EU welcomes Kosovo Serbia trade compromise

euronews
Diplomatic mission - EU Council - Herman Van Rompuy - Kosovo - Serbia

07/09 08:01 CET

EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy welcomed his Kosovan counterpart to Brussels on Tuesday following last week’s deal between Pristina and Belgrade to end a mutual trade war. The agreement, brokered by the EU, sees Serbia and Kosovo lift mutual embargoes....more...
read more: euronews
http://www.euronews.net/2011/09/07/eu-welcomes-kosovo-serbia-trade-compromise/

Sinking the flagship

the economist

Serbia, Kosovo and the EU

Serbian policy towards Kosovo and the European Union is in deep trouble

Sep 3rd 2011

from the print edition
ANGELA MERKEL, the German chancellor, has just holed Serbia’s flagship foreign policy below the water line. For the past year, the country’s leaders have been doing everything they can to win candidate status to the European Union in December, with the aim of going to the country in the spring brandishing their achievement. To that end, they secured the arrest of Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb general wanted by the UN’s Yugoslav war-crimes tribunal. They have passed EU-compatible laws and entered into an EU-sponsored dialogue with the leaders of Kosovo, a former province that declared independence in 2008. So far, so good....more...
read more: the economist
http://www.economist.com/node/21528306

German foreign minister calls on Kosovo and Serbia to resolve crisis

reuters
KOSOVO

11.08.2011
On a visit to Kosovo, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has urged both Pristina and Belgrade to settle their border crisis. He said all of Europe had an interest in a peaceful solution.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has called on Serbia and Kosovo to resolve their border dispute on the last leg of a three-day tour of the Balkans.

"What's at stake here is peace in Europe," he said after talks with Prime Minister Hashim Thaci in the Kosovar capital, Pristina, on Thursday. "The time for wars and conflicts along ethnic lines has to be over. There's no place for that in 21st century Europe. This is a European issue - the future of Europe will be decided here, and peace in Europe has to be protected here as well."...more...
read more: reuters
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15310900,00.html

Kosovo Courts Urged to Seize Criminals' Assets

balkan insight
29 JUN 2011 / 09:29

The EU mission in Kosovo is urging local and international judges and prosecutors to use their powers to confiscate suspected criminals' assets during corruption and organised crime trials.

Petrit Collaku Pristina

The EU rule-of-law mission, EULEX, says that greater use of powers to confiscate illegal assets is an important way to fight organised crime and corruption.

read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-eu-mission-urging-confiscation-of-criminal-assets

Kosovo’s EU Relations and Reform Process: Interview with Lutfi Haziri

balkan analysis
June 21, 2011
ditor’s note: Although its 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia has still not been recognized by many nations, Kosovo is pressing on with its attempts to acquire greater global stature and hopes to eventually join the European Union. In the following new interview, Balkanalysis.com contributor Maria Neag in Brussels gets the views of Lutfi Haziri, a Kosovar MP and Chairman of the Committee for European Integration and Head of the Parliamentary Group of LDK on Kosovo’s need for reform, EU-visa liberalisation schemes, the situation of the Roma minority, Kosovo’s dialogue with international legal entities.

………………………………
Kosovo and the EU
Maria Neag: First of all, let me warmly thank you for your interest in expressing your views about Kosovo’s latest developments. I will start pragmatically by asking you if the EU’s policies and funds have an added value in Kosovo. What is the public ‘s current opinion on Kosovo’s EU perspectives?...more...
read more: balkan analysis
http://www.balkanalysis.com/kosovo/2011/06/21/kosovo’s-eu-relations-and-reform-process-interview-with-lutfi-haziri/

Kosovo's Feith Complains of EU Police Probe

balkan insight
23 JUN 2011 / 10:32

The International Civilian Representative in Kosovo, ICR, has asked the head of EULEX, Xavier De Marnhac, to explain why police investigated him about the appointment of a new central bank boss.

Petrit Collaku Pristina

Pieter Fieth, whose role is to supervise Kosovo's independence, has issued a complaint about his investigation at the hands of a EULEX prosecutor concerning his alleged involvement in the appointment of the Kosovo bank governor....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-independence-supervisor-pieter-feith-asks-his-case-to-be-removed-from-prosecution-registry

Indictment Filed Against Kosovo Telecoms Chief

balkan insight
09 JUN 2011 / 15:01

Prosecutors from the EU rule-of-law mission in Kosovo, EULEX, have filed indictments against the country's telecoms chief and customs director in two separate cases.

Petrit Collaku Pristina

Shyqyri Haxha, the head of Kosovo Post and Telecoms, PTK, and the company's head of the board of directors, Rexhe Gjonbalaj, along with three other persons from the local firm Dardafon LLC and Dardafon.net LLC, have been charged with sealing harmful contracts, abuse of office and misuse of economic authority.....more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/eulex-filed-indictments-for-ptk-chief-and-customs-director

Kosovo’s Visa Liberalization Troubles: Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close the Door

balkan analysis

May 29, 2011

By Maja Šoštarić in Prishtina
Anyone who has seen the classic 1956 movie “The Searchers,” starring John Wayne and Natalie Wood, must remember the scene where Wayne carries Wood after finally having found her. At the end of his restless quest, he looks her deep in the eye and tells her the following memorable words: “Let’s go home, Debbie.”
Kosovo can perhaps be compared to Natalie Wood in that scene, since the youngest world’s country often needs a strong cowboy to make sure things go back to normal. The real question is then: is the EU that cowboy, or should it become one?...more....

read more: balkan analysis
http://www.balkanalysis.com/kosovo/2011/05/29/kosovo%e2%80%99s-visa-liberalization-troubles-trying-to-get-to-heaven-before-they-close-the-door/

Ashton: Rule of Law Crucial for Kosovo

balkan insight
27 May 2011 / 17:00

EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said on Friday that the EU rule-of-law mission in Kosovo has the full support of all 27 member states.

Petrit Collaku

Pristina

After visiting Belgrade on Thursday, Ashton headed south to Pristina on Friday and conveyed the message that rule-of-law is critical for Kosovo’s future....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/ashton-rule-of-law-crucial-for-kosovo

Barroso Affirms Committment to Kosovo's EU Path

balkan insight
20 May 2011 / 17:22
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/barroso-affirms-committment-to-kosovo-s-eu-path

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has reaffirmed the bloc's commitment to Kosovo's European perspective, after meeting with officials in Pristina on Friday.
Barroso visited Kosovo on Friday, where he met with top officials including President Atifete Jahjaga and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci....more...

Asylum Row Damages Kosovo's EU Visa Hopes

balkan insight
18 May 2011 / 08:35
Anger over wave of asylum-seekers from Serbia and Macedonia is bound to impact on Kosovo's chances of persuading the EU to ease visa requirements, Brussels MEP warns.
Petrit Collakuread more: balkan insight

Pristina
The recent wave of asylum-seekers from Serbia and Macedonia hitting Belgium and Sweden is bound to negatively affect Kosovo's chances of obtaing a new visa-free regime with the European Union, Ulrike Lunacek, the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Kosovo, said....more...

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/visa-lift-regime-for-serbia-and-macedonia-can-hit-kosovo

Barroso Urges Kosovo To Reform

radio free europe
May 20, 2011

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has warned Kosovo that it must press on with reforms to secure its goal of European Union membership.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Prime Minister Hashim Thaci in Pristina, Barroso highlighted the areas of rule of law, public administration, and economy as the most critical sectors....more...
read more: radio free europe
http://www.rferl.org/content/barroso_urges_kosovo_reform/24181153.html

Kosovo: No Remains Found in Suspected Mass Grave Site

balkan insight
11 May 2011 / 08:36
read more: balkan insight

EU forensics experts say they did not find any human remains after a search on Tuesday in Livoc Lake in the eastern town of Gjilani, as excavation continues today at another site.
Petrit Collaku

Pristina
"On this occasion no remains were located," Alan Robinson, the co-head of the Department of Forensic Medicine within EULEX, told journalists on Tuesday. ...more....

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-no-mortal-remains-found-in-the-lake

EU Appoints Interim Special Representative in Kosovo

balkan insight
06 May 2011 / 17:36

A spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has confirmed that Fernando Gentilini will soon head to Pristina to serve as interim EU special representative in Kosovo.
Petrit Collaku

Pristina
Spokesperson Maja Kocijancic told Balkan Insight that Gentilini will take over the office of the EU special representative for a three month period, until July 31, 2011....more...

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/eu-appoints-interim-special-representative-in-kosovo
read more: balkan insight

Report: Italian temporary EU Kosovo representative

b92.net
Politics

Friday 6.05.2011
12:16
Source: FoNet

PRIŠTINA -- Supervision of Kosovo’s independence depends of the progress that will be made in the implementation of the Ahtisaari plan, Pieter Feith has said. ...more...
read more: b92.net
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=05&dd=06&nav_id=74187

13 candidates for EU rep in Kosovo, daily says

b92.net
Politics

Wednesday 4.05.2011
15:46
Source: Tanjug

PRIŠTINA -- EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton will choose a new EU special representative in Kosovo among 13 candidates. ...more...
read more: b92.net
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=05&dd=04&nav_id=74147

EULEX’s Perceived Timidity, Lack of Results Damaging Image Among Kosovars

balkan analysis.com
May 2, 2011

Editor’s note: A string of high-profile incidents, such as vocal opposition to the EU’s nomination of Romanian Col. Marian Petre to head a special police unit in Kosovo, indicate an increasingly assertive attitude from Kosovar politicians, media and other public figures towards the EULEX mission. Operating conditions for a once lauded law-and-order mission thus seem to be worsening as public dissatisfaction grows and politicized legal challenges loom.

By Anita McKinna in Prishtina*

On April 18, a story broke in the Kosovo media: the EULEX security chief, Stefan Loren, had been suspended, allegedly due to ‘racist’ behavior towards his Albanian colleagues, while three other officers had been reassigned. EULEX described the dismissal and staff transfers as being due to ‘security concerns.’...more...
read more: balkan analysis.com
http://www.balkanalysis.com/kosovo/2011/05/02/eulex%e2%80%99s-perceived-timidity-lack-of-results-damaging-image-among-kosovars/

Feith mandate expires, no decision on successor

b92.net
Politics

Sunday 1.05.2011
12:32
Source: Tanjug


BELGRADE -- The term of the EU Special Representative in Kosovo Pieter Feith expired on Saturday, but Brussels has not yet determined who will replace him at this point....more...
read more: b92.net
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=05&dd=01&nav_id=74093

EULEX still awaits evidence in organ trade case

b92.net
Politics

Saturday 30.04.2011
14:36
Source: Tanjug

BELGRADE -- EULEX says a preliminary probe is still trying to establish whether enough evidence existed to begin a formal investigation into human organ trade allegations. Months after Dick Marty’s report accused Kosovo's top leaders of human organ trafficking, the mission says it can only launch an official investigation if enough hard evidence is received, and no specific persons are as yet under the spotlight. ...more...
read more: b92.net
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=04&dd=30&nav_id=74085

Kosovo Debates Future Role of International Presence

balkan insight
29 Apr 2011 / 10:09

Calls by local politicians to diminish the international presence in Kosovo have become increasingly vocal in recent days, as state bodies consider changes to the country's constitution.
Petrit Collaku

Pristina

read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-s-government-plans-to-end-supervised-independence

Arsim Bajrami, an MP from the ruling PDK who heads a state commission on constitutional reform, said that according to the Ahtisaari Plan for Kosovo's independence, Pristina should assess the need for continued international presence three years after the declaration of independence, which was made in February 2008....more...