Illegals in preparatory group for association of Serb municipalities (Koha)

The paper reports on the front page that the Government of Kosovo plans to establish a preparatory group for the establishment of the association of Serb majority municipalities after it agrees with Serbia on an implementation plan for the agreement. The preparatory group would reportedly be given the competencies of the association and could also include the illegal representatives of northern Serbs.

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi said, “there are plans for a preparatory group that will be established by a government decision and with set duties that will help prepare the establishment of the association after elections. Adequate people who accept our laws and duties will be found”.

Thaçi: Five EU countries will recognize Kosovo (dailies)

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi said during a visit to Bulgaria that the Brussels agreement is a clear sign of mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia. Thaçi also said he expects the five non-recognizing EU member states to soon recognize Kosovo’s independence, “as the same member states have supported the Ahtisaari Plan on whose basis Kosovo declared its independence”. “The five non-recognizing EU countries will move towards recognizing Kosovo’s independence very soon,” Thaçi said. He received strong support from his Bulgarian counterpart for Kosovo’s integration in the European Union.

Zbogar requests creation of conditions for sustainable return (dailies)

Samuel Zbogar, head of the European Union Office in Kosovo, said during a visit to Klina on Wednesday that municipalities have a major role in Kosovo’s integration in the European Union. Zbogar made these remarks after meeting Klina mayor Sokol Bashota. Zbogar was accompanied by Joost Korte, deputy director general for enlargement in the European Commission. “I have been informed that so far only 10 percent of displaced persons have returned. We still have problems with people who want to return. It does not suffice to work solely on returns, but on their sustainability too. The returns issue is complex but if we work together we will see results as in the case of Klina municipality,” Zbogar said.

AKR to call on Parliament to dismiss KPA Board (dailies)

Koha Ditore reports that another member of the board of the Kosovo Privatization Agency has resigned. Dardane Peja resigned from the post of director two days after the representative of the U.S. Embassy resigned from the KPA Board citing concerns about the mismanagement and poor leadership of the institution.

Meanwhile, Myzejene Selmanaj, head of the parliamentary group of the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR), said she would address the KPA issue in today’s parliament session. Selmanaj said Parliament will be called on to dismiss the KPA board.

Rexha does not resign, requests dismissal (Tribuna)

Blerim Rexha, chairman of the Kosovo Privatization Agency board, is not planning to accept calls for his resignation, even if they come from his former political party, the ruling PDK, which lobbied for his appointment in the post. Requests for Rexha’s resignation came immediately after the representative of the U.S. embassy resigned from the KPA board.

People close to Rexha told the paper that he does not plan to resign regardless of pressure. “No one, neither the party nor anyone else, can dismiss me, except for Parliament. I was constantly in line with the law and I have no reason to resign,” Rexha reportedly said.

The paper also notes that the U.S. embassy in Pristina appealed to the Government to recruit competent and ethical people at KPA in order to run a fair and transparent process of privatization.

Date of local elections after Thaçi – Dacic meeting (Koha)

Sources told the newspaper that Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga will not announce the date of local elections before the next meeting between Kosovo and Serbia prime ministers scheduled for May 21. Civil society representatives said Jahjaga’s failure to announce the date of elections implies that she is waiting for the conclusion of the meeting between the prime ministers.

“They’re waiting for the meeting between prime ministers Thaçi and Dacic and will then announce the date of elections, because there is no reason to wait any longer. They have agreed for elections to be held in the north too, so now they only have to clarify certain details through the implementation plan on how to organize elections in northern Kosovo,” sources close to the election process told the paper.

KFOR does not recognize Serb Civilian Defense as partner (dailies)

KFOR commander General Walker Halbauer has ruled out a possible partnership with the Serb Civilian Defense which operates in the northern part of Kosovo. Halbauer said he recognizes only four legitimate forces in charge of maintaining law and order in Kosovo: KFOR, EULEX, the Kosovo Security Force and Kosovo Police. A challenge for the mission he leads remains the barricade over Ibër River, which he calls political symbolic.

Veseli:  Malisheva is sacred to me, Thaçi, Limaj and PDK (Koha)

The paper reports that the topic of telephone tapping, which included several PDK leaders except for Hashim Thaçi, was opened for the first time with the PDK electorate in Malisheva. PDK deputy leader Kadri Veseli said,
“many things that happen in Kosovo are run by coordinated centers whose aim is to sabotage and make diversions against achievements.”

Fine with PDK too (Zëri)

Prime Minister and PDK leader Hashim Thaçi has welcomed readiness of opposition leader Isa Mustafa to govern together after the next parliamentary elections. Mustafa, who leads the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), did not rule out a possible coalition with Thaçi’s PDK, even though he said this would not be the best option.