Main Stories 20 February2012

  • Thaçi gives up on Republic for the “outdated resolution” (Koha)
  • Encounter over the footnote (Express)
  • Zogiani: Thaçi, either compromise or jail (Zëri)
  • 1244 prevents lobbying (Zëri)
  • Stefanovic: Independence in the footnote unacceptable (Koha)
  • Dialogue to resume on Tuesday (Epoka e Re)
  • Kadri Veseli denies crimes, enters politics (Koha)
  • Pacolli’s office: Recognition from Uganda is final (Koha)
  • Kurti: Kosovo like Afghanistan (Express)
  • Tadic’s wishes (Express)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Thaçi gives up on Republic for the “outdated resolution” (Koha)

Koha Ditore reports on the front page that Hashim Thaçi surrendered to William Burns by giving up the Republic. On the issue of Kosovo’s representation in regional forums and regional initiatives, Kosovo’s Prime Minister, only one day after the visit by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in Pristina, supported a model that will highlight UNSC Resolution 1244 in the footnote, as insisted upon by Serbia. The footnote will feature the resolution and the declaration of Kosovo’s independence and the opinion of International Court of Justice about the legality of the act of declaring the independence.

In regards to the removal of the term “Republic”in Kosovo’s representation in regional initiatives, Thaçi said that the symbolism is not important for the Kosovo Government. “For us the symbolism was not important, for us wbat is important is the European agenda, the acceleration of the European package for Republic of Kosovo,” Thaçi argued.

Encounter over the footnote (Express)

The paper reports that there are three proposals on the table regarding Kosovo’s regional representation all of which include a reference to Resolution 1244, the ICJ opinion and Kosovo’s Declaration of Independence. Sources said that while Pristina insists on the footnote beside Kosovo’s name referring to Declaration of Independence, ICJ and 1244, the Serbian side demands 1244 to be the main reference.

A senior international official told the paper that a proposal increasingly gaining support in Brussels and Washington is for the footnote to refer to Resolution 1244 and the ICJ’s opinion on “Kosovo’s Declaration of Independence”. The source said that the difference between this proposal and that of the Serbian side is the mentioning of the Declaration of Independence as a document and not as a “unilateral declaration”.

Zogiani: Thaçi, either compromise or jail (Zëri)

Avni Zogiani, director of the anti-corruption organization Çohu [Rise Up], one of the biggest critics of the Kosovo Government, said the government has practically agreed to be represented as part of Serbia. “To say that by reaching this agreement, we will become members of 36 regional organizations is throwing dust in the eyes of Kosovars, because we could have joined all sorts of organizations with Serbia. Thaçi delivered this deal for personal reasons, for his own career,” Zogiani said. He added that Thaçi has faced tremendous pressure lately and that the tip of the iceberg was the visit to Kosovo by William Burns. Zogiani summarized the pressure against Thaçi as “either compromise or jail” as a result of the bad governance under Thaçi’s leadership.

1244 prevents lobbying (Zëri)

Zëri quotes an unnamed member of the European Parliament as saying that if the Government of Kosovo has really accepted Resolution 1244 then this makes lobbying for Kosovo’s recognition almost impossible. The paper claims that it was contacted by one of the most influential members of the European Parliament who wanted to know if it was true that Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi had really agreed for Kosovo to be represented under Resolution 1244.

The EP member, who preferred to remain anonymous, recalled when Ulrike Lunacek, rapporteur on Kosovo at the European Parliament, presented her latest resolution on Kosovo. “At the time, Socialist MPs from Greece, Romania, Cyprus, but also some representatives of popular parties (the biggest parliamentary group) insisted that Resolution 1244 should be included in the document. When we, who are from countries that recognize Kosovo, did not allow this, they asked us ‘what do you have against this resolution’? We told them, 22 countries have recognized Kosovo as a state, and Resolution 1244 no longer exists. Now, to be honest, I don’t know what we are going to tell them,” said the MP who is one of the biggest supporters of Kosovo’s independence.

Stefanovic: Independence in the footnote unacceptable (Koha)

Koha Ditore reports that while commenting on the Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaç’s words that Kosovo will be presented as an independent state in regional initiatives, due to an agreement yesterday evening between him and Deputy Assistant of Secretary of State, William Burns, Stefanovic said that he doubts this to be true. “Towards this quasi-information I have strong reluctance, however, it is interesting that Thaçi requests that along Resolution 1244 the opinion of International Court of Justice also be noted in support of the statement of Kosovo Assembly over the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence. Of course, this is unacceptable for us. Our positions are very clear and I think that there is no space for changes”, said Stefanovic.

Dialogue to resume on Tuesday (Epoka e Re)

The European Commission expects that the delegations of Pristina and Belgrade will begin a new round of discussions tomorrow, said Maja Kocijancic, Spokesperson of the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Catherine Ashton. “We have sent invitations to the delegations to come to Brussels tomorrow, and we expect both delegations to appear,” said Kocijancic adding that it is in the interest of both parties to continue the dialogue.

According to Epoka e Re, head of the Serbian delegation Borislav Stefanovic, has confirmed participation of the Serbian team at this meeting.

Kadri Veseli denies crimes, enters politics (Koha)

Kadri Veseli, former head of the Kosovo Intelligence Service, has denied that SHIK had committed crimes and announced that he is entering politics, Koha Ditore reports. In an interview for Koha Group, which will be published in Koha Ditore tomorrow, Veseli explains the reasons why he can no longer stand aside political developments and highlighted several processes which in his opinion are not going properly. Veseli also talked about relations between illegal structures in the 90s and the Kosovo Liberation Army and the peaceful political movement led by Ibrahim Rugova and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).

Pacolli’s office: Recognition from Uganda is final (Koha)

The office of the Principal Deputy Prime Minister Behxhet Pacolli insists that Kosovo’s recognition by Uganda is a done deal and that proof of this is the diplomatic note from Uganda. The reaction from Pacolli’s office comes after a statement by Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic that Pristina lied about Uganda’srecognition of its independence.

Jetlir Zyberaj, political advisor to Pacolli, quoted the verbal note from Uganda, adding that Jeremic had previously said the same about recognitions from Guinea Bissau, Ghana, Central Africa, Nigeria, Gabon and Oman, but the truth was different.

Kurti: Kosovo like Afghanistan (Express)

Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti stated that even four years after the declaration of independence, Kosovo needs to consolidate state institutions. He has once again objected the executive power held by some members of the international community in Kosovo. “I am against international actors, such as EULEX, that have all the competencies. They are above Kosovo institutions, they decide for us, while they were never elected. I also blame them for crisis management, they never think about the long term. They treat us like Afghanistan,” said Kurti for the Swiss 24 Heures.

Tadic’s wishes (Express)

Serbian President Boris Tadic has called on EU member states not to use Kosovo to block Serbia’s path to EU integration. “Serbia will continue to be engaged in avoiding conflicts in the south east European region but it will never recognize the independence of Kosovo,” he said.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page

  • Thaçi gives up Republic for “outdated resolution”
  • Kadri Veseli denies crimes, enters politics
  • Berisha: We will not stop import of potato from Kosovo

Other headlines

  • Pacolli’s cabinet: Recognition from Uganda is a done deal (2)
  • Stefanovic: Independence in footnote unacceptable (2)
  • Institutions breach the law on administering of seized assets (5)
  • The youth, disappointed after independence of Kosovo (6)
  • Kosovo not affected by the blockade of exported energy from Serbia (8)

Zëri

Front page

  • * [Footnote]
  • Newborn 1244
  • Jeremic is lying
  • Serbian government decides on the referendum
  • 1244 disables lobbying
  • There is no one to fight corruption

Other headlines

  • Jeremic disputes recognition from Uganda (2)
  • They got rich from PTK (8)
  • Economic vision – failed (9)
  • Valley waits for signals from Pristina (10)
  • Kurti: EULEX treating us like Afghanistan (10)

Kosova Sot

Front page

  • With 1244, ICJ and independence in regional representations
  • Advertisementsonly don’t bring investors
  • Burns: We remain committed to Kosovo’s independence
  • Editorial: Wulff’s resignation and Kosovo politicians

Other headlines

  • Not completely free movement in the north (2)
  • Kurti: Serbia should change not Kosovo (2)
  • Battle for power (4)
  • Tender for PTK’s privatisation to be opened in April (6)
  • ‘Political’ killings in the hands of EULEX and Special Prosecution (9)

Epoka e Re

Front page

  • Footnote, a subject for discussions
  • Fuele to visit Kosovo on 27 March
  • Footnote with three elements
  • Dialogue restarts on Tuesday

Other headlines

  • Dezer: More results required for candidate status (2)
  • Serbia “should not be conditioned with Kosovo” (2)
  • Thaçi: European agenda, the first (5)
  • PDK and LDK with differences on election reforms (7)
  • Mitrovica with major investments this year (10)

Express

Front page

  • Footnotes on the table
  • Politically sick
  • Pacolli: He is with ministers, I am with presidents
  • Auditor and adviser

Other headlines

  • Maliqi: Pax Americana (2)
  • Shala: Fighting one’s own self (3)
  • They decide today (4)
  • Facing the footnote (4)
  • Kurti: Kosovo treated like Afghanistan (5)
  • Tadic’s wishes
  • Trajkovic: Proclaim it invalid (6)

Bota Sot

Front page

  • Hashim Thaçi: With independence, ICJ and 1244 in the regional initiatives
  • Rexhep Qosja and Dobirca Qosic agree on the division of Kosovo

Other headlines

  • Serbs don’t want continuation of the dialogue (2)
  • Economic vision - failing (3)
  • Serbs attack Albanian in the north (6)
  • Wrong policy, worsens relations (7)
  • Kosovo needs economic reforms (7)
  • Stefanovic refuses Thaçi’s model (11)

Lajm

Front page

  • Nothing to damage the independence of Kosovo
  • Compromise for European Agenda
  • Fear of flooding in Pristina

Other headlines

  • Jeremic lies about Uganda (2)
  • Serbia refuses Thaçi’s model (3)
  • Dacic: Kosovo against the candidacy of Serbia (3)
  • Attack against Albanian youth in the north condemned (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.