosovo (page 3)
• Drews and Dikovic discuss security situation in Kosovo (page 3)
• Halbauer, new KFOR commander (page 3)

Epoka e Re

Front page
• Statehood, not up for discussion
• Jacobson: Dialogue helps Kosovo
• Merovci: AAK could be my future party
• LDK and Vetëvendosje against PDK-AAK coalition

Other headlines
• Serwer: Serbia can be admitted to the EU but without Kosovo (page 2)
• Ready for September (page 6)
• 56th wave of privatisation announced (page 9)

Express

Front page
• Soft encounter

Other headlines
• Serwer: Serbia can enter the EU, without Kosovo (page 4)
• Germany has helped a lot (page 5)
• Let Blerim enter (page 5)
• Foreign Ministry creates coordinating office for embassies (page 6)
• USA supports integrations (page 6)
• Assembly to begin autumn session (page 6)
• New commander comes in (page 7)
• Indictment read out (page 7)

Bota Sot

Front page
• We can speak on anything but not Kosovo’s sovereignty
• LDK: Thaçi Government’s asphalt the most expensive in the region, €10 mil for 1km
• US remains committed to help Kosovo
• Vetëvendosje to Shala: Don’t make deals with the north on behalf of AAK
• Isufi: In the Government only with Ramush prime minister!

Other headlines
• DiCarlo asks for dissolution of parallel structures in the north (page 2)
• Çitaku in RTV 21: EU is not a hospital that treats sick states (page 2)
• Krasniqi met former commissioner of Bundestag (page 3)
• Volker Halbauer, new KFOR commander (page 4)
• Serwer: Serbia in the EU without Kosovo (page 6)
• Indictment against Bukoshi and Tolaj confirmed (page 7)
• Assembly to begin autumn session, first meeting on 30 August (page 7)
• LDK: Bleak economic and social perspective in the country (page 9)