Main Stories 15 December 2009

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  • Prizren may go to a revote (Koha Ditore)
  • Feith hails local elections (dailies)
  • ENEMO: Organizing elections still remains a challenge for CEC (dailies)
  • Haradinaj: Election Day almost became a deadly day (Koha Ditore, Epoka e Re)
  • Turk: Don’t expect a decision from ICJ (Express)
  • Rasmussen: KFOR reductions, result of normalization in Kosovo (dailies)
  • Kosovo has European perspective (dailies)
  • KEK favours companies of Serb businessmen (Koha Ditore)
  • Sekiraqa knocks on EULEX door (Express)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Prizren may go to a revote (Koha Ditore)

Because of the tight result between the PDK and LDK candidates in Prizren, both parties have raised concerns over the regularity of the runoff elections process in the municipality, the paper reports.

It says that the officials of the two largest parties have not even ruled out the possibility of a revote. “That is an alternative open option to perhaps settle all dilemmas,” said PDK official in Prizren, Njazi Kryeziu. At the same time, LDK’s Haziz Hodaj said if irregularities reported by the party are not resolved “there will be a call for repetition of electoral process.”

Feith hails local elections (dailies)

EU Special Representative Pieter Feith said in a press statement that local elections in Kosovo are an important step toward advancing Kosovo’s European perspective. He said he was pleased the elections were held in a peaceful and constructive manner with participation from all communities. Feith also called on the Elections Complaints and Appeals Commission to review all complaints in accordance with the legal framework.

ENEMO: Organizing elections still remains a challenge for CEC (dailies)

Koha Ditore reports that European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) has announced its findings and conclusions for the runoff elections in 21 Kosovo municipalities. The head of this network, Darko Aleksov, said that the simplified process in the second round of elections along with CEC efforts have resulted in a slight improvement of the voting and counting procedure.

Aleksov emphasized that in general the elections were held in a peaceful atmosphere despite challenging weather conditions. However, Aleksov said that challenges were also present during the elections process. In this respect, he noted that the secrecy of the vote was not always respected and that the runoff elections were held prior to certification of the first-round results.

Haradinaj: Election Day almost became adeadly day (Koha Ditore, Epoka e Re)

Koha Ditore reports that the head of Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, said that that certain events on Sunday almost made Monday adeadly day. “Since Kosovo is governed by Mr. Thaçi, he created a situation where hooligans protecting polling centres are more important than the process itself. This is the truth about election process in Kosovo,” said Haradinaj.

Epoka e Re in the front page carries the headline “Haradinaj cries over the lossby accusing Thaçi”, and reports that Ramush Haradinaj, notlong after hearing the preliminary results from CEC about the loss of AAK, accused directly the leader of PDK Hashim Thaçi but failed to provide concrete facts.

Türk: Don’t expect a decision from ICJ (Express)

Slovenian President Danilo Türk is quoted as telling Serbia’s supporters not to expect any decision from the International Court of Justice on the legitimacy of Kosovo’s declaration of independence. Türk in an interview for Belgrade’s Politika said he didn’t believe the ICJ will endorse final conclusions to reject independence of Kosovo. “The rule that the recognition of a country is a matter of sovereignty of those countries that recognize it should be taken into account,” said Türk. He noted that the ICJ will only deliver its decision in the form of an opinion.

Rasmussen: KFOR reductions, result of normalization in Kosovo (dailies)

Dailies reportthat NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen strongly believes the Western Balkans’ Euro Atlantic integration is decisive for the long-term security and stability of the region. Speaking about NATO’s reduction of troops in Kosovo and the current level of security, Rasmussen assessed that “gradual transition” of KFOR troops is the natural result of sustainable normalization of the security situation in Kosovo. However, according to him, transition would in no manner impact “NATO’s capability to implement its mandate assigned by Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council,” said Rasmussen in an interview for Belgrade daily Blic.

Kosovo has European perspective (dailies)

In a visit to Kosovo, Portuguese Defence Minister Augusto Santos Silva said Kosovo has a European perspective and should be integrated in the EU and NATO as other countries in the Western Balkans. Portuguese Minister said his country is committed to the stability in Kosovo and will not downsize its troops serving as part of KFOR.

KEK favours companies of Serb businessmen (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) is reported to have granted a tender for energy supply to two companies owned by Serb businessmen. The tender is worth € 20 million and the paper claims that a part of this sum will be given to another Serb company which is not even licensed to supply energy to Kosovo.

The paper reports that the European Commission’s Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) in a recent study had found many irregularities in the KEK procedures for buying energy and one of the persons that profited from these transactions was the Serb owner of the company that just won this year’s KEK tender.

Avni Zogiani from Anti-Corruption NGO Çohu said the KEK tender issue is a typical case of political interference. He said that the tender was approved by head of procurement in KEK, Nijazi Thaçi, relative to Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi.

Sekiraqa knocks on EULEX door (Express)

Express reports that one of the most wanted individuals in Kosovo, Enver Sekiraqa, appears to have become tired of living in hiding for three years now. Police consider him to be among the most dangerous people and has been accused of most serious crimes.

However, while the police continue to investigate but not arrest him, Express sources in EULEX reveal important information related to Sekiraqa.According to this source, one of Sekiraqa’s close relatives visited EULEX premises and discussed about Sekiraqa with mission’s officials. “The discussion was simply informative,” says this official explaining also recommendations given by EULEX officials to this messenger. “One of EULEX prosecutors advised the messenger that it would have been good for Sekiraqa to hire a lawyer,” said the international source from EULEX adding that the aim of the visit was not clear and refusing to describe this messenger. “It is not good to discover everything, since this is a sensitive issue,” he said.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page

  • Prizren may go to a revote
  • ENEMO: Organizing elections remains a challenge for CEC
  • Hoxhaj: PDK proved to be a national party
  • Haradinaj: Election day almost became mortal day

Other headlines

  • Decentralisation in Kosovo to conclude in 2011 (2)
  • Oslo engaged for Balkan’s integration in EU and NATO (2)
  • France to continue support for Kosovo (2)
  • Rasmussen: KFOR’s reductions, result of normalisation in Kosovo (2)
  • Feith hails elections, calls for review of complaints (3)
  • PM Thaçi: Kosovo, model of democracy (3)
  • LDD informed US Embassy of “manipulations of votes” (4)
  • KEK favours companies of Serb businessmen (7)
  • Zogiani: Political undermining of Bllaca case – functioning information system (20)
  • Türk: ICJ won’t rule on Kosovo (11)

Zëri

Front page

  • Prizren, battle for each vote
  • Losers also feel like winners
  • ENEMO: Irregularities in elections

Other headlines

  • Çollaku: Mindset of thieves (2)
  • Balkans integration supported (2)
  • ICJ not to rule on Kosovo (2)
  • KFOR’s reduction, sign of normalisation (2)
  • Kosovo has European perspective (3)
  • Feith pleased with elections (3)
  • Not known when final results will be announced (3)
  • AAK says the process was manipulated (4)
  • Kosovo-Macedonia cooperation increased (8)
  • WHO experts support healthcare (9)

Kosova Sot

Front page

  • PDK: We won 42 more votes in Prizren
  • LDK: We beat Muja
  • PDK and LDK don’t believe in early elections
  • Haradinaj accuses Thaçi, accepts elections
  • Editorial: Prizren’s test

Other headlines

  • Portugal not to withdraw troops from Kosovo (2)
  • Norway: We will assist in education (2)
  • Feith: Review each complaint (3)
  • Thaçi: Merit of all (3)
  • Elections OK, CEC and ECAC more strict (4)
  • Novobërda – lost opportunity for the Serbs (6)

Epoka e Re

Front page

  • Muja in advantage, conditioned voted to be counted today
  • Pacolli: 90 years after Wilson
  • Feith: Advancing of European perspective
  • Hoxhaj: LDK and AAK accusations, a justification for loss
  • Haradinaj cries over loss, accusing Thaçi

Other headlines

  • Türk: ICJ does not make a decision for Kosovo (2)
  • Rasmussen: KFOR reduction, result of quiet situation in Kosovo (2)
  • Gashi blames LDK for loss in Mitrovica (4)
  • LDD complains for manipulation of votes (5)
  • First phase of decentralization ends in 2011 (7)
  • France, Kosovo’s strong supporter (7)

Express

Front page

  • Prizren, on condition
  • Agreement on interests
  • Sekiraqa knocks on EULEX door
  • Do not expect decision from ICJ

Other headlines

  • Selimi: The way ahead (2)
  • Balauri: Boycott (3)
  • LDK contests results in Gjilan (4)
  • Improvements in run off (4)
  • Portuguese clear vision for Kosovo (5)
  • An important step (5)
  • Gradual transition (7)

Lajm

Front page

  • Now, promises
  • Run off with many defects
  • Auditor is not being audited by anyone
  • NATO-Russia frozen conflict

Other headlines

  • Portugal supports Kosovo also on security (2)
  • Türk: ICJ cannot decide on Kosovo (2)
  • Sejdiu: Kosovo should be the country of rule of law (2)
  • NATO Admiral visits Kosovo (2)
  • Feith: Elections, advancing of Kosovo’s European perspective (3)
  • AAK accuses PDK for manipulation (5)

Bota Sot

Front page

  • Early national elections are depending from LDK
  • LDK and PDK are continuing to declare themselves winners in Prizren

Other headlines

  • Walass: Norway is engaged for integration of western Balkans (2)
  • Independent Council, judge of the rights of civil servants (3)
  • France will support membership of Kosovo in EU and NATO (4)
  • Slovenian President says that ICJ will not reject Kosovo independence (4)
  • Teki Dervishi: 50-50! Without opposition without opposition! (5)
  • KDI: Voting of the dead continues (7)

Infopress

Front page

  • Elections enforced legitimacy of the government

Other headlines

  • Thaçi: Kosovo overcomes probation successfully (2)
  • Elections of European standards (2)
  • Feith: Step in the advancement of European perspective (2)
  • They claim Prizren (4)
  • Türk: ICJ does not take decision about Kosovo (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.