Pristina authorities approve of Lazar monument in Mitrovica North (Koha)
The paper reports on its front page that the authorities in Pristina have condemned the erection of the Lazar monument in Mitrovica North, arguing that it constitutes a political provocation. The Ministry for Environment and Spatial Planning, however, in a response to the Ministry for Local Government, said it does not consider itself competent to evaluate the legality of the monument. The paper notes that “based on the position of the ministries it appears that the municipality of Mitrovica North is the authority that decides on the monument”. The paper further reports that the monument will be unveiled on Tuesday and that senior officials from Belgrade will attend the ceremony. Visar Ymeri, leader of the biggest opposition party in Kosovo, the Vetevendosje Movement, said on Monday that the Lazar monument confirms what he called “chauvinistic character” of the project for the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities.
Selimi: Kosovo’s security at the mercy of chance (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo Assembly’s MP from the Vetevendosje Movement, Rexhep Selimi, said on Monday that “the security situation in Kosovo continues to remain at the mercy of chance”. He told the paper that even if Kosovo had full capacities, they would have not been effective due to the approach of the government. Speaking about the establishment of the Tsar Lazar monument in Mitrovica North, Selimi said that this only shows that the government has left that part of Kosovo in Serbia’s hands. However, he added that “the Serbian tsar will not stay for long in Mitrovica just as the monuments of other tsars that were built in Kosovo”.
President Thaci lobbies at the countries of Latin America (Epoka e Re)
The President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, used his presence at the ceremony of inauguration of the expansion of Panama Canal, to lobby at the states of the South America that have not recognized Kosovo. “I have met with presidents, prime ministers and representatives of the countries of South America that have not recognized us. There is a very optimistic spirit to move towards a faster recognition of Kosovo, even among the countries that so far hesitated to recognize Kosovo,” Thaci said.
Tahiri: UNMIK failed to implement its mandate (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio engaged in the dialogue with Serbia, Edita Tahiri, said at the sixth roundtable Rethinking Governance in Fragile Societies, organized by BMW Foundation Global Table, in partnership with The Hague Institute for Global Justice, that UNMIK has failed to implement its mandate in Kosovo in the most sensitive aspects. According to Tahiri, UNMIK did not manage to assure efficient administration in the entire territory, being that it administered only two thirds of Kosovo and it failed to prevent interruption of the former occupier, Serbia, which in an illegal manner established its structures, mainly in the northern part and in Serb enclaves. Tahiri stressed that problems which UNMIK left behind are challenges that are being addressed now by the government of Kosovo. She added that the current dialogue in Brussels, is enabling dissolving of the parallel structures of Serbia in the north.
Special court to recruit staff during summer (Zëri)
The paper reports in a front-page story that the special court for war crimes will continue to recruit its staff during the summer and that by year’s end or early next year it will file the first indictments against former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) fighters. Officials from the European Union Office in Kosovo told the paper on Monday that all logistics and administrative measures have been taken for the Specialist Chambers to become operational. “The next recruiting process will continue during the summer,” said a response from the EU Office.
Ferrarese: Kosovo must improve its image (dailies)
The Italian Ambassador to Kosovo, Andreas Ferrarese, during an interview with the RTK on Monday said that the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union helps Kosovo but that it is also up to the people of Kosovo to see what they can achieve in the European market. Ferrarese also said that Kosovo must improve its image “because people are still reluctant to invest here”. “When Kosovo is mentioned in international TV channels, there are images of tanks and armies, but when people come here they see there is a completely different reality here. People now are safer and can move freely in Kosovo,” Ferrarese said.
