First violation of the Kosovo-Serbia agreement (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo Government has not published yet the first agreement of governing principles for “normalization of relations”, achieved with Serbia ten days ago and called a historic agreement, writes the paper.

Point 12 of the agreement, according to the official version published by the Government of Serbia, foresees implementation timeframes. “An implementation plan, that will include the timeframe, should be prepared by 26 April. During the implementation of this agreement, the principle of transparent funding will be maintained,” says point 12 of the official version.

However, in the unofficial version, point 12 refers to local elections in the municipalities in the north. It says that elections will be organized in 2013, with the help of OSCE, in accordance with Kosovo laws and international standards.

The document, initialed by prime ministers Thaçi and Dacic, also bears the date of 26 April when the implementation plan of the agreement should have been finalised. The plan is however not ready yet.

Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi expressed his belief that the agreement will be implemented despite all the dilemma and obstacles. At the same time, Serbia’s PM Ivica Dacic has expressed determination for implementation of the agreement regardless of the opposition from the Serbs in the north.

Rexhepi: We are ready (Epoka e Re)

In a front-page interview, Interior Affairs Minister Bajram Rexhepi says Kosovo is ready to implement the agreement for the normalization of relations with Serbia the minute Belgrade accepts the plan. “We are already making preparations although the agreement has not been signed and ratified in parliament. But the minute this agreement has the final form, we are ready to act,” he said.

Rexhepi said the implementation of the agreement is not going to be easy and that it will take months. “Anyone who is familiar with the field knows that the implementation will take months and it will not be an easy process,” Rexhepi added.

Serb Gendarmerie controlling the north (Tribuna)

Sources from the northern municipalities told the paper that in the recent days they have been seeing in the streets people they have so far not seen before in the territory of the north. “I know all the locals but I don’t know them. During the day they hang around the streets talking to us and I don’t see them in the night”, said a resident from Leposaviq municipality. The source said he believed these men are members of the Serb Gendarmerie.

Sources further said that apart from the Serb Interior Ministry (MUP) members already in the north as part of the parallel security structures, there are an additional 150 members deployed from Serbia.   

Cliff: Agreement needs to be implemented swiftly and carefully (Tribuna)

In an interview for the paper, British Ambassador in Kosovo, Ian Cliff, said Kosovo Serbs will be living under two umbrellas: the general umbrella of Kosovo and under a smaller umbrella of Serbia. Cliff said the legal dualism that the association of Serb majority municipalities will enjoy is not bad.

“You are talking about legal dualism as something bad. All structures need to have this duality, because in order to ensure that Kosovo Serbs will be part of this arrangement, they need to have a connection with Belgrade. The Ahtisaari Plan guaranteed the connection of Kosovo Serbs with Belgrade in healthcare, education and public services. This is guaranteed to other communities as well.”

Cliff said the agreement needs to be implemented swiftly but also said that one needs to be careful with certain parts that are sensitive. He also said the creation of the association of Serb majority municipalities does not violate the Ahtisaari Package.

Blast at house of RTK’s editor strongly condemned (dailies)

The explosion at the entrance of the house belonging to Mufail Limani, RTK’s editor-in-chief, has been condemned by all relevant institutions. Kosovo Police said the explosion came from a gas can but that no one was injured. Government of Kosovo condemned the blast saying it is a “cowardly act”. Condemnations also came from the OSCE and the Association of Kosovo Professional Journalists.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Vucic to visit Kosovo next week (Epoka e Re)

“If someone signs the agreement with Pristina and if Parliament accepts it, then it is clear that the agreement will need to be implemented. The only question is that we need to do it in agreement with our people and not against their will,” Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic told Serbian media. Vucic said he plans to visit Kosovo next week.

Asked about talks with northern Kosovo Serbs, Vucic said an agreement has yet to be reached and added that it is clear there is no will for a referendum. “I expect talks to continue next week. It is completely clear that the agreement will enter into force, therefore, we will have to see how to implement it,” he added.

Shaip Muja, main suspect in the case “Medicus 2” (dailies)

Bota Sot reports that the name of the PDM MP, Shaip Muja, has been mentioned many times as suspect for participation in human trafficking which is connected to the “Medicus” case but also to the “yellow house”.

Tribuna also reports that an EULEX prosecutor is investigating eight persons in Kosovo in connection with organ trade and these include PDK’s Shaip Muja who was advisor of Prime Minister Thaçi at the time when Medicus clinic was given license to exercise illegal actions. Charges being investigated include organized crime, human trafficking, serious bodily harm as well as misuse of official duty or authorization. 

Selimi says that citizens are to blame for corruption in Kosovo (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo Ambassador to Tirana, Sylejman Selimi, attributed the lack of results in the fight against corruption largely to the citizens who, according to him, are not denouncing this phenomenon. “Corruption should be denounced from the citizens as it shows a degradation of the society and is the cancer of all economic developments. A bigger role in this has also been played by the NGO’s. By punishing persons accused of corruption, an end will be put to this phenomenon,” said Ambassador Selimi.