Pristina engulfed in protests and violence (dailies)

Papers report that the protest of Vetëvendosje against the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue started yesterday in the morning and during the day it turned into a clash between protesters and police. Police arrested 63 protesters, among which also several MPs from Vetëvendosje Movement who accused police for use of violence. Over 30 persons sought medical help.

In the late evening hours Vetëvendosje announced that it will continue with a peaceful demonstration at the same place where it faced the police since 11:00 hrs in the morning at the Mother Theresa square.

Vetëvendosje in a statement to the media expressed determination to continue with protests and also called for the release of the 58 arrested protesters.

Leader of Vetëvendosje, Albin Kurti, who on Monday for more than 8 hours continuously led the protest in rejection of the dialogue Kosovo-Serbia, at the end of the protest after 16:00 hrs, evaluated that they have won first battle. “We will organize also other protests and demonstrations against political dialogue of Kosovo with Serbia, which is being called normalization of relations with Serbia”, said Kurti.

 Vetëvendosje announces another protest (Bota Sot – page 2)

The paper reports that Vetëvendosje Movement has announced it will stage another protest today at 11.00hrs under the motto “Against Government violence and police brutality” demanding release of its activists arrested in yesterday’s protest. “This demonstration will be a democratic manifestation against the violence of the police state expressed in the most brutal way possible,” said a statement issued by the Movement.

Thaçi: Vetëvendosje in accordance with independence opponents (Koha Ditore – front page)

Koha Ditore reports that Kosovo Government held extraordinary meeting on Monday led by Hashim Thaçi focusing on latest developments in Kosovo. Thaçi mentioned approval of resolution for normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which he evaluated as a “step towards European future of Kosovo”. “This process has started after receiving the roadmap for visa liberalization, after the finalization of supervised independence and after the compilation of the European Commission Feasibility Study document”, said Thaçi.

According to the press communiqué released by Government, Thaçi said that the Vetëvendosje protest was an “isolated act” and stressed that these are “relapses of earlier objections against the talks in Rambouillet, against international administration, against Ahtisaari Plan”. He noted that “these voices and these individuals” are in accordance with the agenda of Kosovo independence opponents.

They step up the pressure (Express – front page)

Express reports on the front page that British Foreign Secretary William Hague will visit Kosovo this Thursday while US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will stay in Kosovo on 30-31 October. According to the paper, Clinton could be accompanied by European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton. All three leaders are expected to encourage Albanians and Serbs to reach a historic agreement through high-level political talks.

An American diplomat, who preferred to remain anonymous, told the paper that the meeting between Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and his Serbian counterpart, Ivica Dacic, is a sign that parties are in the mood to reach an agreement for normalizing relations. “This in fact will be the goal of Secretary Clinton’s visit: to encourage the parties to reach a historic compromise,” he said.

The US diplomat also said that Secretary Clinton would deliver a clear message both in Pristina and Belgrade. “The Secretary will reiterate Washington’s position that talks with Serbia do not impact the independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo,” he added.

Thaçi briefs Mustafa and Shala on his meeting with Dacic (dailies)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi had separate meetings yesterday with opposition leaders from AAK and LDK. A statement issued by PM Thaçi’s office states that AAK deputy leader Blerim Shala was briefed on the start of the dialogue with Serbia and “it was a joint conclusion that the process for normalizing relations between the state of Kosovo and Serbia should continue”.

Later in the day, Thaçi met with LDK leader Isa Mustafa and both are reported to have agreed on the need to continue dialogue with Serbia.

Hoxhaj: We will discuss the north only with citizens there (Koha Ditore – front page)

Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj ruled out the possibility of the north of Kosovo being granted substantial autonomy as being suggested by certain international officials. “Those who propose autonomy for three and a half municipalities in the north of Kosovo have either not read Ahtisaari’s Package or have bad intentions. There can be no two types of Serb community living in Kosovo, ordinary Serbs and privileged Serbs,” Hoxhaj told the paper.

He added that the Government of Kosovo will never discuss with Serbia its internal arrangement. “These ideas are unacceptable for the Government of Kosovo,” stressed Hoxhaj and added that the Government is nevertheless ready to begin an internal dialogue with Serb citizens in the north but pointed out that any solution will have to be within the framework of the Kosovo Constitution and Ahtisaari’s package.

 UNMIK gave away Deçan’s land to the Monastery (Zëri/Kosova Sot)

Zëri reports on page eight that around 25 hectares of land belonging to two Deçan-based enterprises could very easily be given away to the Deçan Monastery. The transfer of real estate – which has caused great concern among Deçan residents and wider – can happen as a result of a trial that started several years ago and which is seen by many people as a political process.

The paper notes that everything started in 1993, when the former Slloga enterprise, currently Illiria, decided to give away to Deçan Monastery a property it was administering forcefully. This continued in 1997 when the Serbian Government, through another decision, decided to give away to Deçan Monastery a part of Apiko company.

“Both decisions were in opposition to the legislation of the time and even in opposition with Serbia’s discriminatory laws,” said a lawyer who is representing Deçan municipality in a trial that is going on at the Special Chamber of the Supreme Court of Kosovo.

Meanwhile, the Special Chamber recently made a decision removing Deçan municipality as a stakeholder in the process with the excuse that the property was administered by the Kosovo Trust Agency. UNMIK representatives, who represented the former KTA in the process, instead of protecting the interests of the enterprises, decided to go against them by reaching an agreement with the monastery. “This is the biggest violation because UNMIK is not the holder of rights and obligations of the former KTA, as these were transferred to the current Kosovo Privatization Agency. In fact, speaking on behalf of the KTA and in opposition with all applicable laws, UNMIK decided to give away the lands of these two properties, thus continuing what the Serbian regime had initiated in 1993 and 1997,” said another lawyer involved in the trial.

On the same issue, Kosova Sot reports on page fourteen that members of Deçan Municipal Assembly have categorically opposed the agreement between the former Kosovo Trust Agency and the Deçan Monastery, approved by UNMIK, which gave away 23 hectares of land to the monastery. Municipal assembly members want the Kosovo Parliament to address the issue and for a competent court to annul the decision.

 Non-recognising countries, block NATO’s decision on KSF (Koha Ditore – front page)

Kosovo Security Force (KSF) is unable to become independent due to the absence of a political decision from NATO saying that the force has reached its full operational capacity. The decision that would pave way for Kosovo institutions to decide on upgrading the KSF current status into an armed force is not being taken because of four NATO member states that have not recognized independence of Kosovo, writes the paper.

Late last year, KFOR sent a report to NATO where it concluded that KSF has met all technical criteria to become independent but the Alliance has not reached the political decision as yet. The problem, according to paper’s sources, is finding a way to phrase the decision of the NATO Council. “Since NATO has four member countries that do not recognize Kosovo as a state, the Alliance cannot give any formulation which could be understood as some kind of support for a military force,” said an unnamed senior official from Brussels.

EC hails green light for start of negotiations with Kosovo (Koha Ditore – page 6)

European Commission said in a press release that it has hailed the decision of the EU Council to authorize the start of negotiations with Kosovo on a framework agreement that enables Kosovo to take part in EU programmes. “This is a welcomed step which brings Kosovo a step closer to benefiting from EU programmes like the other countries in the Western Balkans,” Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele is quoted as saying.

Kacin: Serbia is not asked to recognize Kosovo (Express – page 6)

Express reports on page six that European Parliament’s rapporteur Jelko Kacin said on Monday that no one is asking Serbia to recognize Kosovo but rather to normalize relations with Pristina. “Full normalization of relations and guarantees that Serbia and Kosovo will not block one another on their path toward the European Union,” Kacin said during his speech at the Economic Summit in Belgrade.

Kacin hailed the first meeting between Kosovo Prime Minister Thaçi and Serbian Prime Minister Dacic. He said he hopes high-level political talks will be held soon and will produce concrete results.