UNMIK Headlines 1 April
Agreement on justice, after creation of Serb Government (Koha Ditore)
The daily reports on the front page that, similar to other recent meetings, parties involved in the latest round of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia are said to have achieved “significant” progress, but that there are still some technical issues that need to be clarified before an agreement on justice can be reached.
The statement issued by the facilitator of the dialogue, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, implies that an agreement is close. “I am pleased that the two sides have almost concluded their discussions on justice,” said Ashton, and added that there was general consent between the parties to meet again soon.
Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said after the meeting that only the justice system was discussed at the meeting. “I hope the agreement can be finalised in the upcoming meeting,” he said. On the other hand, Serbian officials made it clear that the agreement can happen only after the new Government is formed, after 27 April.
Legal changes needed for court in north (Tribuna)
Kosovo and Serbia have agreed for the courts in the north to function with Serb judges and prosecutors, who will work in the Kosovo courthouse building but will deal with different cases. The Serb side is expected to allow Serb judges to be part of the Kosovo justice system, but the Kosovo side will have to change the law on courts enabling the one in the north to function differently. Sources told the paper that these legal changes will be voted on in the Kosovo Assembly, along with the proposal for extending EULEX’s mandate.
Three police officers wounded in an ambush in north (Koha Ditore)
Three members of the Kosovo border police were wounded last night in an ambush in northern Kosovo. Sources told the paper that the attack happened in Zubin Potok, near the border with Serbia. Kosovo police spokesperson, Baki Kelani, confirmed the attack and said police officers were travelling in an official vehicle when they came under gunfire. He said the injuries sustained by the officers are not life-threatening.
Rexhepi: EULEX will have a supporting role (Epoka e Re)
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Bajram Rexhepi, said in an interview for this daily that he expects an agreement with the European Union on EULEX’s transition very soon. He said that the future role of this mission would be to focus on the support of the territories’ institutions for the rule of law. According to him, during the new mandate, this mission will also support Kosovo on advancing strategic partnership with specialized agencies for the rule of law, such as EUROPOL, INTERPOL and EUROJUST. “The future mandate of EULEX will focus on supporting Kosovo institutions in the field of the rule of law, in order to get Kosovo closer to the European Union, which is always based on the principal of local ownership and with as many responsibilities transferred to local institutions,” said Rexhepi.
“Civil Protection” part of Kosovo Armed Forces (Tribuna)
Certain members of the illegal Serb formation, “Civil Protection”, could undergo a transformation that will enable them to be employed as guards, gardeners, forest rangers or firefighters. But the most vital part of this formation will be incorporated into the Kosovo Security Force and, eventually, the Kosovo Armed Forces. This transformed part will be monitored by KFOR and it will be autonomous from the command in Pristina. As a compromise of the dialogue in Brussels, this transformed force will act similarly to Kosovo police in the north, which has regional character. According to this agreement, the members of the “Civil Protection” that would be accepted in the present structures of the KSF, or in the future KAF, will give sole responsibility to the KFOR command in the north, not to the KSF command, respectively the KAF.
Rakic, also head of the Administrative Office (Zëri)
Even though the status of the Administrative Office in Mitrovica North is still unclear, this daily claims that the recently elected mayor of this city, Goran Rakic, already manages the Office. Furthermore, he is interested in using these premises for the northern municipality. Head of the Administrative Office Adriana Hodzic admitted that Rakic visits this Office in regular basis, clarifying further that mayor Rakic now manages the Administrative Office, situated in Bosniacka Mahalla in Mitrovica North. Hodzic told media that she now deals more with organizing meetings and sending invitations and information on the work of the Administrative Office, as instructed by the Government of Kosovo.
Constitutional Court legitimizes transformation of KSF (Lajm)
The Kosovo Constitutional Court has ruled that the proposed amendments regarding the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) the into Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF) are legitimate and do not infringe on the rights and guaranteed freedoms in Chapter II of the Constitution.
Election date at the last moment (Lajm)
In connection with the date that elections in Kosovo will take place, analysts and representatives of civil society think that this decision will be taken after political leaders make calculations at the last moment. According to them, this will depend mostly on Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, but they said that the election date is less important than the preparations to ensure democratic and free elections. LDK leader Isa Mustafa’s announcements regarding the June elections are all talk no action.
IMF does not give funds to Kosovo (Zëri)
Based on reliable sources, this daily reports that Prime Minister Thaçi’s decision to increase salaries by 25 percent has upset officials of the International Monetary Fund, who decided not start discussions on the new supporting programme. “The decision to increase salaries, which implicates a budget of over €130 million, has excessively upset IMF officials. They are displeased with the decision, which was made without their approval. Kosovo is not financially capable of increasing public salaries by 25 percent. This action endangers the economic stability of the country,” said this source.