Headlines - 17.10.2016

• Trepca can “aggravate” relations between Kosovo and Serbia (Koha)
• Vucic: Someone helped Albanians with Trepca law (dailies)
• Rama-Vucic agreement on school books bypasses Kosovo (Zeri)
• EU does not interfere in Thaci case (Zeri)
• Djukanovic’s party wins Montenegro elections (media)

Trepca can “aggravate” relations between Kosovo and Serbia (Koha)

In its leading front-page story, the paper quotes UK-based reporter, Misha Glenny, as saying that the issue of the Trepca mining complex will have negative consequences on the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. Glenny told the paper that the process of talks will enter into a difficult and unpredictable phase. “I think that people on both sides will ask for careful actions in the process of dialogue. The problem of Trepca is at its beginning; therefore, reasonable ways must be found to resolve this problem,” he said. The paper also contacted James Ker Lindsay, professor at the London School for Economics and Political Science (LSE), who said that the Trepca issue was always a highly sensitive issue that was never addressed. Lindsay also predicted that the issue will inevitable aggravate relations between Belgrade and Pristina in the short-term period. “I hope this will not last for long,” he added.

Vucic: Someone helped Albanians with Trepca law (dailies)

In an interview for Belgrade-based paper Vecernje Novosti, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said he didn’t understand why Pristina institutions approved the Law on Trepca mining complex precisely at this time. “I don’t think Albanians could have done this without someone’s help and this is not pleasant at all”, said Vucic. He also said that the Serbian side is considering whether to continue dialogue with Kosovo following the Serbian List boycott of Kosovo institutions.

Rama-Vucic agreement on school books bypasses Kosovo (Zeri)

The agreement in principle reached in Nis between Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama and leaders of the Preshevo Valley, to supply the Albanian students in the Valley with textbooks, is not being considered as a solution to the substantial problem of Albanian students in Serbia, but just as an alternative solution that will create problems in the future. This agreement, although not written on paper, allows Albania to supply the municipalities of Preshevo, Bujanoc and Medvegje with textbooks in Albanian. Meanwhile, according to political analysts, the substantial problem is not solved because the dispute between Kosovo and Serbia lies in history, geography and Albanian language textbooks. Precisely for these subjects, Serbian authorities for months  blocked over 100000 books donated by the Kosovo Ministry of Education for students of the Valley.

EU does not interfere in Thaci case (Zeri)

The Kosovo Assembly last week approved a resolution which asks the EU to intervene for the release of the regional Kosovo Police director, Nehat Thaci, who was arrested by the Serbian authorities.  European Union officials said they are closely monitoring the process against him, but they do not comment on court proceedings. “The EU is closely following the judicial process in connection with the arrest of Nehat Thaci, however, as a general rule, the EU never comments on ongoing processes. The independence of the judiciary, free and without political interference, is what the EU stands and works for, and we expect that everyone who wants to join the EU, including Kosovo and Serbia, to respect this without exception,” reads a response sent by the EU Office in Kosovo.

Djukanovic’s party wins Montenegro elections (media)

Several news websites report that the ruling party in Montenegro, the Democratic Party of Socialists led by Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, has announced its victory in the parliamentary elections there. According to Montenegro’s Center for Election Monitoring and Research, Djukanovic’s party won 41 percent of votes. Gazeta Express reports that in an address to his supporters late Sunday, Djukanovic said he would seek a coalition with parties of national minorities: Bosniaks, Croats and Albanians. “We will begin negotiations immediately after the official results are announced. We will form the government,” Djukanovic said. Koha Ditore reports in a front-page article that the Montenegro elections were overshadowed by the arrest of a group of Serbs who were charged with plotting an attack against Montenegrin state institutions. Citing unnamed sources, Kosovapress reports that among those arrested are also six Serbs from Mitrovica. According to the same sources, the group crossed from Kosovo to Montenegro on Saturday. “This armed group, led by the former chief of Serbian Gendarmerie, Bratislav Dikic, had planned to carry out terror attacks on election day with the goal of taking power through violence, including kidnapping Montenegro Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic,” sources said.