Main Stories 19 January 2012

  • Commissioner Malmstron comes to Kosovo without visa roadmap (dailies)
  • Cooper to visit Pristina and Belgrade (Koha Ditore)
  • Tahiri: Resolution 1244 is an obstacle for technical dialogue (Epoka e Re)
  • Vetëvendosje turns down Thaçi’s open invitation for a meeting (dailies)
  • Vetëvendosje calls on LDK and AAK to help it against the government (dailies)
  • Assembly demands report on 14 January protest (dailies)
  • Bildt: Brussels wants progress in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia (Epoka e Re)
  • Ivanovic: Backing down, the decision for the referendum is being discussed (Koha)
  • Petritsch: Serbia to bid farewell to EU if referendum goes ahead (Express)
  • Serbia should fulfill Europe’s requests (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Commissioner Malmstron comes to Kosovo without visa roadmap (dailies)

The EU Internal Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom is set to visit Pristina today but papers say she will not come bearing the roadmap for visa liberalization. “This is not the day when the long wait of Kosovo society and institutions will pay off,” notes Koha Ditore.

EU officials explained that Commissioner Malmstrom cannot bring the roadmap to Kosovo before the duties of each actor have been discussed. Koha Ditore writes that this process usually lasts for up to six months.

“It is certain Commissioner Malmstrom will not this time bring the roadmap as it is not ready yet. However, the process of dialogue can start even without that document,” Zëri quotes an unnamed EU official as saying.

Cooper to visit Pristina and Belgrade (Koha Ditore)

The paper quotes sources as saying that Kosovo and Serbia have not shifted from their positions regarding representation of Kosovo even after the visit of the US Deputy Assistant Secretary Philip Reeker. In an effort to convince sides to resume talks and approximate stances, EU facilitator Robert Cooper is scheduled to visit both Pristina and Belgrade. Sources also added that Cooper does not intend to wait for long before setting a new round of dialogue. The paper says Kosovo has agreed to drop the notion “Republic” from its nametag but Serbia insists it should retain the reference to UN Security Council resolution 1244.

Tahiri: Resolution 1244 is an obstacle for technical dialogue (Epoka e Re)

In an interview for Epoka e Re, Kosovo chief negotiator Edita Tahiri said Kosovo would under no circumstance accept being represented in international conferences under the umbrella of UNSC Resolution 1244. “Serbia’s position on the matter of regional cooperation is related to the references of Resolution 1244. Meanwhile, Kosovo’s position on this matter is very firm. There can be no reference to Resolution 1244 or UNMIK as far as Kosovo’s representation in regional cooperation is concerned,” Tahiri said.

Vetëvendosje turns down Thaçi’s open invitation for a meeting (dailies)

Koha Ditore reports that for several days Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi qualified Vetëvendosje’s protest to block trucks carrying Serbian goods as an attempt to take over power, but on Wednesday he deviated from this position. He called on Vetëvendosje, which the paper calls the loudest opposition party, to meet with him and discuss the issues over which it protested on January 14th and which it is expected to do so again this Sunday.

“I was always open and invited opposition leaders to meetings. Earlier, I invited Vetëvendosje leaders, but the offer to communicate was always rejected. Dilemmas and differences can only be solved through institutions, the Parliament and Government so I call on the Vetëvendosje Movement not to take politics to the streets. My office was and remains open for Vetëvendosje leaders,” Thaçi said during yesterday’s government meeting. “We must all know that we cannot make any compromises with the law, the Constitution and international agreements. Political debate does not imply debate on the Constitution, the laws and international agreements.”

In response to Thaçi’s statement, Dardan Molliqaj, secretary of Vetëvendosje, said Thaçi’s office was the venue where plans for violence were prepared against Kosovo citizens and Vetëvendosje’s peaceful protest. “The Government is obliged to implement the decision of the Kosovo Assembly, and not to deal with the Vetëvendosje Movement. After January 14th developments, the government holds political and institutional responsibility for the violence and for creating the impression that the Vetëvendosje protest was going to be very violent,” Molliqaj added.

Express reports on the front page that Thaçi called on Vetëvendosje leaders to debate at the Kosovo Assembly, adding that they should avoid the streets and asked that Kosovo Police should not be demonized. On the other hand, Vetëvendosje leaders said they would not back down from another protest scheduled for January 22nd.

Vetëvendosje calls on LDK and AAK to help it against the government (dailies)

The Vetëvendosje Movement on Wednesday called on the LDK and AAK to join it against what it called the rebellion of the Kosovo Government, leaving aside the criticism about the methodology of opposition.

Vetëvendosje secretary Dardan Molliqaj said the opposition should not waste any time in discussing methods of opposition. Molliqaj’s statement followed a remark by LDK deputy leader Teuta Sahatqija who argued that in its action Vetëvendosje used LDK votes for the motion, and AAK’s senior official Daut Haradinaj’s statement that solutions for problems should not be sought on the streets.

“The moment it voted for the motion, it was absolutely clear to the LDK what they were voting for. What we are doing today has nothing to do with using someone but it concerns our agenda about respecting the decisions of the Kosovo Assembly. As concerns the AAK, its statements are not very accurate and concise, because Kosovo is not suffering from protests but from a government which is corrupt and blackmailed and fails to respect the decisions of the highest institution – the Kosovo Assembly,” Molliqaj argued.

Assembly demands report on 14 January protest (dailies)

Members of the Assembly’s committee on internal affairs and security called on the Kosovo Police general director Shpend Maxhuni to provide the Assembly with a written report regarding the intervention of special police unit at the Vetëvendosje protest on 14 January. The report should be presented by 25 January.

Bildt: Brussels wants progress in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia(Epoka e Re)

Epoka e Re reports that the Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt stated on Wednesday in Zagreb that Serbia has fulfilled its criteria to gain the status of candidate for the EU, however Brussels wants to see progress in the dialogue with Pristina and the situation in the north of Kosovo. “We will follow the dialogue with Pristina and the situation in the north of Kosovo, of course within Kosovo” replied Bildt in response to a question by journalists on whether Serbia will receive EU candidate status.

Ivanovic: Backing down, the decision for the referendum is being discussed (Koha)

Koha Ditore reports that in efforts to prevent the referendum in the north of Mitrovica, Serbia’s Minister for Kosovo, Goran Bogdanovic is expected to meet the mayors of the northern municipalities. “Minster Bogdanivic is in discussions with them and in daily contact, and a meeting might take place in order to explain to them that holding of the referendum would harm our country’s EU integration possibility and that the decision to hold the referendum should be withdrawn. We as a Government do not support their action,” said Ivanovic.

Petritsch: Serbia to bid farewell to EU if referendum goes ahead (Express)

Former EU envoy for Kosovo Wolfgang Petritsch said that if Serbia supports the referendum of the Serbs in the north of Kosovo, then it should say goodbye to the EU. “Serbs at the roadblocks lost their image and support from the international community,” said Petritsch. “Such a referendum may empower even more the referendum of the Albanians in PreshevoValley in 1992. Therefore, this idea of Kosovo Serbs should be forgotten as it would have boomerang repercussions not only for the perspective of the Kosovo Serbs but for Serbia as well,” said Petritsch.

Serbia should fulfill Europe’s requests (Epoka e Re)

Based on the web site of the British Foreign Office, Epoka e Re reports that Great Britain hails the progress on the implementation of Kosovo’s and Serbia’s agreements on freedom of movement, however it stressed that by February, Serbia should fulfill all the requests of the European Union Council, especially regarding Kosovo’s representation in regional meetings. Announcing the meeting of the chiefs of EU diplomacies, on Monday in Brussels, The British Minister for Europe, David Lindigton hailed the progress on implementation of the agreement for the freedom of movement between Kosovo and Serbia. “However, we consider that Serbia has to work more in this direction, in order to completely fulfill the requests of the EU Council, before the meeting of the Ministers in February, especially regarding the representation of Kosovo in regional forums,” stated the British Minister.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page

  • Regional cooperation brings Cooper to the region
  • Commissioner Malstrom comes to Kosovo without the roadmap
  • Committee on Security calls for police image to be protected

Other headlines

  • Ivanovic: Back down from decision on referendum is being discussed (2)
  • Stefanovic: Serbia can lose both EU and Kosovo (2)
  • Vetëvendosje rejects Thaçi’s open invitation for a meeting (3)
  • Hungarian assembly speaker: In democracy government obeys Assembly (4)
  • Vetëvendosje calls on LDK and AAK to help it against the government (4)
  • United Kingdom supports Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic perspective (4)
  • Venera Hajrullahu leaves the Office of President (4)
  • Pilot James Berisha is released (4)

Zëri

Front page

  • Malmstrom comes without the roadmap
  • Thaçi calls Vetëvendosje on a duel
  • They rescue the hostage Berisha
  • VAT on media is lifted
  • Sertolli: The responsible minister Rexhepi!
  • Kover: The motion is an obligation for the government
  • The government robs the Trust

Other headlines

  • Serbian elections in Kosovo too (2)
  • Assembly asks for a report on January 14th (5)

Kosova Sot

Front page

  • Mustafa’s inspectors are suspected of corruption
  • Editorial: The republic of wonders
  • The roadmap arrives today
  • Politicians aim to become part of judiciary
  • VAT on media, universities and hospital services is removed

Other headlines

  • Seven days for Maxhuni to report (2)
  • Thaçi calls on Vetëvendosje to an assembly debate (2)
  • Americans don’t leave, Bondsteel won’t be shut down (4)
  • Hajrullahu too leaves Jahjaga (4)
  • Dialogue delays on regional representation (4)
  • Assembly interferes in presidential competencies (5)
  • World Bank with negative predictions on Kosovo (7)

Epoka e Re

Front page

  • Today, for visas
  • 1244 obstacle
  • Promise kept, VAT for media dropped
  • Hoxhaj: Without Belgrade changing, no peace in the region
  • Baci brings him home

Other headlines

  • Serbia should fulfil Europe’s demands (2)
  • Cooper visits Serbia (5)
  • Protects the police (7)
  • Budget for agriculture, €40 million (8)

Express

Front page

  • Speak at the Parliament
  • Hyseni was blackmailed
  • Political dismissal

Other headlines

  • Mushkolaj: Can we protest? (2)
  • Shkullaku: What does the 14 January produce (3)
  • Requests progress on the dialogue (4)
  • Çitaku’s hopes (5)
  • Dilemma for elections (5)
  • Respect the law (6)
  • Speak about the discussions (6)
  • James Berisha arrives in Kosovo (8)

Bota Sot

Front page

  • “Serbia does not pass,” the second part of the protest
  • Idrizi: I do not regret to have voted for Vetëvendosje
  • Behxhet Pacolli releases James Berisha

Other headlines

  • Krasniqi: Vetëvendosje and Government should give up violence (2)
  • Dialogue for visas, a historic chapter of Kosovo’s Europeanism (2)
  • Vetëvendosje, violence and profits (5)
  • World Bank reduces predictions for Kosovo’s economic growth on 3.9 percent (7)
  • A message to Brussels (8)

Disclaimer

This media summary consists of selected local media articles for the information of UN personnel. The public distribution of this media summary is a courtesy service extended by UNMIK on the understanding that the choice of articles translated is exclusive, and the contents do not represent anything other than a selection of articles likely to be of interest to a United Nations readership. The inclusion of articles in this summary does not imply endorsement by UNMIK.