Clinton and Ashton in Pristina to support the dialogue (dailies)

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, who were welcomed by Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga, did not give statements to media upon arrival at Pristina airport.

According to the agenda, Clinton and Ashton will meet with President Jahjaga and with Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi on Wednesday morning and, after meeting him, will jointly address the media. Meanwhile, they will also meet with political parties in the Kosovo Assembly building.

Clinton and Ashton are coming in Kosovo to support the dialogue for the normalization of relations with Serbia, led by Prime Ministers Hashim Thaçi and Ivica Dacic, the papers highlight.

Both diplomats stayed in Belgrade where they met with Serb President Tomislav Nikolic and Prime Minister Dacic. After the meetings with the heads of the Serb state, they stated that they do not request that Serbia recognize Kosovo, but for the normalization of relations. However, US Secretary of State Clinton clarified in Belgrade that Kosovo is an independent state and the border issues in the Balkans have been defined.

Clinton to encourage the process of talks (Zëri – page 4)

The paper carries the views of Kosovo political analysts on the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and EU High Representative for Security and Foreign Policy Catherine Ashton.

According to Ilir Deda from Kosovo-based think tank KIPRED, the EU’s commitment in the Balkans is weak and therefore requires backing from the US. “This joint visit shows that no movement in the Balkans can be done without Americans,” said Deda. He added that apart from providing support for normalization of relations between Kosovo andSerbia, their visit will be used as an opportunity for Ashton to present dialogue topics. “Normalizing relations with Serbia will have no meaning if by the end of the process, Kosovo as a state continues to remain outside the UN and unrecognized by all EU countries,” pointed out Deda.

At the same time Behxhet Shala from the Council of Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms said Pristina cannot ask for anything. “This meeting has one goal and that is to ask Kosovo to give in on the north; to grant it special status,” said Shala.

Pacolli: I will leave the coalition if Thaçi asks (Koha Ditore)

Deputy Prime Minister and leader of New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) Behgjet Pacolli in an interview for KTV dismissed reports that he was involved in a conflict of interest and said signing the memorandum of understanding in Nigeria guaranteed Kosovo provision of services to the country at a value of 500 million euro.

Speaking about the current coalition government, Pacolli said he does not intend to leave it even if theAlliancefor Future of Kosovo (AAK) decides to join in. He said he would break the coalition agreement only if such a thing is requested by Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi.

He further insisted that Mali’s recognition is genuine, like that from Nigeria, and the note verbale confirming recognition of independence does not need to be sent to Kosovo authorities. Pacolli also revealed that he is a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.

PDK not to apply “one member, one vote” principle (Koha Ditore – page 4)

The paper reports that the leading Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) will not apply the “one member, one vote” principle in its upcoming elections - a request made by its deputy leader Fatmir Limaj. However, Limaj’s proposal is expected to be discussed in one of the future meetings of PDK’s presidency.

One of PDK deputy leaders told the paper that Limaj’s proposal is not feasible: “Mr. Limaj is a lawyer and he should be aware what the Statute says about statutory changes. Changes can only be made in the party’s congress and organizing such a congress would take up at least five weeks.”

No solution for the north that would satisfy all parties (dailies)

The issue of the north of Kosovo can be solved by fully and peacefully implementing the Ahtisaari Plan, but this would only satisfy the Kosovo Government, the Serbs in southern Kosovo, and part of the international community. This would be unacceptable for Serbia, Serbs in northern Kosovo, other EU countries, and Russia.

This was said in a conference held on Tuesday by the Research Institute for European Issues and Development RIDEA, where it was determined that no solution could satisfy all parties involved in the issue of the north of Kosovo.

Five possible scenarios for the north, which have been included in the investigative report of RIDEA, were also presented at the conference. “The division of Kosovo can cause domino effect, as in the case of Albanians of Preseva Valley, Albanians in Macedonia. Consequently, while taking into considerations the facts, it can be said that this solution is not possible and also it is not in accordance with European values and principles”, emphasized Labinot Grajcevci, member of Research Institute for European Issues and Development.

HRW: Rule of Law, media freedom still threat in Kosovo (Kosova Sot – page 3)

According to Human Rights Watch, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton should stress the importance of improving human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Kosovo during their visit to Western Balkans.

“This would mean the end of political discrimination in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and ensuring of the rights of Roma and other minorities in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Serbia, along with protecting media freedom in the entire region,” stated HRW, also  claiming that all three have made minor progress on human rights during 2012.

“Kosovo should do more to improve the position of Roma returned by force from the Western Europe, despite the two national strategies endorsed that aim their integration,” says the Human Rights Watch.

Jahjaga interested on rights of communities at local level (dailies)

President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga paid a visit to Mamusha, Prizren, Rahovec, and Hoça e Madhe yesterday, where she met local authorities and other mechanisms that promote and safeguard rights of communities and gender issues. At the end of her visit in Prizren, Jahjaga said the city is a symbol of tolerance and understanding and its tradition reflects values in Kosovo.

Jahjaga offered her support to local authorities in providing more qualitative services for all Kosovo citizens. Jahjaga was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Local Government Minister Slobodan Petrovic.