Main Stories









8 May 2012
Thaçi: Border changes would impact at least six countries! (dailies)
Kosovo’s integration not dependable on Serbia’s leaders (dailies)
Zannier welcomes peaceful conclusion of Serbian elections in Kosovo (dailies)
Serbian local elections in Kosovo, a problem (Koha Ditore)
Opposition: Serbian elections breached Kosovo’s sovereignty (Koha Ditore)
EU returns its focus to the north of Kosovo (dailies)
Dialogue under question mark (Express)
Kosovo veterans closely following situation “in invaded territories” (dailies)
Brussels encourages Marty’s investigations (Zëri)
Kosovo Media Highlights
Thaçi: Border changes would impact at least six countries! (dailies)
Several dailies quote Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi as saying that there will
be no exchange of territories with Serbia and that there will be no special autonomy
for Serbs in the northern part of Kosovo.
In an interview for Time, Thaçi said the time of war in Kosovo and the Balkans is
over. “Everything I fight for is to safeguard Kosovo’s sovereignty and integrity as an
independent country with open borders and fully integrated in the European Union
and NATO,” he said.
Thaçi also warned that border changes in the Balkans would have a domino effect. “If
someone in Brussels raised the idea of changing borders, then this will not end only
with Kosovo and neighboring countries. It will engulf the whole Western Balkans. It
would affect at least six countries. Every country in the region has a little Mitrovica,”
Thaçi said.
Kosovo’s integration not dependable on Serbia’s leaders (dailies)
After the regular meeting of the Government, Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi
said that the future of Kosovo will not depend on politics in Serbia. “Kosovo politics
do not depend on those who have political power in Serbia,” said Kuçi. However, he
said that Western-oriented politics in Serbia would not only benefit its people but the
entire region.
Speaking about Serbia’s local elections in the territory of Kosovo, Kuçi said Kosovo
is interested in having fair and equal relations with all countries by respecting mutual
territorial integrity, sovereignty and national identity.
Zannier welcomes peaceful conclusion of Serbian elections in Kosovo (dailies)
Dailies report that OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier has welcomed the
peaceful conclusion of Serbian elections in Kosovo organized by the OSCE. “This
operation was made possible thanks to the responsible behavior of relevant political
stakeholders and with the support and cooperation provided by local institutions and
the international community, in particular the police, KFOR and EULEX,” Zannier
was quoted as saying.
Serbian local elections in Kosovo, a problem (Koha Ditore)
Based on Radio Free Europe, Koha Ditore reports that political experts consider that
the Government of Kosovo has made a fatal mistake by tolerating Serbian local
elections in the two municipalities of northern Kosovo, considering that the
circumstances in Serbia are such that the results might be accepted in the future. “This
will continuously degrade the state issue, state institutions and of course it will
continue to factorize Serbia’s presence even more, especially having in consideration
that during the last elections, according to preliminary results, the nationalist block
gained more votes than in the previous elections,” said Behlul Beqaj.
Opposition: Serbian elections breached Kosovo’s sovereignty (Koha Ditore)
Members of the Kosovo Assembly presidency preferred not to speak to the media
following their meeting but deputy speaker Glauk Konjufca from Vetëvendosje said
that Serbia’s elections in Kosovo represent a violation of Assembly’s resolution
passed on 15 March and also a breach of Kosovo’s sovereignty. “If this were to
happen in a normal democratic, western country, I think the Government would
automatically resign,” said Konjufca. He said that Serbian local elections were held in
25 polling stations along with parliamentary and presidential elections. “This makes
the violation even more flagrant and dramatic and we think this is also damaging for
international plans to integrate the Serb community in Kosovo,” added Konjufca.
LDK’s Armend Zemaj said that the facilitation of elections by the OSCE which is
status-neutral to Kosovo’s independence shows that the resolution of the Kosovo
Assembly was not respected. “Voting is permitted for those with dual citizenship but
not organizing of elections by someone else. Serb citizens have voted as citizens of
Serbia. The Government has been tolerant,” he noted.
EU returns its focus to the north of Kosovo (dailies)
The European Union has reiterated to the Government of Kosovo its request for
preparation of a plan and an agenda for the north of Kosovo, in order for the Serbs of
that part of the country to feel better and to accept the new reality in Kosovo. This
message was conveyed by the Special Representative of the European Union to
Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, after a visit at Hasan Pristina primary school where he
opened “The EU week in Kosovo.” “Since October, when the progress report was
issued, we have been calling on the Government of Kosovo to prepare a plan and an
agenda for the northern part. I think that after the tension as a result of Serbian
elections has subsided, we can focus on how to deal with the northern part, mainly on
how the Government can reach the people who live there,” said Zbogar.
Dialogue under question mark (Express)
Express reports that after a year of negotiations with Serbia, Kosovo chief of the
negotiating team Edita Tahiri, stated that the dialogue is not the only solution. She
now requests from Serbia to implement the agreements reached so far, as a condition
to start the new round of discussions, announced to take place after the elections in
Serbia. “Before discussing the date of the continuance of the dialogue, we should
discuss the implementation of the Brussels agreements, without their implementation,
other issues of the technical dialogue should not be discussed,” said Tahiri adding that
the EU as mediator should put pressure on Serbia to implement these agreements.
Kosovo veterans closely following situation “in invaded territories” (dailies)
Several dailies report that the KLA War Veterans have issued a press communiqué
saying that their organization is closely following the situation in Albanian territories
invaded by Serbia and Macedonia after the recent police actions and the arrest of
Albanians in Macedonia and Presevo Valley. “We are deeply concerned with the
constant violence and pressure of invaders oriented against the Albanian people with
the aim of making their lives more difficult and forcing them to flee their homes,” it
was said in the communiqué.
The War Veterans called on all Albanian political forces and internationals to
seriously address the issue, “and it should be clear to them that Albanians will not
allow renewed cleansing of their ethnic territories”.
“KLA Veterans will be alongside their brothers in Macedonia and Presevo Valley and
in the event of a mobilization we will support them with all means,” concluded the
communiqué.
Brussels encourages Marty’s investigations (Zëri)
The European Union is eagerly waiting for the Albanian Parliament to approve the
law on jurisdiction relations which would pave the way for investigations into
allegations by the Swiss senator Dick Marty on organ trafficking in Kosovo, writes the
paper. The EU, namely its rule of law mission in Kosovo, believes the draft law will
be of great assistance for the probe into Marty’s claims as it enables European
prosecutors and investigators to conduct investigations on the territory of Albania
without any obstacles.
Kosovo Press Headlines
Koha Ditore
Front page
 EU shifts attention to northern Kosovo
 Thaçi: Border changes would affect at least six countries!
 Milosevic’s spokesman close to post of Serbian Prime Minister
 Kosovo veterans closely following situation in “invaded territories”
Other headlines
 President still reviewing new Penal Code (2)
 CDHRF appeals for assistance for damaged Roma businesses (2)
 Kuçi: Kosovo’s integration does not depend on governments in Serbia (3)
 Thaçi calls on Brussels to treat Kosovo equally (3)
 Serbs in Kosovo want Ivica Dacic (4)
 Zannier welcomes peaceful conclusion of Serbian elections in Kosovo (5)
Zëri
Front page
 Government violated the constitution
 Government to draft a plan for northern Serbs
 Visa roadmap in late spring
 Albanians win in the Valley
 Brussels encourages Marty’s investigations
 Xharra: Servants at the helm of the state
Other headlines
 Zannier welcomes peaceful elections (2)
 EU congratulates Serbia, thanks OSCE (2)
 Protests in Tirana, messages for Skopje and Belgrade (2)
 Ethnic cleansing of Albanians shall not be tolerated (4)
 No exchange of territories (4)
Kosova Sot
Front page
 They clash over the threshold
 Editorial: French and Greek lesson for Kosovars
 Doctors fleeing Kosovo
 Opposition: Government violated the Constitution
Other headlines
 Tahiri to report on missing persons on May 10th (2)
 The refusal to vote (2)
 Thaçi denies special autonomy (4)
 Kurti: Attacks will stop once we are united (4)
 Zbogar calls for a plan and agenda for the north (4)
Epoka e Re
Front page
 Towards half-presidential system
 “Clash” over Serbia’s elections
 Soldier on the state of emergency
 Germans support him
Other headlines
 Radicals gain majority at the parliament (2)
 Albanian activists meet Mitt Romney (2)
 The found arms were not used in Smilkovc (2)
 Zannier: OSCE completed its duty (3)
 Rexhepi: It was not worth of intervening (3)
 Waiting for the guidelines for visa liberalization (4)
 Edita called on a motion (4)
 Times of wars have ended (5)
 STOP! War veterans request to stop ethnic cleansing in Serbia and
Macedonia (6)
Express
Front page
 Pressure Zbogar
 You have violated the Constitution
 They keep the valley
Other headlines
 Zannier, happy with the elections (4)
 Gjergj Dedaj, ready for the front line (5)
 Reljic: Serbia, inferior towards Kosovo (6)
 Dialogue under a question mark (6)
 Boxes, in Serbia (6)
 They continue with violations (10)
 Economic development, a priority (11)
Bota Sot
Front page
 Five PDK mayors under investigation or imprisoned
 Thaçi: No partition, exchange of territories and special status for the north
 KLA fighters did not lay their lives for this freedom we have today!
 “Calm” in the north with reinforced Kosovo police
 Government and OSCE praise themselves for Serbian elections in Kosovo!
Other headlines
 Zbogar asks the Government to have plan and agenda for the north (2)
 Kuçi: Kosovo’s journey does not depend on political powers in Serbia (3)
 Protests in Tirana, messages to Skopje and Belgrade (7)
 Tahiri in motion, to report on the fate of missing persons (7)
 Did Serbia and OSCE breach agreement on Serbian elections in Kosovo? (12)
Disclaimer
This media summary consists of selected local media articles for the information of UN personnel. The public
distribution of this media summary is a courtesy service extended by UNMIK on the understanding that the
choice of articles translated is exclusive, and the contents do not represent anything other than a selection of
articles likely to be of interest to a United Nations readership. The inclusion of articles in this summary does not
imply endorsement by UNMIK.