Thaci confirms international intervention in creation of past governments (Koha)
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, told Croatia-based Vecernji List that the two previous governments led by him were created with the intervention of the international community, while only the current government, where he left the post of Prime Minister, was created without such interference. “This government is the first one that is created without involvement of the international community. It was a long process, taking into account that I have won the elections, but I did not have the majority of votes in the Parliament,” Thaci said. But, according to him, all parties agreed that the elections were fair and transparent. “I won the elections, but I came in a position to compromise for the sake of a stable government,” Thaci told Vecernji List.
Mustafa: Removal of the barricade, up to internationals (Koha)
Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, said on Friday that the issue of barricades over the Iber river in Mitrovica, is up to international institutions. He said that for 16 years Kosovo institutions have failed to fully exercise sovereignty throughout Kosovo, or otherwise according to him, there wouldn’t be a need for dialogue. However, he said that there is progress in this direction. Mustafa said that the current phase of Pristina – Belgrade dialogue in Brussels is a moment that should produce implementation of agreements. He pledged that any agreement reached in Brussels will not go beyond the Constitution and laws of Kosovo.
Serbs back to work in Kosovo Customs (RTK)
24 Serbs, who left their jobs when Kosovo declared independence, have decided to return to work at the Kosovo Customs in northern Kosovo, RTK reports. Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, said that she greatly appreciates the process of returning to work of the Serb employees. “The government of Kosovo again demonstrated commitment to community integration policies and in particular the Serb community, which for obvious reasons were not ready for this process,” said Tahiri. The Director General of Kosovo Customs, Lulzim Rafuna, informed the media about the process, and said that Kosovo Customs welcomed the application of these customs officers to return to their workplaces and restitution is made under the laws of Kosovo. “I met with the employees today after signing the contracts and welcomed them to their jobs,” Rafuna said.
Neue Zürcher Zeitung writes about EULEX’s failures (Koha)
The Swiss-based newspaper, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, writes about the failure of the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), Koha reports. Despite the great expense and numerous personnel, EULEX observed no significant improvement of the rule of law, writes Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ). NZZ recalls that EULEX officials had raised unrealistic expectations when they promised the arrest of “big fish”. The paper writes that EULEX’s chief, Gabriele Meucci complained that EULEX has “no friends”. Meucci stressed that there’s a witch hunt going on against EULEX, and assumes that there are many people who desire EULEX’s failure. “This society is infiltrated by organized crime,” he said, as quoted by NZZ.
Mayor of Pristina, Shpend Ahmeti told NZZ that EULEX prosecutors, who are responsible for high-profile cases, are not better than the local prosecutors. “They are reluctant to start criminal proceedings against high-level politicians. Thus, legal issues immediately become a political problem,” Ahmeti said.
