UNMIK Headlines 15 June
Agreement reached on extension of EULEX’s mandate (Klan Kosova)
The news site reported on Tuesday evening that Kosovo’s institutions and EULEX have reached an agreement to extend this mission’s mandate. President Hashim Thaçi and Prime Minister Isa Mustafa have agreed with international representatives on the modalities of the future mandate of the EU rule-of-law mission.
Disagreements on EULEX’s competencies (Zëri/RFE)
The paper reports on its front page that Kosovo and EU authorities yesterday couldn’t find a consensus regarding the competencies that EULEX will have during the next two years. However both parties have agreed that the mission’s mandate would be extended until 2018. Maja Kocijančić, spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, told Radio Free Europe that the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini will soon respond to the request made by Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi to extend the mandate of EULEX for another two years. “Regarding the internal procedures, the Council already approved the decision that enables the extension of EULEX’s mandate,” Kocijančić said. Meanwhile, Kosovo Assembly Deputy Speaker, Xhavit Haliti, told the paper that the Assembly Presidency did not meet yesterday to decide on the plenary session for EULEX because the paper work was still not ready. “As soon as the paper work is completed, we will submit the draft law to the Assembly. We are a coalition that has two thirds majority, so there will be no problems in this regard,” Haliti said.
Government with unconstitutional solution for EULEX’s mandate (Koha)
In a front-page story, the paper notes that Article 20 of the Constitution of Kosovo provides that certain state competencies can be transferred to international organisations only through a ratified international agreement. The paper recalls such an agreement had served as basis for the consolidation of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and for the extension of its mandate. But now that Pristina and Brussels have failed to reach an agreement on the future mandate of the EU mission, the Kosovo government wants to extend the mandate of EULEX unilaterally through a law and without an agreement. Legal experts in Pristina are arguing that such a solution would be a violation of the Constitution of Kosovo, while opposition parties have warned that they would dispute such a law at the Constitutional Court.
Extension of EULEX’s mandate, hostage of new cases (Epoka e Re)
Despite the fact that the mandate of the European Union mission EULEX’s mandate expired on Tuesday evening, 14 June, representatives of Kosovo and the EU continued consultations aimed at reaching a final decision regarding new cases. Kosovo’s Principal Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Hajredin Kuçi, said that the important issue raised regarding extension of EULEX’s mandate remains specification of the policy on the possibility of taking over new cases.
Gashi: EULEX’ mandate is related to the Special Court (Epoka e Re)
Lawyer Tomë Gashi told the paper that EULEX’s mandate in Kosovo is related to the mandate of the Special Court that will address KLA war crimes allegations. According to him, the Special Court could function only if there is a foreign mission in Kosovo. Gashi called on Kosovo’s institutions to not to grant EULEX executive competencies and argued that from now on EULEX should only have an advisory role.
“If you’re a commander, it doesn’t mean you can do everything” (media)
Several media cover an interview that EULEX outgoing chief, Gabrielle Meucci, gave to Radio Free Europe, highlighting his remark that “Kosovo’s laws and the Constitution do not say that if you were a KLA commander, you could commit any kind of crime”. Meucci said the level of corruption in Kosovo is not any different from other countries, but that the fight against corruption and organized crime is more difficult in Kosovo “because some political leaders believe they can do whatever they want”. He also said that the most delicate part of the EU mission is not the prosecution of war crimes, but rather the fight against corruption and organized crime.
Grabovci: The border has been moved five kilometres inside Kosovo (dailies)
The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group chief, Adem Grabovci, for the first time confirmed on Tuesday that the border line with Montenegro has been moved five kilometres inside the territory of Kosovo. During an interview with TV Dukagjini, Grabovci said the version prepared by the Kosovo government committee moved the border five kilometres from the original one. “The original border is not in line with the version of Murat Meha [committee chairman],” he said. Grabovci did not rule out the possibility for the demarcation issue to be sent to arbitration or be renegotiated with Montenegro if facts say that Kosovo has really lost eight thousand hectares of land.
Agani calls on Jankovic to stop building “Sunny Valley” neighborhood (media)
Kosovo’s Minister for Spatial Planning, Ferid Agani, requested on Tuesday during the meeting with the mayor of Zveçan/Zvečani Vučina Janković, to interrupt all building activities on the so-called “Sunny Valley” project. Janković on the other hand said that they are interested to cooperate with the institutions of Kosovo in order for this project to become legal. Zëri daily newspaper quotes political analysts and Mitrovica South Municipal Assembly members as saying that the government in Pristina has all the legal mechanisms to stop the construction of the Sunny Valley “but it lacks the courage to do so”.
Civic Initiative Action to organize exhibition for situation in the North (media)
Several news sites report that the Civic Initiative Action announced it will organize an exhibition of photos in front of the government building in Pristina at 11:00 today. The photos will present Serbia’s constructions in northern Kosovo as well as the burned and destroyed houses of the Albanians, after Serbia expelled them from their homes. The Civic Initiative Action also argued that the Kosovo government has done nothing for the return of Albanians in the North.