HLC files war crime charges against Serbian police officers
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
The Humanitarian Law Centre (HLC) has filed war crimes charges against two members of the Serbian Special Police Unit because of the reasonable suspicion that on 17 April 1999, in village Poklek of Gllogoc/Glogovac municipality, have killed and slaughtered 53 Albanian civilians.
Criminal charges were also filed against Dragan Obradovic, former commander of the 86th Detachment of the Special Police Unit and against the commander of the company which the perpetrators belonged to, on the charges of not preventing the crime and not punishing the perpetrators.
The criminal charge outlines the methods how the 53 Albanian civilians were killed and slaughtered; amongst them 24 women and 23 children. Most of the children were less than seven years old including two one-year old babies. Only six persons survived the massacre.
So far, no one has been held accountable for this crime. The criminal charge is based on the statements of the survivors, documents of the former Yugoslavian Army and documents of the Serbian Ministry of Interior Affairs, KTV reported.
Mustafa is not intimidated by opposition threats
(KTV)
Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa is not afraid by the threats for protests of the opposition parties against the Association of Serb Municipalities and border demarcation.
PM Mustafa told to KTV that no one should use the language of threat, but as he said, if they have any arguments they should be put it on the table.
“No one should take the role and make threats to the country. If someone has any arguments, they should be put on the table and not use threats and pressures”, Mustafa said.
Opposition parties aim as in Jabllanovic’s case, who was dismissed following mass protests, to achieve the same with the Association. PM Mustafa said that Jablanovic’s case was something entirely different and that the Government will preserve the interests of Kosovo.
But, the editor-in-chief of ‘Zëri’ newspaper, Arbana Xharra, said that the Association should not be an issue only for the opposition parties but rather should be considered as a general concern.
Xharra called upon the Government to be more cautious, whereas she urged the opposition parties and civil society to demand additional accountability from the executive.
Kosovo Bishopric supports Kosovo’s bid for UNESCO membership
(RTK1&Klan Kosova)
During a meeting with the deputy minister of culture, Rexhep Hoti, the representatives of the Kosovo Roman Catholic Church reconfirmed their support for Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO.
General Vicar of the Roman Catholic Church in Kosovo, Don Lush Gjergji, said that they fully support Kosovo’s bid for UNESCO membership.
However, Kosovo Bishopric, besides its support, is considered as an important mediator between Kosovo institutions and Vatican.
Deputy Minister Hoti said that he requested more support from Vatican for issues related to the cultural heritage. But, Serbia hopes in Vatican’s support as well to oppose the request of Kosovo for membership in UNESCO.
However, according to Don Lush Gjergji, Vatican will not take any measures or actions related to Kosovo without a prior agreement with the Kosovo Bishop, Dodë Gjergji.
Besides the Roman Catholic Church in Kosovo, other religious communities as well have supported the request of Kosovo to join UNESCO, excluding the Orthodox Church.
Djuric: Key interest of Serbia is Kosovo’s stability
(RTK2)
The key interests of Serbia are stability in Kosovo and normalization of the Belgrade-Prishtinë/Pristina relations, as well as improvement of the Serb community’s position in Kosovo, Director of the Serbian government’s Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric said during a meeting with the head of UNMIK Farid Zarif.
Zarif, who is on a farewell visit, commended the authorities in Belgrade and Prishtinë/Pristina for focusing on improving economic situation in Kosovo, promoting human rights and fighting corruption.
At the meeting, which addressed the current political and security situation Kosovo, Djuric informed Zarif about the resumption of the political dialogue in Brussels scheduled for August 25, and stressed the importance of the full implementation of the first Brussels Agreement and the establishment of the Association of Serb municipalities.
Djuric also presented to SRSG Zarif the position of Belgrade against Kosovo’s bid for UNESCO membership, the Office informed through a press release.
Djuric thanked Zarif for the constructive cooperation during his mandate in Kosovo.
Greece might recognize Kosovo within this year
(TV21)
Greece will recognize Kosovo within this year, writes the pan-European portal ‘Euractiv” in an article related to the recent developments in the relation between Kosovo and Greece.
Serbian political analyst Dusan Janjic is quoted as saying that Kosovo’s recognition by Athens “will arrive as early as in the fall”. “Tsipras will play pragmatically. He will recognize Kosovo in order to delay the issue of Macedonia’s name’, said Janjic.
