UNMIK Headlines 18 May
Up to 100,000 protesters march against Gruevski (dailies)
According to the dailies, up to 100,000 protesters in Skopje, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), on Sunday demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski. Protesters set up tents in front of the government building, where thousands of citizens decided to spend the night, saying that they will not leave until the government steps down. According to the opposition, the protest also had the support of foreign diplomats. The protest was organized after the incident in Kumanovo last week between an armed group and the FYROM police, which left 22 people dead and dozens injured. Zeri reports that the European Union Foreign Affairs Council will discuss the situation in FYROM today and will make a joint statement on developments and measures that need to be taken. The papers also highlight that the anti-government protest was multi-ethnic.
Murphy: Government to be held accountable for alleged crimes (Koha Ditore)
The US senator Chris Murphy gave a statement on the current political crisis in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) calling on all parties to solve problems based on standards of democracy. "The government needs to be held accountable for the alleged crimes in the publication of the wiretaps. This should be settled through dialogue and cooperation with the opposition and civil society,” Murphy said. He said that the failure to fully implement the Ohrid Agreement and provide equal treatment for the minority community risks such incidents being used for inciting riots in FYROM and neighbouring countries.
AAK: No parallel structures in the Kosovo army (Bota Sot)
The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) said the idea of discussing the creation of an ethnic military entity within the Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF) that would consist exclusively of members of the Serb community is dangerous and in violation to all military rules of democratic countries. According to AAK, such an arrangement is expected to be discussed between Pristina and Belgrade and the party calls on the government of Kosovo not to negotiate issues of vital national importance.
Collaku: Kosovo deserves positive decision on visa liberalization (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Bekim Collaku, said in an interview with the paper that Kosovo is in the final stages of implementing visa liberalization requirements and that the government has urged the Assembly to step up procedures for passing the legal framework related to the process. “I am convinced that our report will reflect implementation of the criteria and prove that Kosovo fully deserves a positive evaluation,” said Collaku, adding that an EU fact-finding mission will visit Kosovo in the summer to see how the visa liberalization criteria have been implemented in practice.
Jablanovic: I won’t go to Gjakova/Djakovica (Zeri)
The leader of the Serbian List, Aleksandar Jablanovic, said on Sunday that he will not appear before the Basic Prosecution Office of Gjakova/Djakovica on 22 May because, according to him, the indictment filed against him is unfounded. He also said that he never invited anyone to protest or to increase the tension. "Those who have called for protests are people from the Vetevendosje Movement and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Albin Kurti and Ramush Haradinaj," Jablanovic said.