Mustafa: Association/Community cannot have executive powers (RTK)
Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, wrote on his Facebook page that the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities cannot have executive responsibilities, cannot become a third form of power and cannot create asymmetry that prevents unity of action between central and local government. “Also, we agreed that the Association/Community will not be an NGO, but a legal entity that will strengthen the role of Serb municipalities in solving problems of their residents, in creating development perspective and their integration in Kosovo institutions,” Mustafa said. He added that the Association/Community does not elect the Kosovo Police Commander for the north, but the four northern municipalities propose a list, from which the Interior Minister selects one. He reiterated that the Kosovo Constitution and legislation will not be changed and that the Association/Community will function according to the Kosovo legislation.
Tahiri: Opposition with no arguments against Association/Community (Koha)
Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, told RTK that the agreements reached in Brussels will not transform Kosovo into another Bosnia and Herzegovina and will not lead to Kosovo’s federalization. According to her, the opposition parties are opposing the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities while having no arguments against it. “The dialogue in Brussels has made it possible for the first time to integrate the northern part of Kosovo into state institutions,” Tahiri said, reiterating that the agreement reached in Brussels will be sent to the Constitutional Court. In another piece published in RTK, Tahiri is quoted as saying that if Serbia does not remove the policy of provisional license plates for Kosovo vehicles as stressed in the agreement, then Kosovo will implement the same measures based on the reciprocity agreement reached in 2011. She added that the issue will be cleared at the next meeting with Belgrade, which will be held this month.
OSCE report speaks of tensions and violence in Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
In a report to the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna, head of the mission in Kosovo Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger described the latest developments which were characterized by tensions, protests, and trials of former KLA commanders. The report, which the paper claims to be in possession of, begins by speaking about the delays in forming the new Kosovo Assembly as well as the tensions from the voting on the establishment of the special court. The report said the special court issue is not yet resolved pending the ruling of the Constitutional Court. Furthermore, the report also addresses protests by KLA war veterans over the list of KLA members as well as the arrests of terrorism suspects in different parts of Kosovo. With regards to the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue, Ambassador Schlumberger stressed the importance of the agreement about the judiciary in the north which sets up a court in Mitrovica set to function in accordance with Kosovo laws and correspond with the ethnic structure of the area.
Djuric allowed to visit Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
The government of Kosovo has approved the visit of the director of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, during this week. Djuric reportedly asked permission to enter Kosovo in order to meet with Serb representatives in the north and discuss further steps for establishment of the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities.
Hahn: Serbia should be praised for steps towards reconciliation (dailies)
The European Union Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement, Johannes Hahn, told EurActiv news portal that Serbia should be praised for its efforts towards regional reconciliation. Hahn announced quick steps in the negotiations with the EU. “Serbia has recorded remarkable progress in internal reforms and in dialogue for reconciliation,” Hahn said.
Russia against Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO (Indeksonline)
Kosovo membership in UNESCO would be a direct violation of international law, the UN Charters and UN Security Council resolution 1244, said Russian ambassador to Belgrade Alexander Chepurin. According to him, UNESCO should not admit a “quasi state” which has not even been recognised by the UN.
