Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia seems less likely (Zeri)

An agreement between Kosovo and Serbia seems less likely and while Baroness Catherine Ashton will travel to Belgrade soon to convince the Serbian side to sign the agreement, Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dacic says Belgrade has not changed its position.

Meanwhile, Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said Pristina's position is firm and that a solution for the north must be in line with the Constitution and laws of Kosovo. In an interview for Radio Free Europe, Thaci said it is in Belgrade's interest to accept the agreement. "It is now up to Serbia's leadership to say yes or no to the agreement, because Kosovo has already made its proposals and we will not move from our position. Serbia faces a dilemma between integration and isolation. If it chooses the path of European integration, it will have to accept the agreement with Kosovo. Now is the time to move forward," Thaci was quoted as saying.

Implementation of agreements at risk (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo Government officials said on Friday that the implementation of agreements reached between Kosovo and Serbia so far may not happen, if by early next week Serbia does not accept the basic principles proposed by Brussels. The proposals are aimed at giving a solution to the association of Serb municipalities, justice and police. Kosovo authorities have already expressed this concern to the European Union.

Vlora Citaku, Kosovo's European Integration Minister, told the paper that if no agreement is reached Kosovo would coordinate all further actions with its strategic partners: the United States of America and EU member states.

"The implementation of agreements reached so far faces a big question mark. This is one of our biggest concerns: what will happen with agreements reached so far," Citaku said. "In principle, their implementation should commence, regardless of the outcome of the current process, but allow me to repeat: this is going to be a big question mark and we are already discussing the matter with the European Union".

Dacic: We are ready for an agreement (epokaere.com)

Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said on Friday that Belgrade is ready for an agreement with Pristina and to continue direct talks. "Let me remind you that Serbia is willing - even if there is no mediator - to continue direct talks, mainly because the Kosovo problem is a problem for Belgrade and Pristina and we need to find ways to solve this. All consultations are related to continuing dialogue and reaching a solution," Dacic told Danas newspaper.

Asked if the agreement would be reached before April 22 when the EU Council of Ministers convenes, Dacic was quoted as saying, "we have no other choice".

Dacic also spoke about his meetings with Thaci in Brussels. "From the first day, in my first meeting with Hashim Thaci, we made Serbia's position very clear. We continue to believe that this is the right and only possible position. You know we started negotiations knowing very well that the issue of Kosovo cannot and should not turn into an issue of blood and land, but rather an issue of people living there."

Mitrovica municipality condemns last night's actions in the north (gazetaexpress.com)

Last night unknown persons tried to set on fire the house of a Kosovo Albanian that is being rebuilt in Kroi i Vitakut neighborhood in northern Mitrovica. Municipal officials in Mitrovica reacted after the incident saying these are criminal acts usually carried out by Serb illegal structures.

Behxhet Bala, head of the municipal department for protection and rescue, said this was not the first incident of its kind in the north. "Serb illegal and criminal structures in the north have often tried to obstruct the process of reconstruction and the return of IDPs in the north," Bala said. He suggested law enforcement authorities need to be more active and determined to fight off criminal gangs that are against normalization and free life in this part of the country.

Explosion in Zvecan, no injuries reported (gazetaexpress.com)

An explosive device was thrown at the yard of a Serb house in the town of Zvecan early this morning. Sources say there are no injuries. Two vehicles and parts of the house were damaged by the blast.