Thaci: Agreement with Serbia, difficult process that opened a new chapter (telegrafi.com) Kosovo Prime Minister said on Saturday that the process of signing the agreement with Serbia was not easy, but it has opened a new chapter. He said the signing of the agreement marks a victory for peace, stability and Euro-Atlantic integration of the region. Thaci made these remarks at the annual meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Istanbul. "The process was certainly not easy, it had its difficult moments, but what is most important we managed to move forward the interests of our people and country, but above all we opened a new chapter of cooperation, the Europeanization of Kosovo, Serbia and the region." "Last year we started dialogue for the normalization of relations between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. Dialogue was brokered by the European Union, Baroness Ashton, and supported by the U.S. Last month we reached an agreement that I would qualify as historic, it marks the first agreement after a century-long hostility and conflict between Kosovo and Serbia." Egypt has recognized Kosovo, up to President Morsi to announce decision (rtklive.com) "We held trilateral meetings organized by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan with the Prime Minister of Tunisia. We also had a special meeting with the Prime Minister of Egypt and we discussed accelerating the process of recognition from Egypt. The Prime Minister of Egypt confirmed in our presence that Egypt has already decided to recognize Kosovo, and that authorities in Kuwait, President Morsi, now have to announce the recognition of Kosovo. Recognitions from Egypt and Tunisia in the coming days are very important for Kosovo because it opens way to other countries to make such decisions," Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said in Istanbul on Friday. Kuci: Agreement will not fail (gazetaexpress.com) "The right of Kosovo institutions to exercise their authorities throughout the country cannot be disputed, but we are trying to use the path that favors dialogue and agreement," Kosovo's Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuci said in an interview for Deutsche Welle. Asked what will happen after 20 June if the agreement is not implemented, Kuci said, "I don't believe the agreement will fail. We are going to have tangible actions. We are ready for this, this is why we went to Brussels and we will go back there again whenever this is needed. The Prime Minister of Kosovo, the delegation of Kosovo, are ready to go there whenever required, we are ready to reach an implementation plan in the spirit and content of the agreement we signed on April 19. I believe June 20 will make us undertake actions as soon as possible". Selimi: Serbia is battling Kosovo (Epoka e Re) In an interview for the paper, Vetevendosje MP and former KLA commander, Rexhep Selimi said Serbia will say no to an implementation plan for the agreement on normalization of relations with Kosovo, if it does not serve Belgrade's interests. Selimi said this proves Serbia's typical war against Kosovo. "I'm not saying it's a game, this is Serbia's typical war against Kosovo and its integrity. In other words, Serbia is continuing to battle Kosovo even after the April 19 agreement. Serbia is not pleased. Absurdly, only Thaci is pleased with this agreement with Dacic," Selimi said. Criminal will assist in implementation of agreement (Tribuna) Zvonko Veselinovic, controversial Kosovo-Serb businessman from Mitrovica, is suspected of funding the establishment of the Serbian Progressive Party led by Serbia's principal deputy prime minister Aleksandar Vucic, in Kosovo. This is reportedly the reason why Veselinovic was released from prison after the government change and Tomislav Nikolic's rise to power. Authorities in Pristina view Veselinovic as a criminal and the person in charge of barricades in the north. For some Serbs, on the other hand, he is a patriot and a hero. Veselinovic was arrested in December 2011 in Raska on charges of illegal possession of 14 leasing trucks. After a year in prison, Veselinovic was released on bail and cannot leave the territory of Central Serbia. His attempt to enter Kosovo would be seen as an attempt to flee and he would be sent back to jail. Sources told the paper Veselinovic will return the favor to his political idols, Nikolic and Vucic, and will help in the implementation of the Pristina-Belgrade agreement. Romania recognizes Kosovo passports (rtklive.com) Romania is the second country after Slovakia to recently recognize passports issued by the Republic of Kosovo. Kosovo's Deputy Foreign Minister Petriti Selimi announced the news on his Twitter account.