“Civil protection” challenges KFOR, EULEX, Police (dailies)

According to a report in Koha Ditore, Serb parallel structures in north Mitrovica and Kosovo publicly challenged KFOR, EULEX and Kosovo Police on Sunday. The “Civilian Protection of Mitrovica” organization, which Kosovo institutions recognize as an illegal Serbian structure in Kosovo, began a ‘simulating public exercise’ in case of fire emergencies in north of Mitrovica on Sunday. Although this was conducted under the supervision of the Office for Kosovo in the Serb Government led by Aleksandar Vulin, the Kosovo Government does not deem it reasonable to react. 

Haradinaj to be acquitted by Hague (Koha Ditore – front page)

Director of the Belgrade-based Forum for Ethnic Relations Dusan Janjic said that Serbia is in for more bad news; he predicted that the war crimes tribunal in The Hague will release former Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, another article by Koha Ditore reports that former Kosovo Prime Minister and former KLA commander Agim Çeku said that he is convinced Kosovars will celebrate Haradinaj’s release on 29 November. “Any other decision would be unjust,” Çeku told RTK.

AAK’s Plan B (Express – front page)

Daut Haradinaj, AAK senior official, said that his brother’s, party leader Ramush Haradinaj, return to Kosovo would change the political landscape. In an interview for Kosovapress, he stressed that AAK would enter the government only if his brother becomes prime minister. However, he admits that this may not be realized.

Hoxhaj: Another recognition from Asia (Epoka e Re – front page)

Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj said Kosovo was recognized by another Asian country without revealing the name. Hoxhaj said he is waiting for the ‘note verbale’ before publicly announcing the recognition. “It is a matter of days when the recognition from this country will be made public,” he said.

Dacic: Had we met in the war, I would have killed him (Koha Ditore – page 2)

Serbia’s Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said Sunday evening that Serbia does not have interlocutors in Pristina to solve the issue with Kosovo because “its representatives do not want to talk about this, because they think that status issue is solved.” According to a statement made by Dacic to PINK Television, it is also clear for Prime Minister Thaçi that the issue can be solved if an acceptable solution is found for the Serbs.

“We are ready to achieve an agreement that would comply with the interests of Serbs and Albanians,” said Dacic during a two-hour talk with Thaçi in Brussels. “If I would have met with Thaçi during the war, surely I would have liquidated him, and vice versa. But peace time has arrived; we should find a solution,” emphasized Dacic. 

Coordination body for dialogue only an idea (Koha Ditore – front page)

The coordination body for political dialogue with Serbia, which should include representatives of opposition parties and civil society, remains just an idea. “It is still in the shape of an idea, which we are trying to harmonize. We will not impose this idea, but cooperate with political parties and dialogue supporters,” said Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi.

Ferati: Four expectations from dialogue for north (Epoka e Re – front page)

Former minister of Local Governance Sadri Ferati said that the dialogue for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia should result with the dismissal of parallel structures, rule of law, establishment of a new municipality, and holding local elections in northern Kosovo. “There should be laws implemented in northern Kosovo. Citizens there should elect their leaders based on the laws of our state,” said Ferati, who stressed that he is ready contribute in the integration of the north.

Rasic: Pension issue should be resolved by dialogue (Koha Ditore – front page)

Minister of Work and Social Welfare at Kosovo Government Nenad Rasic stated that the Kosovo pension funds issue, which remained in Serbia after the war, should be resolved through the dialogue in Brussels, not by individual judicial charges in Strasbourg. “This issue should represent one of the points of the dialogue that is taking place in Brussels and I think that a harmonization with the Serbian party, regarding implementation, can be reached. Otherwise, if the judicial is involved, a solution will only come later,” said Rasic.

Kusari-Lila: Investors are running away (Express – front page)

Foreign investors are not getting what they were promised at the investments conferences. Instead of low taxes, transparency, and facilitated conditions for the development of their activities, investors find institutional officials who participate in extortion. Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo and Minister of Trade and Industry Mimoza Kusari Lila said investors are leaving because institutions want to profit from their work.