Association/Community to be established through government decree (Koha)
The Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities will be established through a Kosovo government decree but will first wait for the Constitutional Court to review its legality. Besnik Berisha, advisor to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, said the Brussels agreement will not be submitted to the Constitutional Court but only the government decree or administrative instruction that sets the basis for the creation of the Association/Community.
Mustafa to report on Association/Community in two weeks (Zeri)
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, is ready to report to the deputies on the Agreement for the establishment of the association of the municipalities with Serb majority, in the first autumn session of the Assembly, which is expected to be held in the second half of September. However, opposition parties consider that this Agreement has to be ratified by the Assembly. Vetevendosje member Zgjim Hyseni stressed that the Agreement cannot be reached only with a government decree. He considers that it is an absurdity that no institution can bring a decision to dissolve the association or request accountability for its work.
Vetevendosje takes down fence recently put up by government (dailies)
Vetevendosje Movement activists took down yesterday the fence recently put up by the government as part of boosted security measures. In a press release, Vetevendosje said erecting a fence around government institutions “resembles past authoritarian regimes that have nothing to do with democracy.” It further said that government representatives should be accountable for their decisions and “if their decisions are unjust or irresponsible, they should not avoid responsibility by barricading themselves in.” Kosovo Police said it is informed that a group of about 40 persons have damaged the fence around the government premises and added that it is investigating the act and will take appropriate measures.
Thaci: No reconciliation without apology from Serbia (RTK)
In an interview for Klan Kosova, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaci said that the fact that Kosovo and Serbia are signing agreements to normalize relations doesn’t mean that this will lead to the full reconciliation of Albanians and Serbs. He said that Serbia will have to apologize for crimes in Kosovo before any such reconciliation can happen. Speaking about recent agreements reached with Belgrade, Thaci insisted they are in Kosovo’s favour. He said there is “no expert or man on earth” that can find executive powers in the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities.
Vetevendosje’s roundtable: Kosovo after Brussels agreements (Kosovapress)
Vetevendosje movement will organize today a public roundtable “Kosovo after the Brussels agreements – Implication on sovereignty and functionality of the state – What should we do?” According to the Vetevendosje announcement, representatives of different non-governmental organizations, as well as representatives of opposition parties, will participate at the conference. The roundtable will be held at the Orion center in Pristina, starting at 10:00.
Modalities of KSF transformation to be decided next week (Koha Ditore)
Officials from the Kosovo government said that Prime Minister Isa Mustafa is seriously committed to advancing the status of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) and will decide next week on the modalities for transforming the KSF into armed forces. They added that PM Mustafa has recently had meetings with the members of his cabinet and international community in an effort to find ways to transform the KSF.
Jahjaga: Kosovo will soon become UNESCO member (Epoka e Re)
In a cultural event in Decan yesterday, President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga said that Kosovo will very soon become a member of UNESCO. She said that Kosovo is a place rich in cultural and religious heritage and already has a number of sites that are under UNESCO protection.
