Headlines - 28.03.2013

Government regulation on Ashton’s plan for north (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo has started to prepare legal basis in order to adopt to a still unsigned agreement with Serbia, focusing on organizing the municipalities with Serb majority, under an umbrella mechanism. Government unanimously and without a debate, adopted on Wednesday the regulation which urges inter-municipal cooperation, and determines the fields, competencies and criteria for such cooperation, aiming social and economic development. This daily claims to posses a copy of the document, endorsed only five days after Baroness Catherine Ashton proposed to the parties a draft agreement for the municipalities with Serb majority. Parts of this regulation reflect the content of the draft agreement proposed by Ashton, and it also contains dispositions on the forms of financing and cooperation.

Kosovo with remarks on Ashton’s eight point plan (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo authorities have expressed their remarks on Catherine Ashton’s plan, which concerns functioning of the umbrella mechanism for the municipalities with Serb majority. Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi confirmed on Wednesday existence of a plan proposed to the parties by Ashton during their last meeting in Brussels, and which was immediately objected by Serbia. He said that remarks on this plan have been submitted to the EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, however he did not want to speak about the points objected by Kosovar party. “Let me be open to the public now, we have a document, that Ms. Ashton presented to us, and we have submitted our remarks in written, at the very same day. We have made some remarks that we have considered would make the document better, on the language that would avoid double meaning and would have been much more efficient for implementation,” said Kuçi at a press conference after the meeting of the Government.

Thaçi had three meetings on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (Koha Ditore)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, met on Wednesday separately with the Ambassadors of the Quint countries, and ambassadors of the European Union, accredited in Pristina, in order to brief them on the dialogue for normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. With the same intention, he has also met with the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj. “We have full support of all Quint countries regarding our approach and of course, Quint countries welcome reach of the agreement between the state of Kosovo and that of Serbia in the next meeting, on 2 April,” said Thaçi during the Government meeting on Wednesday. “I have also stressed the necessity, in case of the reach of the agreement, for complete involvement of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, EULEX and NATO, in order to implement the agreements on freedom of movement and creation of safe environment in the Republic of Kosovo.” Referring to his meeting with Haradinaj, PM Thaçi praised the role of AAK on its approach to the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

Blomeyer: There is no plan B (Lajm)

German Ambassador in Pristina, Peter Blomeyer, stated he hopes that the next meeting between Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels, will be successful. “I think that there are some positive indications. Both parties have stated that they have reached significant progress and that discussions are taking place on a good atmosphere. Baroness Catherine Ashton also stated that she is optimistic, therefore, we all hope on success,” he said. “There is no plan B, dialogue has to result with success,” he added.

Balaj attacked physically (Koha Ditore)

Vetëvendosje activist, Nazlie Balaj has been attacked on Wednesday at around 20:30 hrs at the entrance of her apartment in Pristina. Vetëvendosje movement informed on the attack through a press communiqué. The newspaper reports that the efforts to contact Kosovo police late last night were vain. Kohavision, broadcasted during the Interaktiv show scenes of Nazlie Balaj while leaving the Emergency Center, at Kosovo University Clinical Center, accompanied by two members of Kosovo police.

On 20 March 2013, Nazlie Balaj found a letter at the entrance of her apartment in Pristina which threatening that she would get a bullet on her head, if she continued to defend shame.

Svilanovic: Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia possible (dailies)

Serbia’s former Foreign Minister, and current general secretary of the general council for regional cooperation, Goran Svilanovic, has called on his state and the Republic of Kosovo not to miss the current opportunity. He said that  European path of the two countries depends on the outcome of negotiations. “I am optimistic that it is possible to reach an agreement. The current Government Serbia, during these month has shown decisiveness  in fighting corruption, it is a sustainable government, which is not only based in a dried up proposals, therefore I hope on an agreement and I call both countries to be decisive,” said Svilanovic.

Party to attract voters in the north (Tribuna)

Serbs in the north are planning to create a single party or a political list. The announcement of achievement of an agreement for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia has prompted one part of Serbs to think seriously about the creation of a new party or political list. Reliable sources told Tribuna newspaper that the new Serb political subject aims to involve the current Serb political leaders in the north of Kosovo and a few Serb high officials who are currently holding positions at Kosovo municipalities. “There have been efforts to also include Rada Trajkovic from Gracanica in this political force, as well as head of Shtrpce and Ranillug municipalities, head of Gracanica and some other Serb officials from other municipalities,” said the source of the newspaper who preferred to remain anonymous. Rada Trajkovic on the other hand stated that it is early to speak about this issue and that there are no news on this direction. Local leaders of the Serbs in the north did not want to speak at this stage either. They said that this issue is being speculated by Serb Deputy Prime Minister in Kosovo, Slobodan Petrovic.