Two models for relations with Serbia (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports on the front page that the adoption of the model of two Germany’s is expected to be one of the processes for normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Three diplomats, involved in earlier negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia, believe that the model of two Germany’s is a solution to normalize relations. Kosovo and Serbia however would have to reach an arrangement about their biggest problem. The same way the two Germany’s reached an arrangement on Berlin, Kosovo and Serbia would have to reach an arrangement on the north. The arrangement would imply self-government for local Serbs and this would derive from the Ahtisaari Package.

Albert Rohan, deputy chief negotiator on Kosovo’s status, Stefan Lehne, EU envoy in talks on Kosovo’s status, and Wolfgang Ischinger, EU envoy in the Troika process, in separate interviews for the paper mentioned the model of two Germany’s and autonomy for the north.

Arrangements are expected to come out from talks between Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic. The talks will be facilitated by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, who will visit Pristina on Wednesday together with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Ashton and Clinton will then visit Belgrade to push forward the process of normalizing relations between the two countries.

Moscow hails dialogue, does not participate (Express)

Express reports on page four that Moscow has hailed the resumption of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, adding that it will not mediate in the process. Russia maintains its position that a solution for Kosovo must be found within United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244.

“We have not made any preparations to mediate in dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina,” a spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters. “We hail dialogue. We said from the beginning that every agreement between Belgrade and Pristina would be efficient and stable.”

Panariti: No alternative but recognition (Express)

In a front-page interview for the paper, Albania’s Foreign Minister Edmond Panariti said Serbia must recognize Kosovo in order to normalize the region. “Kosovo and Serbia must conduct high-level meetings to solve technical and administrative problems. But the north and Kosovo’s territorial integrity should not be discussed,” Panariti is quoted as saying on the front page.

Banac: EU project for the north like Republika Srpska (Kosova Sot)

“The north must integrate – certainly without damaging the interest of Serbs in the north and elsewhere in Kosovo. But these aspirations cannot talk about ‘a state within a state’. If the project for the north – proposed by the European Union – resembles the status of Republika Srpska in Bosnia, I am totally against such an initiative,” said Ivo Banac, lecturer at Yale University, in an interview for Radio Free Europe.

Banac said EU High Representative Catherine Ashton wants to resolve this issue and that she has several propositions with which he disagrees, one of them being a very high level of autonomy for the north. “Thaçi is under tremendous pressure and he must prove he is cooperative with the European Union,” Banac concluded.

LDK backs down on request for Jahjaga’s removal (Koha Ditore)

The paper reports on the front page that it didn’t take much for Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi to convince LDK leader Isa Mustafa that his party should return to the election reforms committee. Namely, during a recent meeting, representatives of both parties reportedly agreed to move forward with election reforms.

The paper recalls that two months ago, Mustafa-led LDK abandoned election reforms calling for the agreement for the president to be respected. But although their condition has not been met, the biggest opposition party has changed its mind and is now expected to return to the election reforms committee. The committee however will need an extended mandate from the Kosovo Parliament to move the process forward.

PDK avoids “one member – one vote” model (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports on page two that the ruling Kosovo Democratic Party (PDK) is not ready to change the traditional system of party elections. Deputy leaders Fatmir Limaj and Jakup Krasniqi support changes in the current election system, whereas the majority of the party’s chairmanship are silently agreeing to continue with the old system. PDK deputy leader on organizational matters, Rrustem Mustafa, does not believe that the “one member – one vote” model will be applied in PDK elections in November. He argues that changes are required in the party’s status in order to implement such a model. Political analysts on the other hand believe that the PDK is not in favor of the “one member – one vote” model because of its leaders who are believed to be in panic and fear that they have lost the trust of the electorate.