Veseli: Communication, only way for Albanians and Serb

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Reconciliation of Albanians and Serb hardly can happen without overcoming the political issues. Recognition of Kosovo by Serbia and the acceptance of the new reality is a precondition for relaxing the Albanian-Serb relations. These were some of the conclusions deriving from a joint conference between Kosovo and Serb politicians dubbed “Building the Albanian-Serb relations” held in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica today, KTV reported

Despite the yearlong talks, facilitated by the international community, the relations between Serbia and Kosovo continue to remain aggravated.

Kosovo Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli, said that it useless to speak about the past and the future, if the present is not taken into the account.  He said that there should be more communication between the parties, and emphasized that Serbs should not have any fears. He emphasized that no major inter-ethnic problem occurred ever since Kosovo declared its independence in 2008.

But, the AAK chairperson, Ramush Haradinaj, partially blamed the European Union (EU), as saying that the EU is delayed in the Balkan.

According to Haradinaj, the EU is very unsuccessful in Balkan. He considers that the EU has been delayed in Bosnia, delayed in resolving the name issue of Macedonia and Greece and as he said, its delay in persisting on reciprocal recognition of Kosovo by Serbia, leaves the Balkans in a very problematic situation.

Meanwhile, Ilir Dedaj of Vetëvendosje said that the normalization of the relations does not come by stating that we do not recognize Kosovo, or when Serbian politicians oppose harshly Kosovo’s membership at UNESCO.

On the other hand, the Serb politicians that live in Kosovo continued to demonstrate the same logic and discourse.

Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north mayor, Goran Rakic, said that Serbia is present in the north, but not as parallel structures but rather as factor that aims to increase the economic development.

Marko Djuric, an official of the Serbian Government, requested dialogue with Kosovo in order, as he said to avoid the political circus.

Djuric said that courts should deal with culprits of the past and decide who did what; whereas he said that it is up to us to normalize the relations. Djuric said that Serbian Government will do everything possible to enable the free movement of people and goods.

To overcome this phase of bad relations and to build good relations, the Dutch Ambassador to Kosovo, Robert Bosch, said that it is important also to amend the content of history books.

The fact that the normalization cannot be achieved while Serbia continues to oppose Kosovo in every international initiative was highlighted in the conference.

PM Mustafa: Association, a form for integration of Serbs

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa commented today morning on the Association of Municipalities with Serb majority. He posted a status on his Facebook account saying that he would like to write about other issues that preoccupy Kosovo citizens, but the Association is on the table.

“Kosovo did not manage to integrate the north for 16 years. Independence was declared within the borders that Kosovo had in 1974, but sovereignty was not extended in the northern part of Ibri River. Four municipalities remained there; a great part of Trepca and the biggest lake Ujman. Everything was developing in these municipalities, but noting based on the laws of the Republic of Kosovo, Mustafa wrote.

“Thus, instead of creating fear and horror out of Association, let as treat it as a form for integration of minorities, especially the Serb one” Mustafa’s post reads.

Commenting on this status, Vetvëndosje chair Visar Ymeri wrote also on his Facebook account that Mustafa is speaking with the logic of one that surrenders.

“According to his, logic, since we did not control the north for 16 years, let us legalise the lack of control. But we did not stop corruption, mafia, poverty, etc for 16 years. According to PM’s logic, should we legalise these too?” Ymeri wrote.

Jahjaga: We will consider receiving refugees from Syria

(Klan Kosova)

President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, requested from the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Arban Abrashi, to assess capabilities and capacities and consider if Kosovo is ready to accommodate Syrian war refugees.

Arbër Vllahiu, the media advisor to the President, told to Klan Kosova, that Jahjaga has requested an assessment, considering the limitation and resources that Kosovo has and in order to undertake the necessary actions in relation to this issue.

“The President she will consult the international community in Kosovo before taking any action, while she also counts on the will of Kosovo citizens to assist the refugees”, said Vllahiu.

KTV in its late news editionreported that Jahjaga had requested the accommodation for around 3,000 refugees from Syria to be secured in former KFOR camps in Kosovo

Vushtrri/Vucitrn IDPs should return to their homes

(RTK2)

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Branimir Stojanovic and the mayor of Vushtrri/Vucitrn municipality Bajram Mulaku called upon the displaced Serbs of Vushtrri/Vucitrn to return to their hometown.

On Thursday, Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Branimir Stojanovic visited the municipality of Vushtrri/Vucitrn and met with the Mayor Bajram Mulaku. Addressing to the media, following the meeting, Stojanovic said that they discussed about the economic development of this municipality and the situation of the Serb community.

Deputy PM Stojanovic and Mayor Mulaku said that people should return to the city in which they used to live and called upon Vushtrri/Vucitrn IDPs to return to their home and property.

“The door for them was always open. They are welcomed and have the rights to return to their property. It is worrisome, that members of the Serb community did not return, despite the fact that big number of houses in the villages were built for them. Of course, there are some that did return but that number is too small”, Mayor Mulaku said

Asked by the journalists, if the idea of Serb residents from villages with Serb majority in Vushtrri/Vucitrn, to establish a new local municipality is doable, Deputy PM said that people on the ground want this and it is their duty to follow that will.

“I do not know the timeframe, but we want to jointly with those people establish the municipality and surely the next step would be for that municipality to become member of the Association of Serb majority Municipalities. According to the last census, there are not enough resident members, but we do know that Serbs did not partake in that census. It is important to have the new census and then the institution”, concluded Stojanovic.

Maric: Statute of the Association will be drafted by ten experts

(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)

Ljubomir Maric, minister of local government administration in the Government of Kosovo and coordinator of managing team for establishment of the Association of Serb Municipalities, said that the Statute of the Association of Serb majority municipalities will be ready before Brussels deadline of fourth months.

Maric said that the team that will draft the Statute will be composed of ten experts, including international experts.