Ready for Political Dialogue with Serbia (Kosova Sot)

Main Stories 6 August 2012

·  Ready for political dialogue with Serbia (Kosova Sot)

·  The north, within the Constitution of Kosovo (Express)

·  LDK and AAK immune towards international pressure (Koha Ditore)

·  PDK requests a meeting of leaders (Zëri)

·  PDK does not take seriously the statements of Isa Mustafa (Express)

·  US to Serbia: We are expecting results in the dialogue with Pristina (dailies)

·  Serbia will recognize Kosovo (dailies)

·  Serbs block Jarinje (Express)

·  Çohu: KEK’s boss, advisor Masoud Keyan (dailies)

·  Dutch controversial giant buys minerals from northern Trepça (Bota Sot)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Ready for political dialogue with Serbia (Kosova Sot)

Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi said in an interview for the paper that the Kosovo side is ready to positively respond to calls for a new round of dialogue with Serbia. “First, all agreements reached in Brussels have to be implemented,” conditioned Thaçi highlighting particularly the need for implementation of agreements on integrated border management and regional cooperation. “And then we can continue dialogue on remaining issues,” he noted.

Asked to comment on reports that new concessions will be given to the north, Thaçi dismissed allegations as being “ridiculous”.

The north, within the Constitution of Kosovo (Express)

Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo Hajredin Kuçi has rejected statements that the six points of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will be included in the dialogue for the north. He said that such information come only from a certain part of the media and not from the Government.

Kuçi sated that the only acceptable solution for the north is within the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. “There will be no other solution. Any other idea is a speculation for the north, and it is unsustainable and can only be part of the media debates,” said Kuçi. According to him, no one has made such a request from Kosovo so far.

LDK and AAK immune towards international pressure (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that LDK and AAK have assured Vetëvendosje Movement that they are not going to yield to international pressure to become part of possible political talks between Kosovo and Serbia on the north of Kosovo. Vetëvendosje deputy leader Shpend Ahmeti called on these two political parties not to be part, as he said, of the dance for the north.

LDK senior official Vjosa Osmani said on Sunday that no pressure from anyone can make LDK be part of a body which would negotiate the issue of the north. “There is no pressure or a request which can change the mind of LDK in this direction”, said Osmani. AAK officials also expressed the same view.

PDK requests a meeting of leaders (Zëri)

LDK’s threats that it will block election and constitutional reforms if the political agreement about the president’s mandate is not implemented, according to the paper, has led officials from PDK call for a meeting of political leaders to discuss how to overcome the present situation. “I think that as soon as they get back from holidays, political leaders will find a suitable and acceptable solution,” said PDK’s Halit Krasniqi.

PDK does not take seriously the statements of Isa Mustafa (Express)

Express reports that PDK does not believe that LDK leader Isa Mustafa aims to block election and constitutional reform. Head of PDK parliamentary group Adem Grabovci said that the LDK leader is presently upset but he will soon correct the given statements.

Grabovci further stated that there can be no new solutions without the change of the present election law. “I am very much convinced that Mr. Mustafa will correct what he stated and will support election reform,” said Grabovci but the paper writes that Mustafa in last few days has been persistent in demanding compliance of the agreement with PDK and AKR. Mustafa stressed that the agreement is a precondition for reforms in the election laws.

US to Serbia: We are expecting results in the dialogue with Pristina (dailies)

US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns told Prime Minister of Serbia Ivica Dacic that his country is pleased about the cooperation with the new government in Belgrade, convinced that its future is in European Union. In a telephone call, Burns told Dacic that “US expects progress of Serbia in the path of European integrations, continuation of reforms and the visible and sustainable results in the dialogue with Pristina”. According to Serb media, Dacic in his part expressed his belief that building of good cooperation with USA is a priority of Serb Government.

Serbia will recognize Kosovo (dailies)

Express reports that the member of the European Parliament Committee for International Affairs, George Schopflin, stated that Serbia sooner or later should recognize independence of Kosovo. “According to the Copenhagen criteria, countries that want to become members of European Union should implement the policy of good neighborly relations. This is an old condition, it is not new. This means that Serbia sooner or later has to recognize Kosovo as an independent state no matter how painful it can be,” said Schopflin as quoted by the Serb media.

Serbs block Jarinje (Express)

Ten transportation trucks have been parked along the neutral zone between the Kosovo-Serbia border crossing in Jarinje. The trucks have been parked along one lane of the Raska-Leposavic motorway where, according to the Serbian media, Serbs are impeding transport of vehicles with commercial goods trying to cross the border point in a legal manner. Serbs are also providing watch in Leposavic, reports Express, although the roads are not blocked there. They stated that they are there to control and prevent the arrival of Kosovo Police and customs officers.

The paper recalls that the blockade at the border crossing has started a month ago and that according to the barricaders transporting commercial goods in a legal manner means installation and recognition of Kosovo institutions.

Çohu: KEK’s boss, advisor Masoud Keyan (dailies)

A research report into the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) conducted by anti-corruption NGO Çohu claims that the most powerful person in the corporation is an advisor contracted by USAID, Masoud Keyan. “According to the people that worked or continue to work in KEK, during all this time Keyan was the key person in this corporation and nothing could be done without his blessing,” reads the report.

The paper further claims that Keyan enjoys such power that he is able to walk into the office of Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi at any time without announcement. “Internal correspondence showed that foreign advisors control procurement and purchase worth millions but their decision-making power goes so far as recommending managers of regional districts to fire people,” Koha Ditore quotes Lorik Bajrami from the Kosovo-based Çohu.

At the same time, Zëri highlights the organisation’s allegations on PM Thaçi’s cousin, Nijazi Thaçi, having a lead role on how KEK tenders are awarded.

Dutch controversial giant buys minerals from northern Trepça (Bota Sot)

The paper reports that a powerful Dutch company fined by a court in Amsterdam for illegal transport and disposal of toxic waste in the Ivory Coast has reached agreement with management of Trepça mine in the north of Kosovo for the purchase of 10,000 tons of lead concentrate. However, the paper reports that Trepça Corporation in the north is obliged to get the approval of the Privatisation Agency of Kosovo before implementation of the agreement and according to PAK officials, this approval has not yet been given.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page

·  LDK and AAK: Immune to international pressure

·  Hamza: Kosovo will not enter a financial crisis

·  US to Serbia: We expect results in dialogue with Pristina

·  Çohu: KEK’s boss, advisor Masoud Keyan

Other headlines

·  Traffic improved in Merdare (2)

·  Prosecutions’ database accessible only to authorized officials (3)

·  In six months, six Serb houses burgled, police apprehend thieves (7)

Zëri

Front page

·  PDK asks for a meeting of leaders

·  Thaçi’s cousin favours electricity from Serbia

·  US expects results from dialogue with Pristina

·  Kosovo ignores Preshevo Valley

Other headlines

·  Schopflin: Serbia to recognize Kosovo (4)

·  Serbs keep Jarinje blocked (4)

·  Justice deep into theft (5)

Kosova Sot

Front page

·  Ready for the political dialogue with Serbia

·  Kosovo Judicial Council, a cover for judicial corruption

·  Judge Suzana Sejdiu violated human rights and freedoms

Other headlines

·  Proposals of the Serb president, refused (2)

·  The US request from Serbia implementation of the agreements with Kosovo (2)

·  Serbia obliged to recognize Kosovo (3)

·  PNDSH against political discussions (3)

Epoka e Re

Front page

·  Makolli: Five deputies for Diaspora

·  Abazi intends to unite Demochristians

·  Again about SHIK

Other headlines

·  Burns: We expect results from the dialogue with Pristina (2)

·  Belgrade will some day recognize Kosovo (2)

·  Serbs block Jarinje (2)

·  PNDSH against discussions for the north (3)

·  Nikolic dreams with opened eyes (5)

·  PAK will administer Hotel Grand (8)

Express

Front page

·  PDK does not take seriously statements of Isa

·  Too early for the presidential candidates

Other headlines

·  PNDSH against talks (2)

·  The north, within the Constitution (5)

·  USA to Serbia: Results about Kosovo (5)

·  Serbia will recognize Kosovo (6)

·  Serbs block Jarinje (9)

·  Masoud, god of KEK (10)

Bota Sot

Front page

·  Agency has investigated his associates, but not Bujar Bukoshi

·  Serbs again close the border in Jarinje

Other headlines

·  Demochristian Movement of Kosovo, new political party in Kosovo (2)

·  Schopflin: Serbia sooner or later will be forced to recognize Kosovo (3)

·  EULEX investigates Ramadan Muja and his associates (4)

·  It is not their fault, KFOR tolerates them (6)

·  Masoud Keyan “god of KEK” (6)

·  Controversial giant from Netherland buys minerals of Trepça (9)

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.