Ban: Agreements need to be implemented (dailies)
Ahead of the UN Security Council session on Kosovo, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his regular quarterly report hailed constructive steps in the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade and expressed hope that this will gradually lead to normalization of relations and establishment of long-term peace in the region. Ban also noted that important steps have been made in implementing agreements reached so far in Brussels between the parties but stressed that these efforts should be followed by full implementation of agreements.
The paper also reports that the Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj is also expected to take part in tomorrow’s session as is the Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic.
Dacic: Kosovo has been abducted from Serbia (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports on the front page that Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said on Sunday that “Kosovo has been abducted from Serbia and now we should save what can be saved”. The paper notes that this is the first time a Serbian state leader is publicly accepting that Serbia has lost Kosovo.
“No one will give us back Kosovo if we say that we don’t want to join the European Union,” Dacic said on Sunday in Belgrade. The Serbian Prime Minister made these remarks when reporters asked him to comment on a statement by Serbian Patriarch Irinej that Serbia should be returned to Russia and join the European Union only if it keeps Kosovo.
Dacic said Serbia is heading toward the European Union. “Certainly, no one will sell Kosovo, but they have abducted it and we have to keep it,” he added.
Dacic said relations with Russia are a priority for Serbia, “these relations need to be strengthened and we need to take advantage of the authority of the Russian Federation.”
Grenade thrown at Bërnjak border crossing (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports on page two that a hand grenade was thrown at the G31 border crossing in Bërnjak, Zubin Potok, on Saturday around 22:00 hrs. Police in Mitrovica confirmed the incident. “Police does not have information where the grenade was thrown from, but there are ongoing investigations. KFOR demining teams conducted the controlled explosion of the grenade,” a police spokesman told reporters.
Unidentified sources told the paper that Serb criminal groups threw the grenade from a hill overlooking the border crossing. The source also said the purpose was to intimidate members of EULEX, KFOR and Kosovo Police who are present at the border crossing.
Çeku: Serb structures to go to Serbia, Kosovo doesn’t need them (Bota Sot)
Minister of the Kosovo Security Force Agim Çeku called on Belgrade to disband its parallel structures in the north saying it is unacceptable and illegal to have such structures in Kosovo. Çeku told Radio Free Europe that Kosovo has its own security mechanisms and is in no need for others. “Since Belgrade directs those structures it needs to face them and pull them out of Kosovo as soon as possible. If Belgrade needs them, let it take them there. They have no business in Kosovo,” said Çeku.
Daci: I will not merge with LDK (Express)
Express runs as the leading story an interview with Nexhat Daci, leader of the Democratic League of Dardania and former Parliament Speaker. During the interview, Daci put an end to speculation that his party could merge with the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) led by Isa Mustafa. “For as long as I am its leader, the Democratic League of Dardania will never merge,” Daci said, adding that the LDD is open for open, honest and professional cooperation.
“It is not good to have clashes with the LDK, PDK or anyone else,” Daci said. “I am in favor of cooperation, I am having talks with all parties, and I am constructive and friendly with everyone.”
Ivanovic predicts: Haradinaj for Prime Minister (Express)
Former Serbian State Secretary for Kosovo, Oliver Ivanovic, told Novi Sad-based Dnevnik newspaper that the ICTY will release former KLA commander Ramush Haradinaj and that once he returns to Kosovo he will become prime minister again.
“Because of close political positions with current Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and their common background in the KLA, it is almost certain that when he returns from The Hague, Haradinaj will become Prime Minister of Kosovo,” he said.
Ivanovic said regardless of negative assessments in Serbia, Haradinaj is very useful to Thaçi. “In Haradinaj, Thaçi sees a man with whom he can form a coalition that would secure him a stable government for several more years. Meanwhile, Thaçi will change the Constitution of Kosovo and strengthen the position of President,” Ivanovic added.
Government “shocked” with detention of Fatmir Limaj (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports on the front page that the ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has not reacted toward the detention of its deputy leader Fatmir Limaj and three associates in the Kleçka case.
Meanwhile, the Kosovo Government issued a reaction on Sunday evening saying “it was surprised and shocked with the detention”. “The Kosovo Government has continuously supported justice institutions according to EU standards and in this case it respects legal procedures, justice authorities and human rights. The Kosovo Government requests that all processes which have influence on the public opinion and the past of our war for freedom need to be transparent towards local institutions and public opinion. “Surprising “actions” without announcement and coordination with institutions of Kosovo affect the cooperation. Kosovo Government believes in the fair fight of KLA which has been done according to international standards,” the reaction reads.
Krasniqi: Thaçi should give account for Limaj (Zëri)
Zëri reports that Fatmir Limaj’s detention has induced many reactions of the opinion in Kosovo. Kosovo Assembly Speaker and Secretary at the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Jakup Krasniqi, said that prior to giving his statement regarding this detention, he wants Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi to explain why did this happen to Limaj. “After their response, I have what to say, too,” Krasniqi said.
Serb block road leading to Jarinje border point (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that on Sunday afternoon a group of Serbs blocked the Ibër main road which leads to the border point G1 in Jarinje, in the municipality of Zvecan. Sources told the paper that Serbs are protesting against the agreement on integrated border management (IBM). The goal of the blockade is to stop NATO and EULEX from delivering equipment and supplies to the G1 border point in Brnjak, where Kosovo and Serbian authorities will conduct joint border control. The call to block the main road was made by Serb hardline leaders from the north, Milan Ivanovic and Marko Jaksic.
Pacolli: Two states are better (Express)
Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Behgjet Pacolli has launched an idea for the unification of Albanians in all their territories through an economic union. In an interview in the for the Tonight Show on Ora News, Pacolli said “Albanians de jure should consist of two states, because two votes are much, while de facto should be only one, to think, to work and to live the same”.
“I am in favor of this idea – national unification starts from the economic union. This would attract freedom of movement, removal of customs fees and removal of borders. The idea is that this movement needs to be institutionalized and soon we should establish a joint market,” Pacolli said.
Vetëvendosje: Minister Rexhepi is corrupted and a criminal (Koha Ditore)
Vetëvendosje activists claim that they have collected 17 reasons for which the Minister of Internal Affairs, Bajram Rexhepi, should resign. The reasons they say, show that Minister Rexhepi is corrupted and a criminal, that he obeys toSerbiaand its parallel structures and that he is violent and irresponsible towards population. “Bajram Rexhepi is the most unscrupulous appearance of the truth regarding this authority. He, more than any one else expresses the three main elements that characterize each of the other Ministers and the Prime Minister of this Government,” said Frashër Krasniqi, activist of this movement.
