Mustafa: Problems are not solved by ultimatums (Zeri)
Isa Mustafa, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday that ultimatums presented by the opposition are not the way to solve problems in Kosovo. In a response to the opposition’s ultimatum to dismiss Communities and Returns Minister Aleksandar Jablanovic, Mustafa called for cooperation with opposition parties to overcome common problems. “It is in Kosovo’s interest that we cooperate with all communities, to find solutions of problems that concern our citizens,” Mustafa added.
Vetevendosje accuses police of employing force to prevent protests (Kosova Sot)
Vetevendosje officials said in a press conference on Sunday that the persecution of people during and after the 27 January protest by the Kosovo Police is done in a bid to prevent further protests. They however claimed that the next protest scheduled for 4 February will be even more massive than the previous two. Visar Ymeri, Vetevendosje’s head of parliamentary group, said the police violence is only increasing the peoples’ anger towards the government of Kosovo.
Pristina, Belgrade to discuss judiciary in the north (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, told the paper on Sunday that the judiciary will be the main topic of the meeting between the Prime Ministers of Kosovo and Serbia, which will be held on 9 February in Brussels. “We expect to finalize the implementation plan for the establishment of a Basic Court and a Prosecution Office in north, under the Kosovo laws,” Tahiri said. She added that another topic will be the dissolution of parallel structures and the issue of the telephone code. “In regards to Trepca, we have made it clear to Serbia that we don’t discuss Kosovo’s properties with anyone,” she said. Tahiri also added that the Kosovo delegation would highlight the violations and delays that Serbia is doing in relation to the obligations arising from the Brussels Agreement.
Thaci travels to New York for Prayer Breakfast (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hashim Thaci, travelled to New York on Sunday where he will attend the Prayer Breakfast hosted by the United States President Barak Obama. Thaci will have meetings at the State Department, Pentagon and National Security Council, prior to the session of the United Nations Security Council on 6 February. During his visit, Thaci will meet with Victoria Nuland, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. This meeting will focus on bilateral relations and deepening of cooperation in the Euro-Atlantic integration, the fight against corruption and religious extremism.
Up to 20,000 people flee Kosovo every month (Koha/Zeri)
In a front-page story, Koha Ditore reports that only on Sunday over 500 people departed from the Pristina bus station toward Belgrade from where they will try to reach a European country in search of a better life. Zeri on the front page quotes Pristina bus station officials as saying that every night 10 buses full of Kosovars travel toward Hungary.
