Headlines - 12.09.2013

Kosovo and Macedonia aim to resolve disputes by Friday (Koha Ditore)

The Kosovo and Macedonian Government are determined that they have until Friday to remove the blockades for the flow of goods. The prime ministers of both countries have talked on the phone about the situation, but a solution can only be found when a round of meetings between state officials will be held, in which Kosovo will be represented from Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi and Musa Xhaferi from the Macedonian side. According to one newspaper source, the decision to remove the blockades will not be taken unilaterally from Kosovo or Macedonia, but will be as a result of an agreement, which would have binding effect for both parties. Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi called for an urgent solution, and he appointed Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi to negotiate this in a dialogue. 

Thaçi sidesteps Kusari-Lila (Zëri)

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi tasked Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi to resolve the trade dispute with Macedonia, thus not leaving the issue to be dealt with entirely by the other Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry, Mimoza Kusari-Lila. “I urge Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi and Minister of Trade Mimoza Kusari-Lila to work on resolving this problem today or tomorrow at the latest,” said Thaçi.

Fate of the Srbija list to be decided in Brussels (Koha Ditore)

The working groups for elections will be meeting today in Brussels for a solution of open issues with Serbia for the 3 November elections. Today’s meeting has been confirmed from OSCE officials, who said that they would offer technical expertise to both sides. Newspaper sources said that the topics of discussion would include the name of list “Srbija”, about which CEC has not decided yet. Sources said that changin the name of “Srbija” could be decided today in Brussels, where working groups for elections will meet. However, even if the name does not change, elections experts said that legally it can not be argued, which could prevent the certification of the existing “Srbija” list name.

After elections, dialogue with a new form (Tribuna)

Kosovo and Serbia will continue the dialogue at the prime ministers level throughout 2014, but most likely not facilitated by EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Baroness Catherine Ashton. Diplomatic sources explained that after the next meeting between both prime ministers, which would be consolidated by the Association of Serb Municipalities and happen after local elections, the final phase of this level of dialogue will begin.

According to the same sources, the functionality of the Association will create a new situation in Kosovo, where it will be determined that the biggest problem between Kosovo and Serbia has been addressed, which is the north. This way the path will be opened for both countries to begin discussing coexistence in the model of “two Germanys”. The new dialogue would be facilitated by a Western diplomat, which would have the mandate from the powerful countries that have recognized the independence of Kosovo. The agenda to finalise this political dialogue and begin the next level, according to sources, will be defined according to the electoral agenda in Kosovo and the readiness of parties to take over other responsibilities.

Zarif: BIK has promoted inter-religious tolerance (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo Mufti Naim Tërnava met on Wednesday with UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General Farid Zarif, whom he thanked for visiting the Islamic Community of Kosovo (BIK) and for the contribution and engagement of the UN mission for Kosovo. Tërnava informed Zarif about the organization and functioning of BIK, the modalities of religious life in Kosovo, and challenges and difficulties faced by BIK. “Mr. Zarif said he was impressed with the engagement and contribution of BIK and the Mufti in promoting inter-religious and interethnic tolerance and understanding,” said a BIK press release.

Thaçi, working lunch with Pahor (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi met with Slovenian President Borut Pahor for a working lunch. In the meeting, Thaçi highly praised the interstate relations between Kosovo and Slovenia, and expressed the will and readiness of the Kosovo Government on how these relations could be furthered deepened, in the fields of joint interest, with special emphasis on economic development. Pahor emphasized that the achievement of the interstate agreement for the normalization of relations between both countries is a good start for a European perspective of the region as a whole.

Barroso: EU helped Serbia and Kosovo reach agreement (Koha Ditore)

The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, said during his annual address to the European Parliament that Kosovo and Serbia reached their agreements through EU facilitation and that this would not have happened if it wasn’t for the EU perspective. He also warned of the potential danger from political instability as a result of the absence of political determination within EU countries.

Deda: Pacolli, Kusari confirmed KEK money taken by government (Koha)

The former advisor to the Kosovo president and director of the KIPRED think tank, Ilir Deda, told KTV program “Rubikon” that the 25 July Kosovo police operation, where control in the north was established, occurred unbeknownst to President Atifete Jahjaga. According to Deda, the division of Kosovo was prevented by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, but also by Albanian leader from Macedonia, Ali Ahmeti.

Deda added that Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, in one meeting with the late Serb Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, expressed readiness to redraw the border. He accused Thaçi for having been only interested in remaining in power, while now his main interest is to avoid criminal prosecution. The director of KIPRED also talked about the privatization of KEK, from which people in the Government took money. On this issue, he also has confirmation from the people inside the Government, such as Mimoza Kusari-Lila and Behgjet Pacolli.

Thaçi’s minister alleged to be part of parallel structures (Zëri)

Serb minister in the Hashim Thaçi-led Government, Nenad Rasic, is alleged by members of his community to have been associated with Serb illegal structures in Kosovo. Rasic, who is Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, is accused of putting pressure on other Kosovo Serbs to work for parallel structures. Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi said he has no information on the matter and Rasic himself denied allegations.