Kosovo Assembly Speaker disputes legitimacy of the Assembly (dailies) Koha Ditore reports that Kosovo Assembly Speaker, Jakup Krasniqi, did not count on personal consequences when on Wednesday he disputed legitimacy of the institutions that he leads. He chooses to be a critic of the processes which he considers damaging for PDK, but also for the country in general. Krasniqi’s fellow party members say that he is not the only “opposition” voice inside PDK, but, according to them, not everyone have the courage to say that what they think.

One of presidency members of PDK who did not want to be mentioned his name in the newspaper said that Krasniqi with criticism over the way of leading the Government and the party, among others is trying to raise spirit of discussion inside PDK, which has been extinguished before two years and afterwards to raise the spirit of discussion also throughout society.

“Krasniqi as general secretary of the party does not have personal interests. His only aim is avoiding of possibility that country to turn into dictatorship, where no one can say that what he feels”, said PDK official. He accepted that that during non official talks, many from PDK members agree with Krasniqi, however, with the exclusion of Fatmir Limaj, all other are silent when in the presidency meetings is present Hashim Thaçi.

Instead of political dialogue, technical talks under consideration (Koha Ditore)

The issue of Kosovo’s energy transmission and that of Serbia’s telecom, topics which were discussed during the technical dialogue last year, may serve as basis for continuing the dialogue after chances of a political dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia starting any time soon are fading out. Officials from the office of the EU High Representative confirmed that the two remaining issues may be addressed in the continuing dialogue. “Technical dialogue has never stopped. There was a break because of elections in Serbia but it never stopped,” said the EU official.

Plans for resuming technical dialogue come after the disappointment of the EU High Representative and other international officials with Serbia’s leadership which, the international diplomats say, has been giving mixed messages with regards to the readiness to start soon a political dialogue process.

Differences on status prevent deeper relations with EU (Koha Ditore)

The paper reports that European Commission has finalized the annual progress reports for potential EU candidate countries but there will be no such report on Kosovo but in a way, this will be replaced by the feasibility study. The paper claims to have had insight on the EU’s draft strategy for enlargement which focuses on the progress of each country specifically. With regards to Kosovo, EC experts are having consultations on how to formulate recommendation on the possibility of opening negotiations for Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA).

On Serbia, the document states that European Commission will not recommend date for launch of accession negotiations and that this will be conditioned by visible progress on improving relations with Kosovo and implementation of all agreements reached during the technical dialogue.

The problematic five (Express)

Differences of the EU countries regarding the status of Kosovo, continue to impede the development and deepening of the relations between Kosovo and the European Union. The issue of the north of Kosovo represents the main challenge, while progress on this issue requires constructive engagement of all relevant parties. This was said in the draft strategy for enlargement, a document which will be published together with the Progress Report, next week. Also, this document confirms once again that Serbia can receive the recommendation for the start of the negotiations for membership in the EU only after normalizing the relations with Kosovo. “Significant and sustainable improvement of the relations between Kosovo and Serbia is necessary, which will assure for both of them the continuance of their path towards the European Union by preventing in this manner for one or the other country to be blocked in this process,” says the draft document.

NATO supports dialogue for Kosovo (Zëri)

Zëri reports that North Atlantic Treaty supports talks between Pristina and Belgrade, as the only solution to give an end to the problems between Kosovo and Serbia. Only through talks problems in Serbia and in Kosovo. Meanwhile, authorities of Pristina should engage more that all member countries of NATO Assembly to recognize independence, in order for Kosovo to receive full status of member country in NATO Assembly. This is the massage that has been brought on Wednesday in Pristina the head of Commission for Civilian Security in NATO Assembly, Lord Thomas Jopling.

The offer to resign (Express)

Express reports on page four that during a TV interview, LDK leader Isa Mustafa said Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga should offer her resignation and then within a six-month period ensure the transition from the current president to a president elected directly by the people. Mustafa said he was willing to meet other party leaders to discuss the implementation of last year’s PDK-LDK-AAK agreement.

On the other hand, PDK officials said any offer by political parties must have a legal and political basis. “Every idea needs to have a legal and political basis,” said PDK deputy leader Hajredin Kuçi, turning down Mustafa’s idea.

PDK parliamentary group chief Adem Grabovci told the paper on Monday that they are trying to find a solution to respect the agreement of leaders and the ruling of the Constitutional Court on Jahjaga’s mandate. “We need to find a solution. The PDK is always ready to go to elections,” Grabovci said.

Pack: Do not waste time requesting Jahjaga’s resignation (Epoka e Re)

German Euro-Deputy at the European Parliament, Doris Pack, has requested from opposition parties to engage maximally together with the Government of Kosovo, on the solution of the problems which preoccupy the citizens, and to request resignation of Atifete Jahjaga. “President Atifete Jahjaga is doing her job very well and she prodigiously represents the country abroad. I think that the opposition together with the Government, should deal with the solution of the problems which Kosovo citizens face every day, and not to waste time requesting the resignation of the President.”

Prosecutor Maria Bamieh starts investigation against Lushtaku (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that Kosovo Special Prosecution has started investigations against Mayor of Skenderaj Municipality, Sami Lushtaku, for the suspicion that he seriously endangered the life of journalist Adem Meta. Prosecutor Maria Bamieh has started to gather evidence against Lushtaku and his colleagues which would prove that they have threatened the life of correspondent of Koha Ditore from Skenderaj, who decided not to be silent for the problems which have been caused from the leaders of municipality.

Sources from Prosecution said that prosecutor Bamieh, who also has another case against Lushtaku, has gathered all media reports after the reaction of Association of Professional Journalists of Kosovo in connection with continuous threats to journalist Meta. The confirmed threat of all the threats has been evaluated the statement given to Klan Kosova, when Lushtaku has evaluated this journalist as dead. “I don’t have to threat and to cuddle dead people”, said Lushtaku to Klan Kosova through phone call. The start of investigation has been confirmed also from EULEX, Spokeswoman of this mission Bardha Azari, did not give any details of this investigation.