New agreement (Epoka e Re – front page)

According to an anonymous source from the office of the President of Kosovo, “the American Ambassador in Kosovo, Tracy Ann Jacobson, on 13 October will get together with the main [Kosovo] leaders to discuss the possibility of achieving an agreement in connection with constitutional and election reforms.”

The source added that “a new agreement is expected to be achieved in the meeting” and that President Jahjaga is committed to the agreement and will resign as soon as constitutional changes are approved.

“Except the unblocking of the reforms this agreement foresees that the actual President, Atifete Jahjaga, to stay in her post for one more year.”

Assembly wants exact number of recognitions within this year (dailies)

Kosovo’s Foreign Affairs Minister Enver Hoxhaj has until the end of the year to explain to the Kosovo Assembly whether Uganda, Nigeria, and Mali recognize Kosovo. A three-hour motion, called by LDK Parliamentary Group, was held due to concerns that the Kosovo Government has not been directly called to account for its claims of international recognition. This issue was first raised earlier this year, when statements made by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton contradicted the official recognition claims made by Kosovo's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Presidency. In response, the American Embassy in Pristina explained that USA do not consider Uganda and Nigeria as recognitions.

IBM agreement heading towards failure (Zëri - front page)

Agreements reached between Pristina and Belgrade during the technical dialogue risk complete failure due to EU demands that Serbia respect Kosovo’s territorial integrity.

The paper’s sources said that recent meeting in Brussels between the delegations from Pristina and Belgrade did not end positively. “The meeting was more informative about what the two sides should do and nothing more,” said the source.

Representative of northern Serbs in Kosovo, Marko Jaksic, said that implementing the Integrated Border Management agreement would imply that Serbia recognizes Kosovo’s borders. Jaksic added that they have made it clear that they do not accept the implementation of any of the agreements reached in Brussels, in particular the IBM.

Belgrade pressures EU (Express - page 5)

On Thursday in Belgrade, Serbia President Tomislav Nikolic requested that EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fuele change the formulation of Kosovo’s territorial integrity, which is mentioned in the document of the European Commission “Strategy of Enlargement 2012-2013.” This document explicitly requests that Serbia respect the territorial integrity of Kosovo when the issue of the north is addressed. Nikolic said that this should happen if the EU wants Serbia to join. “This would show the EU’s neutrality towards the status of Kosovo and Kosovo and Metohija,” he said.

Tadic: Bad news for Serbia (Express - page 5)

The opposition leader of the Democratic Party (DS) in Serbia, Boris Tadic, sees the EU’s position that Serbia should respect the territorial integrity of Kosovo as bad news for Serbia, adding that finding a solution for this acute problem is necessary in the road towards European integration. Tadic said it is the first time that the European Commission mentioned respecting the territorial integrity of Kosovo and added that it is good to find the modalities and solutions announced by the Government of Serbia for this problem.

AAK helped the Government with continuation of privatization (dailies)

Koha Ditore reports that AAK deputies changed their mind during Thursday’s session, abstaining during the voting process for Vetëvendosje’s motion to end the privatization process. With 53 votes against, 9 abstained, and only 45 votes in favor, deputies rejected the motion, making it possible to continue the privatization process.

Out of the twelve MPs that AAK has in the Assembly, only Daut Haradinaj, Ahmet Isufi and Donika Kada-Bujupi, remained faithful to the motion for their party. The opposition motion was also supported by Kosovo Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi and two of his party members, Fatmir Limaj and Justina Shiroka-Pula. AKK deputies that abstained after the voting process avoided journalists for comment.

PDK: In Assembly, talks should be addressed (Koha Ditore - page 2)

According to the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the Assembly of Kosovo is the forum for addressing the dialogue with Serbia. The reaction came after the Movement for Unification (LB) suggested that PDK begin consulting with political parties regarding talks. Head of PDK parliamentary group Adem Grabovci said that Kosovo has its Assembly where all major political parties are represented, including LB.

Jahjaga won’t yield to rising resignation demands (Koha Ditore - page 2)

President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga does not intend to step down from her post, despite increasing demands from political parties. The latest call for Jahjaga’s resignation is from Vetëvendosje.

“President Jahjaga respects the decision of the Constitutional Court, and this decision should be respected by everyone in Kosovo,” said Jahjaga’s spokesperson Arbër Vllahiu.

However, Vetëvendosje’s demand for Jahjaga’s resignation is not linked to her disputed mandate but to her advisor’s, Ramush Tahiri, statement, that Serb structures in the north are legitimate and that Jahjaga met with their representatives.

EU relations with Kosovo, not as with a state (Koha Ditore - front page)

During a discussion between Integration Minister Vlora Çitaku, EULEX head Samuel Zbogar, and representatives of the opposition regarding the contents and result of the Feasibility Study report, it was decided that Kosovo has not entered in relations with the EU and the outcome of the Feasibility Study was not positive. Zbogar said that when the SAA will conclude, Kosovo will be the same with other countries of the region towards EU and its integration will depend only from Kosovo. However, the Deputy Head of Vetëvendosje movement, Shpend Ahmeti, said that representing Kosovo with a footnote does not mean they are getting the same treatment as other states in the region do from the EU.

No restructuring of EULEX (Zëri - front page)

Despite recent criticisms by German minister Thomas de Maiziere on the performance of the EU rule of law mission in Kosovo, EU officials say there is no intention to change EULEX’s mandate. Spokesperson for the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, Maja Kocijancic, said that EULEX’s mandate has already been reviewed and agreed upon by all EU member states.

Prosecution concludes that Dino Asanaj committed suicide (dailies)

According to Pristina’s District Prosecution, investigations into the death of Privatisation Agency of Kosovo head Dino Asanaj are officially closed and concluded that the deceased stabbed himself to death. DNA tests verified that all blood samples found at the scene belonged to Asanaj and only his finger prints were detected; the knife used for the killing belonged to the victim.

However, the prosecution hasn’t ruled out the possibility that Asanaj was driven to suicide and requested that Kosovo Police gather all possible evidence that could help establish what led Asanaj to commit the act.