Headlines - 22.01.2014 Serbia “doesn’t understand” Kosovo condition (Koha Ditore) Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said the official opening of EU membership talks is the most important date for Serbia since World War II. He said his country will be ready for accession in 2018 and thanked EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Catherine Ashton for her commitment. “Without her efforts, without her positive report that confirmed Serbia has met all the conditions, we would not have achieved this success,” said Dacic in Brussels. European Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fuele noted the progress Serbia has made but highlighted the need for further reform and the condition for normalisation of relations with Kosovo. “Belgrade will have to remain fully committed in normalising relations with Pristina and continue implementing all agreements reached in the dialogue,” he said. When asked whether Serbian authorities understand the wording of the EU negotiations framework, regarding how relations with Kosovo have to be normalised through a legally-binding agreement to recognise the independence of Kosovo, Dacic replied, “We understand this is as the EU does”. He added that even though the EU does not fully understand the wording, there are also differences among EU member states on the issue of Kosovo status. National elections on 22 June (Zëri) Citing international sources, the paper reports on the front page that national elections will most likely be held on the third week of June: 22 June. The same sources said that the biggest political parties – PDK, LDK and AAK – have agreed on the date. “For the time being, the Kosovo Government plans to hold elections on this date. The PDK has already begun preparations for this and the idea has also been supported by the LDK and AAK,” the source added. Parliamentary elections will be held without election reforms, although this was a requirement by international officials.  Jahjaga: Mutual Kosovo-Serbia recognition through treaty (Tribuna) Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga said that the dialogue facilitated by the EU and supported by the US is the only way to renew relations with Serbia as two independent states. “We have entered the dialogue process convinced that only through this process can we achieve the necessary stability of our countries, the revival of our economies and the building of neighbourly relations that will secure our European future,” Jahjaga said at the 11^th International Congress in Vienna. She stressed that the mutual recognition of Kosovo and Serbia should take place through a legally-binding treaty and this would pave the way for both to join the EU. Agreement on new mission in March (Epoka e Re) Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi stated that the positions of Kosovo and the EU on EULEX’s transition have narrowed, although it is still unknown how the new mission would look like. He explained that the agreement on the new EU mission could happen by the beginning of March. Kuçi added that the future EU mission would assume an advisory and monitoring role, with special activity in the north.  Haradinaj: EULEX still needed in Kosovo (dailies) Leader of the Alliance for Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj said after a meeting with EULEX chief Bernd Borchardt that he supports EULEX’s mandate extension. “Haradinaj reconfirmed that AAK’s position has not changed and that it believes Kosovo still needs the support of the EU rule of law mission, especially in the fight against corruption and organised crime,” read a statement issued by AAK.  Minor progress on human rights in Balkans (Epoka e Re) The Human Rights Watch organization has seen limited progress in the western Balkans when accountability on war crimes and uprooting of discrimination and abuse of Roma minorities are concerned. In the 2013 human rights report, the group concluded that there was minor progress in this region when addressing violence against journalists and the gay community. “Balkan countries should work towards bringing human rights in the line with European and international standards,” sated Lydia Gall, researcher for Balkans and South-Eastern Europe at Human Rights Watch.   Locals, internationals clash over new PAK director (Koha Ditore) The Kosovo Privatisation Agency is destined to remain without a director after 26 January, when Shkëlzen Lluka’s mandate expires. There is at present a deep division amongst international and local members of the PAK board as to who will succeed Lluka; during the last meeting in December, there was a failure to come to an agreement on a candidate. Sources said international members of the board have threatened to resign if there are attempts to “smuggle in” a new director.