UN Security Council discusses situation in Kosovo (dailies)
The issues that dominated yesterday’s session of the United Nations Security Council, according to Zeri, included the establishment of the special court, the involvement of people from Kosovo in the armed incident in Kumanovo, the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue and the return of displaced Serbs. Kosovo Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci assured the international community that Kosovo will establish the special court and that there was overall progress in Kosovo in the last three months. He mentioned in this respect the signing of the investment contract with a French company for the development of the Brezovica ski resort as well as the passing of the law banning fighting in foreign countries. In relation to the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue Thaci emphasized the justice agreement which foresees disbanding of Serbia’s illegal structures in Kosovo and the integration of Serb judicial staff into Kosovo’s unified justice system.
Thaci also said that the UN administration in Kosovo has been successful but that UNMIK should bring its presence to a close. Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic stressed how important the UN is in reaching a sustainable solution in Kosovo. “UNMIK should remain in Kosovo because it is important for Serbs and all other communities in Kosovo,” Dacic said. He also said it was tragic that displaced Serbs are still not able to return to their homes in Kosovo.
At the same time, UNMIK chief Farid Zarif said that Kosovo institutions are committed to establishing the special court and have demonstrated constructiveness in addressing events in Kumanovo by calling for independent investigations.
Special Friday (Zeri)
On the front page, the paper reports that the ruling coalition parties, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), are convinced they have sufficient votes to establish the special court this Friday at the Kosovo Assembly. Senior PDK official Xhavit Haliti said he believed there is agreement amongst the party MPs to vote in favour of the court but there are, however, reports that four PDK MPs will not support the motion. In contrast, all LDK MPs are expected to vote in favour of establishing the court. Opposition parties, at the same time, remain firm in their positions against the establishment of the special court.
The plan: Fugitives from high-security prison would go to Syria (Koha)
In the second part of a series of articles, the paper reports on its front page that a group of 44 persons were planning to attack the high-security prison in the municipality of Podujevo with the intention of setting free high-profile inmates Bedri Krasniqi and Burim Basha. The nine Kosovars who were killed in the Kumanovo clashes are believed to have been part of the group that was planning to attack the prison. The paper quotes a court decision to initiate investigations against the suspects, which says: “There is well-grounded suspicion that all the suspects communicated with one another in an attempt to organize the attack on the high-security prison in the Podujevo municipality. Their goal was to set free Burim Basha, Bedri Krasniqi and others who were indoctrinated in extreme Islam. After escaping, they would organize and join ISIS terrorist groups in Syria.” Bedri Krasniqi, a former member of the Kosovo Liberation Army, is serving a 27-year sentence for the murder of police officers Sebahate Tolaj and Isuf Haklaj and a 17-year sentence for the kidnapping of Azem Morina, a businessman. Burim Basha is serving a 16-year sentence for several criminal activities. A source from the Kosovo Intelligence Agency told the paper on Tuesday that they only had information about the Kumanovo incident and not about the attack on the high-security prison.
Ponta: Romania could recognize Kosovo (Epoka e Re)
The Prime Minister of Romania, Victor Ponta, told Klan Kosova after the Summit of Heads of State of South-East Europe that his country might recognize Kosovo. “In 2008, Romania decided not to recognize Kosovo; however, things have changed since then. Governments have changed and some new decision on recognition of Kosovo could be made,” Ponta reportedly said. According to him, recognition of Kosovo will be reconsidered since many things in Kosovo have changed since 2008. He stressed that one of the main reasons for this is that Kosovo and Serbia are in the process of successful discussions.
Kumanovo victims buried in Pristina on Tuesday (Epoka e Re)
The eight Kosovars killed during the armed conflict in Kumanovo, in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, were buried on Tuesday at the martyrs’ cemetery in Pristina. The ceremony of the burial was held by former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), who were wearing uniforms. As well as the family members, friends and some deputies of the Assembly of Kosovo also paid homage to those killed in Kumanovo.
Jevtic requests recognition of northern diplomas (Epoka e Re)
The Minister for Returns and Communities, Dalibor Jevtic, appealed during a meeting with the German Ambassador in Kosovo, Angelika Viets, for recognition of the diplomas of Mitrovica University. He stressed that recognition of these diplomas could facilitate employment and would contribute to the sustainable return of Serbs to Kosovo.
