Thaçi and Dacic close to agreement on implementation plan (Koha)

Kosovo and Serbia prime ministers, Hashim Thaçi and Ivica Dacic, met on Wednesday evening in Brussels in the presence of EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Catherine Ashton, in an effort to agree on an implementation plan for the 19 April agreement. But, around 22:00 hours when the meeting finished, parties did not reach an agreement, although they were very close.

Thaçi told reporters after the meeting that he hopes the agreement will be reached. “I believe tomorrow we will reach an agreement on the implementation plan. I am confident we are not going to lose any more time; we are ready to reach an agreement and to start implementation on the ground. This agreement will certainly mark a step forward in the normalization of our relations and for the European integration of both countries and their people,” Thaçi said.

Unnamed European officials told the paper that the parties are very close to reaching an agreement and that they expect this to happen on Wednesday.

Members of European Parliament want implementation of agreement (Koha)

Deputy at the European Parliament, Doris Pack, considers that the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi and that of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, should find the way for implementation of the agreement signed on 19 April, which would be in the interest of both countries.

At the same time, Rapporteur for Serbia at the European Parliament, Jelko Kacin, told for Deutsche Welle that he expects to meet today both Prime Ministers, with whom he would discuss among other things, what after 1 July, when Serbia receives the date for EU membership, if the agreement starts to be implemented.

Jahjaga and Schlumberger discuss elections in north (Koha)

Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga met yesterday with OSCE ambassador in Kosovo, Jean-Claude Schlumberger, to discuss the involvement of the OSCE mission in municipal elections in Kosovo. A press release issued by the Office of the President quoted Jahjaga as saying that local elections would be held within the legal timeframe this year and that institutions are making necessary preparations for democratic, free and truthful elections and that citizens would take part in large numbers and elect their legal and legitimate representatives at the municipal level. Ambassador Schlumberger said the OSCE mission in Kosovo has begun necessary consultations for playing its role in the process of local elections.

Conclusion of election reforms requires international pressure (Koha)

Election reforms, launched two years ago, cannot be concluded even if the process is sent back to the Parliament of Kosovo, because political leaders are not showing readiness and this requires pressure from the international factor. This was the conclusion of a debate on election reforms organized by Pristina-based think tank Forum 2015.

Kosovo Parliament representatives said during the debate that Brussels should not apply pressure on local leaders only for negotiations with Serbia but also for other processes in the country. They also called on the international community to apply pressure on political parties to conclude election reforms launched two years ago.

Trepça in the north under Kosovo’s jurisdiction only on paper (Koha)

The paper reports on page seven that assets of the Trepça mining complex located in the northern part of Kosovo are managed by people that don’t answer to the Kosovo Privatization Agency. In fact they consider the Government of Serbia as owner of Trepça assets. This part of the mining complex is currently managed by Jovan Dimkic.

KPA spokesman Ylli Kaloshi told the paper that the management in the north reports on periodical basis about its work, but added he does not know the reasons why these reports are not included in the annual report. Kaloshi also said the KPA would undertake concrete steps once it receives additional information about a recent agreement signed between an American consortium New Generation Power and the Government of Serbia.

“We still haven’t seen the agreement and we have no official information from the management in the north. As soon as we receive information, we will take measures. Regardless of this, the agreement will not be implemented,” Kaloshi added.

Northern Serbs: Kosovo’s wealth is Serbia’s property! (Zëri)

Northern Kosovo Serbs have reacted against statements by Kosovo institutions rejecting the agreement signed between the Government of Serbia and New Generation Power for an investment feasibility study in the Trepça mining complex.

Serbia’s former minister for Kosovo, Goran Bogdanovic, said the socially-owned and public property in Kosovo is the property of Serbia. Northern Kosovo Serbs, including Bogdanovic, argue that Kosovo authorities have no legal right to contest the agreement and have no right to privatize socially-owned enterprises.

“According to the only valid international framework, namely UNSC Resolution 1244, UNMIK manages Serbia’s public and social property in Kosovo. Serbia is the real owner therefore the process of privatization in Kosovo launched in 2004 is illegal,” Bogdanovic said. He also added that almost 60 percent of Serbia’s mineral resources are located in Kosovo’s territory.

Serbian police arrest two men for murder of 65 Albanians in Lubenic (Koha)

The Serbian War Crimes Prosecution reported yesterday that Serbian Police arrested an active member of Serbian gendarmerie and another person as suspects for war crimes against Albanian civilians in the village of Lubenic in April-May 1999. The two suspects, along with another three suspects, are accused of committing war crimes against 65 Albanian civilians and for participating in the transfer of victims’ bodies to a mass grave in Batajnica.