Headlines - 25.08.2015

Pristina, Belgrade reach agreement on Association/Community? (Klan Kosova)

Under the caption “exclusive”, Klan Kosova quotes sources close to the Pristina-Belgrade negotiating process as saying that the main disagreement between the parties regarding the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipality has been overcome. The issue had to do with the Serbian side demanding special elections, different from local and general ones, for the Association/Community while the Kosovo side opposed the idea. Ultimately, sources said the parties agreed in principle for the representatives of the Association/Community to be appointed or delegated by municipalities and not directly voted by the people. The other agreement, according to Klan Kosova, has to do with Kosovo assets which will be considered as Kosovo property but not as property under Kosovo’s jurisdiction. Modalities of these agreements are to be ironed out in the course of the day, before the prime ministers of Kosovo and Serbia meet. 

Barricade on Ibar River to be removed on 1 October (Telegrafi)

Kosovo’s minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, said that last night during the technical talks between Pristina and Belgrade, it was agreed that the barricade over the Ibar River to be removed on 1 October this year. “The barricade will be removed by 1 October and will be ready for pedestrians and vehicles after its revitalization,” Tahiri said.  According to her, the technical talks yesterday were focused on the issue of energy and Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities. “There will be more discussions on the energy issue in the meeting of prime ministers, while there has been progress in the discussions about the Association/Community,” Tahiri said. 

Huge pressure on parties to reach agreement (Koha Ditore/Zeri)

Koha Ditore reports on the front page that Kosovo and Serbia prime ministers, Isa Mustafa and Aleksandar Vucic, are expected to agree on the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipality today in Brussels as well as on other issues like the energy, telecom and the so-called Peace Park in Mitrovica. Serbian PM Vucic said he was travelling to Brussels with the intention of reaching an agreement but stressed that he would not sign anything which was not in Serbia’s interests. At the same time, unnamed EU officials said it would be a truly unpleasant situation if, for the third time, the prime ministers fail to reach concrete results in the EU-facilitated dialogue. Meanwhile Zeri writes that according to the opposition parties and political analysts, if this Association/Community would have executive competencies, there could be unrest in Kosovo.

Mustafa recognizes progress in Pristina-Belgrade talks (Kosovapress)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa took to Facebook to comment on the ongoing Pristina-Belgrade talks and said it was in the interest of Kosovo and its people to reach agreements with Serbia. Acknowledging the progress made in yesterday’s round of talks, Mustafa added that there are still some issues that will be discussed at the level of prime ministers. “I assure you that we have analysed and consulted internal and external expertise on every issue and every element and we will seek a solution that creates prosperity for the country, strengthens the rule of law and economic progress”, wrote Mustafa.

Vucic: In Brussels, to reach agreement (Zeri)

Serbia’s Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic, said yesterday that the Serbian delegation is going to Brussels to reach an agreement and that Serbia will not accept anything that is conflicting to the interests of Serbia and Kosovo Serbs. According to him, the Serbian side expects that during today’s meeting between Prime Ministers of Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels, to reach an agreement on the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities. 

Murtezaj: No agreement if Kosovo Constitution is violated (dailies)

Valon Murtezaj, advisor to the Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, said yesterday that the Kosovo delegation is committed to reach agreement if solutions are found within the Constitution and laws of Kosovo. "We agreed on some things, but there are some aspects that Kosovo delegation considers as essential and there is a clear stand that if everything is not in harmony with the Constitution and laws of Kosovo, the agreement will not be signed," Murtezaj said. In Kosova Sot, head of the Pristina delegation in talks with Belgrade Edita Tahiri is quoted as saying that there is approximation of stances between the parties regarding the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipality. She added that the progress made is consistent to the Kosovo Constitution.

Thaci: The role of the peacemaker doesn’t belong to Serbia (dailies)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, told Sarajevo-based Dnevni Avaz, that the initiatives of the Serbian Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic, for reconciliation in the former Yugoslavia, are welcomed.  But to succeed, according to Thaci, Serbia must accept the full truth of what happened in Kosovo, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. “We have to think about the future and reconciliation, but simply we cannot forget the past… Serbia cannot take the role of the peacemaker now,” Thaci said.  

Delawie: Kosovo showed maturity with establishment of special court (Zeri)

The United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, during a meeting with the Assembly Speaker Kadri veseli, said that Kosovo showed maturity in a very difficult process of constitutional changes and the adoption of laws on special court. Delawie also emphasized Washington's support for the process of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. Delawie and Veseli further discussed about Kosovo Armed Forces and the role of the ethnic minorities in Kosovo’s political life.