Westerwelle wants concrete actions in implementation of agreement (dailies)

During his visit to Pristina on Monday, Germany’s chief diplomat Guido Westerwelle said the April 19 agreement is a historic turn and called on Kosovar leaders to display flexibility, wisdom and patience in meetings with Serbian officials. He said he delivered the same message during his visit to Belgrade. Whilst in Belgrade, Westerwelle called for the dismissal of parallel structures, and in Pristina he called for facilitating the integration of northern Serbs in Kosovo’s institutions.

Talking about timelines for the implementation of the agreement on the ground, Westerwelle said both countries need to provide evidence for concrete actions. He also said concrete results need to be seen before June 23, when an EU meeting is expected to decide on whether or not to give Serbia the green light for EU membership talks.

Implementation plan of the Brussels agreement (Tribuna)

If there is consent between the two prime ministers, the governments of Kosovo and Serbia will have to work hard during the summer to implement the Brussels agreement. The paper claims to have secured a copy of the implementation plan that Baroness Catherine Ashton will present to the two prime ministers on Tuesday. The plan reportedly contains detailed actions for both parties.

The beginning of the text of the implementation plan notes that it can be updated by the Implementation Committee that will include both parties. The plan provides that Kosovo and Serbia by the end of this month need to submit respective legal amendments aimed at the implementation of the agreement. By mid-June, the amendments need to be endorsed. This part rules out statements by Prime Minister Thaçi and other government officials who claimed that laws would not be amended to implement the agreement.

The implementation plan does not specify which laws will need to be amended, but sources told the paper this involves the constitutional law that Serbia will have to adopt, and Kosovo’s laws that will enable “greater representation of northerners in Kosovo’s central institutions”.

The plan further notes that “an amnesty law” will need to be adopted by mid-June. The paper earlier had reported that this law would amnesty all northern Serbs that were involved in parallel structures but who did not commit serious criminal acts.

The plan also provides that the dissolution of Serbia’s parallel structures in the north would commence around mid-June.

Hoxhaj: We are not only against Greater Serbia projects, but against Greater Albania, too (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, has objected the idea of Serbia’s Prime Minister, Ivica Dacic, for division of Kosovo as well as calls of Albania’s Prime Minister for “unification of Albanians.” In an interview for Austrian daily “Die Presse,” Hoxhaj said that Dacic’s request for territorial division of Kosovo, “is absolutely unacceptable.” This request, he said, is against the idea of multi-ethnicity and against European spirit. Speaking about Berisha’s calls, Hoxhaj said that “Kosovo will always be an independent state.”

Mustafa: Implementation of the Agreement, as soon as possible (dailies)

The leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, requested during a meeting with the KFOR Deputy Commander, General Bojan Pograjc, for the Agreement reached between Kosovo and Serbia, to be implemented as soon as possible. Mustafa also stressed the role of KFOR in the field, during the implementation. General Pograjc stated that the meeting with Pristina mayor, shows that KFOR is not focused only in the north and that it is interested about the entire territory of Kosovo. 

Government confused, U.S. rejects Serbia’s jurisdiction over Trepça (Koha)

The paper notes that Kosovo institutions are confused by the signing of an agreement on investments and minerals extraction from the Trepça mining complex, in the northern part of Mitrovica, between an American consortium “New Generation Power” and the Government of Serbia. Kosovo’s Parliament representatives said they lack sufficient information on the matter, and that the Government should be asked to comment. The latter however says it has no information and requested information from the U.S. embassy in Pristina. The only institution that provided explanations so far was the U.S. State Department in Washington, which informed the company that Serbia has no jurisdiction over the mining complex. The State Department also advised “New Generation Power” to directly contact the Government of Kosovo about the proposed investment.

Kurti: Country’s future will suffer from dialogue and privatization (Koha)

During a visit to Viti municipality, Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti said dialogue with Serbia and the privatization process are two processes that will bring most consequences for Kosovo. Kurti argued that these processes have not only damaged Kosovo but will also have consequences for generations to come.

Ozan: Pristina-Belgrade agreement to be implemented ASAP (Koha)

“Kosovo’s independence has brought stability to the Balkans region. Further stability can be achieved with Kosovo’s integration in Euro-Atlantic structures,” Turkish Ambassador to Pristina, Sogul Ozan, said on Monday.

Ozan said the Pristina-Belgrade agreement brokered by the European Union is the first necessary step in this direction and that it creates room for normalization of relations, bringing to an end many conflicts in the Balkans.

“Steps that bring Kosovo closer to the European Union are of critical importance for peace and stability in the Balkans. Serbia has a crucial role in the Balkans. Serbia’s European integration is not only for the benefit of Serbia, but also for the region as a whole…. Therefore, the implementation of the agreement should start as soon as possible,” Ozan added.

Serbs burn EU and Kosovo flag (Koha)

Supporters of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) burned on Monday the flags of Kosovo and of European Union, in front of the building of Presidency in Belgrade. Serbian media reported that radicals did this act as a sign of protest to the visit of German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle. “We are here with the message that Serbia will never give up Kosovo, despite the brainwashing that you are doing for a month now,” stated SRS deputy leader, Nemanja Sarovic.  He added that even if Serbia formally recognized independence of Kosovo, the position of Serbia’s enemies, Germany, EU and U.S., would not change.