Headlines - 06.09.2013 Quint countries call for higher turnout in elections (Koha) Quint countries have welcomed the decision of the Central Election Committee (CEC) to remove the constitutional denomination of the state of Kosovo from voting ballots. They also welcomed the application of over 100 political parties, coalitions, civic initiatives and independent candidates from all over Kosovo. In a joint statement, Quint countries said such diverse representation is important for voters and for the further consolidation of democracy in Kosovo. Representatives of France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom and United States encouraged voters who are living abroad to apply for voting until the scheduled deadline of 10 September. They also expressed hope that on election day they will witness a high turnout of voters. Dialogue in Brussels to include discussions on “Srbija” list (Tribuna) The paper reports on the front page that Kosovo and Serbia prime ministers, Hashim Thaçi and Ivica Dacic, will meet on September 8 and among other things discuss on the joint Serbian list “Srbija” for the November local elections. Sources told the paper that Pristina will not accept the name of the Serbian united list. A senior government official said the name is not illegal or against constitution, but against the spirit of the Brussels agreement. Sources also said Pristina will insist that the spirit of the agreement is respected and that is the integration of Kosovo Serbs and not their symbolic division from the state of Kosovo. Ballot stamp will not include denomination “Republic” (Koha) The paper reports on the front page that the Central Election Committee has yet to decide on the design of the stamp for ballots for the November local elections. Sources told the paper that the denomination “Republic of Kosovo” will not be included in the stamp in order to comply with Serbia’s request for the elections process to be neutral toward Kosovo’s status. The OSCE mission said the stamp will be designed by the CEC and that ballots will contain security elements. “CEC should not certify Srbija list” (Lajm) Civil society representatives in Pristina argue that the Central Election Committee should not certify the united Serbian list “Srbija” because they believe that it can cause interethnic tensions and as such it is in opposition with democratic principles. Ismet Kryeziu, head of the non-governmental organization Democracy in Action, said the list is in opposition with the principles of democracy. “The political list ‘Srbija’ can produce provocations and trigger interethnic conflicts and as such it is in opposition with the principles of democracy and standards for free and fair elections. The Central Election Committee should not certify political entities with such acronyms,” Kryeziu said. Krasniqi: Parliament administration obliged to clean amnesty law (dailies) Several dailies quote Parliament Speaker Jakup Krasniqi as saying that the parliament’s administration is obliged to clean the amnesty law after recent remarks by the Constitutional Court. “We should also consult with the legal office of parliament. The parliament’s administration is obliged to clean the amnesty law following requests made by the Constitutional Court. Afterwards, the law will be sent to the president for signing and then it will go into force,” Krasniqi said. Kosovo Prime Minister to visit Albania (dailies) All dailies report that Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi will visit Tirana on Saturday where he will meet his Albanian counterpart, Sali Berisha. During his visit, Thaçi will also meet Albanian President Bujar Nishani, incoming prime minister Edi Rama, LSI leader Ilir Meta and PD leader Lulëzim Basha. Meetings will focus on furthering relations between Kosovo and Albania and cooperation in the process of European integration.  Strong party won’t take part in elections without state symbol (Koha) The Strong Party has conditioned its participation in the November local elections saying it will boycott the process if within 48 hours there is no change in the decision on voting ballots. Their reaction comes after the removal of the emblem of the Republic of Kosovo from voting ballots as a result of conditions set by Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic. The party’s leader said withdrawal would be a normal act in such situation when statehood is hit by such unprecedented conditions.