Thaçi will request from Dacic to discuss the Court in the north (Koha Ditore)

Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo and Minister of Justice,  Hajredin Kuçi, stated on Friday that the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, will request during the next round of the dialogue making of the main court of Mitrovica functional, which is in the northern part of the city.

The fifth round of the discussions between Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic, will be held on 19 and 20 February in Brussels, under mediation of Baroness Catherine Ashton. The request to discuss courts in northern Mitrovica, comes five years and two days after Albanian judges and prosecutors were expelled from the District Court of Mitrovica, reports Koha Ditore.

Officials in Brussels confirmed that Kosovo’s Prime Minister Thaçi, will also meet with the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso.

Ashton: The most important part of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia (dailies)

The European Union High Representative, Baroness Catherine Ashton, stated in Washington that the most important part of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia will proceed next week. Ashton made this statement after her meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, and stressed that the United States are a very important partner in the efforts to find a solution. “I have the most important part of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia next week, when the Prime Ministers of both countries will meet for two days,” said Ashton.

The U.S Secretary of State John Kerry commended Ashton’s efforts in the mediation of the discussions between Kosovo and Serbia. “She has met the most significant figures of Serbia and Kosovo. She has worked persistently on facing the challenges to bring the parties closer and to resolve the problems among them,” stated Kerry.

Kiesewetter: Serbia to respect sovereignty of Kosovo (dailies)

Demochristian Deputy and member of the Commission for Foreign and European Affairs at the Federal Parliament (bundestag) said for Deutche Welle that he will request from the Serbian party during his visit in the region, to stop building parallel structures in the north of Kosovo and respect sovereignty of Kosovo. He stated that it is important for Germany that minorities in Serbia and Macedonia are treated in the manner that they would stay in their country and would not seek political asylum in Germany.

He stated that there is a range of issues that have to be resolved with Serbia, such as illumination of the attack on the German Embassy, and good neighborly relations with Kosovo.

Hashim Thaçi and seven deputy leaders (dailies)

Jakup Krasniqi and Fatmir Limaj, definitely lost their positions at the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK.) Even though they did not participate at the election process of the party, the two PDK officials, from now on will only be members of the leadership. Basri Musmurati, will be replacing Jakup Krasniqi in the position of the Secretary of the Party, while Kadri Veseli took Fatmir Limaj’s position as Principal Deputy Leader. The other nominated deputy leaders of the Democratic Party of Kosovo are Hajredin Kuçi, Enver Hoxhaj, Arsim Bajrami, Vlora Citaku, Memli Krasniqi and Adem Grabovci. After the meeting of the party’s Steering Council, Hajredin Kuçi informed the media that Belrand Stavileci will continue to be the spokesperson of the party. He stated that Krasniqi and Limaj will continue to be part of the leadership of PDK.

Former Secretary of the party and current Speaker of Kosovo Assembly, Jakup Krasniqi, stated that he was elected against his will. He stated for KosovaPress that he does not want to draw attention from the celebration of Kosovo’s fifth anniversary, however, immediately after this, he might not even be member of the party.

The U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry congratulates citizens of Kosovo (dailies)

The United States State Department has congratulated citizens of Kosovo on the marking of the fifth anniversary of the declaration of Independence of Kosovo. On his statement, the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, stated that the United Stets remains firmly committed to supporting an independent, sovereign and multiethnic Kosovo.

“On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of the Republic of Kosovo as you celebrate your fifth anniversary of independence on February 17,” stated Kerry. He added that the last year, was one of great milestones for Kosovo, including the end of supervised independence, membership of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and progress in the dialogue with Serbia to normalize relations.

Mesic: A half-war situation should not be allowed in Kosovo (dailies)

Former President of Croatia, stated for Radio Free Europe that the current situation of practically half-war in Kosovo should not be allowed. “This harms both Kosovo and Serbia,” he said. Asked about the model of two Germanys for the resolution of the situation in Kosovo, Mesic said it is not clear to him why it was waited so long, “when it was clear that some kind of new union between Kosovo and Serbia is not possible anymore.” “The international community should have done the utmost for Kosovo to reach its independence as soon as possible, Serbia should have not recognized Kosovo and things would function,” said Mesic.