Headlines - 31.12.2013 Privatization of PTK fails (Kosovapress, Koha.net) Kosovapress reports that the marathon meeting of the Government Committee for the Privatization of 75 percent of the shares of Kosovo Post and Telecom was still continuing at the time the report was published. The meeting began in the morning and sources said the participants are trying to find a way not to violate the rules and save the process from failing altogether. The meeting was taking place on the last day of deadline for the signing of the contract with the PTK buyer. The final decision about this belonged to the Assembly, said Minister of Economic Development, Fadil Ismaili. Furthermore, few days ago, he announced that if there is nothing that the Government Committee or the buyer can do and if the Assembly doesn’t take a decision by 30 December, the deadline can no longer be extended. Koha.net reports that Kosovo Government will not sign the contract for the privatization of PTK with AXOS. The issue has been discussed in the government meeting during the part held behind closed doors. Kosovo Prime Minister, Hashim Thaçi said to be determined not to sign the contract without having the consent of the Assembly.  Jahjaga: We need to close the conflict with Serbia (Koha) President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga said in an interview for Voice of America that talks with Serbia paved the way for overcoming the situation of frozen conflict in the north of Kosovo. “I consider the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia to be the only way to resolve outstanding problems between our two countries and in no way a game of winners and losers” she said and added that although Serbia may have won the date for start of EU membership talks, it remains conditioned in every step of the way with the dialogue process. Jahjaga expresses condolences to Danish Queen (Gazetaexpress) President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga has extended her sympathies and those of the citizens of Kosovo to the Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II, on the passing away of the former UN Secretary General Special Representative to Kosovo, Hans Haekkerup. “Mr. Haekkerup has administered in Kosovo in a fragile period of international protectorate when the UN mission contributed to consolidation of Kosovo institutions and building of a democratic and inclusive society. Our prayers are with his family and associates at these times of grief”, reads Jahjaga’s letter. Nikolic: I wouldn’t sign an inter-state agreement with Kosovo (rtklive.com) Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said in an interview for Belgrade-based Vecernje Novosti that he would refuse to sign an inter-state treaty with Pristina even if the Serbian Parliament would adopt this. Nikolic said the signing of an inter-state treaty between Belgrade and Pristina would cause a political crisis for Serbia. “This would not be a conflict between politicians and their ideas, but rather about the people’s choice to live in a state or in a banana republic,” he said. “If Brussels has additional requests, it would be good if it presented them right away, so that we know where we are in this painful path. I am confident that in Serbia there is no policy that would agree to establish diplomatic relations with Kosovo and which would win the elections.” Nikolic denied that the Association of Serb majority municipalities is another name for the autonomy of Serbs in the independent state of Kosovo, but rather a definition for the autonomy of Serbs in “Kosovo and Metohija”. Mustafa finalizes the year with criticism against the Government (Koha.net) Leader of Democratic League of Kosovo at an end-year press conference did not spare criticism for the Kosovo Government. Isa Mustafa said that during 2013, Kosovo experienced a declining economy and many problems in education and health. According to Mustafa, all these problems have remained in the shadows of the dialogue Kosovo-Serbia. He said that Kosovo Government failed to engage in solving of these problems in 2013.