UNMIK Headlines 1 August
PDK & post-election coalition to face off at Court on 21 August (Koha)
Two political groupings, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the post-election coalition consisting of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), will face one another on 21 August at a hearing of the Constitutional Court, the paper reports on the front page. A source told the paper that the Court has approved the request of the post-election coalition MPs for a hearing and given the parties the opportunity to present their facts. “Very soon after the session, the court will decide on the case”, the source said.
PDK sees no need for additional arguments (Kosova Sot)
Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) officials emphasized that they have not sent additional arguments to the Constitutional Court. “We consider that there are enough arguments, and that everything presented in the file sent by the PDK is strongly based on constitutional definitions and on the working regulation of the Assembly. Therefore, we don’t see any reason to send additional explanations or comments from our side as an organized group or individually as MPs,” said the PDK’s deputy head, Adem Grabovci.
“Peace Park” to be debated in September (Tribuna)
The expectations by senior Kosovo government officials – that authorities in northern Mitrovica would be forced to remove the “Peace Park” on the main bridge of the River Iber/Ibar – are not being fulfilled. The head of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, said talks on the park will resume in September.
“The bridge is important because it prevents someone from entering the main road in northern Mitrovica with a car”, said Djuric, adding that there will be no decision taken without consulting residents in the north.
Idea of Islamic radicalization is Serbian propaganda (Tribuna)
The Deputy Foreign Minister of Kosovo, Petrit Selimi, told Klan Kosova that there are attempts, as in the 90s, to portray Kosovars as having embraced radical Islam. According to Selimi, this is all part of Serbia’s propaganda efforts.
Krasniqi: We do not need elections (Epoka e Re)
Jakup Krasniqi, former Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo and current deputy of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), said in an interview that there is no need for new elections, because NISMA’s coalition with the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) can govern Kosovo successfully. “Kosovo and our citizens need and deserve to be governed differently than in the past. Kosovo needs good and responsible governance,” said Krasniqi. Regarding the recent report by EU Special Investigative Task Force (SITF) lead prosecutor Clint Williamson, Jakupi said that allegations of war crimes committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) are fabrications and stem from Belgrade.