Jeftic: Serbia will never recognize Kosovo's independence

SKOPJE, May 31 (Tanjug) - Serbia's Secretary for Defence Zoran Jeftic has said in Bitola, Macedonia, where he attends the Regional Conference on NATO Integration in Southeastern Europe, that Serbia will never recognize Kosovo's independence, and that it uses its diplomacy to promote peace, security and Euro-Atlantic integration in the region.

Serbia does not recognize Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence and the issue has been put before an international court, Jeftic said at a joint news conference with representatives of other countries at the meeting.

Albania's Defence Minister Arben Imami supported the region's European integration, adding that Kosovo's future is connected with Euro-Atlantic integration.

Other than Serbia and Albania, the conference is also attended by Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.

The next meeting willl be held in Croatia.

Democratic Party satisfied with election results

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, may 31 (Tanjug) - Member of the Democratic Party (DS) Presidency and Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanovic has said DS is satisfied with the results of the early local elections in Kosovska Mitrovica on Sunday.

In a writen statement for the media, Bogdanovic said that the party had achieved much better results than in the previous years.

According to the results released by the DS Electoral Board, the party is the third largest political power in the Mitrovica Assembly.

Once the final results are revealed, we will have the difficult task of setting up the municipal bodies. We call on all political parties and coalitions to act responsibly not only towards their voters but towards all citizens of (Kosovska) Mitrovica so that the local authority sould be set up in a constructive atmosphere and as soon as possible,“ Bogdanovic underlined.

Explosive device thrown in family house yard

ZUBIN POTOK, May 31 (Tanjug) - Unidentified persons threw an explosive device into the yard of a family house in Zubin Potok, a town in northern Kosovo-Metohija (KiM), but nobody was wounded in the incident.

Deputy Regional Director of the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) Ergin Medic told Tanjug that the incident took place around midnight, and added that no one was injured in the explosion.

“Material damage was done to a vehicle parked in the yard itself,” Medic said.

The motives and the perpetrators of the crime have not yet been identified, and the investigation into the case, which is considered an instance of causing general danger, is under way.

Skundric and Berisha discuss economic cooperation

TIRANA, May 31 (Tanjug) - Serbia's Minister of Energy and Mining Petar Skundric met with Albania's Prime Minister Sali Berisha in Tirana on Monday to discuss ways of improving the economic cooperation between the two countries.

Skundric and Berisha told Tanjug that the meeting was constructive, in spite of the differences the two countries have reagarding an important issue, that of Kosovo.

Berisha told Tanjug that Skundric's visit was significant both politically and in other aspects.

Albania is willing to strengthen its cooperation with Serbia in all fields despite the problems and different views the countries have regarding Kosovo, said Berisha.

The Albanian prime minister noted he was encouraged by the good will the Serbian side had shown, adding that the cooperation in the energy sector, which is very important for both countries, would help improve other forms of their economic cooperation as well.

Skundric also described the meeting as constructive and friendly, adding that the two countries have to build up on their economic relations on all levels, but especially when it comes to energy.

The Serbian official called for a memorandum of cooperation between the two countries, which would define all the joint projects and forms of cooperation.

The document, said Skundric, would be the foundation for the relations between Serbia and Albania and for their joint regional projects, which would be in the interest of the region and Europe.

Sutanovac: Situation in KiM is closely monitored

JAGODINA, May 31 (Tanjug) - Serbian Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac said in Jagodina Monday that the situation in Kosovo Metohija (KiM) and its impact on the security in the rest of Serbia is closely monitored, adding that “there is no possibility of military endangerment.”

“Our cooperation with KFOR is very good. We cooperate well, we exchange information and there is nothing to indicate a possible escalation of conflict or some serious problems,” Sutanovic told Tanjug, following the Sunday clashes between Serbs and ethnic Albanians in Kosovska Mitrovica which broke out on the occasion of local elections called by the Serbian government.

“We are naturally concerned with the situation in every part of Kosovo which is inhabited by Serbs, but also with (the situation in) other parts,” Sutanovac said.

He said that Kosovo-Metohija should be a place in which “human rights will be respected in a democratic way, in which disputes will not be settled by throwing stones at one another, but in a decent and appropriate manner.”

Minister Sutanovac also pointed to the very alarming fact that a few weeks ago hidden weaponry was found in Kosovo-Metohija, which could represent a threat to security.

Minister Sutanovac visited Jagodina where an agreement was signed on flats for the military.

Lunacek presents recommendations for Kosovo

VIENNA, May 31 (Tanjug) - European Parliament (EP) Rapporteur for Kosovo Ulrike Lunacek presented in Vienna Monday recommendations to the European Union and the (interim) Kosovo authorities, which she made together with the experts and representatives of Kosovo's civilian society with the aim to give Kosovo a clear European perspective.

The document presented in Vienna contains recommendations regarding EU policy towards Kosovo, including the need to stop the process of Kosovo's ghettoization, which would enable the start of talks on visa liberalization.

The document also calls for support to EULEX in its current fight against corruption and organized crime.

One of the recommendations is that it is essential to make it clear that Kosovo's independence and actual borders are irreversible, which is why it is necessary to find solutions for the relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

Addressing a press conference, Lunacek said that the most important thing for her is to make it clear that the goal is Kosovo's integration into Europe, which should be clearly supported by the EP.

Germany does not halt Serbia's EU accession

BELGRADE, May 31 (Tanjug) - German Ambassador in Belgrade Wolfram Maas refuted Monday speculations that the Germans oppose further EU enlargement and underlined that Germany supports the EU integration of West Balkans.

I do not know anyone who is utterly against Serbia's EU accession, Maas told journalists in Belgrade, adding that Serbia is making progress toward the EU.

Maas agreed with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, who underlined the necessity of the EU enlargement eve of his visit to Berlin, and alerted that future crisis are inevitable, if the West Balkans does not join the EU.

Mass underscored that prevention measures should be taken in order to avoid problems, adding that the EU has learned to be more focused on the fight against organized crime and corruption trying to avoid territorial conflicts within the union.

Jeremic said in an interview for the Hamburg-based weekly Der Spiegel that prevention means that there will be less things to be mended after problems arise, adding that it is disappointing to learn that the EU will take a break in enlargement process after Croatia's accession in 2011.

He pointed out that Serbia should not be forced to choose between the EU membership and Kosovo, which he called Serbia's Jerusalem.

The regional leaders, including the presidents of Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH), stated at a session of the Igman Initiative in Sarajevo on Saturday that it is necessary to continue with the EU enlargement process, adding that the strategic goal of the regional states is full EU membership.

Serbian President Boris Tadic alerted at the Sarajevo session that halting of enlargement process would have tragic consequences for the citizens of West Balkans.

The Belgrade-based daily Blic reported on Monday citing a source close to the EU talks that Germany is one of the greatest opponents of further EU enlargement in western Balkans.

Maas stated earlier on Monday that the German foreign minister will not attend the session in Sarajevo, adding that due to burning issues, particularly economic ones, his deputy will go to BiH instead of him.

SNS election results in Mitrovica show party's strength

BELGRADE, May 31 (Tanjug) - Deputy President of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) Aleksandar Vucic on Monday stated that the party is satisfied with its victory at the local elections in Kosovska Mitrovica, underscoring that the result indicates the party's strength.

Vucic told a news conference that the SNS, which had, according to the preliminary results, won 17.55 percent of the votes in Kosovska Mitrovica, will not discuss forming the municipal government before the election process is complete and the Republic Electoral Commission publicizes the final election results.

He underscored that it is very important to form local authorities in Kosovska Mitrovica that will take care of the citizens of the Serb nationality and of the general state and national interests.

Vucic expressed his satisfaction over the fact that “the number of communities in Serbia in which the SNS wins is growing by the day,” adding that the SNS also expects to win the upcoming elections in Bor (eastern Serbia), which are scheduled for June 20.

Vucic said that the SNS plans to organize a mass, peaceful and dignifying rally on June 28, and demand the government to request calling of early parliamentary elections and changes for Serbia and its citizens.

He said that the venue of the rally has yet to be decided and that the SNS will also invite its opposition partners to join it.

“Serious changes may come only after elections. Elections are the best solution for coming out of the political and economic crisis,” underscored Vucic.

Markovic:Attempt by part of international community failing

BELGRADE, May 31 (Tanjug) - Serbian Minister of State Administration and Local Self-Government Milan Markovic assessed Monday that the incidents that occurred during the recent early local elections in the municipalities of Kosovska Mitrovica and Novo Brdo prove that the attempt by one part of the international community to solve the status of Kosovo is failing.

In an appearance on television B92, Markovic said he is not surprised by the ethnic Albanian reaction to the early local elections, because there has been sporadic violence in Kosovo for the past ten years and the current state of affairs is characterized mostly by conflict, crime, corruption and human rights violations.

The minister said the election was not a form of provocation, because Kosovo Serbs have a right to establish local self-government and the only way to do this is to hold elections.

In elections, Kosovo Serbs get democratically-elected local authorities, enabling them to organize basic things such as communal services, education and health care which are under the jurisdiction of the local self-government, Markovic reminded.

Kosovo will not attend regional conference in Macedonia

PRISTINA, May 31 (Tanjug) - Kosovo will not be represented at the regional NATO conference on integration in Southeastern Europe (SEE) which opens in Bitola, Macedonia, on Monday.

The Macedonian authorities did not issue an invitation to the Kosovo institutions. The Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force says the problem was procedural.

The Macedonian Defense Ministry and the Center for Security Cooperation RACVIAC are organizing the conference.

Representatives of Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro, as well as the director of RACVIAC will attend the Bitola conference dubbed NATO Integration in SEE: Developing a Common Transatlantic Vision and Future Perspectives.

EULEX investigates into over 100 corruption cases

PRISTINA, May 31 (Tanjug) - The facts related to allegations that Transport and Telecommunications Minister of the (interim) Kosovo government Fatmir Ljimaj has embezzled money are still being considered, EULEX officials have stated, adding that the EU mission plans to raise charges against him.

Besides Ljimaj and head of procurement department at the Kosovo's Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications Nedzat Krasnici, EULEX now has a third suspect in this important case, the Pristina-based daily Koha Ditore reports.

The mission officials refused to reveal the name of the third person, but only said that he is a high-ranking official at the ministry.

Investigation has been opened against Ljimaj and other suspects for their involvement in organized crime, money laundry, abuse of office, fraud and bribery.

The Democratic Party of Kosovo has formed a special fund for the defense of its vice-president Ljimaj, who himself hired a team of international lawyers to fight the accusations by the Kosovo Special Prosecutor's Office.

In Ljimaj's case the investigation includes tenders that “his” ministry called in the period from 2007 to 2009.

Besides Ljimaj, EULEX prosecutors are currently investigating into six more cases of organized crime which also involve high-ranking officials.

The EULEX prosecutors have launched investigation into about 60 cases at the level of the district prosecutor's office, while investigation into more than 40 remaining cases is being conducted at other levels.

Kosovo one of issues at Rostov-on-Don summit

MOSCOW, May 31 (Tanjug) - During the European Union (EU) and Russia's regular 25th bi-annual summit which will be held in Rostov-on-Don on Monday and Tuesday, Brussels and Moscow will discuss the issue of Kosovo-Metohija as well, the Kremlin press service announced.

Both Russia and the EU are interested in reducing the number of crisis areas in the world, the official Moscow stressed, adding that better coordination is often required in the practical approach to issues such as Kosovo, or conflicts in the region of the former Soviet Union.

The two sides are continuing their joint efforts at finding mutually acceptable solutions that would work for the interests of both the parties involved and the European safety as a whole, the Kremlin stressed.

This year's bi-annual summit in administrative center of Rostov Oblast is the first of the kind ever since the Treaty of Lisbon came into force in 2009, Moscow undersores.

At the conference, the Russian delegation will be headed by President Dmitry Medvedev, while the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and the President of the Eropean Commission Jose Manuel Barroso will represent the European Union.

Bentler: North, our main job

PRISTINA, May 31 (Tanjug) - KFOR Commander General Marcus Bentler has stated that the north of Kosovo is the “main job” for the international troops, evaluating that the security situation in Kosovo as “stable and safe.”

“The situation in that part (north of Kosovo) is still delicate and complicated. There is still tension, political processes, stability challenges. KFOR's aim is to control the area, where our main troops will be stationed,” said Gen. Bentler in an interview published by the Pristina daily Kosova Sot.

Following the reduction of the troops, Gen. Bentler said that he is satisfied with the beginning of the process this year, when a number of events and gatherings with lots of emotion took place.

“But, the security situation was calm and peaceful. All in all, the security status is stable and safe unlike the previous situation, which was stable and sensitive. We now say that it is stable and safe and we may say that we had made progress,” said Gen. Bentler.

He, however, said that one should have in mind that the “glass is never full.”

Forming of authority should be responsible and constructive

BELGRADE, May 31 (Tanjug) - Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanovic called late on Sunday on all parties and coalitions to act responsibly not only towards their voters but towards all citizens of Kosovska Mitrovica in order to for the local authority to be set up in a constructive atmosphere and soon.

Three political parties - SNS, DSS and DS - won a similar number of votes and became the main political forces in the Sunday election. After final results get announced, there is a hard work of setting up municipal organs ahead of us, Bogdanovic said in a statement the Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija had forwarded to Tanjug.

Bogdanovic pointed out that a special feature of these elections in Kosovska Mitrovica is a 23-vote difference between the victorious Serbian Progressive Party and Democratic Party.

According to the information gathered from 22 of the total number of 26 polling stations in the municipality of Kosovska Mitrovica, the SNS won 17.55 percent of the votes, the DSS won 17.24 pct, DS 16.95 pct, SPS-PUPS-JS coalition 8.80, Civil Initiative of Oliver Ivanovic 7.33 pct, G17 Plus 7.02 pct and SDPS of Rasim Ljajic 5.07 pct, it was said in the statement.

SNS and SPS-PUPS-JS Coalition win election

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, May 31 (Tanjug) - According to preliminary incomplete results of the early elections in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica, the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) has won a close victory, while the parties of the ruling coalition announced that they won a sufficient number of votes to form the municipal government.

According to the preliminary results in the Novo Brdo municipality, the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition won a land-sliding victory by winning 40 percent of the votes.

According to the Democratic Party's (DS) information gathered from 22 of the total number of 26 polling stations, the SNS won on Sunday 17.55 percent of the votes in Kosovska Mitrovica, the DSS won 17.24 pct, DS 16.95 pct, SPS-PUPS-JS coalition 8.80 pct, G17 Plus 7.02 pct and SDPS of Rasim Ljajic 5.07 pct.

The DS election headquarters underlined that the ruling coalition parties won enough votes to form the local government in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica.

Jeremic visits Germany today

BERLIN, May 31 (Tanjug) - Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic will be in Germany today for a one-day visit, during which he will meet with his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle.

Jeremic and Westerwelle will focus on development of bilateral relations, Serbia's moving closer to the European Union and the political situation in Western Balkans, the German Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Minister Jeremic said in a statement published by German weekly Der Spiegel that he will emphasize once again during his today's visit to Berlin the necessity of the EU to enlarge, warning that future crisis might be foreseen if the Western Balkans is forgotten.

Jeremic stated that Serbia's membership in the European Union is the Serbian government's goal and main project, underscoring that Serbia, however, should not be forced to choose between Europe and Kosovo, which he described as Serbia's Jerusalim.

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