Headlines - 29.12.2012

Special arrangement at Dheu i Bardhe and Bernjak too (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo and Serbian authorities have made all necessary preparations for December 31 when they will start implementing the agreement reached by Prime Ministers Hashim Thaci and Ivica Dacic for another two border crossings, Bernjak and Dheu i Bardhe, Koha Ditore reports on the front page. Just like in Jarinje and Merdare, a special arrangement will be applied at Bernjak and Dheu i Bardhe. The arrangement is different from the general criteria of integrated border management. European officials working in Kosovo admitted for the newspaper that the arrangement is not integrated border management because it does not implement this program's criteria. They however said that the current arrangement helps stop smuggling in the north and avoids long queues for citizens from both sides. According to the current arrangement, Kosovo and Serbian officials will not be instructed to communicate, conduct joint patrols, or exchange information.

Lunacek: No visa liberalization without combating corruption (dailies)

In an interview for Radio Kosova, European Parliament's Rapporteur on Kosovo, Ulrike Lunacek, said Kosovo needs to combat corruption if it wants visa liberalization. Lunacek also said that by starting to implement the IBM agreement, Serbia is de facto recognizing Kosovo's independence. "The European Union will never allow in Kosovo something like the Republika Srpska. This should be clear. Actions by the Serbian Government outside the dialogue process are about internal political consumption and should not be taken seriously. I think we need to focus on issues within the framework of dialogue led by Ashton and not discuss worthless papers such as this platform," Lunacek said.

Serbs block roads in northern Kosovo again (Zeri)

A small group of Serbs from northern Kosovo - mainly businessmen - have blocked roads in three locations in northern Kosovo on Friday. Unsatisfied with the agreement reached in Brussels on customs taxes and integrated border management, the road leading to the Jarinje border crossing, the road in Rudare, the road leading to Bosnjacka Mahalla, and the road leading to Suhodoll were blocked for two hours.

The government of praise! (Zeri)

The leading front-page story notes that, in 2012, almost every Government of Kosovo ministry was involved in scandals. In their end-of-the-year press conferences, however, all ministers spoke only of successes. Meanwhile, the opposition and civil society representatives argue that the government is playing games with the citizens. The paper quotes Agron Demi, director of the Pristina-based GAP research institute, as saying, "A governing logic was established in Kosovo, which does not include acknowledging reality, identifying and proving mistakes, apologizing or resignation."

Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences wants more than platform (Koha Ditore)

The Executive Council of the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences said on Friday that Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic's platform on Kosovo represents the position formed during the last decades and constitutes the optimal wishes of the Serbian people for the resolution of the issue of Kosovo. A communiqué issued by the Serbian Academy noted that the platform foresees a high-level political and territorial autonomy for Serb municipalities, control over police, trade, economy and healthcare in Serb municipalities, and special status for the north and the enclaves. The Serbian Academy suggests that the platform should also provide for the establishment of special connections with the Orthodox Church and special rights for Serbs and IDP returns.

Property lawsuit against Decan Monastery turned down (Koha Ditore)

A mixed court panel of the Special Chamber chaired by an EULEX judge issued two decisions on cases related to property rights over around 23 hectares of land within and outside the special zoning area of Decan Monastery. The court panel ruled out the lawsuits of two socially-owned enterprises against Decan Monastery as unfounded. Both cases are related to donation contracts between the Republic of Serbia and Decan Monastery in 1997. Apiko and Iliria, the two socially-owned enterprises, in two separate court proceedings, have opposed the donations and claimed ownership over the properties. Based on the decisions of the appeals panel of the Special Chamber, the Property Panel admitted in its ruling that the UNMIK Legal Affairs Office, as representative of the Kosovo Trust Agency, has legal grounds to file appeals on behalf of the two SOEs. The panel also noted that the agreement between UNMIK and Decan Monastery was presented in court in compliance with procedural rules. The agreement provides that UNMIK will give up on complaints by Apiko and Iliria about cadastral parcels within the special zoning area of the monastery, while the monastery will give up on rights over cadastral parcels outside the special zoning area in favor of Iliria. The property panel verified the lawfulness of the agreement and ruled out as ungrounded the complaints of the two socially-owned enterprises.

UNMIK local staff in northern Mitrovica, without salaries (gazetaditore.com)

UNMIK spokesman Olivier Salgado said today that, due to budget cuts, the UNMIK office in Mitrovica will not extend the contracts of local staff members after New Year. A press statement issued by UNMIK notes that the office in Mitrovica was established in 2002 and was provisionally financed by the Government of Kosovo. "From 2011, without previous consultation, Kosovo authorities reduced allocations for the budget of this office," Salgado said.

After the establishment of the Administrative Office of the Republic of Kosovo in northern Mitrovica, salary payments for local staff working for UNMIK was ceased in June this year.

The UNMIK mission, however, will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders to find practical solutions for the population and avert potential negative consequences, Salgado said. He also added that the UNMIK office in northern Mitrovica will continue to play its role in conflict prevention and mediation.

Statement attributable to UNMIK’s Spokesperson regarding UAM (UNMIK)