Headlines - 12.10.2015

EU ponders new presence with executive powers even beyond EULEX (Koha)

A non-paper already available in different diplomatic circles in Brussels reaffirms the intention to close the EU rule of law mission in Kosovo, EULEX, according to plan but also suggests that the EU continues its presence in the political and security fields even after the EULEX exit. The non-paper, thought to have been drafted by Germany and the United Kingdom, says the desired level of success in the field of rule of law has not been achieved and, as a result, the EU will retain certain executive powers, particularly in the north of Kosovo but will also remain engaged with the Kosovo Police and justice authorities. 

Veseli: Politics responsible for current situation (Koha Ditore)

The President of the Kosovo Assembly, Kadri Veseli, said that politics is responsible for the current situation in Kosovo and politics should be what resolves it. “No one should be able to manipulate the people of Kosovo with patriotic and demagogical rhetoric and for purely political aims,” said Veseli. He believes that the opposition’s actions are aimed at winning political power by provoking early elections which Veseli warned would slow down vital processes which Kosovo is going through. He also said that the Assembly of Kosovo will continue work at all levels and that the minority cannot arbitrarily block its work.

LDK criticizes Veseli (Zeri)

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MPs criticized the President of the Assembly Kadri Veseli for not implementing an Assembly regulation to enable the work of the Assembly. With this regulation, Veseli can prohibit the participation in the session of the MPs who try to block the work of the Assembly. Besa Gaxherri, MP from the LDK, said that if Veseli doesn’t implement the regulation, then he is making a violation the same as the opposition. On the other hand, the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Xhavit Haliti said he is confident that Thursday’s session will be held in accordance with the regulation. "It doesn’t matter what will be the form of the session, but I can say that the opposition cannot by any means block the session if we want to hold it," Haliti said. 

Government excludes possibility of early elections (Epoka e Re)

The two biggest coalition parties, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), denied the possibility of early elections, requested by the opposition. PDK leader Hashim Thaci, and LDK deputy leader, Haki Rugova, told this daily that the next elections will be held in 2018, according to the regular constitutional and legal term. They say this is not the right time for Kosovo to hold elections, since it is in the process of signing the Stabilization Association agreement with the EU and is also in discussions for some other significant processes such visa liberalization, the “New Kosovo” project as well as membership of UNESCO, INTERPOL, EUROPOL, IFA and UEAFA.

Kurti: Why all this panic and hysteria from teargas? (Kosova Sot)

Former Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti who threw teargas at the Assembly of Kosovo hall last week said he fails to understand why there is all this “panic and hysteria.” He said the quantity of teargas was small and “was no mass attack.” 

Ymeri: Agreements legalized Serbia in Kosovo (dailies)

The leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, Visar Ymeri, told a press conference on Saturday that the agreement with Serbia on the telephone code is not a victory for Kosovo, but rather it will help Serbia to continue its intervention in Kosovo. Ymeri said that with the agreements reached in Brussels, Kosovo is moving towards the legalization of Serbia in Kosovo. The head of the energy committee in Vetevendosje, Naim Hoxha, said that the agreement on energy only legalizes the illegal activities of Serbian operators in Kosovo. 

Minister Tahiri warns on reciprocity measures (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo’s Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, reconfirmed the position of the government of Kosovo to use the right of reciprocal measures stressed in the agreement on free movement reached with Serbia in Brussels.  She said that the deadline for Serbia is the end of October and if Serbia does not remove the measure of provisional vehicle plates instead of RKS ones, then Kosovo will apply the same measures for the vehicles with Serbian licence plates. She added that Kosovo will also apply administrative reciprocal measures for the administrative payments and the entrance-exit document for Serbian citizens. 

Thaci convinced that Kosovo will join UNESCO (Zeri)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, said he was optimistic of great support for Kosovo's membership in UNESCO. Thaci, during a visit to the archeological site Ulpiana, said “this shows the ancient civilization of our ancestors and deserves to be preserved and valued by all.” 

US lobbies for Kosovo but doesn’t get to vote (Zeri)

An American official in Washington told the paper that the US is lobbing many countries to support Kosovo’s bid to join UNESCO. “The US considers that objects of historical importance will be better protected if Kosovo joins UNESCO,” said the Washington diplomat, even though due to the acceptance of Palestine in this organization, the US has lost the right to vote in this organization. 

Serbian List: We pursue Belgrade’s politics (Koha Ditore)

At a press conference in Belgrade, the leader of the Serbian List Aleksandar Jablanovic said that their parliamentary group in Kosovo functions as one and is determined to pursue Belgrade’s politics and that disagreements with the director of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, arose from the appointment of Serb representatives to Kosovo institutions. Jablanovic dismissed reports that he negotiated with Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Hashim Thaci the formation of the Kosovo army. He said the Serbian List opposes the creation of the Kosovo Armed Forces and Kosovo’s membership of UNESCO.

The ‘bridge of the incidents’ to be revitalized (Zeri)

The main bridge over the Iber River in Mitrovica will be closed on 15 October until June 2016, during which time the bridge will be revitalized under the agreement reached in Brussels on 25 August. Under this agreement the so-called Peace Park will also be removed. The Mayor of Mitrovica South, Agim Bahtiri, said that immediately after the revitalization of the bridge, it will be opened and will be free for circulation of pedestrians and vehicles.

Collaku: Visa liberalization in 2016 (Zeri)

Kosovo’s Minister of European Integration, Bekim Collaku, told the paper that the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) will soon be approved by the EU and that he is optimistic that as of next year the people of Kosovo will be able to travel without visas.  “I can happily announce that all the conditions have been met for such agreement to be approved soon by the Council of Europe,” Collaku said. In regards to visa liberalization, Collaku said that Kosovo has met all the criteria and that he expects that that the European Commission to give positive signals in this regard.