Anti-Kosovo Summit fails (Koha)

The paper reports on the front page that Macedonia and Serbia’s effort to reject Kosovo from regional cooperation has failed. The summit of South-East European countries, scheduled to be held in Ohrid, was cancelled by its organizer, Macedonian President Georgi Ivanov, after the majority of countries refused to attend if Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga was not attending.

“We decided to cancel the summit following the decision of presidents of neighboring countries to boycott the summit as a result of the failure to invite Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga,” Ivanov told reporters.

Reliable sources told the paper about behind-the-scenes development that led to the failure of the summit. The clash between Skopje and Belgrade on one side and Pristina supported by a considerable number of regional countries on the other side lasted for over two weeks. The incident with the cancelled summit is clear indication of Belgrade’s influence on the decision-making process in Skopje.

Vetëvendosje calls on MPs not to vote ratification of agreement (dailies)

Vetëvendosje leaders said on Wednesday that members of Kosovo’s Parliament who vote in favor of ratifying the Kosovo-Serbia agreement will be held responsible for its negative consequences on the functioning of the state of Kosovo. Vetëvendosje senior official Dardan Molliqaj told reporters, “members of the opposition and the government in Parliament who will vote in favor of the agreement will bear political and moral responsibility for the destruction of the state of Kosovo ... This agreement is unacceptable, it is unfair and above all it threatens the future of our state and society”.

Implementation parallel in all fields (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi said the implementation of the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia will happen simultaneous in all respective fields. Kuçi said a Kosovo delegation will travel to Brussels today to meet with the Serbian delegation and European Union officials and discuss specific actions for the implementation of the agreement. Kuçi said that it will be necessary for Thaçi and Dacic to meet once a month, with the facilitation of Baroness Ashton, and discuss the implementation process.

Prime Minister Thaçi recognizes northern Mitrovica (Koha)

The paper notes on the front page that Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi has recognized northern Mitrovica as a municipality although his government has yet to establish the municipality. Even local elections are planned to be held without the establishment act. The recognition of this Serb-inhabited region was made through the implementation plan for the agreement on normalization of relations signed by prime ministers Thaçi and Dacic. Point two of the plan talks about the establishment of the association of Serb majority municipalities. It obliges the parties to establish a managing group in May that would establish the association and which would include representatives of the four northern municipalities.

NATO views agreement as a factor of stability in the region (dailies)

Representatives of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly subcommittee visited Kosovo yesterday and met Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi and President Atifete Jahjaga. Head the delegation, Marit Nybakk, said after meeting Krasniqi that the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia is positive. “I sincerely believe that agreement reached in Brussels will lead to stability, peace and development for Kosovo, Serbia as well as the whole region of Western Balkans”, she said.

Nybakk is quoted as saying that part of the agreement is also Kosovo Security Force’s transformation into an armed force but could not give a date as to when such a thing can happen. “I cannot say when and how but this will be another step forward”, said Nybakk.

Germany extends mandate to its peacekeeping troops in Kosovo (Koha)

Government of Germany has decided to extend the mandate of its military troops in Kosovo while the Bundestag is expected to review the decision in its upcoming meeting on 7 June. A statement issued by the German Government states that although an agreement has been reached between Kosovo and Serbia, a part of Kosovo Serb population in the north oppose the agreement leaving the situation there fragile.