Headlines - 14.03.2013 Thaçi expects Ashton’s visit to speed up agreement (dailies) Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi hopes EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Catherine Ashton’a visit will offer momentum for efforts on reaching an agreement for the north of Kosovo as soon as possible. However, the Kosovo Government officials reaffirmed that Pristina has nothing more to offer except from what is stipulated by its Constitution. “Lady Ashton’s visit is encouraging for Pristina and of course it will be a visit that I believe will push things forward,” said PM Thaçi at the meeting of the Government cabinet. “With regards to Pristina, everything is clear. Our stances were, are, and will remain entirely within the framework of the Kosovo Constitution, our laws, and European standards,” Thaçi added. Pressure on both sides for the association (Express) Vincent Degert, head of the European Union delegation in Serbia, said both sides must make steps forward in talks between Pristina and Belgrade. “These are their talks. We see this as a great opportunity; a situation where everyone looks for the solution,” Degert told reporters in Kopaonik. Degert said the EU is active in the talks, which are focused on normalizing relations. He said there are “issues such as energy, telecommunications, posts, and of course the northern part of Kosovo, and that both sides need to make progress.” Asked if there is pressure on Pristina, Degert said pressure is on oth sides to reach an agreement. “We think this is a great opportunity that should not be missed,” he added.  Pressure on the opposition (Tribuna) EU High Representative Catherine Ashton’s visit to Pristina is considered to be the most serious effort to obtain an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia on the north. Diplomatic sources said the crucial element will be her meetings with representatives of the Kosovo opposition parties. Ashton is expected to meet with LDK leader Isa Mustafa and AAK’s Ramush Haradinaj, but not with the leader of the second largest opposition party Vetëvendosje, Albin Kurti. Lady Ashton is expected to seek both Mustafa’s and Haradinaj’s support for an agreement on the north, as well as other actions that will lead to the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. She will insist on opposition leaders expressing their support publicly.  Haziri: Ashton’s visit like Ahtisaari’s (Epoka e Re) Deputy of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Lutfi Haziri, said in an interview that representatives of state institutions that accept associations with executive competencies would “cripple” Kosovo. According to Haziri, such an association would ruin the multi-ethnic principle of Kosovo, because by offering “special rights to the Serb community, we wanted to integrate them without considering the numbers and where they live.” Speaking on EU High Representative Catherine Ashton’s visit, Haziri said it “reminds him of President Ahtisaari’s visit a few days before publicizing his proposal for the status of Kosovo. Of course she arrives in Kosovo with a program, a draft agreement and a draft with competencies. Baroness Ashton arrives in Kosovo to discuss the need for support of the dialogue process and the signing and ratification of this document, which is planned between Pristina and Belgrade,” said Haziri.  Thousands march against theft (Koha Ditore) Thousands of citizens protested yesterday in Pristina against Kosovo institutions accused of corruption. This is the seventh protest organized recently and gathered the most participants. This time, protests are against the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) and all state institutions. Protesters demanded the resignation of two ministers and KEK’s CEO. PDK Bank (Zëri) The Assembly of Kosovo is expected to give its “blessing” today to former Finance Minister Bedri Hamza to assume the post of the Kosovo’s Central Bank governor. Hamza’s appointment to the post will politicize the last remaining independent institution in the country. Hamza already secured support of Hashim Thaçi’s PDK and coalition partners, even though LDK and Vetëvendosje announced they will boycott the voting process and accused the Government of turning the Central Bank into a party bank for PDK. Thaçi, Pacolli meet on government reshuffling (dailies) Express reports that Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and his coalition partner Behxhet Pacolli, leader of the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR), failed to reach an agreement on government reshuffling. Sources said both leaders met on Wednesday but did not reach an agreement. “PDK is the one that is prolonging the process. It seems they are not interested in making new movements in the government, therefore, there is no agreement yet,” the source said. Tribuna, on the other hand, reports that both leaders agreed on government reshuffling and Thaçi reportedly agreed for AKR member Fadil Ismaili to be appointed Minister of Economic Development. A senior government official said changes in the government will be made with special decisions issued by the Prime Minister, not through a new agreement between the coalition partners.  Fuele in Pristina 19 March (Tribuna) European Union Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele will visit Pristina on 19 March. International sources told the paper that the purpose of the visit is to obtain information on the implementation of obligations that Kosovo has in the integration process and visa liberalization. Fuele will visit Belgrade prior to arriving in Pristina.  Ferati: Crimes cannot be amnestied (Zëri) Former Minister of Local Government and present LDK MP Sadri Ferati said criminal acts in the north can never be amnestied. “Amnesty could be granted to persons who committed minor offences, for instance, organizing barricades, gatherings… amnesty could happen if there is normalization without tendencies for destabilizing the situation,” said Ferati.