EU finalizes plan for River Iber bridge (Koha Ditore)
The paper reports on the front page that the European Union Office in Kosovo has finalized the plan for revitalization of the bridge on the River Iber in Mitrovica and that this was presented to Kosovo and Serbia prime ministers during the latest meeting in Brussels. According to the plan, there will be one more meeting between Pristina and Belgrade before the barricade, known as the peace park, on the bridge is removed thus enabling free movement. Kosovo’s chief negotiator, Edita Tahiri, said she believes the barricade will be removed in two months’ time.
Serbian List returns to Kosovo institutions (dailies)
After a three-month boycott following the dismissal of Kosovo Communities and Returns Minister Aleksandar Jablanovic, the Serbian List decided on Thursday to return to Kosovo institutions, after agreeing with the coalition partners that the most significant points of the coalition agreement would be respected. “One of the main reasons for the return of the Serb representatives to the Kosovo institutions is an agreement under which there will be no unilateral moves by coalition partners, especially in regards to the privatization process in Serb-majority municipalities,” read a press release issued by the Serbian List. “It was also agreed in the future to have more Serb representatives in Kosovo institutions,” read the press release.
Mustafa: Voting for special court not linked to Serbian List’s return (Koha)
Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, said on Thursday that voting on the special court that will address war crimes allegations is not linked with the return of the Serbian List to the Kosovo institutions. “The Serb representatives should return as soon as possible because there are many reserved funds for development of the northern municipalities. Their delay will postpone investments in that part of Kosovo,” Mustafa said.
Rohan: Kosovo should establish special court (Zeri)
The former deputy UN Special Envoy for the final status negotiations for Kosovo, Albert Rohan, in an interview for the paper, urged the leaders of the Kosovo institutions to establish the special court that will address war crimes allegations, and to simultaneously extend its authority to northern Kosovo. “The special court is the appropriate instrument and it is a sign of maturity of Kosovo society if such court is established by the Kosovo Assembly rather than the international community,” Rohan said. He said that with the exception of the north, the Ahtisaari Plan was well implemented in Kosovo. In regards to visa liberalization, Rohan said that he is in favor of proceeding with visa liberalization as soon as possible. However, according to him, it depends on Kosovo’s performance and the political will of the EU.
Zbogar: SAA to be approved next week (Kosova Sot)
EU Special Representative to Kosovo Samuel Zbogar said that the European Commission is expected to approve Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Kosovo next week and the document will then be sent to the EU member states for discussion. This enables the signing of the SAA with the Kosovo authorities to take place before summer, added Zbogar.
Thaci: I will be Kosovo’s President in 2016 (Zeri)
The German-based newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau writes that Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, will become Kosovo’s President in 2016. In an interview for the paper Thaci announced that according to the coalition agreement between the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), he will become President of Kosovo after the mandate of the current President, Atifete Jahajga, expires in 2016.
Prosecutor Wendorf leaves Kosovo (Zeri)
EULEX prosecutor, Heikki Wendorf, who wrote a letter to President Atifete Jahjaga alleging that the then-candidate for chief prosecutor Aleksander Lumezi is being investigated on a number of serious charges, is reported to have left the EU mission. Sources told the paper that the Finnish prosecutor departed Kosovo on Thursday but EULEX neither confirmed nor denied the news.
Kosovo deputies travel to Belgrade (Epoka e Re)
Fourteen deputies of the Assembly of Kosovo will travel today to Belgrade to participate on Saturday at the forum organized by the Council for Inclusive Governance (CIG) to discuss the topic “Parliaments of Kosovo and Serbia and normalization of relations.” During the first session, they will discuss the role of Kosovo and Serbia’s assemblies in the implementation of the Brussels Agreement and on how the two parliaments could contribute to the acceleration of the normalization of relations. In the second session, they will discuss about how the assemblies could exercise more efficient control towards the respective governments. The forum is part of a program supported and financed by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
