Krasniqi: The north listens to Belgrade, not Pristina (Koha Ditore)

The paper notes on the front page that Belgrade has more influence in the north than Pristina and that heads of the Kosovo Parliament have admitted this act. The latter commented on Monday the visit by Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic on Sunday in Kosovo, and his meeting with Serb structures in the north that are opposing the agreement reached between Pristina and Belgrade.

Kosovo Parliament Speaker Jakup Krasniqi said on Monday that Serbian leaders are more likely to convince northern Serbs to accept the agreement reached between prime ministers Hashim Thaçi and Ivica Dacic. The main reason of Vucic’s visit was to convince local Serbs to accept with the agreement. Vucic was accompanied by the commander of Serbian Gendarmerie, Bratislav Dikic.

Krasniqi recalled that Kosovo institutions have made efforts to talk with Serb citizens in the north, but he accepted that it is a fact that Belgrade has more influence on that region than Kosovo institutions.

President Jahjaga to announce election date before August 15 (Tribuna)

Arbër Vllahiu, spokesman for Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga, told the paper that the President would announce the date for local elections in all municipalities, including those in the north, before August 15. Jahjaga is holding final consultations with political parties on local elections. “Once there is approximation in the positions of political parties and when necessary conditions are created for holding elections throughout Kosovo, setting the date is not an imposition but rather a consensual solution,” Vllahiu said.

Marty Task Force admits it has no court (Tribuna)

The Special Task Force that is investigating alleged crimes mentioned in Dick Marty’s report does not know which court it would address in the event of an indictment. A spokesman for the task force confirmed to the paper that the team of investigators led by American prosecutor Clint Williamson is growing.

A decision on the team, whether or not it will remain part of EULEX, will be made in 2014. The decision will also clarify which court would have competencies to accept the cases of the task force.

“In case there will be an indictment at the end of investigations, we will see if the case will go to international judges currently working in Kosovo or if another court will be set up. In both cases, an eventual trial would be run by international judges and prosecutors,” the spokesman said.

Return of displaced in the north, competency of the ministry (Epoka e Re)

Representatives of the Ministry for Communities and Return at the Government of Kosovo, claim that the agreement reached in the dialogue between Pristina and Belgradewill help the process of the return of displaced persons. Minister Dalibor Jevtic told Radio Free Europe that all conditions will be created for all those who for different reasons had to leave their homes and properties, to return and live there again.

Jevtic, excluded the possibility for the Association of Municipalities to take over return of the displaced. “The process of return, anywhere in Kosovo, should be under the competency of the Ministry for Communities and Returns, and therefore the future process, of the association of Serb municipalities should be in coordination with direct competencies of the Ministry for Communities and Returns,” said Jevtic.

Americans abandon KPA (Zëri)

The paper reports that Bernadette Roberts, representative of the U.S. embassy in the Board of Directors of the Kosovo Privatization Agency, has resigned from her position in sign of dissatisfaction with the process of privatization. Roberts expressed dissatisfaction with the management of newly-elected head of KPA Blerim Rexha. The U.S. embassy in Kosovo confirmed Roberts’ resignation. The US embassy is concerned with the way of leading and management of Kosovo Privatization Agency, where it no longer can give a positive contribution in the important work of the agency.

Selimi: No to Islamic Union in politics  (Koha Ditore)

Representative op the Islamic Union of Kosovo, at the Government commission for religious issues, Sabri Bajgora, assessed that it is necessary for theUnionto be more involved on political issues, and enable fighting of religious extremism and relaxing of tensions, noticed so far. However, member of this commission, Petrit Selimi, stated for telegrafi.com portal that involvement of theUnionin politics is not possible, because the Constitution divided religion from the state. He agreed that major religious groups with a long tradition in Kosovo should engage to avoid danger from marginalized but very dangerous groups.

Ambassador “Sultan” to face justice (Bota Sot)

Sylejman Selimi, Kosovo’s ambassador in Albania, and sixteen members of the former Kosovo Liberation Army, could very soon face war crimes accusations. The EU rule-of-law mission in Kosovo (EULEX) has launched investigations against Selimi, former head of the KLA General Staff, and his sixteen associates. If everything goes according to predictions of investigators, the same people could be arrested in June. A EULEX official, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Indeksonline that Selimi and sixteen others will be accused for torturing, raping and mistreating civilians during the conflict.

Four years in prison for Elvis Kelmendi (Koha Ditore)

The son of Naser Kelmendi, Elvis, has been sentenced by a court in Pristina to four years in prison, for a crime committed in Sarajevo. In addition, Naser Kelmendi (1957) from Peja, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is expected to stand trial in Kosovo, because Kosovo does not have extradition agreement with Bosnia, while this state does not recognize the independence of Kosovo.