Main Stories
01 March 2010
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Kosovo invited to Kranj, but not as a Republic (Koha Ditore, Epoka e Re)
Kosovo has influence over Serbia’s European ambitions (Koha Ditore)
Awaiting mechanisms for strategy implementation (Koha Ditore)
Wordsworth: Re-drawing borders is a bad idea (Koha Ditore)
Mission possible (Express)
Kouchner visits Kosovo (dailies)
KFOR and EULEX create skepticism around strategy (Zëri)
Medvedev to visit Kosovo in autumn? (Infopress)
Ivanovic: Serbs are not afraid of the threats of Pristina authorities (Epoka e
Re)
 The Kosovo issue is the main subject (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo Media Highlights
Kosovo invited to Kranj, but not as a Republic (Koha Ditore, Epoka e Re)
Koha Ditore reports that according to diplomatic sources in Brussels, it is expected
that Kosovo will participate in a summit organized by Slovenia and Croatia near
Ljubljana on 20 March either under the name “Kosovo/UNMIK” or “UNSC 1244”.
This format was chosen to ensure Serbia’s participation at the summit, and also for the
Spanish presidency and EU leaders.
Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor and his counterpart Jadranka Kosor are said to
be inciting the heads of the states and governments of Balkan countries and also EU
institutional leaders. Diplomatic sources in Brussels have said that the conference was
also supported by from Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero, who expressed readiness to
take part. However, diplomatic sources later said that Spain had misunderstood the
idea and thought that the meeting had nothing to do with the EU, and was only a
meeting of regional leaders. It thus remains unclear what Spain’s position is on the
summit.
Under the headline “No representation of Kosovo through UNMIK”, Lajm reports
that Pristina authorities assess that Kosovo’s representation through UNMIK ended
since the declaration of independence on 17 February 2008, in spite of Belgrade’s
calls for Kosovo to be represented in regional conferences as part of UNMIK, a
solution which is categorically rejected by Pristina officials. Deputy Prime Minister
Hajredin Kuçi has said that Kosovo’s representation outside must be in accordance
with the Constitution of Republic of Kosovo. “Kosovo has its own Constitution, its
institutions and every representation will be in full accordance with the Constitution
and political and legal position that Kosovo has. We are still waiting for the invitation,
and I believe that we will take part in an active way,” said Kuçi.
Kosovo has influence over Serbia’s European ambitions (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that Kosovo’s influence over Serbia’s European ambitions is,
according to Serbian government officials, connected to the presence of organized
crime in Kosovo. According to them, this issue is an obstacle to the European
perspective of the region in general. “The Kosovo issue influences European
integrations regardless of the fact that Kosovo is not a condition or obstacle to
Serbia’s European path. It has an influence because Serbia cannot exercise control
over its whole territory,” said Serbian government spokesperson Milivoje Mihajlovic.
Awaiting mechanisms for strategy implementation (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that the International Civilian office (ICO) and Kosovo
government have established the preparation team for the creation of the new North
Mitrovica municipality, but have not established any other mechanisms through which
the strategy for northern Kosovo can be implemented. Along with the creation of the
preparatory team, the document also foresees the establishment of the “EU House” as
well as an office for local communities to offer services to citizens in northern
Kosovo. EU Special Representative spokesperson Julia Rueter said told Koha Ditore
that EU officials have already begun promotional activities in the north. “EU
representatives in Kosovo are in regular contact with interlocutors in northern Kosovo
to promote the values of the EU,” said Rueter.
Wordsworth: Re-drawing borders is a bad idea (Koha Ditore)
“Every idea that involves re-drawing borders and territorial exchanges is a bad idea
which does not have the support of international community,” said British
Ambassador to Belgrade Stephen Wordsworth in an interview with Serb news agency
FoNet. Wordsworth also said that the process of establishing the Albanian National
Council is very important for further democratization of the society. “Every time I
have visited this part of the country in the past three years, someone mentioned a
change of borders,” said Wordsworth. “Every time, I gave the same answer. This is a
bad idea which would bring destabilization,” he said, adding that this will not happen
and that talks on the matter should cease.
Mission possible (Express)
Express carries an interview with the recently appointed coordinator of the strategy
for northern Kosovo, Ylber Hysa, who has said that the north is not lost. “If the
European Union mechanisms in Kosovo become an obstacle to our efforts, then the
mission itself would be under a question mark. However, EULEX has given positive
signals. Implementation of the strategy means self-governance for citizens in the
north,” says Hysa.
Kouchner visits Kosovo (dailies)
Dailies report that French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner will arrive in Kosovo
today as part of his visit to the Balkans region, where he is expected to meet with
Kosovo institutional representatives. This afternoon, Kouchner will address the
deputies of the Kosovo Assembly, and will hold a press conference this evening.
Dailies report that Kouchner was chief of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo
immediately after the end of the war, and that his zealous work has made him an
everlasting friend of Kosovo.
KFOR and EULEX create skepticism around strategy (Zëri)
Zëri considers that the announcements of EULEX and KFOR representatives that they
will not be a part of the Strategy for northern Kosovo has given way to skepticism that
this will be a failure from the very beginning. If the internationals pull back, as is
happening lately, then the opposition parties consider that such action is intentional,
and that it proves the negligence and lack of readiness of international actors to
resolve the problems relating to parallel structures in the north. “Normally, Kosovo
the Government should be a partner, however the responsibility belongs to the
internationals, who are responsible for the creation of the situation in the north
because of their tolerance of parallel structures. Therefore the main part belongs to
them,” said the former Kosovo Prime Minister and leader of the Kosovo SocialDemocratic party Agim Ceku.
Medvedev to visit Kosovo in autumn? (InfoPress)
InfoPress reports that according to Serbian daily Kurir, Russian President Dimitry
Medvedev might visit Kosovo this autumn. According to the daily, Medvedev wishes
to participate at the inauguration ceremony of Serb Orthodox Church Patriarch Irinej.
Ivanovic: Serbs are not afraid of the threats of Pristina authorities (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re reports that Milan Ivanovic from the Serb National Council for northern
Kosovo has said that the eventual increase in presence of Kosovo police officers north
of the Iber River will be understood by Serbs as a call for them to be disciplined.
“Serbs have the right that to trust those who trust them, and this does not mean the
Kosovo police, and of course does not mean Albanians.” Ivanovic also said that Serbs
in the north are not afraid of the threats of Pristina authorities and some international
actors, including NATO.
The Kosovo issue the main subject (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re reports that officials from the international missions in Kosovo have
announced that meetings of French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner with EULEX
chief Yves De Kermabon and UNMIK chief Lamberto Zannier this week are not
related to each other.
UNMIK chief Lamberto Zannier, who spoke on Saturday in Mitrovica with Serbia’s
State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic, is expected to visit Belgrade on 3 March. Ivanovic
announced that he told Zannier that “UNMIK’s engagement could facilitate
cooperation between Kosovo Serbs, Pristina and the International Civilian Office
(ICO),” the daily reports.
Kosovo Press Headlines
Koha Ditore
Front page
 Kosovo to be invited to Kranj, but not as a Republic
 Kosovo influences Serbia’s European ambitions
 Awaiting mechanisms for implementation of strategy for northern Kosovo
 Belgian denial softens Albanians flux toward EU countries
 Six companies interested in “Kosova e Re”
Other headlines
 Albin Kurti will not appear in Court on Tuesday either (2)
 Plus of the week: return to Parliament (2)
 Minus of the week: The corruption disease (2)
 Extra minus of the week: Belgrade’s parallel structures in Kosovo (2)
 Wordsworth: Re-drawing borders is a bad idea (4)
 Reconstruction of Ibër Mosque requested (4)
Zëri
Front page
 Goodbye Kalashnikovs
 KFOR and EULEX put doubts on strategy
 New law on elections required
Other headlines
 Cufaj: Letter to the March month (2)
 Kurti against surrendering to police (2)
 Kouchner in Kosovo (2)
 ICO supports war on corruption (2)
 Serbs against increase of police in the north (2)
Kosova Sot
Front page
 Yes to changes in the government
 Editorial: North is a test to the Republic
Other headlines
 Kouchner visits Kosovo today (2)
 PDK and LDK delay government restructuring(2)
 Ready for implementation of the strategy (3)
 ICJ decision will not influence Quint countries (4)
 Yes to changes in the government (4)
Epoka e Re
Front page
 Categorical belief
Other headlines
 Kosovo issue is the main theme (2)
 Bienvenue Kouchner (3)
 Serbia submits additional explanations to ICJ (3)
 Here is the final draft of LDD project resolution (5)
Express
Front page
 Possible mission
Other headlines
 Maliqi: Where is Vetevendosja heading? (2)
 Shala: Democratic game of Kosovo (2)
 Serbia can be conditioned (4)
 They are trying to prevent us (5)
 Krasniqi’s lessons (5)
 The next plan (6)
 A five million story (8)
 Kosovo without a plan (10)
Lajm
Front page
 Consulates are functional
Other headlines
 No representation of Kosovo through UNMIK (2)
 Serbia is a neighbour of Kosovo (3)
 Non-democratic governance (4)
 EU to increase pressure on Belgrade (4)
 Without perspective (5)
 Customs officers in the north this year (6)
Bota Sot
Front page
 LDK feels deceived
Other headlines
 Kurti: Politicians should listen to citizens, but the opposite is happening in
Kosovo (2)
 Challenges of new municipalities (4)
 Analysts: Faces will not be changed, but the political course will (4)
 Pristina calls on EU to pressure Serbia (7)
InfoPress
Front page
 Not with PDK anymore
Other headlines
 Medvedev in Kosovo in autumn (2)
 Representation through state institutions (2)
 Strategy for the north (4)
 Growing number of Serbs with Kosovo documents (14)
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.