Unity team for dialogue

• Unity team for dialogue (Epoka e Re)
• Hoxhaj: There are 91 recognitions (Express)
• The Kosovo Intelligence Agency is in the north (Express)
• Feith confirms end of supervised independence (Koha Ditore)
• Vllasi: Relations Pristina – Belgrade will remain same (Koha Ditore)
• Balkans concerned about developments in Serbia (Zëri)
• Dacic: We’re not requesting return of Serb forces in Kosovo (Epoka e Re)
• Vetëvendosje: Decision of Constitutional Court politically motivated (dailies)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Unity team for dialogue (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re reports on the front page that dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade could resume with a new format. A senior member of the Kosovo Government told the paper that efforts are underway to involve opposition parties in the process of dialogue which could include the issue of the north. “No political party is interested to participate in this process alone because it is a very delicate process,” the official said.

The same official said opposition parties in a way have been informed about the continuation of dialogue but have yet to receive an official offer from the government. “However, we can say that the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and Vetëvendosje are strongly against dialogue,” he added.

Hoxhaj: There are 91 recognitions (Express)
Express runs as the leading story an interview with Kosovo Foreign Affairs Minister Enver Hoxhaj highlighting his statement that Kosovo has been recognized by 91 world countries so far. Hoxhaj said international recognitions are not a merit of any individual official or Behxhet Pacolli. According to Hoxhaj, this month another three-four countries will recognize Kosovo’s independence. Hoxhaj also said this year Kosovo will not apply for membership in the United Nations.

The Kosovo Intelligence Agency is in the north (Express)
The paper quotes Fadil Demaku, deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee for oversight of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (AKI), as saying that they received information that AKI is fully operational, together with its legal structure, in the northern part of Kosovo. “Law does not function in that region, order there is regulated by organized crime and our focus was to know how much the Agency is working in that direction,” Demaku said.

Feith confirms end of supervised independence (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore quotes International Civilian Representative Pieter Feith as saying that the ICO will shut down in September and will then end the supervisory period of Kosovo’s independence. In an interview for Belgrade-based B92 news agency, Feith said Kosovar institutions have been strengthened enough and that there is no more need for supervision.

Oliver Ivanovic, so-called state secretary in the Serbian Ministry for Kosovo, said the shutdown of ICO does not mean much for the Serb community, because the ICO was rejected by Serbs from the very beginning. Ivanovic said Feith was the head of an institution whose aim was to implement the Ahtisaari Plan. But, at the same time Ivanovic has warned for the danger in the case of departure of international missions. “It is dangerous when an international mission departs. This would mean danger for Serbia,” Ivanovic told B92.

Vllasi: Relations Pristina – Belgrade will remain same (Koha Ditore)
In an interview for Novi Sad-based daily newspaper Dnevnik, political analyst Azem Vllasi said he thinks relations between Kosovo and Serbia will remain the same even after the creation of the new government in Serbia. “In other words, one cannot expect any positive steps in the sense of normalizing relations, but also no serious worsening of relations,” Vllasi was quoted as saying. He also said there was no dilemma that Prime Minister designate Ivica Dacic will want to continue the policy of Slobodan Milosevic towards Kosovo.

Balkans concerned about developments in Serbia (Zëri)
Kosovo Foreign Affairs Minister Enver Hoxhaj told Voice of America that Serbia has turned to a non-European path with the new government. Hoxhaj argued that Ivica Dacic’s appointment at the helm of the new government should be a concern for the whole Balkans. “Therefore, it is Brussels’ responsibility to react,” he added.

Dacic: We’re not requesting return of Serb forces in Kosovo (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re quotes Serbia’s Prime Minister designate Ivica Dacic as saying that the Serbian Government will continue talks on the issue of Kosovo and will insist on the obligation of international forces to ensure peace and security and the role of Serbia in this, and not in the return of Serb security forces in Kosovo. Dacic’s statement comes one day after harsh reactions from Kosovo officials against his statement that Serbian security forces will return to Kosovo in line with Resolution 1244.

Vetëvendosje: Decision of Constitutional Court politically motivated (dailies)
Koha Ditore reports that Vetëvendosje officials said on Sunday that the Constitutional Court’s decision in relation to the compliance of the law on Hoca e Madhe and the law on the Historic Center of Prizren with the Constitution of Kosovo, is wrong and politically motivated. Vetëvendosje MP Liburn Aliu said the Court’s decision is political and that the argument used by the court that councils have advisory competencies has been used by the Government when it presented both laws at the Assembly.

“Considering the pressure that has accompanied the amendment of these two laws, taking into consideration the letters which have been given to the deputies that if it should be voted for every amendment separately, as the direct pressure of Hashim Thaçi and Peter Feith in the commission, we rightfully believe that the court has undergone the same pressure,” Aliu said.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
• The lacking moral resignations
• EU believes Dacic “secures Serbia’s continuity toward EU”
• Hashim Thaçi, doctor honoris causa in Geneva

Other headlines
• Vllasi: Relations between Pristina and Belgrade will remain the same (2)
• Serb bikers leave Kosovo (2)
• Vetëvendosje: Decision by Constitutional Court politically motivated (3)
• Grabanica residents sue their neighbours for war crimes (5)
• Feith confirms end of supervisory phase of independence (5)
• Fol: Corruption acts in 2011 have doubled (7)
• Palokaj: Can one dialogue with this Serbia? (10)
• Ahmeti: No to the Penal Code (11)

Zëri

Front page
• EIB loans until the end of the year
• Privatization in Thaçi’s hands
• Vetëvendosje: Constitutional Court is politically motivated
• Assembly, venue for settling scores
• Dacic encourages northern Serbs

Other headlines
• Balkans concerned with developments in Serbia (2)
• No more need for supervision (2)
• Serbia’s approach toward Kosovo has changed (2)
• ISG indicates end of supervisory period (4)

Kosova Sot

Front page
• Suspicious oil enters Kosovo
• Editorial: Bad time for dialogue
• Constitutional Court rejects decision by Supreme Court
• The game with the problematic articles
• Poor legal system damages democracy
• Kusari-Lila to be “tried” at the Assembly

Other headlines
• Feith: September, end of supervised independence (4)
• Spindeleger: Kosovo mature enough to stand on its own two feet (4)
• Dacic softens: Resolution of Kosovo problem through negotiations (4)