No Association/Community without implementation of agreements (dailies)
Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, met on Wednesday a European Union delegation led by Mr. Thomas Busch. The purpose of this meeting was to review the situation in the implementation of the Brussels agreements. Tahiri said the government of Kosovo is committed to good neighborly dialogue because it is very important for peace and stability in the region and for Kosovo’s EU integration. “However, Serbia has blocked the implementation of agreements on the issue of the telephone code, independence of KOSTT (Kosovar Electricity Transmission, System and Market Operator), and the removal of barricades from the Mitrovica Bridge. Serbia has no political will to implement these agreements which are of great importance for Kosovo,” Tahiri said. “Our attitude as a government for this situation is clear, without implementing these three agreements, we will not take any steps on the implementation of the agreement on Association of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo,” she added. The EU officials reconfirmed their position that both parties must implement all the agreements reached so far.
Conference on demarcation under question (Koha Ditore)
The paper reports that experts invited to the border demarcation conference set to take place on 3 August have threatened to boycott the debate due to the large number of Kosovo government representatives also invited to take part. One of the members of the expert group told the paper that the event could very well fail if it turns out that it was organised only for show. “Our request was pretty clear: a discussion between the experts and the [Kosovo Government] commission,” said the expert who preferred to remain anonymous.
Haliti: Government has not enough votes for demarcation deal (Telegrafi)
Kosovo Assembly Deputy Speaker from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Xhavit Haliti, said that the ruling coalition has not secured sufficient votes to ratify the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. However, he said the failure to pass the agreement will have consequences for Kosovo and its political leadership.
Limaj: Social consensus needed for demarcation (Epoka e Re)
The leader of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), Fatmir Limaj, during an interview with the paper urged that the issue of border-demarcation with Montenegro be solved through a political and social consensus. According to him, this consensus can be reached by creating a new joint commission to review the whole process of border-demarcation with Montenegro. Limaj also invited all the MPs who still have dilemmas over this issue to present their arguments on the debate on demarcation to be held on 3 August. He also said that politicians should leave it to the experts to decide on this issue.
Serbian List obstacle to KSF’s transformation into KAF (Kosova Sot)
Kosovo Assembly MPs say the Serbian List remains an obstacle to the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into Kosovo Armed Force (KAF). The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP, Nuredin Ibishi, said on Wednesday that for now it is impossible to convince the Serbian List to vote for the military transformation of the KSF, “because they take orders from Serbia.” “Even if the issue is sent to the Kosovo Assembly, most probably the KSF will not be able to change the name but only some laws would be changed. The KSF would be in full capacity, but the Constitution will not be changed, since it seems that it is impossible to convince the Serbian List on this issue,” Ibishi said.
33 senior officials under investigation (Radio Free Europe)
Kosovo’s chief prosecutor, Aleksandër Lumezi, told Radio Free Europe that currently there are 33 high-profile cases of corruption and organized crime that are being investigated by the prosecution. According to Lumezi, these cases also include different ministries’ officials. “We have filed 19 indictments so far,” Lumezi said.
