UNMIK Headlines 7 February
At UN, Thaci calls on Serbia to investigate war crimes in Kosovo (dailies)
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, said inyesterday’s meeting of the UN Security Council on Kosovo that Serbia should launch investigations into war crimes documented last week by the Belgrade-based human rights organization, Humanitarian Law Centre. “I urge the Serbian leadership to find strength and face the past and I encourage the Security Council to ask Serbia to take this report very seriously,” said Thaci. He added that on the seventh anniversary of independence, Kosovo has managed to consolidate and the process of its recognition proves that independence is irreversible and a factor of peace and stability in the region. Thaci also accused Serbia of delays in implementing agreement for normalization of relations and said this shows that Serbia has not yet given up its ambition to interfere in Kosovo’s internal affairs. Thaci further requested the redefinition of the United Nation’s role in Kosovo.
Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic stressed the importance of establishing the association/community of Serb majority municipalities as one of the main issues in the process of implementation of agreement for normalization of relations. He emphasized that return of displaced persons, the position of the Serb Orthodox Church, and property issues are priorities that Belgrade will raise in the EU-facilitated dialogue with Pristina.
Zeri reports that Security Council representatives called on authorities in Kosovo to establish the special court as soon as possible and continue commitment for normalization of relations with Serbia.
Post-conflict crimes to fall under jurisdiction of special court (Koha Ditore)
On the front page, the paper reports that the special court, once up and running, will have under its jurisdiction not only alleged perpetrators mentioned in the Council of Europe’s report by Swiss senator Dick Marty but also all other serious crimes that occurred in Kosovo following the conflict, including political assassinations. A source from the Kosovo President’s office said the law on the establishment of the special court will specify that the responsibility for the prosecuted crimes will be individual but that there will be a clause stipulating that though an individual may have carried out a specific crime, this would not free command chain from criminal responsibility.
KIA: 50,000 people have fled Kosovo in the last months (Koha Ditore)
Kosovo Intelligence Agency’s (KIA) deputy director Muharrem Ajeti told the members of the parliamentary commission for KIA supervision that around 50,000 people are reported to have fled Kosovo only in the recent month. Head of the commission, MP Haxhi Shala, said that KIA cannot prevent people from leaving Kosovo as freedom of movement is guaranteed by law. “Our citizens’ travelling to Serbia does not constitute a criminal act,” said Shala.
Shala leaves AAK, joins Pristina team in talks with Belgrade (dailies)
The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) has relieved its deputy leader Blerim Shala of all party duties following his request to join the Kosovo delegation in talks with Serbia. Shala confirmed his leaving the AAK and said he consulted the party leader, Ramush Haradinaj, about his decision.