Kosovo Serb Minister against Kosovo’s admission in UEFA and FIFA
(KTV)
Announcements of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, regarding the change of the format talks between Kosovo and Serbia were not liked by the Minister of Local Government Administration, Ljubomir Maric.
In an interview for Serbian media, Maric opposed the statements of his superior, underlining that Kosovo Government, which he is part of, does not have the capacities to implement agreements reached in Brussels. To Maric, Mustafa’s statements are rather buying of time and postponement of implementation of the Agreement on Association of Serb majority municipalities.
Although he leads a ministry in Kosovo, Maric continued to give statements against Kosovo’s admission in UEFA and FIFA. According to him, Kosovo does not have financial capacities for admission in these organisations, which show that these decisions are political.
On the other hand, Kosovo Government officials consider Maric’s statements as his individual interpretations.
Lunacek: Violence in the Assembly would postpone the final step on visas
(KTV)
Return of scenes of violence in the Assembly of Kosovo would harm the final step on visa liberalisation which should be taken by the European Parliament and the European Union Council of Ministers, stated the Vice-President of the European Parliament Ulrike Lunacek.
In an interview with Koha Ditore daily, Lunacek underlined that ratification of the Agreement on delineation of the border with Montenegro is an obligation which derives from the European Commission’s recommendation on visa.
She called on Government of Kosovo and political parties to invest in the joint effort with the Assembly of Kosovo and civil society to persuade the countries that are still hesitant among the 28 EU member states.
Lunacek said that an accurate date as when visas will be removed cannot be given. She also spoke about the problems that possible influx of citizens toward the EU countries might bring, at the time when visas shall be removed.
Ban Ki-moon: Pace of implementation of agreements slow
(RTK2)
In his latest report on the work of the UN Mission in Kosovo, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern over the slow pace of implementation of agreements in the Belgrade-Prishtinë/Pristina dialogue over the past year.
Secretary Ban also assessed that much work remains to be done in Kosovo to promote greater tolerance and reconciliation among its communities, to ensure the protection of minority rights, to facilitate the return of the displaced persons, to uphold their property rights and to safeguard religious traditions.
In his report, which covers the period from January 16th to April 15th 2016 and will be presented at a UN Security Council meeting on Monday, Ban said he was pleased to note the commitments expressed by the President and the Prime Minister of Kosovo to the process of normalizing relations between Belgrade and Prishtinë/Pristina, and to achieving the full implementation of the agreements already reached, in particular regarding the establishment of the Association of Serb majority municipalities.
“Nevertheless, I note with concern the slow pace of implementation during the past twelve months and hope that the positive steps already taken under European Union facilitation will be matched by energetic efforts to complete the remaining steps, and also to tackle further subjects in the near future,” reads Ban’s report published on the UN website.
Welcoming the selection of Hashim Thaçi for Kosovo’s new President, UN Secretary General said he hopes that the important promises that Thaçi gave in his inaugural speech to provide a new chapter of and overcome the political discourse in Kosovo.
UN Secretary-General welcomed the rapid establishment of a Special Chamber and of the Special Prosecutor’s Office and commended the Kosovo authorities for the expeditious ratification of the agreement with the Netherlands as the host country.
“This process is a key step in strengthening the rule of law in Kosovo, as well as a historic opportunity to contribute to healing the scars of the conflict,” Ban stated.
Ban also urged further progress in the full integration of Serbian judges and prosecutors’ offices in the Kosovo justice system.
Ibër Bridge not being revitalised
(RTK1)
The Bridge over Ibër River in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica continues to remain blocked. Barricades placed by the Serbs have only been surrounded with metallic fence. The Agreement in Brussels reached between Kosovo and Serbia foresees revitalisation of the bridge. It also foresees that it should be ready for traffic by 15 June, 2016.
However, it seems that nothing was done on the field from the Agreement reached eight months ago on paper. Works on revitalisation of the bridge have not started yet, and it is not clear when these works are expected to start.
Mayor of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica south, Agim Bahtiri, continues to believe that works will resume. He even says that they shall be completed within their timeframe. Still, Bahtiri does not know precisely when the works will resume.
He warned that situation shall no longer be normal if revitalisation of the bridge does not resume. According to him, even Serbs in the northern part want this bridge to open.
RTK learned that Serbs of the north have conditioned beginning of works on revitalisation of the bridge with delimitation of administrative borders between Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north and Mitrovicë/Mitrovica south municipalities.
Limaj: I was persecuted over the last 13 years
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
After being found not guilty of the war crimes allegations, known as Kleçka Case, Fatmir Limaj held a press conference on Sunday.
Limaj said he is happy that his innocence and innocence of his fellow combatants during the last war in Kosovo was proved once again. He expressed his willingness to help all his fellow combatants in order to shed light on the truth.
Addressing the conference, Limaj said that he was persecuted for the last thirteen years.
Jakup Krasniqi considers elections indispensable
(TV21)
Senior Nisma për Kosovën party official, Jakup Krasniqi, considers that the fight that is going on between the opposition parties is pointless, as, according to him, instead of dealing with each other, opposition would need to deal with those who are governing badly, who have captured the institutions and have made crime and corruption flourish.
Krasniqi thinks that because of this situation that Kosovo is in, elections are indispensable.
