• LAA’s initiative does not “heal” political stalemate (Koha)
• Hoxhaj: Ideas to change the borders, dangerous (Zeri)
• PAN to participate in consultations but not at the session (Zeri)
• EU requests constitution of the Assembly (RTK, Epoka)
• Konjufca: LDK rejected Kurti’s invitation for coalition (Radio Dukagjini)
• Revitalisation of Mitrovica bridge, uncompleted (Klan Kosova)
• Pacolli: PAN is violating the Constitution (Klan Kosova)

The President of the German Bundestag, Norbert Lammert, said during his visit to Belgrade that Serbia should change its Constitution in order to join the EU. Lamert spoke about the manner this issue should precede. “Change of the Constitution should be made through dialogue at the Parliament, and then to move forward,” he said.

Serbian media also informed that the Serbian Radical Party boycotted the Parliament meeting with the justification that the German state has recognized Kosovo’s independence.

Elmi Recica, chairman of the Kosovo Assembly foreign affairs committee, told the paper that the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro should be brought to the Assembly “to see if there are 2/3 of votes to ratify the agreement”. Recica called on the opposition parties not to allow internal politics to reflect on Kosovo’s engagement for its European agenda. Commenting on recent developments in relations between Kosovo and Serbia, Recica argued that Serbia has plans to destabilise the region.

Mayor, Agim Bahtiri, met UNMIK Deputy Chief, Christopher Coleman, and his associates, whom he briefed on the current situation in the municipality and the challenges for this new year.

Kosovo’s Minister for dialogue, Edita Tahiri, assessed on Tuesday that the time has come to change the format of the dialogue with Serbia. She stated that the next phase of the dialogue should be the closing of this process. In an interview for the paper, Tahiri defended the dialogue process held in Brussels, saying that it had brought many benefits to Kosovo. According to her, this process has contributed significantly in fulfilling the strategic objectives of the government, on strengthening the state internally and externally.

Kosovo’s Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Arban Abrashi, said that the process of verification and recognition of victims of sexual violence during the conflict in Kosovo is expected to begin soon. In separate meetings with Flora Macula from the UN Women and Chrystele Todd from United Kingdom’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, Abrashi spoke of the steps the government of Kosovo has taken to provide justice for the victims of sexual violence in conflict.

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, has called on five countries members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that have not recognised Kosovo to do so and thus help implementation of joint projects. “Recognition of Kosovo and establishment of diplomatic relations with these countries would open a new chapter of cooperation,” said Hoxhaj during a visit to Guyana.

Representatives of 39 nongovernment organisations protested in Pristina yesterday demanding the dismissal of Prizren mayor Ramadan Muja for negligence following the tragic death of a three-year-old girl two weeks ago. The protesters said that if the government of Kosovo fails to take measures to address their concerns, they will look into the possibility of referring the issue to the Constitutional Court. The three-year-old girl, Xheneta Gashi, died as a result of a building collapse within the Prizren’s historical zone.

Mayor of Mitrovica South, Agim Bahtiri, told the paper the European Union must complete its mission regarding the revitalization of the Ibër/Ibar River Bridge. “The EU must finish its mission in this aspect because it is a signatory and guarantor of the agreement. We ask that the revitalization process of Ibër/Ibar River Bridge to be completed in the best way possible while not creating tensions,” Bahtiri said. However, he said the revitalization of the Ibër/Ibar Bridge has remained hostage of setting the administrative border.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo donated 300 books to the Kosovo Public Safety Academy (KPSA) as part of its support for the academy. The general director of the KPSA, Ismail Smakiqi, welcomed the donation. “This donation is a very special and valuable gift for the KPSA and its students. As a result of the tireless work of its staff and support given by its permanent partners, our academy is on the right track towards fulfilling its vision,” Smakiqi said.