Petrovic: Agreement contains no elements of autonomy (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo's Deputy Prime Minister Slobodan Petrovic said in an interview for the paper that the agreement for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia contains no elements of autonomy for Serb majority municipalities.

"This agreement contains no elements of autonomy. What was wrong from the very beginning was the request to establish such an association which in essence does not have legislative and executive competencies. What is most important is that with the decentralization process, municipalities in Kosovo have greater autonomy and competencies than before," Petrovic said. He denied claims that the agreement ruins the principle of a multiethnic society.

Petrovic, who runs the Ministry for Local Government, said the implementation of the agreement would have a positive impact in the European integration process of both Kosovo and Serbia.

"I am certain that by signing the agreement Kosovo will have a more accelerated European integration process and soon we will have visa liberalization for our citizens.

Citaku: Serbs have autonomy with the Ahtisaari Package (koha.net)

Kosovo's European Integration Minister Vlora Citaku commented on the Kosovo-Serbia agreement saying that this is only the beginning of dialogue. She said Serbs have autonomy with the Ahtisaari Package. "There is antagonism over autonomy. In this case this does not imply the executive character," she said.

Citaku said "the agreement is not very pleasant for those who spoke against Kosovo's sovereignty. No one asks Serbia in the north but this agreement goes in their favor. The best example of this are Albanians living in the southern part of the city."

Citaku said Kosovo was not discussing a referendum for the agreement. "There is no need for a referendum on the agreement because the people's representatives have voted. Serbia has problems with the agreement and they are obliged to implement an agreement that is violating their Constitution."

Citaku also said the opposition in Parliament toward the agreement was normal. "Opposition in Parliament is certainly normal because of history. We expected it would be accompanied with tensions," she added.

Kosovo-Serbia talks on public property too (koha.net)

Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said Belgrade and Pristina will soon hold talks on public and private property, the status of the church and telecommunications. During an address in Serbian Parliament, Dacic said he would not allow Serbs in Kosovo to share the fate of Serbs in Krajina, Croatia, who rejected the 4Z plan for the solution of the problem.

Dacic said Kosovo would not be able to go to the north without previous consent from KFOR and only in the event of natural disasters and with the approval of local Serb leaders. In reference to a letter exchange between NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, Dacic said this was the first time someone gave guarantees that Kosovo's army would not deploy in the north.

Dacic also said everyone should forget about the time when Hashim Thaci and Agim Ceku had arrest warrants issued by Serbian authorities.

Pacolli: AAK made a wrong move (gazetaexpress.com)

Behxhet Pacolli, leader of the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR), a partner in the ruling coalition, said on Friday that the Haradinaj-led Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), made a wrong move by walking out of the forum of leaders for election and constitutional reforms.

Pacolli called on AAK leader Haradinaj to not boycott reforms and be part of the concluding stage of the process. "Boycott does not take you forward. Had the AAK been there, we would have gone step forward. The other parties were very cooperative," Pacolli said. "It's bad that AAK did not stay. I don't know the reason why they left the meeting. Reforms are derived from Parliament and one has nothing to look for in Parliament if there is no result achieved by political parties."

Contrary to claims by AAK representative, Pacolli said the last meeting of the forum made progress on the election of the president, election zones and mandates of MPs. "This is the first time that we have gone this forward. We are very close to perfecting reforms," he said. "It would be good if the AAK cooperates in concluding election and constitutional reforms."

Pacolli also said he expects Atifete Jahjaga to resign from the post of president after election reforms. "When reforms get underway, the President will step down voluntarily and six months after reforms she will make way for the new president and presidential elections."

Serbia should be forced to reveal locations of illegal graves (Epoka e Re)

On Kosovo's National Day of Missing Persons, Prenk Gjetaj, chairman of the government committee for missing persons, said the international community should put more pressure on Serbia to reveal the locations of illegal graves. "There is ongoing dialogue with the International Committee of the Red Cross, but this dialogue needs additional support and the international community should force Serbia to reveal the locations of clandestine or illegal graves," Gjetaj said.

Gjetaj put some of the blame on international officials. "There is no data, information or opportunity that we have not used. The process however is still in the hands of international officials. For example, the Forensics Department that works on missing persons. Everything is in the hands of EULEX, starting from the identification of the location, the working permit, the court order for excavation, the excavation of remains, analysis, examination and so forth... The morgue on war crimes is still managed by EULEX. In this context, there are plans to transfer competencies to local institutions. Once these competencies are transferred, the process will become more transparent," he added.

New court in Brussels on "organs trafficking in Kosovo" (koha.net)

Citing sources in Brussels, Belgrade-based Blic newspaper reported that next year in Brussels an ad-hoc tribunal will be established to try "organs trafficking in Kosovo and crimes committed against non-Albanians". EULEX special team chief John Clint Williamson tabled the idea during a meeting with Serbian officials last Wednesday in Belgrade. In a meeting with Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, Williamson said over 100 people were interviewed during investigations into organs trafficking. He also said investigations would conclude next year and praised cooperation with the Serbian Prosecution for War Crimes and the Ministry of Interior Affairs.

Petrovic: The agreement contains no elements of autonomy (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo's Deputy Prime Minister Slobodan Petrovic said in an interview for the paper that the agreement for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia contains no elements of autonomy for Serb majority municipalities.

"This agreement contains no elements of autonomy. What was wrong from the very beginning was the request to establish such an association which in essence does not have legislative and executive competencies. What is most important is that with the decentralization process, municipalities in Kosovo have greater autonomy and competencies than before," Petrovic said. He denied claims that the agreement ruins the principle of a multiethnic society.

Petrovic, who runs the Ministry for Local Government, said the implementation of the agreement would have a positive impact in the European integration process of both Kosovo and Serbia.

"I am certain that by signing the agreement Kosovo will have a more accelerated European integration process and soon we will have visa liberalization for our citizens".