Main Stories 6 March2012

  • Government expects pressure by the EU on Serbia in regards to the North

(Koha Ditore)

  • IMF lowers Kosovo’s prediction for economic growth to 3.8 percent (Koha Ditore)
  • Fitou: A different opinion is not anti-Americanism (Lajm)
  • Kusari-Lila: The footnote is temporary (Express)
  • Reduced EULEX aims to fight organized crime (Koha Ditore)
  • Krasniqi requests Thaçi report on the dialogue (Koha Ditore)
  • Hoxhaj: Montenegrins will be constitutional category in Kosovo soon (dailies)
  • Kastrati: Aim of Serb illegal structures to frighten Albanians in the north (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Government expects pressure by the EU on Serbia in regards to the North

(Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that the Kosovo Government is expecting the European Union to put pressure on Serbia to solvethe situation in the north. In a presentation before the Parliamentary Commission for European Integrations, Minister of Interior Affairs, Bajram Rexhepi, said that the situation in the north, where Kosovo state institutions are not operating, is a challenge that can only be dealt with in coordination with international actors. “The north remains a significant challenge, therefore all of our actions there are coordinated with international actors, as with EULEX and KFOR”, said Minister Rexhepi. He implied that the solution to the situation there can only be found by Pristina, Brussels and Belgrade working together. “We are not satisfied with the situation in the north, but we are expecting the EU to put pressure on Serbia”, said Minister Rexhepi.

IMF lowers Kosovo’s prediction for economic growth to 3.8 percent (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that economic growth in Kosovo will be lower than promised by the Government at the beginning of the year. This year economic growth will be 3.8 percent, not 5 percent as predicted by the Government. The move to decrease growth predictions and change financial policies led to an Agreement between Kosovo andthe International Monetary Fund (IMF) which allowed for the signing of the Stand-By agreement. The signing of this agreement, which was broken last year, will allow for the return of millions of Eurosthat were lost last year from World Bank and IMF. On Monday the Stand-By agreement was finalized with IMF staff.

Fitou: A different opinion is not anti-Americanism (Lajm)

The French Ambassador in Kosovo, Jean Francois Fitou considers the last agreement reached in Brussels between Pristina and Belgrade for Kosovo’s representation at regional forums was very positive. However, at the same time he says he respects the opposing opinions of some political parties and members of civil society in the country. He said that the role of the opposition is to object the Government in a normal democratic state. Fitou does not agree that opposing people or parties should be classified as anti-American or anti-European, reports Lajm.

Kusari-Lila: The footnote is temporary (Express)

Kosovo’s Minister of Trade and Industry, and AKR deputy leader, Mimoza Kusari Lila, stated that the solution for representation of Kosovo at regional forums is temporary. “The footnote will serve for a short term at regional initiatives, until we have a complete normalization of relations, especially between the two countries in the Balkans, Kosovo and Serbia,” said Kusari Lila on Monday, after a meeting with representatives of Kosovo business.

Reduced EULEX aims to fight organized crime (Koha Ditore)

The EU mission, EULEX, will begin its new two-year mandate with fewer staff and a more focused mandate. The mission is in the process of finalizing its second two-year mandate. It will focus on executive competencies such as fighting organized crime says an EU official to the paper in anonymity. “It is hard to believe that the mission will no longer deal with supervision, monitoring and with mentoring, be reduced and focus on the executive competencies.”

The EU expectsto take the decision to extend the mission until 2014 in May. EULEX’s new mandate will be based on analysis of a group of experts. An EU official told the newspaper that the changes that need to be approved within few weeks will reduce the mission.

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Krasniqi requests Thaçi report on dialogue (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that Hashim Thaçi and his Government should report on the latest agreements achieved in Brussels to the Assembly. Head of the Kosovo Assembly, Jakup Krasniqi, said this while recalling the resolution of Kosovo Assembly on the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade obliges the Kosovo Government to report in the Kosovo Assembly on the dialogue.

Hoxhaj: Montenegrins will be constitutional category in Kosovo soon (dailies)

Koha Ditore reports that Kosovo Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, has informed his Montenegrin counterpart, Milan Rocen, that conditionsare set for the Montenegrin community in Kosovo be part of the Kosovo Constitution very soon, it learned Podgorica on Monday.

Kastrati: Aim of Serb illegal structures to frighten Albanians in the north (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that the medical expenses of Edon Balaj, who received heavy injuries after an attack by three masked men in northMitrovica will covered by the Municipality. The Head of Municipality, Avni Kastrati, welcomed Balaj at his office, and offered the financial aid. He said after the meeting that Balaj’s attack is part of “a continuous effort to frighten Albanians who are living in the north, in order for them to leave their properties.”

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page

  • Government expects pressure by the EU on Serbia in regards to the North
  • IMF lowers Kosovo’s prediction for economic growth to 3.8 percent (Koha
  • Reduced EULEX aims to fight organized crime
  • Four workers injured from explosion in “Ferronikel”

Other headlines

  • Jashari family, an example on how to fight for the fatherland (3)
  • Jashari family calls for unity (3)
  • Kleçka case: Session postponed, Behlul Limaj has heart problems (4)
  • Krasniqi requests Thaçi report on dialogue (5)
  • Kacin: Governance in the north of Kosovo to be resolved through Ahtisaari (5)
  • Kastrati: Aim of Serb illegal structures to frighten Albanians in the north (6)
  • Hoxhaj: Montenegrins will be constitutional category in Kosovo soon(7)
  • Fitou: Economy should be Kosovo’s priority (9)

Zëri

Front page

  • EU divides Kosovo
  • Krasniqi: Government to report on agreements
  • Kosovo honors Jashari family
  • “Isolated” explosion at Ferronikel

Other headlines

  • Rexhepi: We do not allow MUP members in the Police (2)
  • Krasniqi and his colleagues visit Switzerland (2)
  • Guidelines for visa liberalization in the spring (2)
  • KLA war, a masterpiece (3)
  • Plus: Kosovo removed from the map (4)
  • Minus: Serbs in the north request local elections (4)
  • Mustafa: Let us boycott Serbia’s parliament (4)
  • Jasharaj’s heroism, our guidelines (4)
  • IMF hits Banjsko plan (6)
  • Kosovo helped Serbia to receive the status (8)

Kosova Sot

Front page

  • Economic growth shrinks to 3.8 percent
  • Jashari: Unity not seen among political parties any more
  • EU removes Kosovo from Serbia’s map
  • Smuggling in the north increases

Other headlines

  • The new dialogue with EU on law and order (2)
  • Women want the 40 percent (2)
  • Krasniqi: LDK also approved the state symbols (3)
  • Assembly does not rush with supervision laws (3)
  • Serbs from the north request announcement of elections (4)
  • Krasniqi requests from Government to report on agreements with Serbia (4)
  • Announcements for a new wave of recognitions (5)

Epoka e Re

Front page

  • Call for unity
  • Krasniqi: All gave in on footnote
  • Kleçka case might be postponed for a few days
  • Footnote does (not) impact recognitions

Other headlines

  • Jahjaga honored Noli and Konica (2)
  • Berisha: With the agreement, Serbia has recognized Kosovo (2)
  • Montenegrins to become a Constitutional category (2)
  • Let us unite the state, united (5)

Bota Sot

Front page

  • They don’t have a share?
  • Where is Erion?
  • Celebration of remembrance

Other headlines

  • Kusari-Lila: Footnote, temporary (4)
  • Krasniqi: Deal with other things (5)
  • Serbs in the north request local elections (6)
  • Uncertainty for the municipality (6)
  • Does the footnote influence on the recognitions (6)
  • Blast in Ferronikel (8)
  • Kleçka again postponed (9)
  • Returns invalidated (10)

Bota Sot

Front page

  • Krasniqi heads to Prekaz without Thaçi
  • With referendum or with votes at the Assembly for the flag of Dardania
  • Five Serb soldiers raped me and many other woman

Other headlines

  • Krasniqi: It is the time that the Government ot report at the Assembly for the agreements (2)
  • Shootings with fire arms in the north (2)
  • A Kosovo office for lobbying (6)
  • LD requests unity to the political factors (6)
  • Blast in Ferronikel (7)
  • Rexhepi: The smuggling in the north is not in the alarming level (8)
  • They agree: Kosovo expects from IMF 107 million euro for this year (9)
  • Extended the mandate to parallel structures (11)
  • Fitou: The economy should be the priority of the development of Kosovo (11)

Lajm

Front page

  • To unite ourselves as before 14 years
  • Fitou: A different opinion is not anti-Americanism
  • Blast at Ferronikel, one injured
  • The north, no ones burden
  • Achieved the Stand-By agreement

Other headlines

  • Berisha: Kosovo and Albania will not join together (2)
  • Serbs in the north request local elections (2)
  • It is confirmed the support of World Bank in education (6)

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.