Kosovo leaders remind Dacic: Status is a closed chapter (Epoka e Re)

Representatives of Kosovo institutions have strongly rejected Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic’s idea to solve the Kosovo issue through another Dayton Agreement.

 Kosovo’s Foreign Affairs Minister Enver Hoxhaj said Dacic’s idea was not serious and cannot be implemented. “Kosovo is an independent state with internationally recognized borders. In this respect, the Kosovo Government believes such proposals are not serious and cannot be implemented. You know that this model has madeBosniaa dysfunctional state,” Hoxhaj said. “Dacic makes all kinds of proposals from Monday to Friday. On Monday he has one idea, on Tuesday he has another idea. We shouldn’t be surprised by this man.Daytonis an agreement that madeBosniaa country without political, economic, civic and social unity.”

 Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga, through her media advisor Arbër Vllahiu, rejected Dacic’s idea. “The sovereignty of theRepublicofKosovo, its territorial integrity and independence were and will never be topics of talks with anyone. This chapter has been sealed once and for all and it expresses the will of the people of Kosovo, the will of the international community, theUnited States of Americaand the European Union,” Vllahiu said.

 Thaçi: We will defeat Dacic even in peace (Zëri)

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi responded to the statements from his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic that had they met during the war, either would Dacic ‘kill’ Thaçi or vice-versa by saying that he is the one that won the war but will also defeat Dacic now in peacetime. “We won the war, we will also win the peace,” said Thaçi.

 Dacic: All citizens of Kosovo, full protection (Epoka e Re, Kosova Sot)

Epoka e Re writes thatSerbia’s Prime Minister Ivica Dacic saidSerbia insists that international missions under the UN umbrella in Kosovo provide assurance that all citizens in Kosovo will enjoy full protection and equal rights. Dacic made the comments in a meeting with head of UNMIK Farid Zarif where he also noted that it is necessary for UNMIK to still remain active and have an important role in providing stable security in Kosovo.

 On the other hand, Kosova Sot reports that UNMIK chief Zarif also met in Belgrade President Tomislav Nikolic and the head of Office for Kosovo Aleksandar Vulin. The paper also notes that Zarif’s meetings inBelgrade are taking place only days before the third meeting between prime ministers of Kosovo andSerbia.

 Diaries of Witness X return Kleçka case to retrial (dailies)

Koha Ditore reports on page five that while the Supreme Court of Kosovo was getting ready on Tuesday to review the request of EULEX prosecutor Maurizio Salustro to send the Kleçka case to retrial, numerous EULEX police forces were seen around and inside the court building. “This shows that the decision is not good,” said one of the attorneys.

 The court panel later decided to send the case to retrial. This means that Fatmir Limaj, Nexhmi Krasniqi, Naser Shala and Naser Krasniqi would stand trial for war crimes committed against civilians and prisoners of war. The court panel namely accepted all statements and diaries of the late witness Agim Zogaj, also known as Witness X.

 Limaj did not talk to reporters after the court’s decision, but his attorney said the Supreme Court made a wrong decision in assessing evidence, in the assessment of the responses to the request and in the assessment of the first verdict.

 Under the front-page headline The terror of “justice”, Epoka e Re quotes Limaj’s attorney as saying that he believes politics was involved in the Supreme Court’s decision. The paper also carries a press release issued by the Government of Kosovo which noted that efforts to stain the fight of the Kosovo Liberation Army will not be successful.

 Krasniqi: Government should intervene in the north too (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi called on the Government on Tuesday to intervene in the northern part of Mitrovica, where the “Civil Protection of Mitrovica”, on Sunday performed simulation exercises of reaction in case of fire emergencies.

 Commenting on the latest developments in the north where many criminal organizations are operating, the Speaker of Parliament emphasized that rule of law institutions should not react only in the event of protests in Pristina, but also in the north where state sovereignty is being violated.

 MUP calls on Kosovo policemen to renew contracts (Koha Ditore)

Citing reliable sources, Koha Ditore reports on the front page that over 40 Kosovo policemen have renewed their contracts with the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs in the city of Kraljevo on Tuesday. The Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs has namely instructed all members of Kosovo Police who at the same time are employed by Serbian Police, to renew their contracts.

 The source said that contracts for Serb members of Kosovo Police were extended due to the relocation of police members before they are transferred to different cities in Kosovo by the Kosovo Police Directorate and the Ministry of Interior Affairs.

 The paper also notes that these Serb members of Kosovo Police report to Serbian MUP on every detail even before reporting to Kosovo security mechanisms.