Shala: Dialogue, a Dangerous Mathematics (Dailies)

Shala: Dialogue, a Dangerous Mathematics (Dailies)

Main Stories 27 June 2011

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  • Shala: Dialogue, a dangerous mathematics (dailies)
  • Stefanovic: Pressure on Serbia to recognize Kosovo (Express)
  • ICO to reorganize its presence in Kosovo (Zëri)
  • Prime Minister Thaçi expected to “sacrifice” Education Minister Buja (Zëri)
  • Lobbying battle between Pristina and Belgrade reaches millions (Koha)
  • Proposal for ministers and MPs to sacrifice summer leave (Koha)
  • Five candidates for Van Vreeswijk’s post (Zëri)
  • Police with operational plan for Vidovdan (Koha Ditore)
  • The path of Palestinians for Europe (Express)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Shala: Dialogue, a dangerous mathematics (dailies)

Several dailies re-run an interview that Blerim Shala, principal deputy leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), gave to Radio Free Europe highlighting his remarks that the public in Kosovo knows nothing about eventual agreements between Kosovo and Serbia.

Shala said topics for Kosovo’s partition should be closed, adding that the most dangerous part of the negotiating process could be a middle ground between the idea for partition and the Ahtisaari Package: “the road of creating a Serb entity that would be an Ahtisaari Plus or a Serb Republic minus”.

“This would constitute a very dangerous mathematics for Kosovo,” Shala added. “We have made all necessary concessions during the status settlement process so we should be persistent. Kosovo should not only remain a state with its current borders, but it should also become a functioning state. With a Serb entity in the north, Kosovo definitively cannot become a functioning state.”

Stefanovic: Pressure on Serbia to recognize Kosovo (Express)

Express reports that Borislav Stefanovic, head of the Serbian negotiating team, has stated that Serbia is ready to protect its own interests and without nervousness look into the pressures of certain circles, who are sending messages that it is necessary the recognition of Kosovo, as a condition for the membership in the European Union.

“There exist pressures from certain circles. They sent to as messages that we have to recognize Kosovo if we want to be member of European Union, but this is a part of the process in which we don’t see with anger, but with full preparation to protect our interests,” Stefanovic told Palma Plus.

ICO to reorganize its presence in Kosovo (Zëri)

Zëri reports that representatives of the International Civilian Office (ICO) have announced they will shut down regional offices in Peja, Prizren, Gjilan and Pristina on September 1st, 2011, as part of the reorganization of the mission.

Meanwhile, the ICO office in Mitrovica will continue operating, including support from the Kosovo Government for establishing the new municipality of Mitrovica North. ICO deputy chief Christopher Rowan said the shutting down of regional offices is a natural step. “This doesn’t mean that the ICO will no longer be interested in these municipalities,” Rowan said.

Prime Minister Thaçi expected to “sacrifice” Education Minister Buja (Zëri)

Sources in the government have confirmed to the paper that Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi is expected to “sacrifice” Education Minister Ramë Buja and give the post to Ibrahim Gashi from the New Kosovo Alliance as part of the coalition agreement. “In order to stick to the agreement between coalition partners, Prime Minister Thaçi is expected to give a ‘red card’ to Minister Buja and replace him with AKR’s Ibrahim Gashi,” a minister, who preferred to remain anonymous, told the paper.

Lobbying battle between Pristina and Belgrade reaches millions (Koha)

Koha Ditore reports on the front page that Serbia has so far spent more money in its lobbying campaigns than Kosovo. Based on public figures, over the last three months Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has spent four times more for official travel than his counterparts from Pristina, former Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni and current Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj. In the case of the Serbian Minister, funds spent for lobbying reached two million euros while the heads of Kosovar diplomacy have spent nearly half a million euros.

Proposal for ministers and MPs to sacrifice summer leave (Koha)

Koha Ditore reports that leaders of Kosovo institutions in charge of the country’s processes for European integration have suggested on Sunday that Kosovar policymakers should sacrifice their summer vacations so that the European Commission’s Progress Report on Kosovo is as positive as possible.

European Integration Minister Vlora Çitaku and MP Lutfi Haziri said MPs should not go on summer leave in July and August in order to work more on fulfilling the European agenda by early September when the European Commission will measure the level of implementing obligations stemming from the 2010 Progress Report. However, the European Commission Liaison Office in Pristina already has the information that MPs will not sacrifice their vacations over the Progress Report.

Five candidates for Van Vreeswijk’s post (Zëri)

Zëri reports on the front page that five EULEX officials are candidates to replace the outgoing controversial chief prosecutor Johannes Van Vreeswijk who is spending his last days as international prosecutor in Kosovo. The paper notes that Van Vreeswijk, known in the Kosovar public for his statements in the fight against corruption, is leaving Kosovo without delivering on his promises and in fact admits that things did not go as planned for him. EULEX is also searching for a replacement for Isabel Arnal, head of the Special Prosecution in Kosovo.

Police with operational plan for Vidovdan (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that the delegations of Serb officials may have informed Kosovo Government that that they will come this year to Kosovo from Serbia for Vidovdan, but they were not open to give details. Every year on June 28th Serbs in Gracanica Monastery and in Gazimestan celebrate Vidovdan or the Battle of Kosovo.

Kosovo Police said it has prepared operational plan for the security of the participators and to maintain rule of law during the celebration of the battle that was lost 625 years ago.

“There will be frequent patrols and traffic units will follow these convoys and we are not expecting to have anything extraordinary,” says Kosovo Police spokeswoman Sabrije Kamberi.

The path of Palestinians for Europe (Express)

Express reports in the leading front-page story that Kosovo has turned into a transit place for illegal emigrants who are aiming Western Europe. Three more Palestinians were arrested on Sunday morning in Livoc i Ulët, in the municipality of Gjilan. They said that their final destination was Italy. Actually in Kosovo there are 130 asylum seekers and for each of them are spend 35 Euros a day.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page

  • Lobbying battle between Pristina and Belgrades reaches millions
  • Police with operations plan for Vidovdan
  • Reciprocity could be included in agenda of CEFTA meeting

Other headlines

  • Proposal for ministers and MPs to sacrifice summer vacations (3)
  • Report on misuses of medicament tender not submitted to the prosecution (4)
  • Palokaj: Should Balkan countries rejoice Croatia’s success (10)
  • RFE: Pristina-Skopje highway project is not transparent (11)

Zëri

Front page

  • Five candidates for Van Vreeswijk’s post
  • Government confirms: Salaries increased only by 23%
  • Cufaj: The chief at home!
  • Thaçi expected to sacrifice Minister Buja
  • Arrogant police

Other headlines

  • ICO reorganizes its presence in Kosovo (2)
  • Schwartzenberg: Serbia will recognize Kosovo (2)
  • Kosovo, a transit country for asylum seekers (2)
  • Plus: Serbia has no power to stop recognitions (4)
  • Minus: Anger toward the police (4)
  • Police is prepared for Vidovdan (4)
  • Kostunica: EU is taking away Kosovo from us (4)
  • Shala: Dialogue, a dangerous mathematics (5)
  • CEFTA meeting on June 30th (6)

Kosova Sot

Front page

  • No one investigates wealth of politicians
  • Editorial: Exit from supervision
  • Toward a combined electoral system
  • Dinan: Serbia cannot stop recognitions
  • Special units without a helicopter

Other headlines

  • Stefanovic: Pressure on Serbia to recognize Kosovo (2)
  • Government officials to go on vacation in August (3)
  • Schwartzenberg: Serbia will recognize Kosovo (4)
  • Dacic: EU could set Kosovo’s recognition as a condition (4)
  • No deadline for census in the north (4)

Epoka e Re

Front page

  • Everything wrong
  • Shala: Kosovo to become a functional state

Other headlines

  • Serbia does not have the power to stop recognitions of Kosovo (2)
  • Stefanovic: Pressure on Serbia to recognize Kosovo (2)
  • Government spokesman to be appointed soon (3)
  • Schwartzenberg: Serbia will recognize Kosovo one day (3)
  • CEFTA meeting on June 30th (9)

Express

Front page

  • The Palestinians’ path to Europe
  • This is the agreement
  • KPA rejects the Constiutional Court

Other headlines

  • There is pressure on Serbia to recognize Kosovo (5)
  • Kostunica: Kosovo is ours (6)
  • Vacant posts (6)
  • Bytyqi replaces Kelmendi (6)
  • Rambo was here (7)

Bota Sot

Front page

  • I will not sign anything which is not in accordance with Consitution
  • EULEX to start reduction, to prepare to leave Kosovo!

Other headlines

  • ICO closes four regional offices (2)
  • Kosovo, a transit country for asylum seekers (3)
  • Kostunica: Kosovo is less important for the Government of Serbia (6)
  • KEK starts operating in the north (7)

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.

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