UNMIK Headlines 9 April
Inauguration ceremony of the President of Kosovo (dailies)
All dailies report on the inauguration ceremony of Hashim Thaci for the President of Kosovo. Koha Ditore reports that the new President of Kosovo was inaugurated through a ritual, which was not practiced in the past in Kosovo. “Handing over of the Constitution took place at a ceremony which was proclaimed with pomposity, however only two Presidents participated. Strict measures of security during the ceremony could not stop acts of protests. At least four canisters of tear gas were thrown at the place where the guests were seated. The ceremony was boycotted by the opposition and a part of civil society. The seats reserved for the families that gave much for the war and liberation of Kosovo, such as Jashari family, also remained empty,” reports this daily.
Zeri and Bota Sot report that significant international figures boycotted the ceremony of Hashim Thaci’s inauguration President of Kosovo, and add that only the Presidents of Croatia and Albania participated the inauguration. “No significant figure from the European Union states participated at the ceremony. The others were diplomats of Quint states and some representatives of Arabian and Latin states,” reports Zeri.
Epoka e Re quotes Thaci as saying “I am a simple President of a population of heroes.”
UK delegation meets leaders of Vetevendosje and AAK (Kosovapress)
The leader of Vetevendosje movement, Visar Ymeri, met on Friday with the Head of the Department for Western Balkans and Enlargement from the Foreign Ministry of the United Kingdom, Fiona Mcilwham. The UK Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell was also present at the meeting. Visar Ymeri wrote on his Fecebook page that they discussed the current political situation, while Vetevendosje presented its alternatives of state building and economic development.
The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), informed through a press release that they discussed with Mcilwham and O’Connell the current political situation and challenges that Kosovo is facing for almost an hour.
Vetevendosje: AAK di not consult us about the date of the protest (Kosovapress)
The Spokesperson of the Vetevendosje movement, Frasher Krasniqi, informed that the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo did not inform in advance the Vetevendosje movement regarding the protest announced to be held on 14 April. “We were neither consulted nor did we discuss this issue with each other,” Krasniqi said. “The protests should be well-organized and they should be held at the right time. Un-coordinated actions risk to weaken opposition efforts and they result with protests which are not well-organized, which are not massive and powerful,” Krasniqi added.