UNMIK Headlines 30 May
Grabovci: Special court voting not postponed because of votes (Epoka e Re)
Adem Grabovci, the head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group, told the paper on Friday that the request to postpone the Assembly session on the special court, was made due to the draft law on this court. Grabovci denied claims made by opposition representatives according to whom the ruling coalition was lacking the necessary number of votes to pass the law. “The votes were never in question. This is not about votes, this is about the content of the law and justice,” he said. Grabovci also said that the request to postpone the session had nothing to do with the verdict on the Drenica Group. “These are two separate issues. The verdict on the Drenica Group is an extreme decision. Without trying to interfere with the work of the judiciary, I must say that the Drenica case is the only example in the world of justice not being respected. We find flagrant violations of justice in the Drenica case”. Grabovci said that next week the Presidency of the Kosovo Assembly could decide when the documents on the special court will be discussed. He also called on the opposition “not to play political games with sensitive issues, such as the special court”.
Mogherini encouraged decision on special court (Klan Kosova)
Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, said on Friday that the postponement of the decision on the specialized chambers of the special court, was not related to the recommendation of the European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini. Mustafa wrote on his Facebook account that during a telephone conversation, Mogherini encouraged a decision on the special court, but that further technical additions had to be made to the draft law on the chambers. “We also need to look into several provisions in the final text and reflect on this,” Mustafa added.
Dacic: Kosovo division, an ideal solution (Klan Kosova/Gazeta Express)
Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ivica Dacic, said on Friday that the idea for autonomy for Kosovo proposed by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic is late. According to Dacic, Kosovars would never accept autonomy, the same way that Serbs will never accept Kosovo’s independence. “For the time being, no one in Brussels knows what the agreement will contain. However, it is true that we will be asked to sign a legally-binding agreement with Pristina,” Dacic said in an interview with Belgrade-based Vecernje Novosti newspaper. Dacic also said that in his opinion, the division of Kosovo, whereby Serbia would get the northern part, would be an ideal solution.
Serbia preparing another “Kumanovo” in Presevo!? (Infokusi)
The return of Vojislav Seselj to The Hague is becoming an increasingly serious burden for the Serbian Government as it fears that the return of the war crimes defendant to prison can trigger protests in Belgrade and other cities in Serbia. Official sources in Pristina, which prefer to remain anonymous, told Lajm that they are concerned over recent information they received, according to which with the intention of shifting the Serbian public’s attention from the Seselj case, Serbian secret police is preparing a confrontation between Serbian Police and “Albanian armed groups” in the Presevo Valley region. According to the same sources, the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (AKI) has received such information and is already working to prevent the involvement of Kosovo nationals in this scenario. The AKI is reportedly cooperating closely on the matter with international and regional security mechanisms.
Ombudsperson: Rakic and Djuric violated Kosovo’s constitution (RTK)
Kosovo’s Ombudsperson, Sami Kurteshi, said on Friday that the Kosovo government and the Administrative Office in Mitrovica North should as soon as possible remove the so-called Peace Park from the main bridge over Iber/Ibar River and to stop further construction of the Tsar Lazar Square in order to enable freedom of movement there. Kurteshi further said that all persons responsible for building the “Peace Park”, especially their leaders Goran Rakic and Marko Djuric, should be held accountable and face penal prosecution for violating the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo.