Government sends demarcation agreement to Assembly (Klan Kosova)
This morning, the Kosovo government approved the draft law for ratification of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro paving way for the final approval from the Assembly. Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj said that there is room for review of certain items of the draft law while Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said yesterday’s debate showed that the agreement is fine and the opposition has no reason to object it.
Demarcation debate fails, Vetëvendosje calls for protests (dailies)
Even after 12 hours of discussions during the debate organized by the Kosovo Assembly on border-demarcation with Montenegro, government officials and opposition did not manage to agree on the issue. Representatives of the government commission on demarcation said they are convinced that Kosovo does not lose territory in the demarcation with Montenegro. But on the other hand, a group of experts presented facts according to which, Kosovo loses over 8,000 hectares of land from this agreement. They also proposed the revision of the current agreement. The United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, said both parties are damaging the future of Kosovo. He also said that Kosovo is not losing territory. “You are opposing this agreement in a cynical way, fueling hatred and jeopardizing the future of Kosovo. While those in government that let this agreement wait for 11 months, I say to them that transparency is the basis for a legal state,” he said. Meanwhile, Vetëvendosje Movement during an extraordinary press conference invited the citizens to protest this morning starting from 10:00 in front of the Assembly building.
Tahiri: Revitalisation of Mitrovica bridge to start before 15 August (Zëri)
Kosovo’s Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, said after two-day talks in Brussels with the Serbian delegation that the revitalization of the River Ibër/Ibar bridge will start before 15 August. In a press release, Tahiri is quoted as saying that despite the talks being very difficult and lengthy, they took place in a constructive atmosphere and that progress has been made with regards to the removal of the barricade in Mitrovica and Kosovo’s efforts in obtaining a dial code. Tahiri said that the issue of the dial code will be finalized in the next meeting between the parties expected to take place in the coming days.
Delawie following PDK’s wiretapped conversations (Kosova Sot)
The US Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, said he was following the publication of wiretapped conversations of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) senior official, Adem Grabovci. “I encouraged involved parties to proceed with a thorough and transparent review. No one should be above the law,” tweeted Delawie.
Excavations of a suspected mass grave to begin in Zubin Potok (Klan Kosova)
The forensic teams will begin today excavations of a suspected mass grave site in the municipality of Zubin Potok, announced head of the Kosovo government’s commission for missing persons, Prenk Gjetaj. He said the probe has been authorized by the special prosecution.
