Tanin explains why UNMIK needs to remain in Kosovo (Insajderi)
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Zahir Tanin, said in his address at the United Nations Security Council on Monday that UNMIK is still needed in Kosovo. “Our mission remains unique, not only for what it is, but also for what it is not. UNMIK no longer administers Kosovo. It is not a parallel structure. It is not an obstacle to any objective, any institution, or any individual,” the UNMIK chief said. “UNMIK remains important for the support and legitimacy it can provide; for the focus it can help to encourage; for the experience and know-how it freely shares; and for its role as a bridge between this Noble Council and the people and communities of Kosovo and the region. We have been assessing and recalibrating our own use of resources to assist areas where they most directly promote the fulfillment of our mandate, on Human Rights issues for example. Indeed, as the leading UN body on the ground we are working closely with Kosovo Institutions as well as with international partners to promote the realisation of high human rights standards. Being part of the broadest and most inclusive efforts to help discourage corruption and provide support in the Rule of Law area, realise better opportunities for families and for the younger generation, and strengthen the protection of non-majority and vulnerable communities … To work at its best, our mission depends upon the informed support of this Council, in order to work together with the leadership in both Pristina and Belgrade, as well as with the institutions of the European Union, to remain flexible and to adapt. With your support, this is where we intend to take this mission in the days ahead.”
Citaku at UNSC: Do not compare us to ISIS (dailies)
Kosovo Ambassador to the United States, Vlora Citaku, during her speech at the United Nations Security Council said that Kosovo aspires to become member of the EU and that Serbia’s endeavors to compare Kosovo with ISIS are useless. “How can I say that relations are improving when the Serbian President compares Kosovo with ISIS. Kosovo is an active partner of the coalition fighting ISIS,” Citaku said. She also raised the problem of the missing persons from the last conflict in Kosovo. “The issue of missing persons remains a major problem. Serbia must open its files to this painful history. The Serbian state took measures to hide the traces. They have removed the bodies from one mass grave to another and have built large buildings over these graves,” Citaku said. The United States Ambassador to UN, David Pressman, said that Kosovo has made much progress and that the security situation there is very good. Pressman also requested that the number of staff in UNMIK should be reduced. Pressman said the comparison of Kosovo with ISIS is counterproductive, because, as he said, the US is grateful for Kosovo’s engagement in the international front against ISIS. He also said that there is corruption in Kosovo, just like in other places, but that Kosovo Police was excluded from international organizations. For this, Pressman called for Kosovo Police’s membership in Interpol. Meanwhile, Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic, stated that Serbia is committed to resolve all problems through peaceful means, but according to him, Pristina has not taken the necessary steps to fulfill the agreements reached in Brussels. He added that the rights of Serbs in Kosovo are still vulnerable, while there are still problems with the repatriation of displaced persons. Kosova Sot in its coverage of the UN Security Council session highlights the overall assessment of the UN Secretary-General’s report on Kosovo claiming that the situation remains stable although political tensions have produced a number of incidents, including violent protests. At the same time, the UNMIK chief Zahir Tanin is quoted as saying that “Kosovo has been, and continues to be, at the center of issues vital for overall security in Europe and for relations in a wider context”. Bota Sot covers the meeting in New York in the context that it was attended by the Kosovo’s Ambassador to the US, Vlora Citaku, and goes on to publishing her speech before the members of the Security Council.
Hahn brings together government and opposition leaders (Koha)
Johannes Hahn, the European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, will host a roundtable today of leaders from the ruling parties and the opposition. The roundtable will be held at 14:00 in the Kosovo Assembly. Attending the meeting will be Kadri Veseli, President of the Kosovo Assembly and leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Isa Mustafa, Prime Minister and leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Visar Ymeri, leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Jakup Krasniqi, President of the National Assembly of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA). Unnamed sources told the paper that the meeting will focus on Kosovo’s relations with the European Union and the political crisis in the country. According to the paper, Hahn will announce the results of the meeting at a press conference.
EU insists on rule of law in Kosovo (media)
The paper reports on its front page on the first meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Stabilization/Association held yesterday in the Kosovo Assembly. Ulrike Lunacek, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Samuel Zbogar, head of the European Union Office in Kosovo, and Tonin Picula, chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on the SAA, discussed on the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities, the ratification of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro, dialogue with Serbia and dialogue between the government and the opposition in Kosovo. The EU officials also called on Kosovo’s institutions to engage more in the fight against corruption and organized crime. Lunacek said she was pleased that representatives of all parliamentary parties were present in the discussion. “I hope you will continue working together and by this I also mean the opposition MPs with whom I meet when I come to Kosovo. I was an opposition MP myself in my country for ten years. I often did not like what the government was doing, but working as an opposition MP today means you can do things peacefully and through negotiations,” she said. On the issue of visa liberalization, Lunacek said: “there are two things remaining before your citizens can travel without visas: you need to ratify the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro and all data pertaining to charges related to organized crime and corruption. Then it is up to the European Parliament to make the decision”. Slovenian Member of the European Parliament, Tanja Fajon, said at the meeting that Kosovo has achieved extraordinary things until now. She also said she was optimistic about the vote in the European Parliament, and that she was happy to see the opposition MPs present in the meeting. “I believe that Kosovo will win the European Parliament vote for visa liberalization. The message here is that the European agenda brings us all together,” Fajon said.
Lunacek not sure when Kosovo will get visa liberalization (Kosova Sot)
In a press conference in Pristina yesterday, the Vice President of the European Parliament and Rapporteur for Kosovo Ulrike Lunacek said that following the positive recommendation of the European Commission regarding visa liberalization, the Government and the Assembly of Kosovo need to finalise border demarcation agreement with Montenegro and step up their efforts in prosecuting and trying cases of crime and corruption. “The ball is now on Kosovo’s side”, said Lunacek holding symbolically a ball to also hail Kosovo’s recent membership to UEFA and FIFA. Lunacek said she was not sure when the visa regime will be lifted for the people of Kosovo as it may take several months before the actual decision is taken but she stressed that there needs to be also progress in the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue. “Both sides have still work to do”, she said.
Thaci: Commission for establishing Association/Community (Kosova Sot)
President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, announced on Monday that a special commission in charge of establishing the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities would soon be set up and will be in line with Kosovo laws and its Constitution. Thaci made the comments after a meeting with a group of European Parliament members. He also said that the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro will be implemented and that he is planning to initiate changes to the legislation making it impossible for people convicted of criminal activity to hold public office.
PDK, AAK prepare for post-election coalition (Zeri)
The paper reports on its front page that the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) are preparing to enter a coalition with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) after parliamentary elections. Unnamed officials of the PDK and AAK confirmed that a coalition between these parties is possible, saying that it is not the time to set “red lines” for any political party. The AAK deputy leader, Ahmet Isufi, did not rule out a possible coalition with the PDK and added that early are inevitable.
Mustafa: SAA entering into force, a new development chapter (Epoka)
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, participated on Monday at the first meeting of the EU-Kosovo Parliamentary Commission for the Stabilization Association Agreement. Mustafa congratulated start of the work on behalf of the government, stressing that it is of an essential importance, “because it is an instrument of the agreement and an extremely important component of the SAA, as the first contractual agreement with SAA”. “Our country has entered a new chapter of development. The Agreement means more benefits for the people of Kosovo as well as for the European Union as well as more stability and integrity for the region,” Mustafa said.
Prime Minister Mustafa criticizes Maric (Lajmi)
Three members of the Serb Community at the government of Kosovo, Deputy Prime Minister and two ministers, often speak against the government that they belong to. The recent announcements of the Minister for Local Government, Ljubomir Maric, that admission of Kosovo at FIFA and UEFA are unacceptable, and his referring to Kosovo as “Kosovo and Metohija” have upset PM Isa Mustafa. He assessed these statements as unacceptable. Mustafa has decided to invite Maric for a meeting regarding his statements, assessing that it cannot be continued with this approach.
