Headlines - 12.04.2013

Quint wants the dialogue to continue (Zëri)

Representatives of Quint member states share the common view that the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia should continue. According to them, there is no alternative to dialogue. An unnamed official from Brussels told the paper that Serbia will definitely accept the agreement. “I believe we can expect a positive answer from Belgrade in the coming days. Nevertheless, Quint countries are looking into the possibility of a new dialogue, a new way to achieve success. This has to happen because this is the only way and the process cannot fail”, the source said. 

Thaçi disinterested in reporting to Assembly (Koha Ditore)

It appears media reports on the meeting between Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and his counterpart, Ivica Dacic, are sufficient for the Assembly of Kosovo and Thaçi himself. Despite how Thaçi requested to report to the Assembly as soon as he came back from Brussels in other rounds of discussions, this time he did not express interest to do so and a such request did not come from the Assembly either. Sources from the Government told this daily that “there were no practical reasons to report on the meeting of 2 April. The Prime Minister will report to the Assembly only if the agreement is reached.” Representatives of the opposition said that they have not requested that Thaçi report, because he does not say anything more than what was already reported in the media. 

Palokaj: EU failed to have unified stance on Kosovo status (Koha Ditore)

The European Union failed to have a joint stance towards the status of Kosovo and this was the main obstacle in the process of the integration of Kosovo, but also the Kosovo Government did not do enough in fulfilling the tasks, which are in connection with the integration process. This was said about the presentation of the study “Relations Kosovo–EU, the history of unfulfilled aspirations”, by Koha Ditore journalist Augustin Palokaj, for the organization of the Forum 2015. Palokaj called the countries of the region that approve laws in conformity to European standards without the will to implement them, “chronic disease”.

Çitaku: Kosovo should have plan “B” (Epoka e Re)

According to the Minister of European Integration, Vlora Çitaku, Kosovo and the European Union should have a plan “B” if Serbia refuses to sign the agreement offered by Brussels. According to her, Kosovo and EU should not remain hostages ofSerbia. “If we do not have a tripartite agreement betweenKosovo,Serbiaand EU, we should have a bilateral agreement between Kosovo and EU,” said Çitaku on Thursday. She added that no matter what the reaction of Serbia towards the security structures in the north is, Kosovo and EU should not back away. 

Jahjaga risks facing Constitutional Court (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga is expected to face the Constitutional Court as LDK and AKR announced on Thursday that they will decide in their respective party forums whether to request that the Constitutional Court give an answer on the dilemma whether the president violated the Constitution when appointing Blerim Shala as political coordinator in the dialogue.

Officials of both parties have evaluated that it is a violation. Koha Ditore writes that if LDK and AKR raise the issue of the decree of Jahjaga in the Constitutional Court and if it confirms the violation, the Constitution foresees that, “the President Kosovo can be dismissed from the Assembly if…the Constitutional Court defined that he or she seriously violated the Constitution.” 

Albanian representatives absent from exhumations in north (Koha Ditore)

Members of the missing persons families accused local institutions of negligence in determining the fate of their loved ones. They said that the absence of Albanian experts in the exhumations in the north is concerning. “Exhumations in Mitrovica have been going on for two days now and there is no government official, no pathologist, no Albanian,” said Bajram Çerkini, representative of missing persons families. He also expressed concern that expert teams from Belgrade are on site, while no one is there from Pristina.

Jacobson: Fight crime and corruption (Kosova Sot)

US Ambassador in Kosovo Tracy Jacobson said that the USA would help Kosovo, not only in the return and integration of communities, but also in the rule of law and fight against corruption. “The rule of law in your country is just as important as the integration and return of communities. On these important issues, Kosovo will have the support of the USA,” said Jacobson during her meeting with the new minister for community and returns. 

Americans prepared Çeku as PM of independence (Tribuna)

Citing Wikileaks, the paper notes that Hashim Thaçi became the prime minister of independence as a result of an unpredictable process. Diplomatic cables recently published by Wikileaks show details on how U.S. diplomacy was preparing for independence to be declared in 2006 and how they were preparing then-Prime Minister Agim Çeku for independence.

A diplomatic cable (from the U.S. Office in Pristina) explains details of U.S. diplomat Frank Wisner’s visit to Pristina on 2 August, 2006. Wisner discussed plans for declaring independence with then-Prime Minister Çeku. “Wisner asked Çeku to start thinking about long-term strategies for democratic and economic development in Kosovo. The analysis had to assess things that could do go wrong after the declaration of independence,” then-U.S. Ambassador Tina Kaidanow wrote.

Kosovo’s independence however was declared two years after the Çeku-Wisner meeting. The United Nations Security Council did not accept the Ahtisaari Plan and launched an additional process (Troika) in an attempt to reach an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. The new process postponed the final status resolution and PDK leader Hashim Thaçi, leader of the PDK which was then the biggest opposition party, took the country to elections.

Exchanging territories, dangerous idea (Epoka e Re)

The leader of BDI, Ali Ahmeti and Presevo political leader Ragmi Mustafa stated after their meeting in Tetovo that Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic’s idea to exchange territories between Kosovo and Serbia is dangerous. Ahmeti said that Serbia should not be thinking about changing borders, but should recognize the independence of Kosovo; such action would contribute to peace and stability of the region. “I think that it is a very dangerous for the entire region; that has a domino effect. I think that Dacic made the last statement to delay the agreement between Kosovo andSerbia. I think that Belgrade should be much more responsible when borders are concerned,” said Ahmeti.

Mustafa recalled the referendum of Presevo citizens in 1992 for autonomy and possibility to unite with Kosovo, however, according to him, this should be in no way related to the exchange of territories.