Zbogar: Prepare the plan

• Zbogar: Prepare the plan (Express)
• Visa liberalization roadmap not even in spring (Zëri)
• Kuçi: I’ll resign if Articles 37 and 38 are not removed from the Code (dailies)
• Hoça and Prizren end up in Constitutional Court (Koha Ditore)
• IMF adopts new agreement with Kosovo (dailies)
• Veselinovic, “Al Capone” of the north (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Zbogar: Prepare the plan (Express)
Express runs as the leading story an interview with Samuel Zbogar, head of the European Union Office in Kosovo, highlighting his remarks that the Government of Kosovo should prepare a plan for the north as soon as possible. “On this matter, there must be two processes of negotiations – with Serbia and with northern Serbs,” Zbogar is quoted as saying. Asked to comment on the latest criticism against EULEX, Zbogar said that the critics were not fair. He also said that corruption is a big problem in Kosovo, “but I hope the day will come when the big fish will be arrested”.

Visa liberalization roadmap not even in spring (Zëri)
Zëri reports on the front page that it is not likely that Kosovo institutions will soon receive the visa liberalization roadmap or the list of requirements that Kosovo must meet in order to enjoy visa liberalization. Citing sources close to the European Union, the paper reports that Brussels is already discussing the possibility of delaying the roadmap. “You know that Internal Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said that Pristina would get the roadmap in early spring, but now it’s almost the middle of spring and the document is not even being mentioned. This issue will most likely be postponed until summer,” the source told the paper. Meanwhile, officials of the Ministry of European Integration told the paper that Kosovo would get the roadmap in late spring.

Kuçi: I’ll resign if Articles 37 and 38 are not removed from Penal Code (dailies)
Most dailies report that Justice Minister Hajredin Kuçi, whose ministry sponsored the Penal Code, changed his position by saying that he will resign from government if the disputed articles on the media are not removed from the code. Koha Ditore notes that the Code, which has already been adopted by the Assembly, has to be signed or sent back by the President who recently met with media representatives. “I call on the President of the Republic of Kosovo to send back the two articles. If she doesn’t do so, I will amend the draft code without the two articles and I will send it back to the Assembly, because there is time for this and because the Code does not enter force before January 1st, 2013,” Kuçi said in a letter to the media. “If the Assembly does not amend these two articles and the Code enters force with the two articles, I will resign as Minister of Justice from the government, as I don’t want to be the person who limits or leaves the impression of contributing to the limitation of the freedom and work of free and independent media.”

Hoça and Prizren end up in Constitutional Court (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports on the front page that Vetëvendosje’s parliamentary group has requested the Constitutional Court of Kosovo to interpret the constitutionality of the Law on Hoça e Madhe/Velika Hoca and the Law on the Historic Centre of Prizren.

Both laws were adopted by the Kosovo Assembly on April 20th under pressure from the Government and one part of the international community represented in Kosovo under the excuse that they derive from the Ahtisaari Package and as such help Kosovo conclude the supervisory phase of independence.

Vetëvendosje officials confirmed to the paper that they submitted the case to the Constitutional Court and said additional details would be revealed at a press conference on Saturday.

The paper notes that a group of around 30 MPs, including some from the LDK, PDK and KKR, believe that the adoption of both laws constitute a violation of Articles 8 and 9 of the Constitution of Kosovo, which define the latter as a secular state, because the laws for both Hoça and Prizren foresee the creation of councils that will include religious representatives with decision-making powers.

IMF adopts new agreement with Kosovo (dailies)
The managing board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) adopted on Friday a stand-by agreement with the Government of Kosovo, which guarantees the country a €90 million loan. The decision was made after the government in Pristina implemented financial cuts suggested by the IMF in the amount of €20 million, amended the decision-making practice and implemented recommendations suggested by the new agreement.

Veselinovic, “Al Capone” of the north (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore publishes a report prepared by the intelligence sector of international police in Kosovo in 2010 on Zvonko Veselinovic, whom the paper refers to as the Al Capone of northern Kosovo. According to the report, Veselinovic had managed to corrupt prosecutors, police chiefs, border policemen and other officials and was able to stay at the top of criminal power for many years. “Zvonko Veselinovic enjoys support in northern Mitrovica as he provides financial support directly or indirectly for around 50 families. He is connected to radical people like Marko Jaksic and Milan Ivanovic and it is likely that he gives money to them too. When he failed to establish control over the police with his group, Zvonko Veselinovic used violence and intimidation.