Headlines - 22.01.2013 Vandalizing of Serb cemeteries and monuments strongly condemned (dailies) The act of vandalizing Serb memorial stones in several locations throughout Kosovo has triggered powerful condemnation of international representatives and Kosovo authorities. Condemnations of these acts came from the US, EU, EULEX, KFOR, OSCE, UNMIK as well as the Kosovo Government and President. Apart from the desecration of the Serb cemetery in Kllokot, other vandalizing acts were reported in Prizren including the demolition of a monument to WWII partisans in Vitia. Kosovo Police has stepped up security around Serb religious sites in an effort to prevent any other incidents, papers reports. Jahjaga and Nikolic to meet in Brussels (Zëri) President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga is expected to meet her Serb counterpart Tomislav Nikolic during the coming month or by early March. Jahjaga’s own advisor Ramush Tahiri confirmed the news and said that the date and the agenda of the meeting have already been set. However, he added that the date may be shifted by international officials. Tahiri said the objective of the meeting is to give impetus to the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia for normalizing of relations. Albanians protest in Preshevo against removal of the monument (dailies) Thousands of citizens gathered yesterday in Preshevo to protest against the removal of the memorial stone to UCPMB fallen martyrs. Protesters demanded the Serb state respect rights of Albanians in Preshevo Valley just as Kosovo respects rights of Kosovo Serbs. They also demanded the issue of the Albanian community in Preshevo be addressed in an internationally-mediated dialogue. Preshevo Mayor Ragmi Mustafa said the protest is a way of showing the citizens’ outrage at the removal of the monument which also ignored the political will of Albanians to find an acceptable solution. In Kosovo, Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi noted that the situation between Kosovo and Serbia has changed following the removal of the monument and that Kosovo will continue to support demands of the Albanian community in Preshevo which, he said, should be articulated in a clearer way. Dialogue does not stop (Express) European Union and authorities in Serbia do not expect that removal of the memorial stone in Preshevo will impact the process of the discussions between Pristina and Belgrade. This was the response of the officials in Brussels and Belgrade, after the statement of Kosovo Government that actions of the Serbian Government in the Valley, risk the process of discussions. “This ugly action of the Government of Serbia risks seriously the process of the dialogue for normalization of the relations between Kosovo and Serbia, and the direct responsibility falls on Serbia,” says the reaction of the Government of Kosovo. However, Serbia’s Prime Minister Ivica Dacic stated that this would happen if it depended on Belgrade and Pristina. “I am certain that Pristina and Belgrade are not asked,” he said. During a press conference, Dacic denied any possibility of unification of the Preshevo Valley with Kosovo. “Kosovo and Preshevo Valley were never united precisely because of the will of the international community,” said Dacic. He added that this part was never part of the discussions. EU: Monument’s problem to be resolved through dialogue (Zëri, Kosova Sot) Spokesperson for the EU High Representative, Maja Kocijancic, said the situation in Preshevo following the removal of the UCPMB monument should be resolved through dialogue and that such a development should not affect Kosovo-Serbia talks. “We regret the lack of a compromise solution by the parties involved in this issue. For us now it is important for everyone to return to the dialogue and not to come to unnecessary confrontations,” said Kocijancic. Berisha: Albania will reconsider relations with Serbia (Koha Ditore) Albania has raised its voice a day after the removal of the memorial stone in Preshevo. Albania’s Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, has removed diplomatic gloves and attacked Serbia at the meeting of the Democratic Party Parliamentary Group on Monday in Tirana, warning with reconsideration of the relations with Serbia. At the same time, Berisha also criticized the Macedonian policy for phobia towards Albanians and the international community for double standards on the case of the memorial stone in Preshevo. Calling the actions of Serbian gendarmerie an ugly act, Berisha stated that national unification is the only way for Albanians. He stated that one of the streets in Tirana will be named Preshevo’s heroes. Northern Serbs divided over customs (Zëri) The majority of Serbs in the northern part of Kosovo are not pleased with the customs agreement reached in Brussels, Zëri reports on page five. Members of the assemblies of four northern municipalities met in Zvecan on Monday and had different opinions about the customs agreement. Mitrovica’s illegal mayor Krstimir Pantic talked about the agreement, DSS representative Marko Jaksic said northern Serbs don’t want the economic fund, Zubin Potok mayor Slavisa Ristic called for protests, and Stojanka Petkovic sided with Belgrade. “The European Union is completely on the side of Albanians. It is not a mediator in the talks, but an attorney for the Albanian side. After five days of concrete talks, there is no solution on paying customs,” Pantic was quoted as saying. Pantic also ruled out an earlier statement by Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi who said that revenues to the economic fund will go through the Consolidated Budget of Kosovo.