• Haradinaj: Evidence that humanitarian crisis in the north is being staged (RTK)
• Pacolli: There is no crisis in the north (Epoka)
• Shala: Lack of food products, Serbia’s propaganda against tariff (RTK)
• Serbia starts implementing plan for a “humanitarian crisis” in the north (Zeri)
• Leaflet calling on Serbs not to buy products from Albanians (Kosovapress)
• Re-evaluation of visa liberalization requirements (Koha)
• Fajon: Lack of visa liberalization for Kosovo, injustice by EU (Zeri)
• Norwegian Foreign Minister: Dialogue to resume as soon as possible (Zeri)
• Government withdraws draft law on funding of political parties (media)
• Coalition of NGOs calls on MPs to adopt child protection act ASAP (Koha)

Haradinaj: Evidence that humanitarian crisis in the north is being staged (RTK)

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said after the government meeting on Tuesday that government that the government is aware of Serbia’s plan to stage a humanitarian crisis in the north of Kosovo. “We have evidence of this scenario and of the people involved. We will not allow lack of any products because they are citizens of Kosovo. We will de-conspire these strange actions,” Haradinaj said. Haradinaj also argued that “there is a tendency to make us close our eyes towards smuggling. We should not dare to allow this, not because of some product, but smugglers can carry also narcotics and arms, and we should not allow this … Kosovo will strengthen the rule of law in the north.”

Pacolli: There is no crisis in the north (Epoka)

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli disputed reports by Serbian media and authorities in Belgrade about a humanitarian crisis in the northern part of Kosovo. “There is no humanitarian crisis in Kosovo ever since 1999 when Serbian forces left Kosovo and there will never be such crisis.” Pacolli said. “I appeal on the international community to monitor and condemn these projects of Serbia which are aimed at destabilizing Kosovo and to punish aim to destabilise Kosovo.”

Shala: Lack of food products in the north, Serbia’s propaganda against tariff (RTK)

Kosovo’s Minister of Trade and Industry Endrit Shala said on Tuesday that claims about lack of food and medical products in the northern part of Kosovo are Serbia’s propaganda against the import tariff. “It is all propaganda and there is no lack of food products in the north. This is Serbia’s plan against the import tariff. Otherwise, every citizen of Kosovo has equal access to food and other goods,” Shala said.

Serbia starts implementing plan for a “humanitarian crisis” in the north (Zeri)

Zeri reports on its front page that today Serb citizens in the northern part of Kosovo will start faking a humanitarian catastrophe there, with Serbian media broadcasting how 40 people fight over a bread. The Kosovo Government meanwhile argues that the humanitarian crisis is being staged, because there are enough food and medical products in the north. The paper also reports that Ministry of Health officials denied claims that there is a lack of medical products in the north. They said there are two licensed pharmaceutical warehouses in Leposavic, Zubin Potok, Zvecan and Mitrovica where people can get supplies. “The residents of these municipalities are equal citizens of the Republic of Kosovo and they can be supplied in every part of the country where pharmaceutical entities operate,” Ministry officials said.

Leaflet calling on Serbs not to buy products from Albanians (Kosovapress)

The news agency has published a copy of a leaflet written in Cyrillic calling on Serb citizens in the northern part of Kosovo not to buy any products from Albanian business in the south. Serbia’s plan for staging a humanitarian catastrophe in the north is now being implemented, Kosovapress reports. Citing unnamed sources, the news agency adds that starting on Thursday, all food stores will be closed, so that on June 28, on St Vitus Day, when many people come from Serbia to the northern part of Kosovo and Gazimestan, a “grave humanitarian situation” can be presented to them. It also reports that members of the so-called Civil Protection organization will stay close to bridges over Ibar River these days to see if any Serb citizens are bringing products from Mitrovica South.

Re-evaluation of visa liberalization requirements (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that although the European Commission has concluded that Kosovo has met all requirements in the visa liberalisation process, the Haradinaj-led government has agreed to enter a re-evaluation process by signing individual protocols with different member states of the European Union. Haradinaj’s office did not provide explanations, whereas EU integration experts in Pristina argue that the initiative could be dangerous and a setback in the process. The paper learns that technical groups will be set up to re-evaluate the requirements.

Fajon: Lack of visa liberalization for Kosovo, injustice by EU (Zeri)

The paper quotes on its front page European Parliament member Tanja Fajon as saying that the European Union is being unjust toward Kosovo for not giving it visa liberalization despite the fact that Kosovo’s authorities have met all the requirements in the process. “I feel bad that the latest conclusions of the Council were less promising and concrete than the initial proposals in terms of visa liberalisation for Kosovo. It is unacceptable that despite the implementation of criteria, the Council has yet to give the green light for visa liberalisation for the citizens of Kosovo. In my capacity as European Parliament rapporteur, I will continue to fight for Kosovo and apply pressure on the member states to deliver on their promises,” Fajon told the paper on Tuesday.

Norwegian Foreign Minister: Dialogue to resume as soon as possible (Zeri)

In one of its front-page stories, the paper quotes Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide as saying that the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia must resume as soon as possible. Soreide, who is visiting Kosovo, met with President Hashim Thaci, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli. Soreide said Norway strongly supports Kosovo in its Euro-Atlantic path and that there is no alternative to dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. She also said that Norway would support Kosovo in the visa liberalization process and for membership in international organizations.

Government withdraws draft law on funding of political parties (media)

Several media report that the Kosovo Government withdrew on Tuesday the draft law on the funding of political parties. The decision comes after many reactions and protests by civil society organizations. Nataliya Apostolova, head of the EU Office in Kosovo, too had called for the draft law to be withdrawn.

Coalition of NGOs calls on MPs to adopt child protection act ASAP (Koha)

The coalition of NGOs for child protection in Kosovo (KOMF) held a press conference in front of the Kosovo Assembly on Tuesday calling on MPs to adopt the child protection act as soon as possible, the news website reports. The draft law has been initiated several years ago but has yet to be adopted by the Assembly. NGO representatives said the child protection act aims to protect children from all forms of abuse, misuse, negligence or other forms that may threaten their lives, security, health, education and development.