UNMIK Headlines 4 January
Ashton: 17 January dialogue include talks on north (Koha Ditore)
In a front-page interview, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, who is facilitating the Kosovo-Serbia political dialogue, announced that northern Kosovo will be discussed during the 17 January meeting between Thaçi and Dacic.
“We will meet to discuss the progress achieved, in particular the implementation of the IBM, and as we agreed on December 4 we will also discuss northern Kosovo […] It is up to the parties to agree what is the best way to address issues in the north. For us one thing is clear: the situation there is not stable and local people need a vision for their future in Kosovo,” Ashton said.
The EU High Representative ruled out the possibility of Kosovo’s division saying that “partition is not an option.”
Peace treaty cause for Jahjaga-Nikolic meeting (Koha Ditore)
According to sources, Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga and Serbia’s Tomislav Nikolic are expected to meet in Brussels to discuss a peace treaty between them.
The treaty is said to be months-worth of effort by the EU and aims at pushing forward the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. It expresses the commitment of Kosovo and Serbia to not obstruct one another on their way towards European integrations.
Sources revealed that the Jahjaga-Nikolic meeting will take place days after the meeting of Prime Ministers Thaçi and Dacic on 17 January.
Thaçi might run for president (Express)
Kosovo PM Thaçi said he will no longer run for the post of prime minister, thus fueling a dilemma over his future political role. “One thing is for sure, that PDK will win elections in the other mandate, but I do not want to be candidate for Prime Minister,” Thaçi said.
Political analysts consider that under such a scenario would leave Thaçi with two options: run for the post of Kosovo president or take a break from politics.
“The decision not to run for Prime Minister has two angles: first, he doesn’t wish to be Prime Minister anymore and wants to distance himself from the current politics and second, it may be he has ambitions to become President of Kosovo with a five-year mandate and remain present in politics,” said Shkëlzen Maliqi.
However, another analyst, Ardian Arifaj, considers that the post of President would mean an end to Thaçi’s political career. “For someone who has been at the Prime Minister’s post for so long, no other position will seem attractive,” said Arifaj.
Dodik: We won’t allow recognition of Kosovo (Express)
President of the Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik stated that the government in Banja Luka won’t be pressured to allow B&H recognize Kosovo’s independence. “We have outlived those pressures and they were very big,” he said. “We will not do anything or give any contribution outside of what Serbia’s official stance represents,” he added.
Constitutional, election reforms adopted by year’s end (Koha Ditore)
In a front-page report, the government’s action plan for negotiations on the Stabilization/Association Agreement notes that Kosovo institutions will conclude the constitutional and election reforms in the final quarter of this year. “There are still challenges that impede the proper functioning of the Assembly. Constitutional and election reforms are intertwined and delays in this respect cause delays in democratic reforms, the functioning of the constitutional order, and reforms in the election system in Kosovo,” states the document, which adds that the Assembly will roundup this process in the last quarter of 2013.
Tense situation in Bujanovac (Zëri)
An Albanian national flag was removed from the cemetery of UCPMB members in the village of Dobrosin, 18 kilometers west of Bujanovac, following the Serbian Parliament Speaker and head of Serbian Gendarmerie’s visit to bases of Serbian gendarmerie along the border with Kosovo.
Jonuz Musliu, former chief of the UCPMB, said they would not allow for the blood of martyrs to be disrespected. “We reached a peace agreement, but what happened yesterday was a serious provocation. We will not allow the blood of our martyrs or our legitimate rights to be disrespected. We will raise our concerns with international partners and such things should never happen again,” Musliu said.
Sejdiu: My project for LDK (Epoka e Re)
In a front-page interview, Fatmir Sejdiu, former leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), said he does not rule out his return at the helm of the party. Sejdiu said he favors normal political processes and that those who use politics for privileges and illegitimate profits should abandon it.
“I am part of the LDK and I never thought about leaving the party. My main goal is for the LDK to get the role it deserves. I don’t favor the LDK engaging in momentary activity. My approach is to bring together all potentials in the LDK. My action is about reaching out, my approach does not come from the streets,” Sejdiu said.
Sejdiu said he did not meet current LDK leader Isa Mustafa in 2012 and argued that Mustafa was doing political marketing with proposals for national symbols.