Borderline between south and north Mitrovica based on Kosovo laws (Koha)
The paper reports on the front page that the European Union has asked for the borderline between the southern and northern municipalities of Mitrovica to be defined based on Kosovo’s applicable legislation. “The European Union encourages the parties to sign the memorandum of understanding as soon as possible as this would strengthen inter-municipal cooperation”, the EU Office in Pristina said in a written reply to the paper. According to the law on administrative borders, the line that goes through the cadastral area of Suhodoll should serve as the borderline between the two municipalities. This however is being strongly rejected by the Mitrovica North municipality, led by the Serbian List.
Thaçi: I will not allow re-colonising of Kosovo by Serbia (Koha)
In an interview for the Austrian paper Die Presse, Kosovo’s President, Hashim Thaçi spoke about the construction of the so-called Sunny Valley settlement in the north of Kosovo funded by the Government of Serbia saying that the “re-colonisation” of Kosovo will not be permitted. “I call on all refugees to return. They are citizens of Kosovo and are welcomed. Kosovo is a place for all ethnic groups not just for one but we will not allow a new colonisation of Kosovo by Serbia”, said Thaçi.
Calls for review of border demarcation increasing (Zëri/RFE)
Agreement on border demarcation between Kosovo and Montenegro is heading towards failure, writes the paper. Following the opposition’s strong resistance to the deal, there are increasing voices even within the ruling parties that call for the review of the process fearing that it is undermining Kosovo’s territorial integrity. Nait Hasani from the ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), said that the issue is going back to zero as the number of the MPs who are convinced of irregularities is steadily growing. Hasani said that if the demarcation agreement does not undergo a review, it will not pass at the Assembly and this could in turn lead to political tensions. Shpejtim Bulliqi from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) said a new border demarcation commission would have to be set up and the agreement with Montenegro be renegotiated.
Murati: Border demarcation best resolved through arbitration (Koha Ditore)
Kosovo’s Minister for Diaspora, Valon Murati, said that the best way to resolve the disputes over the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro is to go through an arbitration process. He said that he believed the ratification of the demarcation agreement is unlikely to pass at the Kosovo Assembly.
Gecaj: We will carry out population census in the north (Epoka e Re)
In an interview for the paper, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Administration, Bajram Gecaj, said Kosovo institutions are determined to carry out a population and household census in the north. “It is in the interest of Kosovo to know the number of citizens in the north but representatives of the Serb community in the northern part have also requested organising the census for budgeting purposes as the budget is allocated based on the population number”, said Gecaj.
