Status quo in north renders IBM implementation uncertain (Koha Ditore) In a front-page report, Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic is conditioning the implementation of the agreement on integrated border management (IBM). EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said that Serbia should be rewarded for the courage shown in the latest meeting between Thaçi and Dacic in Brussels. On the other hand, Dacic created dilemmas when interpreting that “they agreed to continue the status quo” regarding the IBM agreement, which questions the very achievement of the agreement. Some EU diplomats stated that they await explanations from Baroness Ashton’s office on what exactly Thaçi and Dacic agreed. Ashton, meanwhile, is expected to brief ministers of EU member states on the dialogue progress. In a meeting with NATO ministers, Ashton said that the situation in northern Kosovo and problems with Serb structures will be addressed early next year in the dialogue. Thaçi remains PM as long as dialogue with Serbia (Koha Ditore) Both local and international sources confirmed the existence of a PDK-AAK joint-government plan, which foresees Haradinaj replacing Thaçi as prime minister. In order for the plan to be carried out, both parties must obtain support from the leading opposition, LDK. Nevertheless, whether LDK votes in favour, the plan cannot be implemented without the conclusion of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. “We will have to wait for the end of the dialogue process with Serbia and only then think of changes to senior state positions. Reaching a PDK-AAK partnership does not imply that Thaçi will step down for Haradinaj at this stage,” said the paper’s source, adding that it will be Thaçi who will nominate Haradinaj as his successor but “this is not likely to happen before new parliamentary elections.” Thaçi “formalizes” autonomy for north (Zëri) According to political experts and representatives of the Kosovo opposition, there is no reason to rejoice after the five-hour-long meeting between Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and Serbia’s Ivica Dacic. Opposition and experts claim that implementation of the IBM agreement would seriously harm Kosovo’s sovereignty and “seal” a different type of approach for the north. According to Vetëvendosje, the agreement specifies that goods entering Kosovo will not be subject to customs duties at the northern border with Serbia, but at a terminal in Mitrovica; Serbs living in the north will be exempted from taxes. “It was also reported that a percentage from the collected VAT will go to Serb parallel structures in the north. If this is the agreement, then it turns out that Serbia’s illegal structures will from now on be funded with public money that were supposed to be deposited at the Kosovo budget,” said Vetëvendosje’s Dardan Molliqaj, adding that this arrangement means autonomy for the north. Summit of conditions (Express) In a report on page six, Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga faced requests from her Montenegrin and Macedonian counterparts at the summit of presidents in the Budva region. Montenegro’s President Filip Vujanovic reiterated Podgorica’s condition that both countries can exchange ambassadors once Pristina recognizes the Montenegrin community in Kosovo. Macedonian President Gjorgje Ivanov said Gorans in Kosovo should be recognized as a Macedonian minority. Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic did not attend the summit. War associations protest against Limaj’s arrest Friday (dailies) War associations said on Wednesday they will protest on 7 December in front of EULEX headquarters in Pristina against the arrest of PDK deputy leader Fatmir Limaj and his former combatants in the Kleçka case. Muharrem Xhemajli, chairman of the KLA War Veterans, said EULEX failed in its mission and he called on former combatants, families of martyrs and all those who believe in the fight of the KLA to join the protest on Friday. “The arrests are tendencies to satisfy Serbia’s appetite and the appetite of people who never loved the righteous war of the KLA. We waged a righteous liberation war and this was recently confirmed by The Hague tribunal, which released Ramush Haradinaj and his associates,” Xhemajli added. AKI expected to take control of tapping (Koha Ditore) In a front-page story, Hashim Thaçi would have not been heard asking Adem Grabovci how is “Jakupovski” if the Law on Tapping entered into effect. Six months after the law enters into effect, all data gathered previous will be destroyed. The centre where new information from the tappings are to be collected will be established inside the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (AKI). Telephone operators are obliged to prepare the necessary infrastructure for the tappings, otherwise they risk losing their license to operate. Petrovic tapped about property dispute (Zëri) Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Local Government Minister Slobodan Petrovic is under investigation from the special prosecution for threatening a person regarding a property dispute. According to reliable sources, Petrovic threatened a Serb with text messages and, as a result, the prosecution decided to tap his phone for two months. Fitou leaves Kosovo (Epoka e Re) French Ambassador in Kosovo Jean Francois Fitou announced on Wednesday that his diplomatic mandate in Kosovo will end this week during a farewell meeting with Parliament Speaker Jakup Krasniqi. Fitou thanked Krasniqi for a sincere and very productive cooperation. Headlines - 06.12.2012