Renewed clash between Krasniqi and PDK membership (dailies)

Yesterday’s Assembly session, which continued after being halted by Speaker Jakup Krasniqi due to increased police presence in and around the building, saw a clash between senior member of PDK Krasniqi and Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi, who is one of PDK’s deputy leaders.

Rexhepi took a stand against Krasniqi’s decision to halt the Assembly session but, before he could finish his sentence, Krasniqi cut off his microphone. Rexhepi responded saying that he will call a special press conference on the matter. “You can call 500 press conferences but if you do not behave well, you will not dare enter here at all,” replied Krasniqi.

Rexhepi then walked out of the session, followed by the rest of ministers and PDK MPs. The only member of PDK that remained in the room was the head of parliamentary group Adem Grabovci because he wished to present his party’s view.

“After the created situation, we see no conditions to continue this session any further for as long as sends off ministers and the head of the parliamentary group,” said Grabovci, who threatened to dismiss Krasniqi.

“It is not my fault you brought in ministers who are thugs. PDK should make sure not to appoint thug ministers,” said Krasniqi regarding Rexhepi.

Unconditional friendship offered to Serbia, Vetëvendosje says treason (dailies)

Kosovo Assembly, through a resolution adopted yesterday, expressed readiness for the normalization of interstate relations with Serbia. Vetëvendosje deputies have blocked this resolution but this was not enough to vote over the other remaining part that supported this document. Both LDK and AAK support the PDK-initiated Resolution, which is in the interest of the country.

Party Deputies agreed that Kosovo must develop relations with Serbia without forcing Serbia to apologize for crimes committed and genocide in Kosovo. Vetëvendosje deemed the approval of such a resolution as treason.

Ashton meets Thaçi, Dacic in Brussels (Koha Ditore – front page)

At EU headquarters in Brussels today, a historic meeting could take place if EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Catherine Ashton organizes a meeting with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and Serb Prime Minister Ivica Dacic.

Diplomatic sources in Brussels stated that this is possible, although not confirmed officially by the EU, but also not rejected. EU diplomatic sources said that if a meeting between Thaçi and Dacic occurs, it will mark an important step in relations between “Pristina and Belgrade”.

According to European diplomats, this meeting is expected to be held on Friday and it was important that the Kosovo Assembly approved the resolution on Thursday to support the dialogue and normalization of relations with Serbia. Diplomats contacted by Koha Ditore welcomed Kosovo’s readiness for dialogue, but they did not want to comment on the content of resolution.

Hague will move dialogue forward (Koha Ditore – page 4)

Great Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague, will visit Pristina and Belgrade next week to support the start of the senior level dialogue that would normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia. According to sources, Hague is expected to meet the most senior representatives of Kosovo and Serbia and request that they “urgently start the dialogue.” Senior officials justified the Democratic Party of Kosovo and PM Hashim Thaçi’s rush to endorse the resolution at the Assembly, with Hague’s visit.

Jahjaga: No other alternative but talk to Serbia (Koha Ditore – front page)

In an interview for KTV, Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga said that dialogue is the only way towards normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia. “I understand the opposition but there is no other alternative. We tried all other options but they did not yield any results and there is no other way except dialogue to make Serbia implement all its obligations towards Kosovo by respecting international norms and standards,” said Jahjaga.

She also noted that Kosovo has its ‘red lines’ that it will not go beyond. “There will be no partition of Kosovo, no partition of Serbia, no exchange of territories between Kosovo and Serbia, no exchange of population between the two countries, and no special status or autonomy. The only solution is Ahtisaari’s Package,” stressed Jahjaga.

Drecun: Kosovo Resolution, diplomatic maneuver (Koha Ditore – page 7)

The Democratic Party of Kosovo’s initiative for the Kosovo Assembly to endorse a resolution to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia is being considered a provocation. According to Serbian Parliament deputy from President Nikolic’s party Milovan Drecun, endorsing such a resolution represents a provocation for Serbia because Serbia does not consider Kosovo a state.

Drecun, who also leads the Directorate for Kosovo in the Serbian Parliament, said that discussions between both countries should begin with a meeting of senior officials; He did not exclude the meeting between Serbia’s PM Ivica Dacic and Kosovo PM Hashim Thaçi. Drecun said that Serbia’s strategy does not foresee division of Kosovo, and reiterated President Nikolic’s position that if Serbia was asked to give up Kosovo to become an EU member, Serbia would defend Kosovo.

Clark: Problems in north result of disagreements in Brussels (dailies)

NATO’s former General Wesley Clark, during his visit to Kosovo, criticized Brussels for creating problems in northern Kosovo. Clark said that 13 years later, people of Kosovo are experiencing divisions and disagreements created by NATO. “This is a political problem. They should clarify their guidelines that need to be given,” said Clark, “the problems in the north are problems that derive from Brussels.”

Selimi: Killer is not here (dailies)

Vetëvendosje Movement MP Rexhep Selimi refuted recent media reports that Xhemajl Mustafa’s suspected killer is a member of his party. He called the reports a propaganda campaign that is evil, immoral, and illegal. Selimi said EULEX and Kosovo Police are not investigating anyone from Vetëvendosje in relation to Mustafa’s death.

Thaçi preempts PTK buyer (Zëri – front page)

According to economy experts, civil society, and opposition representatives, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and several opposition leaders should not have had a secret meeting with US diplomat James Pardew. Pardew is lobbying for the Avicena consortium to privatize the Kosovo Post and Telecom (PTK).

Experts claim that the secret meeting preempts the winning bidder. This reaction came one day details were published of secret talks between influential lobbyists from an American company and powerful officials in Pristina.

Riinvest executive director Lumir Abdixhiku said that any meeting that preempts the winning bidder of the PTK privatization is very damaging for the country. “If winning bidders come out from secret meetings and not from transparent procedures, we are sending messages of insecurity to foreign investors,” Abdixhiku said.

Thaçi: I will raise salaries to level of EU countries (Epoka e Re – page 4)

Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi announced at the Assembly that he will adjust of those employed in Kosovo comparable to those in European Union countries. “I want to assure Kosovo society that there will be pay raises. I have managed to level up the salary of Kosovo workers with those in the region,” he pledged.

Kosovo represented in Budva without UNMIK (Bota Sot – page 12)

Kosovo’s Economic Development Minister Besim Beqaj announced in Budva, Montenegro, that institutions in the Republic of Kosovo are ready to assume and implement all requirements stemming from the Energy Community Treaty.  Furthermore, institutions will cooperate and create a joint energy market in the region. At the meeting, Kosovo was represented in the capacity of an independent and sovereign state, however UNMIK did not participate.

Northern municipalities against IBM (Zëri – page 5)

At a meeting held on Thursday in Leposavic, members of the four northern municipalities – Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic – said the admission and eventual implementation of the integrated border management agreement in Jarinje and Bërnjak would lead to the establishment of state borders and customs between Kosovo and Serbia. This in turn would imply recognizing Kosovo’s independence. It was concluded at the meeting that the agreement is both unacceptable and non-implementable. Members of the municipal assemblies called on Serbia’s highest authorities to meet a delegation of northern Kosovo Serbs to coordinate and find joint solutions for all issues.