Headlines - 26.04.2013

Kosovo seeks more international pressure on Serbia (Koha Ditore)

The EU did not provide any explanation why the agreement reached on Friday 19 April was evaluated as “a landmark agreement” and “changed the game”. Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi said in Brussels that the idea is for this agreement and the implementation plan to be signed as soon as possible by both prime ministers and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton. Kuçi is leading the Kosovo delegation in discussions for the implementation of the achieved agreement.

The EU has not accepted to explain anything. While Ashton and other diplomats continue to talk about the historic importance of this agreement, the EU does not want to specify “whom this agreement is between”, and the text does not include the names of the “parties” that reached the agreement. Some EU diplomats said, “The agreement will be signed after it has been implemented”. “The implementation plan has been discussed,” said Kuçi, adding that both prime ministers and Mrs. Ashton sign the agreement and the implementation plan. “I am convinced that the Kosovar side will have full a presentation and we will be ready for the implementation. We believe that the same should be done from Serbia, but it looks like more pressure is needed from the international community,” said Kuçi. 

Jahjaga: Agreement with Serbia closes chapter of the past (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga said yesterday that the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia closes a chapter of the past and opens a new chapter for Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic future. “The agreement contributes to peace and stability in the region. Now we need to focus on its implementation in practice as this will have a positive impact on the lives of citizens of both countries,” Jahjaga said after meeting Albania’s Foreign Minister Aldo Bumçi.

Krasniqi: No need for agreement to reach Assembly (Koha Ditore)

There was no need for the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia to be supported through a resolution at the Assembly of Kosovo, said its speaker Jakup Krasniqi. He said that the Assembly had already authorized the Government to undergo talks with Serbia through a previous resolution and the Assembly now had to be presented with the full agreement and vote on its ratification. “Nevertheless, this was requested by the prime minister; he used a constitutional right and most parliamentary groups, except for Vetëvendosje, never opposed it,” added Krasniqi. 

Ashton: Serbs in the north gained a level of autonomy (Epoka e Re)

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton said that Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and Serbia’s Prime Minister Ivica Dacic demonstrated through reaching the agreement that they are peace-making politicians, who want better futures for their populations; however Ashton warned that there is more to be done. In an opinion piece for the New York Times, Ashton said that both parties found a common language for a level of autonomy for the Serbs in Kosovo. “Here, then, is my hope. (I stress “hope”: It is not yet a certainty.) For the past hundred years, the western Balkans have been known as a cradle of war. Now, it may be known as a cradle of peace,” concluded Ashton. 

Hamiti: Presevo Valley Albanians demand reciprocal rights (dailies)

The member of the Assembly from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Sabri Hamiti, said that Albanians in Presevo Valley should demand the same rights as those granted to Serbs in Kosovo. According to Hamiti, the agreement signed between Kosovo and Serbia is best chance for Albanians in the Valley to seek more rights. “The international community is morally obligated to be involved in these talks and the Government of Kosovo must support them in their right for free movement, and their political and social status,” said Hamiti.

Hoxhaj: Nikolic must apologize for Serbia’s crimes in Kosovo (Tribuna)

Kosovo’s Foreign Affairs Minister Enver Hoxhaj called on Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic to apologize for Serbia’s crimes in Kosovo. Hoxhaj tweeted that, “the Serbian President apologized for crimes committed in Bosnia. This is important. He should also apologize for Serbia’s state sponsoring war crimes committed in Kosovo.” 

Kirby: Serbia has not recognized Kosovo, we didn’t ask for it (Epoka e Re)

The U.S. Ambassador in Belgrade, Michael Kirby, stated on Thursday that the U.S. do not consider Serbia having recognized the independence of Kosovo following the agreement reached in Brussels. “The normalization of relations is not the same as recognition,” he said, adding that this is only a first step needing further progress. “We support the (Serbian) Government’s further steps on reaching the agreement, which would improve relations with Kosovo in the long term,” said Kirby. 

Serbia endangers agreement with Kosovo (Koha Ditore)

In the meeting that lasted more than three hours between the leadership of Serbia and illegal representatives of Kosovo Serbs from the north, the latter are not convinced to accept the agreement for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Serbs in the north insist on having a referendum about the agreement.

Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said that the decision would be taken on Tuesday in favor or against the proposal, while Serb political representative Oliver Ivanovic says that the persistence of the Serbs in the north is wrong because he thinks that the agreement will be supported in the referendum.

The illegal mayor of Zubin Potok, Slavisa Ristic, announced that there would be protests in northern Kosovo, which would spread to Belgrade. Alternatively, he said that a referendum needs to take place, so that citizens could answer whether, “Kosovo Serbs would remain in the Constitutional and legal system of Serbia”.

 Serb students don’t want Kosovo stamps on their diplomas (Koha Ditore)

Students from the Pristina University’s branch in Mitrovica protested yesterday against the agreement reached between the prime ministers of Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels, saying they don’t want to have Kosovo stamps on their university diplomas. Carrying Serb flags and placards saying “Kosovo is Serbia”, the students marched up to the bridge on Ibri River but dispersed peacefully after the protest. Kosovo police spokesperson for Mitrovica region, Besim Hoti, said the protest was peaceful and no incidents were reported.

Krasniqi: There are powerful people above the law (Kosova Sot)

“Kosovo has an additional problem - the lack of political elites. In places where there are no political elites, there is organized crime, lack of law, and this damages the country’s development … Over the years, we have heard a lot about different affairs in different institutions and the reaction of judicial institutions was not satisfactory. This means there are powerful people who are beyond the law and justice does not deal with them,” Kosovo Parliament speaker Jakup Krasniqi said.