Ashton wants immediate implementation of agreement (Tribuna)

The European Union High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Catherine Ashton, said she expects Pristina and Belgrade to immediately start implementing the April 19 agreement.

Ashton, who brokered dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, confirmed in a press release that she has invited both prime ministers to another round of dialogue on May 21. Ashton said the aim of the meeting is to discuss joint steps for the implementation of the April agreement.

“An immediate implementation is highly important and I expect to discuss this with the prime ministers,” she was quoted as saying.

Thaçi: Agreement on timelines of implementation plan on May 21 (Koha)

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi said an agreement will be reached with Serbia on May 21 to determine the timelines of the implementation plan for the Brussels agreement.

Thaçi said local elections would be held in late autumn throughout the country. He added that elections in the four northern municipalities would be organized by the OSCE and results would be certified by the Kosovo Central Election Committee. He said elections in these municipalities will result in leaders elected by the people who will then establish the association of Serb municipalities. Thaçi said the association would have the same competencies as the association of Kosovo municipalities.

Serbia and Kosovo to exchange liaison officers in June (Epoka e Re)

Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivan Mrkic, said that the agreement on exchange of liaison officers between Pristina andBelgrade, as well as functionalizing of this operational mechanism, which would accelerate communication with Pristina authorities, is expected to be reached next month. He expressed conviction that the negotiations of the teams for implementation of the agreement will be successful, and added that he believes that by the end of June, Serbia will receive the date for the start of the negotiations for EU membership.

Mustafa: LDK will win, perhaps a coalition even with PDK (Koha)

In an interview for KTV Rubikon show, Isa Mustafa, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), said he would not accept results from stolen votes and an unfair election process. Mustafa did not rule out a possible re-candidacy for Pristina mayor or a possible ruling coalition with any party, including the ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) even though he said he would not prefer this.

Asked to comment on the Brussels agreement, Mustafa said it will become official only after Parliament ratifies the implementation plan. Mustafa however warned Prime Minister Thaçi not to enter another dialogue with Serbia, arguing that one should not trust Serbia before it meets all obligations from the last agreement.

Apology by former Serbian officials is not enough (Tribuna)

Representatives of Kosovo institutions said on Tuesday that the apology from Serbia’s former Interior Minister Vlastimir Djordjevic for crimes committed in Kosovo, once again proves that the Serbian state committed crimes against civilians in 1999.

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi said Djordjevic was trying to alleviate his sentence at the ICTY by apologizing for crimes in Kosovo. Kuçi said the apology is not enough and that the state of Serbia should apologize. “His apology is an individual act, therefore, the apology should come from Serbian institutions in the name of the Serbian people and state,” he added.

KDI calls on Parliament to intervene in KPA (Koha)

The paper reports on the front page that the Board of the Kosovo Privatization Agency could remain without any international member. The representative of the U.S. Embassy in the KPA Board, Bernadette Roberts, sent an email to the KPA informing them about her resignation. Meanwhile, KPA Board head Blerim Rexha admitted there are divergences and disagreements with international members of the board.

Following confirmation about Roberts’ resignation, the Pristina-based Kosovo Democratic Institute has called on Parliament to set up a committee that would investigate the situation at KPA.

Parliament Speaker Jakup Krasniqi said he regrets the resignation of the U.S. representative, but added that he never received exact reasons behind the resignation. Krasniqi said he constantly criticized the work of the KPA and the politicization of its board.

Buzhala advises Pacolli to abandon Thaçi (Koha)

Berat Buzhala is a PDK MP but he is advising the leader of another party to put the government in crisis. AKR leader Behxhet Pacolli has threatened to abandon the ruling coalition if Prime Minister Thaçi does not remove Blerim Rexha from the position of head of the Kosovo Privatization Agency Board. Pacolli made the threat in Express electronic newspaper. An unnamed source told Koha Ditore that Pacolli made the threat following Buzhala’s advice. The latter meanwhile denied that he advised Pacolli but confirmed that the two discussed the situation at KPA.

Selimi: Five EU countries have started to recognize the reality (Epoka e Re)

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Petrit Selimi, said in an interview for Epoka e Re, that recognition of passports byRomania, is a sign that the reality in Kosovo has started to be recognized by the five EU countries that have not recognized the state of Kosovo. He stated that Kosovo diplomacy is making maximal efforts to convince these countries on Kosovo’s friendship, as potential candidate to join EU. “The recognition will come, since these five countries have started to recognize the reality of Kosovo as a factor of stability,” said Selimi.

Vetëvendosje calls on President Jahjaga to announce elections (dailies)

Several dailies report that the Vetëvendosje Movement has called on Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga to announce the date of elections the latest by May 29. Vetëvendosje said that two years and five months after the 2010 parliamentary elections, which were marred by orchestrated theft and degraded the will of the people, the country now finds itself before local elections, but the President has yet to announce the date. Vetëvendosje announces that according to the Constitution and the actual laws, the elections have to be held in periodic basis, every four years, throughout the territory of Kosovo.

Jahjaga attends anniversary of administrative office in the north (dailies)

Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga visited on Tuesday the administrative office for northern Mitrovica where she was greeted by office head Adriana Hodzic and other officials. Ten days before the first anniversary of the administrative office, the latter organized a reception and in attendance were President Jahjaga, deputy prime ministers Slobodan Petrovic and Mimoza Kusari-Lila, Minister for European Integration Vlora Çitaku, representatives of the government and other institutions, U.S. Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson, Norwegian Ambassador Jan Braathy, Turkish Ambassador Songul Ozan and other ambassadors accredited in Kosovo.

Hodzic was quoted as saying in a press release that her office and staff require institutional backing and concrete support from the president. “She briefed the president about the work and engagement of the office and services that it provides for northern Mitrovica citizens,” the press release added.

Gashi: Thaçi is terrified by free elections (Tribuna)

In an interview for the paper, Arben Gashi, member of the LDK chairmanship and chairman of the parliamentary committee on legislation, blamed the ruling PDK and its leader Hashim Thaçi for blocking election and constitutional reforms.

Gashi argued that Thaçi is not interested in free and democratic elections. “Thaçi is terrified by free and democratic elections. This country needs free elections but the PDK is not ready to give this opportunity to the country.”

Gashi said the LDK remains open for coalitions with all parties, except for the PDK. He also said other parties interested in a coalition should not count on the post of prime minister if LDK wins the elections.