Pristina-Belgrade dialogue to focus on justice system in north (Koha Ditore)
The meeting of Kosovo and Serbia’s Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers on 9 February will focus on the justice system in northern Kosovo. Kosovo Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci said he hoped the parties would manage to finalize a judiciary agreement for the north, since that would be crucial for promoting the rule of law.
Miners issue a 24-hour ultimatum for government (dailies)
Around 300 miners of the Trepca mine have been on strike since Tuesday. They are refusing to leave one of the mine’s underground corridors and demanding that the government and the Assembly of Kosovo endorse the law on Trepca, which would transform the mine into a public enterprise, within 24 hours. Mitrovica Mayor Agim Bahtiri, Trepca managing director Ahmet Tmava, and two MPs from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Donika Kadaj-Bujupi and Pal Lekaj, visited the miners.
EU against Trepca’s liquidation (Koha Ditore)
On the front page, the paper writes that the EU wants to avoid Trepca’s liquidation. Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, said that it was important to avoid any further escalation of the situation and that there were various possibilities for avoiding liquidation. She welcomed the new law passed at the Kosovo Assembly on Monday, which allows for more time to address the Trepca issue. EU officials did not say whether they agreed with Belgrade’s request to address this matter in the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue. Minister without portfolio Edita Tahiri told the paper that the Kosovo government has consistently refused to discuss Kosovo’s properties in the dialogue.
Jablanovic: I will not resign (Zeri)
Kosovo Minister for Communities and Returns Aleksandar Jablanovic, whose resignation is being demanded by thousands of people in Kosovo, said that he will resign only if the Serbian List asks him to do so. He said that no one forced him to apologize to the mothers of missing persons and that he did that on his own. The paper writes that Jablanovic, although a Minister in the government of Kosovo, admits that he consults with Belgrade. In regards to Kosovo’s legal status, he said, “Resolution 1244 still applies here, whether people like it or not.” Jablanovic said that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) “have pledged that the Community – not Association – of Serb municipalities will be established within five months and have executive powers.”
Technical team discusses legislation for establishment of special court (Koha)
The first meeting of the Kosovo team to review legislation received from the EU, for the establishment of the special court, was held yesterday in Pristina.
The technical team, led by Justice Minister Hajredin Kuci, will meet on a regular basis and discuss issues related to legislation and agreements with the EU team, as part of planning for the special court, according to a statement by the Office of the Kosovo President.
Serbia’s integration depends on relations with Kosovo (Epoka e Re)
Angelika Viets, the German Ambassador to Kosovo, said at a debate organized by the Group for Judicial and Political Studies that Serbia’s integration into the EU will be impossible if it does not normalize relations with Kosovo. She noted that Germany and the EU’s aim is the successful integration of Kosovo and Serbia into the EU. She said integration would create a framework for peaceful coexistence and good neighborly relations.
Jakup Krasniqi resigns from his MP post (Zeri)
Former Kosovo Assembly Speaker and MP from the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) Jakup Krasniqi, announced on Tuesday that he is giving up his MP post. At the same time, he wrote on his Facebook page: “I will not hesitate to offer my political experience to serve the citizens and NISMA.”
