Brussels trying to arrange Jahjaga’s “historic” visit to Belgrade (Koha)
In a front page story, the paper notes that Brussels is trying to arrange an official visit to Belgrade by Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga. According to earlier media reports, the visit was to take place on 23 October, when Serbia will host a summit of leaders of the Western Balkans. Officials from Jahjaga’s office denied that she would travel to Belgrade on 23 October, but Jahjaga confirmed that she received an invitation to another forum that will be held in Belgrade on 1 November. She has yet to decide whether or not she will attend.
EU concerned by increase of salaries on eve of elections (Koha)
The paper reports on the front page that the latest Progress Report on Kosovo by the European Commission praises Kosovo for negotiations on the Stabilization and Association Agreement and for achievements in the dialogue with Belgrade. The report however expresses concern over serious problems in Kosovo such as: political interference in the judiciary and media; a lack of results in the fight against corruption; and pressure on the state budget to increase salaries for civil servants on the eve of parliamentary elections. The European Commission will launch the report on Wednesday.
LDK and AAK don’t want partnership with PDK (Epoka e Re)
After the proposal of Kosovo’s outgoing Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, for a government involving the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), and Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Sadri Ferati, a member of the LDK leadership, said that, at this stage, when coalition parties have already reached an agreement, a coalition with the PDK would be impossible. Donika Kada-Bujupi, a member of the AAK leadership, said the political stalemate could be resolved by the coalition bloc. “The need to bring in a different kind of governance in Kosovo does not leave any room for the PDK to be a part of the new government, because this would have not been a change then,” she said.
Shugurov: Serbia to take north, Kosovo to get Presevo Valley (Zeri)
Andrey Yurjevic Shugurov, head of the Russian Office in Pristina, said in an interview that the most reasonable solution for stability in the region is for Presevo Valley to join Kosovo, and for Serbia to get northern Kosovo. Shugurov said he is confident that minority communities do not have a future in Kosovo and that therefore the exchange of territories between Kosovo and Serbia would be the best possible solution. “This is my personal opinion that I have formed after five years here in Kosovo,” Shugurov said.
Albania wants Kosovo in SEECP (Tribuna)
Kosovo will be part of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), which is being chaired this year by Albania. Taulant Balla from the Albanian delegation at the SEECP said Kosovo’s membership is one of the main objectives of Albania’s presidency. “Kosovo will take part in working groups and in the parliamentary assembly, as well as in meetings of foreign ministers, parliament speakers and heads of state”, Balla said ahead of the SEECP meeting set to take place on 7 November.
EULEX orders excavations for suspected mass grave (Koha)
The Serbian Prosecution for War Crimes issued a press release on Monday saying that the prosecution of the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) has issued an order for the exhumation and identification of possible human remains of Serbs allegedly killed during the conflict and believed to be located in a suspected mass grave in the village of Piskote in Gjakove/Djakovica municipality.
