Headlines - 07.08.2013 Social unrest could topple Thaçi government (Tribuna) The paper reports on the front page that according to some international organizations, Kosovo could very soon go to parliamentary elections. This would happen after the outbreak of social riots by people unsatisfied with the grave social and economic situation. Business Monitor International, an independent research institute based in London, issued a report saying that social unrest could lead to the downfall of Thaçi’s government and take the country to early elections. However, it was also noted that a large international military and diplomatic presence would not allow the escalation of violence. “We predict that the failure to limit expenditures or to secure short-term funds from international loaners will result in a fiscal crisis for Kosovo that would have substantial consequences for political and economic stability in the region,” the BMI report added. On the other hand, Kosovo’s Labor and Social Welfare Minister, Nenad Rasic, ruled out such a scenario. “We are not going through a serious economic or social crisis for the people to start protesting or rioting. I also don’t believe that this report has a strong foundation … I am aware that the current situation is not perfect, but it is also not that bad to trigger social unrest,” Rasic said. IBM on the “right track” (Zëri) EU officials presented on Tuesday the design of new border crossing points between Kosovo and Serbia as part of the Integrated Border Management agreement. International officials said that construction of joint customs points will begin next year. “Premises will be constructed in six border crossing points currently between Kosovo and Serbia and for the time being we are operating in these existing facilities but they will be transformed into solid and permanent premises,” Dren Zeka, advisor to Kosovo chief negotiator Edita Tahiri. He added that implementation of IBM so far is satisfactory and that there is evident progress as the lines of communication between Kosovo and Serbian border officials have been established. Kuçi: EULEX to leave like ICO (Epoka e Re) Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi told the paper that Kosovo institutions are committed to continuing cooperation with EU rule of law mission within the legal framework of Kosovo and that any decision about its mandate will have to follow a political consensus in coordination with EULEX and other relevant stakeholders. “This was the case with ICO and it will be the same with EULEX,” Kuçi said. Asked whether Kosovo will need EULEX beyond 2014, Kuçi said this will be an issue that will require a consensual decision. “Such decisions need a maximum possible local and international consensus,” he stressed. Vulin: Serbia is owner of all wealth in Kosovo (Tribuna) “Serbia will not give up on its wealth in Kosovo, including Trepça and the Gazivoda Lake,” Aleksandar Vulin, head of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, was quoted as saying in Belgrade media. “Any future agreement, and I expect the next agreement to be on wealth, will start from the fact that Serbia in Kosovo has made investments and it is the owner of all wealth in Kosovo, including Trepça.” Vulin also said that in addition to the remaining Serbs in Kosovo, Trepça and Gazivoda are Serbia’s most important resources in Kosovo. Kosovo with additional 140,000 voters (Koha) Koha Ditore reports on the front page that the voting body in Kosovo has increased. Around 140,000 voters have been included in the preliminary voting list, which is expected to grow further after it is corrected with civil registry data from Serbia for northern Mitrovica and the municipalities of Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok. The civil registry based on which CEC drafts the list of voters, has identified 1.769.320 voters, citizens of Kosovo. These records were presented to Serbia too. Kosovo has enlisted 52.144 voters for the municipalities in the north, but a source said this number would change, while the voters list “should reflect the number of Serbs listed in the civil registry of Serbia”. Albanians in north risk remaining without municipal representation (Koha) If Albanians residents of six villages in the municipalities of Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic are not properly organized they could remain without representation in these municipal assemblies after the November 3 elections. Residents of villages of Caber, in Zubin Potok municipality, Ceraje and Koshtove, in Leposavic municipality, and villages Kelmend, Boletin, Zhazhe and Vidimiriq, in Zvecan municipality, have expressed their concern that municipal assemblies in these municipalities could become purely Serb if there is no joint initiative by Albanian political parties for the November local elections. Political parties have shared their concern and confirmed that there are ongoing talks to establish a coalition or to run with a joint list in the elections. Serbs block road, demand salaries from Serbia (Tribuna) Around 300 Serb workers from different companies in the municipality of Leposavic blocked the Ibër regional road on Tuesday in Jarinje. Serbs were protesting against the Serbian Government and demanding that their salaries be paid. A similar protest was held in Bosniak Mahalla in the northern part of Mitrovica in front of the office of the Serbian Government, where 40 Serbs from the so-called “Economic Chamber of Kosovo and Metohia” have not received their salaries for 7 months. Kosovo Police spokesman Besim Hoti said no incident was reported in the protests.