Headlines - 23.08.2013 Thaçi getting ready for Brussels and New York  (Tribuna) The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi stated on Thursday during the meeting with the governing cabinet that he has coordinated the continuance of the discussions between Kosovo and Serbia, through communication on the telephone with Baroness Catherine Ashton. He said that the dates are already agreed and added that from Brussels, he will travel to New York, to participate at the meeting of the UN Security Council. “Kosovo is going prepared to the meeting, respecting completely all constitutional decisions in Kosovo. So it remains to formally conclude the agreements for telecommunication and energy, since as far as Kosovo and EU are concerned, they are already concluded, just as some other issues, said Thaçi.  Hoxhaj: Broad-based turnout, condition for successful elections (Zëri) Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj said on Thursday that a broad-based turnout is required for successful elections. Hoxhaj said this after meeting U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Tracey Ann-Jacobson. Hoxhaj and Jacobson discussed strengthening bilateral relations and exchanges with the United States of America, as the key strategic partner of Kosovo. The meeting also focused on preparations for local elections throughout the territory of Kosovo. “Overall and constructive engagement is essential for successful elections,” Hoxhaj said. Tahiri calls on northern Serbs to participate in elections (Koha Ditore) Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri, met on Thursday with OSCE chief, Jean-Claude Schlumberger, to discuss the preparations of organization of local elections to be held on 3 November. According to a press release, Tahiri stressed the determination of institutions to organize best possible elections, in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of Kosovo. She also stressed the importance of the cooperation with OSCE, according to the Agreement for normalization of the relations between Kosovo and Serbia. “Tahiri once again called on all Kosovo citizens, especially Serbs of the northern part of Kosovo, to use their democratic possibility of participation in elections,” said the press release. Sugurov: Participate in elections or you will incur like in Croatia (Kosova Sot) Head of the Office of Russian Federation in Pristina, Andrej Sugurov, has disappointed Serbs in the north of Kosovo, by saying that they should participate in the local elections of Kosovo, which will be held on 3 November. “The Russian brother” said that in case of the boycott, Serbs might face the same scenario as in Kraina (Croatia.) According to Vesti, Sugurov said this on Sunday in Zubin Potok, during a manifestation, while the Russian diplomat was toasting local citizens and politicians with Rakia. Sources from the Russian Office said that everything was said “with Rakia, during friendly and reliable discussions.” Serb voters list will be accepted if it complies with civil registry (Koha) Kosovo institutions and the OSCE mission are verifying the voting list from Serbia for the four northern municipalities. However, no one agrees to reveal the numbers in the list and whether it complies with the real number of voters and Kosovo’s civil registry. The number of voters in the list, which was drafted by Serbia, has not been indicated, but government officials in Pristina said that if the list does not comply with the real picture on the ground it would be sent back to Belgrade. Experts on elections meanwhile warn that swollen lists can produce results that do not reflect the actual demographic situation in Kosovo. State symbols throughout the territory of Kosovo (Epoka e Re) Burim Ramadani, secretary general of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), said on Thursday that ballots for the November local elections will be the same throughout the territory of Kosovo. Ramadani said he was confident that state symbols would not be removed from ballots used in the north. Ballots “hostage” of dialogue (Tribuna) Kosovo’s Central Election Committee (CEC) is not expected to decide on the presence of state symbols in ballots for the November local elections, before the next meeting between Kosovo and Serbia prime ministers scheduled for 27 August in Brussels. Reliable sources in the CEC told the paper that the decision on ballots cannot be taken at this point due to two reasons. First, the design of ballots is becoming an issue, it is being related to dialogue and the committee should wait for the meeting between the two prime ministers. Second, the CEC is not complete, as representatives of the New Kosovo Alliance and Vetëvendosje could be dismissed based on a decision by President Jahjaga. The Kosovo Government meanwhile says the issue of symbols has been raised by media in Belgrade and that it was never discussed in dialogue in Brussels. Bedri Selmani – the usurper! (Bota Sot) The paper reports on the front page that the Kosovo Privatization Agency continues to face challenges with the status of properties usurped by people with close ties to the government and political parties. The paper also notes that Bedri Selmani, Kosovo Albanian businessman, has permission from UNMIK to use all gas stations owned by the former Croatian enterprise INA. “With regards to gas stations of ‘Ina Trgovina’ and other socially-owned enterprises, the current user had an agreement with UNMIK authorities, not with the Kosovo Trust Agency or with the Kosovo Privatization Agency. As there was no handover of duties and responsibilities from UNMIK to the KPA, the latter now does not have evidence that the current user has paid rent for using these gas stations,” a spokesman for the Kosovo Privatization Agency told the paper.