Violence in front of Government building (dailies)

Yesterday’s Vetëvendosje-staged protest against signing the privatisation contract for Kosovo Energy Corporation Distribution resulted in violence with police arresting 62 protesters.

Koha Ditore reported that protesters split into two groups: the first consisting of Vetëvendosje MPs trying to enter the Government building and witness the signing ceremony; the other group protested on the other side of the Government building’s fence. Seeing that the first group was not being allowed into Government premises, the second group overcame the fence and stormed inside the compound trying to help their fellow protesters enter the building. The police’s special units then intervened with rubber batons and pepper spray. During the protest, Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi’s bodyguards came to the scene and motioned to their weapons, which further aggravated the situation.

Preventing Vetëvendosje MPs from entering the Government building by dragging them out of the compound resulted in a clash of words between Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti and Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi during the subsequent Assembly session, reported Zëri.

Rexhepi said police intervention should have been harsher. “I gave the order and the order should have been enforced in a more rigorous way,” said Rexhepi, adding that MPs, the President, and the Government have no right to obstruct the work of the institutions.

Kurti said that police intervention against Vetëvendosje presents a police state in Kosovo. “What is happening today happened four decades ago in Chile,” he said.

Kosova Sot reported that during the Vetëvendosje protest, the contract for the sale of KEK Distribution was signed in front of local and international officials. “Calik&Limak” representatives, who were awarded the contract, said that citizens of Kosovo will benefit from the agreement as there will be no more energy shortages.

Fence expected to be removed (Zëri – page 9)

The fence around the building near the Zahir Pajaziti square used by EULEX will be removed very soon to pave way for the reconstruction on the city’s square.

EULEX officials said it is not up to them to decide on the fence’s removal as the building is under UNMIK administration. Pristina Municipality officials said they already agreed with EULEX on removing the fence for neighbouring construction. UNMIK officials also promise that the fence will be removed very soon but did not give any specific date.

“UNMIK, with great pleasure and transparency, would accept any understanding between both EULEX and the Municipality of Pristina,” said UNMIK Spokesperson Olivier Salgado.

Model of two Germanys favoured for Kosovo (Koha Ditore – front page)

Senior officials confirmed that implementing the German-German model for Kosovo and Serbia is favoured by Germany because Kosovo would not be recognized explicitly from Serbia and allowed to be a member in international mechanisms, including UN. However, this model has internal objections as it must be decided by the Assembly according to the PDK-sponsored resolution.

One of the agreements that advanced relations between Western Germany and Eastern Germany, which were divided immediately after the Second World War, is known as the “Berlin Arrangement” in 1972. The agreement foresaw the creation of many joint arrangements between the two countries. Both Germanys joined the UN a year later through another agreement, which has not been recognized for international political sovereignty. One local official said the “German-German model” is in the interest of Kosovo and can lead to normalizing relations with Serbia.

Zbogar supports Resolution for Serbia relations (Koha Ditore – front page)

The Head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, supports the Resolution initiated by the PDK because it is supported by the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Catherine Ashton, and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The decision is expected to be presented in the Kosovo Assembly on Thursday. “We want that Kosovo and Serbia discuss the normalization of relations. EU High Representative Ashton is standing by to assist with talks because this process has the support of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,” Zbogar said in Lipjan on Wednesday. “We understood that the Kosovo Government is ready to begin talks and I think that it is good that the Assembly has been involved, which at the same time has to give its approval for these talks,” he added.

Grabovci: PDK expects full support for resolution (Zëri – page 4)

The ruling Kosovo Democratic Party (PDK) expects support from the majority of Kosovo MPs on the resolution for dialogue with Serbia. PDK chief Adem Grabovci said the MPs should support the resolution because it is in Kosovo’s interest.

“There is no agenda yet on what, how, and when different issues will be discussed. It will all be submitted to the Kosovo Parliament and then we will have our say,” Grabovci said.

PTK Leaks (Zëri – front page)

Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi had secret meetings with former US diplomat James Pardew, who is lobbying that the PTK privatisation tender be awarded to the consortium led by Avicenna. Thaçi, however, is unsure how to remove from the privatisation game the former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright who is also part of the race for PTK.

The paper claims to have secured correspondence revealing details from the conversations between US lobbyists and Kosovo Government officials. The correspondence suggests that Thaçi told US officials that he had difficulty choosing between Pardew and Albright’s company. The lobbyists said that Thaçi is not sincere because one of the PM’s envoys, who is also one of the owners of a media outlet, told them that Thaçi’s real concern is not to betray Albright.

Hodzic: Corruption impedes development of north (Zëri – page 15)

Adriana Hodzic, head of the Kosovo Government’s Administrative Office in northern Mitrovica, said that increased corruption is impeding economic and other developments in northern Mitrovica. “It is no secret that donor reports talk about large sums of money invested here, but very little from what was planned has been implemented,” she added.

“There are several enterprises in the region interested in opening small factories in the northern part of Mitrovica, so we will wait and see if these promises are kept. We will continue to support them for all initiatives aimed at reducing unemployment in Mitrovica and for the economic development in this part of Kosovo,” Hodzic said.

Also investigate Serbia (Express – page 5)

Chief of the EU Team Clint Williamson is investigating claims on organ trafficking in Kosovo while visiting Serbia for several days. On Wednesday, he met with the chief of the Serbian Government, Ivica Dacic. Other meetings, including the one with the prosecutor for war crimes, Vladimir Vukcevic, are also on his agenda. After the meeting, the Serbian Government issued a press release saying that illumination on “war crimes in Kosovo and Metohija,” will be fully supported.

According to Serbian Government, Williamson informed Dacic on the investigations, the problems that they are facing, and that his team will begin working in Serbia.

Pacolli: I will speak in Kosovo (Express – front page)

Behgjet Pacolli decided not to discuss the investigations he and the governing coalition are facing. The leader of the Alliance for the New Kosovo said he is not interested in commenting on the events that are happening in Kosovo because he is dealing with something else. Pacolli did not want to respond on whether he will leave politics as he had stated earlier in March of this year. “It all remains to be said by me and not on my behalf. Currently, I am busy; I am at the French Airport and I have very little time to deal with what you mentioned. I have meetings and I am doing my job,” he said.