UNMIK Headlines 8 April
Pristina expects Belgrade to accept the agreement (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that Pristina is waiting for Belgrade to say “yes” this week to the agreement for the north of Kosovo. Deputy Prime Minister, Hajredin Kuçi, said on Sunday that Kosovo is expecting Belgrade to reflect positively in connection with the offered agreement. “Kosovo will be engaged in order for the agreement to be achieved and after the issues about this are clarified, we will have other plans for extending rule of law. We are now focused only in the achievement of the agreement, and then we will try to act also with other plans,” said Kuçi when asked if Pristina is considering intervention in the north through security mechanisms.
“Failure to reach an agreement challenges all: it challenges Kosovo and Serbia, Serb citizens who are living there, also EU and others. The failure to achieve an agreement certainly creates a space which is much more unsuitable that any eventual agreement”, Kuçi further said adding that the dialogue is the best way to find a solution.
Zëri under headline, In the north only with peaceful means, writes that despite reports coming from Serb media that official Pristina with its Prime Minister, Hashim Thaçi, is preparing a police plan for intervention in the north in case an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia is not reached, Deputy Prime Minister, Hajredin Kuçi rejected such reports saying that Pristina continues to seek a peaceful solution. “We are focused on the achievement of the agreement and this is our aim. The achievement of the agreement guarantees peaceful and dignified integration of the citizens who are living in that part of our country,” said Kuçi. Zëri reports that authorities in Pristina did not confirm if they have a plan to deploy police forces to the north of Kosovo in case of an agreement is not reached.
KSF Commander, Kastrati, refutes Serb media reports (Lajm)
Commander of the Kosovo Security Force Kadri Kastrati dismissed reports carried in the Serb media alleging that KSF has raised the level of alertness and is getting ready to intervene in the north. Kastrati told Radio Kosova that the reports are “pure lies” and that KSF doesn’t have a mandate to undertake such activities. “It is KFOR and Kosovo Police that deal with those issues”, said Kastrati.
Ashton’s points cannot be unilaterally implemented (Tribuna)
Brussels’ current stance on renegotiating draft agreement presented by EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Catherine Ashton is that for the time being this is impossible. The two sides seem to be back to the situation from five years ago when Serbia rejected Ahtisaari’s package but Kosovo went on to unilaterally implement it. However, this time around, Kosovo cannot implement on its own Ashton’s draft agreement being that Kosovo authorities have no control in the north with Serbia maintaining influence over the territory.
Serbs to Thaçi: We are not afraid (dailies)
Illegal mayors of the four municipalities in the north of Kosovo expect from the leadership of Serbia to insist on the position of refusing the agreement proposed in Brussels. “In this occasion, we support the state (Serbian) negotiating team in the position of refusing the agreement offered by Brussels,” says a press release that they issued, reported Tanjug. They also express appreciation to the Serb Orthodox Church for the support to Serb nation in Kosovo. “Serb nation has no reason to fear empty threats of Hashim Thaçi and Serbs in the north are calm and ready to defend from these threats,” says their press release.
Judah: Too bad if the agreement is not signed (Epoka e Re)
“I think Kosovo is the biggest challenge, I think there is no other essential problem. The issue of non-definition of borders, in the sense that Serbia doesn’t recognize Kosovo’s independence, I think is the major problem. Foreigners but also people from the region were shocked by the quality of talks and by the fact that Dacic and Thaçi were able to discuss in such constructive fashion. If there is no agreement at the end of the process, it will be a tragedy. For the time being, until the last round, dialogue has gone quite well,” Balkans analyst Tim Judah told Serbian media.
“The crucial issue is whether or not there will be an agreement. I am not sure; everything is up in the air. A lot depends on the government in Belgrade. Thaçi has said that the Kosovar side agrees with the offered proposals. Belgrade on the other hand says it is not a good agreement and therefore has not accepted it.”
Appeals of Orthodox Church (Lajm)
Serb Orthodox Church has called on the President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic, Serbia’s Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic not to accept any condition of the European Union for Serbia’s membership. The request of the Church, signed by bishop Irinej, says that “The Church is not addressing you in an ordinary manner, but it is appealing not to accept Brussels conditions on Kosovo,” and “the Church is doing this because of the opinion claiming that the Church is keeping silent on Kosovo.”