Headlines - 24.04.2013

Kuçi: Parallel security structures to be dismissed by June (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi, said on Tuesday that during the month of June the dismissal of all illegal Serb security structures that have operated for years in the municipalities with Serb majority and especially in the north is foreseen.

Members of these mechanisms, according to him, are expected to take their place in state structures of Kosovo. Kuçi, who is at the same time Minister of Justice, believes belief that after two months illegal justice structures would be integrated in the state system of Kosovo. He said this while discussing the implementation plan of the first agreement for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which would soon be harmonized with Brussels. “Of course the dismissal of police illegal structures is the first step and afterwards foresee preparations for elections,” said Kuçi. 

Civil Defence to be incorporated into KSF (Tribuna)

In order for the Kosovo Security Force to be declared an army, the Government of Kosovo needs to convince members of the illegal formation in the north known as Civil Defence to incorporate into KSF. Members of this formation will be offered a place in an equivalent structure of Kosovo which is the KSF.

According to sources, this arrangement is also acceptable for the Kosovo side because, by incorporating members of the Civil Defence in KSF ranks, it will meet the criteria of having 10 percent of its troops from minority communities.

Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi did not dismiss the possibility but added that the agreement notes that the members of security structures in the north will be offered a place in equivalent structures, not “equivalent structures of Kosovo”. “This was intended to enable all of them to apply when vacancies open,” said Kuçi. 

Ischinger: EU-five to recognize Kosovo (Tribuna)

Former EU envoy for Kosovo status Wolfgang Ischinger said the agreement reached between Kosovo and Serbia is a historic step towards European perspective and strengthening of stability in south east Europe. “Now is the time to immediately begin the implementation of the agreement,” urged Ischinger, adding that the five EU member countries that have not recognized Kosovo have no more excuses. Furthermore, he said the Kosovo-Serbia agreement should serve as a model for open issues in Bosnia and for solving the problem between Macedonia and Greece.

Crawford: Kosovo will share Palestine’s fate (Lajm)

Former British Ambassador to Belgrade Charles Crawford stated that Kosovo cannot join international organizations. “Kosovo will have its sui generis state, recognized by almost half of the world, but not by the other half, including some major countries in the non-Western camp … Palestine, which is recognized by over 130 states, is in the same ambiguous position,” Crawford said. He tweeted later that he was not making an analogy between Kosovo and Palestine, but just noting that it is not a universally recognized country. 

Jaksic: Roadblocks will spread throughout Serbia (dailies)

Zëri quotes the deputy of Mitrovica’s Vojislav Kostunica DSS party, Marko Jaksic, telling the press that Serbs in the north of Kosovo will prevent the implementation of the Brussels agreement through protests, roadblocks, and boycotts of local elections organized under Kosovo laws. He also warned that the protests would spread throughout Serbia, especially Belgrade. According to Jaksic, the Serbian Government betrayed the Kosovo Serbs. “The first step to obstruct the implementation for the agreement would be boycotting local elections, held under Kosovo laws. The mood of the people is such that the boycott would be successful,” said Jaksic. 

They yield before the PDK (Zëri)

International pressure and the risk of falling from the political line preferred by the international community is forcing two opposition parties – the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) – to side again with the government. LDK and AAK representatives often criticize the central government on “local” issues, but the majority of political processes led by Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi are supported by LDK and AAK leaders, Isa Mustafa, and Ramush Haradinaj.

Commenting on the issue, political analysts in Pristina argue that the LDK and AAK positions in favor of the government are due to international pressure. “Especially in the case of dialogue, everything is a result of international pressure. Dialogue is an international project, launched by the international community. It wanted to conclude it and it applied pressure on opposition parties to support the project and not obstruct it,” said Ardian Arifaj, political analyst. 

AAK walks out of meeting on election reform (Koha Ditore)

Even the latest meeting election reform this time hosted by New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) leader Behgjet Pacolli failed to result in any new development. At the same time, the representative from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Avni Arifi walked out of the meeting stating that this forum has become unnecessary. “We consider this is a waste of time. AAK is not interesting in becoming part of this forum. We suggest taking this process to the parliament,” said Arifi.

When the meeting concluded, Pacolli said the majority of the parties have agreed to undergo the next elections under one election zone and stressed the need to continue reforms on the issue. “The approval to elect the president is still not 100 percent, because all parties agree it should by citizens of Kosovo; only Vetëvendosje insists to be elected by the Assembly of Kosovo,” said Pacolli.

Kosovo with two representatives at PACE (Koha Ditore)

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe decided to allow two representatives of the Kosovo Parliament - is except for those obligated by Council of Europe member states - to participate at its commissions, such as regulations, institutional, and immunity issues, no matter what the agenda. According to Macedonian agency MIA in Strasbourg, these two representatives - one from the governing coalition and one from the opposition - will not have the right of vote; however they can participate in debates as long as they ask for permission from the Presidency. The nomination of these two deputies who will represent Kosovo is a competency of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo.  

Five companies interested in Brezovica development project (dailies)

Five private companies from the region and Europe have expressed interest in taking part in the development project for the touristic center of Brezovica, dailies report. The government views the development of the resort as a project of special importance as investments in the area of tourism can bring new job opportunities. Epoka e Re quotes Trade and Industry Minister Mimoza Kusari-Lila as saying that the interest of five companies for Brezovica is a positive sign for more investments. “This is a very good sign not only for Brezovica, but for all of Kosovo,” she added.