"Germany pressured Priština over agents"

Germany had to pressure Kosovo Albanians in order to secure the release of three intelligence agency officers, media are saying. Beta is quoting an AFP report that says Berlin is considering cancelling its assistance to Kosovo. "Germany pressured Pristina over agents" "Nothing has been decided. But it is true that certain pressure was made and that such thinking exists," a source with good knowledge in the matter confirmed today's writing in Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper. This daily said that the German government had to "exert great pressure" on the authorities in Kosovo in order to secure the release of the three men. On Tuesday evening, Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff Thomas de Maziere called Kosovo's Premier to threaten that Germany's aid to Kosovo would be cut due to the affair, the article continued. Germany is second only to the United States when it comes to the amount of financial assistance it sets aside for Kosovo – Berlin has pledged EUR 100mn for the next two years. Meanwhile, Focus magazine claims in its latest edition, to be published on Monday, that the real reason for the arrest of the three German intelligence agency (BND) agents in Pristina was to confiscate a notebook containing information about the contacts between "the ruling apparatus" and mafia. The weekly adds that the BND men gathered new information on Hashim Thaci in this context, but does not give details or sources of this allegation. The Kosovo Albanian authorities arrested the three Germans on suspicion that they bombed the EU office in Pristina on Nov. 14. A chamber of international judges released them on Friday, with the charges against them still standing.

"Germany pressured Priština over agents"

"Nothing has been decided. But it is true that certain pressure was made and that such thinking exists," a source with good knowledge in the matter confirmed today's writing in Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

This daily said that the German government had to "exert great pressure" on the authorities in Kosovo in order to secure the release of the three men.

On Tuesday evening, Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff Thomas de Maziere called Kosovo's Premier to threaten that Germany's aid to Kosovo would be cut due to the affair, the article continued.

Germany is second only to the United States when it comes to the amount of financial assistance it sets aside for Kosovo – Berlin has pledged EUR 100mn for the next two years.

Meanwhile, Focus magazine claims in its latest edition, to be published on Monday, that the real reason for the arrest of the three German intelligence agency (BND) agents in Priština was to confiscate a notebook containing information about the contacts between "the ruling apparatus" and mafia.

The weekly adds that the BND men gathered new information on Hashim Thaci in this context, but does not give details or sources of this allegation.

The Kosovo Albanian authorities arrested the three Germans on suspicion that they bombed the EU office in Priština on Nov. 14.

A chamber of international judges released them on Friday, with the charges against them still standing.