Main Stories 21 March2012

  • Assembly sees Kosovo and Serbia in “good neighbourly relations” (Koha D.)
  • Zbogar: Serbian local elections in Kosovo are totally unacceptable (Koha Ditore)
  • Head of UNMIK wants stance of Jahjaga on Serbian elections (dailies)
  • Serbia’s Election Commission will contact UNMIK (dailies)
  • For the EU, “RS” is a technical issue (Zëri)
  • Drews: Escalation of situation in the north will not be allowed (dailies)
  • Lunacek: Autonomy for the Serbs (Kosova Sot)
  • Don’t prevent Kosovo (Express)
  • Their rules (Express)
  • Ferizaj to have extraordinary elections (dailies)
  • Gradually towards recognition (Express)
  • LDK: Thaçi will always remain in the shadow in Pristina (Koha Ditore, Zëri)
  • Ultimatum to the Government (dailies)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Assembly sees Kosovo and Serbia in “good neighborly relations” (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that on 15 March the Kosovo Assembly drew the conclusion that good neighbourly relations exist between Kosovo and Serbia. However, it alarmed that this “harmony” could be broken if Serbia attempts to organize general and local elections inside the territory of Kosovo. The resolution to freeze relations, if elections occur, won support from all parliamentary groups. Some deputies consider the resolution of 15 March a failure, while others expect the “formulation” was prepared by internationals. The deputy of the Movement for Unity, Agim Kuleta evaluates it as a scandal.

Zbogar: Serbian local elections in Kosovo are totally unacceptable (Koha Ditore)

The Head of the Kosovo Assembly, Jakup Krasniqi, welcomed EU Special Representative, Samuel Zbogar, on Tuesday in a meeting. Zbogar said Kosovo is moving towards integration in the European Union. While talking about the aim of Serbia to organize elections also in Kosovo, Zbogar emphasized that the EU has made it very clear that local elections cannot be held in Kosovo and that they are totally unacceptable. However, he noted that Serbian Parliamentary elections could be organized by the OSCE, as in Kosovo there are citizens with double citizenship. Krasniqi greeted the firm stance of the EUagainst holding local elections of Serbia in Kosovo. He said that parliamentary elections are unacceptable as well for Kosovo given that Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s independence.

Head of UNMIK wants stance of Jahjaga on Serbian elections (dailies)

Koha Ditore reports that the President of Republic of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, met UN Special Representative of the Secretary General in Kosovo, Farid Zarif on Tuesday. Zarif was interested in the stance of the President on the announced elections of the Republic of Serbia on the territory of Kosovo. He said that UNMIK will soon provide an answer on the announcement of Serbia to hold elections in Kosovo, said a press communiqué from the Presidency. Jahjaga, expressed concern over the aim of the Republic of Serbia to hold elections on the territory of Republic of Kosovo, as they will violate the sovereignty of the state of Kosovo, challenge its territorial integrity and will destabilize the country. Express under the headline Jahjaga requests from UNMIK not to organize Serbian elections, reports that Jahjaga said that every attempt by Serbia to organize any kind of elections, marks the violation of international laws and standards and European principles. She requested the Head of UNMIK to forward the concerns of Kosovo to UNSecretary General Ban Ki-moon and his interlocutors in Republic of Serbia. She also requested that UNMIK not be a party in organizing of these elections.

Serbia’s Election Commission will contact UNMIK (dailies)

Member of the Election Commission of the Republic of Serbia, Veljko Odalovic stated that UNMIK will be contacted within two days regarding the organizing of Parliamentary elections on 6 May in Kosovo. “The Commission has not had any contact with UNMIK so far. We will wait for a day or two, to contact them regarding the Parliamentary elections,” he said. He also stated that Government of Serbia is responsible for discussing elections.

For the EU, “RS” is a technical issue (Zëri)

The paper reports that Kosovo Integration Minister Vlora Çitaku has requested a meeting with EU Special Representative Samuel Zbogar to discuss the manner with which the European Commission funds are represented for Kosovo. The meeting according to Zëri came after it reported yesterday that the Commission allocates project funds for Kosovo under the name of Republic of Serbia, namely under its RS initials.

“We have asked for clarifications from the Office of the EU Special Representative, Samuel Zbogar, as to why is Pristina presented as part of Republic of Serbia in their documents. In the meeting, we made it clear that such a way of presentation is absolutely unacceptable for the representatives of the Kosovo Government,” said Çitaku after the meeting.

While Zbogar’s office did not comment on the meeting with Minister Çitaku, it did note that the use of RS initials is a technical issue that bears no political connotation.

Drews: Escalation of situation in the north will not be allowed (dailies)

KFOR Commander Erhard Drews, does not expect that the security situation in the north of Kosovo will escalate if Serbia holds elections there. He expressed, on Tuesday afternoon in Kaçanik, his faith in international mechanisms in Kosovo and in the Kosovo Government to face any possible situation from elections in the three northern municipalities. “EULEX, UNMIK and the OSCE will do their utmost to prevent escalation of the situation,” said Drews adding that the “Government in Pristina will also undertake mature and responsible actions.”

Lunacek: Autonomy for the Serbs (Kosova Sot)

In the second part of the interview for the paper, European Parliament rapporteur for Kosovo Ulrike Lunacek suggested autonomy for the Serbs in the north of Kosovo. “An autonomous status would allow Serbia to support Kosovo Serbs financially but in an open, transparent and controllable way,” said Lunacek. She said Serbia as an EU candidate country will have to choose whether it wishes to remain on the track to the EU. If so, it has to stop the non-transparent financial support of parallel structures.

Don’t prevent Kosovo (Express)

Express reports that EU High Commissioner for Foreign Policy and Security, Catherine Ashton stated on Tuesday that the achievements in the dialogue Kosovo -Serbia, are almost historic. Ashton made special reference to the agreement for regional presentation of Kosovo with the footnote (Kosovo* Resolution 1244 – ICJ). Furthermore, Ashton called on the five EU countries, which still do not recognize Kosovo, not to prevent the approach of Kosovo with European Union. “The importance of the dialogue Serbia – Kosovo is that at the present, that what we managed to achieve, is almost historic. We know that the path to the implementation is marked with obstacles. We know that there are people that don’t wish for this to be a success, which is tragic. We know that many efforts are needed and that we have to make these efforts continuously”, said Ashton, during her speech in the Committee for Foreign Policy of European parliament in Brussels.

Their rules (Express)

Express reports that Serbia’s authorities have already determined the regulations on the presentation of Serbia’s delegations at regional forums, where Kosovo is present. According to Serbia’s Government, Kosovo should be represented with an asterisk and the content of the footnote, while Serbian representatives are obliged to read a declaration which among other things, says that Kosovo is a province of Serbia. Serbian media also report that Serbia’s representatives will not participate in meetings where Kosovo representatives insist on presentation with their flag or some other symbol.

The Kosovo party has already approved an instruction, which says that if the Serbian party refers to its Constitution when Kosovo is mentioned, then Kosovo representatives have to mention the word Republic, Kosovo’s membership at international institutions as well as the number of recognitions.

Ferizaj to have extraordinary elections (dailies)

Citizens of Ferizaj municipality are expected to vote soon for a new mayor, as the present one, Bajrush Xhemajli,was sentenced to two and a half years of prison yesterday by the Kosovo Supreme Court. Xhemajli has to serve his sentence for involvement in a traffic accident which left one person dead. He officially resigned on Tuesday. Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga will now have to announce mayoral elections in Ferizaj.

Gradually towards recognition (Express)

Expresscarries an interview with the chief of the Greek Liaison Office in Pristina, Ambassador Dimitris Moschopoulos, who stated that recognition of Kosovo by Greece will come naturally and within the European perspective. He admitted that traditional relations with Serbia have had an impact on the Greek position; however he added that Greece also wants good relations with Albanians. “I am happy that the Greek vote will be a determinant for Kosovo’s membership EBRD,” said Moschopoulos.

LDK: Thaçi will always remain in the shadow in Pristina (Koha Ditore, Zëri)

The intention of the PDK to set up a so-called ‘cabinet of good governance for Pristina’ was classified by the LDK as a political tactic aimed at distracting the public from real problems that have overwhelmed Kosovo. “Thaçi and the PDK will never step out of the shadow in the capital,” said LDK’s Avdullah Hoti who is also Pristina’s deputy mayor as quoted in Koha Ditore.

Zërion the other hand quotes sources close to the PDK as saying that the party leader Hashim Thaçi is planning to nominate the current Agriculture Minister Blerand Stavileci as a candidate for Pristina mayor in next local elections.

Ultimatum to the Government (dailies)

Kosovo potato producers yesterday blocked the Pristina-Podujeva road to protest against the barriers that neighbouring countries have imposed on the export of potatoes from Kosovo. The local producers warned the Government that if it fails to resolve their problem within ten days, they will turn the Government’s compound into a potato waste. Epoka e Re however reports that the outstanding issue with Macedonia was resolved yesterday and that this country has uplifted barriers for potato imports from Kosovo.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page

  • Assembly sees Kosovo and Serbia in ‘good neighborly relations’
  • Ferizaj in extraordinary elections
  • LDK: Thaçi will always remain in shadow in the capital
  • UNMIK chief wants Jahjaga’s stance on Serbian elections

Other headlines

  • Lehne suggests considering autonomy for the north (2)
  • Serbian election commission will contact UNMIK (2)
  • Drews: Deterioration of situation in the north will not be allowed (2)
  • Zbogar: Serbian local elections in Kosovo completely unacceptable (3)
  • Parties to be more transparent about their funding (6)
  • AAK: Corruption endangers Kosova e Re (8)

Zëri

Front page

  • For the EU, RS is a technical issue
  • Stavileci for Pristina mayor
  • No Serbian elections in Kosovo
  • ICO protects monastery, steps over the citizens

Other headlines

  • Selimi presents credentials (2)
  • Drews: Together for stability (4)
  • Lehne: Autonomy for the north should be discussed (4)
  • Bajrush Xhemajli resigns (5)
  • Vetëvendosje asks for Qemajl Mustafa’s dismissal (7)

Epoka e Re

Front page

  • Tahiri certain that Belgrade will not be able to hold elections in Kosovo
  • Xhemajli resigns
  • Decision on Witness X testimonies today
  • No female deputy minister in the Government

Other headlines

  • Agreement to be fully respected (2)
  • Lunacek: Feasibility study could end this year (2)
  • Serbian election commission contacts UNMIK (2)
  • Leaders to soon decide about zones and election lists (7)
  • Macedonia agrees (8)
  • Gjini: Kosova e Re could fail (8)
  • Potato producers block the road (9)

Kosova Sot

Front page

  • Daka: Isa’s building in Stuttgart, with the money of 3 percent
  • Autonomy for Serbs
  • Bajrush Xhemajli in jail, Ferizaj in extraordinary elections
  • Editorial: Party business

Other headlines

  • Against special dialogue for the north (2)
  • Lehne proposes discussions for the autonomy of the north (2)
  • Not even ten percent of officials declared their wealth (5)
  • Jahjaga warns Zarif (5)
  • Zbogar-Krasniqi, against illegal voting (6)
  • Serbia’s Election Commission contacts UNMIK (6)
  • EU should be unanimous in stopping Serbian elections (6)
  • Parties cover finances (6)

Express

Front page

  • Isa from Stuttgart
  • Bajrush in jail
  • Gradually towards recognition
  • Refute Gjini

Other headlines

  • Rexhepi: Grand history (2)
  • LGBT* (2)
  • Krasniqi also objects to Serbian parliamentarian elections (4)
  • Jahjaga requests UNMIK not to organize Serbian elections (5)
  • Their rules (5)
  • Selimi: For the north, Ahtisaari’s Plan (6)
  • On Sunday for congress (6)
  • Do not impede Kosovo (6)

Bota Sot

Front page

  • Bajrush Xhemajli in jail, Ferizaj in extraordinary elections
  • Threatening SMS of Qemajl Mustafa towards the journalist Petrit Sherifi
  • Accredited ambassador in Tirana, investigated in Pristina
  • Political parties managing with “dirty money”

Other headlines

  • President to UNMIK: Don’t be a party in organizing of elections of Serbia (3)
  • Diplomat Lehne: Political dialogue necessary (4)
  • Selimi: No autonomy for the north (4)
  • Bajrush Xhemajli resigns (7)
  • Suedia supports European development of Kosovo (7)
  • Jahjaga: the role of the women crucial in decision making (7)

Lajm

Front page

  • Autonomy for the north opens Pandora’s Box
  • Unity team for the north
  • I have not deceived Switzerland

Other headlines

  • Date for membership, connected with parallel structures (2)
  • Ferizaj towards the elections (2)
  • EU to be united against Serbian elections in Kosovo (2)
  • CEC of Serbia in contact with UNMIK (3)
  • Bajrush Xhemajli in jail (4)
  • They request Russian army (4)
  • Serbian elections in Kosovo unacceptable (5)
  • UNMIK don’t get involved (5)

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.