Government Is Ready for ICJ, Opposition Believes in International Help (Zëri)

Main Stories 6 April

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·  Government is ready for ICJ, opposition believes in international help (Zëri)

·  Thaçi Government continues with the tradition of corruption (Koha Ditore)

·  Thaçi: Entire EU supports progress of independence (dailies)

·  Today EULEX starts working at full capacity (Zëri)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Government is ready for ICJ, opposition believes in international help (Zëri)

Zëri reports that national representatives express themselves convinced, Kosovo will win the battle in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

The opposition has criticized the government for non-transparency and lack of preparation for the court session in The Hague, where it is going to be an interpretation about the declaration of independence, to see if the act of declaration and recognition was in accordance with international right. However, it is strongly believed that there are international friends of Kosovo that will not let Kosovo down even this time.

Kosovo Government says that they have done all necessary preparations, starting on 15 April to send the declaration and all the arguments for the Kosovo independence to The Hague. A couple of days ago, Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi said that Kosovo is “super-ready” for the process in The Hague.

Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi said that Pristina has undertaken all actions to have a rightful and professional representation. “In this direction we have also engaged a famous international judicial team,” Kuçi said.

Thaçi Government continues with the tradition of corruption (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that the Government of Hashim Thaçi has inherited the tradition of corruption from previous governments. In the yearly report of the Kosovo Anticorruption Agency (KAA), which will be published in a few days, it can bee seen that the corruption is widespread in all Kosovo Government institutions. There is different type of corruption, from those taking brides, signing of harmful contracts, use of authority for illegal acts, etc. The general value of suspected cases of corruption is 600, 000 euros.

The department of investigation in the framework of KAA, has for the period January-December 2008, investigated 146 suspected corruption cases in Kosovo public institutions. Among the suspects for corruption are high officials of public institutions. KAA says in the report that 33 cases are in the courts of the Republic of Kosovo.

43 cases of corruption have been identified in the category of other institutions such as Pristina Airport, PTK, Kosovo railways, KTA, and former socially owned enterprises, Kosovo customs, TMK, etc.

Thaçi: Entire EU supports progress of independence (dailies)

Dailies report that Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi has returned on Sunday from his official visit in Brussels, believing that Kosovo’s perspective has never been closer to the European Union.

In a press announcement at the Pristina Airport, Thaçi said that all meetings at EU Headquarters resulted in certain and near European perspective of the Republic of Kosovo. “The entire European Union supports the progress and success achieved in the one-year period of the independence of Kosovo,” Thaçi said.

During his visit in Brussels, Thaçi met with EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana and the European Commission Director for Western Balkans at the General Directorate for Enlargement Pierre Mirel. Thaçi also met with Alexandr Vondra, Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic.

“We have indicated once again our determination to implement all democratic criteria to build a democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo with rule of law and good governing,” Thaçi said.

Today EULEX starts working at full capacity (Zëri)

Zëri reports that head of EULEX mission in Kosovo Yves de Kermabon, ICO chief Pieter Feith, as well as the EU and U.S. representatives, are today expected to proclaim EULEX as fully operational and functional.

European representatives in Kosovo have foreseen to mark the date with a ceremony, where both EULEX and ICO chiefs as well as representatives of EU member states are expected to participate.

EULEX has been operational, but not in full capacity from 9 December, and its officials consider to have achieved a number of successes in cooperation with Kosovo institutions. Deployment of the mission throughout entire Kosovo territory is considered to be one of these successes, says a press release issued by the mission.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page

·  Thaçi Government continues tradition of corruption

·  In 2008, less tenders but more expensive

·  Thaçi: Entire EU supports progress of independence

·  Vetëvendosje: Government legitimizes parallel structures

·  “Ferronikel” in dilemma: to reduce salaries or to dismiss staff

Other headlines

·  Plus of the week: Albania’s membership in NATO (2)

·  Minus of the week: PM violates law with nomination of chief of staff (2)

·  Topi and Berisha, already NATO leaders (3)

·  Albanians from Valley welcome Albania’s membership in NATO (3)

·  A European Parliament delegation to visit Kosovo (3)

·  Toward destruction of public healthcare (7)

Zëri

Front page

·  Government announces to be ready for ICJ, opposition believes on international help

·  Editorial: Major history occurring at NATO every ten years

·  Thaçi returns from Brussels confident that Kosovo is closer to EU

·  Low turnout in Macedonia

Other headlines

·  EULEX starts its work in full capacity from today (3)

·  Barack Obama welcomes Albania and Croatia in NATO (4)

·  Albanians in Macedonia celebrated Albania’s membership in NATO (4)

·  Kamberi: Albania’s membership in NATO, major help for the Valley (4)

·  Social democrats criticize Government for not organizing celebration for Albania’s membership (6)

Kosova Sot

Front page

·  Albanians in NATO, Kosovo ignores celebration

·  12 million profit from KPA fund

·  Obama concerned about economic difficulties in Balkans

·  Illegal government, names paid by Government enlightened

Other headlines

·  Thaçi returns super-optimistic from Brussels (2)

·  Anticorruption publishes its report today (2)

·  Crisis delays seasonal employment of Kosovars (4)

·  PSD criticizes for double-taxes and pensions (5)

Epoka e Re

Front page

·  Daci ready for coalition with Haradinaj

·  Thaçi: Spain will also recognize Kosovo

·  Victory of Macedonian nationalism

Other headlines

·  Obama: EU should not forget Balkans (2)

·  Kosiga: Italy remains in KFOR (2)

·  Albanian delegation returns to fatherland on Sunday (3)

·  Ivanov leads with presidential elections (3)

·  Sejdiu congratulates Rasmussen, thanks Scheffer (3)

Express

Front page

·  Three Minister, without Ministry

·  Eulex full

Other headlines

·  Maliqi: NATO (2)

·  Shala: Six news and one epilogue: The chance of the year 1999 (3)

·  Italy not withdrawing from KFOR (4)

·  The opponent of independence re-elected (5)

·  Çeku: Kosovo to be included in NATO (5)

·  Thaçi: Successful feasibility (6)

·  Macedonia names the President (6)

·  Parallel structures financed from Kosovo (7)

Lajm

Front page

·  Advantage for Kosovo

·  Hello NATO

·  KFOR in Kosovo as long as it needed

Other headlines

·  Obama: Achievements in Balkans still crisp (2)

·  EULEX fully operational (2)

·  Sejdiu congratulates Rasmussen, thanks to Scheffer (3)

·  Thaçi congratulates Berisha, victory for the region (3)

·  Engel: A big day for all Albanians (3)

·  Vetëvendosja: They don’t vanish with words (4)

·  Leaflets in Serbian against the rebuilding of Albanian Houses (4)

Bota Sot

Front page

·  Albania to deploy its troops in Kosovo!

·  Halimi: Nura cheats and violates the law

·  There are no political obstacles, but Feith should be asked!

Other headlines

·  (Thaçi) optimistic that Spain will very soon recognize Kosovo (2)

·  Berisha: Congratulation the day of miracle and the safe future (3)

·  Dervishi: Romanian in EULEX lobbying for the Kosovo independence (5)

·  Kasapolli: Kosovo to enter the Adriatic 2 chart (7)

·  Who is Anders Fogh Rasmussen? (7)

InfoPress

Front page

·  Analysis: “Requested questions”

Other headlines

·  Returns with guarantees from Brussels (2)

·  EULEX with “Full capacity” (2)

·  Sejdiu congratulates Rasmussen (2)

·  Albania in NATO closer to the EU (3)

Belgrade Media Highlights

Sunday, 5 April 2009

·  Solana told Kosovo leaders to forget Spain (Beta)

·  Bogdanovic: Problem of electricity supply for Kosovo Serbs resolved (Tanjug)

·  O.Ivanovic: Dangerous provocations (Glas Javnosti)

Monday, 6 April 2009

·  EULEX acting with full capacity in Kosovo (Tanjug/Beta)

·  NATO still resolutely committed to security and stability of the Balkans (Beta)

Sunday, 5 April 2009

Solana told Kosovo leaders to forget Spain (Beta)

EU High Representative Javier Solana told the Kosovo leaders to “forget Spain,” as this country will never recognize independence of Kosovo, Express writes. “The Spanish officials do not intend to recognize Kosovo’s independence, so that Pristina should not be focusing on asking Spain to recognize independence, the daily cites Solana’s message to Kosovo Premier Hashim Tachi during the meeting in Brussels on Friday. According to the daily, Solana suggested to Tachi to ask recognition from states with “softer attitude.”

Bogdanovic: Problem of electricity supply for Kosovo Serbs resolved (Tanjug)

Serbian Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic stated that in talks of Belgrade authorities and representatives of the international community, the problem of electricity supply for Serb communities in Kosovo was resolved. Bogdanovic said that the international community accepted the proposal of the Kosovo Serb representatives not to have the mark of the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo in the electric energy billing contracts. Serbs want to pay for electricity, but they do not want anything implying independence of Kosovo in the contracts, said Bogdanovic. He stated that the Ministry is prepared to pay electricity for 100 most endangered households in every local self-administration in Kosovo. Pointing that the Serbian authorities want to resolve this problem in a systematic and lasting fashion, the Minister assessed that it is now obvious that the international community and the Kosovo Energy Corporation have much more understanding for the problem with electricity supply for Serb communities.

O.Ivanovic: Dangerous provocations (Glas Javnosti)

A misinformation appeared in the media that Serbs want to attack EULEX. How do you comment that?

“Leaflets that completely coincide with the initiatives of Albin Kurti appeared in northern Kosovo. I think the Albanians are wisely playing again and trying to ‘give’ the Serbs the role of being the initiators that will ‘launch’ something bad. I am afraid that any incident could turn into something that will escalate. I think Kosovo Albanians are not aware that they started a very dangerous game.”

Is the ban by Pristina for our officials to enter Kosovo one kind of provocation?

“One should not forget that provocations of Serbs commenced the moment when Kosovo authorities stopped Serbian officials, without being stopped by UNMIK and EULEX, from entering Kosovo. That shows there are extreme Albanians in their government and that is real danger. EULEX should finally establish some order and law.”

Monday, 6 April 2009

EULEX acting with full capacity in Kosovo (Tanjug/Beta)

EULEX stated that it will officially announce on Monday that it acts with full capacity in Kosovo and at the same time, it will present its central headquarters in Pristina. Head of the Mission Yves de Kermabon and EU representative in Kosovo Pieter Faith will speak at the ceremony about EULEX activities. EULEX became operational on 9 December last year through a decision of the UN SC.

NATO still resolutely committed to security and stability of the Balkans (Beta)

NATO leaders stated in Strasbourg that they are “still committed to maintain security and stability in the Balkans” and “invited all sides in Kosovo to make additional effort to strengthen peace and order.” “In the decision-making process, NATO will keep evaluating development in the field,” it was said in Strasbourg and underlined that KFOR will continue to act in Kosovo based on the UNSCR 1244.” Unless the SC decides differently, NATO leaders stated, “KFOR will remain in Kosovo and cooperate with all important factors in order to support the development of the stable, democratic, multiethnic and peaceful Kosovo, as it should be.” NATO leaders “welcomed already achieved progress in Kosovo,” saying that “they expect fulfillment of obligations undertaken to meet standards, especially in regard to the rule of law and protection of ethnic minorities and communities, religious and historical facilities, as well as in curbing the crime and corruption.”

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.