Headlines - 11.02.2014

UN Security Council discusses Kosovo (dailies)

Most dailies cover Monday's United Nations Security Council session on Kosovo. Koha Ditore highlights Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci’s request for UNMIK to turn into a political office of the United Nations. In his presentation, Thaci said this office would represent UN specialised agencies and policies, and assist Kosovo in fulfilling its objectives to join the community of free nations. Thaci said Kosovo’s integration in the European Union remains the primary objective of the government in Pristina.

“The Republic of Kosovo will soon celebrate the sixth anniversary of the declaration of independence, which by now has been recognised by 105 countries. I thank all countries that have recognised the state of Kosovo and I also call on other countries, including members of the Security Council, that have yet to recognise Kosovo, to make this step and join the rest of the democratic world in supporting Kosovo as an equal and full member of the international community,” Thaci said.

UNMIK chief Farid Zarif said it will be essential for Belgrade and Pristina to consolidate the historic progress achieved thus far and to overcome gradually but steadily the many outstanding issues through dialogue. “A necessary base for this progress was the growth of mutual trust and direct communication between the parties, regardless of disagreements and disputes over details of the implementation of the 19 April agreement,” Zarif said.

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said Serbia was ready to normalise relations and have reconciliation in the region, but added that Belgrade would never recognise the independence of Kosovo. “We remind Pristina that Serbia’s readiness for dialogue and compromise does not mean we are growing weaker and for them to use this in promoting the unilateral declaration of independence,” Dacic said.

On a different topic, Telegrafi quotes the Serbian PM saying, “We believe if that EULEX would be under the UNMIK umbrella, this would be in compliance with the six-point plan of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon”.

Tribuna reports that “Security Council member states want UNMIK to be downsised” and adds that U.S., British and French ambassadors supported Thaci’s request for a reformulation of UNMIK.

In a front-page headline, Kosova Sot reports that the Russian ambassador at the Security Council accused Albanians for fighting in Syria and said they constitute a threat once they return from the war there. Zeri notes that countries against Kosovo’s independence, mainly Russia, discussed the involvement of Albanians in the war in Syria. “The involvement of Albanians in various conflicts is concerning and we need to take into consideration the threat they represent when they return from those countries,” Russian Ambassador Vitali Churkin said.

Kosova Sot quotes SRSG Farid Zarif saying that Kosovo has made positive steps and that work needs to be done in increasing the people’s trust in the judiciary and police.

Bota Sot and Lajm did not report on the Security Council session.

Thaci agrees to Serbia’s elections in Kosovo (Tribuna)

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci told Voice of America that Belgrade cannot organise elections in areas with a Serb majority in Kosovo but international organisations like the OSCE could undertake such operations. “Citisens of Kosovo have the right to dual citisenship and can take part and vote in a different electoral process,” said Thaci.

Paramilitary armed structures are acting in the north (Koha)

In a recent report to Brussels, Pristina authorities highlighted that the Serbian Ministry of Interior Affairs is still operating in Kosovo with armed paramilitary structures concentrated in the north. The government in Pristina sent the report to Brussels three weeks ago, but it was reportedly not sent to parliament. Members of parliament meanwhile accused Prime Minister Thaci of hiding information from them, but Thaci’s office replied saying that they have not received any request for a report from MPs.

The report containing 31 pages signed by Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri was forwarded to the European Union on 16 January. To prove that illegal security structures continue to function, the report included the following data: On 1 December, during the second round of elections, Kosovo police arrested one MUP officer, who carried an ID card with him. “This says that there are MUP elements still operating in Kosovo,” details the report obtained by the daily.

PDK: LDK’s wish to bring down government is unrealistic (Koha)

Heads of parliamentary groups have given their statements to bring down the Government. The head of LDK Parliamentary Group, Ismet Beqiri, said that his political subject could bring down the Government and knows the right moment to do this. The head of PDK Parliamentary Group, Adem Grabovci, said he's heard about those wishing to bring down the Government for four years, but expressed his conviction that his political subject is going to govern again.

Mustafa nominated for prime minister, Sejdiu is against (dailies)

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) nominated its leader Isa Mustafa on Monday for Kosovo Prime Minister in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The LDK general council decided to nominate Mustafa after a four-hour meeting. Sources in the LDK told newspapers that former LDK leader Fatmir Sejdiu was not happy with the nomination, but he confirmed that he would not leave the party.

Radicalisation leads to terrorist attacks (Zëri)

British Ambassador in Kosovo Ian Cliff, in an interview for Zëri, said that one of the changes he noticed in Kosovo since his arrival on 29 March 2011 is that no one spoke of religion, “because you know that Muslims and Catholics fought together in KLA, etc., while now it seems like everyone is talking about this problem.” He mentions that without a doubt radical Islam, also in his state of origin, has led to terrorism and serious problems. “Considering the issues in Britain, problems here seem to be very small, but I agree that it is something that should be monitored and of course many people are concerned with this,” said Cliff.

Potential for unrest (Tribuna)

According to sources, Kosovo risks facing a wave of protests, much bigger than those of 6 and 7 February in front of the Rectorate of the University of Pristina. These unrests could lead to violence, claimed these sources. According to them, there is a major potential for social discontent and an increase of unemployed youth. Therefore a wave of protests, be them about privatisation (where many enterprises have failed) or public enterprise is being predicted. There are indications that if authorities cannot manage the situation, certain foreign intelligence circles will try to urge a wave of violence, similar to the one in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Change of election Law starts on Friday (Tribuna)

Due to the unpredicted sessions at the Assembly, the Legislation Commission decided to annul the workshop on election reform, foreseen for this week. The head of the Commission for legislation, Arben Gashi, proposed that all the ‘ad hoc’ amendments, as well as issues agreed among political parties, will be incorporated in the text. “As far as the Law is considered, I propose to start working on the cleared draft by the administration of ‘ad hoc’ Commission,” said Gashi, explaining that this would save time. After discussions by a majority of the members of this Commission, they decided to begin seriously working on changes on the Law on general elections on Friday.

CEC wants time to conclude election reform (Tribuna)

The Central Elections Commission needs more time to prepare recommendations for election reform considering that the proposed draft law is quite lengthy and has undergone numerous changes, a press release issued after the last CEC meeting said. The CEC also raised the need for a meeting with Kosovo Assembly legislation commission to discuss the issue.