UNMIK Headlines 16 May
Hoxhaj: Kosovo in the UN by 2020 (Lajm)
Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj, in a lecture to students at the Haxhi Zeka University in Peja, spoke about achievements and priorities for Kosovo’s foreign policy over the last four years. Hoxhaj said that, in recent years, Kosovo has successfully compensated for its lack of hard power in international relations with soft power, by achieving diplomatic recognitions, memberships in organizations and progress in Euro-Atlantic integration. He also spoke about foreign policy priorities for the coming years. Hoxhaj pointed out that Kosovo’s priority will be full international recognition and membership in the UN. “Our aim is membership in the UN, which will happen by 2020. In the coming days we will announce specific steps related to this approach”, said Hoxhaj.
Leyen: KFOR, a success story (Lajm)
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen does not foresee a quick end to the KFOR mission led by NATO in Kosovo. “I cannot give an exact date,” said von der Layen on Thursday during her visit to the headquarters of the German Defense Force in Prizren. Progress in Kosovo should be ensured “in a sustainable way,” added the German Minister, referring to the local elections last year and to the finalization of the agreement for normalizing relations with Serbia. According to her, any troop withdrawals should be undertaken gradually and with caution.
German Defense Minister cancels meeting with Thaci (Koha)
The paper reports on its second page that, during her two-day visit to Kosovo, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen did not find time to meet Prime Minister Hashim Thaci. The meeting was scheduled for Thursday but was suddenly canceled. Sources told the paper that German officials did not want the meeting with Thaci to be used for election campaign purposes. The paper also notes that Thaci remains the only politician in the Balkans who Berlin unofficially tends to avoid. The paper recalls that in autumn 2008, Thaci’s government had arrested three agents of the German secret service accusing them, without evidence, of throwing an explosive device at the International Civil Office’s building. Thaci was later forced to release the German agents after pressure from Berlin.
New arrivals cause friction in PDK (Tribuna)
On the front page, the paper reports that, as the number of newcomers in the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) is increasing, so is the discontent within party membership over the way the new people are being offered various senior posts. A recent case concerns Margarita Kadriu who was given the post of PDK deputy leader. Some party members feel that they way the post was awarded showed disregard for all rules and procedures. Sources told the paper that the discontent grew even further after media published a number of emails that Margarita Kadriu’s father, Ruzhdi, exchanged with one of the most prominent businesspeople in Serbia, Miroslav Miskovic, who was a former minister during Slobodan Milosevic’s regime. “We will demand accountability”, said the source.
Parties’ top ten lists (Zeri)
Although political parties have yet to present their lists of candidates for upcoming elections, the paper claims to have learnt some of the names that will appear in the top ten lists of the main parties. It says that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) list will include its leader Hashim Thaci, followed by Kadri Veseli, Hajredin Kuci, Margarita Kadriu, Enver Hoxhaj, Flora Brovina, and Vlora Citaku. Regarding the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), one of its newest members, Laura Kryeziu, will be second after the party leader Ramush Haradinaj, and the two will be followed by Daut Haradinaj, Blerim Shala, Donika Kadaj Bujupi, Meliza Haradinaj, and Ahmet Isufi. With regards to Vetevendosje, sources said that Ilir Deda and Avni Zogiani will be on the list. The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) is expected to decide today on its list of candidates, but the issue is already causing disagreements within the party. Similarly, Behgjet Pacolli’s New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) will finalize its list today, which is also the deadline for submitting the lists to the Central Election Commission (CEC).
The dark side of intelligence services (Koha)
In the second part of a series entitled NATO secret reports, the paper reports on the front page that, according to NATO secret documents, members of illegal intelligence services of political parties in Kosovo were involved in many crimes – related to the collection of customs incomes, recruitment of police and customs officers, and surveillance of KFOR and UNMIK officials. The reports noted that, in 1999, the collection of customs taxes from products entering from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) brought great profits to the former Kosovo Intelligence Service (SHIK). In charge of these activities, according to the secret documents, was Sabit Geci, who was very close with Kadri Veseli and Hashim Thaci. KFOR also found out about ties between SHIK and the drug business. NATO’s intelligence also had reported that Kadri Veseli’s main criminal activity was tobacco smuggling, which involved extortion and ties with the Democratic Albanian Party (PDSH) in FYROM.
EULEX arrests suspect in killing of Enver Zyberi (Kosovapress)
Citing unnamed sources, Kosovapress reported that EULEX Police arrested on Thursday night Slobodan Sovrlic, who was suspected of killing Enver Zyberi, a member of the Kosovo Police Special Units. Sovrlic was arrested in Zubin Potok. Sources also said that, due to security reasons, Sovrlic was immediately transferred to EULEX premises in southern Mitrovica where he is being held. Sovrlic was previously arrested by Kosovo Police in March in Zubin Potok, but masked men stormed the station and helped him escape. Kosovapress tried to contact EULEX to confirm the arrest, but no comment was made.
LGBT flag at Kosovo government building (Bota Sot)
The rainbow flag, a symbol of the lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender (LGBT) community, has been put up in one of the main areas of the Kosovo government building, as part of events marking an anti-discrimination week. A picture showing the rainbow flag alongside that of the EU was posted by Deputy Foreign Minister Petrit Selimi.