UNMIK Headlines 29 September
Brussels agreements to be discussed again (Kosovapress)
The Kosovo Assembly’s Press Office issued a communiqué on Monday saying that the Assembly Presidency will meet on Tuesday with the heads of the parliamentary groups. One of the points of the agenda is the unfinished reporting by the government on the agreements reached in Brussels, which was interrupted at the plenary session of 22 September.
Grabovci: Blocking of the Assembly, a dangerous approach (Epoka e Re)
Deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and leader of this party’s parliamentary group, Adem Grabovci said in an interview for this daily that the opposition’s logic in blocking the Assembly could become a precedent that could be used again in the future. He called on opposition parties to resolve their concerns through the institutional way and a truthful debate at the Assembly of Kosovo. According to him, any other option is harmful for Kosovo’s interests and its people.
Kosovo leaders meet US Deputy Assistant Secretary Yee (Zeri)
Kosovo delegation continued to meet international leaders whilst in New York for the annual UN General Assembly session. Yesterday, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci, and Minister for European Integration, Bekim Collaku, met the US Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Hoyt Yee. The US official commended the government of Kosovo for its constructiveness in regional processes and its commitment to implementing visa liberalization criteria and advancing toward EU integration.
Serbia admits losing battle with Kosovo over UNESCO (Koha)
In a front-page story, the paper reports that Kosovo leaders, who are visiting New York on the 70th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly, are focusing on promoting Kosovo’s membership of UNESCO. Serbian officials meanwhile have admitted that it will be difficult to prevent Kosovo’s admission to UNESCO. “I am visiting New York this week where the United Nations General Assembly is underway. Kosovo’s delegation is focused like never before on promoting Kosovo’s membership of UN agencies and international organizations. A few weeks or months separate us from the UNESCO vote on Kosovo, and also other processes such as the signing of the Stabilization/Association Agreement and the positive note on visa liberalization,” Kosovo’s Principal Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci wrote on his Facebook page on Monday. Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, who is also staying in New York, said on Monday that the majority of countries understand the complexity of Kosovo’s membership of UNESCO. “However, their governments have decided to recognize the unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence, so there will be a tough battle at the UNESCO general conferences in October and November,” Dacic added.
Thaci: Monaco also supports Kosovo at UNESCO (Klan Kosova)
Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hashim Thaci, informed through Facebook that the “Principality of Monaco signed as a co-sponsor for Kosovo’s membership of UNESCO”. “Now we have 47 countries which aligned together with us on the request for the Executive Board to consider our membership during the third week of October,” Thaci wrote.
Kurti warns of “new political earthquakes” (Koha)
The former leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, warned on Monday about what he called “new political and social earthquakes” in Kosovo. During a roundtable organized by the Vetevendosje Movement in Tirana, Albania, Kurti argued that Pristina should not accept the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and that the opposition parties are mobilizing the people for protests. “We have collected 100,000 signatures so far. We want a referendum on this agreement. We will mobilize the people. The autumn, winter and spring next year will be hotter than any other summer we’ve had in Kosovo,” Kurti was quoted as saying.
Jovanovic: Independence of Kosovo, a done deal (Zeri)
The leader of the Liberal Democratic Party in Serbia, Cedomir Jovanovic, said in an interview for the paper that independence of Kosovo is irreversible and that only irresponsible politicians do not recognise the new reality in the Balkans. He said Kosovo Serbs should stand up for themselves and not allow themselves to be manipulated by Belgrade. Jovanovic also said he thought it crucial for Kosovo to be admitted to international organisations because this is the only way to replace old conflicts with relations of mutual understanding, respect and perhaps even friendship.
Kusari-Lila: I was target of assassination plot (dailies)
The Mayor of Gjakova/Djakovica, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, said that she was the target of an assassination plot several months ago. She said the information was originally obtained by the police in Albania which led the Kosovo authorities to provide her with close protection. She alleged that the person paid to carry out her killing is from Albania but the order was given in her hometown.
Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro kept pending (Koha)
The paper reports on its front page that a month has passed since Kosovo and Montenegro reached the agreement on border demarcation, but the document has yet to be sent to the Kosovo Assembly and the Office of the President of Kosovo. The paper notes that the government in Pristina is keeping the agreement pending, fearing that it won’t be able to ratify it through constitutional procedures. In order for the Assembly to pass the agreement it must be supported by two thirds of MPs, a difficult feat considering that all opposition MPs and several MPs from the ruling coalition oppose the new borderline. Legal experts meanwhile told the paper that any different form of adopting the agreement would constitute a violation of the Constitution of Kosovo.