Tahiri: Provisional license plates for Serbia as of September (Zeri)
In an interview for the paper, head of the Pristina delegation in talks with Belgrade, Edita Tahiri said that they will request Belgrade authorities to stop making people of Kosovo use provisional license plates when travelling to Serbia or Kosovo will start applying the same rule for people from Serbia travelling to Kosovo. However, she hailed the implementation of the agreement for recognition of vehicle insurance policies saying it is a progress in the free movement of people from both Kosovo and Serbia.
Vetevendosje to protest against Association/Community (Koha Ditore)
In a press conference yesterday, Vetevendosje officials announced they will stage protests against the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities which they claim will seriously undermine Kosovo’s sovereignty. “We call on the people of Kosovo to be cautious in this negotiating process, to have a mobilization and awareness of this extremely damaging process”, said Vetevendosje deputy leader Driton Caushi. He warned that the creation of the Association/Community will take Kosovo towards ethnic division and make it dysfunctional.
Oliver Ivanovic rushed to hospital (Telegrafi)
According to reports of the Mitrovica-based Radio Kontakt Plus, the Kosovo Serb political leader Oliver Ivanovic, currently in detention on war crimes charges, has been rushed to a hospital in the northern part of Mitrovica. Ivanovic’s health is thought to have deteriorated following the decision to enter a hunger strike on 7 August. EULEX neither confirmed nor denied reports that Ivanovic was taken to a hospital but the director of the healthcare centre, Ivan Milanovic, said Ivanovic is in one of the hospital’s wards.
Meucci: Kosovo deserves better (Koha)
In an opinion piece, head of EULEX Gabriele Meucci said the latest Freedom House report which ranked Kosovo among the semi-consolidated authoritarian regime is disappointing. He said however that Kosovo can do better than this and that it has in its hands the key to its EU perspective. “We at EULEX are but guests in Kosovo, and as guests, we know that we cannot force change – Kosovo’s people must be the ones to decide that it is time that Kosovo send its criminals to prison and proves its rule of law institutions are ready to handle high-profile cases and prisoners without EULEX’s assistance”, wrote Meucci.
Grabovci: Some LDK ministers making hasty decisions (Epoka e Re)
Head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group Adem Grabovci denied recent media reports that the ruling coalition with the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) is in crisis but did however say that some of LDK ministers are making hasty decisions by reshuffling staff. “I don’t believe the coalition is under threat”, he said.
