Headlines - 07.11.2013 Kosovo and Serbia PMs agree to finalise election process (dailies) Koha Ditore reports that it looks like that European Union, like Pristina and Belgrade, has the same stance about local elections process in Kosovo in that they should be finalized by the same day when the second round of elections is to take place. By that time, election process in three polling stations in the north of Kosovo has to be repeated to ensure that the second round of voting in the north can take place at the same time as elsewhere in Kosovo, beginning of December. This is very important for Serbia because in December European Council should decide about the start of membership negotiations with Serbia, and implementation of the agreement with Kosovo is the main condition. Kosovo Prime Minister, Hashim Thaçi sees the elections as “legitimacy of Brussels agreement”, while Prime Minister of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, sees  them as “an opportunity for Serbs to take over governance there where they are majority “, and for “Serbia to start membership negotiations with EU”. Tribuna newspaper under headline Re-elections in the north on 17 November, writes that Kosovo Prime Minister, Hashim Thaçi and Serb Prime Minister Ivica Dacic have agreed to legitimize the result 3 November elections, also in north of Mitrovica, despite the low turnout while in the three polling stations in north Mitrovica, where masked groups demolished voting material, there will be a re-vote. Albanians and Serbs who are living in the north of Mitrovica should vote again on 17 November.  Voting in three polling stations in the north on 17 November (dailies) Central Election Commission announced that the voting process in three polling stations in North Mitrovica will be repeated on 17 November because of the damage to the ballot boxes there. “This decision of the CEC came after the recommendation from the Central Election Commission Secretariat that 17 November is the suitable time to make necessary preparations for organising a regular election process”, a statement from the CEC reads. Legal votes of the north counted (Tribuna) Ballot boxes from the north were opened and counted on Wednesday afternoon and the Center for Counting and Results. Even though the voting process in four municipalities of the north was interrupted on Sunday prior to the official time, due to security reasons, Serbs from the north appeared to be quite interested to understand who won majority of votes. Dozens of observers from the political parties in the north of Kosovo, were present during the counting of votes at the CCR.   Ban calls for an investigation into election incidents in the north (Tribuna) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hailed active participation of voters in Kosovo local elections last week and condemned attacks on polling stations in the north. In a statement to the media, Ban said elections “are a key element of implementation of the 19 April agreement between Belgrade and Pristina.” “In calling for an immediate investigation of these attacks, the Secretary-General strongly deplores any attempts to undermine the electoral process and the fundamental right of people to express their democratic will,” said the statement.  Paris praises elections (Tribuna) France hailed general progress during the local elections held in Kosovo on 3 November. “Level of participation in general was satisfactory, including the southern Serb municipalities in Kosovo. This is a sign of increasing acceptation of the institutions of Kosovo by Serb community. This is a positive step for the democracy in Kosovo,” says the press release.  According to France’s Foreign Ministry, credit for the progress for these elections belongs to all parties in Belgrade and Pristina, who favored participation of voters in these elections.  Run-off voting to unite Mustafa with Pacolli (Koha Ditore, Bota Sot) Koha Ditore reports that Democratic League of Kosovo and New Kosovo Alliance are expected to join in their efforts for the second round of voting in Pristina Municipality. LDK deputy leader Teuta Sahatqija confirmed the possibility of a coalition with AKR in Pristina but also noted that with regards to other municipalities, the party structures there have autonomy to decide on who they wish to join forces with. At the same time, Bota Sot quotes LDK leader and candidate for Pristina, Isa Mustafa, as saying that his party has not yet decided to enter any coalition for the second round of voting. PDK and AAK together in the second ballot (Lajm) The paper quotes sources as saying that Democratic Party of Kosovo deputy leader Hajredin Kuçi met with Alliance for Future of Kosovo leadership yesterday and discussed the possibility of coalitions for second round of voting. Sources said that the two parties have agreed for PDK to support AAK’s candidate in Gjakova, Pal Lekaj. At the same time, New Kosovo Alliance leader Behgjet Pacolli has threatened to leave the central-level ruling coalition with PDK if the latter decides to support AAK in Gjakova and not AKR’s Mimoza Kusari-Lila. Loyal Serbs stripped off power (Tribuna) The Serb list sponsored from the government of Belgrade has won the right for mayoral runoffs in six municipalities and expects to be in power also in four municipalities in the north. The Serb list came as a result of the Brussels agreement, but the problem remains on whether it is going to recognize the constitutional order of Kosovo or not, writes the paper.