Ashton: Implementation plan to be discussed (Zëri)

The EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Catherine Ashton, said during her visit toZagrebthat for EU, when Kosovo andSerbiaare concerned, it is important to reach the point of “fulfilling our criteria of the December conclusions.” Ashton confirmed she will meet with Prime Ministers Thaçi and Dacic, within a few days in Brussels to discuss the plan for implementation of the agreement. She said that she has already congratulated the two Prime Ministers for their courage, determination as well as hard work to reach the agreement.

Westerwelle to visit Belgrade and Pristina (Tribuna)

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle will visit Belgrade on Monday and then will travel to Pristina. Serbian media reported that the surprising visit by Westerwelle could be a warning to Serbia to implement the Brussels agreement. “Is Westerwelle’s visit in the Serbian capitol a threat or support for Serbia,” Belgrade-based Tanjug news agency asked. “Westerwelle’s visit is the most important political event that could determine many things. The visit, which comes at a heated political moment, one day before the meeting in Brussels of prime ministers Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaçi and before the Bundestag’s decision to give the green light to Serbia’s membership talks with the European Union, shows the seriousness and the fragile situation, but it seems also Berlin’s goal to start implementing the Belgrade-Pristina agreement.”

Margallo: Spain will recognize Kosovo after Serbia (Tribuna)

“Spain continues to refuse recognizing the state of Kosovo,” Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo said during a visit to Romania, one of the five EU member states that have yet to recognize the reality in Kosovo. “Spain will not recognize the unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence, until Serbia does so.”

Margallo said recognizing Kosovo’s independence would mean accepting the declaration that violates the constitutional right of former Yugoslavia and international law”.

Margallo also said Spain wants to maintain relations with Belgrade and Pristina in order for the two sides to agree on trade and administrative relations, “but by not crossing the red line of accepting the unilaterally-declared independence”.

AAK does not like a coalition between PDK and LDK (Epoka e Re)

Ahmet Isufi, deputy leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) said on Thursday that time has proved that a coalition between PDK and LDK does not function. Isufi was commenting on recent statements by LDK leader Isa Mustafa who said he does not rule out a possible coalition with the PDK.

Isufi said the AAK is not afraid from such a coalition, but he suggested the LDK to cooperate with loyal political parties. “You know that coalitions were broken out as a result of interests of individuals and certain clans. Therefore, if coalitions are built on safe partnerships, political parties should pay more attention to who they form coalitions with,” Isufi added.

Bosniaks request three municipalities (Zëri)

Bosniak community in Kosovo is requesting three new municipalities, In Reçan, at Prizren, Dragash and Vitomirica, at Peja. Their request has been actualized after the decision of Kosovo Government to initiate procedures for creation ofmunicipalityofRogovain Has. Deputy Speaker at the Assembly of Kosovo from Bosniak community, Rasim Demiri, stressed that these political issues depend on the Prime Minister.

Lambsdorff: Kosovo to fight corruption and organized crime (Koha)

During his trip to Berlin, AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj met with Nikolaus Graf Lambsdorff, special envoy for south-east Europe of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Lambsdorff is quoted as saying that Kosovo needs to do more for the promotion of foreign investments, with special emphasis on the fight against corruption and organized crime.

Minister Rexhepi and defendant Limaj side by side against crime (Koha)

The paper reports in one of the front-page stories that the Ministry of Interior Affairs has entrusted the main responsibility for implementing the strategy against organized crime to a person accused of being involved in organized crime.

Florim Limaj continues to exercise this duty although a court proceeding against him is underway. On Friday at 09:30 hrs, Florim will have to appear before a court together with his brothers, Fatmir and Demir. The charges against them are serious.

The Ministry of Interior Affairs reported on Thursday that the inter-institutional working group on the implementation of the strategy and action plan against organized crime has held its latest meeting. The press release issued after the meeting contains a picture showing Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi, Florim Limaj by his right side and his special advisor on the left side.

LISBA threatens protests if history is not written as Turkey wishes (dailies)

Several dailies report that the Islamic Movement for the Union, LISBA, has threatened the Government of Kosovo that if it does not act on Turkey’s request to review history books in Kosovo, they will organize protests. LISBA member Noli Zhitia has fully justified Ankara’s request about the writing of history books.