UNMIK Headlines 9 February
Pristina-Belgrade dialogue to resume today (dailies)
Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa and Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic will meet today for the first time in the framework of the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue that will be held in Brussels. Koha Ditore writes that Pristina and Belgrade have contradicting positions on topics that will be discussed in the meeting, while officials in Brussels said that they will talk about the process of normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. “The two Prime Ministers will review the progress achieved so far in the dialogue and will decide how to move forward with the process of normalization of relations,” said Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson of the European Union High Representative, Federica Mogherini. On the other hand, according to Belgrade media, the main topics that will be discussed will be the issue of the Trepca mine and other properties that Serbia claims to own in Kosovo, as well as issues about the judiciary. The Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hashim Thaci, said he believed that the agreement on judiciary between Kosovo and Serbia would be finalized on Monday. “I believe that the agreement on judiciary will be finalized on Monday and that there will be a comprehensive assessment of the agreements reached so far,” Thaci wrote on his Facebook page.
Leaders to decide whether to discuss Trepca in dialogue (Kosova Sot)
Head of EU Office in Kosovo Samuel Zbogar said that prime ministers of Kosovo and Serbia, who are expected to meet today in Brussels, are not forced to discuss anything they do not want to and it is up to them to decide whether they want to include the Trepca mine issue in the dialogue’s agenda. He said that the judiciary is one of the topics that will be discussed in the meeting as well as other issues regarding the Pristina-Belgrade agreement for normalization of relations.
Vetevendosje: Brussels talks, unauthorized (Zeri)
The Vetevendosje Movement MP, Glauk Konjufca, during a press conference on Sunday, said that the Kosovo government has completely bypassed the Parliament in regards to talks with Serbia. Konjufca said that Prime Minister Isa Mustafa is going to Brussels without Kosovo Parliament’s permission. “There is no official document at the Parliament of Kosovo on the agenda of the dialogue. The Pristina-Belgrade meeting on Monday is unauthorized and unacceptable,” he said. MP Rexhep Selimi said that Vetevendosje’s opposition to Pristina-Belgrade dialogue could be one of the demands of the next protest, but there is still nothing concrete. “Kosovo citizens have the right and reasons to protest, above all, against the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue,” said Selimi.
PM Mustafa meets US Assistant Secretary of State Nuland (Zeri)
Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, met on Sunday with United States Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland. Mustafa and Nuland discussed the United States’ support for the Kosovo government in all processes, such as economic development and the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue. Nuland praised Kosovo government’s commitment in the fight against terrorism, especially with the law against the participation of Kosovo people in foreign wars.
Washington urges Kosovo to seriously address corruption (Koha Ditore)
In a front-page interview, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Thomas Melia, said that strengthening of democracy by inclusion of citizens in the decision making process and fighting corruption are some of the main challenges Kosovo faces. Melia stressed that only serious efforts in addressing these issues can enable Kosovo’s progress. He added that the US commitment will continue and that Washington considers Kosovo to be a crucial component in the stability and development of the Balkans.
Thaci: Brussels should move faster on visa liberalization (Bota Sot)
Hashim Thaci, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, told the paper that Brussels should move faster on visa liberalization for Kosovo people, in order for them not to be the most isolated in Europe. He also appealed to the people of Kosovo not to migrate. Thaci said that the debate at the UN Security Council session was more or less the same as the previous ones, except for the request of Kosovo to hold these meetings less frequently. He stressed that Kosovo’s perspective is Euro-Atlantic integration and that this was also the message conveyed to the UNSC, “where Russia is still using its veto towards Kosovo state, despite our work and speedy movement to become part of the United Nations family,” Thaci said.
Ivanovic: Serbs should not integrate in Kosovo system (Zeri)
The President of the Serbian National Council in northern Kosovo, Milan Ivanovic, has called on the Serbian negotiating team not to accept in any way the integration of Kosovo Serbs in the Kosovo system because, according to him, this would constitute a violation of human rights. “Ahead of the meeting in Brussels, I call on the Serbian team not to accept the seizure of Trepca and to reject the establishment of a unified justice system,” said Ivanovic.