Headlines - 03.05.2014 SAA negotiations concluded successfully (dailies) Kosovo and European Union concluded on Friday negotiations for Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) after a series of meetings over a six-month period. Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci hailed the progress achieved during negotiations and said that the agreement will present a cornerstone for Kosovo’s European integration. EU’s chief negotiator Jean Eric Paquet said SAA will have an impact on many fields in Kosovo, including economy. “SAA is an important step that supports necessary reforms in Kosovo, particularly in the fields such as the rule of law, public administration, elections, democratic governance, protection of minorities, internal market, and trade policies. We also expect Kosovo to have full access to the EU market which will contribute to Kosovo’s economic growth and increase of number of jobs”, said Paquet. At the same time, Kosovo Minister for European Integrations Vlora Citaku said conclusion of SAA negotiations is a historic day for Kosovo’s European integrations journey. She said she expects the actual agreement to be initialed over the summer. Both the EU and Kosovo negotiators stressed that the SAA will not be blocked by the five EU countries that have not recognised independence of Kosovo as they do not oppose Kosovo’s EU integration. Jahjaga: Kosovo needs to have armed forces (Zeri, Koha Ditore) President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga said Kosovo institutions have come to the conclusion that it is time to set up an armed force for Kosovo which, she added, will perform all functions of an army. “Kosovo Armed Forces are necessary and this process has no alternative. This force will contribute to further consolidation of our country”, said Jahjaga during a visit to the Kosovo Security Force barracks “Adem Jashari” in Pristina. Daka: Elections on 8 June, impossible option (Epoka e Re) Head of Central Elections Commission (CEC) Valdete Daka told the paper that the institution she leads will face a huge challenge in organizing elections if they are scheduled for 8 June. She said the CEC would only have a month to prepare for the voting and “therefore 8 June seems to me to be an impossible option”. She said an additional strain for the CEC will be organizing elections in the north for the fact that Kosovo general elections will take place for the first time there. “Everyone knows what challenges we had during local elections in that part”, Daka told the paper. Papoulias: Recognition of Kosovo, serious problem (Koha Ditore) Greek President Karolos Papoulias said in a press conference during a visit to Switzerland that recognition of Kosovo’s independence by Greece is a serious problem. “I know the problem of Kosovo very well and it is a serious problem not only for the stability in the Balkans but also overall peace in European Union. He dismissed his country facing pressure not to recognise Kosovo and stressed that Greece acts only based on its national interests. Usurped property in the north to be freed (Zeri) Kosovo Property Agency (KPA) has began implementing a project for freeing usurped property in the north Mitrovica but also the property that has been illegally occupied south of the city and the municipalities of Skenderaj/Srbica, and Vushtrri/Vucitrn. Head of the regional KPA office in Mitrovica, Milena Djuric, said 280 properties have been usurped in the north and 170 in the southern part of Mitrovica and neighbouring municipalities. Djuric said cooperation with municipal leadership in the north and south has been good and is producing positive results. She said in the past the police hesitated to assist the KPA in freeing property in the north but this has now changed and the police is now supportive of KPA operations.