Steps forward for Kosovo, Albania with conditions (Koha Ditore – front page)

The European Commission is expected to recommend that negotiations start with Kosovo with a few “short term” conditions and propose granting candidate status to Albania with conditions as well. With regards to Serbia, the EC will clearly state that relations with Kosovo are the main condition in its path towards the EU.

The document clearly shows that the European Commission will not recommend a start date for negotiations with Serbia, a condition of improved relations with Kosovo to implement all agreements achieved during the dialogue.

“Disagreements in connections with inter-ethnic relations or about status, especially in the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, have continued to prevent the functioning of institutions, while frustrating the process of reforms, sometimes having wide regional implications. Following the path to EU is the best way to address these problems. Difficult ethnic issues can be addressed successfully through dialogue and compromises,” the document reads.

Thaçi leads team Pristina? (Epoka e Re – page 2)

The European Commission is waiting for Prime Minister of Serbia Ivica Dacic to officially confirm that he will take political leadership of Belgrade's negotiating team before the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue at December's Summit Of The European Union. Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi already expressed his readiness to lead the Pristina negotiating team, said sources from Brussels, adding that Pristina, Belgrade and several outside parties continue to map out the location, terms, and main topics of the upcoming dialogue.

Mustafa for early elections, others against! (Zëri – front page)

The leading opposition party, Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), faces two major challenges: continuing to battle for early elections and insisting on blocking election reforms. “We cannot allow a satiation where the ruling party walks out of the Assembly and we shut our eyes and say this is the way we should continue,” said Mustafa for KTV.

Experts claim that both concepts are flawed because entering elections with the existing law would inevitably result in defeat for LDK and blocking elections reform would prolong the mandate of the president of Kosovo and the Thaçi-led government.

PDK seeks deputies (Express – front page)

Two days before the Parliament votes on the issue of whether to continue with privatization, the biggest party in the government has mobilized its deputies for Thursday’s session. During a PDK Parliamentary Group meeting, where the party leader also participated, the duties for each of them were assigned. The head of this Parliamentary Group told the daily after the meeting that his party has the sufficient number to vote on the proposed resolution to continue with the privatization process in Kosovo.

Another official from PDK, on the condition of remaining anonymous, told the daily that they no longer trust Fatmir Limaj and Jakup Krasniqi’s vote. “It is true that we have the numbers, we have 65 and with these numbers we can outvote any decision at the Assembly, however we can already calculate minus two, because their positions are known,” he said.

Kadaj-Bujupi: AAK hasn’t changed its position (dailies)

Member of the Assembly from the Alliance for Future of Kosovo (AAK), Donika Kadaj-Bujupi, rebutted the statement given by Ardian Gjini, head of AAK parliamentary group, and Secretary Burim Ramadani on how AAK MPs agreed not to vote for the motion presented by Vetëvendosje on privatisation.

In a press release, Kadaj-Bujupi said the statements present individual positions of the MPs. “Allow me to inform you that my stance on the privatisation process in Kosovo has not changed,” said Kadaj-Bujupi. She said Gjini and Ramadani made their comments without consulting the party and that, while the AAK is not against the privatisation process, it opposes the way it is being carried out.

Italy: Serbia not obliged to recognize Kosovo for EU (Express – page 4)

Presidents of Italy and Serbia agreed on Tuesday in Rome that Serbia should not face additional conditions for EU membership. Napolitano said that the condition for Serbia to recognize the independence of Kosovo before negotiations on membership begin is not a joint policy of the EU.

“We will support all the efforts of Serbia in the phase of negotiations for membership in the European Union. We are not among those countries or governments of the Union that present obstacles, respectively request recognition of the independence of Kosovo,” said Napolitano.

Nikolic said that he will never accept the independence of Kosovo and that he will decide to remain out of the EU if this issue represents an obstacle for its integration.

Use the model of two Germany’s (Epoka e Re – front page)

Former KFOR commander Klaus Reinhardt, who served in Kosovo during the years 1999-2000, told Epoka e Re that Kosovo is a modern state and is above rule of law. Reinhardt said that he is unhappy with the situation in the north and the solution is found in the dialogue in Brussels. Reinhardt stated that the model of “two Germany’s” would normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

Swoboda: Serbia will recognize Kosovo eventually (Express – page 5)

Head of the Social Democrats at the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda, stated that sooner or later, the time will come when it will be necessary for Serbia to recognize the fact that Kosovo is an independent State. “This has to be done as soon as possible, but this is not a pre-condition to open the negotiations for acceptance, and we never said to the European Parliament that this is a precondition for Serbia. I think that in the end, prior Serbia’s acceptance in the EU, this should be done. I do not see any other manner but for Serbia to recognize Kosovo and for special relations between Serbia and Kosovo and between Serbia and Serb population in Kosovo should be established.”

Mustafa’s killer, Parliament member? (dailies)

Express reports on its front-page that Kosovo’s Special Prosecution identified suspects in the murder of Xhemajl Mustafa, senior advisor and close associate to late Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova. Mustafa was killed in front of his apartment on November 2000. Unidentified sources confirmed the information to Pristina-based Klan Kosova TV station. Sources said one of the suspects is a member of Kosovo Parliament and the other a member of Kosovo Police. The EU’s rule-of-law mission (EULEX) could neither confirm nor deny that the killers of Xhemajl Mustafa have been identified.

Bota Sot also reports on its front-page that EULEX Police identified four people suspected of killing Mustafa, adding that it knows the names of the suspects but will not publish them for security reasons during ongoing investigations.

Reçica suspected of asking money for Asanaj (Koha Ditore – front page)

Adelina Reçica, the wife of late Kosovo Privatization Agency chief Dino Asanaj, was interviewed yesterday by police as a suspect regarding asking for money for the Grand Hotel. Unidentified sources from Kosovo Police told the paper that Reçica was interviewed about her involvement in Astrit Haraçia’s group as a mediator of Dino Asanaj.

“She was interviewed by investigators at the Department for Serious Crimes. She was interviewed based on Remzi Ejupi’s description of her at the meeting where millions of Euros were discussed,” the source said. “She was very frightened. She was trembling all the time and could not speak freely out of fear. Adelina Reçica gave signals that she can reveal facts that could help shed light on the case.” EULEX confirmed the interviewing.

Sparkes to talk with Serbia to end livestock smuggling (Koha Ditore – page 2)

The smuggling of livestock from Serbia into Kosovo is one of the problems endangering the health of citizens. Livestock entering through mountainous border terrain are slaughtered and afterwards consumed without being controlled by Kosovar authorities. This problem has also caused concern with EULEX.

Deputy Head of EULEX Andy Sparkes on Tuesday promised that he will talk about this issue with high officials of Serbia to prevent this. “The smuggling of livestock from Serbia is very dangerous, because of the possibility of spreading diseases. We at EULEX will talk about this issue with high officials of Serbia to prevent this occurrence, which does not benefit the integrations of both countries. The most damage is caused to Serbia, which is not doing much to fight this occurrence,” he said.