Headlines - 25.10.2013

Jahjaga: We do not want shortcuts to Europe (Zëri)

President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga said in a meeting with President of Germany Joachim Gauck that Kosovo does not want a shortcut to its European integrations because it is in need of deep reforms that will also be of benefit to its citizens. She said however that Kosovo needs to be included in the visa liberalization regime and that this issue is of immense importance to the citizens. Jahjaga reiterated that dialogue with Serbia is the only way to further European agenda and close a painful chapter of history.

Gauck on his part reassured Jahjaga that Kosovo’s European perspective, as well as that of the region, is clear but also stressed the need for prospective countries fulfilling certain criteria.

Erdogan upsets Serbia (Epoka e Re)

Serbia’s Foreign Ministry has reacted to the statement of the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayip Erdogan, who said on Wednesday that Kosovo is his second homeland. Serbia’s Foreign Ministry assessed that such statements cannot be accepted as friendly. “Everyone knows that Kosovo is a Serbian word and Serbian territory, even those that recognized it,” says a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry of Serbia.

No official from Serbia will be allowed at polling stations in north (Koha)

Kosovo Police has pledged on Thursday that it will not allow any of the Serbian officials to approach the polling stations in the north, during the local elections of 3 November. Police representatives stressed that except for the Kosovo Police, EULEX will also look after the security in that part of Kosovo. However, they did not give any figures on the number of the security forces engaged that day. “There will be a sufficient number of police officers,” said Rashit Qalaj, director of the Operations Department at Kosovo Police.

Illegals will not be dismissed in 2013 (Koha)

The paper reports on the front page that Serb policemen, judges and prosecutor will continue to operate illegally in the northern part of Kosovo even after 2013, because aspects related to the dismissal of Serbia’s parallel structures in Kosovo have been temporarily removed from the agenda of political dialogue in Brussels.

Sources told the paper on Thursday that working groups, in charge of the implementation of points of April 19 agreement related to security and justice, have stopped their activity. They will resume their work only after the end of local elections in Kosovo. As a result, timelines foreseen for the dismissal of parallel structures in northern Kosovo have been delayed.

Kosovo Government officials said on Thursday that meetings on this issue will resume after November elections. A source involved in the negotiations told the paper there are big differences between the parties on topics of justice and security and that solutions on these issues will not be found this year.

Court wants evidence against Aleksandar Vulin (dailies)

Several dailies report that the Basic Court of Mitrovica has called on the prosecution to submit evidence Serbian minister Aleksandar Vulin has committed a criminal act in Kosovo. Vulin is suspected of illegally crossing the border into Kosovo on October 17. The prosecution claims that in doing so Vulin committed a criminal act. Such an act is punishable up to €2,500 or one year in jail. The paper notes there is a chance that Vulin could be the first Serbian official punished for a criminal offence in Kosovo. If the prosecution is serious to pursuit him for “illegal border crossing,” and ensures evidence about this. All of this could happen if against Vulin would be raised charges, arrested, tried and to be found guilty. The Court has given a timeframe of three days that the request for arrest to be attached the evidence.

Brussels talks affect November 3 elections (Kosova Sot)

After a several-hour meeting in Brussels, Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri told the paper that the Kosovar side has reported about the result of complaint reviews. “It has been informed that the this process has been finalized and based on results one part of the complaints have been approved, but the largest part has been refused, because there was no legal base to approve them … We informed them about the existence of the Supreme, and those unhappy with the outcome can complain to this court. this way those who are not happy with this outcome, they can complain in this court.” Tahiri said that if the number of complaints is considerably big in this court and after the court reviews them, there could be another meeting, where this court reports before EU for the procedure of treating the complaints and the results.

Full sovereignty in November (Tribuna)

The November 3 local elections for the northern Kosovo municipalities are gaining a broader political dimension than the election of municipal mayors and assembly members. In a broader dimension, Kosovo and Serbia are interpreting these elections according to their will, while internally in the northern part of Kosovo there is a “war” between those favoring and opposing the local elections.

The Balkans Group for Research issued its latest report that in Pristina’s eyes the November 3 local elections imply the end of Serbia’s administration in the northern municipalities. “Pristina believes that in November it will cement its sovereignty and territorial integrity, whereas Belgrade hopes that the European Union will reward its cooperation with membership talks,” the report notes.

Vetëvendosje: New airport terminal without a construction permit (Zëri)

Officials of Vetëvendosje Movement said in a press conference that the construction of the new terminal at Pristina Airport was done without procuring a necessary license. MP Liburn Aliu accused the Government of Kosovo for allowing the Turkish company “Limak” to go ahead with construction knowing that it has not obtained a construction permit. “Prime Minister Thaçi goes and inaugurates a building without license which his ministry is responsible of issuing. If we then take a look at the municipalities, we note the same thing happening there as well”, said Aliu.

BIK opposes President (Tribuna)

The Islamic Community of Kosovo (BIK) said on Thursday that Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga’s statement that headscarves would not be allowed in schools is unacceptable. “The Islamic Community of Kosovo finds that Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga’s statement against the right to education of Kosovo pupils that wear headscarves in public schools, is surprising, unacceptable, irresponsible and unconstitutional,” BIK said in a reaction. “Kosovo’s definition as a secular state has to do with the state’s relations with religious communities, but this in no way gives right to the Minister of Education, municipal directorates, or directorates of schools to deny the right to education to our pupils, because the right to education is guaranteed by the Constitution of Kosovo.”

Arbër Vllahiu, advisor to President Jahjaga, reacted to BIK’s communiqué: “The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, is guarantor of the constitutionality of our country and guarantor of the democratic functioning of the state of Kosovo which according to its Constitution is a secular state. President Jahjaga will uphold the interests of the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, without any differences, and she will also uphold the Constitution of the country which embodies and guarantees the human rights of all our citizens,” Vllahiu said.