Kosovo has good chances to gain membership in UNESCO (Zeri)
Valon Murtezaj, advisor to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, said yesterday that in regards to Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO, it is not uncertain if this issue will be discussed at the next Pristina-Belgrade meeting in Brussels. “There was agreement in principle that neither side would hinder each other on the road to European integration. However, Serbia has always violated this agreement. No matter what Serbia’s attitude would be, Kosovo will continue its path and chances are very good that it will be joining UNESCO,” Murtezaj said.
Brazil recognizes Kosovo passports (dailies)
Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci announced on his Twitter account that Brazil has begun issuing visas to Kosovo passport holders which his deputy Petrit Selimi interpreted as a step closer to Brazil recognising independence of Kosovo. Meanwhile, Serb media reported that the move is most likely related to the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro and has to do with enabling Kosovo competitors to travel to the country.
UN appoints new UNMIK chief (GazetaExpress)
Citing unidentified sources within the United Nations (UN), the news site writes that since the mandate of the current UNMIK chief Farid Zarif will end in a few days, the UN has already decided that the new head of the UN Mission in Kosovo will be Zahir Tanin of Afghanistan. Currently, Tanin serves as the Ambassador of Afghanistan in the UN.
Selimi: We expect the final step of five EU countries (Epoka e Re)
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Petrit Selimi, spoke to the public broadcaster RTK about the possibility of Kosovo’s recognition by five EU states, stressing that good steps have been made on this direction and that recognition by some of the countries is expected. “During the recent years, we have achieved major progress and good communication with the EU countries. “We have very powerful indications that they will vote for us for UNESCO, which is almost the final step to accept the reality. You are right, we also expect the final step by some of them,” said Selimi.
Citaku appointed new Kosovo’s ambassador to US (Tribuna)
The former Kosovo European Integrations Minister, Vlora Citaku, has been officially appointed ambassador to the US, confirmed Deputy Foreign Minister Petrit Selimi for Klan Kosova. Citaku will succeed Akan Ismaili to the post.
105 members of Civil Protection, employed (Zeri)
Kosovo’s Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, told the paper that 105 persons of Serbian community, who worked for several years in the so-called Civil Protection, have signed employment contracts with Kosovo institutions. Of these, 80 will work in the Emergency Management Agency, which operates within the Ministry of Interior, and another 25 will be employed at the Correctional Center in Mitrovica. “There are two parallel processes going on: the closure of the Civil Protection facilities and observation points and integration of its former employees in the institutions of Kosovo,” Tahiri said. According to her, four observation points were closed until now. The leader of the Serbian List, Aleksandar Jablanovic, said he expects the process of integration to be concluded within three years. Jablanovic also expressed concern for the other 300 members who will remain outside Kosovo institutions.
