Even Tirana fails to convince the opposition (Koha)
The paper reports on its front-page story that Albania’s Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta called for comprehensive and sustainable dialogue during his meetings with Kosovo Assembly President Kadri Veseli and the leaders of the opposition. But Meta was not able to narrow the differences between the government and the opposition. The latter told Meta that the current crisis cannot be resolved if the government does not withdraw from the agreement on the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro and if it does not release the political prisoners. According to the paper, the opposition will also not attend today’s meeting called by Prime Minister Isa Mustafa.
Meta intermediates for overcoming crisis in Kosovo (Kosova Sot)
President of the Assembly of Albania, Ilir Meta, visited Pristina on Saturday and met with Kosovo Assembly President Kadri Veseli, President Atifete Jahjaga and the three opposition leaders in an attempt to overcome the current political crisis in Kosovo. After the meetings, Meta said he managed to convince the leaders of the opposition parties in Kosovo to sit down and negotiate with representatives of the government in finding a solution to overcome the crisis. He said he was satisfied that the parties have agreed to restore dialogue, which would be mediated by President Atifete Jahjaga. Through a press release, Jahjaga has confirmed her willingness to restore dialogue between the leaders of political parties.
Special court’s witnesses have left Kosovo (Zeri)
The paper reports in a front-page story that very important witnesses are already available for the judicial process of the special court expected to begin soon against former KLA leaders. Sources told the paper that many of the protected witnesses who are former commanders of the KLA have already been established in various countries of the European Union and are expected to testify after the special court becomes operational. The Kosovo Foreign Ministry has established a delegation for talks with the government of the Netherlands, headed by Ardian Arifaj, advisor to Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci. “Once an agreement is reached with the Netherlands, Kosovo will not have any obligation, nor access to the processes of the special court,” sources told the paper.
Hahn to present recommendation for visa liberalization this month (Epoka)
EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn is expected to present recommendation for visa liberalization for Kosovo. Sources within the cabinet of the Minister for Integration, Bekim Collaku, told Radio Kosova that the report for Kosovo will be published a day after opening the two chapters of the dialogue with Serbia. It is still unknown if the report for Kosovo will be positive.
Another 328 members of Civil Protection integrated in institutions (Zeri)
According to a report of the government of Kosovo, which was published by Serbian media in Mitrovica North, another 328 former members of the Civil Protection will sign employment contracts with nine ministries, eight agencies and the Kosovo Customs. Other issues that are being resolved according to the Brussels agreement, as stated in this report, are: giving away the local offices of the Civil Protection in the north, the adoption of a statute which would officially terminate the work of the Civil Protection and the payment of wages to former to members of the Civil Protection.
Tanin: Kosovo institutions would not exist without UNMIK (Gazeta Fjala)
In an interview for the news site, UNMIK chief Zahir Tanin talked about the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities, the blockade at the Kosovo Assembly and alternatives to emerge from this situation. Tanin also said UNMIK gave the biggest contribution to the establishment of Kosovo’s institutions. “There was a time when UNMIK helped Kosovo establish its institutions. Without UNMIK, the institutions that you have here would not have existed,” Zanin said.
Concerns for new colonization of the north (Epoka)
Mayor of Mitrovica Municipality, Agim Bahtiri and Vetevendosje Movement objected to Serbia’s new plan for return of Serbs to the north, at the time when the return of Albanians to this area is being impeded. They called these efforts of the Serbian state a new colonization of Kosovo. According to them, the government of Kosovo should stop these tendencies. Bahtiri said that he has publically called on the government of Kosovo several times to undertake measures on this issue. The Vetevendosje Movement, through a press release, accused the government of Kosovo of allowing a new colonization of Mitrovica. “In parallel with this violent impediment of Albanians to return to their properties, a new colonization is happening, which is certainly facilitated in the field by submission of Kosovo’s government towards the Serbian one, especially the ‘Zajednica’ project,” the press release says.
