Main Stories 26 April2012

  • Unsupervised independence, without the north (Koha)
  • Presidential elections in 2013, but not general elections (Koha)
  • Lack of legal base for Serbian elections to be organized by OSCE (Koha)
  • Media announce boycott of institutions on May 3rd (dailies)
  • Brunei Darussalam recognizes Kosovo’s independence (dailies)
  • Additional KFOR troops on eve of Serbian elections (dailies)
  • We pay for the north (Express)
  • Jahjaga discusses with Europeans (Express)
  • Posselt: There are forces interested in Kosovo’s destabilization (dailies)
  • Schulz: EULEX to assist, not intervene (Koha)
  • EULEX until 2014 (dailies)
  • UNMIK/Kosovo goods will be blocked as of 1 May (Kosova Sot)
  • Montenegro with conditions (Zëri)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Unsupervised independence, without the north (Koha)

Koha Ditore reports on the front page that local and international institutions are claiming that in September Kosovo will become fully independent but they have yet to provide a solution for the problem of Mitrovica and the three mainly-Serb inhabited municipalities in the north. None of the 22 constitutional amendments or the 21 laws that have been reviewed with the aim of transferring competencies from the civil international presence to local authorities specifies the north as an area where the Ahtisaari Plan has not been implemented since the declaration of independence in 2008. The paper claims to possess a government document which confirms that the issue of Mitrovica will be addressed separately.

Presidential elections in 2013, but not general elections (Koha)

Koha Ditore reports that Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi has decided to organize elections in 2013. The election presidential year as published in theMid Framework of Expenses is between 2013 and 2015 was approved on Wednesday. It says that in 2013 the cost of goods and services will increasedue to the organization of presidential elections. It specified that prior to 2015 there will be triple elections.

Lack of legal base for Serbian elections to be organized by OSCE (Koha)

Koha Ditore reports that only 10 days prior to Serbian elections, the OSCE mission in Kosovo doesn’t have any idea how they are going to facilitate organizing parliamentary and presidential elections in Kosovo, as agreed by the Kosovo Prime Minister, but not the President. Newspaper sources said that OSCE is waiting for a request from the Kosovo President, but the Presidency, which decides on elections in Kosovo, says it is waiting for a request from the OSCE. Spokesman of the President, Arber Vllahiu, said the President has not received any request.

The OSCE mission in Kosovo has not started any preparations in this direction. “We don’t have information for these issues. I will inform you as soon as do”, repeated OSCE spokesperson, Nikola Gaon.

International officials under anonymity conditions said to the newspaper that the mission does not have an idea how it will do this, when the deadline is less than 3 weeks away. It is not known what voting lists will be used in the elections which would be facilitated from OSCE.The Republic of Serbia considers that all of Kosovo’s inhabitants are its citizens and this way voting lists would not be only for Serbs, but also the Albanian majority in Kosovo.

Media announce boycott of institutions on May 3rd (dailies)

Several dailies report that President Atifete Jahjaga during a meeting with media representatives on Wednesday said she was willing to review in detail the new Penal Code of Kosovo and all legal arguments presented by the Kosovo Professional Journalists Association (AGPK).

Jahjaga’s office issued a communiqué saying that the Penal Code, which was voted on in the Assembly last week, has yet to arrive in the Office of the President.

Nonetheless, as a sign of dissatisfaction, the delegation of 14 media representatives has decided to boycott the work of Kosovo institutions on May 3rd, on the World Freedom Press Day.

“On May 3rd, we will boycott the work of institutions as a sign of dissatisfaction with events so far. The boycott will continue or end depending on the President’s decision. We shall boycott the work of institutions in order to show MPs that they were wrong to adopt this Code and to let them know that they should not repeat the same mistake,” said AGPK chairman Arben Ahmeti.

Brunei Darussalam recognizes Kosovo’s independence (dailies)

The Brunei Darussalam Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mohamed Bolkiah, confirmed through a letter sent to Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Enver Hoxhaj the official recognition of the Republic of Kosovo by his country. Dailies report that Minister Hoxhaj also had a telephone conversation with the Ambassador of this state at the United Nations in New York, Latif Tuha, who confirmed the recognition. Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also informed that Minister Hoxhaj was invited for a visit to this state.

Express reports that the latest recognition returned the competition for the merits on the recognition between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister Behxhet Pacolli, with the reaction of his office that the recognition is his merit.

Additional KFOR troops on eve of Serbian elections (dailies)

Dailies report that around 250 German peacekeepers arrived in Kosovo on Wednesday. This is the first contingent of around 700 NATO troops that are expected to deploy to Kosovo on the eve of elections in Serbia. NATO spokesman Mark Stumler told reporters on Wednesday that growing tensions have forced the Alliance to strengthen its mission in Kosovo.

We pay for the north (Express)

Express reports that the Kosovo Government is waiting for the conclusion of the elections in Serbia, in order to do something more regarding the comprehensive strategy for the north. Mitrovica mayor, Avni Kastrati said that discussions for the implementation of a plan there will take place after 6 May. The Government announced a long time ago that it will publish a strategy for the north, for integration of Serbs in institutions. The Minister for Finance Bedri Hamza stated that the Ministry is ready to support implementation of all strategies. “In order to implement all strategies, we are ready to explore our budget capacities, in order to support with funds,” said Hamza.

Jahjaga discusses with Europeans (Express)

President Atifete Jahjaga had a working lunch with Ambassadors of the EU member states and the Special EU Representative for Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar,Expressreports. The Minister of European integrations, Vlora Çitaku, also participated at this meeting.

Jahjaga valued the support of all EU member countries in the process of visa liberalization for the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo and stressed that it is of great importance for this process to start as soon as possible. Special EU Representative for Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, considered that it is important to establish the National Council for European Integration as soon as possible in order to build a societal consensus on the process of Kosovo’s integration.

Posselt: There are forces interested in Kosovo’s destabilization (dailies)

In an interview for Deutsche Welle, European Parliament member Bernd Posselt (CSU) said EULEX is not performing well and that this is disappointing. Posselt also said Kosovo provides the best rights for minority communities in the world.

Commenting on the situation in northern Mitrovica, Posselt said security there is very fragile because some irresponsible forces in Serbia and among Mitrovica Serbs are trying to fire up the election campaign in Serbia by using the topic of Mitrovica.

“The European Parliament has always made it clear, the last time was in our report several weeks ago, that we want EULEX to operate the same way throughout Kosovo’s territory, because partition or something similar is out of the question. Northern Kosovo and northern Mitrovica are just as much Kosovo as other parts of the country,” he added.

Schulz: EULEX to assist, not intervene (Koha)

In an interview for Radio Free Europe,the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, said EULEX should not take on the role of a supranational police by interfering directly in Kosovo’s internal affairs. “EULEX is an international organization of foreigners and should contribute in a way that allows Kosovo institutions to handle matters on their own and not take the role of a supranational police by interfering in internal affairs,” he added. Schulz also said EULEX has done a lot to improve the security situation and to support the creation of a judicial structure. “But I doubt that it can do more about war crimes, because success in this area is possible when countries themselves deal with such cases.”

EULEX until 2014 (dailies)

The EU rule of law mission will retain its presence in Kosovo until 2014. An agreement on the work of this mission will be signed between the Kosovo Government and the EU. Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi said after the meeting of the Government that EULEX has been successful in the rule of law field but that it did have opportunities to do more, particularly in the north. Kuçi said the Government did not demand the end of EULEX’s mission but it had criticism over the organization’s work in the north and the fact it is neutral towards Kosovo’s status. “Tasks and competencies of this mission have to be clearly defined, primarily the legal basis for functioning,” said Kuçi.

UNMIK/Kosovo goods will be blocked as of 1 May (Kosova Sot)

The import of all products from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina bearing the Kosovo/UNMIK inscription on their labels will not be allowed entry into Kosovo as of 1 May, reports the paper. “We have given them the deadline to change the inscription by April and in the second half of the month, the market inspectorate will confiscate goods with the Kosovo/UNMIK inscription,” Minister of Trade and Industry Mimoza Kusari-Lila had said earlier.

Montenegro with conditions (Zëri)

The paper reports that Kosovo and Montenegro will not establish diplomatic ties this year. According to the Kosovo foreign ministry, it is the budget that is preventing the opening an embassy in Podgorica. Deputy Foreign Minister Petrit Selimi told the paper that the reasons why the countries have not yet exchanged ambassadors are of a technical nature not a political nature.

However, political analysts claim that Montenegro is requesting its community in Kosovo be given legal acknowledgment in the Constitution and on top of this, there are also outstanding issues regarding border demarcation.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page

  • Unsupervised independence, without the north
  • Over €400 million losses from smuggling
  • Presidential elections in 2013 but not general elections
  • Brunei Darussalam recognized independence of Kosovo
  • Bllaca: The top gave us orders for killings
  • Election campaign in Ferizaj throughout the night too

Other headlines

  • Media announce boycott of institutions on 3 May (2)
  • Additional KFOR troops ahead of Serbian elections (3)
  • Lack of legal basis blocks OSCE from organizing Serbian elections (6)
  • Schultz: EULEX to help not interfere (6)
  • Petrovic: Solution for the north can be found with US help (6)
  • Kusari-Lila speaks in Brussels about Kosovo-EU trade relations (8)
  • Neither pay raise nor new jobs until 2015 (9)

Zëri

Front page

  • Montenegro with conditions!
  • Media ‘block’ institutions
  • Brunei recognizes independence of Kosovo
  • EULEX until 2014

Other headlines

  • Isa Mustafa in Brussels (2)
  • Jahjaga instructs new ambassadors (4)
  • AAK activists join AKR (4)
  • Posselt: Many circles want Balkans destabilization (4)
  • The north sliding away from Pristina (5)
  • Besim Beqaj appoints his nephew director (7)
  • RTK union against appointment of Mufail Limani (8)
  • 250 NATO troops arrive in Kosovo (8)

Kosova Sot

Front page

  • Reporters without Borders: Government trying to silence investigative journalism
  • Record increase of oil prices
  • SEEMO: Kosovo media under extreme pressure
  • UNMIK/Kosovo goods to be blocked as of 1 May
  • Nazim Bllaca: How I met Azem Syla
  • Editorial: Politicians against free media!

Other headlines

  • Party officials ‘rewarded’ (2)
  • First additional KFOR troops arrive (4)
  • EU launches project against economic crime (4)
  • Brunei Darussalam recognizes us (4)
  • Around €1million allocated for houses and capital investments (4)
  • Government blames EULEX for the north (4)
  • Commission objects to Jahjaga over KSF pensions (5)
  • EULEX rejects Enver Sekiraqa’s request (17)
  • New barricades in Kelmend road (19)

Epoka e Re

Front page

  • Brunei Darussalam recognized us
  • Hoxhaj: A profession to lead with the Academy
  • Ahmeti, Kallaba and Hysa decreed
  • Dense meetings with citizens, many promises
  • Kuçi: EULEX can stay until 2014
  • Petrovic: Serbian elections in Kosovo, unimportant

Other headlines

  • First KFOR reinforcement arrives (2)
  • Imami visited U.S. ship in Durrës (2)
  • Posselt” There are forces interested for destabilization of Kosovo (2)
  • Xhaferi to visit Kosovo (2)
  • Government ready to help Albanians of the Valley (3)
  • Journalists to boycott institutions on 3 May (4)
  • U.S. support KSF towards NATO (6)
  • Kusari-Lila in Brussels for Kosovo – EU trade relations (9)

Express

Front page

  • Battle for the Sultan
  • The mystery of 50 thousand euros
  • Murder in the middle of Mitrovica

Other headlines

  • Shkullaku: Elections are for Vetëvendosje (2)
  • Rexhepi: Votes from Afghanistan (3)
  • Discusses with Europeans (4)
  • We pay for the north (4)
  • Meets Ambassadors (6)
  • We are limited (6)
  • Continue with promises (6)
  • Bllaca’s version (7)
  • Albanian villages in Zveçan, blocked (7)
  • Journalists to protest on 3 May (9)
  • Ready for agreement (10)

Bota Sot

Front page

  • Albanians in the north are murdered from Serbs, in the south they are killing each other
  • Brunei Darussalam recognized independence of Kosovo

Other headlines

  • President Jahjaga welcomed in a dinner foreign diplomats in Kosovo (2)
  • Kuçi: Mandate of EULEX until 2014 (3)
  • On 3 may media wills “shout the mouth” of the institutions (3)
  • Kosovo without the footnote in Stockholm (6)
  • Identified three victims of Izbica massacre (6)
  • Kusari request support of the five EU countries for the integration of Kosovo (7)
  • Government praises itself that the budget is getting “fat” from the customs and taxes (9)
  • Petrovic: Best solution for the north is Ahtisaari Package (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.