Jahjaga: Political blockade postponed visa liberalization (dailies)
Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga blamed the political parties in Kosovo for delaying the visa liberalization process with their six-month delay in creating the new government. In an interview for the Turkish news agency Anadolu Agency, Jahjaga said the six-month delay also affected the process of the Stabilization/Association Agreement and internal reforms. Jahjaga also noted that Kosovo is the best example of integration of the communities in the region.
Thaci: I will be President in 2016 (Zeri)
In an interview for Klan Kosova, Kosovo’s Principal Deputy Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci, said he expects to become President of Kosovo in 2016. He said this was the main reason why he decided to give up on the post of Prime Minister. “The trust given to me by the people as the most voted politician in the last three years and my party’s victory in the three national elections, give me the strength to continue my work with even greater energy in the future,” he said. Thaci also implied that he would be elected President not by the Kosovo Assembly but through a different process.
Bosch: Serbian List is damaging the Kosovo Serbs (Zeri)
In an interview for the paper, Robert Bosch, the Dutch Ambassador to Kosovo, said that Serbs in Kosovo enjoy more rights than any other minority community in the world and that therefore they should not complain that they are not being treated properly, because this is not true. Bosch said the Serbian List’s boycott was an unwise decision and that it is damaging to the Kosovo Serbs.
Selimi: We are expecting several recognitions (Epoka)
Petrit Selimi, Kosovo’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs told the paper that Kosovo has received confirmation for recognition from several countries, but that the names of these countries would be made public only after the Kosovo authorities receive the notes verbales. He said that foreign policy was one of the most successful aspects of the first 100 days of this government. He claimed that this is also the opinion of Western ambassadors in Pristina. Selimi said that the Foreign Minister is working for Kosovo to become an example in exporting stability and peace, instead of importing security resources as a dangerous zone.
“Government, embassies dealing with Orthodox church at UP yard” (Epoka)
Shpend Ahmeti, the Mayor of Pristina, told The Voice of America that the Orthodox church at Pristina University premises is a sensitive political issue. “Due to the political sensibility, this will certainly be one of the most sensitive issues of the legalizations in Pristina,” Ahmeti said. He added that now, six months prior to the conclusion of the process of property legalization in Pristina, the government of Kosovo and some embassies were involved in the process. He added that all buildings without the proper permits would be treated equally.
Financial blockade leads to increased frustration in the north (Koha/Epoka)
The paper notes on the front page that northern Kosovo Serbs are suffering the legal consequences of their decision not to respect Kosovo’s laws and rules. The institutional blockade in the northern part of Kosovo has taken on even bigger dimensions, as political and administrative staff have not received their March salaries because of the blocked municipal accounts. Officials of the Ministry for Local Government said that the problem is complicated, but added that they hope it will be resolved soon. Epoka e Re reports on its front page that the northern municipalities are expected to adopt their budgets this week. “We are very close to a solution and I don’t want to be a pessimist on the matter. I believe the northern municipalities will very soon adopt their budgets,” Bajram Gecaj, the Deputy Minister for Local Government, told the paper.
Police, education and healthcare, most corrupt in the north (Zeri)
The Mitrovica North-based Center for Promoting Democratic Culture conducted a study that showed that the police, education and healthcare institutions have the highest level of corruption in the northern municipalities. The study was conducted as part of the “Anti-corruption campaign in northern Kosovo” and it included the four northern municipalities.
