Headlines - 12.03.2013

Nikolic: Pristina accepted to change laws and Constitution (Koha Ditore)

Serbia’s top three politicians, President Tomislav Nikolic, Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, and Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic met for nearly three hours on Monday evening in Brussels with EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Catherine Ashton, who facilitates dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. A statement issued by Baroness Ashton did not reveal much about the talks, but it is clear that she stepped up the pressure on parties to reach an agreement on northern Kosovo.

Nikolic was the only one to talk to reporters after the meeting and said he expects results in the next ten days: “The Albanian side gave in; they said in the beginning that nothing can be changed in their Constitution and laws, while today it is obvious that they also have to care for citizens who are living in Kosovo and Metohija, who cannot be left hostages of the ambitions of politicians from Pristina”.

In a separate section under the headline “Soft autonomy”, Koha Ditore’s sources ensured that competencies thought to be given to the north would be a mix of the Kosovo Constitution and a Regional Charta of the Council of Europe, which can be called “soft territorial autonomy”. The agreement that could be achieved does not need to be formally written, which means there will be no need to ratify it in the Assembly; however, the parties will be obliged to implement it in the framework of their integrations processes in the EU. If this happens, the issue could be transferred to the one responsible for the European Commission for Enlargement, Stefan Fuele. According to the source, Kosovo argues that Ahtisaari is the compromise in exchange for independence, while Serbia argues that the Association of Serb municipalities is the only precondition if Kosovo independence is to be recognized. “The European Union will state that with this agreement, Serbia recognizes the territorial integrity of Kosovo”.

Krasniqi: Ashton’s visit should not be considered pressure (Epoka e Re)

“I consider that a visit from senior officials of the EU or any other country, should not be considered pressure. We should consider them as serving the processes that Kosovo is going through. It is another issue how Kosovo leaders see it, as help or as pressure,” said Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi after the meeting of the Assembly chairmanship on Baroness Ashton’s visit to Kosovo. 

Cliff: Association in accordance with Constitution (Epoka e Re)

The Ambassador of Great Britain in Kosovo, Ian Cliff, said that Kosovo has achieved many things during the five years of independence, however, there are also many stagnations as well. “If Kosovo cannot strengthen the judiciary and deal with cases of corruption and organized crime, it will be very difficult to prosper towards EU,” said Cliff.

Speaking of the dialogue in Brussels, Cliff stated that the association of Serb municipalities is in accordance with the Constitution of Kosovo. “As long as the association of municipalities does not harm Kosovo functioning as a state, then it is not harmful or dangerous. In fact, it is in accordance with the Constitution and laws of Kosovo. An Association of municipalities in Kosovo will not be able to block the government at the state level in Pristina, like Republika Srpska blocked the Government at state level in Sarajevo,” said Cliff.

Solution for the north, within the dialogue (Epoka e Re)

German General Karl-Heinz Lather said during a lecture at the ISPE University in Pristina that problems in the north should find a solution in the process of the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. He added that Serbia and Kosovo should normalize their neighbourly relations if they aim to integrate in the European Union. “I am optimistic for a better future for the north of the Republic of Kosovo. This is the responsibility of Kosovo and Serbia. I hope that the current dialogue between these two states will result with the solution of problems in the north,” said Lather.

Speaking about the north, he said that dividing the north was done by the population there, not by French troops responsible for that area. He said the process of NATO membership is long and challenging, however he added that all countries with the will to fulfill the required criteria will be part of NATO in the future.

Together on dialogue (Express)

The two biggest opposition parties in Kosovo, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the Vetëvendosje Movement, united their positions on the issue of dialogue with Serbia. LDK leader Isa Mustafa and Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti met yesterday and coordinated their future actions on political dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. “A central point in the meeting was the discussion to coordinate the role of the opposition parties in Parliament on issues with the same or similar positions,” a LDK press release said.

Kurti: Thaçi is betraying the state of Kosovo (Bota Sot)

In an interview for Radio Free Europe, Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti said “the association of Serb municipalities in Kosovo, seeing that it is being incepted with Dacic in Brussels, is evidence that Prime Minister Thaçi is betraying the state of Kosovo.”

“This government entered talks with Serbia on Kosovo’s internal arrangements without any condition vis-à-vis Serbia. We know very well that even in the time of war, Kosovo set conditions to Serbia for any kind of dialogue. This shows that we are acting in a less sovereign fashion compared to the time of war and Serbian occupation […] The association of Serb municipalities will be a territorial and administrative entity, because municipalities are territorial and administrative units. They have also established a development fund, therefore, this means they are creating a separate entity within Kosovo,” Kurti said. 

His alliances fail (Express)

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Isa Mustafa will not manage to build a broad-based pre-election coalition that would defeat Prime Minister and PDK leader Hashim Thaçi. The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), led by Ramush Haradinaj, decided to run alone in the upcoming elections. Meanwhile, the Vetëvendosje Movement said it would not join anyone’s list. The paper notes that parliamentary elections will be held by spring next year latest, and a unification of forces between LDK and AAK would prove fatal for the PDK.

Hodzic: No security in the north! (Express)

Adriana Hodzic, head of the Administrative Office in northern Mitrovica, said on Monday that there is no security in northern Mitrovica. “Tensions are present and there is no security,” Hodzic told Kosovapress. “In my meetings, people here expect explosions to go off somewhere.” Hodzic said authorities have yet to identify and apprehend the responsible parties for the recent explosions in the north, adding that things do not change by themselves.

Serbs stop EULEX and ROSU (Koha Ditore)

According to Serb media reports, a group of Serbs from the north, who present themselves as businessmen, stopped EULEX and ROSU Kosovo special police unit vehicles in Rudare, the regional road from Mitrovica that leads to Leposavic, while travelling towards the border crossing point in Jarinje. Beta news agency reported that vehicles returned in the south side of Mitrovica after the short stop.